Happy Birthday Yakov

Today is Yakov Smirnoff's birthday. He is shown here with Peggy.


Yakov called me at my office once. He told my assistant, "This is Yakov Smirnoff." She came really close to saying, "Yeah, right."

But she passed the call on, still not really believing it.

One of the best entertainers in Branson and a true patriot.

Be Careful of Those Border Zones

I've Stayed in Some Strange Hotels

90 Lashes for Child Who Brings Cell Phone to School

The U.K.'s Daily Mail reported today that a 13-year-old girl in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to 90 lashes and two months in prison. Harsh enough if the crime was serious. Her crime was taking a cell phone to school.

The teenager's punishment was, according to Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, harsher than that given to some robbers and looters. She is to be flogged in front of her classmates.

She was reportedly hiding a cell phone in class, breaking strict Saudi regulations banning their use in girls' schools.

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading country in the use of torture-by-flogging, and religious police keep a close watch over public behavior.

This is the same oil-rich country that has donated nothing to Haiti, as most of the developed world steps up with donations.

I Am Not Eating Here

Do Not Drive Your Burning Car Here

Beijing

Maybe This Is Why I Can't Catch Any Fish

Football Has Changed

I've been a big football fan all my life. Watching the playoffs, I began thinking about how much football has changed since I remember watching my first games as a kid. I am dating myself but here are some of the ways the game has changed:

Helmets didn't have facemasks.

Many players went both ways—offense and defense. Some of these regular players even kicked.

Kickoffs were from the 40.

The goalposts were at the front of the end zone.

There was no 2-point conversion.

Quarterbacks had no special treatment.

There was no bogus "tuck rule."

Receivers could be blocked downfield.

Players didn't wear earrings.

There was no sudden death, except in postseason.

There were no indoor stadiums.

There were only 2 teams in the post season.

We watched the games in black and white.

There was no instant replay. (How amazed we were when that came about.)

There were no VCRs or DVRs to record games, so our minds wandered during the sermon. (On the West Coast, games started at 10 a.m. so this made some unspiritual people shorten their time at the altar on Sunday morning.)

You could meet the players at Joe's Grocery Store on the corner. (I actually met All-Pro Forty-Niners there, and at least one Hall-of-Famer.)

You could easily afford to attend the games.

The players made so little they had to have full-time jobs in the off-season. (Some of them, like Leo "The Lion" Nomellini, actually wrestled full-time. I remember how bad I felt when Nomo failed to defeat Ray Stevens for the U.S. title—I thought it was real then.)

Football cards cost a penny a piece, or 6 for 5 cents ... with a stick of bubble gum.

College teams weren't professional.



Most of this is news to my younger friends. Any older guys like me out there have changes to add?

7.0 Earthquake Rocks Haiti; Convoy of Hope is Responding

A 7.0 earthquake struck the country of Haiti, leveling buildings, cutting off communications and leaving the world wondering about the state of this poor country. Witnesses said buildings were destroyed and many people injured. The lack of communications is hindering the ability to determine the full extent of damage and destruction.

More on Convoy of Hope response here.

John Ashcroft at EU

Thursday night I was privileged to attend an invitation only talk on leadership by John Ashcroft, former attorney general of the United States and governor of Missouri, at Evangel University here in Springfield.


Dr. Robert Spence, president of Evangel, opened in prayer.



He even played one number at the end of the evening.