If you decide to trespass into mining property, you should probably be a little extra careful. It seems that Nathan Bowman was prowling around a coal company property on Friday. Luck was definitely NOT with him.

Man Survives 500-Foot Fall Into Mine
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM,AP
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A man survived a 500-foot fall into a strip mine Friday, astounding rescuers who spent hours on a risky descent into the abyss to bring him back out.
Police said Nathan Bowman was trespassing on coal company property around 1 a.m. Friday when he slipped and fell into the Springdale Pit, an inactive mine about 700 feet deep, 3,000 feet long and 1,500 feet wide.

Bowman tumbled down a jagged slope and then free-fell several hundred feet, his descent broken by a rock ledge not far from the bottom of the pit, said Coaldale Police Chief Timothy Delaney, who helped direct the rescue effort.

“If you look at that drop, there was no way somebody could survive that,” Delaney said.

Bowman, 23, of Tamaqua, was in serious condition Friday night at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem. The extent and nature of his injuries was not clear, although rescuer John Fowler said it appeared he suffered a number of fractures.

Bowman and a friend were walking around the pit when he went over the side. The friend called 911, and Coaldale police and firefighters began a frantic search, according to Delaney.
State police got into the act several hours later, using a helicopter, floodlights and thermal imaging to try to pinpoint Bowman’s location in the pit, about 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

“It got really, really dangerous,” Delaney said. “My guys were fantastic; they were heroes, risking their lives in total darkness.”

The search was called off at daybreak. Shortly thereafter, Delaney went to the offices of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., which owns the Springdale Pit, to notify officials of the situation.

“I said, ‘Let’s take a ride over there and show me where it occurred,’” said Fowler, 40, a project manager at the company.

Their luck was better this time.

“Within about three minutes, we found him,” Fowler said. “I thought I could hear a muffled call for help. We yelled to him and asked him where he was, and he said he thought he was on a ledge.”

Fowler, who moonlights as a state firefighter instructor, and a Coaldale police sergeant scouted a relatively safe route to Bowman and stayed with him until more help arrived.

Two firefighters rappelled down to the ledge, loaded Bowman onto a basket and tied themselves to it. Then all three were painstakingly hoisted up.

Bowman was lucid when he arrived at the top of the pit late Friday morning, wanting his harness loosened, asking that someone call his brother and expressing fear about riding in a medical helicopter, said Sarah Curran Smith, a vice president at Lehigh Coal.

Bowman’s survival is “pretty unbelievable,” she said. “I think the universe has bigger plans for Nathan. I hope he realizes that.”

Bowman faces charges including defiant trespass, according to Delaney.

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I was in high school when “Dr. Zhivago” came out in 1965. I loved the movie. I bought the book. I loved the book, too. I researched the characters. When I read that the “Lara” in the story was a nickname for Larisa, I swore that if I ever had a daughter, I would name her Larisa. It was the most beautiful female name I’d ever heard.

One of the last scenes in the movie - Dr. Zhivago having a heart attack as he watches Lara walking past unaware that he’s there - the whole idea of lost and war-torn love. It was romantic, it was sad, it was emotionally wrenching, it was memorable.

Years passed, and RT and I had our first child - a girl. We named her Larisa. I still love the name - and always will. Now, for us, “Larisa” is so eternally wrapped around our sweet daughter with the dark curly hair and gorgeous brown eyes, and because of that, I love the name even more. I rarely think of the connection between our daughter’s name and “Dr. Zhivago.” It moved beyond that connection long ago. Our Larisa is definitely her own person - the CEO of a successful business, the mother of our two wonderful grandgirls, and someone I talk to every day.

There could not have been any more perfect actors to play the key roles in the movie. Omar Sharif and Julie Christie became Dr. Zhivago and Lara.

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One day on the way home from school, I had an oldies CD playing. Sweet Stuff was riding with me, and Elvis Presley was belting out “The Wonder of You.” I told Sweet Stuff about Elvis - about how he had a little girl and about how famous he was - and that when Sweet Stuff’s mommy was just a very little girl, he had died. I told her that I wish I had gone to one of his concerts when he was alive. Then we listened to the song and talked about how beautiful the words were and how much we liked Elvis Presley’s voice.

A couple days later, Sweet Stuff said, “Grandma Carol, play that song again. You know, that dead man’s song.”

THE WONDER OF YOU (Elvis Presley)

When no-one else can understand me
When everything I do is wrong
You give me hope and consolation
You give me strength to carry on

And you’re always there to lend a hand
In everything I do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

And when you smile the world is brighter
You touch my hand and I’m a king
Your kiss to me is worth a fortune
Your love for me is everything

I’ll guess I’ll never know the reason why
You love me like you do
That’s the wonder
The wonder of you

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Everything is buzzing in the Nashville area in anticipation of the Country Music Marathon tomorrow morning. Well, there’s actually confusion. Is it the Music City Marathon or the Country Music Marathon? According to the marathon’s official website, it is the Country Music Marathon.

The grandgirls finished the Kids’ Country Music Marathon today. There’s a kids’ program where they run small distances for the month or so leading up to the Marathon, and then they ran the last mile this afternoon. Jeff Fisher, head coach of the Tennessee Titans, stood at the finish line high-fiving all the children as they crossed the finish line.

RT and I ate dinner at Red Lobster and there were some children there who had just finished the marathon, and their father was going to run the regular marathon tomorrow morning. The children (who happened to be students at my school) were quite happy to show me the medals they’d won. It’s a good event.

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A deadly snake - the yellow-bellied sea snake (don’t you LOVE that name?)- landed on a beach in Northland. The yellow-bellied sea snake is in the cobra family of snakes. That’s a family I’d just as soon not get to know.

Did I ever tell the story of RT and the bucket of snakes? I will do that soon. For now, here the story of the yellow-bellied sea snake:

Deadly snake lands on Northland beach

One of the world’s deadliest snakes has turned up on a beach in Northland.

The yellow-bellied sea snake came ashore near Dargaville and is now taking refuge at Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World in Auckland.

Yellow-bellied snakes are only spotted in New Zealand three or four times a year and only come ashore if they are really desperate.

“When they are found ashore…(they are) normally dead or at death’s door,” says Kelly Tarlton’s Curator, Andrew Christie.

Christie reckons the snake is in pretty good condition considering the long journey it has been on, travelling thousands of kilometres across the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s a pretty awesome animal, she’s beautiful so we’ll see how we go,” he says.

She may well be beautiful but her bite is deadly.

The yellow-bellied sea snake its part of the Cobra family. It is said to be 10 times more venomous then any land snake and if you get bitten by one of them there is no anti-venom to save you.

The snake will stay at Kelly Tarlton’s for the next few months and when it is stronger and the water is warmer, it will be returned to the ocean.

I can’t imagine describing a snake as “beautiful” but to each his/her own.

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I’m old enough to remember watching many Shirley Temple movies when I was a child. I think my favorite was “Heidi.” I loved her voice - so distinctive. A little pouty. Since I’ve been grown, I’ve re-watched some of her childhood movies and I’ve marveled that she was able to act so convincingly at such a young age. Even though Shirley Temple Black is more than 20 years older than I am, I feel that I almost watched her grow up on television via her movies.

Shirley Temple Black breaks arm just before 80th birthday

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shirley Temple Black quietly celebrated her 80th birthday this week after breaking her arm in a fall at her suburban San Francisco home.

Rick Ross, her Los Angeles-based attorney, says the former child star is doing fine. She turned 80 on Wednesday.

Black was the top box-office draw in the U.S. from 1935 to 1938. Her best-known films include “Curly Top” and “Little Miss Marker.”

After retiring from the big screen, she held a number of diplomatic posts, including U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Black lives in the San Francisco suburb of Woodside.

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The Associated Press reports that a man was killed by a shark attack at Solana Beach near San Diego in California this morning.

It was the first fatal shark attack in that area since 1994.

Here’s part of the story. Click HERE for the rest.

Fatal shark attack forces beach closures near San Diego
By ALLISON HOFFMAN

SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A shark on Friday attacked and killed a 66-year-old swimmer who was training in the ocean with a group of triathletes, authorities said.

Dave Martin, a retired veterinarian from Solana Beach, was attacked by what authorities believe was a great white shark at San Diego County’s Tide Beach around 7 a.m., authorities and family friend Rob Hill said.

The man was taken to a lifeguard station for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement on the Solana Beach city Web site.

The man’s injuries crossed both thighs, San Diego County sheriff’s Sgt. Randy Webb said in a statement. Scripps Institution of Oceanography shark expert Richard Rosenblatt says the shark was probably a great white between 12 and 17 feet long.

“It looks like the shark came up, bit him, and swam away,” said Solana Beach Deputy Fire Chief Dismas Abelman.

The attack took place about 150 yards offshore. Several swimmers wearing wetsuits were in a group when the shark attacked, said Solana Beach lifeguard Craig Miller. Two swimmers were about 20 yards ahead of the man when they heard him scream for help. They turned around and dragged him back to shore.

Swimmers were ordered out of the water for a 17-mile stretch around the attack site and county authorities sent up helicopters to scan the waters for the shark. The beach was closed for an eight-mile stretch.

“The shark is still in the area. We’re sure of that,” Mayor Joe Kellejian said.

Hill, a member of the Triathlon Club of San Diego, said he was running on the beach while about nine other members were in the water when the attack took place.

“They saw him come up out of the water, scream ’shark,’ flail his arms and go back under,” Hill said. “The flesh was just hanging,” and Martin may have bled to death before he left the water, Hill said.

Hill said club members had been meeting at the beach for at least six years and never had seen a shark.

Solana Beach is 14 miles northwest of San Diego.

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In September 2006, RT and I went to Alaska for over a week. We spent most of our time at Camp Denali - with a view of Mt. McKinley from the porch of our cabin. What a beautiful place. On the day that we left, we took a small plane ride around Mt. McKinley. Oh. My. Goodness! What a beautiful and awe-inspiring place.

Here are some pictures I just found from our trip to Alaska in 2005. I call this first one “Mt. McKinley Through The Clouds.” Look carefully, and you can see the mountain in the cloud breaks.

The next photo is of the seaplane that we rode to get to the the beautiful Riversong lodge that was only reachable via seaplane or boat.

The third photo is a view from the seaplane of the maze of riverways that cover that part of the Alaskan landscape. This is south of Mt. McKinley.

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Jeremiah Wright is the gift that keeps on giving. At least in terms of helping the cause of the Republican candidate, John McCain.
The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Wright is scheduled to be on Bill Moyers’ tomorrow, and then Monday he will speak to the National Press Club. I doubt the man will be able to do anything to help Obama’s cause in those two appearances. Almost certainly, he will further demonstrate exactly why Obama’s association with him is a major negative in this campaign. Here’s the story:

Wright offering fresh fodder to Obama critics
By Lynn Sweet
WASHINGTON–The controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright — Sen. Barack Obama’s pastor — is speaking Monday at the National Press Club as part of a divinity conference of black church leaders. Wright’s decision to headline an event at the Press Club — open to all media — risks giving Obama’s critics more fodder, as if they don’t have enough already.

Meanwhile, PBS is touting an interview with Wright to be broadcast Friday on “Bill Moyers’ Journal.” Fresh material from Wright — no matter how well-intended — is not what Obama needs.

Wright’s Press Club talk is supposed to be about offering perspective on black churches — theology, history and politics, and the torrent of coverage stemming from Obama’s presidential bid.

Wright’s relationship with Obama triggered an uproar when video of Wright’s inflammatory sermons surfaced. Faced with a crisis, Obama delivered a highly regarded speech in March about race and why he would not “disown” Wright, the senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s South Side.

But the speech, good as it was, did not push Wright out of the picture.

Wright looms as a serious problem for Obama in his fight to be the Democratic presidential nominee over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and, if he wins, as a general election candidate against Sen. John McCain. Look no further than an ad the North Carolina Republican Party released Wednesday featuring a clip from Wright’s “God Damn America” sermon and calling Obama an “extremist.”

Fox News has been all over Wright — helicopter shots of his Tinley Park mansion under construction — and host Bill O’Reilly has been pounding Obama over Wright regularly on his show.

The backfire potential of Wright having any sort of a public profile at this point seems obvious.

I asked the church about the prospects of Wright further wounding Obama’s candidacy, and I was e-mailed material about the divinity conference.

When the uproar over Wright started, Obama chief strategist David Axelrod asked his friends at Jasculca Terman — a public affairs firm — to advise Trinity on how to handle the crush of media coverage, and they did, pro bono. Jim Terman, the president of the firm, said, “We were not asked to provide our advice about the reported speech of Rev. Wright in Washington” and did not know about it until it was scheduled.

McCain denounced the North Carolina GOP party ad. “It’s not the message of my campaign,” he said. He wrote a letter to the state party chairman imploring them to pull the spot. The ad “degrades our civics,” McCain said. The Republican National Committee also told the North Carolina party the ad was not “appropriate or helpful.”

Obama, in Indiana, said he assumes if McCain “thinks that it’s an inappropriate ad, that he can get them to pull it down since he’s their nominee and standard bearer.” The spot as I write this has not been pulled.

O’Reilly, chatting with Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. on his show Wednesday night, said he was “flabbergasted” that Wright just does not “take a vacation.” When O’Reilly is right, he’s right.

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CNN is reporting about Paul Verhoeven and his “Jesus Seminar.”

Director’s book disputes birth of Jesus
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Film director Paul Verhoeven has written a book that contradicts the Bible by suggesting that Jesus might have been fathered by a Roman soldier who raped Mary.

An Amsterdam publishing house said Wednesday it would publish the Dutch filmmaker’s biography of Jesus, “Jesus of Nazareth: A Realistic Portrait” in September.

I find the word “realistic” an interesting one to use.

Verhoeven is best known as the director of blockbuster films including “Basic Instinct” and “RoboCop,” but he is also a member of “Jesus Seminar,” a group of scholars and authors that seeks to establish historical facts about Jesus.

Marianna Sterk of the publishing house J.M. Meulenhoff said the book included several ideas that ran contrary to Christian faith, including the suggestion that Jesus could be the son of a Roman soldier who raped Mary during a Jewish uprising against Roman rule in 4 B.C.

The book also claims that Judas Iscariot was not responsible for Jesus’ betrayal, she said.

The movie director’s claims were greeted with some skepticism among those who have dedicated their careers to studying the life of Jesus.

One issue is that there is very little information about the life of Jesus outside of the Gospels. The Gospels as understood by Christians for nearly 2,000 years do not support Verhoeven’s ideas.

William Portier, a professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, in Ohio, said the Jesus Seminar was known for making provocative claims, but “they are real scholars — you have to deal with them.”

However, he said Verhoeven’s ideas sounded “pretty out there.”

So even people who have spent their lives studying the life of Jesus consider Verhoeven’s ideas “pretty out there.” Doesn’t bode well for him, does it?

John Dominic Crossan, a Jesus Seminar founder, agreed. He said that while Verhoeven was a member in good standing, there was little evidence for the view that Jesus was illegitimate.

Crossan said the claim was first reported in a polemic written in the second century against the Book of Matthew, intended for a Jewish audience.

“It’s an obvious first retort to claims that Mary was a virgin,” Crossan said. “If you wanted to do a hatchet job on Jesus’ reputation, this would be the way.”

The most likely scenario for people who don’t accept that Jesus was literally the son of God and had no human father is simply that he was the son of Joseph, Crossan said.

Sterk said the book would be translated into English in 2009. Verhoeven hopes it will be a springboard for him to raise interest in making a film along the same lines, she said.

Verhoeven, 69, has dreamed of making a movie about Jesus’ life for decades, she said.

Asked whether it would be difficult to follow Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” and Martin Scorsese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ,” she said Verhoeven knew he might be somewhat late to market.

“He is painfully aware of that,” she said. “However, he has quite a different angle.”

What we have here is a guy who is desperately trying to make money by creating controversy. His claims are so outrageous and self-serving that they get attention. He’s 69 years old - a turning point age - and he’s dreamed of making a movie about the life of Jesus for many years. He’s desperate, and this is the only way he can get the attention he seeks and make his dream of a movie about Jesus a possibility. And he admits that he hopes his book will be “a springboard” to raising enough money to make the movie.

There’s no surprise then. It all comes down to money - and attention (i.e. fame).

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