In case you are wondering, yes, I do want one of these.

Did Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger just called his own state Cauliflornia in the opening moments of the Republican Convention?

I know that the conventions — both Republican and Democrat — should be important to me, but I kind of feel like Ron Popeil is about to sell me a Veg-O-Matic.

One word: Scrubs.

It’s not often that I can say that I have a somewhat personal connection to a Christian contemporary music recording artist who has a hit song written by a person who was in a band that I once saw at a coffee shop in my hometown.

Yep. It’s not often that I can say that.

So here’s the connection: Chris Tomlin recently released the single Indescribable which was written by Laura Story who once was a member of the band Silers Bald which long ago played at a coffee shop in my hometown of Georgetown, Texas. I saw Silers Bald play that night and might have even helped load the van afterwards. (Kevin Bacon was no where near the scene.)

Laura Story is the person I wanted to highlight in all of that convoluted musical lineage. She is an incredibly gifted songwriter and musician who I expect will be at the top of the charts with her own album in the very near future. God has blessed her immensely, and He brings blessings to all those who hear her music.

According to Laura’s agency website, she is currently working on a six song EP produced by Mitch Dane [producer for such artists as Bebo Norman and Jars of Clay]. The album is due for an early December release.

“Indescribable one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. I instantly fell in love with it because of the grandness it paints of God. The expressions of God in the song are so big. In my head, I heard this song being sung in an arena full of people screaming it to God.” — Chris Tomlin

Indescribable is currently available as a single on the iTunes Music Store. Go get it now if you can! It is well worth it!

Chris Tomlin’s full album Arriving will be released on September 21st. Pre-orders are being taken now. (I feel like a salesperson. I should be getting commission on this.)

I’ll keep you posted on Laura Story’s album.

It is important to note that Taco Cabana burritos are wrapped in foil.

I mention this because I had forgotten that little fact before I placed a leftover bean-and-cheese burrito into my microwave over the weekend. After punching in 4 minutes and hitting the start button, I had taken about 5 steps away from the kitchen when my mind began to wonder what might be creating the crackling and zapping noises behind me.

Immediately, I figured out that the small flame coupled with the crackling and zapping sounds were certain clues that the wrapper was not just a paper wrapper as I had previously assumed but was indeed composed of metal foil.

Anyone know how to remove a small burn mark from the interior of a microwave oven?

As I drove about town earlier this evening in search of nourishment and assorted sundries, I tuned the radio into Praire Home Companion. The show was a re-broadcast which first aired in December 2002.

About halfway through the broadcast, Garrison Keillor, the show’s host, talked with Billy Collins, the Poet Laureate of the United States. Mr. Collins read three of his poems: Dharma, Litany, and Forgetfulness.

[You can listen to the segment from the show with RealPlayer. Play segment.]

I was struck by Mr. Collins poignant thoughts as well as his sense of humor and sarcasm. I especially like Litany.

Until today, I hadn’t really considered whether or not the United States had an official poet laureate. I am happy to know that Billy Collins is the holder of that title. It is well deserved.

I Chop Some Parsley While Listening to Art Blakey’s Version of “Three Blind Mice”

Another reason why I don’t keep a gun in the house

Nostalgia

My prayer this night is to grow in increasing measure as Peter did.

This is the man who stepped out onto the water with his Lord. This is the man who was frightened by the waves.

This is the man who said he would never deny his Lord. This is the man who did.

This is the man who wrote the words of I and II Peter. This is a man of faith.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-11

I don’t take no guff from no one.

Well, I wouldn’t if I only knew what guffs looked like.

As I explained in April, a meme in blogging terms is simply an idea that is shared and passed from blog to blog.

Here’s the instructions:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.

“The inexpensive meters will not be able to distinguish 1 ohm from 10 ohms and you will have to purchase a $25 to $30 meter to distinguish these low resistances.” — from Successful Air Conditioning & Refrigerator Repair by Roger A. Fischer

I don’t own an inexpensive meter. I’m not particularly interested in distinguishing low resistance from any other kind of resistance. I am only vaguely familiar with what an ohm might be.

I can state for a fact that I’ve never repaired an air conditioner or refrigerator in my life. Unless, of course, kicking a broken machine is considered repair.

The former sheriff of Williamson County, Texas, ended up in jail not once but twice in a 24 hour period this week. [Google News: Maspero].

This time the incident was less of a public issue, but I thought it was worth noting here anyways.

Previous writings about John Maspero on Peachwater.com.