1. Yes, Disney Hates Fat People (or so the  National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance would have you believe). Two things about this. One: Why the heck would Disney have a “Healthy Habits” ride/display/etc? I thought Disney was, you know, “fun.” Two; NAAFA? Really?

2. According to the Pew Research Center, we live hyperconnected lives. This may be a good thing. then again, it might not. But hey, squirrel!

3. Gorditas de Chile Colorado? Um, yes please! Seriously. I think I have to make these this weekend.

4. Why We Stopped Dreaming is a fascinating find by Flying With Fish. You presidents that defunded NASA? Yeah, I hate you.

5. I’m old enough to remember the Encyclopedia Britannica being a thing. And having one on the bookshelf!

And yes, that is indeed all I have for you today. My utmost of apologies.

So, without much further ado…a few things I think:

1. I’m still disappointed Rick Perry dropped out. Sue me.
2. Stupid shouldn’t breed.
3. I made a really awesome hanging lamp a couple weeks ago. So there’s that.
4. I’m tired of talking about birth control. Gardasil, anyone?
5. Much as I’m sad to see Wakefield go, it was time. I’m just glad he made it to 200 wins.
6. I’ve decided I want to be President, if only for all the vacations.
6. If you’re in Hampton Roads and looking for something to do this weekend, check out the Renew Conference. I’ll be there!

Mullins was a bit of the cantankerous sort. He was raised a Quaker, spent his adult life at a very popular Protestant church in Wichita, KS and was contemplating a converstion to Catholicism shortly before his untimely death. He didn’t always subscribe to social norms and, in fact, spent the last year or so before his death on a Navajo reservation.

One of his quotes seems particularly apropos as I see Romney’s “Mormon Problem” play out in my twitter timeline. It seems Mullins hit on the crux of the matter. And while it is all too simple, I believe it is truly the heart of what separates us as Christians, Mormons, Episcopalians, etc. Sure, we have our own books and doctrines and I do not mean to minimize any tradition; but please, consider what Mullins has to say (emphasis mine).

“A lot of the stuff which I thought was so different between Protestants and Catholics [was] not, but at the end of going through an RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults] course, I also realized that there are some real and significant differences. I’m not sure which side of the issues I come down on. My openness to Catholicism was very scary to me because, when you grow up in a church where they don’t even put up a cross, many things were foreign to me. I went to an older Protestant gentleman that I’ve respected for years and years, and I asked him, “When does faithfulness to Jesus call us to lay aside our biases and when does it call us to stand beside them?” His answer to me was that it is not about being Catholic or Protestant. It is about being faithful to Jesus. The issue is not about which church you go to, it is about following Jesus where He leads you.”

-Rich Mullins Radio Interview on ‘The Exchange,” April 1997

Me, I blew leaves off the driveway till I ran out of gas. And then ate steak.

1. If you read NOTHING else today, read this from Cal Thomas wherein he pokes all kinds of holes in Obama’s academic theorist appointments and Krueger’s in particular.
2. While I think the advice in this article is a bit out of touch in today’s tough economy, there is something to be said about loving your job.
3. Follow that up with Zen Habits’ post on changing careers, and I think the universe is trying to tell me something.
4. Looking to earn some extra cash? There’s this thing called social media that may offer a few opportunities.
5. Some archeaologists found a gladiator school. That’s pretty awesome.
6. The Christian Science Monitor is calling for another stimulus? Apparently they’ve been reading a little to much Krugman.
7. I wish I took awesome photos like this one.
8. Bearing Drift wonders if Cuccinelli would challenge Bolling for the Virginia GOP gubernatorial nod. I sure hope not.
9. And one last pretty picture. Because I can. And because the East Coast doesn’t get lightning storms.

Confession:

Creator God, maker of heaven and earth, You provide for us all things. Everything we have is from your hand. You satisfy our hearts with food and gladness.

But, we confess that we ignore your goodness to us. We have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped vain things. Our anxieties reveal our worship of reputation, power, prestige, popularity, career, grades, achievements, security, happiness, and possessions.

Spirit of God, let us worship the true and living God. Open our eyes so that we may turn from the worship of created things.

Grace:

from Psalm 130:3-4

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

1. Gosh this picture is gorgeous.
2. If I ever took a vacation, this is totally the auto-responder I would use.
3. He doesn’t post often, but I absolutely love this EDC site.
4. While I love my hoodies, @wbdnewton has some great thoughts on “Going Casual.”
5. Don’t ask me why, but I was a huge Atlanta Braves fan as a child (understandable when the hometown team is the Royals). So I’m excited that Chipper got his 450th homerun. Oh, and Derek Lowe hit his first.
6. At $99, the HP Touchpad is a pretty darn good deal. Now what do you do with it? Here are a few ideas (me, I’m holding out for the Amazon tablet).
7. Do you use Swagbucks yet? You should be. That’s how I’m going to pay for that Amazon tablet. Sign up here.
8. If you haven’t noticed, I really like pictures. This is no exception.
9. Fizzy milk? Really?

1. Power is pretty high on my list of must-haves. My freezer is a lost cause and I believe the same can be said for my aquarium. Rumor has it I need to investigate battery powered aerators.

2. Irene was not “over-hyped.” She did an awful lot of damage, including four deaths in Virginia. Was she as bad as expected? No. But it always pays to be prepared.

3. I’m not a particularly huge fan of living in Southeast Virginia. It’s the world’s biggest durn cul-de-sac and blocked tunnels are the bane of my existence.

4. I’m extremely grateful for family who have power and live close enough to put me up until I get power back.

5. I would occasionally like to live further away from said family. Love ya Mom!

6. This news about Google + should provide anyone pause. Tinfoil hat NOT required.

7. I absolutely love this picture.

8. Some thoughts on Steve Jobs.

9. Go buy a Gibson Guitar.

So, without further ado.

1. The resignation of Steve Jobs is nothing to fear. Here’s why.
2. When the Navy sends the ships out to sea, you might want to pay attention to the hurricane.
3. This picture really does say it all.
4. And this picture made me smile.
5. Glen Asbury makes some very good pro-Perry points over here.
6. I’m pretty sure Dick Cheney’s memoir is the must-read of the year.
7. Only a Yankee would honeymoon in Afghanistan. (kudos as it’s a USO tour)

And that’s all I think I think. For today anyway. If ya live on the East Coast, hunker down y’all!

1. Pneumonia really sucks. The only thing worse, in my experience, is shigella.
2. Hurricanes give me the willies. The will it or won’t it is enough to make me want to move.
3. The construction industry is dead. Really dead.
4. They do NOT make vacuums like they used to. My parents’ is going on 30+ years. Me? I replace them every 5.
5. Sarah Palin’s need to dominate the news cycle is terrible for the Republican Party.
6. If I were Gaddafi (Qaddafi, etc), I would not have stopped at Colonel. Heck, as a dictator, the sky is the limit. Generalissimo has a nice ring, don’t ya think?
7. The French want to pay higher taxes? Let them. And remember, Warren Buffett can help the U.S too. Oh, and he’s a hypocrite.
8. The wildfire in the Great Dismal Swamp? You can see it from space now. So, um, take that.
9. The irony, it is strong in this one.
10. Aid for Libya? I’m sad to see the U.S. is at the table.

Bonus: I am loving this song right now. 

The second does not involve any frying, but is certainly no better for you. (I’m sensing a theme). It’s as sinfully delicious as it is easy and guaranteed to wreak havoc on your arteries. As in everything, moderation.

Hot Sausage Dip

• One package Jimmy Dean Sausage, any flavor. (I use hot)
• One can Rotel, drained
• Two packages of cream cheese, softened

Brown sausage, drain and cool slightly
Mix the rest of the ingredients together and bake until hot and bubbly.
Serve with Fritos Scoops. (I prefer tortilla chips)

Enjoy!