So I connect my iPod to my PC the other day and I get this message that says there is a firmware update for my device. I download the update and run it. There are two options: 1) update the iPod, or 2) wipe the iPod clean. I choose the first one and what happens? My iPod is now blank. To make matters worse iTunes does not recognize the iPod AT ALL. When I connect it the screen says, “Do not disconnect,” as if something is actually happening. If there is one thing I hate about computers and technology it is situations like this. So much for doing anything productive tonight.

The Four Things meme is really sweeping the blogosphere. I was at Andrew Hamann’s blog and noticed that he chose the same title for his post as mine (Cuatro Cosas). So I started clicking back through all of the referrals. I came across some pretty interesting blogs–including several I had visited before. However, I stopped after encountering yet another quiz (you know I am a sucker for them).

I might as well have been an only child as my closest sibling was thirteen years older. Now, back to writing that self-help book.

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated. At work and school, you do best when you’re organizing. When you love someone, you tend to worry about them. In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic. Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management. You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

I stumbled across some unreleased Sufjan Stevens tracks by way of Illman’s comment on Irresponsible Journalism. If you are a Sufjan fan then go to I Guess I’m Floating and download them now.

Perhaps you have heard the story about the atheist suing the parish priest in Italy? This from the plaintiff’s website:

It is the first time in the history of mankind that a religion is prosecuted directly in a law case that will end with a verdict regarding specific and defined crimes, which is the abuse of popular credulity and belief (article 661, Italian criminal code) and the substitution of person (494, Italian criminal code).

Our pastor brought this up yesterday in his sermon series on Acts. The passage was coincidentally on a similar trial (so much for the first time in history part). In Acts chapter four, Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin for “teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead” (v. 2).

As those “uneducated and common men” were emboldened by the Spirit, they knew that people cannot resist the promises and purposes of God. Even this modern day trial–as absurd as it may sound–will only further God’s purposes. “…God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…” (1Cor. 1:27).

I mentioned in passing that I was going to a gun show today. For the two or three people who read my blog and are into guns; this recap is for you.

The main reason I went was to catch up in person on many of the guns that have hit the market since the last time I went to a gun show (sometime in the late 90′s with Robert). While I read the gun mags, there is something to be said about seeing and handling them in person.

• The gun show was well attended, but there seemed to be fewer dealers. I wish I had known about the Eastman show in Dalton, GA.
• The Springfield XD feels cheap and has too tall of a grip in the rear.
• Someday I want to build an AR-15 carbine using custom parts.
• Before then I want to get an AK-47, if only for its historical value. I handled a Yugoslavian made AK with a folding stock. It was bad to the bone.
• The Kel-Tec Sub Rifle is heavier than I expected.
• The Beretta Bobcat is a lot bigger than it looks in the pictures. The Kel-Tec P32 is smaller, slimmer and lighter; plus it shoots a more powerful round.
• The Taurus Millenium Pro is a disappointment over the original Millenium. My PT-111 fits my hand perfectly, but the Pro in comparison sits high in the hand and has a less natural grip angle.
• The Steyer Pistol M1-A is a nice gun that feels like an extension of your hand. Unfortunately, like many of the semi-auto handguns it has too shallow of a handle for me. That is, the distance between the trigger and the backstrap is too small, which means I end up having to scrunch my trigger finger to fire.
• The Walther P99 is a fast gun and also has an adjustable grip that fits me better than anyting else I tried. I want one. The Smith & Wesson S990LW knock-off feels like junk in comparison.
• Aidan is going to get a Henry Mini Bolt .22 cal rifle from me before he turns ten.

Most importantly of all I did not buy anything at the show. I wanted to, but permission was not granted. However, one dealer told me that he could guarantee that if my act of buying a gun caused my wife to shoot me, then they would send me flowers.