10.5.6: First problem
Posted by Gordy | Filed under Geek
When 10.5.6 came out, I made sure to download the update as soon as I got home from work. While my update went rather smoothly, TUAW has reported about others that haven’t been so fortunate.
Just then, I found something I didn’t like. Apparently, Apple decided to go with the ultra-minimalistic approach to the battery drop-down from the Toolbar. As you can see, there’s no longer any selections for better battery life, custom, etc…
Where's my options?!
I have to say, I think this is a downgrade in the functionality department. I actually loved being able to switch battery usages on the fly when I knew I wouldn’t be able to charge up for a while when out and about. This isn’t a help for me, and I want it to go back. If there are “ears that hear” over at Apple, then please let them hear!
Tags: 10.5.6, apple, battery, menu, toolbar
Club Jesus
Posted by Gordy | Filed under Spirituality
The other day, some friends and I were talking about how people tend to act cliquish in regards toward religious faiths or denominations. I have actually been thinking a lot about this. I have some concerns about this mainly because I can sometimes see myself as the guilty party. I want to discuss some of my thoughts on this issue.
It’s come to my attention that people who are religious are, it seems, taught to have a thought process based on exclusivity. While it’s true that everyone is guilty of adopting this mindset to a certain degree, I’m afraid us religious folk are among the guiltiest. I know that in my life, I can honestly see that there is at least some truth to this.
Fan-Clubs
A friend of mine, Ed, came up with an incredible allegory to illustrate this idea. He comically uses The Foo Fighters in his illustration because they had just played in Pensacola when he came up with it. It goes as follows.
The Foo Fighters come to town and play a show. Later, you see someone in a record store looking at Foo Fighters CDs. You two discuss how much you like the Foo Fighters music and how their shows are phenomenally intense. There’s two options, now. Option number one is to go about you day knowing that you and someone else shared your admiration for the Foo Fighters and left it at that. Option number two is to start a fan-club.
What’s wrong with that?”
Here’s the deal. When you start a fan-club, there is “some assembly required.” You have to set up the do’s, don’ts, missions statements, etc… Now that you have that done, one of you decides that you no longer like the rules. You two argue with each other to the point where one of you decides to leave the club and start your own. Not only that, but now you two have others fighting over who the greatest fans of The Foo Fighters really are.
Did you see what just happened? Denominationalism. Does that sound familiar? I think so. So what’s the big deal? Is it really that bad? Well when it comes to religion, apparently it is.
You see, when one buys into this fan-club mentality they tend to label, judge, and exclude others who aren’t a member. Excluding people that don’t size up to your standards is what keeps the club going. The worst part about all of this isn’t actually that it’s done; the worst part is that we’ll defend all of it. We will side with our egos and refuse to admit that this is a serious problem in the brotherhood.
Who’s to blame?
There are some things we do or say that help to divide Christianity even more. Here are some accurate examples that are practiced:
- Paying to much attention to what the sign outside says.
If the sign outside says one thing, we don’t like talking to anyone else whose sign doesn’t say the same thing. This is most assuredly something that makes Jesus smile. Think about it: Is it possible for a church to have “Church of Christ” on the sign and still be one that practices things deemed unscriptural or even “wrong?” That was a rhetorical question because they answers is yes. Here’s a real one: If the sign on the outside can’t save you, then what’s to say a simple sign can condemn you? It can’t.
- When we use the term “christian”, we actually mean “member.”
This one is pretty much cut-and-dry. When you subscribe to a fan-club, you will most likely use some terminology that divides people. It’s as if ones who aren’t members have somehow become “class B” people. This is ridiculous.
- We ask about a person, “Are they a member of The Church?”
My use of capitalization shows the tremendous egotism of that thought process. In my religious upbringing, the use of the term “The Church” actually means “Church of Christ” and only that. Isn’t this arrogant? Again, another tool for the promotion of an in-group/out-group mentality.
Brethren, unite!
Think about how much we have in common with the churches. Most of the reasons we exclude ourselves (clapping, instruments, etc…) are things that Jesus never really talked about anyway, which lets you know just how important they are. Must we divide ourselves so maliciously? Do we really know about Jesus more than any other group? Why are we constantly concentrating on the very small list of things that divide us? Instead, shouldn’t we focus on the things that unite us?
What about Jesus? Have we forgotten how to truly live just like Him? Would he divide people like us? Would Jesus ever refuse to associate with anyone? If you’re truly honest with yourself, I think you’ll admit that He wouldn’t. We need to start tearing down some walls that have hurt His message of love. I will begin doing my part. I hope that you will do the same.
Tags: brotherhood, Christ, church, club, denomination, division, exclusive, Jesus, love, message
USB 3.0 lives!
Posted by Gordy | Filed under Geek
About 14 months ago, Intel started talking it up about the new USB 3.0, named “SuperSpeed.” The supposed speeds, which are yet to be official (until next Monday), are outstanding! What say you, FireWire?
Read the whole thing here.
BTW Apple, I’ll take about 3 or 4 of those on my free Mac Pro thanks.
Tags: 3.0, firewire, Gbps, usb
Why I’m Excited about Obama
Posted by Gordy | Filed under Politics
First off, I wanna be clear about something. I did not vote for Obama; the truth, however, is that I was secretly more excited about him than I was with McSame. Okay, now that I have that out of the way…
The election is finally over, I can now concentrate on a transition of which I’m very thrilled about: from Bush to Obama. Finally, I can say goodbye to the Bush regime; and thank goodness! I can proudly say that the very thought of doing that makes me feel so much better. I welcome Obama, and his supposed changes. Although there’s several ideas Obama has that I can’t, in good conscience, agree with (spreading wealth to people who don’t work for it etc…), I’m still anxious about some of the other changes that will come with Obama’s Presidency. Here are a few reasons why I’m excited about it.
1. I’m excited at the idea of our illegal war coming to an end. We’re simply spending too much money policing the entire world. For example, did you know that the American Empire (because empire is a great term here) has over 760 military bases across the globe? That’s just too much. Period. Just think of how all that money could be used over here instead of wasting it over there on a no-win war!
2. I’m excited about the idea of restoring Habeas Corpus. We need to legalize the Constitution again! Bush killed it when things like The Patriot Act and The Military Commissions Act were built. Obama wants to restore it as well as close Guantanamo. Watch this. While I’m at it, I want to say something about torture (i.e. water boarding) : it’s wrong as well as inhumane. Obama will get my support because he agrees with me on this issue.
3. On a lighter note, I’m very excited about the idea that this Presidency will almost certainly be the most technologically minded one. For example, Obama is clearly a man who has some “green” ideas. Now while I don’t believe the science for global warming is really there, I do believe that we should make some steps leaps toward cleaner energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal. Not only that, but Obama has a Top 5 Technology Promises list that you can view here. I’m excited about those. Also, Obama’s team was caught red-handed on Election night sporting Apple gear. Can we say “EPIC WIN!”
Tags: bush, change, constitution, energy, geo thermal, illegal, money, obama, president, solar, torture, war, wind
Letter to Obama
Posted by Gordy | Filed under Politics
Dear Mr. Obama,
First of all I’d like to say congratulations to you for winning the 2008 Presidential Election. You have triumphed as the first African-American President in the United States. You’re going to go down in the history of time for what you have accomplished. Your legacy is going to be of untold scale. Be proud of yourself Mr. Obama because you are the President of the United States, and you are my President. Although I did not vote for you, I hope and that you do a good job and that you uphold the Constitution of this great Country. Again Mr. Obama I say to you congratulations.
A Patriot,
Jordan Moorer