Vista on a Mac… ooops.

You gotta read this one over at Engadget. Apparently Microsoft Vista was demoed on an iMac overseas.

Zimbabwe injustice

I’ve just today learned about the story that continues to develop regarding the arrest of some Zimbabwe pastors. Thanks to Kiki for keeping us posted on things. As you pray for the body of Christ today, please remember these saints.

Disney, Day Last (7)

On one hand, I think Caro and I are ready to come home. On the other, I can certainly agree with our kids in wanting “just one more day.” Our week here in Orlando is up, and we’ll board a Southwest flight tomorrow to head back to Little Rock (via Houston, go figure).

Today we slept a little late again and then headed to the remaining, unconquered theme park, Disney’s Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow). Arriving about 10:30 a.m., we sank our touristy teeth into some of the prime attractions right away. That means we shot for Mars in Mission Space and then Test Track. I swear my lips morphed back behind my ears in the amazing simulation of a lift off in the former. This was another ride in which Sam suddenly developed a stomach ache as we began strapping in. He said, “I’ve gotta get off this thing.” I didn’t much blame him when I noticed the provided vomit bags located right in front of us. It was the only Disney ride we were on that had them. Not an encouraging beginning.

On the latter ride, we accelerated to 60 mph in a curve to demonstrate the a race track. In this open air car simulation, it felt more like 160 mph. Adelyn was the one to hide her head behind my arm on this ride. However, I heard Carolyn say from the back seat upon our arrival back at the unloading zone, “My teeth are dry.” Hmmm, I thought, mine were too. Who has ever thought that your teeth could get dry? It was such a novel concept that I thought about it all the way out of the building. I distinctly remember still thinking about it in the gift shop a few minutes later. Weird. Dry teeth. Next time you’re travelling fast with your mouth open, see if your teeth don’t get dry too.

We ate another whole-body experience lunch. (Day 3, last paragraph) Then we proceeded to the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience show. It was really cool. One of several experiences that you got to wear 3-D glasses on. And I’ll admit that I don’t guess I’ve ever experienced good 3-D before, because in just about every Disney show here, I’ve jumped or inadvertently yelled like a girl at something I was sure was gonna get me. In fact, (and I digress to Animal Kingdom Day) the It’s a Bugs Life show was simply amazing. Not only was it 3-D, but at one point, they warned you about the swarm of wasps loose on the audience. In the next moment, your seat jabs you in the back (prompting another girly scream). In Shrunk, mice are released to run along the floor, and you literally think there are creatures running around under your chair as air jets shoot powerful missile bursts at your legs.

It was at this attraction that my running commentary began for the day that seemed to irk Carolyn. We were herded into a large room, shoulder to shoulder (with no seats) and then told to basically keep squeezing in. With that many folks in there, it was gonna get smelly and hot quick. There were plasmas (about 12) hanging from the ceiling. At some point, the show started, but it had nothing to do with Shrunk. It was basically a commercial for Kodak (who sponsored Shrunk), charming, but still a commercial. Then and only then, were we ushered into the theater in the next room and given our high tech seats. My snide comments about having to stand in a hot room with 500 other folks just to watch a commercial were not wel-received. Shrunk stood on its own and was actually a huge show. Don’t miss it if you go. But also, don’t hesitate to drift to the left of the large room and slip behind the curtain into the theater next door. It’s nice and cool, and a commercial about pictures is apparently not worth a thousand words from an irritated husband/dad.

We proceeded around the Circle of Nations, or whatever it’s called, and truly enjoyed our day. Carolyn had to keep reminding me that Epcot was different than the other parks and not full of hype and action. It was a very leisurely, slow, enjoyable encounter. However, I left there this evening with the feeling that of all the parks, Epcot was the least enchanted. I’m sure others would disagree with me, but I was so enamored with the other parks, that Epcot just didn’t do it for me. Was it cool? Absolutely! Magical? Its wand was a little short to me.

The kids had a great time creating masks that were given to them at the first country stop, at a “Kidcot Stop.” In each country, all the workers there were really from that country, and so the kids enjoyed talking to the helpers at each Kidcot Stop. Adelyn said at Japan that the lady there “was trying really hard to talk like us.” At the UK stop, she came away giggling and had a rather good impersonation of a British accent. At each place, their mask was stamped, and at the last stop, they were given a poster that was pretty cool. Their mask creations were both indicative of their personalities, and they really enjoyed the total experience.

We saw some amazing Chinese acrobats that I’m pretty sure had no spines. Normal people cannot bend that way.

We ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant that was just fantastic, and after completing our whirlwind, round-the-world tour, we headed back to the Pop Century Hotel Complex. It was probably an overall comment on either a) how tired we were, or b) that we had fun but didn’t anticipate being overly impressed by the fact that we didn’t stay for the concluding fireworks display at Epcot.

As usual, you can check out the pix at Flickr.

Oh, and check out these funny video cards we sent to family from Mission Space’s computer kiosk (1, 2, 3).

Disney, Day 6

Thursday: Destination Disney/MGM Studios. Talk about eclectic. There was something at MGM for everyone. Star Wars, Narnia, an Indiana Jones stunt show, a motor sports stunt show, roller coasters, Disney history, and fun-filled “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” playground. Wow.

Our first stop was the Tower of Terror. We had to endure Sam saying, “I don’t want to do this,” the entire time, knowing that he would be saying, “That was awesome! Can we do it again?!” immediately after its conclusion. Indeed, we’re psychic. I must say that I left a lung somewhere on the aforementioned ride.

The stunt shows were particularly amazing. We really felt like we were behind the scenes, watching the film makers create high intensity action scenes. The cast were downright funny, and I even turned down the opportunity to “star” in an action scene from Pearl Harbor. (I’d seen how “volunteers” got soaked and joked in other situations.)

On the whole, however, I have to admit it was the first day that just didn’t have the full “magic” of the other parks and places we’d been. Although I caught myself actually swaying a tad to the High School Musical outdoor show (which was truly amazing), the Narnia backstage pass event was little more than an elaborate movie preview. You walked in to this amazing set reproduction, got your hopes up when a live actor dressed as the evil queen appeared to threaten you, only to have all hopes previously raised dashed immensely as you commenced to simply watch scenes from the movie unfold on a big screen.

Caro and Sam rode the Rock and Roll Roller Coaster while I took Adelyn to a fantastic stage production of The Little Mermaid. It was pretty amazing to watch them project video onto a sheet of water vapor (more on that in a minute).

As park closing (7:00) neared, we herded our way with thousands of others to an outdoor amphitheater to watch a downright marvelous laser and pyrotechnics display. Here, they shot a wall of water vapor about 100 feet into the air (or did it shoot down?) in three different places, so that the entire theater could see one. The backdrop of a mountain was behind it all, and Team Disney projected scenes, mainly from Fantasia, on the vapor, alternating that with live action performances by Mickey and other characters. Whether they were on the mountain backdrop or floating in front of the audience in boats in the large moat-type thing, it was truly amazing.

Personally, I was more enthralled with the technical display than the actual storyline. It didn’t quite have the childhood simplicity and innocence of the other parks we’d been to. In fact, what the heck is Fantasia all about anyway? It’s probably the only Disney movie I’ve never seen, and don’t plan to. It seems a dark-ish affair, and the villain frankly reminds me of Beelzebub. It’s a little unnerving.

However, I will say that MGM/Disney is a must-see. While not on the same level of enchantment as the other parks, it sure rates for family delight, entertainment and down-right fun. In addition, you just can’t do it in a day. We left wanting more.

Again, you can see pix at Flickr.

Disney, Day 5

Wow. C’mon people, we’re on vacation! ;) I neglected to post yesterday’s activities and received a flood of perturbed emails. I know you’re all vicariously living life through us right now, but please, remember patience.

Wednesday (Day 5) was, well, an extension of our magical experience. I can’t come up with enough adjectives to spread thickly on our day’s description. I remember thinking on Monday (Day 3) that surely I was going to come to a point that it was not new, that I’d “done” Disney World. However, that point has not been reached (and I’m writing on Day 6). Wednesday was as full of surprise, delight, and sheer enjoyment as any other day since we’ve been here.

We had actually planned our trip so that we would be here during the Superbowl and the week after. Sam and I brought all the Colts and Bears football cards we could find and planned on stalking the Superbowl MVP. For the past umpteen years, the MVP comes to DW or DL the week after the Big Game. However, for some reason, (and no one’s talking) this year was different. Peyton Manning did not show. However, Colts’ Coach Tony Dungy and their running back, Dominic Rhodes did show up on Wednesday! We’d been calling the concierge every day to find out when the parade would be held, and on Wednesday morning, we got the word.

We changed our destination plans and headed back to the Magic Kingdom in order to be there for that. We stumbled upon a roped-off area around 11:45 a.m. and were told that the guest stars would be there at 12:30 p.m. Long story short… they finally showed, and no one was disappointed. As they were herded off the makeshift field to prepare for the parade, I had steered Sam to be right where they exited. At that point, I said, “Dominic!” and shoved Sam’s player card in his hand. His “handlers” urged to to let him pass, that he was in a rush, but Rhodes was classy and stopped to sign the card. You won’t believe the next part. To our dismay, Sam’s pen wouldn’t write on the football card. He tried both sides, and then was forced to be hurried out of the area.

Although we were both very disappointed, it was worth it. Now we have a Dominic Rhodes card that he has actually touched. I’m trying to talk Sam into putting it on Ebay for a million or so.

After the Rhodes fiasco, we headed into the park and had a great time catching a few shows, riding Big Thunder Mountain, visiting the Hall of Presidents before winding up with a three-course dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Castle. It was tres fancie, and we all loved it. They called Adelyn “princess” and called Sam “prince” and Carolyn “my lady” and me, of course, they called, “my lord.” Remember that, people, or I’ll have to say, “Off with your head!”

After an incredible meal, dining in the castle, we headed outside just in time to catch the evening’s fireworks display. Sitting in front of the castle, listening to the music and watching the amazing sight of what had previously only been seen on TV screens was almost too much. My eyes got a little wet from something; must have been dew. However, the entire show is simply one of those special life moments spent with your family that you cannot forget.

Disney, Day 4

Wow. Just when you think a day can’t get any better, when you’re on the verge of declaring yourself impressed to the max, when you sense you are at an enchantment overload… it gets better. We slept in a little this a.m., to about 8:30. We were on a bus, then a monorail by 9:30, heading to Chef Mickey’s, a breakfast buffet where the characters from Disney make stops at every table for a few hugs, laughs, and autographs.

Not only were the mini-Mickey waffles a forcible two-trip delicacy, but the hospitality and warmth of the place made you want to sit there for the day, coffee in hand, and simply watch the myriad faces of children light up upon special attention and affection from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Our kids were treated (for a few brief moments) as if they were the most important kids in the place. We ate it up, and I don’t think anyone cared that Caro and I were flashing the entire restaurant (with our cameras).

From there, we headed to Animal Kingdom. I had no idea it was as huge as the Magic Kingdom. Nor so amazing. We took a safari ride in a real truck with about 20 other folks and saw the whole gamut of African wildlife. Lions, and tigers and wildebeests, oh my.

We stepped from amazement to delight to astonishment seamlessly. Around one corner was a provocative ooooo, and just around the next was the proverbial aaaaaaah. If it had been warm enough for flies, my mouth would have been full of them. My jaw was sore from dropping.

The highlight of the day for me was the 4:00 parade through the Animal Kingdom. It was simply mesmerizing. If you’ve ever seen the Disney Broadway musical Lion King, then you have an idea of the eyepopping engineering that Disney is capable of producing to create animals that sway, lope, and act like real ones – all out of sticks, poles, and canvas. The parade featured no less than 15 Disney characters and probably 20 floats/animals that had the crowd lining both sides of the street chorusing their delight. I think Caro took 100 pictures.

We returned to the hotel to eat and are now winding down for the evening. What magic will tomorrow hold?

Keep checking Flickr for updated Disney pix.

Disney, Day 3

With overcast skies for the third straight day and much lower than normal temps, we headed to Downtown Disney today. It’s a Disney-lover’s shopping ecstasy. Everything Mickey. Few things Donald. I was deeply offended. As, I’m sure, Donald is.

One thing I remembered about yesterday was getting my picture made with Donald. Ahhhh… it was the highlight of a lifetime. I don’t know why, but DD and I have always seen eye to eye. A kid in line after me approached Donald for an autograph. His pen had a bobble Mickey on top of it. Donald pitched a fit about it. As he should have. He’s far funnier and has much more personality than Mickey. Mickey is just a nice, bland, well, mouse.

Moving right along. We spent just about the entire day at Disney Quest. It’s a video game warehouse. For those with the Disney package, it’s part of it In other words, you walk in, scan your card, and play all day for free. Not only did they have classic games like Qbert, Joust, and Donkey Kong, but they had amazing, experiential, technologically-astounding ones as well.

Sam enjoyed one where you wear this virtual helmet and then fight with a light-sabre-ish sword against these space creature thingies. I did it with him, but about 30 seconds into the game, I had broken out into a raging sweat (probably from swinging the sword franctically back and forth at an inhuman rate). I was under attack from all sides, and I realized the universe depended solely on me. I couldn’t see Sam and didn’t know if he had my back or not. Perhaps 30 more seconds into the game, and I arrived at a strategic response to the insane sensory stimuli I was receiving: focus on not throwing up. Really. I don’t know what happened, but amid the sweat, I ceased to be terrorized by space monkeys and began focusing an extreme amount of concentration on my rising nausea.

I wondered if I would be able to see my projectile puke as digitized in this digital world I was in. I wondered how many others, if any, middle-aged, balding dads had thrown up in the middle of this game. I wondered where to turn my head. It was all I could think of. When the game ended, I ripped my helmet off and vigorously headed to the nearest bathroom. Nothing. After a few moments, the intensity faded, but for the next couple of hours, I was acutely aware that my stomach was deeply unhappy with my virtual experience. It seemed to be saying, “Just try that one again, big boy, and you’ll regret it.” I told Caro, “No more helmet games.”

Another observation we made, I think it was yesterday, was how goooood the food is here. Whether you’re eating hot dogs, hamburgers, or a chicken wrap, it is all good. (Unless you’ve just been battling space creatures wearing a virtual reality helmet.) Caro and I concluded that the food is good because it’s a whole-body experience. You’re so stinking tired from walking everywhere, that sitting down to eat produces this culinary and restful sensation that just overwhelms your tastebuds. You could probably eat raw turnips and moan with delight about how good they are. It’s a little known Disney secret.

By the way, sometime during the afternoon, Carolyn slipped away. I found her here…

Disney Day 1-2

Howdy! The Noble-keteers arrived in Orlando singing It’s a Small World After All. We ran into Brian and Kristy Moore and their kids at the Little Rock airport, also bound for Disney World. They’ll be on our flight on our return, as well.

We arrived about 3:00 p.m. and were shuttled to DW about the Magical Express. Our luggage was supposed to follow us, no later than three hours after our arrival. Cool. They deliver it to your room. So we headed to the Magic Kingdom, took a brief stop in Tomorrow Land, watched the nightly parade, chowed down on some most excellent burgers and sundaes, and were enchanted by a majestic/magical fireworks display with Cinderella’s castle as the backdrop. This singular explosive extravaganza made Monticello’s July 4th lake display all wet by comparison. Actually there is no comparison.

About 9:00 (FL time; 10 p.m. AR time), we headed back to the hotel (Pop Century) and discovered that our luggage hadn’t been delivered yet. Exhausted, we called the front desk and then I made a trip down there to play good cop – bad cop. After 45 minutes of trying to figure out what had happened, I was assured there was a massive delay and it would be delivered sometime overnight. When I returned, Caro and the kids were just getting into their pj’s. The luggage had beat me back.

Sunday…

Continue reading »

Birth control

Leave it to Tim to attempt an entry, oops, article, about birth control…

Destination Disney World

In spite of the tragic tornadic activity in Florida last night, we’re still on go for our much-planned and anticipated trip to Walt Disney World. We gave the “kids” this trip as their main Christmas present, and after a month of waiting, we head to Little Rock this afternoon to stay overnight with my folks. Then it’s onboard a plan tomorrow a.m. for the flight to Orlando. We’re spending the next seven days there and plan to simply be. To laugh. To smile. To be delighted. No expectations other than togetherness.

I’ll be blogging from there, so we’re taking Notes on the road. Hope you’ll check back!

Hogging the broadband

Q: Why was Houston Nutt upset when the Arkansas Razorbacks play book was stolen?
A: Because he hadn’t finished coloring it.
Thanks for the email, AJ!

Loving your enemy

Can you take it too far?

A group of Baptist churches in Australia post “Jesus Loves Osama” banners on their buildings, and the Australian Prime Minister gets involved. PM John Howard said, “I understand the Christian motivation of the Baptist church, but I hope they will understand that a lot of Australians, including many Australian Christians, will think that the prayer priority of the church on this occasion could have been elsewhere.”

Read the article at the Christian Post here.
What think ye?

NFL breaks up church Super Bowl party

What the mess is RSS?

For those of you wondering what the big deal about is, then you need to go to Shawn’s excellent entry.

Here are some other quick sources for your perusal:

Trudy Shcuett @ about.com
Great, basic article over at PressFeed
Last, but not least, Wikipedia’s decent entry about RSS.

Experience vs. obedience

Alrighty! Let’s talk about the theology of scriptural authority for a moment. If you find your head drooping at this point, please click over to MonticelloLive or maybe even Engadget. I’d hate to be the guilty party that causes you to mar your monitor with forehead grease from a Notes-induced case of narcolepsy.

It’s been my observation through these recent dialogues that many Christians today appeal to experience as an authoritative source for matters of theology. The case goes something like this:

• I’ve experienced this (or have been around others who have), so it must be legit.

Other matters of Christian practice are also defended solely on one’s own authority. This argument goes something like this:

• I feel very strongly about this, and because I’m passionate about it, it must be right.

Both of these positions are unacceptable for the Christian. Matters of faith and practice should be based upon Scripture. Obedience to revealed truth trumps experience every time. This is not just an isolated flap in the wind. It’s a much bigger problem in American Christendom today than most folks realize.

My point is this: one should be wary of adhering to a position about Christian faith or practice that is not defensible scripturally. Our experiences and perceptions are too easily deceived. When scripture specifically addresses an issue, then the believer is bound to interpret his experiences through that scripture, not vice versa.

What do you use as your authority in making decisions? How often do you find yourself going with what would make you “feel better?” Or how about this, what/who do you turn to in order to receive advice and counsel most often? For believers in Christ, we miss the joy of surrendering our lives to Him each time we neglect to submit our ways to Him.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55.8-9)