Macintosh myths
David Alison has a great post detailing some commonly-heard excuses for not buying Macs or not thinking that a Mac would be the solution for you and your family. Let me know which one you’ve heard the most or your own “myth.”
I think I hear the “Macs are more expensive myth” most often. Remember, you get what you pay for.
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The chapter that wasn’t
I just submitted by chapter for the upcoming Age of Conversation – Why Don’t They Get It? book to be released in August. It was due today, and as I have been sorting out what I wanted to say in my little corner of the book, I quickly over-said my limit. It was 400 words or less.Â
So I scrapped what I was writing and started over. However, I thought I’d post my first attempt and let you chew through it. Hope you’re ready to listen…
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iPhone ringtones won’t ring
I had a little problem over the weekend. Somewhere between Monticello and Stephenville, my iPhone stopped ringing. It wouldn’t vibrate or make a noise when someone was calling. Unless I happened to be looking at the screen (which is pretty hard to do when it’s in your pocket), I had no idea people were calling.
To confuse the matter further, I noticed that the phrase “AT&T -Ringtones Enabled!” showed up and scrolled across the small portion of the screen (top left) where the “AT&T” phrase used to be.
I was pretty frustrated when the problem continued today. I endured some needless heckling and abuse from some Apple-haters at the coffee shop, including Dean, Jeff, Jimmy, and a little friendly sarcasm from Justin.
I entered the problem on the Apple support page as this:
I cannot get the phone to ring at all now. It shows that someone is calling, but no ringtone, no sound, until it chimes notifying me of a new voicemail. I’ve missed numerous calls.Â
It will also chime on text messages.
Help!Â
However, I received a friendly question there about whether my phone was jailbroken. I responded, “It’s a possibility,” thinking to myself, “Who in their right mind wouldn’t jailbreak their phone to take advantage of the world of amazing enhancements, productivity tools, games, features, and customizations that have been available for almost a year now (no thanks to Apple).” Then I remembered I know of at least one person who insists on nothing but factory purity in everything he works with. ;)
However, when I got home, I’d received a formal email from Apple stating that my post on the support page had violated their policies. In reviewing them, I guess they were referring to this one:
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.
However, I also solved my problem this afternoon while waiting for Caro at the post office. I remembered that Installer had notified me over the weekend of an update to “Ringtones” – a nifty application that can convert any song in your library to a ringtone or text alert. I had updated it but had not thought anything else about it.
After a prompt uninstall, my ringtones (including all those installed with iToner) began working again immediately.
Maybe my discovery will help someone else out. The Ringtones application version was 2.85, but I can no longer find the app in Installer. Weird. Anyone know of the link for others’ benefit? Found it.. Here’s the link.
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Graduation in Stephenville
Jeff, my brother-in-law, is graduating from Tarleton State University this weekend. Congrats, Jeff! It’s been 9 long years… (Ok, so maybe only 6, but I’m sure it’s felt like forever for him). I couldn’t ask for a better brother-in-law, and we’re enjoying the gorgeous spring-like weather in Stephenville this weekend.
On the way here, the kids and I came up with an idea for a new video cast called the Adelyn and Sam Show. We’re going to have to work on what to abbreviate it, but it will be done in the genre of iCarly. Sam is going to video and produce it weekly. Stay tuned!
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Curve balls
It’s swinging time – bat-swinging time, that is. Sam is in the middle of his season, and Adelyn has just started practicing for her first season of softball. If they’re not at practice or a game, we’re often in the backyard hitting ping pong balls and playing catch. Not being a baseball guy myself, I learned from some of my friends who are that hitting a smaller ball can increase your concentration and eye-bat coordination.
In a recent game, the pitcher for Sam’s team became noticeably tired late in the game. You couldn’t see it on his face initially, but you could tell by his throws. They became inconsistent. I was sitting next to one of the boy’s grandfathers, and I heard him remark that you could tell he was tired because his curve balls weren’t making it all the way to the plate. They were falling short. It wasn’t long before a fresh pitcher was subbed in after that.
It was curious to me that you could tell more about the player’s fitness from his curve balls than his fastball. Today as I was reflecting on that, I also realized that how we respond to “curve balls” in life also determines a lot about us. In my definition, a curve ball is something relatively unexpected. A curve ball in life is typically something that catches us off guard and upsets our normal routine.
We can learn a lot about ourselves, others, and about God in how we choose to respond to life’s curve balls. In baseball, good hitters come to anticipate different pitches and are able to recognize a curve ball when it’s thrown. They understand that curve balls are part of the game.Â
Even so, we do better when we understand that setbacks, upsets, disappointments and discouragement are part of life. It’s unrealistic and even unbiblical to expect life to be smooth sailing. After all, it wasn’t for Jesus.Â
The writer of Hebrews urges us to remember Christ’s life and example:
Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (12.3)
The implication is that Christ was thrown some curve balls as well. He expected them. We are told to think about Him and the way He handled misfortune, injustice, upset, unfairness, persecution and the like.
Paul instructed a his protege preacher in 2 Timothy 4.5 to “keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (NIV) The English Standard Version translates “keep your head” as “always be sober-minded.” Those are good words for all of us.
Rather than frantically swinging at the air, missing the pitches of life, these instructions encourage us to settle down, keep our eyes fixed on the ball, and swing with confidence.Â
How we respond to curve balls reveals a lot about our character. Are we cool-headed only when things are going our way, or are we able to respond with grace and faith when things fall apart around us? Can we hold our tongues when attacked? Do we seek to belittle those who have belittled us? Do we allow our emotions and passions to rule us in moments of surprise, or do we remain focused on the pitch before us?
I’d like to improve my batting average. How about you?
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice, insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also be glad when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4.13)
Â
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Gas pump relief
These days of ever-soaring gas prices bring quite a relief when I motor up to the pump on Ghost. Not only is my checking account breathing easier, but I feel like I’m doing the world a favor by not unquestionably consuming gallons and gallons of gas when there are other options. Except for some mild inconveniences, I highly recommend the $600-$800 investment into a moped. If you’re like most SUV-addicted U.S. families, you’ll pay for the moped in saved gas in 2-3 months.
Here are some of the inconveniences over the past year in driving a moped:
Â
- Bad weather means you stay at home or hitch a ride
- Hitching rides too often makes you feel badÂ
- Bugs hurt like Hades at 35 mph
- Tobacco-stained teeth sneers from pickup truck windows (of course, most times, there’s only 3-4 teeth in the mouth anyway)
- Not much luggage room
- Gravel on streets becomes a hazard when turning (you don’t think about those things in a car)
- Bird poo has no roof to hit first
- Takes a little longer to get places (but a whole new world of back-street and parking-lot shortcuts opens to you)
- Soccer mom snickers (it seems that driving a mini-van is more cool than a moped, so now I’m apparently low-man on the cool totem pole)
- The smell of roadkill is intense (but you’re less likely to do second-hand smush)
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Shades releases new iPhone cases…
If any of you iPhone lovers are still looking for the perfect case, Shades might have released one today. To me, the perfect case does not add bulk to your iPhone and protects it from scratches. I’m not that interested in “shock” protection and am tired of battling my pocket when trying to pull out a case made of silicone.Â
I’ve been using a new case – very nice – made by “Cozip.” However, these Shades cases look very nice. Even better, if you buy more than one, you get 50% off the second one. Since they’re only $16.95 to begin with, that’s a great deal. So here’s an idea… If you have an iPhone and want to try a Shades case, then let’s pool our purchase. Their website promises free 2-3 day shipping for orders over $60, so if we can find 5-6 folks to purchase a case, we can get them for $10-12 a piece, on average.
Speak and let me know, and we can make the purchase and distribute the cases! They also have a very wise assortment of colors to choose from.
Update (7-1-08): After a few months of using the Cozip case, I am sad to say that it scratches the aluminum around the screen pretty badly. Avoid it.
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A refreshing stop: The Coffee Bean
If you’re from LA (Lower Arkansas) and haven’t yet discovered the brown goodness brewing at the Coffee Bean, I want to urge you to make it a regular visit. Although a cup of the good stuff (like a flavored frappucino) will set back almost the same as a gallon of gas, you will enjoy spending your dollar the Coffee Bean far more than you will at the gas station.
The CB serves up a variety of gastro goodies, ranging from incredibly thick, delicious and uncommonly-flavored shakes to bagels, frozen hot chocolate, and lattes. It’s not just for cold-weather warm-ups. The CB offers just what you need to enjoy a freezing jolt for our intense summers.
Then there’s the owners. Richard and Vonda Russell are amazing people. Truly. Richard recently shared his testimony of God’s healing grace in his life at our church, and the atmosphere they’ve sought to carefully create at the CB is both faith and family-friendly.Â
Throw in FREE WIFI, and you’ve got a coffee-lover’s and blogging junkie’s haven. I find myself “officing” at the CB 2-3 times a week and have met some wonderful friends through the CB that I would not have met if I hadn’t been “out and about.”
So, if you’re looking for the perfect cup of joe or a great cold treat, I recommend you put the Coffee Bean on your radar and make it a regular stop-off.Â
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Life Principles for Following Christ
I’ve been using this book for a while now in my personal devotional time, and I have to recommend it to anyone who is looking to “jump start” their Bible study. If you don’t have a plan or are in-between studies, this Following God Character Series is very good. I’ve done 2-3 in the series.
Life Principles for Following Christ is a 12-week interactive Bible study. There is material to read and respond to for five days in each of the chapters. The 12 chapters each take a deeper look at Christ’s roles in the following ways:
- The Last Adam
- The Seed
- The Angel of the Lord
- Â Lawgiver and Judge
- The King
- The Prophet
- The High Priest
- The Son of Man
- Christ in Prayer
- The I AM
- Rabbi and Teacher
- Lamb of God
The one on the kings of the Old Testament was not only informative and helpful, but it also helped place into perspective a timeline of God’s dealings with the nation of Israel. Knowing the events of the Old Testament enables one to relish with gratitude God’s intervention through Christ in the New.
What Bible reading plan or study are you currently involved in?
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What one does at the airport with no one to pick them up
One blogs. And sighs. And takes pictures with his MacBook.
Thank goodness for Ben at the ABSC who is coming to pick me up, eat lunch and drive me to Pine Bluff where wifey (in early stages of mental confusion) will meet me. She didn’t think I was arriving until 5:30.Â
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About
Notes from the Trail
The Personal Blog of Jeff Noble
Info: From the misty hills of Virginia, "Notes from the Trail" seeks to encourage you on your journey. Written by a graphic designer-pastor, this blog is a blend of humor, insight, and faith discovery.
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RT @TheFactsBook: The ancient Greeks believed that redheads would turn into vampires after they died. Eeek. Be nice to @libby_bish. [journeyguy]
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I just became the mayor of Blacksburg Middle School on @foursquare! http://t.co/EDjfDQ81 [journeyguy]
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RT @jackieflake: @vthoneybee, Melissa u lived as Christ, your death is gain. God thank u for sharing our sister w/us. Living well yields ... [journeyguy]
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Praying for the@bcmvt and Cheliras families upon learning of Melissa's death from cancer today. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 [journeyguy]
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