Today Apple announced some cool new stuff:
iPod nano, an incredibly small iPod with 2GB and 4GB capacities, in white and black (starting at $199, $179 education)
iTunes 5.0, an updated version of the most popular music player and online music store, free to Windows and Mac users
iTunes on the Motorola ROKR E1 cell phone, with service through Cingular
And there was much rejoicing. I think I want a black one, the iPod nano, that is.
Update: Glad this wasn't streamed live. Kanye West was on stage and "sang" or whatever you call it. Wonder if he went psycho and called Bush a racist again ...
I've been pretty supportive of the rescue/relief efforts ongoing in LA/MS/AL, mostly because I understand that it takes time to get things moving. It's terrible for those people who waited 3 days for aid, of course, even if Geraldo said it was 6 days. But when hurricanes and floods come, bad things do happen. I can't really understand why anyone would voluntarily live in a city that is 10-18 feet below sea level, anyway. But that's all another matter.
I am reading today about an issue that I do think is a serious problem for FEMA and the relief effort. Anyone not using Windows XP and IE6 cannot fill out a claim with FEMA on their web site. You get the old "In order to use this site, you must have JavaScript Enabled and Internet Explorer version 6. Download it from Microsoft or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to register" message.
So to setup an aid station for victims, to help them start the process of getting their lives back in order, you not only have to have non-Apple hardware, you also have to buy Windows licenses, as opposed to using something more free like Linux. And then you have to take the time to patch it all. Seems like relief funds could be better spent on ... I don't know ... maybe actual relief?
BowdenHome has a great item up about our church's response to Katrina, and the role his wife Dana is playing in those efforts. She asked God to use her, and it seems like he agreed. I'll be praying for you both, and we'll help out however we can.
And see, you have trackbacks and people start linking straight to your posts ... :)
I also have prayed recently for God to use me in a different, non-hurricane, more personal situation. And I have been greatly encouraged by a friend who is praying about the same situation. I'm not sure yet what my role will be, but I continue to pray for this situation and ask for opportunities to make a difference.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist died this evening. Rehnquist had served on the Supreme Court for 33 years, more than half as Chief Justice. He was the 16th person to serve as Chief Justice.
I am thinkful for his service, and for his work to move the court back to the center from the far left where it was when he came on the court in the early 70s.
This is one of the coolest stories from Katrina in New Orleans. Web hosting company DirectNIC is still working and still online from downtown New Orleans, thanks to things like a 1000-gallon diesel generator and some working network connections.
OK, I took down the "Walking on Sunshine" item about Hurricane Katrina, in light of what will be hitting New Orleans in a few hours.
Video games can be hazardous to your health. See what happened to this 28-year-old man in S. Korea.
Personally, solitaire would kill me in less than 50 hours. I wonder what he was playing.
UPDATE: Oh my, found this story on SFGate.com, and it turns out the guy was playing ... Starcraft. One of the greatest games of all time, and it dates back to like 1998. And it's probably my favorite game of all time. I think I may have played it for 50 hours straight at one stretch. Didn't kill me.
Now, if Blizzard ever releases Starcraft 2, I would probably die of shock. As if Apple/Intel and Mighty Mouse aren't enough. You can only take so much shock in one lifetime.
So Micah calls me this morning and says "Oh, my." Now I know it's Tuesday, and that sometimes means new Apple things. So I head over to www.apple.com and I say "Oh my ..."
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/
For those of you who have to use Windows, take heart; Mighty Mouse will work with Windows too, though it won't get you cool features like Dashboard and Exposé.
And they said it was supposed to be hot today.
OK, July was pathetic. 3 posts for the whole month, and as of this post I now have 3 posts for August on the first day. Gotta do something about that ... maybe if I do embark on reading the Bible all the way through I'll have something to write about.
OK, I know I just said there was nothing else, like 2 minutes ago. But I wanted to at least say that part of what I've also been doing is reading and reading.
I read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by 3 days after it came out, of course. And that was an interruption of my re-reading of The Chronicles of Narnia, which I have since finished as well. My mother-in-law gave me an old copy of The Silmarillion (writings from J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings books). So I should have plenty to read coming up as well.
But I've been thinking lately about reading a book I've had for a long time but have never read all the way through. And it's a long one, too. I'm talking of course about the Bible. Our supply pastor said in his message yesterday that he has been reading the Bible through every year since 1990, and it occured to me that was the year I was baptized, and since then I've probably read 150 books.
So I may decide to do it now. And of course, that means less frequent updates to the blog ... :)