Welcome to the new iPad

Apple has just revealed a new tablet computer, the iPad.

http://www.apple.com/iPad

It slots between an iPod Touch/iPhone and a full-fledged laptop. I get the impression that it is basically a super-sized, hi-res iPod Touch. The larger form factor allows for a larger on-screen keyboard, which reduces the criticisms of the tiny keyboard.

It stands to compete with full-fledged Windows tablet computers, the Amazon Kindle and other eBook-type devices, and even traditional laptops.

Pros:

Can run 10 hours of HD video on a single charge

Slick touch-based UI

Syncs with Mac computers

Can run iPhone/iPod Touch apps

Cons:

Does not run normal Mac applications

All apps come through app store; apps must be approved by Apple, presumably.

Does not have flexibility of a "normal" computer

Does not have the portability of an iPhone

2010 NFC Championship, an Amazing Game

Normally, I'm no big sports fan, but last night's NFC Championship had me on the edge of my seat the entire game. The Saints finally triumphed in overtime, 31-28, over the Vikings in what may have been one of the toughest games of highs and lows in my memory.

For four quarters of regulation time, neither team had more than a touchdown over the other. It was truly a back and forth slugging match. Neither team seemed to be at the top of their game, but the setbacks seemed to offset each other. For every fortuitous gain by the Vikings, the Saints seemed to have their own. On the other hand, for every setback for the Vikings, the Saints seemed to have their own as well. Fumbles and penalties made for an oft frustrating, even maddening game.

In overtime, the Saints won the toss, and that was what mattered. They got it into field goal range, and a perfect field goal sealed the win for the Saints. It was truly a momentous occasion for the Saints.

They are now going to the Super Bowl for the first time.

HDTV display technologies, short and sweet

LCD, Plasma, LED-backlit LCD, what's the difference?

The short answer is picture quality and energy use. I'll refrain from the descriptions of how it works, because, unlike myself, few people actually care about it.

Plasma:

• Picture quality - Plasma seems to do color and contrast very well. Blacks are very black, colors are very colorful. However, like a CRT, the pixels seem to blend together. They are not very distinct. Can have burn-in effects like a CRT.
  
• Power - These are the relative power hogs of the bunch. They'll use more power (on the order of $10-20 worth per year) than either of the LCD solutions
• Quick conclusion - good for movies or TV, not as a display for a computer. Standard def TV probably looks best on this.
  

"plain" LCD

• Picture quality - LCDs have very sharp pixels. Color quality is not as good as plasma. Has a smaller viewing angle than plasma.
• Power - these use less power than plasmas, but more than the LED backlit LCDs
• Quick conclusion - Good for double-duty as TV and computer monitor. It's comparable cost to Plasma would make it my number 2 pick.

LED backlit LCD

• Picture quality - It seems to have all the sharpness of the plain LCDs, but much better color reproduction. It still has the smaller viewing angle as plain LCDs. IMO, it has the best overall picture of the three.
• Power - uses the least amount of power. You're not going to save (in power costs) the difference in cost between this and a plasma or standard LCD at this time, unless you run it for ~ 15+ years or would usually have the TV on ALL DAY LONG.
• Quick conclusion - Number 1 pick. It does double duty with a computer well, has great color reproduction, and uses the least power. I think the extra cost is well justified.

Tater Tot Recipe (I don't like Cream of Mushroom Soup!)

Ingredients:

• 1 Bag of tater tots
• 1 lb tub of french onion dip
• 1 lb of Jimmy Dean sausage, crumbled
• shredded cheddar cheese (extra sharp, please!)

Recipe:

1. Spread the tater tots on a casserole dish (1 deep)
2. Bake at 450 (f) for 15 minutes
3. While that's baking, brown the Jimmy Dean sausage (1lb) like ground beef (make sure to crumble it well). It's better to leave it a little pink than to overcook here.
4. Spread about half of the french onion dip onto the tops of the tater tots, so it is just covering them, and put the browned and crumbled sausage on top.
5. Bake for 10 more minutes
   
6. Spread the rest of the french onion dip and sprinkle shredded cheese over the top of the casserole.
7. Bake for ~3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Eat and enjoy the lump in your stomach!

It should feed 8-12 depending on how much people want to eat.

Deep in Mercy, Part II

Let's examine the story of Joseph (Jacob's/Israel's son, not the foster father of Jesus).

In Joseph's life, we see a man who is the very image of mercy, who acts on behalf of God to administer mercy. That mercy is not only to the people of God, but to a whole region of the world.

Joseph was a man who was sold into slavery because of the jealousy of his brothers. He was accused of seduction because he refused to be seduced. However, when he gained power, when he gained such power as to manage all of Egypt's resources, he never used that power for revenge. Instead, he not only saved Egypt from famine, but he also saved the family that rejected him from starvation.

God gave this Joseph the power to interpret dreams. God sent these dreams, foretelling years of plenty and years of famine. God allowed an innocent boy to be sent into slavery for the salvation of a family and a nation. This willing victim did not hold onto the sins against him, but used his life as a salvation for many.

Wise Men: Portraits of Manliness?

Well, if you think about it, yes.

Here are three men, astrologers, who are probably used to quite a bit of luxury. They have plenty of money. They're respected in their communities. Going on a long journey is not the first thing that they'd undertake for the most part.

However, they see the most interesting celestial event of their lives. A new star is rising. A new king. It had been ages since such an event had occurred. Did they send servants? Emissaries? No. These men were so moved by the star that they themselves followed it.

They left their life of luxury and honor to travel the wilderness, following a star to Israel. The star did not lead them to Jerusalem. No, it didn't lead them to a major city, but a small village, Bethlehem. It did not lead them to the grand hotel, but a stable. Could the new king really be staying in a stable? Still, they followed.

They found a peasant couple with a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. He was lying in a manger. He was lying in a feeding trough. Still, they believed. These three wise men, arrayed in fine clothes, offered presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh to this small peasant child.

They believed.

Deep In Mercy, Part 1

What you see over the course of the history of the OT going into the NT is a progressively deeper unveiling of God's identity over time, culminating in the ultimate reveal of who He is in the person of Jesus Christ. It is not any change in God Himself, but God revealed Himself slowly over the course of thousands of years to allow man to grow in his understanding progressively. It is a function of God's mercy that He unveiled Himself so slowly.

If he went *POOF* JESUS! DIE! RISE AGAIN! *POOF*, then mankind would likely reject it altogether, not having the proper cultural and emotional context to understand what is going on or appreciate what is happening.

Furthermore, He revealed Himself in the proper order. He first revealed His Justice, so that we would be able to understand His Mercy. Without an understanding of justice, mercy has no meaning. As one unfolds, the other follows.

The law came about so that man could understand his sin and his need for a savior. The law could not save, but it could instruct man in proper living. Its greatest lesson is how imperfect we all are and how weak we all are. It shows man how much he needs God. We all deserve death. We all deserve Hell. The law made this clear.

Even as God's Justice is being established, His Mercy is apparent, even from the beginning. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, they had to face death in justice. However, God also treats them with mercy. He gives them leather garments to hide their shame. Moreover, Gen 3:15 contains the Protoevangelium, God's foretelling of the triumph over death.

When Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah, God showed His Mercy when Abraham asked "If there are only 100, 80, 10, etc. righteous people... will you spare Sodom for the sake of the 100, 80, 10, etc.?" However, it was so completely corrupt that not even Lot's wife had been corrupted by their evildoing. Furthermore, God allowed those who were righteous to escape the doom. Such mercy by a god was unknown and amazing at that time.

There are countless others, and I haven't even gotten through Genesis.

I could go on and on about the countless Mercies that God showed His people and even others who were not "his people" throughout the Old Testament. To paint God in the OT as cruel and heartless is, quite simply, ignorant.