Bag of Randomness

  • Happy birthday to my favorite wife.
  • And a happy birthday to my favorite friend named Brent that is in the hospice ministry.
  • Last night I went to Sonic, placed my order, and then realized I forgot my wallet.  I had to let them know my goof, and they told me they would hold the order but just needed my name.  I replied, “I’m an idiot.”  The lady laughed and said it will be ready when I would get back.
  • The 80’s had the Cola Wars, and I guess the oughts have the Computer Wars.  Apple has had some hard hitting and effective ads toughting how they are superior to a PC, namely the “I”m a Mac.  And I’m a PC” commercials.  Microsoft has fired back with some “I’m a PC” commercials, but the ones as of late where a customer is given $1000 to find a new computer and ends up buying a PC over a Mac has struck a nerve with the Mac folks.
  • I enjoy following Meghan McCain, and totally agree with her on her point.
  • At the 3:30 mark, Glenn Beck totally goes bonkers.
  • I’m not sure how much I’ll be posting next week.  For one, I will be licking my wounds from the affliction of all my Bible-beating-pastoral-friends regarding yesterdays post on pastoral salaries.
  • That comment is suppose to be jovial.
  • Also, WifeGeeding goes into surgery this Monday and I plan on being home to take care of her.  There’s a possibility that I will have time to post, but I want to make sure all my attention is focused on her.
  • I had some questions from some of you regarding her surgery.  This surgery will do nothing to help improve her vision in her only eye, but this surgery will be one her open eye cavity where her glass-eye resides.  The orbital implant will be replaced with coral.  The old orbital implant has shifted, and is considered a bit small for her now that she is an adult.  Recovery is going to be tough, because any eye movement will cause pain.  She will then have her current glass-eye modified to fit back over the new coral made orbital implant.  After six month, vessels and such will grow into the coral, a peg will be drilled into it, and a new glass-eye will be fitted that will work like a ball-and-socket joint.  All of this with create a more natural movement for the prosthesis.
  • If you are interested, this procedure is called enucleation.  You can click on the following link to learn more about it and see a video, but I just want to warn you that if medical procedures kind of freak you out, then don’t click this link.
  • I may tweet through the surgery on Monday.
  • Grace
Posted in Personal | 11 Comments

Apple Software Update Stops Palm Pre Access to iTunes

July 15 (Bloomberg) — Apple Inc. released an update to its iTunes online store today that prevents the software from working on Palm Inc.’s new Pre smart phone.

The free update, called ITunes 8.2.1, provides “important” bug fixes to the software, which runs music, video and applications on the iPhone and iPod media players, Cupertino, California-based Apple said in a posting on its Web site.

The update disables devices such as the Pre from connecting to the iTunes software, said Natalie Kerris, a spokeswoman for Apple. “As we said before, newer versions of iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

Full Article

Guess I won’t be updating my iTunes anytime soon.

This really stinks.  I have my own personal boycott against ATT for how I was treated years ago, and vowed never to return to them, which means I can’t get an iPhone.  I really did like the idea of using my Pre to synch with my iTunes.  Heck, I haven’t bought music from iTunes for a very long time, but when I was able to sync my Pre to my iTunes, I started to buy music again.

Blerg.

Posted in Interesting, Personal, Pop Culture | 2 Comments

50 Methodist bishops agree to cut their pay

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One of the nation’s largest Christian denominations is addressing the nation’s financial crisis with what it hopes will be a spiritual teaching moment as well as a cost-saver.

Fifty United Methodist Church bishops in the United States will roll back their salaries by 4% next year in what Bishop Gregory Palmer of Springfield, Ill., president of the Council of Bishops, says is a gesture of solidarity with others hurt by the global economic downturn.

The salary cut is one of the strongest statements taken yet by a faith group as U.S. churches respond to a recession that has left growing numbers of people jobless and hungry. Other denominations have eliminated jobs, frozen salaries or canceled mission trips.

United Methodist leaders say the move, approved in May, is an acknowledgment that churches are hurting too and there’s less money to go around. But some Methodists said the bishops’ action would have been more effective — and might have saved some church jobs — if it had come earlier.

Full Article

The article goes on to list the salary of a bishop and the amount that they will be forfeiting:

The bishops’ salaries will fall back about $4,700 annually to their 2008 level, $120,942, on Jan. 1 from $125,658 currently. The annual pay, based on a formula, is set by the denomination’s General Council on Finance and Administration, which voted in May to accept the bishops’ recommendation. The money comes out of denomination coffers.

Granted, I don’t know the scope or responsibilities of a Methodist bishop or the cost of living in their area, but off hand, that sure does seem to be a large amount of money for someone working in the ministry.

Pastor salaries are a sticking point for me.  Since it’s a calling, they pretty much know what they are getting into when it comes to sacrifice of all means, and I always thought that the calling should come with some sort of vow to financial humbleness; and I’m sure it does for some.  I understand the stress, dedication, the study, the amount of time, and other sacrifices  involved, but it almost seems like tithes aren’t being properly allocated to help those in need.  This isn’t a stab at the Methodist church, but the church in general.  To me, it’s almost as if people will turn first to the government for help, food stamps and what have you, because the church has their funds allocated to paying a high salary for a pastor.  And I bet in some cases, the pastor of church makes more than three quarters of his or her congregation.  And perception is a big deal.  There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then, but a pastor driving a luxery car to church can send an unintended message.  I don’t know what a proper salary should be, but off hand, anything over a $100,000 seems high.

Sorry for the rant, and I know several pastors read this blog, so this isn’t an attack on them.  If anything, I hope they can take this as one church goer’s perception of things.

Posted in Spiritual | 21 Comments