The thing is hard to type on. It's too slow. It's too big. It doesn't have instant messaging. It's too expensive...or cheap. It doesn't support my work e-mail. It's locked to AT&T. Steve Jobs secretly hates puppies.
YET, time gives you 5 reasons why it is the invention of the year....I agree! And, I don't even own one! How I wish I did!
Anyone out there willing to 'donate' one for research purposes?
So, the iPhone was released last week on Friday (well just over a week ago in fact). And, true to the Apple marketing strategy it was HUGE (the phone is quite small, but the release was huge). However, reviews have not been all that kind to the iPhone. It lacks some fairly important functionality (like a usable keyboard, the ability to take video clips (even though it has a camera and can take stills), marginal synchronisation with Microsoft outlook, and of course worst of all, it is locked to the American Cellular carrier AT&T! So, there's no chance that it will work here in South Africa...)
My friend Gus sent me this wonderful cartoon.... (Click on it to enlarge the picture).
I think it sums things up nicely. I guess, for now, I'll stick to my Treo 750... Sure, I need to reset it every time I want to use the Bible, it looses information, and Windows Mobile is cumbersome and slower than my late gran.... But, at least it works....
Have you ever heard of this guy Chris Pirillo? Apparently there is an effect called the 'Pirillo effect' which says that if you use Chris Pirillo's name more than three times in your blog post he will show up and post a comment. So, let's see if Chris Pirillo will do that for me!
By the way, for anyone who has iPhone lust and is looking for a few good reasons NOT to buy one then watch this video of Christ Pirillo 'ranting' about the iphone...(the best reason I have so far is that they are not sold in South Africa, and even if they were, they only run on AT&T, so there is no way we could use them here)
If you watch the video let me know what you think. Doesn't he remind you of a young Woody Allen!? Thanks Chris! Now post a comment on my blog please!
Meetings, musings, and much less important things...
Today we ended the June General Committee meeting of the Education for Ministry and Mission Unit. These are always incredibly stressful meetings since we have the responsibility of making some very tough and conflicted decisions about the lives of our student ministers.
Thank God the meetings are done, the Theological Society is finished (week before), now I look forward to hosting some visitors from Cambridge in the UK, Garret in Chicago (US), and a Colleague from Detroit! Visitors are always a wonderful blessing. They bring new insights, energy, and a great sense of connectedness with this great wide world, and God's great church all over the world.
Just to mention three books that I am currently reading that are SO worthwhile (each for different reasons).
Firstly, I would strongly encourage all of you who are seeking a fresh and novel approach to orthodox Christian Theology to read Brian Mclaren's 2004 book "A generous orthodoxy". This has truly been the most encouraging, and gently presented, approach to Christian truth and the cause of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that I have read in a long while. It is set to be my book of the year!
Secondly, I have been reading (for a book review in the Journal 'Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae') a centenary festschrift on Cardinal Yves Congar edited by Gabriel Flynn, entitled "Yves Congar: Theologian of the Church" (2005). It has reminded me again of the discipline of working for the reform and renewal of the Church from within its fellowship. Congar was a leading light in Vatican II, a contemporary of Bernard Longeran, Karl Rahner, and Courtney Murray. His ecclesiology has lead in large part to the Catholic church's renewed ecclesiology and role for an 'educated laity' in the formulation and renewal of the evangelisation of the world.
Lastly, I have been reading a book by my favourite author, Bill Bryson, entitled "The life and times of the thunderbolt kid" (2006). This has to be one of the funniest, and most poignant, books I have read in a very long time. I have laughed so hard that I have almost bust a stitch!
Oh, and for the gadget freaks, take a look at this GREAT video review of the iPhone that gets released tomorrow evening in the US!
It was put together by David Pogue, a Mac fanatic with a great sense of humour.
Yesterday Pete Kropman poked me on facebook (no, that's not rude... If you don't understand it you're starting to get old!) and wrote on my wall (no that's not illegal in facebook) to ask if I had been watching the Apple WWDC (that's the Apple World Wide Developers Conference) keynote.
I had not... I have been marking (that's 'grading' for the yanks) first year ethics scripts... About 200 of them.
However, this morning my friend Arthur sent me a link to this youtube video about the iPhone....
Art! Impersonation is the sincerest form of flattery!!!! I still want an iPhone... Mainly to use as sideburns and a cheese grater (watch . Heck if I wanted to make phone calls I would use a land line... Remember those!?
So, the moral of the story is: Save your shekels for an iPhone, Oh, and look me up on facebook. Surprisingly, my name is Dion Forster... And I'm too old to be on facebook....
NOW, just a quick note to say that I am preparing a post on little Liam's baptism that took place this last Sunday. It was a truly special evening. We were able to give thanks to God for his miraculous life, and dedicate ourselves to caring for him and raising him in a manner fitting of a Christian family.
I'll post some thoughts, photos, and a reflection in the next couple of days.
Some of you already know that I am facing a bit of uncertainty this week. I go under the knife, so to speak, on Thursday for surgery and a few tests. Please pray for me even if you don't know what it is about. News will follow.
Theology, science, computers and Vespa's - these are things I like! I hold a Doctorate in Theology and Science (Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, and African Theology). I am an ordained Methodist Minister. I teach theology. But, most importantly, I am dedicated to serving Christ and transforming society.
You can read the 'wiki' version here:
Please click HERE to order my books (or, see the links below). E-Book versions of some of my books can be purchased at a reduced price from Mobipocket.com (simply follow the link). Many of my books are available outside of South Africa from Amazon.com. Within South Africa all of my books are directly available from Connexion Resource centres (formerly known as Methodist Bookshops) located in most cities (see addresses and phone numbers here)
The thing is hard to type on. It's too slow. It's too big. It doesn't have instant messaging. It's too expensive...or cheap. It doesn't support my work e-mail. It's locked to AT&T. Steve Jobs secretly hates puppies.
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