Back at the beginning of July, some family friends invited my wife and me for a good time at the opera.
These are mainly from the Cincinnati Music Hall. Pretty chic, no?
Monday, August 16, 2010
Carting at the Store
I think I forgot to post about this one a while back.
I hope you recognize the star in the pictures.
I hope you recognize the star in the pictures.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Today's Spiritual Message: How I Know I Have the Spirit
In the Church, there are men who have a very special office and ordination, called "patriarch." Click here to learn about the role of a patriarch and the kinds of blessings they give.
Our area patriarch gave what I found to be a wonderful talk (message) in church last Sunday. I especially loved the part when he described what it's like when we do or do not have the spirit (see Galatians 5: 22-23).
He quoted from the following. I hope you find it as illuminating as I did!
Our area patriarch gave what I found to be a wonderful talk (message) in church last Sunday. I especially loved the part when he described what it's like when we do or do not have the spirit (see Galatians 5: 22-23).
He quoted from the following. I hope you find it as illuminating as I did!
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| D&C 121: 45-46 |
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Committing Hara-Kiri to Get the High Score (Theme)
The other day, I saw this Downloadsquad post about web apps shaping up in Chrome. Here's a screenshot I fancied:
Ironically, since I was already familiar with web apps (e.g., the first three tabs and their corresponding, big icons on the right), what really caught my attention was the Gmail theme in the background. Look familiar? I felt convinced it must be a top-secret, Super Mario Bros. theme!
Thanks to an informant at the posting site, I found out it's actually a built-in theme called "High Score."
I was ecstatic to give it a spin.
I anticipated little Marios scurrying across the bottom, with an angry Bowser perched atop the Gmail logo.
Alas, I guess Google and Nintendo have yet to form an official relationship (no cool characters).
So, while I miss my many different ninja scenes, which change with the various Gmail locations (inbox, all mail, drafts, etc.), I'm excited to get back to my roots for a while.
What do you think: "Ninjas"??
Please sound off in the comments!
 |
| Are those Mario pixels in the background!? |
Thanks to an informant at the posting site, I found out it's actually a built-in theme called "High Score."
I was ecstatic to give it a spin.
I anticipated little Marios scurrying across the bottom, with an angry Bowser perched atop the Gmail logo.
Alas, I guess Google and Nintendo have yet to form an official relationship (no cool characters).
So, while I miss my many different ninja scenes, which change with the various Gmail locations (inbox, all mail, drafts, etc.), I'm excited to get back to my roots for a while.
What do you think: "Ninjas"??
 |
| Note the high-skilled ninjas |
Or "High Score"?
 |
| Note the Super Mario Bros. look |
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Tongue of Angels
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do (2 Nephi 32: 3).
Our daughter truly exemplifies this verse. She is our little angel who seems to brighten everyone's day, no matter where we go.
Recently, we finally realized she had tongue-tie.
Thankfully, after a quick and relatively simple frenulectomy (surgery to remove tongue-tie), she's speaking in five page essays now. Okay, she will be one day . . .
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Love & Law: My Own Experience
About ten or twelve years ago, one of my brothers discovered I was engaging in self-destructive behavior. I feel our relationship was probably as close as two young men separated by four and a half years could enjoy. I suppose he could have looked the other way; I imagine he anticipated I would get upset and take offense, if he were to confront me. Perhaps he could have avoided saying anything at all. Instead, he stood up and invited me to do what I think must have taken great courage: he invited me to change course, although he could have been risking my anger or even losing my friendship. I believe his valiant stand, from over a decade ago, exemplifies the counsel given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, last October (2009):
Most of my following remarks will have root in spiritual and religious foundations. I imagine some of my readers may deride these sources as false or simply lacking any basis in reality. I invite the reader to reflect on the progress of mankind's knowledge: many used to think the world was flat or that placing a bucket-full of leeches on a person's body could cure any illness. Certainly, we could laugh at these conclusions as being juvenile or clearly misguided, yet, who would say that the plumb pudding model completely describes atomic behavior, or who would proclaim that the theory of relativity even comes close to describing our universe? While the man whose name is synonymous with genius dismisses belief in a personal God, he also says, "My religiosity consists in a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our weak and transitory understanding, can comprehend of reality" (Albert Einstein Quotes on a Personal God: Einstein Denied Personal Gods, Prayer). In other words, man knows very little. On the other hand, God, our Heavenly Father, "has all wisdom," and, just like Einstein says, "man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend" (Mosiah 4: 9). In short, I believe anything and everything that is true because "God has revealed all the truth that is now in the possession of the world, whether it be scientific or religious" (The Gospel Defined). Moreover, I feel religious thought has every right to be expressed in the public sphere. As John Adams, second president of the United States is widely quoted as saying, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other" (John Adams Quotes).
I now turn to the principal impetus for this post. On July 24, 2010, my family and I attended a National Organization for Marriage (NOM) rally in Lima, Ohio. While there, my family and I were interviewed by both NOM Chairman Maggie Gallagher, and Courage Campaign Field Manager Arisha Michelle Hatch. As I'm paraphrased, in part, on a NOM website page, I communicated to both sides that we attended the rally because we believe "divorce, unchastity, [and] same-sex marriage are part of a continuum of challenges" facing traditional marriage and society at large. I believe a rampant trend toward unbridled sexual promiscuity consisting of "free love," "sexting," "one night stands," adultery, fornication, bestiality, homosexual activity, pornography, prostitution, and a large number of formerly denounced behaviors, are brining about "the disintegration of the family," which I believe is "the fundamental unit of society" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
In response to my posting, on this blog, about our "Supporting Traditional Marriage in Lima, OH," I was privately accused of being hateful, a "sick and twisted human being," and of attending a "hate fair." Next, I was also privately told I'm "proud of supporting the torture and murder" of self-proclaimed homosexuals. All of this hurt me deeply, and yet it went on. I next read, publicly, this time, that what I assume could only refer to my attending the NOM rally and posting about it on my blog, equated to "taking [my] fundamentalist, extreme views a little too far," "while failing to come clean about the homosexuality in [my] own family." I further read how, I had "lied and . . . bait[ed] [certain individuals] and br[ought] [them] in to hurt [them]," finally with the conclusion that "the whole communications [I had had with them] was nothing more than luring [them] in for debates and arguments born in anger and hatred with a twist of getting off on the adrenaline." All, I suppose, because I attended the NOM rally and posted about it on my own blog.
To be perfectly candid, as I read these things, I felt very angry and desired to respond swiftly. Before acting, I remembered the Savior say, "he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another" and that "this is not my doctrine . . . but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away" (3 Nephi 11: 29-30). And so I have tried to prepare this post, in, I feel, a spirit of peace and compassion.
As I feel there has been some question about my forthrightness, allow me to elaborate on my feelings about homosexual behavior (or any behavior, for that matter). This is a position I feel I briefly explained to one of the individuals alluded to above, nearly two years ago. As a human being, I feel I am faced every day with diverse temptations (impulses) and difficulties, such as anger, impatience, etc. I often feel overwhelmed and wish life were much easier. On the other hand, I believe, "There hath no temptation taken [us] but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [us] to be tempted above that [we] are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10: 13). I can only imagine what it would be like to experience homosexual tendencies; I imagine the must be very confusing and very difficult to encounter. On the other hand, Jesus Christ, who suffered and overcame the sins of us all, "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4: 15). I believe some feelings and tendencies afflict us without any fault of our own, we may even be born with them. On the other hand, when we give in to these diverse temptations, through the manifestation of our own behavior, I believe we sin. "Wherefore, [we] are free according to the flesh; . . . . And [we] are free to choose . . ." (2 Nephi 2: 27). I feel we are responsible for our own actions, regardless if we have an addiction to pedophilia, pornography, prostitution, alcohol, drugs, adultery, anger, gossip, backbiting, impatience, violence, murder, or homosexual behavior (see Same-Gender Attraction).
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND AS I ALLUDED TO IN THE BEGINNING, I BELIEVE "ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT[, VERY SHORT,] OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (Romans 3: 23). For this reason, I believe "[Jesus Christ came] unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin" (3 Nephi 9: 21). Indeed, I believe He is the source of all happiness, of all peace, and of all comfort. I believe He "ransoms us with love divine." (I invite you to listen to what I feel is a beautifully stirring rendition of "This is the Christ," which summarizes the foregoing principle.)
In conclusion, allow me to make one thing very clear: I AM FAR FROM ASHAMED OF MY DEAR BROTHER, AND I REFUSE TO REJECT HIM. Instead of "failing to come clean about the homosexuality in [my] own family," I spoke openly with Maggie Gallagher and the Courage Campaign about him, and, at one point, I even spoke directly, and literally, to him ("on the record," on camera). I feel I would indeed be a "sick and twisted human being," if I were to condemn him, when I have so many faults and frailties of my own. I echo the words of President Boyd K. Packer, "[I] do not reject you… [I] cannot reject you… [I] will not reject you, because [I] love you" (Elder Bruce C. Hafen Speaks on Same-Sex Attraction). I echo also the words of President Thomas S. Monson, speaking to any who have strayed from full activity in the Church. "Come back. [I] reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express [my] desire to assist you and to welcome you into full [Gospel] fellowship" (Looking Back and Moving Forward). My dear brother, I truly do love you. Will you please avoid making the same decision I made over a decade ago? Will you please accept my invitation of love and change, when I failed to accept yours?
Parents should also remember the Lord’s frequent teaching that “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6). In his conference talk on tolerance and love, Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that “real love for the sinner may compel courageous confrontation—not acquiescence! Real love does not support self-destructing behavior.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Teach Us Tolerance and Love,” Ensign, May 1994, 71)
Wherever the line is drawn between the power of love and the force of law, the breaking of commandments is certain to impact loving family relationships. Jesus taught:
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
“For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother” (Luke 12:51–53).
This sobering teaching reminds us that when family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions. We do all that we can to avoid impairing loving relationships, but sometimes it happens after all we can do.
In the midst of such stress, we must endure the reality that the straying of our loved ones will detract from our happiness, but it should not detract from our love for one another or our patient efforts to be united in understanding God’s love and God’s laws.I am still deeply impressed and am ever grateful for my brother's courageous and loving example. I wish I had accepted his invitation. Instead, exercising my God-given ability to choose for myself, I failed to heed his admonition. I believe my unwise decision, in the face of his loving counsel, caused me prolonged and immense suffering. Though I believe I've completely repented, and although I believe I've been completely forgiven, deep scars linger on my soul. I firmly believe that had I followed my brother's sincere invitation, I could have avoided untold pain, anguish, and regret. It is largely for this reason, my brother's courageous example, that I say what I do today.
Most of my following remarks will have root in spiritual and religious foundations. I imagine some of my readers may deride these sources as false or simply lacking any basis in reality. I invite the reader to reflect on the progress of mankind's knowledge: many used to think the world was flat or that placing a bucket-full of leeches on a person's body could cure any illness. Certainly, we could laugh at these conclusions as being juvenile or clearly misguided, yet, who would say that the plumb pudding model completely describes atomic behavior, or who would proclaim that the theory of relativity even comes close to describing our universe? While the man whose name is synonymous with genius dismisses belief in a personal God, he also says, "My religiosity consists in a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our weak and transitory understanding, can comprehend of reality" (Albert Einstein Quotes on a Personal God: Einstein Denied Personal Gods, Prayer). In other words, man knows very little. On the other hand, God, our Heavenly Father, "has all wisdom," and, just like Einstein says, "man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend" (Mosiah 4: 9). In short, I believe anything and everything that is true because "God has revealed all the truth that is now in the possession of the world, whether it be scientific or religious" (The Gospel Defined). Moreover, I feel religious thought has every right to be expressed in the public sphere. As John Adams, second president of the United States is widely quoted as saying, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other" (John Adams Quotes).
I now turn to the principal impetus for this post. On July 24, 2010, my family and I attended a National Organization for Marriage (NOM) rally in Lima, Ohio. While there, my family and I were interviewed by both NOM Chairman Maggie Gallagher, and Courage Campaign Field Manager Arisha Michelle Hatch. As I'm paraphrased, in part, on a NOM website page, I communicated to both sides that we attended the rally because we believe "divorce, unchastity, [and] same-sex marriage are part of a continuum of challenges" facing traditional marriage and society at large. I believe a rampant trend toward unbridled sexual promiscuity consisting of "free love," "sexting," "one night stands," adultery, fornication, bestiality, homosexual activity, pornography, prostitution, and a large number of formerly denounced behaviors, are brining about "the disintegration of the family," which I believe is "the fundamental unit of society" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
In response to my posting, on this blog, about our "Supporting Traditional Marriage in Lima, OH," I was privately accused of being hateful, a "sick and twisted human being," and of attending a "hate fair." Next, I was also privately told I'm "proud of supporting the torture and murder" of self-proclaimed homosexuals. All of this hurt me deeply, and yet it went on. I next read, publicly, this time, that what I assume could only refer to my attending the NOM rally and posting about it on my blog, equated to "taking [my] fundamentalist, extreme views a little too far," "while failing to come clean about the homosexuality in [my] own family." I further read how, I had "lied and . . . bait[ed] [certain individuals] and br[ought] [them] in to hurt [them]," finally with the conclusion that "the whole communications [I had had with them] was nothing more than luring [them] in for debates and arguments born in anger and hatred with a twist of getting off on the adrenaline." All, I suppose, because I attended the NOM rally and posted about it on my own blog.
To be perfectly candid, as I read these things, I felt very angry and desired to respond swiftly. Before acting, I remembered the Savior say, "he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another" and that "this is not my doctrine . . . but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away" (3 Nephi 11: 29-30). And so I have tried to prepare this post, in, I feel, a spirit of peace and compassion.
As I feel there has been some question about my forthrightness, allow me to elaborate on my feelings about homosexual behavior (or any behavior, for that matter). This is a position I feel I briefly explained to one of the individuals alluded to above, nearly two years ago. As a human being, I feel I am faced every day with diverse temptations (impulses) and difficulties, such as anger, impatience, etc. I often feel overwhelmed and wish life were much easier. On the other hand, I believe, "There hath no temptation taken [us] but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [us] to be tempted above that [we] are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10: 13). I can only imagine what it would be like to experience homosexual tendencies; I imagine the must be very confusing and very difficult to encounter. On the other hand, Jesus Christ, who suffered and overcame the sins of us all, "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4: 15). I believe some feelings and tendencies afflict us without any fault of our own, we may even be born with them. On the other hand, when we give in to these diverse temptations, through the manifestation of our own behavior, I believe we sin. "Wherefore, [we] are free according to the flesh; . . . . And [we] are free to choose . . ." (2 Nephi 2: 27). I feel we are responsible for our own actions, regardless if we have an addiction to pedophilia, pornography, prostitution, alcohol, drugs, adultery, anger, gossip, backbiting, impatience, violence, murder, or homosexual behavior (see Same-Gender Attraction).
MOST IMPORTANTLY, ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND AS I ALLUDED TO IN THE BEGINNING, I BELIEVE "ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT[, VERY SHORT,] OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (Romans 3: 23). For this reason, I believe "[Jesus Christ came] unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin" (3 Nephi 9: 21). Indeed, I believe He is the source of all happiness, of all peace, and of all comfort. I believe He "ransoms us with love divine." (I invite you to listen to what I feel is a beautifully stirring rendition of "This is the Christ," which summarizes the foregoing principle.)
In conclusion, allow me to make one thing very clear: I AM FAR FROM ASHAMED OF MY DEAR BROTHER, AND I REFUSE TO REJECT HIM. Instead of "failing to come clean about the homosexuality in [my] own family," I spoke openly with Maggie Gallagher and the Courage Campaign about him, and, at one point, I even spoke directly, and literally, to him ("on the record," on camera). I feel I would indeed be a "sick and twisted human being," if I were to condemn him, when I have so many faults and frailties of my own. I echo the words of President Boyd K. Packer, "[I] do not reject you… [I] cannot reject you… [I] will not reject you, because [I] love you" (Elder Bruce C. Hafen Speaks on Same-Sex Attraction). I echo also the words of President Thomas S. Monson, speaking to any who have strayed from full activity in the Church. "Come back. [I] reach out to you in the pure love of Christ and express [my] desire to assist you and to welcome you into full [Gospel] fellowship" (Looking Back and Moving Forward). My dear brother, I truly do love you. Will you please avoid making the same decision I made over a decade ago? Will you please accept my invitation of love and change, when I failed to accept yours?
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Seuss!
Okay, so we didn't see the cat in the hat, tonight, we saw Seussical. Christy teaches three sisters voice lessons, and they each had a part in it.
Maria loved it so much, she clapped in at the wrong moments!
It was nice to get back into some culture.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Yesterday's Spiritual Message: Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light
This is an awesome story about a man who forgave a teenage drunk driver for killing his pregnant wife and two of his four children.
For more thoughts on forgiveness, I highly recommend the following:
For more thoughts on forgiveness, I highly recommend the following:
"The Healing Power of Forgiveness," President James E. Faust
"Forgiveness," President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Hidden Wedges," President Thomas S. Monson
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tom Cruise on Home Teaching
After watching this video about 80 times with my wife (and laughing my head off each time), I've decided it's time to port it onto my own blog.
If you're not LDS, the lingo will be different, but I think you'll find it's a hilarious mash-up, regardless.
Thanks, F-Word for posting first! (Well, before me, anyway.)
If you're not LDS, the lingo will be different, but I think you'll find it's a hilarious mash-up, regardless.
Thanks, F-Word for posting first! (Well, before me, anyway.)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Today's Spiritual Message: Supporting Traditional Marriage in Lima, OH
Lima, OH?
Yeah, I don't think I'd ever heard of it before yesterday, either.
Nevertheless, my wife, our daughter, and I jumped into the car and made the 2:20 drive up to Lima to attend a National Organization for Marriage rally. To be frank, we would have attended the larger, Columbus rally on Friday, but it was during work.
Lima's not exactly Manhattan (sorry folks), so there weren't millions in attendance, but we were happy to participate.
Here's one of the pictures taken of us at the rally:
Yeah, I don't think I'd ever heard of it before yesterday, either.
Nevertheless, my wife, our daughter, and I jumped into the car and made the 2:20 drive up to Lima to attend a National Organization for Marriage rally. To be frank, we would have attended the larger, Columbus rally on Friday, but it was during work.
Lima's not exactly Manhattan (sorry folks), so there weren't millions in attendance, but we were happy to participate.
Here's one of the pictures taken of us at the rally:
Click here for the NOM website I pulled this from (also includes a snippet from us).
As the youngest couple, "with the most adorable baby in tow," I had a feeling we would be interviewed by one or both sides, and we were.
As I told Maggie Gallagher, I feel so blessed to live in a land where two sides can both show up to the same location and peaceably express their views (while in many countries this isn't possible).
Traditional marriage faces an onslaught of opposition: unchastity before and during marriage, divorce, abuse, and same sex marriage, to name a few. What I tried to communicate to both sides of the debate is that these are all issues we feel affect not only traditional marriage but also the family and society at large.
As I am paraphrased in Maggie's article, it is most certainly uncool, amongst our generation, to believe in chastity before marriage and full fidelity after, in a committed and loving union.
 |
| Seattle, WA, December 2006 |
For my wife and myself, we know that if we are faithful in keeping sacred covenants we made in the temple of our God, our union will last not only for this life, but for all eternity.
No fleeting one night stand or any other form of relationship can bring the same kind of happiness as an eternal marriage, performed by those with authority from our Heavenly Father. I say this not to boast of ourselves, but to invite all to enjoy the same happiness and hope of an eternal union we cherish on a daily basis.
Speaking of the Savior, Jesus Christ, a Book of Mormon Prophet said,
Part of this salvation is eternal marriage; this blessing is open to any and all who will accept the Savior's conditions. Thus, we invite everyone to meet the Savior's conditions and enjoy the happiness which springs from an eternal family.
26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should adepart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his asalvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath bgiven it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to crepentance.
28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but aall men are privileged the one blike unto the other, and none are forbidden. (2 Nephi 26: 24-28).
 |
| Click here for the full text version |
Monday, July 19, 2010
Yesterday's Spiritual Message: Our True Identity
As President Uchtdorf testifies, I too know that each of us is a literal son or daughter of God. What an amazing realization and heritage.
Friday, July 16, 2010
BYU Old Spice
First off all, thanks to STM for bringing this awesome video to my attention:
For the budget they have, I'd almost have to say this is better than the original (but Im not biased or anything).
Do they really have a snack zone now?
Did they get the idea on this from my sister-in-law's fÃance? http://kimberlyharrison.blogspot.com/2010/04/number-1.html
Finally, is the subtle message in this video that students should watch less YouTube and study more?
For the budget they have, I'd almost have to say this is better than the original (but Im not biased or anything).
Do they really have a snack zone now?
Did they get the idea on this from my sister-in-law's fÃance? http://kimberlyharrison.blogspot.com/2010/04/number-1.html
Finally, is the subtle message in this video that students should watch less YouTube and study more?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Finally, Another Chrome Update: Chromium OS, New Dev Stuff, and Web Apps(!)
Okay, I've been delinquent in Chrome blogging lately; my apologies, I know you've all been profusely shedding crocodile tears.
With that said, I'll get right down to the goods.
Chromium OS. Some time back, I promised a review of Chromium OS.
The long and short is that it's pretty cool to be on the bleeding edge, but it's pretty slow and, frankly, outdated. I assume a lot of slowness had to do with the fact that I ran the OS off a USB drive, but it was slow, I mean molasses, compared to Chrome on my HP machine. Unless you're going to download the OS to a netbook, I definitely wouldn't recommend you try this any time soon (especially considering I also ran it off my old Acer to see if it would be any faster - it was, BUT - in a cumbersome process, I had to download some third party software so I could boot from USB . . . it definitely made me feel not as techie as I style myself). However, if you, like I did, just want a taste of the future, give it a whirl and hit me up with any preguntas.
New Dev Updates. Chrome continues to amaze me. I'll get into just three recent features here: 1) It's not the biggest deal ever, but the dev channel (at least) now has a little orange/yellow ball that appears on the wrench icon whenever a new update's ready to be installed. Yes, Chrome would probably just update on it's own anyway, but I'm pretty OCD about new updates (just ask my wife . . .). 2) Consolidated wrench/page icon menus. This was something that always confused me: why have two different menus, when their lists are practically indistinguishable? Again, not a huge deal, but it does save some more space (which everyone loves) and helps avoid some confusion. 3) I think I've already talked about Chrome's newly built-in pdf viewer, but I can't tell you enough how much I love it. Adobe's plugin always bothered me with how clunky it was and how it got in the way of browser shortcuts, etc.
With that said, I'll get right down to the goods.
Chromium OS. Some time back, I promised a review of Chromium OS.
The long and short is that it's pretty cool to be on the bleeding edge, but it's pretty slow and, frankly, outdated. I assume a lot of slowness had to do with the fact that I ran the OS off a USB drive, but it was slow, I mean molasses, compared to Chrome on my HP machine. Unless you're going to download the OS to a netbook, I definitely wouldn't recommend you try this any time soon (especially considering I also ran it off my old Acer to see if it would be any faster - it was, BUT - in a cumbersome process, I had to download some third party software so I could boot from USB . . . it definitely made me feel not as techie as I style myself). However, if you, like I did, just want a taste of the future, give it a whirl and hit me up with any preguntas.
New Dev Updates. Chrome continues to amaze me. I'll get into just three recent features here: 1) It's not the biggest deal ever, but the dev channel (at least) now has a little orange/yellow ball that appears on the wrench icon whenever a new update's ready to be installed. Yes, Chrome would probably just update on it's own anyway, but I'm pretty OCD about new updates (just ask my wife . . .). 2) Consolidated wrench/page icon menus. This was something that always confused me: why have two different menus, when their lists are practically indistinguishable? Again, not a huge deal, but it does save some more space (which everyone loves) and helps avoid some confusion. 3) I think I've already talked about Chrome's newly built-in pdf viewer, but I can't tell you enough how much I love it. Adobe's plugin always bothered me with how clunky it was and how it got in the way of browser shortcuts, etc.
Update: Here's the orange update notifier I told you about.
Web Apps. I found out about this little gem tonight (which, incidentally, inspired this post), on the unofficial, Google Operating System blog. Not a ton to say here, but that the "web app" icons look a lot better and the toolbar is removed on the web app pages. You'll need to be on the dev channel and read Alex Chitu's guide (in the previous link) on how to install them, but they've worked great for me so far, and I look forward to continued developments. NOTE: You can just barely see the new icons in my browser tabs 2, 3, and 7.
Happy Chroming!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Today's Spiritual Message and Congratulations: Marriage
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2: 24).
In a day and age when the prophesied disintegration of the family is rampant, it's fantastic to hear about a newly engaged couple.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Yesterday's Spiritual Message: And This be Our Motto - Thoughts from the 4th of July
No, I love the Fourth of July because it gives me a chance to think and reflect upon the great blessing I enjoy to live in the greatest nation on this earth.
What other modern nation enjoyed freedom from monarchy and dictatorship any sooner than the United States? Which country previously had such an inspired Constitution or balanced form of governance, in which the lead sovereign would agree to step down at the end of his term! What other fledgling nation faced such great odds (the greatest army and navy in the world, at the time) and yet still prevailed?
It is my firm belief and witness that this greatest nation was founded by God, for our benefit. At its inception, how many nations enjoyed freedom from religious persecution? Where else could a layman profess a different set of beliefs than the state church and not expect severe oppression, if not death?
Yet, after so many years of open and avid thanks to God, I feel we have drifted far from our founding Rock and Pillar. In church yesterday, as we closed our Sacrament Meeting (principally where we think of Christ and partake of "The Sacrament," which many refer to as Communion or The Lord's Supper), we sang The Star Spangled Banner, and this verse really stood out to me:
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Is "In God We Trust" still our motto or have we long since abandoned it?
The Lord has said, "[T]he laws and constitution of the [United States] I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles . . . And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (Doctrine and Covenants 101: 77, 80).
I sincerely hope and pray that we will not forget the "Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation," I know that God was the founder of this greatest nation; we will ever be blessed as we honor and worship Him through good and righteous living.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Sign the Google Voice Desktop VoIP Petition (at right)
I'm using SipGate as a workaround for VoIP in Google Voice, but it's far from perfect.
Yes, I want a web app for this functionality, but word is that it may take a long time, and since I don't have Chrome OS yet, I wouldn't mind a desktop app.
Please join me in signing the petition at the right so hopefully Google won't scrap this development.
Cheers.
Yes, I want a web app for this functionality, but word is that it may take a long time, and since I don't have Chrome OS yet, I wouldn't mind a desktop app.
Please join me in signing the petition at the right so hopefully Google won't scrap this development.
Cheers.
Grandma's Guide to Video Chat
Mother and anyone else who might need some help with Gmail video chat, this video (and it's attendant guides and links) is for you:
I hope you enjoyed it!
I hope you enjoyed it!
Friday, July 2, 2010
David and Bathsheba: To Look Upon (Avoiding Pornography)
I came across this article/video this morning and think it's very helpful. To view the 4:15 (duration) video, please click this link: https://beta.lds.org/church/to-look-upon?lang=eng
For the Church's dedicated website on "combating pornography," click this link: http://combatingpornography.org/cp/eng/
For the Church's dedicated website on "combating pornography," click this link: http://combatingpornography.org/cp/eng/
Study Activities
As you search 2 Samuel 11:1-15, 26-27, ponder or discuss where you think David went wrong and what steps led him to commit sin. Watch the video and think about what David could have done to control his thoughts and actions. How did David’s adultery lead to the greater sin of murder? What can we learn from this tragic event? Make a list of things you can do to better control your thoughts and actions.
Prophets and Apostles’ Thoughts on…
Pornography
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Pornography,” Ensign, May 2005, 87
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Tragic Evil Among Us,” Ensign, November 2004, 59–62
- Elder L. Whitney Clayon, “Blessed Are All the Pure in Heart,” Ensign,November 2007, 51–53
Agency
- Elder Robert D. Hales, “To Act for Ourselves: the Gift and Blessings of Agency,” Ensign, May 2006, 4–8
- President James E. Faust, “Choices,” Ensign, May 2004, 51
Repentance
- Elder Richard G. Scott, “Finding the Way Back,” Ensign, May 1990, 74
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign, May 2007, 99–101
- Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Atonement: All for All,” Ensign, May 2004, 97
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