Computer related recommendations

These are the tools I find myself using the most recently. Overall I detect a move toward Microsoft products.

IE7 and IE8 Beta 2 - Once in a while I use Google Chrome and overall I like it. However, I don't like the idea that Google would know not only what I search for but every site I browse to as well. Firefox has been freezing up on me too much lately.

Microsoft Live Mesh - Live Mesh automatically synchs folders between my laptop and my desktop. It also allows you to remote control one computer in your mesh from another. This tool alone removes 90% of the reasons I used Google's web-based applications. Brilliant strategy from Microsoft.

Password Safe - I use Password Safe to keep track of all my online userids and passwords. Live Mesh synchs the password file across my computers.

Microsoft Office OneNote - I keep track of projects, to-do items, Christmas lists, etc. with OneNote. I used to use Google Notebook for this, but I got incredibly frustrated when it wouldn't reliably let me bold items. OneNote is really cool. And of course, I use Live Mesh to synch it between computers.

Mozy - Mozy backs up my main computer every couple hours. I don't have to worry about permanently losing pictures, documents, and so on, even if my house burns down. It's only $5/month.

Google Reader - I track 20-30 blogs with Google Reader. The UI has really improved recently; however, it doesn't render properly in IE8 Beta 2. Hopefully that will be fixed soon.

Launchy - I use this on my XP laptop to launch applications quickly. I don't find a need for it on Vista with its improved Start Menu.

Live Photo - I've switched from Picasa to Microsoft's Live Photo. Picasa was dormant for a long time, and I found that Vista's built-in photo software was pretty good. Live Photo is basically the same thing for XP.

The Iowa Caucus

I went to my first Democratic caucus tonight, and wow, there were a lot of people crammed in that gym. The funniest moment was when a half-crazed Obama supporter shouted out "Obama will unite the WORLD!!!!"

I supported Obama too, but man, I think that guy is in for some disappointment if Obama wins.

San Antonio fun

 

That Darn Owl

If you enjoy wine but are not wealthy enough to spend $15-20/bottle, I encourage to visit your local Aldi's and buy a few bottles of Winking Owl. At $2.99/bottle, it's as good or better than most other wines I've had at my previous price limit of $11/bottle. (That price limit is now much lower, thanks to Winking Owl.) My palate may be unsophisticated, but honestly, I've had $200-$500 bottles of wine, and the taste differential is nowhere near congruent with the price differential.

Winking Owl discussion

Presidential candidate quiz

I took the quiz at http://www.politichoice.com. I knew I couldn't stand Guiliani's positions, but now it's been independently verified.

It's interesting that my top 4 alternate between the Democratic and Republican parties.

Candidate Total Score
Joe Biden 68.45 %
Sam Brownback 66.67 %
Chris Dodd 58.33 %
Ron Paul 57.74 %
Mike Huckabee 57.14 %
Barack Obama 57.14 %
Dennis Kucinich 56.85 %
John McCain 56.25 %
Bill Richardson 54.46 %
Hillary Clinton 52.98 %
John Edwards 51.79 %
Mitt Romney 50.30 %
Fred Thompson 48.51 %
Duncan Hunter 48.51 %
Tom Tancredo 47.32 %
Rudy Guiliani 46.73 %

Is Biblical inerrancy important?

http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=04-02-003-f

This is a fascinating essay on the topic of Biblical inerrancy. The author, a conservative Christian, has come to the conclusion "biblical inerrancy" is a meaningless term as currently defined and defended. For one, it applies only to the original autographs, not to any Bible actually in existence. He also reveals that at least some professors at Christian colleges know this, but still profess it with their fingers behind their backs, as it were.

Interestingly enough, he concludes by accepting the Orthodox position on the relationship between the Church and the Bible as the only real solution to the mess.

I remember back in college a Campus Crusade lesson about inerrancy. It asserted that inerrancy is important, because if someone doesn't believe the whole Bible is inerrant, that person can never believe in Christ and be saved. I thought that was ludicrous and still do. At least to me, it's obvious someone could have saving faith in Christ while doubting that whole sections of the Bible are historically accurate. Just so those particular sections don't involve the Lord's death and resurrection, there's no reason such a person couldn't repent and commit himself to God.

Here's the way it worked for me. I first had to believe in Christ. Then, I could believe that he worked through the Church to ensure the right canon, a reasonable level of textual preservation, and proper interpretation.

Flickr site

Now that Holly has a digital camera, I figured it was time for us to get a Flickr site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scollyp/

Enjoy!