Apples, Berries, and Tootsie Pops

Remember these as a kid? I always liked the dark red ones, and was always on the lookout for that Indian shooting the star.

I had a different thought about this sweet treat though. What if we used it to compare the iPhone and the BlackBerry? C'mon, it will be fun.

Okay, I think the iPhone is like the outer candy shell. They are both bright, slick, shiny, and nice to look at. The media features and browsing are top notch. The sugar rush is there. They are sweet at first, but ultimately let you down with limited functionality and customizability.

The BlackBerry, on the other hand, is more like the actual tootsie roll. It is not quite as nice to look at. Some of the features are burried a bit and require some chewing. But once you dig in and really start to chew, you will be left satisfied with a hearty piece of technology that fills you up.

What's your take?

01100-01001-10110-00101

Believe it or not, there was a time in my life in which I actually owned a pager and I wasn't even in the business of trafficking drugs. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, she wanted a way to get ahold of me immediately if need be. I was okay with this, but I was NOT going to have a cell phone. I can remember feeling so strongly about this. I was completely against having a cell phone. I used to think they were ridiculous and pretentious. So I decided to fight the establishment and I got a pager instead.

I have to think back and laugh at this. #1 for my hard head about embracing new technology (especially if you knew how much I love my BlackBerry now) and how silly the idea of a pager sounds today. But I know people still buy them. I saw a store advertising PAGERS! PAGERS! while driving through a hillbilly-ish town on vacation a few weeks ago.

Technology has come a long way in the last few years hasn't it? I was just laughing the other day at the thought of a dial up internet connection- do you remember that noise? I apologize if you heard that noise to actually get here... Mobile phones used to be bricks strapped to our belts or dead weights bogging down purses. And the thought of a car phone conjures up images of cave paintings and hunter- gatherers.

I have been very guilty this summer of bordering on technology overload. I have signed up for 19 different web services, installed over 15 various apps on my phone, got a new email address, overhauled my iGoogle page, created a Facebook account, designed a website for school, upgraded my BlackBerry's OS, and figured out how to make and save .png images with transparent backgrounds. I'm also wearing suspenders and a pocket protector now.

I have had so much fun this summer discovering all the crazy stuff out there on the web. It truly is amaizing. Lately though I feel it is getting to be a bit much. Behind all the 1's and 0's of binary code there are actual, physical people. And that's what all this stuff is for, right? It's all about relationships. This is supposed to keep us connected. As the new school year begins to get rolling, I know I need to start putting all of this into perspective. Granted, it is a lot of fun, but it is all a means. I need to learn to log on without tuning out.

By the way, the title of this post says "Live" in binary code.

7 People, 5 Days, 1 Van

Otherwise know as family fun on the summer va-cay.

We are off to south Texas. Check the Flickr feed on the sidebar for latest pics of the fam!

Love at the Core

I have been listening to Run Kid Run's new album "Love at the Core" more than just about anything lately. I always know when music connects with me because I willingly seek out time to listen to it.

Although the music itself is nothing groundbreaking, it is phenomenally executed. It's just solid rock with pop and punk influences. It's the kind of stuff that gets stuck in your head for days. This band arose from the ashes of another band, Sidewalk Slam, for anyone who cares about such things. I think I like this stuff better. Click the Bull's Eye target at the bottom and let me know which song you like the best.

But it's not the insanely catchy melodies that keep me coming back to this record. It is the simple, yet touching lyrics penned by the band. The title track is especially close to my heart:

"We want love, love at the core
The cold of the flesh always seems to creep inside of my chest
And I need the pulse of you, God
To fill these veins and touch my heart
So I can start living again
We’ve seen the dark of the night
Sun won’t you come shine some light on our lives


We want love, love at the core
So much more then what we’re living for
We want love , we want love
Love at the core
So much more of this
Life that we’re reaching for
We want love to bind us tonight
Leave behind your own disguise
So love can find you and I"

This is such a wonderful description of what Jesus did for us. It is incomprehensible to imagine the sacrifice. Romans 5:8 says "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us". Amazing. To pay for all of our filth, lies, hate, idolatry, lust, and jealousy, it would take nothing less than "Love at the Core."

Check out the rest of the lyrics for "Love at the Core" and listen to the song on my MySpace page.

Mr. Mom

Do you remember that one? Classic. I love this movie. I have not seen it on TV yet this summer, but I'm looking. I should probably break down and just buy it, but I'm cheap. Favorite line: "My brain is like oatmeal. I yelled at Kenny today for coloring outside the lines! Megan and I are starting to watch the same TV shows, and I'm liking them! I'm losing it."

This summer as my wife finishes up teaching summer school, I can relate to Michael Keaton's character Jack Butler and his plight. It is not that easy staying at home with the kids. They're always. . . around. And they need stuff- food, clothes, playtime, diapers, love, attention. The problems come when they don't get one of the above at the exact second they want it. I got my wife a Mother's Day card that read "I childproofed the house, but they keep getting back in." I don't think the kids got it.

Conversation is definitely one sided. Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy- get me, get me, get me, get me, get me- no, no, no, no, no. But I just pray for patience and wisdom and try to realize that I am touching the future. At least that's what I read on a T shirt.

But truly, deep down, it's great. I am absolutely in love with my three amazing children and wouldn't trade being a dad for anything. It is such an incredible responsibility. I am sad that some dads miss out on really being a father. Sometimes my wife or I will get a comment like "Oh, it's so nice that you are watching the kids." To that I always have to say "Well, not really. I'm not a babysitter. I'm their dad."

Picture courtesy of www.videodetective.com