Hey all. go here and sign this petition. It’s for the iPhone, people who want them to allow third party software on the phone. That would be awesome.
Better post later.
Enjoy
February 17, 2007
February 7, 2007
iSellout
Had an interesting discussion the other day at school. We were talking about someones iPod Nano, which is awesome, and we got onto the topic of the iPhone.
I want one. I really really want one. It won’t be available in Canada for at least two years, but I want one. I sounded like such a fan-boy when I was talking about it. But they’re cool. Commercially viable multi-touch screens, a smart-phone without the crappy mini keyboard, an iPod that I can claim is almost practical, it’s just sweet.
Of course it was at this point that someone brought up the term iSellout to describe myself and one of the other people (Megan, if you wanted a name). Megan replied that she wouldn’t mind walking down the street with her iPhone and her Starbucks while wearing a (insert trendyish designer that I can’t remember here) scarf.
Have I become an iSellout? I don’t know. I had Starbucks the other day. I tend to wear either a plain solid colour t-shirt or a black button up shirt (coloured if it’s an important day), I carry a cell phone on my hip, a laptop in my bag, and sometimes a PDA in my pocket. Though I prefer local coffee shops, I don’t actually plan my clothing in an attempt to look casual-business (business-casual is now the new business attire, so people have to be a bit more casual and a bit less business hence casual-business), and I don’t own an mp3 player let alone an iPod.
But if I had the chance to, I would buy an iPhone in a second. Starbucks jokes be damned.
For 30sec of apple based humor go here. It’s a one page spoof of apple.Â
Was just thinking, they have so many moods to choose from, but I keep thinking of weird and totally not PC ones to add. Hmmm… maybe I’ll save those for another day.
Enjoy. Now go to sleep.
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February 5, 2007
The problem of evil
So was reading a bit on the “problem of evil” which is summarized by:
“Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. … If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. … If, as they say, God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?” (Epicurus, as quoted in 2000 Years of Disbelief)
It’s an interesting concept, and one that’s been around for thousands of years. These days it’s best put: “Why does a good God let bad things happen?” The newer version is actually quite a bit broader than Epicurus’ version. Bad things and Evil aren’t quite the same thing.
Note: I will be using the term God, in reference to the Judeo-Christian deity. The problem of evil exists in all philosophies where there is one or more omnipotent benevolent beings. Feel free to substitute the concept of God for one or more goddess, god, unknown power, etc.
Evil, in my opinion, is reserved for select intelligent beings. Nature can not be evil because it has no intelligence, the same applies for animals because though they may be “intelligent” they are not as self aware as humans are.
The problem with bad is that it covers both evil and the unfortunate. It is bad that a hurricane happens. As it is a natural occurrence from the weather it can not be considered to be evil. A murder though is an action carried out by an intelligent being.
God usually doesn’t stop natural events because they are natural. The world is ever changing and adapting, just as it was designed to do. While unfortunate, a natural disaster is not the outcome of evil. It is the outcome of coincidence.
Getting back to Epicurus, humans can and often do evil. Why doesn’t a loving God stop evil from happening?
Assumption: God has granted us free will. E.G. the ability to function as we see fit, and to believe, disbelieve, accept, deny, and act in the manner we determine.
Which means that we have the ability to act against the will of God. If God is good/benevolent then what he wants, or his will, is good. To act against the will of God then is by definition evil.
Why does God not stop us from acting against his will? Because it is his will (and thus good) to allow us to make our own choices. To stop us from making our own choices would negate free will.Â
Which means that God will not directly interfere. But that allows indirect interference through people. Which means that they would need to be acting with God’s will.
I’m sure I’m leaving things out, but this was just what was on my mind this evening.