Rob Williams - Orangejack

The blog posts will probably slow down for a little while. We're leaving for Colorado this afternoon to be a part of Campus Crusade for Christ's National Staff Conference. While we're there we'll be introducing Global ConneXion (GCX) to our staff.

But, though the posts will slow down, a new blog has come up. It's the Orangejack Ministry Updates. So stop by and check it out.

Last week I downloaded one of the Microsoft updates that is supposed to make my computer and life easier, right?

Wrong.

When I boot my computer now I get a message that says "For your protection, we're going to shut down Windows Explorer" or something like that. I can't refuse it, so after it's done, my start button, bar at the bottom of the computer, icons, and right-click on the desktop is gone. I can't start any program or shut down without giving it the three-finger salute.

The help desk at work gave me a solution, but what the heck? Thanks Microsoft for updating me with things that don't work and cause me not to get into my computer.

This isn't the first time I've gotten an update from them and it ruined something.

We went to downtown Orlando over the weekend and took some shots around Lake Eola. I posted this and another on my Flickr photostream.

My wife just said to me, "Hey, did you see Jerry's link about washers?"

I said, "Did you see MY link about washers?"

Sigh.

Whoa! I had no idea there was a whole organization dedicated to playing Washers. I was introduced to the game in 1997 and a buddy of mine and I built portable set.

Back in Greenville, SC where we were living at the time, I was on local sports with the game. The sports anchor for the NBC affiliate in Greenville was Geoff Hart (who is still there now). Back then he had a weekly segment called "Hart Stoppers" where people would challenge him to some sport no matter what it was.

We challenged him.

I won.

Then the segment was on TV. I think I still have the tape around here somewhere. One of my favorite parts is once I tossed the washer into the hole and it "swished". My buddy said, on camera, "Nuthin' But Grass". Classic.

Our game is a little different than the version I've recently read about. We added a backboard.

Thanks Jerry for letting me know there's actually a nation-wide organization for the game!

Patricia and I went to Lake Eloa this weekend and I had my camera with me. There were lots of birds and reptiles around. I got some photos of some cool stuff I'll have to show you later.

But I thought the angle of this shot was funny. Just looked like a bird on a bidet. :-)

Click on the image for a larger view.

How much does a free Bible cost?

Depends on where you live.

You may not know what RSS is right now, or even care. But you will know soon.

The main event of the web used to be "Browse". Most don't browse anymore. Now it's "Search". Soon (now for some) it will be "Subscribe".

Steve at MicroPersusaion gives his take on yesterday's announcement from Microsoft that they are building RSS into the next release of Internet Explorer.

Continuing with my new tradition of a featured photo I've taken, I present this one today. (click on the image to read a description and larger image)

Pepper Mill

I'm an Uncle again. My sister gave birth to another little girl named Victoria Susan Jackson this afternoon at 12:40.

We call her "Tibba" because at Christmas, someone sent a card to the girls that had each name listed along with "TBA" for the third. One of the girls asked what that word was and someone said, "It's Tibba".

The nickname stuck...we'll see for how long!

Mother and family are doing great.

China orders all websites, blogs to register with government or face shutdown

I just wanted to let you know that the new Homeland Security Bill has passed. Things will be different now and internet surfing will be tracked by what the FBI calls a "Non - intrusive method." The FBI says you will not notice anything different.

See a demonstration.

Good place to spend some time for all you bloggers -- Legal Guide for Bloggers

The difference between you and the reporter at your local newspaper is that in many cases, you may not have the benefit of training or resources to help you determine whether what you're doing is legal. And on top of that, sometimes knowing the law doesn't help - in many cases it was written for traditional journalists, and the courts haven't yet decided how it applies to bloggers.

But here's the important part: None of this should stop you from blogging. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a functioning democracy, and Internet bullies shouldn't use the law to stifle legitimate free expression. That's why EFF created this guide, compiling a number of FAQs designed to help you understand your rights and, if necessary, defend your freedom.

It's good to share.

I know because Jerry told me so (and it's his kids after all!)

If you get the joke, leave a comment. I thought about this watching the movie again yesterday.

What's your favorite accent?

I've always loved the accent of Speedy Gonzales. We watched Napoleon Dynamite last night and Pedro has the same one.

I just think it's hilarious.

Found this on the Flickr Blog today and thought it was funny.

Two animals that are decorated the same staring each other down.

Funny stuff.

In Coral Springs, FL the Goodyear blimp crashed. The pilots were fine but they took out a utility pole on the way down cutting power to 1400 homes.

Seems like a combo of wind, rain, and lightning aren't good flying conditions for a gas-filled balloon.

More from OrlandoSentinel.com (free sub req'd).

Continuing with my new tradition of a featured photo I've taken, I present this one today. (click on the image to read a description and larger image)

Stumps in Vancouver

In honor of Father's Day this weekend, TiVo did a survey to find out who are TV's Greatest Dads.

The winner is Cliff Huxtable, though I really think #2 Sheriff Andy Taylor should have been #1.

But I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Who would you rank in the top 5? Mine would be: Andy Taylor, Cliff Huxtable, Mike Brady, Jason Seaver, Tim Taylor.

For various reasons, I've needed to point out the disclaimer on this blog (they didn't know I had one). It's been on every page in the blog gutter (right column) about half-way down for almost the entire existence of this blog.

So, because some haven't seen it, let me point it out here.

The interests brought forward in this blog are hopefully shared by many.
The opinions expressed in this blog are from Rob alone. They do not necessarily express the views of Campus Crusade for Christ, our church, all Christians, football fans, web marketers, Clemson alum, people in Orlando, or any one else. They pretty much are just Rob's.
The attempted humor is definitely Rob's. No one else has that kind of humor.

I was going to write a post explaining what RSS is. But I won't.

Instead I'll just point you to a couple of posts out there. They are good and I'd just repeating what they said.

So, to learn more about RSS (and you really should), first check out IndyChritstian then PoynterOnline (HT: Ken).

Now for a better tutorial than I just gave, check out this tutorial on Bloglines. Excellent.

Finally, you can also read what I'm reading through my public showing of my Bloglines feeds.

So you've got a lot of blogs and websites you're wanting to keep up with. But you just don't have the time to get to them. After all, it's a waste of time to check blogs just to find out they haven't been updated.

Well there's a solution. And her name is Bloglines.

Bloglines runs on a system called RSS - Really Simple Syndication. But you don't need to really understand RSS to get Bloglines to work. You just oughta know that's what it uses. But there are some better explanations in layman's terms.

Step 1
Go to Bloglines.com and sign up for a free account

Step 2
Click on the "My Feeds" tab. Here you see a list of the feeds (or blogs or websites) you're subscribed to. Click on a feed and you'll see the updates on the right.

Step 3
To add blogs you can click on the "add" link under the tabs and it'll give you options for adding blog URLs.

Step 4 Optional
Download a notifier so you'll know when your blogs are updated.

Step 5 Optional
Make it even easier to add blogs by adding a bookmarklet.

That's it. Check your bloglines account when you're ready and it'll tell you if your favorite sites have been updated...and how many new posts are there!

Still confused? Sorry. Try this tutorial from betterdays. It has screenshots!

Oh, and if you're on the go, Bloglines offers a mobile version for your phone.

Boy this stinks. I talked to my doc today who's helping me through this Candida diet I'm on. He dealt me tough news. I'm not calling it bad news because, well, I'm just not.

To recap: Starting back on May 1 I started the diet which means I can't have sugar, carbs, alcohol, and vinegar (because it's fermented). I've faithfully been on it since then. The results so far is I've made no progress on my main goal (to feel better) but I've made progress on my secondary goal (I've lost 12 pounds since then).

My doc didn't understand why I'm not feeling better so I got some blood drawn a couple weeks ago to see if I have any food allergies or anything that I'm "hyper sensitive" to.

I'm hyper sensitive to many foods.

So now, my Candida diet gets extended to mid-Aug (it was hopefully going to be over in a couple weeks). Now I can't have these foods until Dec 15: beef, wheat, navy beans, and malt. In addition until this time NEXT YEAR I can't have: dairy, eggs, barley, oats, rye, and almonds.

In the words of Frank Barone: "Holy Crap!"

These foods produce free radicals in my system damaging and poisoning my digestive and immune systems. As a result, my stomach and gastro-intestinal system is often upset, I have a lack of energy, and have trouble sleeping.

I am hopeful though.

Sigh.

It was just a matter of time before someone created RMail.

And no, it's not "Rob Mail". I'm still working on a trademark of "iRob". I shoot for the stars.

Oh, so RMail allows you to subscribe to a (an?) RSS feed via email and not have to have a reader. I'm working on a post to explain it all later, but many of you already get what I'm saying.

DVDs shouldn't have mandatory previews. Let me skip them.

DVDs should let you just press play when the menu comes up.

If a DVD does have previews, they shouldn't be about new or upcoming releases. Those get dated. They should be more like Amazon: Others who watch this movie also like these movies...

Every DVD should have the actual movie trailer for the movie you rented on it. Some do, some don't. I like to watch the trailer before the movie if I'm not that familiar with it.

And why is a person who writes a play called a "Playwright"? Why not a "Playwriter"? They write plays after all so they are a writer, not a write.

I feel better now.

Seeing Michael Jackson self-destruct over the last few years (yes, he was acquitted, I know. It's not a crime to be a freak). But it made me wonder...

Who are the child stars that have made it through adulthood relatively unscathed or honorable?

The only one I can think of is Stevie Wonder.

I'm sure there's more. Aren't there?

UPDATE: Good comments below suggesting Ron "Opie" Howard and Kirk Cameron.

UPDATE 2: Read a funny quote from Jay Leno, not about child stars, but high-profile celebrities on trial:

I was wondering, how does this make Martha Stewart feel? O.J. goes free, Robert Blake walks, Michael Jackson, not guilty," he said. "She made a phone call, 'Hello, is this my broker?' Prison! She's in prison! One phone call!

Today is Flag Day in the US. Cool.

Happy Flag Day, my fellow United Statesians!

You know what's interesting though? This was the verse of the day from BibleGateway.com. You can get it in your RSS reader if you like also.

I know a lot of people who don't show much emotion.
I know a lot of people who gossip.
I know a lot of people who judge others.
I know a lot of people who think they are superior to others.
I know a lot of people who are selfish.
I know a lot of people who are quick to get angry.
I know a lot of people who feel depressed.
I know a lot of people who wish God would be more clear.
I know a lot of people who often feel alone.
I know a lot of people who wish they knew God better.
I know a lot of people who take Jesus for granted.
I know a lot of people who think they are inferior to others.
I know a lot of people who say they struggle but really they choose to not change.
I know a lot of people who are stubborn.
I know a lot of people who are looking to fit in.
I know a lot of people who want more out of life.
I know a lot of people who are lazy.
I know a lot of people who shirk responsibility.
I know a lot of people who are workaholics.
I know a lot of people who are jerks.
I know a lot of people who have it much better than they think.
I know a lot of people who just need to love others as they'd like to be loved.
I know a lot of people just like me.

As you know, June 1 started the 2005 hurricane season. Here in Florida many "hurricane items" like batteries, flashlights, tarps, and generators were tax-free June 1-12.

So how did we prepare? Well, yesterday morning I went out to a local AmSouth Bank because they were co-sponsoring with Mix 105.1 an event called "Power to the People" -- a program giving away free generators every 15 minutes from 6-9 to prepare for the hurricane season. So I went out.

I didn't win.


But it was fun being out there watching Scott & Erica do their thing. I've always enjoyed the inner-workings of a radio station. I tried to be a DJ my freshman year in college but the slot they gave me was during a class. They wouldn't change it so I had to quit. Bummer. It was fun. And regrettably I didn't go back.

I was thinking I don't like to talk a lot so I can't really be on the radio. I'm not pretty enough for TV. On the internet I can be anyone I want to be! Perfect.

So then today I went to Lowe's to get the rest of our hurricane supplies and dropped $180 (about a three-fourths on a tarp, batteries, water, etc). I learned something there. If you ask the right people questions you can get good, fast, helpful answers. If you don't, you'll be walking all around the place looking and feeling like a dolt. Going to a place like that for me takes patience and time to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it right, child. I've got my mind set on...where did that cheesy George Harrison song come from?

Sorry. Anyway, I think we're pretty much set. We've been having tornado watches and clouds, strong breezes, and rain all day because of TS Arlene.

I don't like hurricane season.

Are you kidding me? Somehow this slipped under my radar (pun intended). Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has proposed a bill that will shut down the free weather reports from the National Weather Service.

I don't like this.

It's rumored. Well, I'm taking Steve's word for it. I can't read French.

I have decided to start a new feature here on the Orangejack Blog called "Foto Friday". What I'm planning to do is post one of my favorite pictures I've taken each Friday. I hope to be consistent! What do you think? Good idea or not?

Here is this week's foto! (click on the image to read a description and larger image)

King's Mountain Crowder's Mountain, NC

Here we go again.

Sigh.

Tropical Storm ARLENE

I realized I have a lot of Star Wars quotes floating around in my head. But before I start listing them, I thought I'd open it up to you.

What's your favorite quote from Star Wars? Or what are the best quotes from Star Wars?

I really didn't need much more motivation to move to Seattle. Being in Vancouver was great last fall and I liked Seattle too.

But now I find out that Seattle is America's Most Unwired City.

Let's go, Babe!

Have you been to Google today? Well, you know how they are always chaning the Google logo for different occasions?

Well today is Frank Lloyd Wright's birthday so Google is celebrating using the logo above. The Design Weblog tipped me off to this.

But how do I know who Frank Lloyd Wright is? Because I just visited a house he built called Fallingwater (that's the "E" in Google)!

I feel so cultured.

Read an advertisement today. Apparently there are two kinds of free...but I don't know what they are:

FREE ALARM INSTALLATION
Trust your family's protection to one of the nation's #1 digital security companies. Two plans to choose from. Contact...

Yes, I know they mean the service plan, but that's not what they said.

If you're a college football fan, you'll be pleased to know that Yahoo! Sports has just signed a deal with Terry Bowden to write articles weekly (though he alluded he may do it more often).

Terry lives here in Orlando and has a call-in talk show on local ESPN radio. I've really grown to like him and his show. He has great insight on college football (though his total sports knowledge is a bit lacking!)

You can read his first post entitled An appetite for the game and that may be enough to get you ready for some football! I think this may serve as his index page but I can't be for sure. If you go to the Yahoo! College Football Page you can click on his mug shot for the latest. But if you've got an RSS reader, then plug in the feed and you're really set!

I've really grown to like Flickr. I like the ability to put several tags on different photos for management. What I'd really like is a downloadable database for me to manage my personal photos using tags. I want a Desktop Flickr.

I emailed Flickr to ask if they have it. Alas, they replied:

At this time, Flickr has no such downloadable product, only the website.

Anyone know of an alternative?

What do blizzards and hurricanes have in common?

A baby boom 9 months later.

The power was out and there was nowhere to go. Central Florida couples did what many couples do when the lights go out.

So, it's no coincidence there's a baby boom nine months after Hurricane Charley. Since May 20 -- 40 weeks after Charley hit -- the number of births is up 26 percent at just one hospital compared with this time last year.

And all this prompted this quote:

"We've got our catcher's mitts on," said Jan Wagner, a registered nurse in Halifax's labor and delivery department.

And...

"There was no electricity, they were spending a lot of time at home, there were candles and -- I'll leave the rest up to you."

Some women said the storms and their aftermath also made it difficult for them to reach their pharmacies for birth-control pills.

I never really know how to comfort others when someone close to them dies. I always feel inadequate to help. My options are always help or don't help. I confess I often don't help because I just don't know what to do. My desire is to help, and sometimes I do help -- or at least do things I think help but never know if I'm really helping.

Well, someone pointed me to this post that I think is a great help. It's called what to do for the bereaved and it's really worth a read.

I'm skeptical of stuff like this. But this time I'm not. Well, a little. I'm praying that this will work out. Though I know humanity can't solve all of humanity's problems, it's our responsibility to do what we can.

So I signed the ONE declaration.

You can watch a video of others who've signed if you like.

Or I can name drop other signers like Rick Warren, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Bono, Brad Pitt, Dikembe Mutombo, Michael W. Smith, Tod Bolsinger, and Steve Knight.

In short:

The ONE Campaign is a new effort to rally Americans to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty.

I like the comment left by Deborah on the Smart Christian Blog:

I prefer hope over cynicism. I have signed.

Me too.

Which is it?

Want to be embarrassed with me?

If you do, then log on to www.thepath.fm Tuesday (tomorrow) at approximately 5:05 EST and, I'm told, you'll hear the radio interview I did with CDR Radio, The Path, in Ohio discussing internet ministry and MinistryNet: Budapest 2005.

I hate being home sick. Boring. I honestly think I'm so worn down that this weekend trip to Pittsburgh, though great, really just zapped me. All I have is some sinus stuff and really sore throat...not enough to stay home, but I'm so worn out that I can't really concentrate well.

Maybe today's R&R will zap me back!

In the meantime, instead of posting about the weekend, Patricia has given some good updates. Maybe I'll get around to posting more, but in the meantime, go read about our trip to Falling Waters, our flight home, and visiting Papa.

On my way to Pittsburgh for a long weekend. Yes, Canada had theirs two weeks ago. The US had ours last weekend. Patricia and I are taking one this weekend!

Sunday we return to sunny stormy Orlando!

Given my history, I'll probably still post while in Pit. Maybe I'll get some good pics to post.

Sigh. Though I know I shouldn't worry and I should be prepared, it still makes me just a bit nervous.

I didn't like hurricane season last year.

Here are the names I hope won't visit my house this year:

Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince, Wilma

If you want to receive official hurricane and tropical storm statements from the National Hurricane Center, you should check these options out:

• email announcements
• rss announcements