New HDD

I just got a new hard drive at work. Really, it was amazing. At my last job, I would have had to fill out a requisition form in triplicate, wait 3 weeks for approval, then wait another 3 weeks for the order to be made, wait 6 to 8 weeks for delivery, wait another 2 weeks for the guys to install it. Here, all I did was ask via instant messanger, "Can I have a bigger HDD?" within minutes, the boss-guy comes upstairs with a 400GB hard drive and hands it to me. Wow!

And there it is.

More info: HDD stands for Hard Disk Drive. My old drive was 30GB. The model of the new HDD is ST3400620A. When using DiskWizard to copy your old HDD to a new one, make sure you download the newest DiskWizard files and don't use the ones included with your new Seagate HDD.

Couple Pics

A couple images for us today. The first one is my team avatar for the Final Fantasy Football League on Yahoo (or whatever it is). I don't play Football, or watch it, or even like it, but the office is doing it and I can just set my account to automate. Worst case, I loose...but I don't care anyways and I can at least have someone to root for when they talk about it. Team name is Coupe de Cheveux, which I believe means "haircut" in French.

The next image is something from a show called, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." First of all, the show is hilarious! There's a part of the first episode where Dr. Horrible is using a sleek remote. When they zoom in, you can see that it's an iPhone pointed at a web page titled "Horrible Van Remote."

New File Extension

Sorry to anyone spidering, but I've change the file extensions on all my files from HTML to PHP. This may give me the ability to do new stuff in the future. One of my co-workers informed me that I could use PHP as my file extension even with using blogger.com to run my blog. Can't do anything with it right now obviously (check time).

I think that using blogger.com is better than trying to have people register to my site. Most people who go out and read blogs already have a blogger login.

Zucchini Spaghetti

We were going to a community dinner and everyone was supposed to be bringing spaghetti, but being in a certain phase of a certain diet, couldn't do the starches. Then I remembered seeing on Iron Chef America something about using zucchini instead of pasta so I julianned some zucchini into strips and steamed them and put spaghetti sauce on them (just store bought with some ground beef). I called it zucchini spaghetti. :)

It turned out great! The zucchini had more of a texture than spaghetti, so the sauce stuck better. Even my kid liked it and she says she doesn't like zucchini otherwise. It was weird giving a recipe out to the ladies there.

iPhone/iPod Touch Repository

Okay, I've started my own repository for iPhone/iPod Touch applications. I've added MultiPod (see a few posts ago). Anyone who has a Jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch can add my repository by the normal means. The address is http://i.flobi.com and I named it that for ease of entry. (You're welcome.) If you go in a browser, I recommend Safari as it's designed for that browser specifically.

Coile Family Portraits

These just the proofs which is why they are such low quality. Mainly they're here so Karen can see them.

My Nike+ Mini

Nike+ has a new toy. I was going to call it a feature, but toy is really more accurate. It's called Nike+ Mini. You can see the result of me playing with it. Beard, messy hair, but strangely enough, the only Nike eq. I normally wear is the sportband. I don't own any of their shoes or shirts.

MultiPod

Here's a quick upload of my program MultiPod that I've been working on in spare time. This is my first and only iPod application. It makes it so that you can swap multiple music/video/pic/bookmark libraries so that you can sync with multiple computers or convince your computer you have multiple iPods (or both!). It also allows you to require a password to be entered when switching to a library for those who may have sensitive information in your media.

Note: It does not currently swap contacts, calendars or any other application data.

Screenshots:


Installation:
First of all, you must have a Jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch (though this hasn't been tested on iPhone) with firmware 1.1.4. Reason for firmware requiment: paths changed. A version for 1.1.3 and lower could be made if requested.

Use the installer to install the Jiggy Runtime.

UPDATE: View this post to add my iPhone/iPod Touch Repository.  You will now find MultiPod under Utilities with SwapTunes and other similar programs.  

When you run MultiPod, it will automatically detect the current configuration and assign it to the first position. To change the name of an entry, use iTunes; the entry will be named the same as the name iTunes gives the device.

Flobi scalps the competition in June

http://psiblog.net/2008/07/15/flobi-scalps-the-competition-in-june/

It would be a stretch to call the June Fitness Challenge a competition. In reality, only Flobi decided to show up. He won going away by walking 55 miles...

I would like to mention the play on words in the title (which was by Jeff, one of the higher-ups at the company): Flobi (my nickname) comes from the root-word Flowbee, which is a device designed to cut hair. Since scalping is another method of hair removal, this is funny. Or it's supposed to be. When you actually need the referrence explained to you or it takes multiple minutes for you to realize the referrence yourself, it isn't nearly as funny (or so I'm told). I guess that's the same with any play on words or joke. But that isn't Jeff's fault that I've heard Flobi so many times in my life that I literally never think of Flowbee when I hear or see it.

100 Miles!!!

I did it! Thanks to everyone who encouraged me. I actually walked 100 miles in less than 3 months. Recorded the whole thing with a Nike+ wristband. Thanks Mike for the wristband. I also feel about 20 pounds lighter. I didn't really place in the company weight loss competition, but I did get last months distance (see right).

On a side note, I "accidentally" went 10 miles today. I normally have a 7 mile limit, but due to some bad math, I ended up going an extra 3 miles. How strange.

Update: Nike Gives me a Certificate

Congratulations Kristy!

Big shout out (whatever that means) to Kristy for winning Augusta's Biggest Loser competition. She lost 77 pounds. That's freaking amazing. It's also very motivating for me. You can see to the right here, I'm in a distance competition at work and I can use all the motivation I can get. To see Kristy looking just like she did in High School (hint, she was very cute in High School) makes me want to work to look like I did back then...well, maybe without those huge glasses (Kristy, why didn't you tell me my glasses were huge?). Looking at those old pictures, no wonder everyone thought I was a geek...not that they were wrong, but... Anyways, big congratulations, Kristy!

New Blog Location

I was thinking about it, there's no need for my blog to be in a subdirectory. I appologize to anyone who was using a feed, it has moved too (check link to left). So, now, instead of http://www.flobi.com/blogger/, it's just http://www.flobi.com/ right here, main page of the site. The old techie stuff (not that my blog won't have techie stuff now and then) is still available here: http://www.flobi.com/techstuff.php.

iPhone Shuffle

Strange situations today have made it such that I can't listen to music normally, so I have my iPod plugged in instead of my brand new blue tooth headphones (they're awesome by the way). I've got an application I downloaded called "Shuffle" which is supposed to make the shuffle feature on my iPod more intuitive. I'm not sure how well it works, so I was looking up, "iPhone shuffle app" in Google to find a review (hint: iPhone and iPod Touch are almost identical devices).

But I came up with another application called iPhone Shuffle. Apparently, it dials a random US phone number...and that's all it does. I think it's hilarious, you?

Christians believing Evolution

I've been going over all this and come to the realization that the conclusion of my last post may be misleading. The answer to the question "Can a Christian believe in the aspects of evolution that directly contradict the Bible?" is in fact yes. But, and here's where I think my train of thought was going before I got side tracked, that answer was specifically geared to the person reading my post.

The person reading my post, by the time that (s)he got to that part should be aware that the Bible does contradict parts of evolution (and vice versa) and must admit that either the Bible lies or the science is faulty, or else plead ignorance. Pleading ignorance itself leads to another question, who to trust. Should God be trusted over man, or should man be trusted over God?

However, those who haven't been presented with the truth that there are contradictions between the Bible and the theory of evolution, and I believe they are few, haven't been remotely indoctrinated into either. For the beginning of the Bible states very clearly an opposite history than evolution presents. And evolution is seldom, if ever, taught in the order I presented it. It is generally taught beginning with what I've called the final extrapolation. I presented it in that order because it was easiest to demonstrate where the two contradict.

Notwithstanding all this, if someone actually believes that evolution can create the world without somehow contradicting the Bible, (though it would be through ignorance they would have to make that claim), I suppose that it is possible that they could be a faithful Christian. It is not my place to judge, though I can say it does not seem likely to me that one who honestly looks at this issue will remain ignorant for long. I have found that the people who I know who are ardent about evolution being true seem to lack some of the fundamental qualities Jesus told us we should display. I won't go into that, because it would be gossip, I'm sure.

Does evolution contradict Christianity?

This is very interesting. I believe I'll give a shot at answering these questions.

Does evolution contradict Christianity? and If so, how? What is in conflict? What is about evolution that is in conflict? Obviously you're asking about the current "theory of evolution" (as opposed to the "fact of evolution," described later), often referred to as neo-Darwinism. Well, let's see...

The main theory has 2 basic aspects, 1. "Natural selection" favors development in such a way that individuals with traits better suited for a specific environment will thrive; and 2. "Random mutations" change, increase or decrease the genetic code, sometimes in beneficial ways (though primarily in indifferent or harmful ways). Extrapolating these two base points, natural selection combined with these random mutations will cause beneficial mutations to dominate any given gene exchanging group (this includes gene exchange during reproduction into the new being as well as some species apparently which can exchange genes even without reproduction). And, insofar as we can't specifically determine which genetic changes are in fact random and which are part of the existing design (to the point that the gene is actually programmed to alter it's own composition, notwithstanding how it became programmed such), we can say there is overwhelming evidence of genetic change and natural selection. Nothing here contradicts, let's just say, the Bible. This, I believe, is called "microevolution" by both Creationists, Evolutionists and scientists.

Extrapolating further we would see that two identical groups of creatures which have stopped exchanging genes (probably by some physical separation) would eventually develop enough differences from each other genetically that they would be considered different species, naturally selecting genes that are more beneficial to the environment each occupies. Often this even happens to the point that the two different species are no longer capable of gene exchange. This is observable, confirmed and not contradictory to the Bible. On a side note, this extrapolation does not necessarily require both basic aspects, only the first. Natural selection alone could cause this to be seen even if no mutations occurred in either population provided enough original diversity was available in the group before separation. From what I've read, evolutionists primarily consider this the "fact of evolution" because it is a direct observation. Creationists call this "microevolution," and seem to overwhelmingly agree that it is observed. Again, nothing here necessarily contradicts the bible. Evolutionists however, also refer to this as "macroevolution," and when called to prove or demonstrate macroevolution, provide evidence for this mutually agreed upon observation instead of the following extrapolation which Creationists feel is lacking evidence (or worse) and are generally condemning.

Further extrapolation reveals that if we begin with a single population of sufficient ability to continue successful reproduction, it would, via random mutation and natural selection, eventually develop the genetic information required to build more advanced biological structures facilitating more advanced abilities to the point that every biological structure and ability available to all the creatures currently alive and possibly (eventually) even more. Creationists call this "macroevolution." Evolutionists call this "macroevolution" and use the evidence of the "fact of evolution" (see previous paragraph) along with elaborate biological categorization practices to demonstrate that it has already happened. I would call this "an interesting hypothesis," and I doubt a real scientist would comment on it because of the mud-throwing from both sides and I'm sure she's got real work to do. This is moderately contradictory to the bible in the fact that (Romans 8:20) Paul says that the world has been subjected to "futility." Possibly as a result of the "fall?" Additionally, this is also moderately contradictory to the results of breeding experimentation. Breeders simply can't breed horses any faster; they can't breed dogs any bigger or smaller than their current size limits; they can't seem to breed a chicken that will lay more than one egg a day. In fact, thoroughbreds are specifically bred to the point that they statistically should not change in future generations. Pure breeders could be said to rely on the fact that this extrapolation is not true.

Further extrapolation would lead one to the understanding that, notwithstanding a miraculous supernatural creation event, the only plausible explanation for the existence of the exceptional diversity we see is that this has already happened. This final extrapolation I suppose could be called "origin of all species by means of natural selection and random mutation." Because evolutionists are unwilling to admit the possibility of an unexplainable supernatural event and there are no other theories (or even plausible hypotheses) they are compelled to consider this extrapolation as "fact" and often refer to it as the "theory of evolution" or "fact of evolution" (the latter of which would be inaccurate). Creationists refuse to admit the possibility of the Bible being incorrect and are similarly compelled to consider this extrapolation false. Again, scientists are likely to stay out of this and I'm pretty sure you already know where I am on it.

There have been attempts to reconcile this final extrapolation with Biblical creation. One of the most famous is called "Intelligent Design." There are apparently numerous proponents of "Intelligent Design," and they are looked down upon by both Evolutionists as well as "Young Earth" Creationists, like Answers In Genesis. The basis of Intelligent Design is that essentially the final extrapolation is correct, except that instead of random mutations occurring over an extended period of time, some outside force imposed mutations specifically to enhance the otherwise natural process. This is looked down upon by Evolutionists because, like Biblical creation, there is still a problem of an unexplainable supernatural event, the possibility of which they are unwilling to concede. Creationists (which in this reply always refers to Young Earth Creationists) see the same inherent problems in I.D. that there are in the final extrapolation.

As for the contradictions: The final extrapolation requires an excessive period of time. Generally, evolution is paired with The Big Bang Theory (T.B.B.T.) or some other cosmic evolution theory because of the compatible time requirements for each, however, I don't believe many evolutionists would defend T.B.B.T. because the cosmos is not technically part of the biological evolution process. Since all the commonly accepted cosmic evolution theories (i.e. T.B.B.T.) have essentially the same order of events and time frames, I'm going to proceed pairing evolution with T.B.B.T. for the contradictions I list.

Here are some Bible facts that are directly contradicted with a T.B.B.T. based final extrapolation:

• The sun and stars was created after the earth. (Gen 1:1 - Earth, Gen 1:14 - Sun, Stars)
• Light was created after water and the earth. (Gen 1:1 - Earth, Gen 1:1-2 - Water, Gen 1:3 - Light)
• The measurement of a day was created before the sun, the moon or the stars. (Gen: 1:1-5 - The first day, Gen 1:14 - Sun, Moon, Stars)
• Dry land was created after oceans (Gen 1:9 - Separated oceans to form dry land)
• Plants (including land plants) were created before the sun, moon and stars, ocean life (Gen 1:11 - Plants, Gen 1:14 - Sun, Moon, Stars, Gen 1:20 - Ocean Life)
• Fruit-bearing plants were created before insects (Gen 1:11 - Plants, Gen 1:25 - Insects)
• Birds were created before Dinosaurs (Gen: 1:20 - Birds, Gen 1:24 - Dinosaurs)
• Whales were created before land mammals (Gen 1:20 - Whales, Gen 1:24 - Land Mammals)
• Livestock was created before mankind (Gen 1:24 - Livestock, Gen 1:26 - Mankind)
• Names were given to "all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field" before woman was created (Gen 2:19 - Names Given, Gen 2:22 - Woman Created)
• Viruses*, Thorns, Death, Sickness*, Thistles developed after Animals, Plants, and all other kinds of life was created. (Gen 3:6 - Death, Gen 3:18 - Thorns, Thistles)
• Homo (a biological classification including humans) death first occurred after the development of language, animal husbandry, agriculture, labor pains, animal sacrifice, agricultural sacrifice, gardens, clothing**
• God created Man (as opposed to Man created gods, or at least the idea of gods)
• Man created death through sin (as opposed to millions of years of death, i.e. natural selection, creating man)
• Sin predated death
• Man was created from dust (as opposed to being created from other animals)

* I have starred some items not mentioned this early in the Bible but I believe do not qualify as "very good" as described in Gen 1:31 at the end of creation you make your own interpretation.
** Okay, I started getting lazy. I've been working on this too long.

Can a Christian believe in evolution? I am going to change the question slightly to, "Can a Christian believe in the aspects of evolution that directly contradict the Bible?" The answer is no. I was going to say "yes, but..." but I realized while writing this post that is not true. To be a true Christian, one must believe in Christ. This can be extrapolated many ways, but probably the most obvious way is to trust that what he says is true. He says that the scriptures are true. If you do not believe what He says, how can you claim to believe in Him even in the most basic of ways. He claims to have been there when it happened. He claims Moses told the event correctly. How could someone to claim to be His follower and yet continuously call Him a liar? It would be at minimum hypocrisy and at worst blasphemy or sacrilege.

Final notes: Forgive me not putting any references, despite it's length and the time I spent on it, this is not intended to be a scientific paper, simply my viewpoint of how things are.

Here's a little more I added later:
I was hoping to include this last night, but it just got too late and I didn't have the time to look up the verse (found 3 copies once I started looking). If calling Jesus a liar is a sin, and I believe it is, one should be wary, perhaps very wary of teaching the final extrapolation of the theory of evolution as Jesus gives us fair warning: Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2 say the same thing, this copy is from Mark.

"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.

Originally posted at ibcy.