KUDOS TO FIREFOX

Kudos to Firefox!

Earlier this year, I suddenly noticed Firefox not completely loading web pages (only a couple of them). After downloading and reinstalling several times, I decided to install from CDROM-- which came with a book called "Firefox Secrets."

Well, this time, those web pages loaded correctly. So I updated the browser to the latest version (1.0.7). Now we're surfing!

SermonAudio.com - Order my steps Lord

SermonAudio.com - Order my steps Lord

Why does it not surprise me that ninety percent of the Reformed Christian sermons I hear that bless my soul are preached by Baptists? Let us take note of the fact that "many are the plans in a man's heart, but the LORD directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

IWASWONDERINGWHATWOULDHAPPENIFITYPEDTHISBLOGENTRYWITHOUT
SPACESORPUNCTUATION

Nobody would read it, right?

Well, anyway, have a safe Independence Day!

APOLOGY, ETC.

My apologies to anyone reading my blog. It seems the previous post was erroneously formatted after I posted it, and it now appears in two-toned psychedelia--complete with flaming-red hyperlinks. All my attempts at rectifying it have proven fruitless. Let's hope this post is more like the previous ones.

Well, I've just downloaded and installed Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2. I must say, it reminds me of Linux (in a good way), and of Apple, in the overall appearance of web pages. I would say they look more like the aforementioned's browsers than the old IE. All of the available features certainly increase the Cool Factor. Let us surf and see.

I encourage you to risk taking the time and effort to download and install different browsers to see the various ways--like automobiles--to get around the Information Superhighway.

Bravery (and money) will afford themselves the opportunity to explore the possibilities of desktop computing. We have only touched the tip of a philosophical iceberg.

But for now, it's bedtime...

NETSCAPE NAVIGATES!!!

Well, I have made a fairly pleasant discovery (so far) in using Netscape's Navigator web browser. One of the things I like about it is that on Hotmail, the text editor has a fully featured formatting toolbar. In Firefox and Opera, the toolbar does not appear. It seems that only Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are the only two browsers I have which support that feature in Hotmail. Just a little bit of trivia.

Surf on, fellow bloggers!

SATURDAY NIGHT BLOG

Well, tonight finds me watching the Arizona Diamondbacks playing on TV, and me wondering why Blogger.com is having issues with my blog.

It seems the Dashboard and other behind-the-scenes pages at Blogger are okay. But I noticed the last couple of days, my blog has been de-formatted (temporarily?) I think I saw someone else's blog affected as well, but I'm not sure. I'm going to explore this further, and see if I can't change templates or something to get to the bottom of this. Not a problem. I'm just interested in what may have happened. Fun, fun, fun!

OPERA ROCKS!!!

 Hey, all of you low-tech, geek-wannabes (like me) who would like surfing in a new, different web browser! Here is Opera, which you may or may not like (I do). Because Firefox was having trouble completely loading some webpages, I thought I'd give Opera a re-try. It is a refreshing change. True, Firefox has many features which Internet Explorer DOES NOT. But Opera gives Firefox a run for its money.

Don't get me wrong: IE is still a good browser. But why drive a Ford when you can drive a...(fill in the blank)? Toyota? Honda? Lexus?

Just like Linux is touted as the solution to Windows, Firefox is touted as the solution to Internet Explorer. And in my case, Opera (and IE) is the solution to 
Firefox. Ah, choices. 

A RANDOM POST

Thanks to all who commented on my recent posts.  They are much appreciated.

Regarding the features and advantages of using the Tekka template from Blogger.com, I thought it was too stark but simple enough to do the job. However, when I found another template (Powell Street) at http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com, I liked it best of all the others on that page.

Here is a little lesson in hyperlinking from your blog post (which I learned while doing this one!):

1. Highlight the text you wish to hyperlink.
   
2. Click the Hyperlink button in the toolbar.
3. Enter the desired address of the hyperlink.
4. Click OK.
5. Depress the Bullet Points button in the toolbar, or else every new paragraph WILL BE A BULLET POINT!!! (This last one was for me because it is very tricky business to make a list like this.)
   

There. Now a new problem arises.  Every new line that you type will be completely hyperlinked until you do the following:

1. Go back and select (highlight) all the text that it (the Blogger Post Editor) is hyperlinking (that you don't want hyperlinked).
   
2. Click the Hyperlink button in the toolbar.
3. Delete any text from the address bar of the JavaScript pop-up window.
4. Click OK.

By double-spacing, you disable the bullet-point feature and return to standard paragraphs. Whew!

 I will now go back and follow my instructions to de-hyperlink this entire lesson!

POWELL STREET BLOG

Almost sounds like a horror movie, doesn't it? Actually, it's the name of the template I installed to make my blog more appealing. Whaddya think?

A Change of Template

I would like to announce that as of this posting, I have converted my blog to a new template called "Tekka," which I'm sure connotes a post-modernistic theme of high-tech "whatever" attitude. I say whatever because it was an arduous search through each and every template on Blogger.com before I arrived at this one, which is a fair compromise of all features I prefer in the appearance.

--Editor's note: Don't worry, I'll change my mind in the next post...

THIRTY-FIVE MILLION AND COUNTING

Okay, here is another post by this very occasional blogger. It takes a lot (apparently) of inspiration to get me to sit here and type a message to some indiscriminate mass of readership which I will (may) never see in this life. But because I am a Christian, and believe all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)--whew--, this is hopefully not just another "futile" attempt at becoming one of the many (35 million) souls who yearn, nay, starve for attention from other human beings who read blogs. I must admit I read very few blogs, mainly HughHewitt.com and others associated with it.

Well, that's enough introductory blogposting. I'll just carry on with the rest of my post.

It seems there are 35 million blogs on the web today, according to Jeremy Wagstaff of the Wall Street Journal Online.

I had to start a new paragraph because the blog editor wouldn't stop underlining and hyperlinking my text! But I found out the underlining doesn't show up after the hyperlink in the published post.

In any event, let's try an experiment: FOX NEWS ...there, no underlining or hyperlinking after the hyperlink! Success.

As I was saying, here is an article (see the Wall Street Journal Online) about the glut (that's overabundance, for those of you in Rio Linda) of blogs on the Internet. There is no human way possible to read ALL THOSE BLOGS!!! Therefore, as Mr. Wagstaff suggests, one must consult an aggregator website such as BlogBridge.com. to make any sense of it all. Frankly, I haven't gone there myself. But if I just click the link, why I'll be there in mere moments... yecch! Chaff and wheat.

Anyway, if you are reading this, please post a comment (unless you're an automated comment generator from deep cyberspace).

ATHEISTS: READ THIS

American Vision has an excellent article by Gary DeMar about an atheist who refuses to use his own common sense to determine whether Christianity--or any historical event-- is proveable and therefore credible. His foolishness is so extremely evident that I encourage you to read at least a portion of this article to see for yourself how nonsensical atheism can be and is.

ARRIVEDERCI, AFGHANISTAN!

Today's post bears an irresistible pun in its title. I wish to congratulate Abdul Rahman on emigrating to Italy to flee a death sentence, either by the Court or by Islamic vigilantes, for becoming, by the grace of God, a Christian.

It is only in America, and in other places where Christians enjoy a measurable degree of freedom to worship and serve God, that we can openly rejoice when God provides an escape from an impossible situation. Hallelujah!

AMERICAN IDLE

I thought I might live-blog American Idol tonight. Everyone is singing Stevie Wonder songs, so it should be a good night.

1) Ace Young: I agreed with Randy Jackson--it was a so-so performance.

2) Kellie Pickler: Wow! All three judges sent her packing with a less than stellar performance rating.

3) Elliot Yamin: He sang very well.

4) Mandisa: She looks extremely poised and confident. Her singing is not spot-on notewise at the beginning of her song, but it sounded pretty good otherwise. Simon liked it! So did Paula. Randy didn't.

5) Bucky Covington: So far, so good. He's putting in a good performance. Randy liked it! Simon says, the hair must go! Otherwise, he gives it a thumbs up. Paula agreed with Randy.


6) Melissa McGhee: Beautiful girl. Good voice (Randy: she has "the pipes.").

7) Lisa Tucker: Looks good. Sounds very good. She could be a lock. Signed, sealed, and delivered!

8) Kevin Covais: Surprisingly good. Simon said it was "appalling." I totally disagree. I saw a good performance from someone you would not expect to be so stage-friendly and relatively cool. Good job!

9) Katharine McPhee: She has a better than average Idol voice.

10) Taylor Hicks: My favorite male singer this competition. Simon, as usual, delivered his barb/compliment, making it unanimous.

11) Paris Bennett: Good performance. All three agree!

12) Chris Daughtry: He was as good as, if not better than, Taylor Hicks.

That's it! Bedtime.

Here is a quick link to Renewing Your Mind.

Middle East Radio Forum

I just wanted to post this link to their website. It is an extraordinarily informative hour on the radio, when you can learn a lot about the Middle East and its history as it relates to the current turmoil. I hope you check it out. The host of the program has posted various links to other related websites for further enlightenment. You'll have to download and install Quicktime Player to listen if you don't have it. It's worth the trouble. But FYI: I had to try three times to download the setup files because of corrupt files which interrupted the download. It seemed to work reasonably well otherwise.
Middle East Radio Forum
Be back later with another interesting link!

Calvinism vs. Arminianism

For all you theology buffs who are interested in the debate between what John Calvin taught, which is by and large taught in the Bible, and what Jacob Arminius taught, I submit to you this link to an excellent--if not the best--expositional sermon on the Five Points of Calvinism. These points are, of course, not exhaustive of Calvin's theology, or of Biblical theology. They merely answer the five points raised by Arminius and his followers.

When, not if, you follow the link to the webpage of the sermon, be sure to click "Later" when asked if you wish to receive their email newsletter (if you do, then click "Continue"). Enjoy The Five Points of Calvinism.

Compass Direct

Today's post is a shameless plug for Compass Direct, a Christian website dedicated to informing the public about the severe persecution suffered by Christians around the world. It is an eye-opener for us Western believers who have been living in countries which were founded predominantly by Christians, and have experience only moderate political persection (culture wars) which rarely turns violent. Thank God we are a safe, though imperfectly so, harbor for a restless world. May God grant us His peace, grace and mercy in our time of need.

A FEW CHANGES

I tried a couple of things today to see if they would improve the appearance of my blog. One was to revert to my old title, "Pete's Blog," an unpretentious name for a novice such as myself. The other change was to insert a news feed in the sidebar. That was an experiment in HTML code 101. I'll leave it to the adventurous to see how I did that.

Well, I could post a hyperlink for fun here.

For Blogger.com users' future reference, use the hyperlink toolbar button, then change the text from its full web address to whatever you want. It will stay a hyperlink to that address. Pretty cool.

Music Hath Charms..

I don't know what to write about, but I have noticed that when I listen to great Christian music such as that found in the previous post, it can be incredibly inspiring. Earlier, I watched the trailer for End of the Spear, the movie about the murder of five missionaries to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. That certainly set me on a Christian course this evening. Here is the link: http://www.endofthespear.com/ It certainly is inspiring, especially if you have a high-speed connection because of all the "buffering."

One of these days, I'll figure out how to post a link without using "http, etc.," like other bloggers do. There. Now if you click on that link, you will find that I discovered (learned) how to do it. I'll leave it a trade secret unless you are familiar with Blogger.com.

Well, that leaves me with one more post which basically says what I want, but nothing else. Again, if you can swing playing audio of your choice through your computer while blogging, do it. It will inspire you to employ your whole brain! What a rush!

Until I feel inspired again...

P.S. As a disclaimer, the above photo was uploaded from my computer, not from the movie. If you have Windows XP, it's in the My Pictures folder, under Sample Pictures. This one is called, "Blue Hills." Obviously:)