iTunes 5.0 is here!!!

I don't know how many days it's been out, but the new iTunes 5.0 is here!!! :) Once again, Apple has made a quality product worthy of the computer world's notice. Among other things, they've improved the visual appearance of the program and added some helpful features for doing searches (and I already thought their search program was one of the best... and now it's even better, IMHO). Of course, iTunes also will allow you to download podcasts and purchase music at the Apple Music Store.

Go ahead and try it now!

don't ignore a warning!

As I was catching up on some Internet reading, I came across this quote about the people of New Orleans:

There appear to be a lot of people who didn't even try to prepare for a disaster they all had been told was coming for a generation (then were told, point blank, 24 hours in advance, was now imminent) because they imagined that FEMA or the State of Louisiana had magical powers to save them, and it just doesn't work like that.

As I was reading the article, I began thinking ahead to another day... For over 2000 years, there has been a prediction of an even worse day than the day of Katrina, and it will come suddenly and catch all men by surprise, like a thief in the night. The Day of the Lord will come, and it is as certain as the sun rising in the east each morning. Christ WILL come back to claim His bride, the church, and we must be ready for it. What's more... the day of judgment will come too - the day in which those whose names were not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire. For over 2000 years, the warning has been sounded, first by Old Testament prophets, then by Christ, by the 12 Apostles, and now through pastors and teachers the world over - "These are the last days!" The warning is there... Heed it, and choose Christ as your Savior now! You may not get another chance! This isn't just "religious paraphanilia" as some might call it - it is as certain as as the sun rising in the morning. There IS a day of judgment - those who have taken appropriate action (trusting in Christ alone for salvation) will be saved, and those who were too lazy or complacent to do anything... well, they are headed for eternal destruction in the lake of fire. Scripture is so incredibly clear about this. Please be ready, folks! The warning has been sent out, and the time for action is NOW!

Poor me....

Okay, so I know that about 90% of the bloggers in the US have already commented on the high gas prices, but now it's my turn. I had 1/4 tank left 2 days, and I was hoping against hope that I could make it last long enough for the prices to start falling again. But such hope was not to last. After making a quick trip to Walmart and the teacher supply store, there was the little gas light on my dashboard, blinking for all it was worth. Rats... the first time I need to get gas in my new car, and it has to be at a time like this!

What will be even funnier (ten years from now) is the thought that crossed my mind while I was filling up. My first thought was to only get $5 worth of gas. I know I'm not THAT old... but I remember when $5 would hold you for a couple days. Nope. It got me just over 1 1/2 gallons. A day or two maybe, depending on how many errands I needed to run or how desperate we were for a "coffee" break during our classroom prep time at school. "Just enough to hold me" is gonna cost you $10 or $15 now... or maybe even $20 if you have a gas-guzzling Escalade. (Fortunately, I have an Element, not an Escalade!) Yuk!

Maybe I should have waited another 3 years to buy a new car, so I could pay another $10K just to get one of those gas-electric hybrid Accords with 50 miles to the gallon...