according to jeff

The local Cingular store closed today at 5:00 p.m. in preparation of selling the iPhone starting at 6:00 p.m. I’m told that the first person arrived to start the line at 5:30 a.m. By about 12:30 p.m. there were 20 or so people in line. By 5:00 when Matt arrived to start holding my place in line, there were about 45 people in line ahead of us. Some of those were just waiting with some one else who planned to buy a phone, while some of those may have been wanting to buy more than one phone. A salesperson was putting wrist bands on customers waiting in line. By 6 o’clock, when the doors opened, there were perhaps 20 to 25 more people waiting behind me.

Most of the people in line looked younger than me. Substantially younger. While there were a few seniors, the crowd consisted mostly of college students and 20-somethings, I think. I fancied that many were graphic artists and worked in marketing jobs.

Two TV stations were present, filming and interviewing some of those waiting. Alas, my opinion was not solicited.

At 6:47, the 8 GB models sold out. At 7:20, the 4 GB models sold out. I made it into the store at 7:25.

So, if I’d arrived to wait perhaps 15 minutes sooner, I could have purchased a 4GB model. For my work purposes, a 4 GB model would have been sufficient, I’m sure. To buy the 8 GB model (for an additional $100), the salesman thought that it would have been necessary to be in line by 2:00. I’m not confident of that estimate, but it’s as good a guess as any.

When we’d received our wristband, we’d been told that if they ran out, we could place a direct order and that the iPhone would arrive on Monday for no additional shipping charges. However, by the time the iPhone stock had run out, the salesmen were being more careful with the promises that they were making. Instead, we were told that since we’d waited in line, we had priority over all of the Internet orders and that ours would be shipped to us even prior to new iPhones being shipped to the retail stores. The salespeople thought that was possible that the iPhone would arrive on Monday, but if not, surely sometime next week.

We’ll see.

My typical Friday includes lunch with my Laridian associates. Today’s choice was the new Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches.

One of the first things I read upon entering Jimmy John’s was that the sandwiches weren’t really gourmet… they were just really good. Calling the spot a gourmet sandwich restaurant is just part of the shtick, as it’s really just a sub shop. However, I’ll admit that my sub was good.

I chose the #12 Beach Club, a sandwich with turkey and avocado. Served on fresh French bread, it was a good sandwich. I added Jimmy John’s original chips, which I’d describe as kettle chips, and a coke, and enjoyed the meal.

I was surprised by the customer traffic at Jimmy John’s. There were 8 staff taking orders and making sandwiches, and a steady stream of customers. And, as promised, the sandwiches were made fast.

If you’re wanting a sub sandwich (not a gourmet sandwich), then Jimmy John’s is definitely worth a try.

Not that I needed anything extra, but since Cold Stone Creamery was next door, we headed there for dessert. (I’d not been to this one before, and found the ambiance much nicer than the one on the west side of town.) I enjoyed a “like it” size of peach, with no additional add-ins. I found it to be “just right.”

Later today, I’ll be buying an iPhone. Maybe.

I say maybe because there’s only one place in town to buy the iPhone — the Cingular / New AT&T store at Lindale Mall — and the employees there don’t know if they’ll be receiving a stock of 5 or 50 or 500. They can only guess about both the initial demand and whether they’ll have enough to meet the initial demand.

You have to give Apple credit for generating buzz about their new product. Some surveys have suggested that as many as 1 in 10 current cell phone users plan to switch to the iPhone. If so, the iPhone will be the next big thing. And if it is, my business would like to be part of it.

My guess is that Apple will be ready to capitalize on this buzz and have an ample supply of products available. There may be short-term shortages at specific locations, but I’m not expecting Wii-like supply problems. But that’s just a guess.

Though the phone is expensive (!), my monthly costs will actually decrease. My current plan costs $80 for 700 minutes and unlimited medianet. Since I don’t use 700 minutes each month, I can drop to a plan with fewer minutes. I’ll probably switch to a 450 minute plan with unlimited email and Web for $60. I have two additional family lines which will still cost $10 each.

If all goes well, I’ll leave the Cingular store with a new iPhone in a box and an activation code. I’ll then bring it home to activate it via iTunes. That poses a bit of a problem for me, because I have all of my contacts in Outlook on my PC and all of my iPod music in iTunes on my Mac. I’ll need to decide whether to dock with my Mac or my PC.

If you’re also at Cingular this evening and see me standing in line, be sure to stop and say “hi”.

My typical Friday includes lunch with my Laridian associates. Today’s choice was the new Dickey’s Barbeque Pit.

In a previous visit to Dickey’s, I tried the beef brisket and the hot links. Some one had recommended the ham to me, so I decided to try that recommendation. I order the one meat plate, with sides of slaw and fried okra. Alas, while the slaw and okra were great, I found that the ham was just ham. There didn’t appear to be anything barbecue about it. I was able to add some zest to it with some hot sauce. Next time, I’ll try the pulled pork.

The meat at Dickey’s is prepared without barbecue sauce. While this allows one to choose his own sauce, it is debatable whether this method is really barbecue. In the technical sense, barbecue may include the use of a marinade or sauce while cooking. So, in this technical sense, the meat as Dickey’s qualifies as barbecue. However, I think there’s something to be said for the use of marinades and sauces while the meat is cooked.

(Our local BBQ This! also cooks without marinades and sauces. On the other hand, Al and Irene’s sandwiches come with sauce — either hot or mild — built in.)

My only complaint about Dickey’s to date is the entrance. There are two cash registers for taking orders, but there isn’t a clear line system. Instead, nearly every time I’ve been there, people have been milling around waiting for their turn. It’s just not clear when “their turn” really is!

Today is “the longest day of the year.” That is, there are more minutes of daylight today than any other day of the year. Or, put another way, the length of time between sunrise and sunset is the greater today than it will be for another 365 days.

From here on until winter, the length of daylight will decrease from the 15+ hours that we currently enjoy to less than 10 hours.

So, the question is, is today to be celebrated, or greeted with sadness? Is it the best that it gets, or the start of a downtrend? Is the glass half full, or half empty?

What is this “religion of peace” that President Bush refers to? Surely he’s not referring to Islam.

According to a story by Fox News, Pakistan Minister Says Salman Rushdie’s Knighthood Justifies Suicide Attacks, Great Britain awarded knighthood to Salman Rushdie, author of the “controversial” book, The Satanic Verses. Muslims responded not with thoughtfully written letters to the editor, calm discussion around a cup of coffee, or official expressions of regret via government diplomats. Instead, they responded by burning Queen Elizabeth in effigy, chanting “Kill him. Kill him.” and endorsing suicide bombings.

I’ve not read The Satanic Verses. It could be the best novel of the twentieth century. Or it could be tripe. I don’t know, nor do I particularly care.

Likewise, Salman Rushdie could be entirely deserving of knighthood. Or he may be a buffoon. Again, I don’t know, nor do I particularly care.

However, when the religious affairs minister of Pakistan, Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, suggests to Pakistan’s parliament that the appropriate response is suicide bombings, it does cause one to question whether Islam is a religion of peace.

Doesn’t it?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
— 1 Peter 1:2-4 (NIV)

My typical Friday includes lunch with my Laridian associates. Today’s choice was the Vernon Inn.

Though the name doesn’t even hint at it, the Vernon Inn serves Greek food.

My choice today was the traditional Gyros sandwich, served with fries or feta cole slaw. Even though I considered asking for both, I opted for the fries.

I also heartily recommend the Dolmathes, which we enjoyed today as an appetizer.

Some from our party order Baklava for dessert. (I was already satisfied from the Dolmathes and Gyros.) The Baklava was thick and layered, and I’m told that it was very good.

The only disappointment with today’s visit was the service, and specifically the lack of prompt refills for tea and soft drinks. The service is usually quite good, so perhaps today’s service was an anomaly.

Click here for a good 9×9 Nurikabe puzzle from Logic Games Online. This puzzle, from June 12, is solvable by applying logic to the grid — no trial and error is needed.

If you’ve been wanting to try a Nurikabe, it’s a good one to start with!

Last night, I finished Father of Dragons, the fourth book in the Binding of the Blade series by L.B. Graham. This is a five book series, with this fourth book just recently being released, and the fifth book expected next spring or summer.

This series of novels falls squarely in the “fantasy” genre, featuring such characters as men, dragons, giants, talking bears, etc. It also features friendships, betrayals, battles, and death. While the overall tone is that of good versus evil, subjects such as temptation, forgiveness and redemption are explored as well.

I don’t want to say much more than that, as you should experience the books for yourself without preconceived notions of what else to expect.

I will note, however, that while the first three books wrapped up nicely. this fourth book didn’t come to satisfactory resolution. All will be resolved in book five, but it’s another year away!

If you’ve not yet read this series, stop reading now. If you have read through book four, and are awaiting book five, then keep reading.

Here are some predictions about what we’ll see happen in book five:

• Keila will die while saving Aljeron’s life, thus resolving any conflict between Aljeron’s commitment to Aelwyn.
• Rulalin will turn back to Allfather when given the third and final opportunity, perhaps in relation to saving Benjiah from Malek.
• We’ve been primed to expect a sacrifice to bring restoration, and we expect it to come from Benjiah. However, it might come from Rulalin. (The author has been known to provide an interesting twist before.)
• Book 3 introduced the prophecy of the four great races uniting to oppose Malek. Book 4 introduced Kalin Seir, but these men cannot be counted as a new race. Instead, I expect to see the return of Alazare as a representative of the Titans.
• Book 4 ends with Benjiah still captive, the combined armies of Kirthanin disarmed, assembled and surrounded by the enemy, and both the dragons and Valzaan/Aljeron/Kalin Seir speeding toward them. How will this be resolved? Perhaps the armies of Malek will retreat into Tol Emuna? Perhaps the beginning of Book 5 will resolve with a large battle and then continue with Malek being pursued by our small party of heroes?

If you’re read the first four books, let me know your thoughts.

I recently ran across this word in Agatha Christie’s The A.B.C. Murders.

“You’re looking in fine fettle, Poirot,” I said.

Though from the context I was reasonably sure that I knew what it meant, I checked Merriam-Webster OnLine.

fettle
Function: noun
: state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form — often used in the phrase in fine fettle.

I wonder if I’ll have an opportunity to use this word? Regardless, I trust that you’re in fine fettle today as you read this article!

Last night after our Youth Bible Fellowship at church, we were playing Balderdash with some of the kids.

I don’t recall the word, but my bluff definition was “a style of black bowler hat.” This led one of the kids to incorrectly choose my answer, then talk about “doffing his hat.”

A mild disagreement ensued about whether “doffing” was putting off or putting on.

The answer is simple: doff = off and don = on.

doff: Middle English, from don to do + of off. To remove (an article of wear) from the body; to take off (the hat) in greeting or as a sign of respect.

don: Middle English, contraction of do on. To put on (an article of clothing).

Merriam-Webster OnLine

Most of my childhood and youth was spent growing up in Oklahoma.

Despite the fact that I wasn’t an Episcopalian, my high school education was provided at Casady, and Episcopal Day School in Oklahoma City. While there, one of my favorite teachers was Mrs. Margaret Tuck.

Mrs. Tuck was an English teacher. Under her direction, we memorized Shakespeare. We read lots of books. We wrote many essays. And we expanded our vocabulary.

Since then, I’ve enjoyed a good word. There’s just something about the right word for the given situation… or, as the Bible puts it: (NIV

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
— Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)

It is in honor of Mrs. Tuck that I open this new category at my blog: Vocabulary.

I recently completed Jim & Casper Go To Church by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper.

Jim Henderson is a Christian and former pastor. Matt Casper is a self-described atheist. Jim hired Matt to attend several churches with him and give him his frank evaluations. How did you feel? How was the music? What about the sermon and the appeal for your money? Did you understand the language or is there a code to be broken?

Mr. Henderson’s thesis is that church’s benefit by hearing from an objective outsider. So, he hired an objective outsider and started visiting. They visited several “well-known” churches in America and a few not as well known, including:

• Saddleback
• Dream Center
• Mosaic
• Willow Creek
• First Presbyterian of River Forest (near Chicago)
• Lawndale (Chicago inner city)
• Jason’s House (which meets in a home)
• Lakewood
• The Potter’s House

They then wrote about their experiences at each church.

The conclusion?

Casper saw and experienced — over and over and over again — what Christians do when they do church. He saw it done with big budgets and no budgets, in large stadiums and in small buildings. The same format repeated itself regardless of the setting. The greet-sing-preach-collect-present form played out in front of us with unrelenting predictability. And when it was all done, he would turn to me and ask, “Jim, is this what Jesus told you guys to do?”

Casper simply could not imagine Jesus telling his followers that the most important thing they should be doing is holding church services. And yet this was the only logical conclusion he was able to come to based upon what he’d observed.

If people who had never heard of Jesus wanted to see what Christians were most interested in, they would probably start their search in some of the same churches we visited.

“If that’s where they started, they would have to conclude that Jesus’ number one priority was that Christians invest the very best of their energy and their money into putting on a huge church service — a killer show, as it were,” said Casper. “Jim, is this what Jesus told you guys to do?” [1]

Of course, when you breeze into a church service near the beginning and breeze out somewhere near the end, you’d expect to see only part of the church’s story. Mr. Henderson readily agrees that there was more behind the church than was immediately apparent, but argues that this is a problem that can and should be addressed.

Eleven o’clock Sunday morning is typically when pastors get to do their thing. They have been studying and preparing much of the week. They have been listening to God and people all week, and now they get to talk. It’s called stage time, and they spend the majority of it on preaching the Word themselves.

In every church we visited, very important acts of service were taking place behind the scenes. Hundreds of ordinary Christians were serving the communities around them and sacrificially loving people. The problem is that no one knew they were there. They were given so little stage time (which as we have all come to know is reserved for the most important activities in the church, such as singing, praying publicly, collecting money, and preaching) that there was no time left for their compelling stories.

We may think we have such things covered by dropping them into the bulletin and the announcements, but tell that to the atheist who drops in, or to the seeker who gives a church about three chances before figuring out what the church’s “thing” really is… [2]

Then, the strongly worded kicker:

Casper’s question — Jim, is this what Jesus told you guys to do? — haunts me, insults me, and provokes me. We need to do better than this. We need to honestly admit that in fact, Jesus didn’t care a whit about church services. He cared about loving and serving others and introducing people to a personal God who not only loves them but more important, likes them. [3]

You and I might agree or disagree — for instance, I’d quibble about “Jesus didn’t care a whit about church services” — but the book is thought-provoking. And it is a good exercise, I think, to try to see my church as an unbeliever, an outsider, and even an atheist would see it.

1. Pages 147-148.
2. Page 150.
3. Page 151

My typical Friday includes lunch with my Laridian associates. Today’s choice was Taj Mahal Cuisine of India.

One of the things that I like about the Taj Mahal is the lunch buffet; it affords the opportunity to try a bunch of stuff that I might not otherwise try. Unfortunately, it’s stuff that I don’t know by the correct name. So I must resort to talking about the food with such unimaginative names as “brown chicken”, “red chicken”, “the chick pea dish” and “flat bread.” (All of these were great, by the way.)

The Taj Mahal isn’t a fancy, but if you want to try something out of the ordinary, give it a try!