via thedw.us

HT: bagofnothing.com

It’s true.  I got an iPhone last week.  I’d say my phone to Internet usage is at a 5% to 95% ratio.  Meaning I’m on the phone about 5% of the time I have this phone.  I guess I’m not a big talker, huh?

This phone is awesome, and my fingers have already gotten accustomed to the touch screen.  Coming from a Treo 700wx, this phone is super-awesome.  That Treo was TERRIBLE!

I settled on a case from Switcheasy.com.  I have the CapsuleNEO case (in black, although Sam Luce would roll with white and be proud of it.)  It took me 15 minute to get the darn thing on, but now I’m rolling with the coolest case ever.

So do you have to use a screen protector on the iPhone 3GS?  It has the olephobic screen that is smudge-free.  While I awaited my SwitchEasy Pure Anti-Reflect screen covers I really fell in love with the perfect non-smudge screen that is on the already on the iPhone.  I put on the Anti-Reflect screen when it came in the mail, and immediantly hated it!  I then put on a normal screen protector, and it’s smudge city.  There seems to be a big debate on the worthiness of screen protectors on iPhones.  What do you think?  I’m thinking of running mine without screen protectors…

I think Sam Luce is intimidated by my Apple product usage.  I’m just sayin’

I’ve put in my formal request to attend The Orange Conference in April.  I’ll be waiting and hoping we have the funds to make it happen for me…and maybe my #kidmin team.  I don’t know if I’ll be live blogging from Orange this year, but I’d still really like to go and meet up with all my Orange buddies.

Can I just go on record and say that I have the most awesome Children’s Ministry Team in the world.  These women (that’s right I’m the only man!) do a wonderful job of making me look great.  I know that’s not an ambition of theirs, just to make me look good.  But it happens everyday!  I get more credit for the genius of my team, than I’m comfortable with.

Our Parent Sunday totally rocked last week!  I’m still so excited that we had so many 1st grade parents hanging out with us in Kidsplace.  If you’re a 1st Grade Kidsplace parent, then you missed out!

This Sunday morning during our largest and latest service, we will be dedicating 25 children from 20 families.  These parents have made a HUGE commitment to be spiritual leaders in their homes, and I’m so excited to introduce them to the congregation of Trinity Church.  Be there at 11:30am on Sunday to see it all for yourself!  It’s gonna be AWESOME!  Next week I’ll be posting all about Child Dedications, so stay tuned.

We’ve got the Trinity Church Fall Festival coming up on Saturday, October 31st.  Usually I count on about 80 Texas Tech sorority girls to come work the event, but with a Tech home football game that starts at the same time…that’s not gonna happen.  If you’re in and around Lubbock, and don’t have kids; then go signup now!  http://www.trinitytoday.com/fallfestivalvolunteer We’ll have a 1,000 kiddos running around, and I don’t want to ask my parents to work the event!  Help!!

Because of my IT management background, I’ve been able to be a part of the interview process for Trinity’s IT manager position.  We are in desperate need of someone to take us to a new level technologically, and it pays well!  I’ve met with 4 candidates, and after I get some distance from this whole process I feel a “What not to do in a job interview!” post coming up.  Seriously.

I’ve been sick this week.  I’m not gonna die.  I’m just a man in need of sympathy and wanted to throw that out there and see who might bite.

Does it make me a nerd to get into a debate with this guy, about whether Superman could defeat Darth Vader?  Just typing that helps me know the answer.  Nevermind.

It’s been a busy few weeks, and I apologize for not posting.  If you’ve stumbled here for the very first time, then I’m taking back that apology and telling you welcome instead.  Welcome.

Here’s my Friday Bag of Nothing:

It’s been months in the development, but I’m finally getting my name on the front of a book.  Me and my buddy Donnie have been working hard to bring you the freshest, most interesting, controversial, and best smelling book on the bookshelves.  Check it out!

Every Friday I’m home with my daughter.  My wife works about 6 hours on Fridays, and the boys are at school.  I cannot tell you how much this time has made me grateful for having a daughter.  It totally cracks me up to see and hear the things my daughter does throughout our “Daddy Days.”  In fact, we had to have a talk this morning about not rushing mom out of the house on Daddy Day.  To see much of what we do together, follow me on twitter.com/jonathancliff on Friday’s.  Fun times!

I’ve been asked recently why I have so many people following me on twitter.  Besides the fact that I’m an immensely likable personality (and very, very humble), it’s because I use Tweetdeck to sort my tweets into the groups that make it manageable.  While also leaving a door open to know many more people if they ever choose to interact with me.

Speaking of twitter followers, I  highly recommend these twitter management tools. Social Oomph -This site is great for vetting new followers.  It’s always beneficial to auto-follow, but be careful that you don’t get run over with porn and SEO experts!  The mutuality tool on Huitter is awesome!  It can automatically unfollow all those people that aren’t following you.  Believe it or not, it’s comes in pretty handy for massive unfollows.  Even using the above two tools, I’ve still had my share of porn accounts show up as followers.  I’ve been using TwitBlock.com to kill those that twitter spammers that sneak through.

I signed my first real writing contract this week.  Just for some magazine articles, but still something I’ve had as a goal for a long time.  That sound you hear is me patting my own back.

I really do worry about people that get ALL their news from the same source.  Yes, I’m talking to all my Fox News friends.  Moderation, my friends…moderation.  Please direct all political complaints to idontcare@jonathandoesntcare.com.  I wish people would stop assuming my political position, and stop bringing their complaints to me.

I follow Gina McClain on GoodReads.com.  She is reading so fast and furious this month, that I’m being shamed into reading more.  I know it’s not a race, but I think she’s reading a new book every 12 hours.  I’m just sayin’

The rumor of my iPhone transition seems to have been premature.  But, I still believe in miracles.  It could happen.

Kenny Conley (of ChildrensMinistryOnline.com) is coming for a short visit on Sunday Night.  I’m looking forward to meeting his family (also of ChildrensMinistryOnline.com.)  I hope Kenny (of ChildrensMinistryOnline.com) brings some of Austin’s weirdness up to Lubbock.  I need some more weirdness in my life right now. (BTW -all that CMO promo is an inside joke…)

I got Snow Leopard a few weeks ago for my Macbook. I was so looking forward to the Exchange 2007 integration in iCal and Apple Mail.  However, after 2 hours of struggling to get it working I discovered that we are running Exchange 2003 at work.  Not gonna work with out a stand-in program. Ugh…

I’ve got this friend that insists on using Hotmail for his email, and he posts bags of nothing every single day!  Check him out at Bagofnothing.com

I love iTunes 9.  The ability to transfer music between computers on the same network is a long awaited feature in the Cliff House.

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked”

Bernard Meltzer

Now somehow I’ve got to convice some friends of mine to sing this along with me somewhere.  Come on, you know you want to…

Caution: This Sign Has Sharp Edges

I can remember seeing a warning label posted on the window leading to my hotelroom balcony warning that if you stand on the balcony railing you might fall and it could result in death.  No Freaking Duh!

Have you heard of the Foundation for Fair Civil Justice?  The Foundations for Fair Civil Justice is intended to show how frivolous lawsuits distort the U.S. civil justice system.  They say the fear of lawsuits has driven companies to spend millions on common-sense warnings.  Have you ever seen these common sense warnings?

Every year they run a wacky warning labels contest.  This year’s winner is attached to a portable toilet seat for outdoorsmen called “The Off-Road Commode” because it is designed to attach to a vehicle’s trailer hitch.

The warning label reads “Not for use on moving vehicles”.

Here are some other examples:

If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product

–on a bottle of drain cleaner (2003 contest winner)

Not to be used as protection from a tornado

–on a blanket from Taiwan

Caution – Risk of Fire

–on a fireplace log

Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover

–on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists

This product not intended for use as a dental drill

–on an electric router made for carpenters

Instructions – open packet, eat nuts

–on an American Airlines packet of nuts

For indoor or outdoor use only

–On a string of Chinese-made Christmas lights

Warning: May cause drowsiness

–on Nytol Nighttime Sleep-Aid

May irritate eyes

–on a can of self-defense pepper spray

Don’t use while sleeping or unconscious

–on a handheld massager

Eating rocks may lead to broken teeth

–on novelty rock garden

Remember: Objects in the mirror are actually behind you

–on a helmet-mounted mirror

Do not eat toner

–on a cartridge for a laser printer

HT: DallasNews.com