Unmemorable Memories

I’m having withdrawal symptoms. My camera is currently at the Nikon service center for its pre-warranty-expiration dealer visit. I purchased the camera in July of 2004. It’s been almost a year and its warranty is about to expire. I have taken almost 4000 pictures with it since I purchased it last year. It has developed some dust particles inside the viewfinder and inside the front lens element. The dust spots in the viewfinder do not affect the picture since it is out of the path of light when the picture is taken. The dust spot inside the lens is too small to affect picture quality either. So why send it in for warranty repair? I just want my camera to be in tip-top shape prior to the warranty expiring. I’m also hoping that they will clean the CCD in the process (that service normally costs $80 CAD) since I’ve noticed a few dust bunnies on some of my pictures.

I’m now 4 days without my camera, and I’m itching to take pictures. I have a feeling this is going to be a long two and a half weeks.

Since I can’t take pictures, here’s a link to someone who has a camera and is taking beautiful pictures with it.

-- Posted in Journal

I saw this post on Friendster. I found it interesting so I thought I’d share it here…

Human Recall

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed, “Sub sequential Internal Non-morality”, or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing
factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A- Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure . Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus
will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your immediate attention.

GOD

-- Posted in Bible, Religion and Philosophy

Congratulations go to Rina Rho for her upcoming wedding!

-- Posted in Greetings

For the last few weeks, I’ve been having problems locking and unlocking my car using the remote built in to the master key. While Chris’ key works fine, mine was working intermittently. I changed the battery of the remote, which allowed it to work for a while, but several days later it stopped functioning altogether. I found myself locked out of my car with the car alarm armed. The only way in is to unlock the car manually and trigger the alarm in the process. Quite an attention grabber when you are in a mall parking lot and your BMW 323i is wailing.

Maybe the battery I put in was defective (or maybe I was too sleepy, absent minded, or confused the first time I replaced the battery that I put in the old one). So I replaced it again. This time, I could tell that there is enough power on the battery since each button press on the remote elicited a bright glow of the red indicator light on the remote. But there was no response from the car. It seems like the car “forgot” about my key. It refuses to recognize it, while continuing to respond to Chris’ key.

I searched the manual for a way to re-program the key but did not find a single mention of programming the key. It’s as if BMW expects all owners to go back to the dealer for any little malfunction. Next stop, google! After a few searches, I stumbled across a document which described how to reprogram a BMW E46 master key (E46 is what BMW calls the 2000 323i). Here are the steps to re-program the key (all credit goes to the original poster):

1. Open the car doors using the remote function of your working key.

2. Get in and close (don’t lock) all the doors.

3. Put the key in the ignition and switch momentarily to position 1 which is
the first position when you turn the key clockwise. This is the accessory
position. Don’t stay in position 1 longer than 5 seconds; then turn the key
back to the off position.

4. Remove the key.

5. On the key transmitter, press and hold the unlock button. Press and release the lock button three times within 10 seconds while still pressing the unlock button.

6. release the unlock button.

7. The system indicates re-programming by locking and immediately unlocking
the door locks.

8. If you want to do more remotes, you must do each within 30 seconds of
step 7 for the preceding key. You just need to repeat steps 5 through 7 for
each key after the first.

Why don’t they put these things in the manual?

-- Posted in Geeks Paradise

As a father the thought of death claiming someone in my family sometimes crosses my mind. As a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, the thought of death does not bring fear. Death is nothing but a temporary sleep, from which we will be awakened at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, provided that one’s relationship with Him is in good standing. So the thought of the passing away of a family member does not worry me, if Iknow that my family is firm in their love of Jesus.

What about my dear daughter, Caitlin Ema? Although we read to her about Jesus and other Bible characters, at six months old, I doubt if she understands the stories we tell her. I doubt if she has developed a concept of right and wrong (or is that innate?). At her age, I don’t have the assurance that she loves Jesus. How do I know then that if she dies at this young age that she will be re-united with us at that resurrection morning?

When the Bible says, “… all have sinned …” does that include babies? Has Caitlin sinned yet? If babies are sinners too, and yet they do not understand the concept of forgiveness, how can they be saved? If the only way to salvation is Jesus, can babies, who do not know Jesus yet, be saved?

Sin is usually defined as “going against the will of God”. With that definition, to sin does not require pre-knowledge of the will of God. Whether we know it or not, God still has a will, and thus we have the ability to go against His will, regardless of our knowledge of His will. Do babies have the ability to violate the will of God?

Although I will probably never know the answers to these questions in this lifetime, I sure hope that God is merciful enough that if something happens to Caitlin Ema at this young age, He will still re-unite us at the time of His appearing. I cannot imagine being permanently separated from this beautiful baby girl.

-- Posted in Bible, Religion and Philosophy