Apple Willing to Fix My iPod

Wonderful news. Apple finally decided to fix (or replace) my iPod. It took three times sending it to them and three weeks without my iPod, but finally I am going to have a working iPod again!

Update 2008-10-24:
It appears that whatever they're doing, they're shipping it from Shanghai (China) which is the same place they shipped my original. Must be a new or refurbished one. I'm glad that I saved a copy of my hardware stats so I can compare the new one with the old one.

Update 2008-11-05:
Well, they sent me a new one (or refurbished, can't tell really). Sorry 'bout the lack of update, but I've been moving and been too busy and haven't gotten my Net moved yet.

In the Bible: Slavery (Part 2 of 2)

I am putting this separate from my main article on slavery because I don’t think it lends itself directly as my viewpoint, per say, but as a comparison of mine with that of someone else. I would like to address some stuff from a particularly anti-Biblical website.

Leviticus 25:44-46: The site uses NLT which says, “You may treat them as your property,” to infer that slaves were supposed to be treated as less than human, but in NIV and Young’s Literal Translation you can see this has nothing to do with treating them inhumanly, it is about transferal of service. Servitude, I might add they were not supposed to be stolen into. “Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.” (NIV)

In the Bible: Slavery (Part 1 of 2)

This is the first post in a series of the topics on my interpretation of the Bible. Here is a preliminary list of these topics that is based on a comment from a post I made previously: slavery, war, polygamy, government and women. I have recently heard comments from a number of people saying that the Bible condones slavery, so I feel it is appropriate to start with this.

When most Americans think of slavery, they think of the slave trading industry as implemented in pre-civil war America. Slaves were commonly treated as less than human; often they were treated worse than cattle. Slaves were common victims of rape under the guise of forced sexual labor. Families of slaves were often torn apart when one slave was sold away from his or her spouse and children without consideration of the desire of the slaves affected. Otherwise free people were stolen by slave traders and forced into slavery often based on their skin color, heritage, location or religion. And, when a slave did escape from a cruel master, many areas had laws that required he (or she) be returned to that master often to face punishments that amount to torture or death. So a slave under this institution generally had no justification for being a slave and no hope of becoming freed.

iPod Touch Repair Request Attempt 3

The socket on my iPod where I plug my USB cord, wall charger and bluetooth adapter has intermittent functionality. I tested the iPod with 4 USB cords and 3 PCs which I know work with other iPods. I sent my iPod to you guys twice, but I am still experiencing this problem. I have updated my firmware and iTunes and have followed all recommended troubleshooting tips. I'd rather not go another week sans-iPod if not necessary. Please advise.

And that's what I sent them. I've got a limit of like 450 characters or something though it says on the form it's 250, I think, but I can't condense this to 250 characters. For up to an hour, I wait for someone to read it and probably send me back a semi-automated response saying that they approve my repairs and they'll send me a box to send them my iPod. At least in the mean time, I can put my music back on (careful to not touch the cord!) so I can listen to it till I get the box to ship it back to them. All this is very depressing.

Apple's Automated System Mocks Me

Remember my post last night: Flobi.com, The Blog: Apple Won't Fix My iPod Touch? Well, Apple (which is still in the process of returning my broken iPod for the second time claiming it's not broken) apparently has an automated process that has decided I needed another reminder that nothing is wrong with my iPod.

Dear Joshua,

Thank you for choosing AppleCare Service.

Our technicians have performed full diagnostic checks on your IPOD TOUCH and have been unable to reproduce the symptom(s) you reported when you requested the repair. As a result of our tests, we can confirm that your product meets Apple specifications for performance, usability, and functionality.

As a part of our assessment and test procedures, your product has had the latest software and firmware updates installed. It is now being returned to you, and you should expect to receive it within two business days along with a letter that provides details about our assessment as well as useful troubleshooting tips.

Shipping address:
[removed]

Repair ID: [you don't need this]

Your repair status is available online ["online" was a link].

Apple

It's just irritating that even though I can reproduce this on every computer that I bring it to...CAN reproduce it, ha! I'd love to be able to NOT reproduce it! What is wrong with their technicians? Are they lazy? Are they stupid? Are they just spiteful? I don't know, but it's very frustrating.

Apple Won't Fix My iPod Touch

I don't get it. I have always liked Apple. But for some reason, they won't fix my iPod Touch. I don't know what to do.

For the past month or so, I've had a rough time connecting my iPod to my computer. Granted, I can usually get it connected by wiggling the plug in and out of the socket on the iPod, but lately, it's also been having problems connecting to my dock and my wall charger.

I listen to my iPod a lot, so naturally, I procrastinated sending it to them because I will miss it. But, eventually, it just becomes too much for me and I do. So what do they say to my problem? "Our technicians have performed full diagnostic checks on your IPOD TOUCH and have been unable to reproduce the symptom(s) you reported when you requested the repair. As a result of our tests, we can confirm that your product meets Apple specifications for performance, usability, and functionality."

Are there non-random mutations?

In my previous post, Flobi.com, The Blog: Does evolution contradict Christianity? I insulated that I believed that many of what evolutionists call "random mutations" are in fact not quite so random.

And, insofar as we can't specifically determine which genetic changes are in fact random and which are part of the existing design (to the point that the gene is actually programmed to alter it's own composition, notwithstanding how it became programmed such), we can say there is overwhelming evidence of genetic change and natural selection.

Yesterday on Answers in Genesis's Answers Research Journal in the article Genetics of Coat Color I: The Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R), a similar idea has been observed. Here's a statement from the conclusions section of that article.

Thus, the MC1R appears to be a genetic locus that was designed to change and directed mutations are quite plausibly involved.

I find this interesting because when I made my previous post, I had only recently been introduced into the whole idea that the Bible could be trusted in all ways and up to that time, had totally avoided Answers in Genesis because of the severe societal stigma they have garnered which I now realize is part of the expected persecution for their mission of upholding the scriptures. I suppose I could expect the same considering my stance.

After rereading my post the other day, I would probably reword some things in it, but as it is, even though I have a few more months understanding I still agree with it.