Steve Jobs on Flash

Jobs Attacks Flash As Unfit for iPhone

Excerpts:

"Flash was created during the PC era—for PCs and mice," said Mr. Jobs in the note published Thursday. "The mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open Web standards—all areas where Flash falls short."

...

Some market watchers took issue with the points raised in Mr. Jobs' essay Thursday. "I think he's a real good spin doctor," said Jeffrey Hammond, an analyst at Forrester Research. Yes, Flash is targeted by hackers, but that's because the technology is so common, he said.

Other points raised by Mr. Jobs are just wrong, Mr. Hammond said. HTML5 is a promising technology, but "not ready for prime time yet," and Flash is as close to open as a proprietary technology can be. It's Apple, Mr. Hammond argued, that has the closed system, including the right to block any app from its store.

Dave Wolf, vice president of strategy at Cynergy Systems Inc., a Washington, D.C., design firm, calls Apple's no-Flash policy "a pain." Mr. Wolf had planned to build mobile apps for clients using the new Adobe software; the apps cost upwards of $40,000 a piece, meaning that without such a tool most customers can only afford to build apps for one device. They almost always choose the iPhone, said Mr. Wolf.

Full Essay: Thoughts on Flash

Comments: I am not a big fan of Flash or Acrobat Reader. They are constantly under hacker attack. I've never had my Mac crash with Flash. One wonders if Jobs has an agenda here! Thoughts?

Mac Hammond wins round # 1

Brooklyn Park megachurch smites IRS in info showdown

Excerpt:

A U.S. district magistrate judge's recommendation, issued Tuesday, sides with the Living Word Christian Center. The church had argued that it didn't have to provide detailed financial information focusing on the compensation of its founder and senior pastor, James (Mac) Hammond, requested by the IRS.

Earlier this year, the IRS petitioned the U.S. District Court to force the church to answer its demand for information. The church argued that the request wasn't made by a "high-ranking official" as required by law, and the magistrate judge agreed.

A U.S. District Court judge will decide whether to follow that recommendation.

Comment: I'm one who favors complete financial transparency. I think Churches should have to file 990 forms with the IRS like other non-profits. See previous Mac Hammond posts

Dwindling donations force sale of jet

Financial Woes Force Church To Sell Private Jet

Excerpt:

Dwindling donations to the Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park have prompted its high-profile pastor, Mac Hammond, to put his private business jet on the market.

Church spokesman the Rev. Brian Sullivan says Living Word has also cut its hourlong Sunday morning television broadcast to 30 minutes to save money.

He says the church has fallen $40,000 to $70,000 short of its weekly budget in recent weeks. Sullivan says the church is adjusting its budget accordingly.

Sullivan says the church's problems could be a combination of the recession and the recent bad publicity about churches preaching the "Prosperity Gospel."


Comment: Post from a year ago: Not all pastors want to become blessedly rich and Mac Hammond and the Properity Gospel

Not all pastors want to become blessedly rich

Doug Grow: Not all our pastors want to become blessedly rich

Excerpt:

Pastor Mac Hammond is going to be the hero of those of us who have found Christianity a little prickly on the subject of cash. Wealth, the pastor of the massive Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park explained to his flock Sunday, is just another word for "blessing."

"God says if you base your life on his covenant, these blessings are gonna overtake you," the pastor told his congregation.

He has been overtaken by a Porsche, a Lexus, a couple of homes in Florida, a "retreat" up north, a couple of motorcycles and some sweetheart loan and lease arrangements with his church.

Hallelujah.

---

The Scriptures call us to provide for Pastor:

I Timothy 5:17-18, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”"

Observations:

1. The vast majority of Pastors I have known have been, sadly!, underpaid!
   
2. I don't think we have ever been in a church where our pastor was overpaid!
   
3. God calls his children to be actively involved in a local church and be faithful in giving. Part of that giving pays the Pastor
   
4. I'm privileged to be in a church where the aim of our pastoral staff is NOT "to become blessedly rich"
   

Mac Hammond and the Properity Gospel

The Kingdom and Power of Mac Hammond

Excerpt:

The leader of a Brooklyn Park megachurch sees no conflict among his faith, wealth and politics. Others believe he crosses lines that should be more sharply drawn

The Hammond File

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, he owns:

1. two Destin, Fla., condos are worth more than $3 million.
   
2. A home with a pool in Plymouth that he pays no taxes on
   
3. A Lexus and a Porsche
   
4. three boats.
   
5. An airplane
   
6. A home near Brainerd valued at more than $500,000
   
7. A Christian night club in downtown Minneapolis
   

My comments:

1. This story interests me for two reasons: We have friends who are activity involved (the wife works at this ministry) in this church & this is in my own "backyard". Hammond lives in my city - Plymouth - although I'm sure I don't live in his "neighborhood".
   
2. I don't know that he has violated any laws - he probably has not - but I'm not comfortable with pastors who amass great wealth at the expense of their flock