THE FORBIDDEN APPLE

It has become the raging news topic, have you caught it? It was not only in the New York Times Sunday front page, which is inserted into the Sunday edition of The Independent. It was also in the Sunday Edition of The Guardian, one of many newspapers in the United Kingdom. A US broadcaster ran a feature length piece on the issue with CBS Sunday Morning. Maybe you missed it, the hot topic is the revelation of working conditions in Apple's factories in China.

I have to be honest with you in that I feel bad for the public relations department at the Cupertino, CA headquarters of Apple, I don't think they are getting much sleep. But then again, maybe for the first time they are beginning to experience the average working day for anyone of the 230,000 employees at their factory in Shenzhen.

The revelations have hit fever pitch at a particularly awkward time as well. Apple just announced their earnings for 2011, $110 billion in revenue, nearly $26 billion in profit. They have become the most valuable company in the world. Move over BP, this tech giant has come to claim the crown. Things get lonely at the top and Apple is perched upon an empire which shows no signs of crumbling anytime soon.

But once you combine their success with what is being reported regarding their factories, run by Foxconn, your stomach should turn. Journalist began investigating the conditions after reports of several suicides and plant explosions emerged. What was thought could only be rumors were confirmed: suicides were rampant with employees throwing themselves off buildings, conditions were terrible as employees cleaned the gleaming computers with toxic chemicals and two explosions killed four and sent nearly 90 to the hospital. 

Apple's response? Well, it will go down as a record failure. Foxconn, the managers of the factory, responded by saying the suicide rate at their factories is actually lower than the national average. Plus they've installed safety netting around all buildings to catch any future jumpers. That is so generous!

The pieces also highlighted how Apple went from a company proudly declaring all products were made in the US to having no remaining manufacturing operations on American shores by 2004. An Apple board member responded to the question by saying, "Listen, the Chinese factories give us a flexibility that we could never have in an American factory." He went on to recall how they were able to mobilize several thousand factory workers at 12 midnight to make last minute changes to the iPhone before its launch. The workers, who were awoken from their factory dormitories, were kindly treated to a biscuit and a tea before starting their 12 hour shifts. Did the board member of a major company just say that, really?

We should be clear, Apple is not the only transgressor. There are many more, honestly, take your pick. Anything made over there carries the fingerprint of this brutality. They're all guilty. We're all guilty! How tragic is that? Have we become so engrossed in our rampaging consumerism so as to demean human life to this extent? It was once commented, "We use to use things and love people, now we love things and use people." What a shame. Because while things will always mesmerize and captivate, the most mesmerizing and captivating thing out there is the one made in God's image. That'd be you, me and the factory worker in China.

VISITING THE KILNS

The little country home now sits on an obscure dead end road. Buried by the up cropping of suburban style houses which sprung up in this east Oxford neighborhood years back, you'd need to be looking for the house to find it.

The home, more properly known as the Kilns, belonged the CS Lewis. Lewis was a mighty figure of Christian thought throughout the fifties and early sixties. His books, such as Screwtape Letters and Mere Christianity, are still being printed; and his legendary children's series, The Chronicles of Naria, has been transferred to the silver screen and was a blockbuster hit. His literary work and his academic prowess have made him legendary in the Christian community.

TOP 5 BLOGS FOR 2011

Here is a review of the top blogs from this past year. In the past year this blog has racked up over 4,000 hits. Thanks for reading, I appreciate it. Though four date from 2010, here are the top five blogs read in 2011:

1. Life Lesson- story about the hard taught lessons of life, and how a practical lesson in this world can hold implications for that which is to come.

2. Truth Matters- with the fewest weeks on the blog, this entry jumps to number two. It was written in response to a challenge by a professor, people seem to have liked it.

3. Loss of a Good Friend- this entry hails from 2010 and was written in response to the passing of our family pet. Any dog lover can identify with this entry.

4. Pick'n the Guitar- comical look into the failed music career of yours truly.

5. Quarter of a Century- this is soap box statement from my 25th birthday that makes me realize that I am just that much older. Dang, time isn't slowing down for anyone.

I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful New Years!

HISTORY TRIP

Do you remember those school field days when the class would be taken to a museum or historical place. I loved field trips, they offered a reprieve from the classroom and came during that time of the school year when it was most badly needed. Well, I've been on a field day of sorts with my family over the past few days. The break from Oxford was sorely needed. I cannot believe I actually typed that, but the truth is the truth.We've traversed the greater part of southwestern England and had an amazing and at times trying time.

The first day brought us to Bath, England. Home to the only hot springs in the country, Bath is most known for its Roman heritage. As the home to the goddess Minerva, the springs were seen as a place to receive healing, or cast a curse. Some British Royals even claimed to have received healing from the spring's waters. A swim today, though, will cost you. The Romans platted over the pools with led.

A real adventure came on the ride back. As I was driving back home, we got a flat tire. Now, it may or may not have come from playing bumper cars with the side of the road. Who knows really! But a flat it was and it had to be replaced with the spare. I learned two things from this adventure: first, cars get amazing gas mileage when you run them at 50 mpg; second, as my Canadian friend informed me, North Americans struggle to stay in the center of the lane while driving. Apparently being on the other side of the car and driving in the opposite lane causes the drift. He and his father-in-law hit a few curbs. My dad suggested the car rental place put yellow blinking lights and caution signs on all cars rented to Americans, just to give our British friends a fair warning.

The second day brought no car trouble and two memorable spots: Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral. Both beautiful and both representing some 5000 of history. I personally found the cathedral astounding. Housing the largest mid-evil  cathedral tower in the world, the church was built in only 38 years...nearly 800 years ago.

Yesterday was a huge disappointment to begin with but finished strong. He visited the Warwick Castle, built by William the Conquered and completely spat on by whoever is running it now. The castle, which is still impressive at it approaches 1000 years, has been converted into theme park sort of affair, but the kind that would embarrass Disney. Think cheesy park meets incredible history...I know, its hard to imagine, its even harder to describe. As my brother said, "If William the Conqueror saw what they've done to his castle, he would just walk in and kill everybody." I'd say that is about right.

It finished strong though, with a visit to Shakespeare's hometown of Stafford upon the Avon. Amazing village, amazing writing, interesting history.

If you haven't been to England, I'd encourage the trip. This is just one part of England, its not even scratching the rich history of the other regions, much less Wales and Scotland.

A LA CARTE: GREAT MIND, LOOMING SPEECH, LONG WINTER

Behind Every Great Mind

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I don't know what this picture might actually be worth. Here, your's truly, is speaking with one of the greatest minds of our time, Dr. Ravi Zacharias. Ravi, as he prefers to be called, is a wonderful Christian Apologist. He visited us last month and spent a few days lecturing the class.

TRUTH MATTERS

Os Guinness, the great-great-great grandson of the great Irish brewer gave us lectures recently. He challenged us to be more creative in exposing the shallowness of modern thought. Here is my best effort Os, I hope it makes you proud.

Have you ever heard of that town?
It’s a dreary place,
Once was strong but now a disgrace.

Long ago there came a proud man;
Who held in hand,
A new truth from a far away land.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It is a fine Atlanta Journal-Constition tradition, on Thanksgiving every columnist, from the left leaning Cynthia Tucker to the University of Georgia sports columnist Bill King, writes why they are thankful. I love that tradition and have incorporated it into my blog. So, without further explanation, I want to tell you why I am thankful this year.

I am thankful for...

the love of my Savior, his guidance, patience, grace and most magnificent of all, his glory.

my family, that while it is scattered about, has always been anchored in love.

friends, what would the world be without them?