Destiny 2I’m a late comer to the video game Destiny, starting just last year near shortly before the end of Year 2.  However, in that short time I have become a solid fan of the game, it’s mechanics, and its outstanding player community.  It has outstanding gunplay and movement, it is incredibly immersive with amazing visuals, and has a unique “more open” world that supports team play, solo play, running around making things go boom, and excellent player v. player options.  Also in something that at least seems unique, it has no swearing or graphic sex.  In short, the game was just plain fun.

While it has held up well over the last 3 years, it is getting a bit dated and due for a refresh.  Enter Destiny 2.  This new game updates not only the mechanics, but continues the story as humanity struggles for survival and finding its place amongst the stars.  This week, the developer – Bungie of Halo fame – has released the beta for the new game.  I was lucky enough to be given an early access code for the closed portion of the beta release.  My son and I both spent some time with our fingers on the controller giving Destiny 2 a workout.  What follows after the jump are the very first impressions after only a very short time playing.

Bear in my, there is no effort to avoid spoilers, so don’t click to continue if you don’t want to read details.

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Practical Apologetics GraphicIn this part we will finish our survey of biblical reliability with a look at the books that are a part of the New Testament and why it is those books that are included.  One of common criticism is that the New Testament is made up of the books chosen by a bunch of old white men in the 4th Century to push a competing agenda.  As a result, other perfectly good books such as the Gospel of Thomas were excluded.  In having this discussion, we are going to tie tightly into the last article on dating and authorship and go a bit further from there.

First of all, these extra-biblical ancient texts are known collectively as the “Apocryphal New Testament.”  Do not confuse this with what is known simply as the Apocrypha, which are the several extra books added to the Old Testament in the Roman Catholic Bible.  While there are several groupings of the Apocryphal New Testament that includes a variety of acts, gospels, letters, etc., I generally divide it into two groups: the Gnostic gospels and everything else.  The reasons for this will become clear as we proceed. Read the rest of this entry »

Starbucks announced changes to its loyalty program that will mean some customers will have to spend more money at the coffee chain to earn free food and drinks.

Source: Starbucks Tightens Loyalty Program’s Rewards

Any suggestion that this can help a customer or not slow them down is a crock.  This really is nothing more than an attempt to hide that they are increasing the level for a bonus drink for their “loyal” customers.

Let’s say my wife and I go to Starbucks, she and I each get a drink at about $5 and I get a pumpkin bread at $2 and change.  Currently that is 3 bonus stars if we get each item as a separate purchase.  That is 25% of the way to a free drink.  Under the new program, this would be 24 or 26 bonus stars which is only around 20% towards that free drink.

If Starbucks was really trying to be consistent while changing to a money-spent model, they would have set the bonus drink at 100 stars.  They knew they couldn’t get away increasing the bonus threshold to 15 stars, so they took this path instead.

They have already changed their birthday treat policy.  It’s only on the day of your birthday, not until the end of the month as it used to be.  Of course, people don’t find that out until you go in on Friday or Saturday night after a mid-week birthday with your “somebody special” for a date.

Shame the loyalty doesn’t go both ways.

Razer blueWhen it comes to keyboards, I am picky.  Very picky.  I learned to type on an IBM Selectric 2 in high school and that left me rather spoiled.  I also have had some wrist injuries, including some issues with repetitive strain.  When my old keyboard of nearly 8 years gave up the ghost, I decided to take a huge chance and go with the Razer BlackWidow Chroma.  After a week typing on it, I have been extremely pleased with the result.  This review is going to be a surprise to those that know me…  Read the rest of this entry »

Practical Apologetics GraphicLast time we focused on the authorship of the Old Testament.  We looked at three primary areas where the Old Testament is challenged.  This article will address questions regarding the authorship of the New Testament and particularly the Gospels.

Like the OT discussions, this is an overview of key areas targeted towards the layman.  As before, I’d suggest Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ at a more introductory level or Geisler and Turek’s I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist at the intermediate level.  If you want to get advanced, look for William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith.

In my opinion, defending the historicity of the New Testament is actually far easier than the Old Testament.  The attacks are frequently focused on Read the rest of this entry »