The Daily Blend

Today's concoction of interesting, thought-provoking, and insightful articles and news stories from around the web:

Insights

  1. Celibate Life
    In response to an article on BBC News about the feasibility of living a celibate life, readers from all around the world have submitted their own stories and experiences of, ‘celibacy, abstinence and otherwise living without sex’.
  2. Good News On Poverty
    During a recent TED talk, Bono shared some hugely positive data indicating that - if momentum is maintained - the end of poverty really could be in sight. 
  3. Sleep What You Eat
    If you're someone who is struggling to sleep and, unlike me, can't blame it on young kids, it could be your diet that's to blame, according to the research published in the Appetite journal..

All things tech

  1. Samsung Galaxy S4
    The much anticipated Galaxy S4 smartphone was announced yesterday at a special event. Danny Sullivan provides a nice, bullet point summary of what you need to know. + The Verge offers its take.
  2. Samsung's Misogyny
    She's not one to be easily offended but, for Molly Wood, Samsung's Galaxy S4 launch yesterday went too far and was ‘shockingly sexist’.
  3. Bored With The King
    John Gruber looks at something many tech writers have lost sight of in the Samsung vs Apple narrative: the facts. Turns out Apple aren't suddenly losing; the media are simply, ‘bored with the king and want to write a new coronation story’. 

Daily politics

  1. Generational Jihad
    Fraser Nelson says we don't need to fear the increasingly ageing population, arguing that the elderly don't burden the economy, evidenced in part by the doubling of pensioners choosing to work. + Daniel Knowles thinks otherwise.
  2. New School Sports Policy
    The government is set to announce its new school sports policy tomorrow, with the support of the various sporting governing bodies. The exact amount of funding hasn't yet been disclosed.
  3. Syria: Two Years On
    Shiraz Maher retells the story of how the Syrian revolution began and warns that, unless the humanitarian crisis is addressed, the horrific numbers of dead, displaced, and refugees, are only going to keep rising.

Faith and spirituality

  1. Jesuit Pope
    If you've followed the enthronement of the new Pope at all, you'll have no doubt heard Pope Francis I is the first Jesuit Pope. Sam Jones offers some insights into who exactly are the Jesuits. + Caleb Bell says why a Jesuit Pope is a big deal.
  2. Not Radical Enough
    Matthew Lee Anderson takes a look at the radical Christianity proposed by the likes of Shane Claiborne and Francis Chan, suggestion that, though a step in the right direction, it doesn't go far enough.
  3. ‘Personal Promise Bible’
    The Bible. With your name all the way through it. Yep, it's as bad an idea as it sounds. Rachel Held Evans offers a healthy reminder that the Bible is written for us not me.

The Daily Blend

Today's concoction of interesting, thought-provoking, and insightful articles and news stories from around the web:

Insights

  1. Lose The List
    Ever made a list of your requirements for the perfect man (or woman) you want to meet? Stop it, says Muireann Carey-Campbell, suggesting instead we make a list of things that would make us a better partner for when we meet Mr or Mrs Right.
  2. Stop, Slow Down, Smell The Coffee
    Katie Portman takes to her blog to remind us all of the importance of stillness, slowing down, taking a break, switching off and…relaxing. Go on, turn that phone off for a while…dare you!
  3. Beware The iPaddy?
    Feel guilty about letting your kids use your iPad and worried about the associated ‘tech tantrums’ when it gets taken away? Don't be, says Gary Marshall, stating that gadgets should be part of growing up. Phew.

All things tech

  1. RSS: End Of An Era
    Google Reader is shutting down. Despite still being used by many, that usage is declining as more people take to Twitter and Facebook for their news fixes. + Alex Hearn shares some alternatives.
  2. 8.9" Kindle Fire HD Released
    Rory Cellan-Jones spends some time with the newly released (in the UK) 8.9" Amazon Kindle Fire HD. He's left feeling underwhelmed and ‘struggle[s] to see where it fits into Amazon's strategy’.
  3. iPhone Optical Zoom
    A new patent filing indicates that Apple are working on creating a camera with an optical zoom that will work within the tiny confines of an iPhone. Now that is something I'd love to have.

Daily politics

  1. What's The Plan For The Disabled?
    Zoe Williams writes a provocative piece asking the government what its plans are for the disabled since all indicators point to the government basically saying we can't afford them.
  2. Norway, Britain And The EU
    Many eurosceptics point to Norway as a positive example of what life could be like for Britain if it left the EU. Richard Moss shows it's not quite that simple.
  3. No Leveson Agreement
    Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that the cross-party Leveson talks have broken down, saying the gap between him and Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband was too big to bridge.

Faith and spirituality

  1. Getting To Know The New Pope
    First published in 2005, Jose Maria Poirier profiles Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who became the Pope yesterday, offering a fascinating glimpse into the man behind the title. + TIME provides an alternative portrait.
  2. ‘I Wouldn't Call Myself a Christian’
    Rolling Stone magazine have interviewed Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford about his faith, revealing that, like so many, he likes Jesus but not the church/Christianity.
  3. Christianity is becoming a non-European faith
    Ed West points out the significance of the first non-European Pope since 741AD, highlighting in the process how, increasingly, Christianity is becoming something no longer practiced in Europe.

The Daily Blend

Today's concoction of interesting, thought-provoking, and insightful articles and news stories from around the web:

Insights

    1. ‘Even Animals Don’t Live Like This’
      Benedict Brogan writes a moving piece in The Telegraph, sharing the shocking reality for the refugees who have fled the Syrian civil war.
    2. Life With A Houseful Of Little Dictators
      Ever felt like you're a terrible parent? You're not alone. Steve Wiens opens up about what it's really like to live with both the chaos and wonder of having young kids.
    3. Why Your Loft Is Full Of Clutter
      Jeremy Dean explains ‘the endowment effect’, stating that, ‘once you own something, you tend to set its financial value way higher than other people do’. It goes a long way to helping us understand why we keep so much stuff.

    All things tech

      1. How Apple Gets All the Good Apps
        Walt Mossberg looks at the differing business models of Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, explaining in the process why the end result is that Apple ends up with all the best apps—even from their rivals.
      2. Apple, Samsung And The Seven Dwarves
        Benedict Evans shares some charts showcasing the market share for global phone handset sales, emphasising the dominance of Apple and Samsung.
      3. Now We’re Talking
        A leaked video from Google would appear to indicate that the arrival of Google Now is imminent for iPhone and iPad users.

      Daily politics

        1. The Coalition Cabinet
          Feeling a little ignorant about the make up of the Coalition Cabinet? Leave that ignorance behind and familiarise yourself with who does what at the top of the UK government.
        2. Don't Blame The Immigrants
          Economist Tim Harford points to the facts, making the case that whilst the British economy and public finances are in a bad state, ‘if our borders had been closed to eastern Europe in 2004 they would be worse’.

        Faith and spirituality

          1. Avoid The Pig Slop
            Donald Miller writes about the benefits of turning the other cheek highlighting that there's, ‘no benefit to seeking vengeance. It doesn’t right a wrong, it doesn’t make things better, and it doesn’t create sustained peace’.
          2. Arrogance, Fear And Rob Bell
            Rob Bell has a new book out and I've jotted down a few thoughts about the anti-reviews of the book, challenging people to show greater humility when it comes to people we disagree with.

          Something light

            1. 125 Years Of National Geographic
              A beautiful and inspiring collection of National Geographic photographs from the last 125 years.
            2. iPad vs Paper
              Ever wondered about the viability of a completely paperless society? This YouTube clip will leave you wondering no more.
            3. Tracking Down A Twitter Troll
              English boxer Curtis Woodhouse decided enough was enough with the abuse he was getting from one particular follower on Twitter…so he tracked him down to his house!

            Editor’s Note

            I've gone for a bit of a rejig of the layout designed to make it easier and quicker to discover the articles that you're interested in reading. Feel free to let me know if you have any other suggestions or feedback!

            Also, if you like this, do please share it and encourage others to sign up!

            Thanks,
            Sam.

            The Daily Blend

            Insights

            1. Ten Years On In Iraq
              Ten years after the bombs fell in Iraq, Marwa, a young Iraqi girl who lost her leg to a blast that also killed her sister, tells her tragic, moving tale to Kevin Connolly, highlighting that, for some, the impact of the war will never be over.
            2. Illusion of Online Perfection
              Muireann Carey-Campbell offers a timely reminder that we're all selectively curating our lives online and, as such, we mustn't be fooled by the illusion of everyone else having this perfect life we don't seem to have ourselves.
            3. Hazards of Drone Warfare
              Will US use of drones come back to haunt them? Bill Moyers explores the moral hazards of drone warfare, questioning whether the US is on the ‘wrong side of history’.

            All things tech

            • John Moltz says Apple should steer well clear of the ‘phablet’ category, and highlights they're not quite the hit some people seem to think they are.
            • Apple has an 'iPhone 5S problem’, according to Rene Richie. They're wrestling with the growing perception that that they're predictable and that ‘the next big thing might just come from somewhere else’.
            • Mike Myatt argues that Marissa Mayer, new CEO of Yahoo, is showing a lack of maturity in her leadership and is a ‘case study of what not to do as a new CEO’.
            • New research suggests you should be careful about what you ‘like’ on Facebook, it may be communicating more about yourself than you realise.

            Daily politics

            • Justin Welby, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, is adapting to his new role well, quickly seeking to repair any damage to his relationship with Iain Duncan Smith over their benefits cuts disagreement (see post dated 11/03/2013).
            • Is it possible to be Conservative and a social reformer? Max Chambers says, ‘yes’, pointing to Chris Grayling and Iain Duncan Smith as examples.

            Faith and spirituality

            • Marie Osborne compares actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway and asks whether Christians have gone too far in embracing ‘authenticity’.
            • A.N. Wilson writes a glowing review of Alistair McGrath's new biography of C.S. Lewis, expressing his surprise that Lewis, ‘who understood so little about the emotional life can still, 50 years after his life, speak so eloquently to millions’.
            • Jonathan Merritt interviews Rob Bell about his new book, ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About God’.
             

            The Daily Blend

            Insights

            • Graham Hill shares his story of learning to live with less stuff and discovering that ‘relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life’.
            • Slavery has returned to the UK and language like ‘human trafficking’ masks the ‘terror, injustice and nature of abuse inflicted on those who are its victims’, according to Christian Guy.
            • Jonathan Freedland interviews Danny Boyle, director of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, uncovering in the process Boyle's belief that, despite his huge respect for the Queen, the Monarchy will be abolished in his lifetime.
            • Stuart Jeffries examines both the reality and the myths surrounding teenage girls and the apparent sexualisation of the culture they're growing up in.

            All things tech

            • Developer Marco Arment says Google's infringements on the intellectual property of others betrays ‘a culture...of arrogance, entitlement, and dishonesty’.
            • Haydn Shaughnessy casts some serious doubts over the likelihood of the so-called Apple iWatch.

            Daily politics

            • Wefare minister Iain Duncan Smith and Justin Welby (the new Archbishop of Canterbury) aren't seeing eye to eye over Smith's proposed benefit cuts.
            • The Economist asks whether the recent European defeat for Britain over bankers’ bonuses is an indicator of declining influence for the British in Europe.

            Faith and spirituality

            • Are the so called ‘New Atheists’ in fact defenders of the sacred? Peter Rollins makes the case that ‘there is a form of atheism that is closer to the divine than the standard theism witnessed in the church’.

            Something light

            • Ricky Gervais has released a trailer confirming that, in aid of Comic Relief, there is going to be a reprise of the character David Brent from The Office.
             

            The Daily Blend

            International Women's Day

            • A former South African gang member writes about his violent past and how he now works with young boys addressing gender-based violence.
            • Katie Portman takes to her blog to offer women five ‘ridiculously easy things we can all do now to help ourselves and each other’.
            • Peter Grant asks where is the church and where are the men when it comes to preventing violence against women?
            • The Guardian has produced a data map providing an overview of women's political rights around the world.
            • According to the UN more than 140 million girls will become child brides by 2020 if current rates of early marriage continue .

            Insights

            • Using the new Mailbox app for the iPhone as a case study, Tim Harford asks the question, ‘Can an app make us behave better?’
            • In an article for Mother Jones, Tim McDonnell explores the impact and influence of climate change on violence in Syria.
            • Emma Coats shares Pixar's 22 rules of storytelling, littered with good tips for writers.

            All things tech

            • After being known for caring far more about algorithms than aesthetics, The Economist profiles Google, saying it now wants to be known for beauty as well as brains.

            Daily politics

            • Alex Massie calls Ed Miliband's ‘zionism’ convenient, part time, and cowardly, offering in the process an explanation of what it actually means to be Zionist.

            Faith and spirituality

            • Writing on the Friendly Atheist site, Mark Turner reflects on atheist Nick Clegg's decision to send his son to a Catholic school, asking how far atheists should go in imposing their world views on their families.
            • Rob Bell, author of Love Wins and the forthcoming What We Talk About When We Talk About God,  shares a selection of his favourite books.

            Something light

            • A Kazakhstan League match showcases perhaps the worst conditions for a corner kick in a game of football ever.
            • Sam Mendes disappoints many James Bond fans, announcing that he won't be directing the next Bond movie.
            • Will Smith raps the Fresh Prince theme with a group of school kids from Brixton.

            The Daily Blend

            Insights

            • Malcolm Grimston says Britain should go for the ‘nuclear option’ with regard to our long-term power needs.
            • Anthony Hesketh does the sums and makes a case for bankers deserving the bonuses they receive.
            • Intriguing look by BusinessWeek at what went on behind the scenes with Disney's purchase of LucasFilm and, with that, the Star Wars franchise.

            All things tech

            • Om Malik adds his thoughts to the ongoing debate around the future of freelance journalism in a digital-first world, sharing his personal story and love of writing in the process.
            • Might Blackberry actually have something of a hit on their hands with the new Z10 smartphone handset? To early to say for sure, but there are positive signs.
            • Andy Ihnatko shares his reasons for switching from an iPhone to an Android-powered Samsung Galaxy III: Part One, Two, Three.

            Daily politics

            • Fraser Nelson writes a feature column in The Spectator suggesting that George Osborne has run out of ideas, and is now left with little option other than to ‘hope and pray’ for the economy to recover.
            • Prime Minister David Cameron used a pre-budget speech to rule out the possibility of borrowing more money to boost the economy, countering the suggestion from Vince Cable.

            Faith and spirituality

            • Thomas Jackson (a former monk, turned sceptic, turned Catholic) argues that science and religion are the two most potent forces in the world, and that science is only now discovering what religion has known all along.
            • New Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has expressed his support of the clampdown on payday loan companies by the Office of Fair Trading.

            A smattering of news

            • BBC News reports that more than two million people in the UK have left jobs to care for disabled, sick or elderly loved ones.
            • John Lewis staff - who are all partners - are all to receive a 17% bonus following a rise in profit, as the company continues to model the way for others.
            • Peter Walker positively salivates in his Guardian column over new plans by Boris Johnson for a major investment in cycling in London.

            The Daily Blend

            Insights

            • Rachel Gichinga, a Kenyan national, shares her perspective on the elections and laments the way the international media have reported on it.
            • Writing on her blog, Katie Portman shares some lessons on living life to the full…from her 8 month old daughter.
            • Russell Brand, in a moving column for The Spectator, argues that the only way to help addicts is to treat them as sick people - not bad people.
            • Following the death of Hugo Chávex, Michael White urges people to avoid both the overwhelming urge to set aside inconvenient facts about him, or to put his record in a more impressive light: he was neither hero nor villain.

            All things tech

            • Bad habits die hard when it comes to Microsoft, who have been fined £484m for failing to promote a range of web browsers, rather than just Internet Explorer program, to users in the European Union. 

            Daily politics

            • Benedict Brogan ponders whether Teresa May and Philip Hammond may be working together on a leadership plot, at least doing enough to keep David Cameron looking over his shoulder.
            • Vince Cable moves away from the Coalition position and says it's time for George Osborne to ‘greatly expand’ capital spending.

            Faith and spirituality 

            • The UK is to get its own weekly Christian music chart listing the top 20 Christian and Gospel music album sales. Some Christians will probably be excited about this.
            • Tom Wright, former Bishop of Durham, responds to the latest sex scandal in the Catholic church, stating that, while the church maybe hypocritical about sex, the media are hypocritical about hypocrisy.
            • The Rationalist Association announces that the ‘atheist church’ which started in London in January is to go national (providing you sign up to all the rules).

            A smattering of news

            • It still doesn't go far enough but, after an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading, the government is to implement stricter rules for high-cost, short-term lenders, the BBC reports. 
            • The UN has announced that there are now over one million refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria.

            Something light

            • Jeannie McGinnis, an American now living in Yorkshire, writes about her journey of figuring out what on earth we Brits are saying when we speak.

            The Daily Blend

            Daily politics

            • Labour MP Dianne Abbott warns that her party mustn't move to the right on immigration, despite the recent success of UKIP in Eastleigh.
            • Jonathan Jones unpacks the latest, somewhat surprising, YouGov data about the make up of UKIP voters.

            All things tech

            • Sarah Perez, writing for TechCrunch, makes the case that Apple urgently needs to add a ‘kid mode’ to the iPad.
            • The BBC has announced it is bringing its iPlayer service to the Windows Phone platform following a deal with Microsoft.
            • Rolls Royce, hoping to reinvigorate its brand, has a new car coming out which can read the road ahead using GPS mapping.
            • Surprise, surprise: teenagers are getting bored with Facebook, Business Insider confirms.
            • Acclaimed author and illustrator Christoph Niemann has released a fun new interactive picture book for iPad and iPhone app called Petting Zoo.

            Insights

            • David Brooks use his New York Times column to explore the differences in learning approaches between Western and Eastern nations.
            • Esther Perel discusses the ‘secret to desire in a long-term relationship’ in her recent TED talk, exploring the conflicting needs for both security and surprise.
            • Maddie Oatman looks into the impact of the declining populations of bees, butterflies and beatles on the food we like to enjoy.

            Faith and spirituality 

            • Mike Breen, director of 3DM, ponders whether the church is on the brink of a new Reformation and discusses the need to focus on fruitfulness rather than success.
            • Andrew Brown suggests the latest scandal in the Catholic church highlights that celibacy isn't realistic for most in the priesthood.
            • Vicky Beeching contends that creating “Christian” products (like ‘The Real Easter Egg’) are a bad idea, further reinforcing an unhealthy sacred/secular divide.

            Something light

            • Actress Mila Kunis turns an interview with a very nervous radio interviewer around and clearly enjoys not having to talk about her latest movie.
            • Leicestershire is working to make their streets feel safer…by hanging pom poms and other knitted items from trees and lampposts.

              The Daily Blend

              Daily politics

              • Whilst David Cameron says he won't be ‘lurching to the right’, following the Tories poor showing in the Eastleigh by-election, The Spectator points out he does seem to be lurching towards his backbenchers.
              • Michael White uses his Guardian column to ponder whether the forthcoming Budget might be George Osborne's last chance to get the economy moving - or face getting the boot from Cameron.
              • Isabel Hardman explains why Ed Balls and Labour aren't being more upfront about their borrowing plans.

              All things tech

              • It's sounding more and more likely that an Apple ‘iWatch’ is definitely coming and, according to the Verge, will run the same iOS software used by the iPhone and iPad.
              • Kara Swisher, writing for All Things D, pens a playful piece exploring the different ways in which Apple could spend its shed load of cash.

              A smattering of news

              • Writing in the Guardian, Desmond Tutu makes the argument that no nation should own nuclear weapons.
              • The BBC reports that, despite the Funding for Lending Schemes, the number of loans banks are offering are still reducing.
              • After much lobbying by Christians, including the Archbishop of York, The Telegraph reports that all the major supermarkets have agreed to stock “Christian” Easter eggs.

              Something light

              • Batman is operating in Bradford it would seem, bringing a wanted man to justice, whilst maintaining his anonymity, according to the BBC.
              • China is going out its way to ensure the grass is always greener…by spraying the grass green in Chengdu.

              New Bible Translation Is Surprise Bestseller In Norway →

              Alison Flood, writing in The Guardian, talks to Dag Smemo, about why a new translation of the Bible is such a hit in Norway:

              "It's always a very touchy issue, doing a new translation of the Bible," said Smemo. "People say they like it the way it is. But we had a very thorough procedure, involving authors and poets, secular people and believers, and discussing the whole translation word by word, so there is not only a good translation of the Greek and Hebrew but also a very good flow of the Norwegian language. People are saying that it's very good, and we are seeing this from both conservative groups and more secular groups. It's definitely not only Christians buying it. It's atheists too – people are saying the Bible is important for us, for our culture, and for the nation."

              Turn Back Time →

              Tuesday night saw the annual MB Improv Christmas Show at The Showroom in Sheffield. It was a complete sellout and a real treat. And, to top the evening off, the evening concluded with the debut live performance of all new boy band ‘MB Boiz’ and their brand new Christmas single, ‘Turn Back Time’!

              It was...unforgettable! Enjoy!! ;-)

              “I Don't Believe In God, But I Believe In The Church Of England” →

              Jake Wallis Simons, writing in The Telegraph, talks about how, despite being “a couple of drinks away from atheism”, he still values the Church of England's role in society:

              As paradoxical as it sounds, I value the institution of the Church of England, and its place in public life. The reason? Quite simply, I don’t think that pure secularism would be reliable enough as a guiding light. The Church, in my view, may be outmoded and superstitious in many ways, but it has an important contribution to make. Being at a remove from the cut and thrust of society, the church occupies a position that is defined – or is supposed to be defined – by exclusively moral concerns. If we were to silence its voice, we would lose a valuable source of counsel.

               It's an intriguing take and the whole article is well worth a read.

              Answers About Android →

              Rory Cellan-Jones, the BBC's technology correspondent, asks the BBC's head of iPlayer development - Daniel Danker - all about Android and why it is Apple's devices that have the better versions of iPlayer when there are more Android users. Here's one snippet to a question about why Android doesn't even yet have the radio app at all: 

              Believe it or not, we started work on the iPlayer radio app for Android on the same day as the one for the iPhone, but we're still resolving a number of issues. Background audio, for example. When you leave the app you want the Today programme to keep on running. That worked out of the box on Apple, but not on Android, and we're just getting there now

               The whole piece is an interesting read.

              Love Gives The World Meaning →

              Peter Rollins, writing on his blog, discusses how we use the word ‘faith’. I particularly enjoyed this paragraph where he wrote about love though:

              If one believes that the world is meaningful, yet does not love, they cannot help but experience the world as meaningless. Yet if one believes that the world is meaningless yet loves, that person cannot help but experience their world as meaningful.

              Apple Shifting To Six Monthly Product Upgrade Cycle? →

              Horace Dediu, writing at his Asymco site, ponders the claim by former Apple CEO, John Sculley, that Apple is moving away from an annual product upgrade cycle to a six-monthly one:

              Suggesting that Apple is moving to a semi-annual cycle is a very provocative thing to say, but it’s something I’ve also speculated is happening during a Critical Path podcast.  Sculley’s comments prompted me to weigh the possible evidence that this is happening

              That this shift might be happening does make a lot of sense. With so many product updates all happening so close together in October/November, it seems crazy that there'd be nothing new from Apple until the same time next year.

              It'll be interesting to see how the public react to the change. Already I've had family member complaining that Apple seem to be updating their products more and more frequently. It leaves people feeling that they're out of date and/or that Apple just keep wanting to make people spend money on the latest and greatest.

              That said, there are plenty of reasons why it'd be in Apple's competitive interests to shift towards six-monthly rather than annual product updates.