Mark J. Brown

Hello! I was going through a very hard week there, and I was really worried about a lot of things. A lot had just changed in my life, even though it was the good sort of change; when you let go of problems and issues you’ve been having. I was worried about where I was right now and what the future holds for me and it was a very deep worry that was causing a lot of pain and stress. I did what I almost always do when faced with such difficult challenges; turned to God in prayer. And it was then that I remembered the verse:

‘Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?’ (Luke 12:25 NIV)

That was Jesus who said that. I also remembered the words of Paul:

‘Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them’ (1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV)

Basically, that we should go on living as God has called us, when you have just become a Christian don’t make serious changes to your circumstance. This meant a lot to me personally, as I was overwhelmed by thoughts of popularity. I thought where I was simply wasn’t enough, and that I had to be somewhere else.

What this means for me is that amazing assurance we all have, that God has everything in His hands is clearer than ever, my future is in God’s hands and I have nothing to fear. What an amazing promise! What God wants me to do right now is make the most of the present, now that I am free from these chains. What an amazing feeling, having the Lord in your life and at your steering wheel (rest assured, He is a really good driver)!

If you’re facing such difficulties and know Christ, then why worry? Let go and let Jesus take over your troubles, He will begin to do amazing things through you, just like He is with me right now, as in writing this post! Keep your head up

God Bless, Mark

(Originally written 11/02/2012)

Yes, from today onwards I have decided to leave iTunes behind me. And the iTunes store, along with its music and Apps. And my iPhone, which is now on eBay. Even my MacBook is long behind me too.

But why, why such madness I hear you cry in that brain of yours? You may be thumping your keyboard like the Angry German Kid right now, screaming my name into your monitor, wondering why on earth one such as me would commit such a felony. Surely MacBooks are immaculate computers, a gift to us from above which upon adding one to your life, every computer-related problem suddently disappears and your life expectancy goes up by at least twenty more years.

Well, if I were to sum the next paragraph and several hundred words of my post up in one word; control.

Yes, control. Apple have too much of it and are taking it too far. Just take a look at the newest Mac Mini:

Ahh, pretty*

Notice anything unusual? THERE IS NO OPTICAL DRIVE!!

I mean nothing. Want to install something on it from one of those, you know, DVDs with software on it you bought just last year? Tough luck. Want to burn a CD from that huge collection you have been carefully building up for the past 30 years of your life? Tough luck. Would you like to watch a DVD? ‘No’, says Mr. Mac.

If you want to do any of these, ordinary everyday activities that every man and his dog, mouse and vole have been doing since people actually discovered computers could be useful for more than weekly accounts and typing letters to your nan, your only Apple-supported choice is to shell out £66 for one of these.

Or of course, re-purchase everything on the conveniently-placed iTunes store and Mac App Store that comes pre-installed on every Mac these days. For bargain prices such as £7.99 for albums which originally cost £4.99 on CD and go for like 99p on the used album market, plus you get one of those real existing physical CDs. And of course only software which Apple likes may go on the Mac App Store, no rooms for ‘duplicates’ or alternate options or free software, no sir.

I mean, I understand the need for pushing forward, and innovation and all that jazz, but cutting people off from things that are perfectly reusable, exist physically and may not even be available digitally does seem a bit backward to me. Also nice to know your big brother Apple is carefully watching everything you put on your computer and reserves the right to remove it at any time from their perfect walled garden of an online store. Hmm, I am beginning to like Microsoft again.

*I lied.

Be ready. Every Friday. On YouTube.

Mark Brown (that’s me) will upload one new video featuring never before seen content from the most Interesting channel on YouTube.

The first video features the very Joseph Ramsey bowling at the Jet Centre, with a fresh upbeat makeover:

Be sure to subscribe to Interesting TV and you will never miss an Interesting Upload! Unless of course YouTube breaks or you drop your computer off a bridge or something like that.

Hello there. I’m planning bigger and better things for the Nitickets blog. Things I thought I’d never do. Though don’t worry, the outrageous things that you love will still be here (especially in memory for you, the 581 people who got rickrolled).

Watch this space.

Edit (30/01/2012): Some older posts have been archived and I’ve changed the site slightly. More changes are underway!

First post in two years! Simply because I just found out you can use Microsoft Word to blog.

And in this post I highlight Palmer.