OBSOLETE BLOG/FEED

To my blog/RSS readers,

please note this blog/feed is no longer being updated!

.

You can visit my new blog here:

http://malcolmdonaldson.com/blog

Introducing...MM 2.0

The all new

Malcolm's Musings 2.0

powered by WordPress


Please update your bookmarks:
http://malcolmdonaldson.com/blog

Coming very soon...

Prolific Printer

Ever heard of Sliverbrook Research? Didn't think so... They've never produced a product, but after years of research claim to have created a 60 pages/minute printer *. In fact, they also claim (and a video appears to show) the "ink jet" prints 30 pages/minute in full color! Now that would be something to see become mass-produced...

*external link to technabob.com

Deleted...uh, completely!

Accidental deletion of not only the main HD but also the backup* resulting in a technician needing the tape backup of some very important data. Unfortunately, that copy was found to be unreadable. ~$220,000 later the data was reentered and the mistake corrected. Ooops indeed!

Oops! IT technician wipes out $38B fund (external link to usatoday.com)

*external link to jonbart.com

Artificial Planetary Chronometer

Now this is a novel idea for a clock: The "hands" are portrayed as orbiting planets around the central larger planet. Evidently, you can only tell the time by looking at the device from top. I think I would like one; part of the problem, however, is that it's from Japan*. Oh well...

Image courtesy of: technabob.com
* external link to technabob.com

No Transmission Needed

This afternoon I went unicycling at a park along the Ohio River. It was, in my opinion, a picture-perfect day: sunny, with a cool breeze, and a few puffy clouds in the sky.

On the way back from the park I crossed to the Kentucky side on a ferry.

Looking east towards Cincinnati

Automatic Bicycle Transmission

Trek Bikes, along with a couple of other manufacturers, has released bicycles featuring Shimano's new automatic shifting transmission. Called the Shimano Coasting, this three-speed transmission auto-shifts gears as you ride.

Obviously, three gears limits the bicycle to "around-town" riding but none the less, the actual production of an automatic transmission bicycle is a major milestone. Trek calls their bicycle using this technology the Lime*; a rather hideous looking machine in my opinion.

Image courtesy of trekbikes.com

*external link to trekbikes.com

Dominant Eye Determiner

Since I was early for a meeting in the library this morning I browsed through a recent copy of "Astronomy" magazine while I waited. (Read: Astronomy...not that other stuff!) Below I've reproduced an illustration I found intriguing.


How it works: Look at the diagram while crossing your eyes slightly to make three circles appear. The word that appears in the middle circle tells you which eye is dominate.



The article provided a reason why this is helpful to know, but only in relation to studying the stars. Otherwise, I'm not sure why it matters exactly!

I've Still Got It

This morning I took my new unicycle out for an ~one hour rip around the Mt. Adams/Eden Park area. It was exhilarating to be riding again... The terrain included stairs, rocks, ramps and off-road. Oh, and did I mention hills...lots of hills?

With some other things going on in my life right now, just tearing up some pavement and letting the sweat pour off me felt great also. So, thank you again Cameron for a enjoyable and timely gift!

My New Unicycle

Well, it's like Christmas in March! Thanks to my brother I now have a new 24" Torker DX here at college. Also included in the box which arrived today from Unicycle.com was leg armor, gloves, shin guards, and a helmet. Just add skill, and the package is complete. Thankfully, I can provide the skill, so I'm ready to roll...




Thank you Cameron!

Spring Skiing

Yesterday marked the first time I've ever skied in +60 degree weather! I have to say it was amazing... Arriving at the hill around 3pm we had a sunny sky for the afternoon. Since our tickets were until the hill closed at 9:30, we also took in some night skiing.

More photos here

Yer Olde Gini Index

Reading in the textbook for my Sociology course I came across the "Gini Index". Here is the definition from Encarta Dictionary online:

"income distribution index: an index of income distribution in an economy, expressed as a fraction, that indicates the level of inequality between incomes. The higher the fraction, the greater the inequality of incomes."

I'm sure the knowledge of this term won't impact your life profoundly; however, I was intrigued by the name. Which, by the way, comes from the Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

IE 1.0 Anyone?

If you just happen to be looking for Internet Explorer 1.0 (first released in 1995), then OldVersion.com is the place to go. In fact, the site claims 1466 versions of 131 programs.

Today I was looking for the previous version of an audio editing program which I found at OldVersion.com. This is not a site one would use regularly, but it definitely has it's place on occasion!

Few Days in In Ind Indiana

Saturday evening I arrived back here at GBS after a few great days away. Alisa's Dad was preaching revival at her brother Andrew's church in Indiana this past week. So, I drove up there on Thursday afternoon to spend a few days with Alisa and her family.

Along with attending wonderful services, I also met great people and enjoyed pleasant company. Ken, a Guyanese friend of the family, also treated us to a variety of delicious ethnic food.

Travelling home on Saturday, I stopped at Tim Hortons for a taste of Canada: a large double-double (coffee with two creams and two sugars) and Timbits (donut holes). Good stuff, eh?

Oh, and I didn't Rrroll up any prizes from Timmy's.

Slow Journey Back

Northbound I-75, including myself on my way home from prayer meeting, was stopped dead for at least 1/2 hour this evening due to an accident.

Archive: Snowmobiling - Feb 06

Although I'm here in Cincinnati, with no possibility of snowmobiling, here are some photos from ~one year ago (Feb 22, 06). Cameron, Ben, and I had a great day of riding: warm sun, deep powder, and expanses to explore!

If you can't tell, things are pretty quiet around here over break; hence the lack of current things to blog about!

A cell phone is one thing, but...

...using a laptop while driving is quite another! Sadly, this one fellow in CA didn't live to learn his lesson:

Car crash kills man believed to be using laptop while driving*

It also seems this story gives one more good reason to drive a Hummer!

*external link to sfgate.com

Corn Construction

From my experiences in recent days, I'm beginning to think I should become a corn farmer. Ok, not really...but corn does seem to be the new ecologically-friendly answer to disposable consumer products.

• Green Mountain Coffee Roasters* is using a disposable paper coffee cup lined with a bio-plastic made from corn, rather than a petroleum-based product.
• Mountain Equipment Co-op+ has switched to "plastic" shopping bags called BioBags** made mostly from biodegradable corn starch.

*external link to greenmountaincoffee.com
+ external link to mec.ca
** external link to biobags.ca

Justice & Grace

This evening I am sitting at an ice cream/coffee shop writing a paper for my Sociology course. The purpose of the paper is to provide an overview of Charles Colson's book Justice That Restores. Here is an excerpt from my almost-finished paper:

As I write this portion of the paper in Ben & Jerry’s a live band is playing and singing “Amazing Grace” in the background. Surely it is only God’s amazing grace that affords any hope to the transgressor. Mr. Colson so poignantly points out in his book that no other religion, worldview, or approach, save the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can give an adequate answer to the sin problem; a problem that is at the true heart of crime. Not only does the Biblical worldview provide a transcendent authority for law, recognize the reality of sin and provide a mechanism to restrain it, but it also provides the only way out of the human dilemma through redemption (Colson, p. 157-158).

Bachelor Breakfast

Since both Andrew and I are alone this week and next (I'm staying at the college over break, and his parents are in FL) we're eating most meals together.


So far, we've been able to create some delicious grub; this morning's "brunch" was no exception. And this time, I actually have photo evidence! Not bad, eh?

Photo by: Andrew G.

What Weather!

Image from MSN Weather as displayed on live.com

Archive: Winter Unicycling

A few winters ago we took a unicycle to one of the ski hills near where I grew up in Quebec. Needless to say, riding down the slopes brought curious stares from skiers and ski-patrollers alike!

Photo by: Cameron D.

Here also is a photo of Cameron and I doing some off-road unicycling in the snow.

Photo by: Bonnie D.

Ah, I miss unicycling!

Windows Vista Wallpaper: Inside Story

This morning I read an interview with the (somewhat unlikely) photographer for the Vista Wallpaper photos. I thought it was an interesting/inspiring article worth sharing:
Interview with Hamad Darwish, Flickr photographer shooting Vista wallpapers (external link to istartedsomething.com)

Here also is a link to his Flickr album with other images from the same photo shoot:
Windows Vista (external link to flickr.com)

Live from Green Mountain

...Coffee Roasters, that is! This evening, as Mr. Glick conducts some interviews for a project, I'm working on a paper for one of my classes. Here I sit in a Ben & Jerry's* in Clifton Heights making use of their free wireless with my laptop. Well, I should finish off the page I'm writing on the topic of poverty.

* external link to benjerry.com

Friday Evening Fun

Last evening after the PowerPoint Party several of us went to see Hurricane on the Bayou* at the Cincinnati Museum Omnimax. Following the presentation we went to Ben & Jerry's+ to relax for a while.

Photo by Vita
*external link to cincymuseum.org
+ external link to benjerry.com

PowerPoint Party

Last evening the Mission's Dept sponsored a "PowerPoint Party". Several students, including myself, shared PowerPoints from mission trips we have taken. Also, we ordered-in Thai food, which was enjoyed by all.

Lingering Ice

Amazingly, the ice deposited earlier this week is still clinging to area trees. Here is a view of the GBS Admin building with the trees sparkling in yesterday afternoon's sun.

Ice-Laden Campus

Classes Canceled Again

Well, as amazing as it sounds classes are canceled again on Wednesday! The ice storm continues to pound the area; right now it's a real skating rink outside. They are predicting a total of 3/4" of ice accumulation by morning! So, another opportunity to sleep in a little...

Ice Storm!

Over the past 24 hours we have experienced quite the wintry mix here in Cincinnati! In fact, the precipitation has resulted in a thick layer of ice. The storm is also forested to continue into tomorrow morning.

Don't cry over broken eggs...

...even if there are thousands of them all over the highway!

Truck wreck spills 165,000 eggs on Virginia highway (external link to msnbc.msn.com)

Snow Day Tomorrow!

Airborne!

Photo by: Alisa St.

...ok, just barely. But it was still a blast! Thanks Joe & Andrew...

Afternoon Sledding

This afternoon Keith organized a sledding trip to Eden Park. We spent ~one hour at the hill during which time we managed to not hurt ourselves too badly. The jump created by Keith and others another day provided an array of spectacular crashes (and a few successful landings)!

More Crash (and other!) Photos Here

GBS Winter Banquet

Update: More photos here

Photo by: Mylan A.

Alisa and I at the GBS Winter Banquet, Feb 8

.

Photo by: Laura V.

In Newport Kentucky with the Cincinnati skyline in the background.

.

Alisa, thanks for great company and a wonderful evening :-)

This bus is going where?

Perhaps the individual in this story should have asked that question...at least once more!

Thai woman lost for 25 years after boarding wrong bus (external link to msnbc.msn.com)

Look! Winter's Visiting...

Bid on eBay for one year of university!

No, this isn't for some dodgy diploma mill! Oklahoma Wesleyan University* is actually auctioning one year of tuition and room/board (normally costs $23,000) on eBay+. As of this post, the auction is at $6,500 with 30 bids.

* external link to okwu.edu
+ external link to ebay.com

One view of downhill skiing

I have immensely enjoyed downhill skiing ever since I was old enough to learn. However, I still thought this quote (from an unknown author) was worth making into a poster. Enjoy!

Party at the Profitts

This evening the Profitts* hosted a party at their house for GBS students. Great company, food, and games made for a very pleasant evening "off campus" (but within easy walking distance). A big "thank you" to the Profitts for opening their home to us!

Kristen, Hector, Ednita, Alisa

Shane and I were having fun...really! :-)

Photo by: Ednita

More photos here!

*external link to diningonadime.blogspot.com

Megacryometeor?

Now this could make you afraid to meander outside:

Mysterious ice chunk smashes car (external link to msnbc.msn.com)

Survival Hint for today: Listen for whistling noises from above...

The Risen Sun

"I believe in Christianity just as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. -C.S. Lewis"

Brand Confusion?

One company, Sierra Designs*, focuses on outdoor gear and apparel, while the other, Arby's+, is in the fast-food industry. However, their respective logos evidently appear enough alike to make people think of Arby's when they see my jacket! So, I've now been identified as the Arby's-guy?!













Note: All logos are registered trademarks of their respective companies.
*external link to sierradesigns.com
+external link to arbys.com

Student Development Day

Today was Student Dev. Day here at GBS. David Stonestreet* from Summit Ministries* was the guest speaker for the three sessions held in the morning. Here are some quotes from Mr. Stonestreet's presentation on "Thinking Worldviewishly: Loving God with Your Mind":

"No information is neutral, because information contains ideas and ideas have consequences."

"You may not live what you profess, but you will live what you believe."

* external link to summit.org