Major Fire in Cochrane!

This afternoon, we became aware of a fire which had started in the Tembec wood chip yard on the east side of Cochrane. While most of the fire is obscured by the building, various angles reveal a raging blaze. Although a fire bomber was called in, they only succeeded in dousing part of the burning area before the cover of darkness forced them to land. Currently, at 10:15 pm, the fire is still raging, making the billowing smoke glow an erie orange in the night sky.

Update @ 11 pm: We just returned from taking a short drive to a couple of vantage points of the still-raging fire. The glowing smoke is still dominating the eastern night sky over Cochrane.

Photos by Cameron Donaldson

Disassembling a Hard Drive

Last week at work, a friend and I disassembled an old computer HD which had died. Neither of us had ever seen the inside of a hard drive before (except in pictures), so we figured it would be a good opportunity to check it out. A few screws and a bit of prying removed the cover to expose the inner workings.
A few moments later, various pieces were out of the case and lying on my desk. We were probably most surprised by the incredible polish on the actual disk, which seemed to be more reflective than a mirror!

Cochrane hosts evacuees

"For the third time in a year, Cochrane is one of the host communities for the evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation after a state of emergency was declared on April 22nd."

Photo by Cochrane Times-Post

Be Still

“I have a friend whose whole life plan consists of keeping questions at bay. ‘Keep yourself surrounded by sound,’ Ed says, ‘always keep moving.’ When he’s driving, he keeps the radio on in his car. When he walks in the house (he lives alone), he turns on the stereo or the TV. He never allows himself to be alone with himself. Drumming fingers on the windowpane, it’s as if he senses a presence at the window. He doesn’t like to go out into the country. He avoids the mountains, the wind, the quiet fields; they make him nervous. He likes to keep busy. The strange thing about life in America: it often seems designed to block our questioning out. It’s so busy, it can rush us into death before we’ve ever had a chance to stop and think. We might never really stop to ask ‘why?’” - Michael Novak

In Proverbs 4:26, the Bible reminds us to, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”

Let us take a moment today to just be still and ponder our path.

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2

Yesterday, Microsoft released the next preview of it's new Internet Explorer 7 browser. I've been using the new browser (which includes tabs, feeds, and a much slimmer profile then IE6) since it's initial beta release and except for some instability (which is expected since it's in beta), I like it alot. This latest release also includes free phone support, which they hope will encourage more people to try out the Beta 2 of IE7.

Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Download

60 billion emails sent daily worldwide

"Internet users around the world send an estimated 60 billion emails every day and many of these are spam or scam attempts, business leaders said on Tuesday"

Palm Keyboard

I recently purchased (from eBay!), and have since received, a portable keyboard for my Palm. Since I paid a good price, it was a bit of an experiment to see how well it would actually work. So far, I am pleased with the device, and think it will enable me to take effective lecture notes on the Palm. Has anyone else tried a similar keyboard? If so, what has your experience been using it?

Wilderness Rapids

Update: More images now posted on my photo journal here.

On Saturday, a friend took Cameron and I hiking north of Cochrane. After an hour-long canoe ride, we hiked another 2.5 hours to a set of rapids where we ate lunch. The power of the spring-run-off-charged river as it pounded over the rocks was astonishing.

The return trip went a little more quickly since the terrain was now somewhat familiar. We arrived back exhausted but certainly satisfied with the day's expedition.

AudioBlogger Test Post!

To love at all is to be vulnerable

I recently again heard a quote which is worthy of remembering, repeating, and reflecting upon. C.S. Lewis, in his book "The Four Loves" wrote:

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully 'round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love, is Hell."