cyberhobo

Month: December 2006

  • Book: Lying Awake / Mark Salzman

    We listened to this audio book on our drive also. I chose it because I have liked other books by Salzman. The subject of this one surprised me: it features a Carmelite nun’s struggles with epilepsy. The next surprise was that his presentation allowed me to truly relate to the character. Salzman has a knack…

  • Book: The Mysterious Affair at Styles / Agatha Christie

    We borrowed a recorded version of this book from the library for our drive to Idaho. I’d never read any Agatha Christie books, but they are excellent for driving. The intricate plot requires close attention, especially in audio format. I probably would have done a lot of re-reading in a printed book, but in the…

  • A Sunny Day at Bogus Basin

    Even though the snow at Bogus Basin was not quite as good today, I left with a real fondness for the place. With perfect blue skies and not a breath of wind, we were treated to one visual feast after another. Orange sun on spruce trees with every needle encrusted in snow. A bright half…

  • The Outdoor Map

    It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been fiddling with a website called The Outdoor Map for almost a year now. My vision for it has changed, but I still use it all the time myself for finding places, keeping notes and links for them, and general map investigation. I had hoped that the site would…

  • Bogus Basin Ski Area

    We explore another small ski area. This one is near Boise, has six lifts, and is playfully named Bogus Basin. Once again we’re fortunate to hit decent snow, and several inches more fall while we’re there, keeping it fresh. The area is spread out, requiring some traversing from lift to lift. It has good trees,…

  • Christmas

    We’re treated to a Christmas with all the traditional American elements: family (the Fish side), a tree, gifts, kids, church, snow, and an abundance of rich food. While enjoying it all I observe the contrast with my everyday life. There is time for pure play, and pure contemplation. I make sure to do some of…

  • Geo Mashup 1.0 Beta 1 Release

    A Christmas present of sorts – some bleeding edge software for you! I’ve used some of my holiday break time to start implementing a few features I’ve been eager to add to the Geo Mashup Plugin. I’ve made a lot of changes in this one that will need some testing, so I’m going to release…

  • Pomerelle ski area

    We need some activity to break up the long drive to visit Ann’s family in Nampa, Idaho, so we stop at tiny Pomerelle Mountain Ski Area. We’re lucky to hit beautiful weather and a nice foot of fresh powder. I’m reminded of the virtues of little podunk ski areas like this: easy access to your…

  • Movie: An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

    This is a movie with a clear message that has nothing to do with Al Gore. The fact that he delivers the message is almost a distraction. It’s about how we react to threats. We overreact to dramatic threats like a terrorist attack with very little evidence to support our reactions. Yet gradual threats with…

  • Blizzard Commute

    There were predictions for a big snowstorm starting yesterday, but I ride in to work like usual and see what will come of it. The ride in is nice – quiet, a gentle tailwind, and a few snowflakes. During the morning the university announces it will close at noon to let people get home before…