All I Could Upload

OK so I wanted to try to post the result of my AllYouCanUpload experiment from last post. Here's the thumbnail:

Click on it to see the image - it's got a lot of ads and stuff on the page - so it's not ideal, but it could be useful.

I think I'm done for the day! See you later.

Grace,

Des

All You Can Upload

If you're anything like me, you're always trying to find the best way to upload photos, store them online, and use them in blogs or webpages or whatever. Being on blogger and using a PC was pretty easy - I had a routine that I would use Picasa + Hello for publishing photos directly to blogger. It wasn't IDEAL but was the best all around solution.

Now that I've moved to the Mac, things are a little different. I really like FREE solutions, and there aren't any that I've REALLY liked. I've been using Flickr for the past several weeks, but, haven't been real happy with it.

I think that's about to change.

Webshots has just released a thing called All you can Upload (http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com). I haven't really played with it yet - but you don't need an account or registration or anything - you upload, it'll give you a link to you images and you can use them in blog posts or whatever.

I'm going to start using it, I think - at least as a trial, and I'll let you know how it goes.

Grace,

Des

On the Chimney Rock

ChimneyRock-018
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Yesterday, Kristy, Tilden, Stephanie, and I were able to hang out at Chimney Rock, NC. It's about 30-45 south of Asheville on Lake Lure (which you can see in this photo). The roads there, however, are twisty and turny enough to make some people sick :-), just so you know!

It was a pretty amazing day. Very hot. Lots of walking. Tons of pictures. We ended up at the base of Hickory Nut Falls - which you can see in some of the photos below. It was great after what seemed like hours of walking in the hot sun to get sprayed with water from the falls.

Next time . . . . who knows? Maybe we'll end up on a boat somewhere.

Grace,

Des

Chimney Rock III

ChimneyRock-066
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

ChimneyRock II

ChimneyRock-114
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Chimney Rock IV

ChimneyRock-117
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

ChimneyRock VI

ChimneyRock-004
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Chimney Rock V

ChimneyRock-013
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Thinking about getting back to Thinking

Admittedly, my thought processes have been slower and/or more sparsely spaced as of late. I think too many gadgets and cool things are getting in the way of me sitting down and thinking about anything not tech related.

But, I have been finding sometime to getting back to reading one of my favorite authors: Brian McLaren. I've touted "Generous Orthodoxy" on this blog many times . . . though, that's not what I'm reading now.

I'm getting back to the "New Kind of Christian" series and am currently enamored with book 2: The Story we Find Ourselves in. The series is a fictional recounting of a series of events in Brian McLaren's life, using fictional representations of real people and events.

Anyway . . . book two has one of the characters, Neo, on the Galapogos Islands with a scientist friend. Now, I'm not much of one for getting into the creation/evolution debate . . . mind you I very much was, especially through my late high school & early college years.

This book, though not blatently so, starts out with that feel . . . but that's not what I'm talking about here . . . just wanted to give you some background.

OK, so part way through Chapter 6 Neo and his scientist friend Kerry get talking about the beginning of time and trying to describe God through language and/or science.

Kerry says, "This talking about God isn't easy, you know?"

Neo's response is incredible . . . "Right" Neo replied. "It's a lot like things in science. Language is the only tool we have, but it keeps getting in the way. So in science, we revert to mathematics. And in theology, we revert to poetry. Mathematics and imagination are two ways of talking about things beyond normal language."

That, alone, is enough to jump start my brain back into deep thought mode - which is long overdue.

Grace,

Des

What we think we know

So, here is a picture from National Geographic. They ran a story today about a new finding: the oldest astronomical observatory in the Americas. It's located in Peru and dates to 4,200 years ago - which is 800 years earlier than previously thought. 800 years probably isn't that much in the scheme of things until you start comparing.

Let's look into the future?

The future, Desmond?

Yes, Blog Reader, all the way to the year 5,000.

Computers were invented in 2,874.

Cancer was cured in 1492.

America became a country in 2587.

800 years is a long time. I just crack up that we teach in our culture with such certainty. We've got it all figured out. Until we realize that we don't and every truth that we have taught, needs to be reworked to fit reality.

Other cultures don't teach fact. They teach thought. THAT is a completely different concept. Maybe we'll figure it out in 800 years or so.

Grace,

Des

My New Glasses

My New Glasses
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

I gots new glasses! They're hip and uber-powerful.

If you need to burn some ants on an anthill . . . I'm your guy.

Grace,

Des

Oh, the Chemistry . . .

So, in my day, I was a bit of a chemistry geek. I know, I know: that's hard to believe . . . now I'm just an all around geek. Anyway, this is a CRAZY video showing how Rubidium and Cesium reacting with water.

Doesn't sound like much - watch it before you judge . . . there is some British humour involved as well

I love my mac more and more . . .

GarageBandTuner
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Every Wednesday, I teach a guitar class at Hendersonville. I have about 7 students and until today I didn't really have enough guitars to go around. Early this afternoon I was restrining some of the guitars that I recently got a hold of . . . but I needed a tuner.

Then I remembered Garageband on my Mac. It's a music program where you can compose music, do podcasts, blah, blah, blah. There was a piano keyboard on there so I knew I could at least find an E to get me started on my merry tuning way.

However, in my attempt to find the keyboard, I found something very different.

If you haven't maximized the picture yet, go have a look and come back. Check right at the bottom of the screen in the middle (if you can't see it, once you click on the preview to the right, on the next screen you should see a link to "All Sizes" - That will make it bigger).

So . . . in Garageband is a Chromatic Tuner, that uses either the audio input on the back of the mac, or the external microphone!

I was impressed.

I love my mac more and more each day!

Des

My Clean Remote

Apple Remote
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

This is a pretty neat device. It's the remote that came with my new Intel iMac (which, if you haven't heard already, I LOVE).

The remote is great. It allows me to access my video clips, iTunes music, DVDs, etc, etc, from across the room - usually it involves me and or my wife getting ready in the morning. Sometimes, we'll use it if we're doing house work. I'll often just stick it in my pocket and do some chores - pulling it out whenever I need it.

It's precisely this combination of apple functionality and house chores that caused this little thing to end up in the bottom of my washing machine. OK . . . and a lack of responsibility on my part.

Yes, I washed out my Mac Remote.

I was devastated.

Interestingly enough - it still works! That's right - I let the thing dry out and it is working FINE.

At least now I know that if it gets dirty - I can just throw it in the wash.

Grace,

Des

Pool Cue 1

Pool Cue 1
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

So, I've already mentioned that Chuck had given me a reel.

Last night, he came in - very quickly dropped this off and said he had to run back to his place before coming back. That's exactly what he did.

So I take the cue out of the case and tried a few shots with it . . . it works, good feel, good weight.

When Chuck finally gets back I say, "That's a real nice cue you've got there, Chuck."

"That's yours." He responded in his low, gruff voice.

So I thanked him and then he let me listen to a tape of the Kingdom Heirs.

Chuck is an interesting man.

Grace,

Des

Pool Cue 2

Pool Cue 2
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

And here's the stick.

Reel Cool

Chuck.jpg
Originally uploaded by Random Des.

Last week, Chuck gave me a reel. Chuck, of course, is my friend from Waynesville who has been hanging out with me at the Coffee House at The Salvation Army corps. In this shot, he's going over the features of the reel.

I'm wondering when I can get a chance to go fishing with him. I have to do that at some point.

He is definitely a giver.

He gave me something else tonight, which I'll post about later. I wanted to get this out there first!

He also came to church on Sunday. First time in a LONG time.

Something is happening.

Grace,

Des

North Carolina: No; Kandahar: Yes

So - those of you who know me well, know that my favourite coffee in the world is Tim Hortons. It's a Canadian outfit that is owned by Wendy's and is starting to make a surge in the Northern US. None, however, in North Carolina.

Well, THIS story was posted on CBC.ca

Tim Hortons officials say they will open a store at the Kandahar military airfield in Afghanistan within the next few months.

Canadian soldiers have reportedly been lobbying for weeks for the move. Their requests were passed on to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier, who passed the message on to the company.

In a news release issued Wednesday, Tim Hortons says it will convert a trailer and deliver it to the Canadian Forces for use in Afghanistan. Military personnel will be able to purchase selected baked goods and beverages, including coffee.

The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency, the morale and welfare arm of the Canadian Forces, will be responsible for staffing and training, and also for operation of the trailer.

"I know I speak for all the men and women of the Canadian Forces when I say that I'm delighted to hear this news," Gen. Hillier said in the news release.

"Opening a Tim Hortons to serve our troops in Afghanistan strengthens an already superb relationship between two great Canadian institutions. I would like to thank Tim Hortons for their endless support of the Canadian Forces over the years."

Former police officer Ron Joyce co-founded the famous chain in Hamilton in 1964 with the late NHL hockey player, Tim Horton.

In 1995, Tim Hortons merged with U.S.-based Wendy's International and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the fast-food burger chain.

Wendy's announced earlier this month that it had stepped up plans to spin off Tim Hortons, saying it will sell its remaining stake in the popular coffee and doughnut chain by the end of the year.

I'm still waiting for Asheville.

Grace,

Des

Shots from Newfoundland

Here are a few shots that my sister sent yesterday from just outside my parents house back in Newfoundland. It's SO peaceful there. Hopefully, I'll be able to get back there to visit before too long.