In mid-March I will be heading to SCETV studios in Columbia for a week of workshops, teaching South Carolina teachers about Google Earth.]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:35:48 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1085601 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1082985 I've been following with interest the news about artist Shepherd Fairey and the controversy surrounding his iconic HOPE poster used by the Obama campaign.]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:43:44 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1082985 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1078559 After nearly a year of being out of the game, I've had the privilege of playing two different disc golf courses on consecutive Saturday mornings.]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:18:02 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1078559 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1078558 I realized that in yesterday's post I didn't get any maps or locations to the two disc golf courses I'd played.]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:18:01 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1078558 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1077570 Imagine , if you will, the classic heist movie.]]> Sun, 08 Feb 2009 20:28:15 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1077570 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1071915 Tuesday I took part in two different teleconferences, one where I was a participant and one where I was the session leader. ]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:30:44 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1071915 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1066996 Starting today, I'm doing something I should have done 10 years ago.]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:29:55 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1066996 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1066995 Today I found out from Frank Taylor's Google Earth Blog that Google has released version 5 of Google Earth.]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:29:54 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1066995 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1057095

The XKCD comic seen above came out around Christmas of 2006, and formed the basis for a new GPS activity - not necessarily going to a random location and making out, but using random numbers to generate latitude and longitude coordinates.]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:13:39 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1057095 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1054328

As if there were any doubt, my true nerd nature is about to come through.]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:19:12 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1054328 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1052454 I watched one last Bahamian sunrise, this time without a camera in sight.]]> Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:59:46 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1052454 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1051584

For our last full day in the Bahamas I had booked a kayaking tour and trip to the Lucayan National Park.]]> Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:32:23 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1051584 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1046964 One of the things I love about Twitter and Facebook is that you can update one from the other through various third party services.]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:54:11 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1046964 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1046963 There were ample opportunities for someone like me to really get their Geek on while watching the inauguration.]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:54:11 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1046963 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1046962

Things are more relaxed. Nothing is rushed. Everyone has a good time and things get done when they get done. That's Island Time.

Even so, I was up at the crack of dawn, literally. Even on Island Time some habits are hard to break. However, I did have a purpose. I wanted to try some time-lapse videography with my little Nikon S50. The only problem was that I didn't have a good tripod with me. My solution was to drag the floor lamp out onto the balcony and strap my little mini-pod to it with a Velcro strap. It looked weird...

...but it worked. Here's the time-lapse of the sunrise:

I guess a sped-up sunrise is the antithesis of Island Time. But we had a relaxed morning kicking back and drinking coffee while I worked on some pictures and posts.

The morning was quite chilly, 48 degrees, with a forecast high only near 60. Even so, the water looked much calmer, so we thought it might be OK to do a glass bottom boat ride. We made reservations with the concierge then walked across to the marina.

At first it looked like we would be the only ones on the boat, then a large tour group of seniors showed up. This was going to be a jam-packed ride. As the boat headed out the winds picked up, along with the chop. Not only was it going to be crowded, but rough as well, but not so rough that I couldn't get a shot of our resort.

We visited two reefs. First was a shallow reef where we saw lots of fish that looked pretty, but I couldn't identify, then we visited a deeper reef with a shipwreck and sharks.

The ride was very cold and windy. While it was neat to see the fish, we were glad to get back.

For lunch we ate at a place called Le Med right next to the dock. Laura had an excellent French dip sandwich. My choice was a bowl of conch chowder accompanied with a tomato, basil, proscuitto crepe. Laura made the better choice. Our server was definitely on Island Time. It took forever for us to get her attention so that we could get our bill and leave.

We wandered through the shops and straw market and purchased a few trinkets. We got another "Congratulations on your new president" from one vendor, who then proceeded to break down into tears of joy.

Sitting in the sun out of the wind next to the pool wasn't so bad. We spent the rest of the afternoon out there reading and relaxing.

Dinner brought some discoveries. Many of the restaurants, including some in the resort itself, are closed on Wednesday. Just about every place we had scoped out this afternoon was closed. We finally found one place that looked good. What convinced us was that the manager said they had chocolate cake, which really appealed to Laura.

We were seated, and very shortly the manager came by with a piece of said cake, just to make sure Laura was able to get some. Island Time was in effect, as it took awhile for us to be able to place our orders. The food itself showed up promptly. We both ordered beers and simple chicken curry, and it was delicious.

Walking back we popped back into the casino one more time. Laura tried the nickle slots and I did the quarter slots. We had a set limit on how much we would spend - no more that $10 each - but we didn't come anywhere near even that much. At one point I had doubled my money on the slots, but then frittered it away.

We wrapped up our evening enjoying our cake back in our room

What can I say? I have lived to see many presidential inaugurations, and none have inspired as much hope as this one. I am very proud that Barack Obama is now President of the United States.

As stated before, we didn't really plan to be out of the country during inauguration, but it has put an interesting perspective on things.]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:57:57 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1045316 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1045315

As previously noted, most of the day was spent watching inauguration festivities.]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:57:56 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1045315 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1043491

What did we do today?]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:05:56 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1043491 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1041801 Frank Taylor's Google Earth Blog had an interesting post this morning about updated imagery for Washington D. C., what with the inauguration upon us and all.]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:04:49 -0800 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1041801 http://virb.com/randomconnections/posts/text/1040537

The fact that we left the United States during Inauguration week should not be taken as a political statement. Quite the contrary. We brought our Obama pins with us and plan to wear them on Tuesday. No, it was an unfortunate bit of scheduling. We had planned this trip to the Bahamas to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and this week seemed to fit our schedules best. So, with the threat of wintry weather and bone chilling temps at home we set out early this morning for warmer climes.

The jaunt from Greenville to Atlanta wasn't too bad. However, when we got to Hartsville there was a 2.5 hour delay due to mechanical problems with our plane. I would rather fly on an airworthy plane, but the delay did put a crimp in things.

We soon discovered we were surrounded by nuts. It seemed that many of those around us both on the Atlanta-Freeport flight and the ground transport knew each other. I heard one ask another, "Are you into shelling?" I thought he was talking about conks, whelks, and similar shells. It turns out that our hotel would be hosting a convention of peanut and tree nut producers. Just great.

This is our first trip to the Bahamas, and two things have really impressed me. First, the fact that Grand Bahama Island is so flat - no mountains, hills, or anything. Secondly, everyone here is so incredibly friendly. Our driver gave us background on the island as we drove to the hotel. Everyone at the hotel has been super-nice. So far that part has been excellent.

I can't say as much about the nuts. We were literally pushed out of our seats at dinner by a large group. They seemed offended that we would intrude upon their party, even though that's where the host seated us. It was obvious that (A) the group was going to be hostile and (B) we would never get waited upon. We got up to leave, and the hostess spotted what was going on and found more suitable seats for us. In this case it wasn't rude Americans, but rude Asians. I guess bad manners can happen with any culture, though I have yet to see it with the Bahamians.