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It’s a bit warm outside these days in Honolulu. If you have a few warm cans or bottles of your favorite beverage, chilling them down in 3 minutes is easy with a bit of physics, a lot of ice, a big pot and at least one cup of table salt.

Thank you DumbLittleMan.com and MythBusters for the idea, and riussi for the Creative Commons licensed picture.

Toxel’s wooden USB memory stick is a versatile tool! Just bring it in when it starts raining!

Wired has an article about solastalgia, a condition that Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht describes as a loss or yearning for accustomed environmental cues. This web site has more information and articles about the phenomenon.

January in Honolulu means that the winds and surf get rougher while the air gets cooler. It’s not cold weather – no one is freezing to death here.

Yet the local weathercasters tell viewers to break out the blankets and jackets. During my sunrise run, I see other people wearing mismatched sweatsuits, hats, and gloves. They’re shivering and miserable, while I’m wearing my usual tank top and shorts.

According to an announcement posted a few minutes ago on the university’s intranet and on the wireless notification system, classes will be held on the downtown campus today, Wednesday, 5 December 2007.An email announcement was sent out a few minutes later at 8:05 am.

I plan on working in my university office today as usual.

Classes are cancelled today at the Hawaii Loa Campus.

I’m reporting these announcements as a courtesy. I’m not an official news source, of course. The university sends announcements to local radio and TV stations, as well as the campus intranet.

Our recent windy weather has shut down many of the public schools on Oahu, according to this report in the Honolulu Advertiser. The Pali Highway is closed townbound.

The Honolulu Advertiser reports that University of Hawaii librarians and staff are pulling documents and books out of Hamilton Library. Heavy rains over the last few days have caused leaks in the building’s roof.

The library’s basement flooded in October 2004, causing extensive damage to computer systems, documents, and faculty offices.