Archives: 2002-2003
Archives: 2003-2004
Archives: 2004-2005

Abstraction Wiki

The Abstraction Wiki is up. Check for (and contribute) news, bios, etc.

Data Warehousing in Medical and Biological Research
Dr. Guenter Tusch, GVSU bioinformatics
Wed, Dec 01, 2:30 PM, NH 253

Dr. Guenter Tusch, the head of GVSU's emerging bioinformatics program, will provide a presentation on Data Warehousing as it relates to medical and biological research to the CS342 Database Management class. All members of Calvin's community are invited.

Open Source and Software Platforms
Santiago Gala, Spain, Apache Software Foundation
11 Nov 2004, 3:30pm, Science Bldg 010
Powerpoint slides

Abstract:

Currently a hot topic, software platforms have always been a battlefield for the software industry. Since the Internet revolutionized software development, three platforms have been competing for the lead field once dominated by Visual Basic's Windows Programming:

  • LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL/Mozilla, PHP,perl,python)
  • J2EE (Both Apache and vendor based)
  • .NET (Both the Microsoft proposal and mono with GTK+ bindings)
We will discuss what a software platform is, its main agents and constituents, and the life cycle of platforms, with special emphasis in network based applications and mobility platforms.

MSU Research Open House
Saturday, October 30th

MSU is hosting a research open house, displaying the research projects scheduled for next summer. Those who wish to attend please contact Prof Laverell (lave.calvin@edu). Travel arrangements will depend on the number of those interested, but rides will be provided.

Unicode, XML and complex scripts: Bible translation made challenging!
Dennis Drescher & Doug Higby, Wycliffe Bible Translators
6 October 2004, 3:30pm, North Hall 253

Abstract:

Wycliffe Bible Translators deals with more languages worldwide than probably any other organization, and has contributed many glyphs and codepoints that are part of the Unicode standard. Many of the languages they work with have complex writing systems--right to left, top to bottom, etc. By necessity, Wycliffe is in the forefront of technology and are innovating ways to render these complex scripts, and using XML technology to store data. Come and here about the challenges they face, and how you could be part of an exciting IT team to make God's Word available in every language.

Students interested in discussing this talk, Wycliffe, or mission work with Drescher and Higby are asked to contact Keith Vander Linden.

Ohio Linuxfest

Some Abstraction members will be going to the Ohio Linux fest this Saturday. We will leave early friday evening and spend the night in Columbus, and return on Saturday night. The event itself is free and will have some good speakers.

Contact Dave Brondsema if you want to go: dave.brondsema@net

More info at http://ohiolinux.org/

New Board Members

It's a new school year, and that means new people. Abstraction is now taking nominations for those those who want to serve on the Abstraction board. We meet every Wednesday 10 - 10:30 am. Responsibilites are light and may include contacting potential speakers, getting food for events, reserving rooms for events, and the like. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please send their name and email address to abstraction.calvin@edu. Thanks.

Linux Installfest

Where? Systems Lab - 3rd floor of the Science Building (to the left of the elevator)

When? Thu, Sept 23, 2003 at 8pm-10pm

Why? Get Linux up and running on your system and socialize with fellow CS students. No need to bring monitor, keyboard, etc, just the computer itself.

FREE pizza and soda will be provided!