RyanHarne.com

It is important that I increase my faculties to superhuman level for the next three weeks; I would very much like to finish this semester off with another brilliant flare. This week foreshadows sticky situations to come.

Tonight, I have a VTMUG meeting followed by an effort to jump start two iD projects, one needing significant effort. Tomorrow morning, I have an 8am class, followed by a helper shift at Bollo’s, followed by a Google Book Search/Scholar lecture session that I registered for several weeks ago, then I must feverishly study for an in-class quiz at 5pm, then eat ravenously before heading to an intro RA meeting for my part of the quad next academic year. After that, it is off to Bollo’s for some studying for that fluids test coming up Thursday.

Wednesday… classes, classes, Emporium laboring, finish iD project #1, relieve stress agents via rigorous workout activities. Thursday… testing my knowledge of real-world pipe flow & water relocating efforts, then 3-hour course lecture, then work Work WORK before my 5pm lecture, then Empo until midnight!!!!!

Friday… well, frankly, that’s too far in the future to know precisely what may occur. Needless to say, it will like contain items of fatigue and weariness. Not that contemplating all of this chaos has already made me apprehensive of what comes after this. Right. Oh wait, there’s that systems design project; how did I forget about that one? - I was working on it a few moments ago.

This entry is not meant to sound like a gripe or whine, but, as some of you know, my short-term memory isn’t fabulous in taxing situations, so I must write things down to get them done in a timely manner.

Per my usual methods of moving through the last finishing touches of the semester, getting all of this done will revolve around the concept of small moves. Plus, that communist party wouldn’t hurt. *HINT*

I just do not like Peeps. I do like tasty espresso drinks (the likes of which I will soon become the professional connoiseur, instead of the amateur connoisseur).

I do enjoy planning for the summer (regardless of stress-inducing circumstances). I do not like it when faculty members ignore student recommendations (the same recommendations the faculty specifically sought out) and publicly suspect underhanded motivation at questioning their decisions.

The VTMUG has a great, on-going state-of-the-Tablet-requirement entry. Nik is doing a fabulous job at moving this effort along, but more people are needed to keep the rally going. Keeping writing the CT, please. (Send your clever, articulate letters to opinionseditor at collegiatetimes dot com; they print letters from non-students/faculty, as well).

And let me say Hoorah!™ for Spring because I can wear those Threadless shirts without sub-complementary cover from a coat. It is time to have a party. A Communist Party.

My training at Bollo’s is exciting - exciting along the lines of an enjoyable employment. Friday was an introductory crash course in coffeeshop maintenance; this morning was quickly an experiment in letting me run the place. Granted, I only took charge at a few points during the morning (mornings are rather busy at a coffeeshop, mind you), but I think I handled the pressure alright. No breaks or spills or casualties to note.

However, working those two shifts caused me to eliminate both my Friday afternoon nap, now a regular portion of my week, and my sleeping-in-somewhat-late Saturday morning. After I completed some work this afternoon, I walked around east campus and ended up on a bench. I layed my back onto the seat and faced skyward. The wind was brisk but mild in temperature; so even wearing a t-shirt sans jacket, I was feeling alright. Feeling alright enough to close my eyes. And close them for a while. Maybe for even fifteen, thirty, fifty, sixty minutes.

So, this afternoon was my first experience of waking up on a public bench and slightly limping away from the scene. While sleeping, I was rather comfortable but the instant I moved about, my back and legs informed me of their soreness. It was a fantastic feeling. Spring is here, today.

Oh, and the tips. This is my first experience of receiving tips. That’s cash money, friends. And thank you to all of the people who gave me positive [and negative] feedback. (Even though there was only positive feedback - and that’s because my drinks are awesome. Period.).

The College of Engineering here decided that 2006-07 [engineering] freshmen must have a Tablet PC. I had analyzed this decision somewhat briefly and particularly from the financial and usability angles. At the MUG meetings, we discussed many of the ramifications of the decision within a holistic outlook and perspective. Many ideas and points were brought up that I had never considered.

So, “stuff” is hitting the fan, per se. My original entry was my attempted restraint to keep from writing a CT op-ed piece. My venting here was enough to satiate me temporarily. The next week, I ended up writing something and submitting. It never reached print. The next day there were several unnecessary letters to the editor printed and mine was clearly absent. It was obvious to me only a few days ago as to why - it was almost 500 words. Having this realization, I considered writing another one to submit. I was capable of holding myself back for approximately 3 or 4 hours before I was typing.

It was printed yesterday as the only letter to the editor (a piece from-scratch at a mere 280-or-so words, hoorah!). Yesterday morning, I was briefly interviewed by a CT editor who wanted to run a full feature on the story. I continually mentioned Nik, who was more able to answer most of the questions and who also knew more details about the situation than I did. I wasn’t sure how the story would run (maybe side column, front page) but getting this out in an official feature would be excellent for the cause.

The story is in print today. Front page. I need to respond to a few points.

First, it is necessary to congratulate Nik for his eloquence with the topic. He seems to have an immediate mastery of conversation, something that revs up gradually for me. To some of the faculty comments and statements, I should reply; these replies being with the respect of knowing the individual faculty members interviewed either through past associations or courses. I mean nothing here with contempt.

Glenda Scales mentions the “greater flexibility” in the classroom. And she’s dead-on correct. However, that “greater flexibility” will be tapped only in those two introductory courses. I am in Mechanical Engineering (as I’ve said too many times) and apart from those intro-engineering courses, I have never once taken my laptop to class or been required to have it there. And the Tablet will be used even more than this? Very unlikely. The flexibility capacity is a benefit, but why demand twelve degrees of freedom when you’re currently only incorporating three? (Those numbers are randomly selected for effect, not technical specifications).

Tom Walker mentions the “hidden agenda” behind this call for reconsideration of the Tablet requirement by commenting that all of the contact he has received are from Mac users, or VTMUG members. This is an astute observation; however, are there any Windows User’s Group clubs on campus? Dell User’s Groups? No. The only technologically savvy clubs/groups on this campus are the VTMUG, LUUG, and the Student Technology Council. The final being the one that the faculty/admin Engineering Computing Committee, Dr. Walker being a member of, ignored the advice of in deciding upon Tablets - STC members, in their formal and requested Tablet-testing submission, adamantly argued against requiring the machine for engineering students. The only reason Dr. Walker received so many emails from us, the MUG, is because we are one of the few groups who sees the calamity that could result. There is no hidden agenda.

In having discussions and communication with the LUUG and VTMUG, we are hopeful to initiate a student-faculty-administration discussion on this issue to get feedback from a wider audience than solely those directly involved. From the comments I’ve overheard today in classes, the student atmosphere seems to be against accepting this technology for their engineering education. That’s an interesting thing to note, since students are usually the first members of society to accept innovative ideas and resources.

I get the feeling this no-Tablet-requirement movement is only beginning. And rightly so.

This evening, among other things, I was discussing with Nicholas the importance of taking care of expensive items. Rather, he was discussing that with me and I was buffering his opinion with my own experiences along the line. Some people would call that a conversational “sucking up” but it is not; since I had no opposition to maintain, I had no reason to disagree with his points, thus, I consented with personal experience. There, I have officially sucked the life out of this entire blog. Forever.

Anyways, we were talking about taking care of stuff. And I do. So, I have reached a great mystery in this Spring Semester 2006!.

Upon returning from Bollo’s tonight, I discovered my chapstick was missing from my desk. After several thorough searches, considerations about where/when/how I last used it, and contact with local Chapstick Watch authorities, I can confirm that my chapstick was stolen. I even checked INSIDE of that savage Eclipse Mints metallic case that I was previously enamored with, prior to it having attempted my untimely murder.

Due to my lavish reserve of personal justifications, I free myself from any blame regarding negligence towards the chapstick and hope the offenders find swift justice.

Somehow, I was able to fumble about and replace the spacebar on a PowerBook keyboard last night. Apparently, it was necessary to remove it during my friend’s search for a sequin. Luckily, the precision cut and molding of the connections wasn’t too difficult to decipher, and luckily, I had a set of jewelers’ screwdrivers nearby. The PowerBook was also in dire need of some love, so I grabbed the iKlear. In summary, it taught me to indulge in patience and trainquility while working with miniscule electronic components and also to adamantly distrust sequins. With the sole exception of nature’s sequins.

Nik’s last Tuesday night barista shift is this evening. After I watch Syriana, I will make my way to my usual Tuesday night spot and wish him a fond farewell, then demand my house mug and muffin as consolation for the usual homework. But as he leaves Bollo’s, thus, I join the cast and crew. I spoke with Renae this morning and I begin formal training Friday afternoon. My only hesitance with this job is that it may result in me giving a cold shoulder to my espresso maker since I will have full access to the one at Bollo’s. May that fear never come to fruition.