With three finals remaining, I am begining to see the finish line. I cannot wait until I am able to relax at the end of the week. As stressful and unnerving as this week is, it is also challenging and helpful to my personal development. I understand why I take a final. I understand that it is to basically call me out. It is to challenge me and say, "you have a tight time situation over the next few days, go out and prove me that you can digest this knowledge."
Okay, maybe that is not what finals week is trying to drive out. Maybe it is just a way to see if I learned anything over the course of the semester. Consequently, I will be using this finals week as a challenge. I am viewing it as an opportunity to challenge myself, to push my limits. Can I ace a final with two hours of sleep leading into it? Can I juggle a social life along side of my academic life?
Bring it on.
B.K.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Cybersquatting
If you have the time, please take a listen to the youtube version of The Pensblog staff on the WDVE morning show. WDVE morning show is a syndicated morning radio show out of Pittsburgh, PA. Bascially the guys from The Pensblog describe thier Cyber Squatting situation.
A little more background that I can supply includes the rinkotology explanation. Rinkotology was created by the founders of The Pensblog as a way for fans to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs by submitting their picks for the current Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket. It is similar to a March Madness bracket pool manager that you might find at sportsline.com or espn.com. The participants (myself included) donate money to the Mario Lemieux Foundation in order to submit their entry to the bracket contest. The winner of the contest gets signed memorabilia, Penguins gear, etc.
And since it couldn't fit into one video:
This cyber squatting think has gotten a little out of hand. It makes me wonder if I should go out today and buy myname.com so that when I get famous, I won't have to worry about someone linking some smut to my name.
B.K.
A little more background that I can supply includes the rinkotology explanation. Rinkotology was created by the founders of The Pensblog as a way for fans to get into the Stanley Cup playoffs by submitting their picks for the current Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket. It is similar to a March Madness bracket pool manager that you might find at sportsline.com or espn.com. The participants (myself included) donate money to the Mario Lemieux Foundation in order to submit their entry to the bracket contest. The winner of the contest gets signed memorabilia, Penguins gear, etc.
And since it couldn't fit into one video:
This cyber squatting think has gotten a little out of hand. It makes me wonder if I should go out today and buy myname.com so that when I get famous, I won't have to worry about someone linking some smut to my name.
B.K.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Cyber Squatting
I was reading a post on one of my favorite sports blogs, The Pensblog, and I came across this post: Sad State of Affairs. This post brings the issue of "Cyber Squatting" to the forefront. For those readers out there who are unfamiliar with the issue, I will provide a brief synopsis. Basically, cyber squatters are people who try to cash in on a web site's popularity by buying domain names that are very similar to that very popular website. For example, when I type in penguins.com, I don't get linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins' homepage, I get a cyber squatter's page. The site has very little to do with penguins (aside from the picture of a few emperor penguins on the front page). It is littered with sponsored ads that are intended to make the web site operator money. This has force many popular web site operators to spend hundreds of dollars buying domain names that are close to theirs in an effort to automatically link to the intended site.
The most classic example of cybersquatting probably occurred with the whitehouse.com/.gov scandal. Whitehouse.com was actually a porn site that was not affiliated with the government. Many people, including young children, were directed to this site when they were looking to find out more about the president or the most famous residence in the country. The website they were looking for was whitehouse.gov. However, since a cybersquatter or opportunistic indivicual (choose your own characterizaton) purchased the .com, millions of people were directed to a site that they did not intend to see.
More to come on cybersquatting. . .
B.K.
The most classic example of cybersquatting probably occurred with the whitehouse.com/.gov scandal. Whitehouse.com was actually a porn site that was not affiliated with the government. Many people, including young children, were directed to this site when they were looking to find out more about the president or the most famous residence in the country. The website they were looking for was whitehouse.gov. However, since a cybersquatter or opportunistic indivicual (choose your own characterizaton) purchased the .com, millions of people were directed to a site that they did not intend to see.
More to come on cybersquatting. . .
B.K.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Senior Design Showcase
The Senior Design Showcase today was pretty cool. There were many projects today and it was evident that most Penn State seniors are ready for the real world.
As entertaining and informative as today was, I also think it was just as exhausting. Having to set up my poster presentation, stand in front of my project, and answer questions for three hours has sucked the life right out of me. Giving the same speech thirty times today has shifted my extreme excitement about my project to extreme relief for finally being through with senior design.
I give all the respect in the world to the people that have to attend trade shows and showcases to peddle their goods everyday. As much as we are quick to make fun of Vince the Shamwow! guy for constantly acting like a tool and having a fo-hawk, he has a talent that I could never obtain. Having that level of excitement about a product for hours on end is amazing.
I guess the takeaway that I can gather from this experience is that I am not cut out for demonstrative sales. I am extremely happy I don't have to peddle my invention more than once a year. I'm not bad at it, I just think it's something I will leave to Vince and Billy Mays.
B.K.
As entertaining and informative as today was, I also think it was just as exhausting. Having to set up my poster presentation, stand in front of my project, and answer questions for three hours has sucked the life right out of me. Giving the same speech thirty times today has shifted my extreme excitement about my project to extreme relief for finally being through with senior design.
I give all the respect in the world to the people that have to attend trade shows and showcases to peddle their goods everyday. As much as we are quick to make fun of Vince the Shamwow! guy for constantly acting like a tool and having a fo-hawk, he has a talent that I could never obtain. Having that level of excitement about a product for hours on end is amazing.
I guess the takeaway that I can gather from this experience is that I am not cut out for demonstrative sales. I am extremely happy I don't have to peddle my invention more than once a year. I'm not bad at it, I just think it's something I will leave to Vince and Billy Mays.
B.K.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Senior Design and Lack of Patents
After watching all of my fellow seniors give their final presentations during class this morning, I was appalled at the lack of groups that decided to pursue some form of intellectual property protection.
In an effort of fairness, not all groups are allowed to pursue intellectual property protection as they are under non-disclosure agreements with project sponsors. However, some of the projects were sponsored by entities that did not require them to sign non disclosure agreements. A simple review of the Penn State Student IP Rights can be seen below. Basically, it states that any undergraduate retains the rights to any project, thesis, homework work that presents a novel, patentable concept.
After seeing the work put into the senior design projects and the brilliance that some of my fellow classmates have shown, it dissapoints me that many of them will never be able to capitalize upon their ideas. Their ideas have been presented to an industry panel with judges. Therefore, they can never reap the benefits of having protection of their idea.
Penn State Student IP Rights
In an effort of fairness, not all groups are allowed to pursue intellectual property protection as they are under non-disclosure agreements with project sponsors. However, some of the projects were sponsored by entities that did not require them to sign non disclosure agreements. A simple review of the Penn State Student IP Rights can be seen below. Basically, it states that any undergraduate retains the rights to any project, thesis, homework work that presents a novel, patentable concept.
After seeing the work put into the senior design projects and the brilliance that some of my fellow classmates have shown, it dissapoints me that many of them will never be able to capitalize upon their ideas. Their ideas have been presented to an industry panel with judges. Therefore, they can never reap the benefits of having protection of their idea.
Penn State Student IP Rights
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Credit Saturation
I just realized why Penn State sets their credit limit at 18. Anything more takes away your life.
This semester, I am taking 20.5 credits. Although it was in an attempt to graduate on time with a major and a minor, it may not have been worth it. In order to maintain my GPA, I have spent the most time on coursework this year than I have at any point in my undergraduate career. My social life and health have suffered. My grades are on the verge of suffering.
This brings to mind a question that has been bothering me lately: How much is too much for one's plate? It seems that every day I take on another task and more responsibilities. This either comes from my refusal to say "No" or the value I place upon getting that extra task accomplished.
Would this type of mindset have been possible 30 years ago? I'm sure it would, but my time lines would be much more drawn out. Virtually everyone raves at the advent of new technologies and how they will make our lives easier. I think this statement is complete bull shit. Sure, new technology is great at making certain aspect of our lives easier. E-mail gave us the ability to communicate with written communication at lightning speeds; however, it also gave us SPAM, quicker deadlines, and longer electronic task lists. The technology does not make our lives easier, it just allows us to get certain things done more quickly. This allows us to pile more things on our plate that we need to get done in a more immediate manner.
I think I have information gluttony.
B.K.
This semester, I am taking 20.5 credits. Although it was in an attempt to graduate on time with a major and a minor, it may not have been worth it. In order to maintain my GPA, I have spent the most time on coursework this year than I have at any point in my undergraduate career. My social life and health have suffered. My grades are on the verge of suffering.
This brings to mind a question that has been bothering me lately: How much is too much for one's plate? It seems that every day I take on another task and more responsibilities. This either comes from my refusal to say "No" or the value I place upon getting that extra task accomplished.
Would this type of mindset have been possible 30 years ago? I'm sure it would, but my time lines would be much more drawn out. Virtually everyone raves at the advent of new technologies and how they will make our lives easier. I think this statement is complete bull shit. Sure, new technology is great at making certain aspect of our lives easier. E-mail gave us the ability to communicate with written communication at lightning speeds; however, it also gave us SPAM, quicker deadlines, and longer electronic task lists. The technology does not make our lives easier, it just allows us to get certain things done more quickly. This allows us to pile more things on our plate that we need to get done in a more immediate manner.
I think I have information gluttony.
B.K.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Fantasy with Fantasy Sports
I just finished up my fantasy baseball draft. I am fairly happy because I got Hanley Ramirez, Ryan Howard, and Tim Lincecum.
Don't know what I'm talking about? It's ok, I will briefly explain. Fantasy sports are similar to real sports where normal Joes like my friends and I act like general managers. Professional atheletes are aquired by fantasy owners and they are placed onto rosters that covet them only for their statistical abilities. Fantasy owners are responsible for drafting players, negotiating trades, and picking up free agents. The goal is to acquire better overall statistics than your opponent. The team with the best statistics (usually) wins the fantasy league.
For a better description please consult the all knowing wikipedia : Fantasy Sports
More important than grasping the concept of fantasy sports is grasping the explosive popularity of fantasy sports. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, nearly 30 million people in the United States and Canada played fantasy sports. 30 million. In addition, 22 percent of males age 18 to 49 currently partake in fantasy sports.
What began as nerds trading professional athelets in their basements in the 80s has morphed into a worldwide phenomenon. Owners no longer have to check the newspaper to see what their fantasy shortstop did the night before. They can just have the stats texted to their iPhone instantly, or they can just watch his at bat live.
In addition to the sites that offer fantasy management (ESPN, sportsline.com, yahoo.com), fantasy advice sites are also multi-billion dollar markets. For just 19.95 a month, you can pay rotowire.com to tell you which of your fantasy players to play the next week. Doesn't that take the thinking (and the fun) out of it?
B.K.
Don't know what I'm talking about? It's ok, I will briefly explain. Fantasy sports are similar to real sports where normal Joes like my friends and I act like general managers. Professional atheletes are aquired by fantasy owners and they are placed onto rosters that covet them only for their statistical abilities. Fantasy owners are responsible for drafting players, negotiating trades, and picking up free agents. The goal is to acquire better overall statistics than your opponent. The team with the best statistics (usually) wins the fantasy league.
For a better description please consult the all knowing wikipedia : Fantasy Sports
More important than grasping the concept of fantasy sports is grasping the explosive popularity of fantasy sports. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, nearly 30 million people in the United States and Canada played fantasy sports. 30 million. In addition, 22 percent of males age 18 to 49 currently partake in fantasy sports.
What began as nerds trading professional athelets in their basements in the 80s has morphed into a worldwide phenomenon. Owners no longer have to check the newspaper to see what their fantasy shortstop did the night before. They can just have the stats texted to their iPhone instantly, or they can just watch his at bat live.
In addition to the sites that offer fantasy management (ESPN, sportsline.com, yahoo.com), fantasy advice sites are also multi-billion dollar markets. For just 19.95 a month, you can pay rotowire.com to tell you which of your fantasy players to play the next week. Doesn't that take the thinking (and the fun) out of it?
B.K.
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