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New Layout

Finally got around to fixing up the header and template and by fixing I mean having Brian do it. Being able to use Adobe Photoshop would porbably be a nice skill to have in the long run but I am more than satisfied with what Brian did fixing up the header. I also want to thank Hilary Keegan for the awesome header that she designed (link to her blog in the bottom right of the side bar).

Let me know what you guys think of the blog and if there is anything to improve? Was the old one better, personally I think this one is much better and I should last me a little while with this design.

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Stevens: Campus Alert

Update (4/25/08): There has been a second Campus Alert issued today after another arson incident. For more details, please click here.

Update (2:27 AM): Not sure what to feel right now but the “incident” was supposed to take place at 2AM and nothing has been heard since and I really doubt anything happens now. There was a short span of time where it got unnerving about 15 minutes ago as fire trucks sirens could be heard from outside our window and from the rooftop as well but that amounted to nothing. It’s 2:30 AM now and I really don’t expect anything to happen. I have a 9 AM class in the morning and we’ll see where things from there.

Update (9:45 PM): For those looking for official updates from Stevens, they can visit http://www.stevens.edu/sit/alert.cfm.

Update (9:00 PM): This update was issued about two hours ago outlining the security plans for the night. There are Resident Hall Assistants located outside each entrance of the Davis Hall from what I have been told. There were additional details that there was a specific threat made towards the building that was supposed to take place overnight tonight. Overall the security measures taken on campus seem to be relatively well and not overreaching. Considering the things I have been told, I think I am satisfied with what has taken place and I am sure every student and faculty member will be willing to forgo a little bit of leniency to move around and visit the buildings as they please for the sake of the security of the entire campus. There will always be a limit on how much you are willing to give up and for how long but that’s a whole different topic for a different day.

As of 6:00 pm on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, all on campus residence halls have been swept and secured.  We are continuing the security measures currently in place through out the night. Stevens personnel or a Hoboken police officer will be stationed at each residence hall entry.


Students must have campus ID.  Only the residents of each dormitory will be allowed into their building.  Visitors are not permitted into the residence halls at this time.

We are now able to provide more information regarding the note left this morning in Davis Hall.  The note specified the April 23rd/April 24th overnight period.  If there are residents of Davis that are uncomfortable sleeping in their building, Jacobus and Canavan Arena will be open.  Please bring your own blankets and pillows.

If observe any suspicious behavior, please call the Center Desk 24hrs a day at (201) 216-5105.  Please call Dean Ken Nilsen if you have any information about this incident.  His number is (201)745-8216.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.

Continue reading “Stevens: Campus Alert”

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Ignorance Is Not Just Bliss…

Just a quick post before I head out to a couple of classes. An interesting op/ed piece from the New York Times’ columnist Bob Herbert that I saw on reddit earlier today. Totally coincidentally, my roommate earlier mentioned that there are dumb people everywhere and that the American ones are just magnified in the media nowadays. Point well taken. Another sarcastically remarked “dude, the dumb kids make me look good, don’t ruin it.” You can take that for what it’s worth.

I’ll share a small piece of it below, but the link is provided above.

An American kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. That’s more than a million every year, a sign of big trouble for these largely clueless youngsters in an era in which a college education is crucial to maintaining a middle-class quality of life — and for the country as a whole in a world that is becoming more hotly competitive every day.

Ignorance in the United States is not just bliss, it’s widespread. A recent survey of teenagers by the education advocacy group Common Core found that a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, a third did not know that the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and fewer than half knew that the Civil War took place between 1850 and 1900.

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Slow Monday…

Not sure what to make of the day today. Only had one class and there isn’t even a Yankee game on tonight. The first time in 21 days I believe (Yanks went 10-10 in the 20 games played so far). Played some Halo, racquetball and probably some Smash later on tonight.

I woke up much earlier than anticipated on a day where my only class (Differential Geometry) was at 2 PM. Shipped out a couple of books this morning that I had sold but didn’t make any money really cause the shipping and the relative cheap price for those books don’t really make it seem worth it at times. Oh well, it’s done now. Differential Geometry probably had its best class of the year. All the hype leading up for this class and not having to take a “math” final finally happened today. We have to know about 24 of these terms and definitions where the lowest grade for the class will be B (you can choose not to take a final and walk out with a grade of B). With success in the final, you can get B+, A- or an A… hopefully it won’t be very difficult. Not a bad deal if you ask me considering we were told today what will be on the final next Monday.

Played some racquetball with Joe, Krishna and Will Walker after class (with plenty of pleading from my mother to avoid getting hit in the face or having another injury). I played a majority of the day with my left that which I think has gotten much better in the past week or two. Krishna’s got a pretty mean serve which I can’t handle at all when playing righty but left handed I can handle it pretty good I guess cause it natually puts my racket in line with the wall. Joe for being a pretty big guy can move around and pulls out ridiculous shots out of no where and finds a way to win points and even sustain long rallies. I had a pretty long rally with Joe even though we were playing 2v2 which consisted of mostly us two running around and hitting shots to each other. I ended up losing the point, getting a gym burn on my arm but ultimately won the game. I must say it does give you quite a workout once you do start running around and avoid getting hit by the ball

On another random note, old school Gatorade just does not taste the same anymore once you’ve had some G2 or Gatorade Tiger (GT). I tried my favorite Fruit Punch which hands down would beat any other drink but since I’ve tried the G2 Fruit Punch or the GT one, the original just doesn’t do it for me.

Anyways, expect a random Facebook rant soon cause I’ve almost hit the threshold on that as well and maybe a Yankee post about Joba’s role in the pitching staff. Long day tomorrow, so probably no update but we’ll see how things go.

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ABC Debate: Comedy Hour?

A lot of people have made a big deal with about the debates before where Hilary was asked tough questions and now with Obama. I have no problem with the media trying to investigate these guys (and girl) thoroughly but do it on the issues. It is not important to this election whether the guy wears a flag pin in the Senate or what he thinks about his neighbor (one that he had a limited relationship with) and his dealings with The Weather Underground in the 1960s (when Obama wasn’t even 10 years old yet!). No one questioned why McCain and Clinton haven’t worn their pins in the Senate and that’s fine because that is not an issue that someone should be (or should not be) elected President. I think Jon Stewart pointed out that the first question on economy was posed to the candidates about 50 minutes and 16 questions into the debate… shows where their priorities lied that night.

It matters what they have planned regarding the country’s failing economy, the healthcare system and soaring gas prices that have seeming gone up 10 cents in the past week. I think it was a real joke what ABC did with this past “debate” and it just seemed like a partisan attack from the get go. The moment you have someone who moderates a debate that was a key figure in Bill Clinton’s administration certainly raises questions about the integrity of the debate. Hopefully the Pennsylvanian voters are smarter than that and can see through the mud slinging politics that we are still stuck in today.

Anyways, ran across this clip on YouTube and it is pretty funny. A mock George Stephanopoulos interview with Senator John McCain on the “real” issues but you would never know it if you actually watch the debates or interviews.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCrJB8dwTrA