Well, I passed. Which is good. I got 72 out of 100. The average score was 68, so 72 is actually better than averge. There were a few 100s, and about 25% of the class failed…which is also apparently average (as compared with other years). Anyways, it’s done. It’s over. I don’t have to think about it any more. Excellent.
Well, I decided that I needed someone who would always agree with me and never talk back. So I got a fish. His name is Frank Bates. I call him Frank…other’s call him Mr. Bates (just say it out loud). He’s a Betta fish (with two “t”s) which is good because for many reasons:
It only cost $16.45 + tax and I have enough food to last quite a long time.
We were up until about 2am working on the Oredigger. It was pretty cool. I completed 3 pages, which was 1/4 of this issues pages. I also found out that as News Editor, I get paid! How cool is that? Depending on how well we do, I could get over $500! That’s soo much money! Awesome. Anyways, as always, here’s my article. It’s sort of an unofficial part 2 to my last article. My next one should be on the new Wellness Center.
User security will not be an issue in CSM�s new Blackboard Bb Transaction System (BTS). George Funkey, Manager of Information Services at CSM, made it very clear that Mines is very careful with user data. Colorado School of Mines will be ensuring the security of user data with BTS by using the Windows version, rather then the UNIX version. One of the key differences is the use of encrypted TCP/IP data in the Windows version versus the less secure use of the RS-485 protocol in the UNIX version of BTS. All transaction systems will be encrypted and isolated from the rest of the Mines network. The few non-transaction/non-encrypted systems that do exist will be even further isolated and will certainly be carefully guarded.
Unfortunately, all the services planned for BTS will not be immediately available. Instead, various sections of the system will be successively rolled out as each feature is implemented and tested. Funkey was still able expanded on the way BTS will function when it is eventually all completed.
Each user will be issued a new ID card that contains a barcode, magstripe, and a proximity chip. Users previously assigned CWID number will also be imprinted on the card. To meet ADA requirements, at least one entrance at each building will have a proximity card reader to allow authorized users access after hours. However, most other buildings will use less-expensive magstripe readers to authenticate users at entrances.
The magstripe on the card will also be used to pay for items and services at vending machines, campus laundry mats, the campus bookstore, the C3 store at Mines Park, and several copy machines in the library. The funds will be subtracted from users account just like a debit card. However, unlike a debit card, users will only be able to add money to the card. Only when a user ends their tenor at Mines will they be allowed a one-time withdrawal.
Users will also be able to logon to a secure website and few their transaction history and even add funds to the card from a credit or checking account. Future plans are in the works to expand the usability of the ID card to the Downtown Golden area where users could use the card to pay for items at authorized establishments.
Funkey also indicated that the original mid-November rollout date will likely not be met due to lack of response in a search for a Card Manager. Funkey is hopeful that the card will be rolled out by the second semester, but offered no guarantees, saying, �we’re not going to put it together wrong. And if it takes a few more months, well then, it takes a few more months�but it will make life a lot more convenient for everyone�it handles money, it handles access, it handles a lot of secure things.”
So it’s the begining of week five and I still miss SAAS; well, most of SAAS. There are certainly some things that I’m glad I don’t have to do anymore. But for the most part, whatever sucked was easily outweighed by whatever didn’t suck. I haven’t seen anyone from SAAS in over a month now, two months if you don’t count JWay. I guess it’s just something to look forward to in 5 years or so. Hopefully a lot of people will come back to Seattle and we can get together then.
Anyways, we had a presentation at 9:30 this morning for EPICS. I had to dress up for that and then rush down only to find that we were 30 minutes behind schedule. I had a test in SYGN, I did pretty good on that one.
I spent most of the day hanging around and working on the Shasta video. It’s really cool, but also really long, just over 53 minutes. Yea…long. But’s it’s really good.
U.Kit picked me up on Friday and and took me back to Broomfield. I fixed Wendy’s computer and then had a nice time relaxing. We watched The Big Bounce on Friday night. I uploaded the Shasta MiniDV tapes I had to his computer and then transfered them over to my laptop…about 18GB worth of video. I also watched The Junction Boys with Grandma Jo. Did my laundry and then went back to the apartments for a Mines Park BBQ. I watched Reindeer Games with Eric and Dan.
I got my Netflix discs in the mail the other day. Among them was a documentry called Trekkies. And I have to say, it was a very interesting movie, even for a Trekkie like myself. I suggest all Star Trek fans watch the movie to see what the wide variety of fans are like and to learn a little bit about the orgins of the Star Trek conventions. I would also urge non-Star Trek fans to watch the movie becuase it provides a very different insight on the Star Trek universe.
Had a Chem test at 7:30pm today. It took me just over an hour to finish. I think I did really good, however, it’s graded on a curve, so I should do really, really good. There were a couple of problems that reminded me of the SAT type of questions. I’ll find out how I did on Tuesday. Anyways, we got a couch in the living room and I’m really liking it. The camping chairs were working for about 5 days and then they were sort of uncomfortable.
Perhaps the weirdest thing to have every happened to me. I was in CSM 101 and I asked about starting up a Chemistry study group (woah, Andrew’s actually studying? Yes, I am). Anyways after class, this girl, Emily, comes up to me and says that she would like to start a study group with me.
First off, I have no idea why I know her name. I just assumed I met her at orientation back in July. Anyways, she gives me her email address. I end up calling her later that night and we agree to meet at 8:30 to study. Jason and I go down to Bradford Hall and meet Emily and her friends down their. We study for a while and then I bring up the fact that I’m from Seattle. Emily ask’s where I live in Seattle. I ask her if she knows where UW is. She does. So I say that I live 2 miles north of the U. She ask’s what neighborhood; I say Wedgwood….and she know’s where that is. Weird, eh?
Well is get’s better. She says that she lived in the area for a few years. I ask what elementry school she went to. What did Emily say? Bryant Elementry….the same one I went to. Not only that, but we had the same teacher, Mrs. Shy.
Crap on a friggin’ stick!!! What are the odds that someone I went to elementry school with, including having the same teacher, goes to the same college as I do, 1200 miles away from where it all started? Astronomical.
We ended up talking for a good our about all the kids in our class. What fun! Emma Tupper, Sarah McCarthy, Sarah Robinson, Tyler Sandstrom, Kelty Clark Mahoney, Sophia with the 14 letter last name, Harold ‘Butt kiss’ Beltkus, and others. My gosh. I still can’t get over it. Crap on a friggin’ stick!!!
Career Day was today. I talked with some people from Lockheed Martin, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Raytheon, United States Navy, Halliburton, Missile Defense Agency (part of the DoD), Xilinx, and Northrop Grumman. I also managed to fetch some pretty nice goodies: 3 pens, sticky notes, a mini-cd, key-chain lanyard, and a Ben Franklin Bobble Head doll from Raytheon. I also managed to pass out my r�sum�. Pretty successful day if I do say so myself.