wavelengths

I finished folding my laundry at Laundry 101 and walked up to the counter to trade in the card for money and my id. Without speaking, I hand the card over to the fairly attractive bartender; i kinda froze. She pauses after taking the card and then turns to the cash register to swipe the card and figure out how much money to give to me.

Then I realize that she most likely paused because most other people would've exchanged some verbage by this point. She walks back with the money and hands it to me. Still not a word uttered. Then I stiffly turn, completely forgetting that she also had to get my id. I even motion the guy behind me forward and tell him I'm done. He then points out that the bartender still has my id. I awkwardly take it and say "Thanks." Then I walk out with my earbuds in. I got one word out...
I'm obviously on a different social wavelength.

Earlier in the day, Junior and I were discussing the intricacies of intramural sports. He briefly acknowledged his distaste for participation because everyone on the team just wanted to re-live their glory days. He didn't notice, but then I smiled and thought:
That's why I became a runner; Everyday is your glory day.

A New Invention

For my Technical Communications class, the semester project is writing out and formally presenting a new invention. The preliminary draft proposal on this invention is due tomorrow afternoon. I've never felt this much pressure to invent something before. I've always been an innovator, taking an existing product and making it better, not an inventor, creating a new product to solve a pre-existing problem.

Simultaneously, I went to the IdeaFest and am seriously looking into forming a group to enter into the Burrill, Tong Prototype, and Schoofs contests. So far I've met one guy at the first information session that's into software design. My renewed inspiration came from one of my classmates from my 'Bus for Engineers' class who entered the Burrill competition last year and took second. The $7k helped further the prototype development and now UW has invested in their idea. His group's invention was a water pump powered by the wind. The intention was to use this pump in rural India where electricity is scarce, but where farmers still need water pumped from the ground to irrigate their fields.

I am also awaiting the outcome of my application to an important role within the LC. I have no idea how this will turn out, but I'm hoping for the best. In fact, my 'invention' for my class directly relates to this position.

Religion and the blasphemy known as common sense

Yesterday, I worked the student org fair on campus. The weird part of the fair was that the planners decided to put AIESEC right next to IAESTE. It was like trying to sell Coca-cola standing next to a Pepsi machine.

Religious thoughts:
Our booth was in the international section for student orgs. Immediately before AIESEC, was the religious section. I had a brief chat with Lisa about our mutual shock that the religious student org section took up TWICE (if not more) as much room as the international section.

This morning I am awakened by this first article wondering aloud, WHY? It kind of reminded me of Napoleon shooting a cannon at the Sphinx (even if Napoleon didn't actually do it). It still astounds me how one religous sect can get mad at another that shows no ill-feelings towards it.

Then I stumbled upon this one which made me wonder, how do these 'leaders' believe what they are doing is right? In the US?

In the AIESEC community there are many who have strong faiths and are not scared to express them. But they always had knowledge to back their beliefs. They are not ignorant fools blindly following one humans thoughts. Which is why I still don't understand why many religios sects throughout all of history have always insisted on ignorance and the closing of their society to the outside world. Or the belief that everyone who does not agree with you is your enemy. A human being become a drone, only capable of fighting and dying.

Anyone ever watch Equilibrium? It was the first movie I saw with Christian Bale as the protagonist. Upon my first viewing, I always reasoned that it would never actually happen as no modern society would go through those great lengths for 'peace and happiness', but... anything's possible.

excitement

one of the most important words missing from all self-descriptions of all classes I have taken in recent memory. I randomly signed up for a class named "Business for Engineers." I figured it'd be like intro to econ 101, marketing 101, finance 101 all rolled into one nice, cute little package. Turns out the class is entirely about Entrepreneurship. The class is offered through the Electrical Engineering Department, there was only one non-engineer in the room (and he was an organic chemistry major).

The professor is an Angel investor that looks specifically for high-tech start-ups. In the first class she already had all 60+ students in the class stand up and introduce themselves and explain what they were passionate about. Our assignment for the semester is to create a solid business plan that could be presented to real investors. She would even help get us in touch with the right people to give the formal presentations and create the money needed to make these start-ups reality.

Everyone in the class is a rock star. It's just one big networking event that meets every week to improve our weaknesses and discuss our passions. Though it has only been one class, I'm extremely excited for the next 15. This is why I came to Madison.