Weblog Ryan Chen-Wing

Armoury usage 26 Feb 2005

Saturday 26 February 2004 11:20 — 12 people

Armoury Wed 23 Feb

Armoury Wed 23 Feb

Wednesday 23 February 2004 17:55 — 30 people

Armoury Thurs 27 Jan

Fourth business startup advantage camp

UW Innovate will hold its fourth Business Start Up ADVANTAGE Boot Camp this April. Ana came to my class last week to announce it. Interestingly, at least five of us in the class had already participated in previous years.

I participated the last two years. I wrote about it in 2003 (Business basic training). After I had written everything and organized a feature page on it, the hard-drive crashed and I lost most of my work.

Anyway, I recommend the event. I gained a lot from the experience. The camp provides good exposure to business startup issues presented by personable, talented and successful business people. It also provides a good opportunity to interact with talented people, not just the presenters, but the other participants.

I often think about how different groups of people show different traits in common and the profile of camp participants are generally bright, and cool people who are enthusiastic about doing new things.

Gladwell talk at CIGI

Malcolm Gladwell spoke to a crowd of people at CIGI on 12 February. This guy from Elmira graduated from the T went to work and the WPost and has become an author and works for the NYorker. He wrote a book The Tipping Point and talked about his recent book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.

I found his first book interesting and enjoyable, but lacking. It drew on stories and ideas from a wide range of sources them and presented an easily understood model for understanding them. The book was targeted at a popular audience that is content to know conclusions without the supporting evidence. I expected his talk would be similar.

What I didn't know to expect was his sense of humour and good speaking skills. In addition, his talk seemed well-targeted to the audience.

Continue reading "Gladwell talk at CIGI"

Basketball team match 3 xfds-tag-team

We had our best game yet while playing our toughest competition thus far. Before the game we looked at our six players and their ten and felt our chances outnumbered. I told my teammates that we hsould make our aim to score first and try to keep leading. I thought it would be a reasonable shortterm goal, given the prospect of being outmatched. It turns out we led almost the whole match.

Yufang scored some quick baskets at the beginning and on d we held the zone well. The other team had great ball skills and were also motivated to whine for calls. The referee's called it well though. Late in the half we led 16 to 4.

ome other stuff happened they closed the lead. I got one layup in the first half and one field goal. In the second half I got one free throw. Later I fouled out, they tied it up in the last minute. Herb fouled out. Some other junk happened. THey ended up winnning about 25 to 28.

First basketball match for CR

RapidLabs, UW spinoff in the Rec

Rose Simone from The Rec wrote a peice about a UW spinoff RapidLabs (Rapid Laboratory Microsystems Inc.). DSparkes is the COO of the venture.

Several years ago, University of Waterloo chemistry professor Susan Mikkelsen and graduate student Peter Ertl hit upon an exciting discovery.
In a university lab, they developed hardware and software that could cut in half the time it takes to test bacteria for susceptibility to antibiotics
[...]
RapidLabs was incorporated in 2002. Its technology may finally get to the market later this year.

Sonja advocates for an international view in elections

SonjaK writes an open letter to candidates in the local newspaper (An open letter to Federation of Students election candidates 28 Jan) to raise the issue of development and international service.

Engineers Without Borders, along with many other student organizations on campus, have been tireless in their efforts to engage UW students to think and act without borders. This means to think and act in a manner that encourages cross-cultural communication, global awareness, international development and local participation in social justice issues. Now, we are trying to reach out to the candidates for our student government to see how "without borders" they aspire to be as potential members of the Federation of Students.

Sonja is a good advocate for her organization. She is the president of the local chapter of EWB.

Dan's discussion on elections

DanL has a small discussion on Feds elections on his BB.

In one post Dan makes good observations:

FEDS has always struck me as a rather silly organization. Their membership is defined in terms of the customers of a different corporation, over which they have no control. They own no property, nor do they hold a liquor licence, and yet their main business is serving alcohol. Their president, who is also the CEO, and their three vice-presidents, are chosen by popular election. And finally, despite paying them a compulsory fee every term, I make little to no use of any of their services.

Dan is exactly right about the piggy-backing of membership. This is what allows Feds to be disconnected from students, but still maintain a large membership and revenue stream. That situation behooves the organization to build ties with members.

Their main business in the sense of activities or operations is not serving alcohol, it is generally serving students and as it should be the services it provides. That is Feds' main business is and should be fulfilling its objects. Popularly electing the officers is not necessarily silly.

Gill posted a description of some services that he knows or uses:

Feds may seem useless, but.....

He lists:

• the used bookstore — Yes. A good business that realtes to all students
• Tim Horton's — Not a Feds business. Any good service there has nothing to do with Feds.
• Fed and Bomber — These are valid, but students would think differently of those, if they knew how much they were paying into them.
• Aussies — Again, how much is it worth to operate this business.
• Fed Bus — Many people use the bus.
• GRT passes — Sure providing better access to services is good.
• Clubs — Feds Club operations are good because they provides a structure for students to realize their interests. This is important because the efficacy that students can find in this strudture is not always present elsewhere int he organizaiton.

If anyone else knows of election bloggers. Let me know.

• More election comments
• Student organization elections

Take back Tuesday 5 Fed Hall

Today was the fifth Take Back Tuesday but the second open to all. I arrived at 23:08. Laura was there Duff pulled me in past the line of one or so. SabrinaB was there, said hi. JohnA said hi. RobA same. Chatted a bit. Ate one slice pepperoni pizza and a few blue tortilla chips some yellow. There was a display for the stgshop. There were about 22 people there not including staff. I left at 23:20.

TakebackTues FedH VIP nights

Eng senate election posters

I was confused at first when I saw the posters in the engineering student senate contest. One dude has more standard posters with his picture and summary of qualifications. No confusion there.

The other guy has posters with images of a tropical cocktail, a row of surfboards, bridesmaids with lilies, a sleeping puppy, and a german female cyclist frolicking in a fountain. The slogans say things like "Vote for [me]. Vote spring break." Huh? What do these things have to do with senate.

The poster of the cyclist is sunny, wet, and even a little sexy; senate is none of these things. Senate is dour, dry, and is exciting for only intellectual or political reasons. I expect that not to change no matter who serves as engstudsenator next year. Although there was that one time when TonyV said that our scholarship offerings were flannel pyjamas where others' were like a negligee.

After a bit of thought I guessed that dude is referring to the idea that the eng and math reading breaks might be increased from two days to the five of other faculties. He is attempting to connect his possible election with the prospect of a full week reading break, meaning a reduced pre-exam study period.

That supposed connection is the weakest part of the poster. The good parts are the bright colours and their prominence. They are everywhere. Unfortunately they make him look like he has a substance deficit.

He does have good experience, but the first guy, or the other-other guy has experience that connects to academic policy better.

More meningitis info Feb 05

More information about the meningitis death and information for health concerns came out today.

• Student mourned; no health danger DB
• UW Student dies from meningitis infection P'L'.ca
• Meningitis Info P'L'.ca
• Students dies of meningitis R'C'-W'.com

Lunch with Ali at Shandiz

AliA and I ate kebab at Shandiz for lunch today. We had chelo-kebab koobideh (ground beef) and jujeh kebab (chicken). He was going to have the koobideh, but then suggested that we get jujeh and koobideh so I could try both.

He just accepted a job offer at a local wireless device maker. He told me his stories about game development and IP. I told him about my B project.

Students dies of meningitis

A third year engineering student died of meningitis Friday morning

A university spokesman said: "We're confident that there is no further risk to the campus or general public, and that everyone among her classmates and campus associates was contacted or is being contacted"

Meningitis, in case you didn't know, refers to inflammation of the meninges, the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
meningitis.org says "[...]There is no need to avoid people who have been in contact with a case. As one in ten people carry the bacteria, your child comes into contact with them every day.[...]"

Back in 1998 many students were inoculated after there was concern about a meningitis.

Shenanigans in the townhouse park

Someone took the white chair off my stoop few months ago, around November. My friends discovered it back on the stoop on noon Sunday before we went xskiing. A note on the chair provided an the reason for its return. The note said:

We were holding this chair hostage! But it stinks and you never paid the ransom. So you can have it back. the Blue Box is next! Love The ------- ------ ----------

It stinks because you took a wet chair inside and let it mildew, you jerks. Maybe if I wait a little longer, my black chair will return with anotehr lovely note. I have re-opened the investigation following these new developments.

Is the Pepsi deal up soon?

Feds opened a newly renovated "Aussie's" in October 2000. Funds for the renovations came from a deal with Pepsi. Feds would serve only Pepsi products in its store and pubs. The term of the deal would have been about five years so it would be up just about now.

They haven't openly discussed this issue, like many other issues. Related to this issue is whether funds should be spent on a money losing business to provide pepsi and cigarettes to campus.

Continue reading "Is the Pepsi deal up soon?"

TimM lobbying on express bus service

TimM is posting information on his effort to support the express bus route that would run from Conestoga Mall to the bus terminal in Cambridge. The Rec quotes some W city councillors opposing a route going along Seagram, Albert, and Central.

Record: Residential route for express buses rankles councillors
Record: Bus drivers are safe

I don't know the details of the issue, but the Seagram and Albert already carry heavy traffic. Central has less traffic and has a middle school on it, Macgregor. It is a stretch to suggest that allowing cars and trucks to drive past a school is much different than a bus. Even moreso the possiblity that school buses could drive past the school steched the notion even further.

Laurier election results

Laurier students approved a $120 conditional opt-out dental plan, U-Pass negotiation, and an up to $40 U-Pass fee. Also some people were elected to positions.

Election Results Election Blog - WLU Student Elections - 2005

Keystone celebration

The fundraising campaign held a celebration for exceeding the target more than two years early. There were speeches and juice, water, and cupcakes.

The message announcing the celebrating contained this funny sentence: "The keystone campaign [...] is the cornerstone [...]"

More election comments

I haven't found many people blogging on the student elections. PaulL has made some posts though.

Here he summarizes the executive elections FedS Election Update

The Federation of Students' (FedS) Election Campaign has just passed its midway point. Four full tickets and one independent have assembled to stand for election. At stake is the four full-time Executive positions of the FedS: President, VP Internal, VP Education and VP Administration & Finance.

In another post he identifies some important issues and relates them to contemporary political slogans. Topics for candidates and forum attendees

Here are some topics I would like to see debated and hear candidates thoughts on[...]

Student organization elections

Laurier sells bonds

BarbA wrote in the Rec about Laurier selling bonds:

WLU bonds go fast: $115M issue puts university in select group
2 Feb 2005
It took only 30 minutes for Wilfrid Laurier University to sell $115 million worth of bonds to refinance the university's debt.
[...]
Other universities that have entered the bond market include University of Toronto, York, Queen's, McMaster University and Guelph, Butler said.

I like that the piece ends with: "The University of Waterloo does not issue bonds."

Darren's Buffet notes

DarrenJ wrote about a Buffet event he attended( The Wisdom of Warren Buffett). Summary of the points are:

1. Be Grateful -
2. Be Ethical & Fair
3. Be Trustworthy
4. Invest in Your Circle of Competence
5. Do What You Love

Student organization elections

Campaigning for elections to student federation positions has begun. Yesterday at my night class two people visited my class they introduced themselves as candidates and notified us that there was an election. I asked what the elections were for (because they didn't say). They also didn't tell us one of their primary visual identifiers, their poster colour. Someone else, Henrietta, asked if they could vote for individual candidates or if they had to vote for the whole team.

Since the removal of the internet restrictions from policy a few years ago, use of the web for campaigning has matured. It is good to see that the four groups have webpages.

Dan Lynch has a good summary FEDS Election Campaign Underway

Despite the fact that candidates organize themselves into teams, the voting for each position is done separately. In about two weeks’ time, students will go to the polls, and the results will be known. Between now and then, 95% of UW’s annual quota of accusations, lies, deceit, and evil will transpire–it should be a blast. — Dan Lynch

B says Election Campaign Starts Tomorrow

Hoo boy, the fun begins tomorrow for the 2005 Elections...I am looking forward to two full weeks of mud-slinging, poster violations, raging debates, and other atrocities.

Continue reading "Student organization elections"

BenB's Canfone press release

BenB has a press release on cnw (New Canada Post partnership enables merchants to streamline online purchase delivery) related to his firm Canfone.

Today, Canfone.com Web Services, a leading Canadian provider of e-commerce services announced a new partnership, with Canada Post to implement its new shipping application which provides online merchants with a suite of delivery options for online purchases, simplifying order fulfillment and providing the best cost option for consumers.

Suzuki's visit to UW

I was able to go to a "press conference" before Suzuki spoke in the afternoon. I asked the first question. The story in the local newspaper was entirely based on the answer to my question, which means very little. Some of the things he said:

• I don't think it [the 1 tonne challenge] is going to be successful
• We have to look at the great emitters. That's industry.
• "I've been a failure all my life," he said in reference to not having been successful in getting real change for the environment
• The media have created the noition that there is still controversy. There's overwhelming evidence of climate change.

Shortly before he left our land to go to Eire RobE stopped by W Goodbye Canada!

"I went to a Q&A forum with David Suzuki, which was neat. I liked him; I didn't find him intellectually satisfying, but rather intuitively satisfying. He refered to hydrogen as an "energy source" rather than a transmission mechanism, which was frustrating. [...]" — RobE

• Suzuki's Nature Challenge
• DSuzuki drew crowds at UW