The New York Times > Absentee Votes Worry Officials as Nov. 2 Nears

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The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > Fraud: Absentee Votes Worry Officials as Nov. 2 Nears

Wow. And I thought it was secure to vote by absentee ballot. Apparently, some people are collecting ballots, and then may throw them away if they vote the wrong way, or collect and discard ballots from neighborhoods that are traditionally of the party opposte theirs. Other people are paid with jobs at polling places. Political parties are even allowed to collect ballots in some states. That’s just asking for a dishonest person to alter/replace some ballots.

Conspiracy theory, anyone?

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Milwaukee Urban Star : Digital Audio Project in Realtime : NPS Cyberspace : Jim Engeriser, Joe Brenny, Mary Collen, Ed Embrose, Roy G. Biv

If you want to see some pretty interesting information, click over to this post. They have a whole collection of facts that indicate that 9/11 was all part of a conspiracy. I know it sounds crazy, but assuming all the facts presented are true (of which I make no promises/accusations), it’s a pretty damning argument against the Bushes. Funny how these theories just now came up, but then again, it’s all a big set of coincidences, right?

Going wireless, drumming

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I mentioned in my previous post that I got a laptop. Right now, I’m sitting in the library, at a table in the middle of the room. No wires, no cords, but still an internet connection. Wonderful. I’m told that he Campus is in the top ten finalists for a grant that will allow the entire campus to go wireless. That would mean that I could go anywhere on campus, and still check my e-mail, write a Blog post, and so on.

Funny thing I noticed last week–someone viewed my website from the University of Portland about two days before I got here. The referring link was from the forum on my free webhost-someone else here must be using aloofhosting. It’s a small world..

Went to the game, where the Pilots won 1-0. I got there about halftime, and joined up with the drum squad. I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned the squad yet, so here goes.

Basically, lots of Villans bring lots of drums to all the home soccer games. We beat out rhythms, encourage the players, and heckle the other team. Today, #4 from the other team (UAB, which I think is University of Alabama Birmingham) kept having his shoe come untied. We looked in the program and found out that his name was Jason. And so every time his shoe was untied, we’d all yell for him to tie it, etc. Then came the offers to buy him velcro shoes, and so on. When a player subs out, we all chant Right, Left, Right as they walk off the field, and then ‘Sit down’ as they do. The two games I’ve been to, both times at least one player has gotten frustrated by us and taken a funny hop step, or several small steps in a row, or faked us out as to when he’s going to sit down.
Then we have the cheers. This game, towards the end, when we were up 1-0, we sang, to the tune of “Sweet Home Alabama”, the following. “Go home Alabama/Jason tie your shoe.” and so on. Every goal results in the Pilots flag being run down to the goal and dipped once for each point we have, as we count off each point. Then if their score is zero, we line up and sing , to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, something like the following: “One-nil, one-nil, one-nil, one-nil/one-nil, one-nil, one-nil/…”.

In general, we try to rattle the other team, and support the Pilots. I’m told that the legacy of the Villa Drum Squad is that no one likes coming to Portland to play. Apparently, the word is out. I’m told that Good Day Oregon, a morning talk show in the region, is intending to do a segment on the Squad, and may do an interview Wednesday. We’re going to be out in force for the first ever night game this Friday, and they may also be there to film us in action.

Lots of reading to do tonight, so that’s it until later.

–Nathan

PS: Not all technology is smart. While spell checking this post, Blogger Spell Ckeck didn’t recognize the word Blog. And Blogger’s only product is blogs!

New Computer!!

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For the first time in a few weeks, I’m using a computer that I can do anything I want to on. My Dad and sister came in Sunday with my loft, and my laptop, which had been delivered to my Uncle Pete the a day or two previously. I’m having lots of fun setting it up properly. (Take that sentence literally, or with a hint of sarcasm, either way, you’ll be correct.)

My dad had built the loft at home, and then disassembled it for delivery. It took less than an hour to set up and everything. Then we went through all the stuff I had asked for, and all the stuff that Mom had decided to send out with them. I now have a fairly large stockpile of food, mainly crackers, granola bars, and fruit.

On my way back to the dorm after my last class, I noticed that the Men’s Soccer was playing again. I think I’ll make this a short post and wander over to see the rest of the game–it started at 2:30. I may even join up with the drum squad.

Go Pilots!

–Nathan

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Not sure what I want to post, but here I am in the computer lab, starting a post.

I have about an hour until my next class, Calculus. I finished last classes homework last night, although it’s not due til Tuesday–I’m trying to avoid having the pile up of work that always seemed to happen in High school.

I sent a lengthy e-mail home Tuesday, here are some excerpts from that.

Well, things aren’t going too badly here. Got through a day’s worth of classes without any major trouble, except almost going to the wrong building–got it figured out when EN 201 wasn’t a classroom, and the schedule actually said SCI 201.

Homework looks to be light this week, at least in Physics and Intro Engineering. Math may be the same way–turns out that the integrated part is that the two teachers are working together, and will teach the math concept and the related physics concept at the same time. The same students are in both classes.

A major part of Intro to Eng. is the design project, and the related paperwork–we get to create a device to pick up whiffle balls. Don’t know too much, but it should become clearer in the next week–we find out our groups on Wed, and get our first real look at the playing area used on Fri.

Getting along with Nik fairly well so far, he got his half of the room more organized Sun, with another spree this afternoon. Not too muck junk on my side, yet. He bought a TV, an will soon hook up his X-box, so volume may increase–there’s study rooms in the basement, and this computer lab, which, for the most part, is vacant. There’s five computers, all brand new (as the Tech guy was saying) and four up and running. The printer doesn’t work yet.

…time seems to be flying by here. I can hardly believe that I’ve only slept here three nights–Nik and I had a long conversation about that last night, and we couldn’t decide how many nights we’d been here, and when we’d gone to bed, and so on. There was a hall meeting last night, about the Bishop, the statue, and another tonight about general stuff. Meetings tend to be later here, and then everything starts about 15 minutes late. The Comedy Sportz show, which I went to last night,
started late, which caused it to run late, and they noticed that all of a sudden, lots of people started to leave. I don’t know if they figured out that it was because of the meeting, or not. The show wasn’t as good as last time I saw them, a lot slower paced, and generally not quite as engaging–I WAS in the top row of the main seats in the Chiles Center, though–last time I was near the middle of Buckley Center Auditorium, (AKA BC Aud)…

And the message continued.

I’ve been meaning to update my website, now that I’m in college, but haven’t gotten around to it–let it be known that an update is intended. I didn’t realize how dificult it is to not have your own computer. I do have a network storage drive, but preferences, favorites, programs, etc are not there when I log on. It’s also just plain inconvenient to wander down tho the basement to check my e-mail, or see what the assignment is in one of my classes.

For the most part, everything here is high-tech. Professors expect you to check your UP e-mail daily, because they may send out changes to the assignment, reminders about assignments, changes in class meetings, etc. So far, I haven’t gotten anything important, except the notification of a room change.

As I mentioned in the e-mail home, my Calculus class and my physics class are integrated. That means that they are taught in the same room. However, the registrar hasn’t quite figured out that fact that they are integrated, and so assigned the Calc class to a different room. So the whole class was waiting outside Franz 018, while the teachers were in SCI 201. They noticed something was wrong, and then checked the schedule. So a few minutes after class was to start, a peer helper–the name for a student who’s taken the course before, and is helping out, rather like a lab assistant–showed up and led the parade of Calc students back to the correct room. The class could be fun–we’ll be using Mathematica, a math program, to do a lot of data analysis, and graphing type stuff–there’s a computer on every lab bench.

Amazing how distracted one can get online–I just checked Brionna’s blog, and folowed the link to her cousin Miranda‘s collection of blogs and LiveJournals. Interesting mix of young teen thoughts there. Then I went back to Brionna’s blog to comment there.

Now it’s time for lunch, and calc.

–Nathan

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The nifty thing about being in campus is that there are computers everywhere, and you can find one just about anytime you want to. At least so far…I may be one of the few who have already found the computers. Right now I’m at a kiosk computer in the basement of Franz Hall, and there are five computers here.

Or not. As soon as I finished typing that sentence, two more people showed up, and discovered that only one of the three vacant computers was able to log on to the network. I didn’ t want to stand there making them wait, so I am now in the computer lab, on one of the approximately 35 computers there, of which about 30 are in use–so maybe there are a lot more people using technology than I thought.

My next class is in 15 minutes, and this time, I really DON’T know what to expect. This class, Intro to Engineering, doesn’t even have a textbook, so things could be interesting. I’m told there’s a design competition that takes place beginning early in the year, and that we will be getting groups assigned this week–so I’ll hear more about that today. The class is the same group of people that I’ve met with three times this weekend, so I know all the faces and about 10 of 30 names! See, I told you that I have trouble with names, at least lots at once. Or have I mentioned it yet? I have no idea, but ‘I told you’ just seemed to fit there.

Off to class
–Nathan

Getting nervous

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My first class, Integrated Physics/Math, starts at 10:20. I noticed a few minutes ago that my stomach was suddenly uneasy. Must be getting nervous. I don’t really know what to expect, and I’m worried that I’ll be under-prepared in class. I’ll bring a notebook and the textbooks, as well as writing utensils, but right now, I feel like I’ll need something else, too–probably not on the first day, though.

Well, I’m going to scout out the classroom, and be a few minutes early

Later
–Nathan

Slowed down life–summary

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Now that I’ve thoroughly covered my experience in the past few days, and not necessarily in order (see the end of College?–and an explanation), I still have more to say.

Last night’s sleep was not that bad, although limited (5-6 hrs) that’s partly my fault, and partly not–after we finished watching the video, I went back to my room and puttered around. Then I wrote the last journal/Blog entry, and then Nik came back, and I talked to him for a while before going to bed.

About the movie: It looks like I’m in for quite an experience. I don’t quite know what else to say–I guess I’ll mention things as they happen this year.

After I got up, I went to breakfast, which was just muffins and juice. Then I went to the second home-base session, which is basically my Intro to Engineering class, but we meet a few times this weekend. Funny thing is, the only thing we all have in common is our major, and the OAs (Orientation Assistants) they assigned to lead the group aren’t engineering majors at all. Oh well, any questions on that topic will just be saved for the professor tomorrow. We went over some stuff, and then went to a session on “What faculty expect.” Not too much new–don’t skip class/don’t be disruptive in class/participate in class/visit the professor during office hours/get help before you’re drowning/don’t plagiarize (intentional or not)/manage time wisely/study during the day, and use the night for other activities(you learn best in the 12 hours after you wake up). Lots of tidbits, most of which were on the flier they gave us before the session.

Then off to lunch, and back to the dorm. There, I came by just in time to join the “Villa Drum Squad” on their first outing. Every home soccer game, and several other times, the Squad takes all the drums/noise-making things we can find, and goes to the field. Of course, they go the long way around, banging all the way around the campus, and through one of the buildings, too. Guaranteed to draw a bit of attention. They can’t seem to really keep a beat, but that’s half the fun. Apparently, there have even been some recruits that have joined up with UP soccer because of the squad, and the student support it represents.

There was a “Student Involvement” meeting, where the freshman were exposed to all the things there is to do outside of class and the requisite studying. The squad came, too. I happened by about the time they were leaving, and was handed a pair of drumsticks. Off we went. We entered the field in traditional fashion, banging as loud as we could, and running all the way to the spot the Squad always sits in. There was a relay at the halftime of the assembly, where the dorms all competed against one another. I’m told that Villa ALWAYS wins these, and today was no exception. The Villa team must have been ten feet ahead of the nearest team at the finish, and that’s saying something when the last leg is the wheelbarrow race. We ended up winning $200 towards the hall fund. I’m not sure what all that is used for, but $200 is nothing to scoff at, no matter what it’s for.

Then I did some other stuff, most of which I don’t remember. The came the Welcoming Mass. Quite a change from the mass I’m used to.

I guess i should stop and explain. I’m Catholic, as is UP. The Catholic mass will be the same wherever you go, except for a few parts that change from week to week. What I mean by different is that the choir must have had 40 members, plus an organ, piano, and half a dozen brass instruments. That will make the music sound different than when one man with a guitar sings it, as I am accustomed to. Plus, it’s a special mass, so there were 20 or so priests, and easily 700, maybe 1000 people. Again, a change from my small parish which draws from 100-150 people weekly.

Something rather trivial, but interesting, especially with the push towards using your time effectively that they’re giving us. There is a part of the mass, after the Our Father, where the priest says

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin
and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The priest today changed it to “…protect us from all undue anxiety…” Fitting, but something that jumped out at me.

There’s a dance tonight, I guess I’ll wander over in that direction, and see how badly I can damage my eardrums–the music is audible from my dorm.

–Nathan