Even before the overwhelming response we got for our game against UMCP we have been thinking about having a real StarCraft Tournament for UMBC. Initially it was going to be much smaller and basically only include people that knew friends who knew about the tournament, but we have quickly decided to use this opportunity to build our community and relationships within our school and with other schools. Hence the birth of the Collegiate Masters StarLeague.

The Collegiate Masters StarLeague (CMSL) will be held LIVE at UMBC on Feb 12th 2011. The CMSL will feature cash prizes all the way down to 8th place with a prize pool of $900. The event will run all day long on Saturday so we will be providing free food to everyone that comes! (8AM – 10PM)

We are currently working as hard as we possibly can to get sponsors to ensure that the event is completely free for UMBC students. Current student org sponsors include the Chinese Student Association, the Taiwanese Student Association, the Red Cross Club, and the UMBC Breakdancing club.

We have invited many area schools to come and attend our event and we have even received the support of the Collegiate StarLeague (CSL), which runs the tournament that our StarCraft II team plays in. Interested schools currently include: University of Maryland College Park, John Hopkins University, George Mason University, University of Virginia, University of Delaware, Montgomery College, and the College of William and Mary.

We have completed the majority of the rules but we still need YOUR HELP! Even with the best planning, no event can happen without people spreading the word and showing up to support!

Are you a StarCraft II Player? Do you think you are good enough to take the grand prize away? Not planning on going pro but still have a competitive spirit?Join our event, read the rules and then register at CMStarLeague@gmail.com

See the full rules here and see our facebook event here!

In the next two weeks, you will see copious predictions about the year ahead.  Here’s a cartoon version for your enjoyment and thoughts. What are your predictions for 2011? (Cartoon by KAL)

A major political movetook place this past Saturday.

65 Senators, including 6 Republicans, voted to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

This was the highly controversial law that prevented service men and women from being openly gay in the military. The enactment of this law has resulted in the discharge of almost 14,000 people from the armed services since 1993.

This is great political achievement for President Obama, who promised several times in his campaign to repeal DADT.

In a speech about the Senate’s decision, the President said,

“It is time to close this chapter in our history. It is time to recognize that sacrifice, valor and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or gender, religion or creed. It is time to allow gay and lesbian Americans to serve their country openly.”

The Pentagon had previously found that having gays and lesbians serve openly posed a low risk to military effectiveness or “unit cohesion”. Even the Pentagon preferred that Congress dealt with this. The alternative would have been lengthy and expensive court cases challenging the law (with the law likely stopped by court order eventually.

However, while this may be hopeful news, the repeal will not take place for 6o days. In Washington… anything can happen in 60 days.

CIA is slackin’: A U.S. spy is revealed in Pakistan.

Drumroll please… Introducing the Time Person of the Year: Mark Zuckerberg.

‘Tis a sad day for slapstick comedy: Blake Edwards dies.

You know it’s serious when the Dalai Lama prioritizes climate change over Tibet politics.

There are many guide books that like to grade the amenities in countries around the world. They give 5 star rankings to beaches, cuisine, hotels etc.

But if you visit Singapore you will find  a special sort of awards program… for public toilets.

In Singapore, They take their toilets seriously (no potty humor here). So much so that they have 5 star rankings for toilets and have founded the World Toilet Organization.

Recently, the Restroom Association Singapore (RAS) discovered that only 500 of the country’s public toilets “were up to its standards of working facilities, lack of litter and odor, and the provisions of basic amenities such as hand soap and toilet paper.”

So they launched in 2008, a toilet Campaign called “Lets Observe Ourselves” (Loo) which pushes for cleaner toilets and public awareness.

The seriousness of the toilet campaign can only be fully grasped by the rigorous efforts of the RAS Happy Toilet Program which has a 3 year blue print on public restrooms.

So what are the standards for a 5 star toilet?

• Diaper Changing Stations
• Urinal for Children
• Eco-friendly water-saving taps

RAS President Tan Puay Hoon states “For us, toilet etiquette reflects Singaporeans’ culture. It tells people how civilized we are.”

Who would have thought clean toilets would be a hallmark of civilization.