What should new UMBC students read next year? Nominate the book you think would be best for the New Student Book Experience. Now you can nominate on Facebook. Once you suggest a book, you can choose to post your suggestion on Facebook and ask your friends to also suggest books. New students this year really liked The Translator. Can we find something just as engaging for next year? There is also a non-Facebook online form for nominations.

What should new UMBC students read next year? Nominate the book you think would be best for the New Student Book Experience. Now you can nominate on Facebook. Once you suggest a book, you can choose to post your suggestion on Facebook and ask your friends to also suggest books. New students this year really liked The Translator. Can we find something just as engaging for next year? There is also a non-Facebook online form for nominations.

Jose Antonio Vargas profiles Mark Zuckerberg in this week’s New Yorker in The Face of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg opens up. It’s a short piece, but I learned a few facts. One in fourteen people in the world has a Facebook account. All of Zuckerberg’s acquaintances call him Zuck. Zuck has eight hundred and seventy-nine Facebook friends. Zuck likes Ender’s Game and roasting goats. He considers himself an “awkward person”. Not mentioned in the article, but of possible interest, is that The Social Network opens on October 1.

• Wear running shorts and shirts! No jeans or nicely looking pants. Sweats are great for running
• Wear running shoes!! NO sandals, boots, or high heels?!? Wear shoes that have some support to them
• Wear socks!!
• Please do not wear anything offensive, we represent the UMBC running club!! 
• Please try not to bring a lot to the runs, we don't have storage, this might however change in the future!! We are not responsible for lost items if you decide to leave them around

The Art of Momentum: Why Your Ideas Need Speed

This article gives you tips on how to take an idea by the horns and carry through with it to the end. Whether it’s a design project or a paper for a class this article encourages you to work steady to completion. Most importantly, “Don’t hold back. When it comes to creative execution, the key is to get moving, and keep moving.”

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• Join us for our biweekly meetings and learn how you can you can get involved. Our organization welcomes all students from all majors-- we have something for everybody! Academic programs, community service opportunities, scholarships, social events, step team, out-of-state conferences, internships, competitions-- the list goes on! 
• Can't make it to meetings? Contact nsbe.umbc.sec@gmail.com to get copies of meeting powerpoints and minutes. Contact nsbe.umbc.vp@gmail.com to get involved with programs and events.
• Visit our myUMBC group, website, Facebook (National Society of Black Engineers) or Twitter (UMBC_NSBE)
• Graduate student or faculty? Check out the NSBE Baltimore Alumni Professional Chapter on Facebook! (NSBE - BMAC)

The second talk in the smart grid seminar series will feature Virginiia Tech Professor Robert Broadwater who will talk on Integrated System Model for Electric Grids at 4:00pm on Monday 20 September 2010 on UMBC’s South Campus. Here is the abstract.

“A fundamental concept in software engineering is to discover and model all “fundamental objects”. An object-oriented model that includes all fundamental objects in the problem domain can be used to solve all problems in the problem domain. For utility systems such models can contain millions of objects consisting of customers, structures, equipment, and measurements. Here such a model is referred to as an Integrated System Model (ISM). A single ISM may span multiple utility systems and include interdependencies. The Distributed Engineering Workstation may be used to build an ISM, that for an electric utility models transmission, sub-transmission, primary distribution, secondary distribution, and all customers in a single model. Using an ISM for both collaborative designs and real time, distributed calculations and control will be discussed. The fundamental software paradigm used to implement ISM technology, generic programming, will be considered. Demonstrations with ISM models will be provided. The progress made in implementing ISM technology at utilities will be reviewed.”

UMBC's SGA is not an ordinary student government.  For one thing, it's much larger and more inclusive than most, so students with a variety of interests and passions find a home.  Last year more than 140 students served in SGA positions; this year, the total will undoubtedly be even higher.

• SGA's Executive Branch is looking for staff members work on a variety of initiatives to support students and enhance campus life.  Each staff member works within an Executive Branch department, under the guidance of the President, Vice Presidents and Department Directors and Assistant Directors.  Staff positions are available in the departments of Academic Affairs; Community and Governmental Affairs; Environmental Affairs; Finances and Operations; Health and Wellness; Public Relations; Service, Volunteerism and Awareness; Student Advocates; and Student Organization Support.  No experience is necessary; training is provided.  If this is NOT your first year at UMBC and you want to apply for an Executive Branch position, follow this link:  Executive Branch Application (first year students, please read on).

• If this is your first year at UMBC, consider applying to be a First Year Ambassador.  First Year Ambassadors serve in the SGA Senate, Finance Board and Executive Branch.  They have all of the responsibilities of other SGA officers (except that First Year Ambassadors serving in the Senate and Finance Board do not vote), but receive special training and opportunities to learn about SGA's and UMBC's structure and operations.  In addition, First Year Ambassadors have the opportunity to represent SGA on the First Year Council.  To apply to join SGA as a First Year Ambassador, follow this link:  First Year Ambassador Application

•  Finally, one of the students elected to the SGA Senate last spring has resigned, and SGA will appoint a new Senator to fill the vacancy.  The 11 SGA Senators meet weekly (Mondays at 5:30 p.m.), connect with other students to learn about their experiences and frustrations, represent students in formal and informal policy discussions with other campus leaders, and develop initiatives in partnership with the Executive Branch.  To apply for the vacant SGA Senate position (application is due 9/17), follow this link:  SGA Senator Application

Facebook has rolled out Facebook Browser as what sounds like a simple and effective idea — recommend pages based on on a user’s country and social network. My impression is mixed, however. While I like it’s top recommendation for me, I am already a fan. It’s suggestions for the celebrities category are a bust — Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, Mark Levin, Red Green and Bill O’Reilly. And Movies? Don’t even go there! Maybe it’s trying to tell me I need a new set of friends? Inside Facebook summarizes Facebook Browser this way:

“Facebook has launched a new way to “Discover Facebook’s Popular Pages” called Browser. It shows icons of Pages that are popular in a user’s country, but factors in which Pages which are popular amongst their unique friend network. When the Page icons are hovered over they display a Like button. Browser could cause popular Pages to get more popular, widening the gap between them and smaller Pages, similar to the frequently criticized and since abandoned Twitter Suggested User List.”

I think the idea is sound, though, and I like my Facebook friends. So, my conclusion is that Facebook needs to tweak the algorithm.