Galatians 5:13-26 (NIV)

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Reflection:

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This is the deep, immovable foundation – God has created us new and made us united with Christ. To “put on” is the fruit of the Spirit and not the result of what we make because we can’t. But our entire being, starting with our hearts, has been regenerated, and therefore we can now obey God, meaning we can now keep in step with the Spirit and put off falsehood.

Response:

Let us walk by the Spirit, believing and trusting that we are fundamentally new creations in Christ. Serving one another humbly in love is who we are and how we are meant to live. Let’s thank God for the gift of His Spirit and in faith embrace the freedom that we have been given to live this way.

Business Intelligence Internship (6/25/2012)

Optimal Solutions Group LLC (“Optimal”) has an opening for a Business Intelligence (BI) Intern at its offices at the University of Maryland’s Research Park at M-Square. This BI intern will assist research and IT personnel on multiple projects. Optimal differentiates itself from other public policy research and technical assistance firms by its quantitative expertise and innovative approaches. Founded in 2000, Optimal has more than 30 active federal contracts and a multidisciplinary staff of over fifty employees with expertise in health, education, workforce development, and information technology.

The qualified BI intern will perform the following duties:

• Interact with research and IT staff to gather Business Intelligence and reporting requirements , help prioritize the requirements, create technical specifications
• Design, code, test, and document all new or modified BI systems, applications, and programs
• Assist in the design of databases and data warehouses to ensure interoperability with BI solutions
• Perform routine program and system modifications, performance tuning of applications as necessary, problem solving and debugging
• Support the on boarding and training of Business Users and Business Analysts
• Design and deliver end-user training and training materials; provide technical support as necessary
• Adhere to good systems development methodology
• Conduct research and make recommendations on BI products, services, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts
• Participates in special projects as required

Required Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience with SQL server databases and database concepts
• Good understanding of Object Oriented programming concepts and SDLC processes
• Experience in Spotfire, MicroStrategy, Cognos, or other BI Tools
• Good understanding of Data warehousing and data mining concepts
• Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within the BI reporting field.
• Strong Communication skills (Verbal and written)
• Must have strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem solving abilities.
• Must have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must have the ability to work under pressure and adhere to deadlines.

Education and Experience:

• Must be actively pursuing a B.S. or Master’s degree. Majors in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, computer information Systems, or Computer Engineering preferred.

Work Hours and Compensation:

• Part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. Compensation is commensurate with years of education, training, and pertinent experience.

To Apply:

• Submit cover letter and resume to Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. , reference “BI Intern” in subject line.

UMBC’s donors support the university for many reasons, and for that we are grateful. One such donor is Jean Rittermann, President of Conveyor Handling Company, Inc., who along with her sister, Nancy Carey, established the Anthony Alvarez Award for Outstanding Students in Engineering in honor of their father.
Q: How did you become involved with UMBC?
A: Education and hard work have always been a priority in our family. So as our business prospered, and we [Rittermann, her sister and their spouses] realized the importance of giving back to the community, it seemed only logical to think about creating a scholarship. By doing so, we would be able to establish a lasting tribute and thank you to my father for starting this company and for providing us with the opportunities that have so positively impacted our lives.
As a material handling distributor, engineering is a very integral part of our business, so we wanted to choose a university with an engineering program that was strong, dynamic and of the highest quality. We also wanted it to be located in our community. It seemed that UMBC was the perfect fit.
Q: Who is the Alvarez Scholarship for?
A: The Alvarez Scholarship is for a full-time engineering student who has completed his or her sophomore year and has demonstrated academic success by achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 and who also has a demonstrated record of leadership and/or community service.
Q: The scholarship is named for your father, who is still living. Why was it important for you to give back to UMBC in this particular way and in his name?
A: When I reflect back over the years, I realize how fortunate I am to have a father who cares so deeply about the welfare of his family. Establishing this scholarship was our way of thanking him for his many years of guidance and support and the hard work and dedication he put into to his career. We realized that by endowing an engineering scholarship at such an outstanding university, we would be acknowledging what is important to him.
Q: How do you feel when you think about the students who are helped by the scholarship you provide?
A: As I read the essays written by the students on the scholarship applications, I am amazed at the goals that they have set for themselves and at the tremendous drive and fervor that they possess to reach them. They recognize the need for their skills regionally, nationally and internationally. These students definitely realize that without this financial help, they may not be able to fulfill their goals and that is a great disappointment to them. I’m so impressed by their commitment and drive. Not only are they taking a full course load every semester, many of them have part-time jobs where they work 20 or 30 hours a week. You don’t always see that in young adults.
The students who have received our scholarship are so, so grateful. The award has given them a chance to focus on and enjoy what they are studying and not have to worry about juggling a part-time job and their coursework.

UMBC’s donors support the university for many reasons, and for that we are grateful. One such donor is Jean Rittermann, President of Conveyor Handling Company, Inc., who along with her sister, Nancy Carey, established the Anthony Alvarez Award for Outstanding Students in Engineering in honor of their father.

Q: How did you become involved with UMBC?

A: Education and hard work have always been a priority in our family. So as our business prospered, and we [Rittermann, her sister and their spouses] realized the importance of giving back to the community, it seemed only logical to think about creating a scholarship. By doing so, we would be able to establish a lasting tribute and thank you to my father for starting this company and for providing us with the opportunities that have so positively impacted our lives.

As a material handling distributor, engineering is a very integral part of our business, so we wanted to choose a university with an engineering program that was strong, dynamic and of the highest quality. We also wanted it to be located in our community. It seemed that UMBC was the perfect fit.

A: The Alvarez Scholarship is for a full-time engineering student who has completed his or her sophomore year and has demonstrated academic success by achieving a GPA of at least 3.0 and who also has a demonstrated record of leadership and/or community service.

A: When I reflect back over the years, I realize how fortunate I am to have a father who cares so deeply about the welfare of his family. Establishing this scholarship was our way of thanking him for his many years of guidance and support and the hard work and dedication he put into to his career. We realized that by endowing an engineering scholarship at such an outstanding university, we would be acknowledging what is important to him.

A: As I read the essays written by the students on the scholarship applications, I am amazed at the goals that they have set for themselves and at the tremendous drive and fervor that they possess to reach them. They recognize the need for their skills regionally, nationally and internationally. These students definitely realize that without this financial help, they may not be able to fulfill their goals and that is a great disappointment to them. I’m so impressed by their commitment and drive. Not only are they taking a full course load every semester, many of them have part-time jobs where they work 20 or 30 hours a week. You don’t always see that in young adults.

The students who have received our scholarship are so, so grateful. The award has given them a chance to focus on and enjoy what they are studying and not have to worry about juggling a part-time job and their coursework.

This week was the daunting FINALS WEEK, and during this timeI only study, shower, eat and occasionally if I find time, I will sleep. One of the most comforting dishes that I like to have during finals week is Pho(FA-AH), the national Vietnamese Rice Noodle Dish.

This is no ordinary soup, Pho has a lot of sustenance so youcan prepare for a long nights worth of studying without feeling hungry.

The Rice Noodles are submerged in hot beef or Chicken Brothwith accents of green onions and basil. Pho varies depending on the type andcut of meat you choose to put in it. Though, Pho is great on its own, it isusually served with a side of bean sprouts, basil leaves, mint leaves, limes,and jalapeños to add some more flavor in your dish as you wish. Hosin sauce, asweet and salty dark sauce and a red-hot sauce, Sriracha, always accompany atevery table at the restaurant.

I usually get the Chicken Pho, or the Pho Ga. I add in about3 basil Leaves, 4 jalapeños, a squeeze of a lime wedge, and a generous pinch ofbean sprouts. I add soy sauce, hosin sauce and I add quite a lot of Sriracha.However, if you are hesitant on spice I would add everything a little at a timeto ensure it doesn’t get too spicy.

Pho restaurants are common around the United States, howeverPho #1 on Route 40, is my favorite one to go to when I’m at UMBC. It offers awide variety of Pho, Rice and Pan Fried Noodles dishes.

Pho comes in either a small or large bowl option. A smallbowl is more than generous to fill your bellies to prevent any late-night studycravings; and for only $7.50 you defiantly get your “Pho’s” worth. Its excitingthat you get a chance to be creative with your food. You become the chef andeveryone ends up with a different dish to enjoy.

I haven’t come across any vegetarian pho dishes, howevermost Pho restaurants offer vegetarian dishes, such as tofu and mixed vegetableswith steamed rice offered at Pho #1 on Route 40.

If there’s one thing that I pair with my Pho-Ga, it’s a tallglass of Iced Thai tea. Popular in many Asian restaurants, this strongly brewediced tea provides enough caffeine to keep me awake through my hours of studyingfor finals. The condensed milk poured on top not only makes this drink looklike a beautiful gradient but it also gives each sip a sweetened kick.

Let Pho be your go-to study dish as well as a great meal foryour inner chef to enjoy.