http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v52FLMOPSig

Walk and Talk the Vote – West Wing Reunion – Bridget Mary McCormack

The cast of the West Wing reunites to promote voting in non-partisan elections like. Who can say no to President Jed Bartlet?

Muhammad in the playboy pose? Funny right, you might even say it’s a riot … ok bad joke. But the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo thought it would be hilarious. 

Following the riots last week though out the Mideast (sparked by what was basically a flip ph0ne video) the editors of the magazine decided to publish a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a pornographic pose as a testament to free speech. They say the cartoon was meant to satirize the video “Innocence of Muslims” and to denounce the violence it has provoked.

Mr. Charbonnier, Charlie Hedbo’s Editorial Director 

I’m sorry for the people who are shocked when they read Charlie Hedbo . . . But let them save 2.50 euros and not read it. That’s the only thing I have to say.

What do you think? Are the satirists being unnecessarily insensitive, are they fighting for free speech, or do you think they are just planning to make a killing off a hyped up cartoon?

Never again will students have to make the trek to the ITE building over the weekend to finish up that Matlab assignment. Thank UMBC’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT) for developing a virtual desktop solution that allows students to connect to a standard UMBC computer lab image from their MAC, PC, or iPad.

The virtual desktop is based on a Dell solution named “Virtual Desktop Environment (VDE) and it allows remote access to software like SPSS, SAS, Matlab, Comsol, Mathematica, and more.  

To try out the VDE system, visit virtual.umbc.edu.

Join the UMBC Bookstore on Homecoming Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 1 p.m. for the Cram it / Jam it shopping spree.  4 grand prize winners will receive their choice of JanSport backpack and 46 seconds to cram it with as much UMBC clothing that will fit. All while wearing the bags on their backs! 

Enter to win 3 ways:

1. Register for Homecoming. All registered Homecoming guests will be automatically entered to win. 

2. Complete the entry form in person at the UMBC Bookstore and Yum Shoppe.

3. Enter online at fb.com/umbcbookstore. 

In addition to the shopping spree, many second prizes will be won including a Kindle, camcorders, a tent, and an iPad dock radio. 

Everyone who attends will receive an additional 12% off UMBC clothing and merchandise on top of the 20% off Homecoming Sale. 

You have to show up to win.  But it's Homecoming, so you'll be here anyway!

See website for official rules and details. 

Freeman Hrabowski wins 2012 Heinz Award for Human Condition

The Central Maryland Association of .NET Professionals (CMAP), a user’s group that focuses on learning and discussing Microsoft .NET technologies, will host its first event of the year next Tuesday, September 25 at 6:45 p.m. in ITE 459.

Wayne Loschen from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory—the technical lead for ESSENCE (Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics)-will speak bout the technical aspects of public health disease surveillance, including the architecture and visualization aspects.

The talk is the first in the CMAP series that will continue every fourth Tuesday of the month through June 2013. The group gives students the chance to chat and network with professional Software Developers. Admission is free.

To learn more about CMAP, find them on Facebook, LinkedIn, and visit their website.