Teachers interact with engineers and develop lesson plans incorporating cutting-edge materials and using multi-media technology. The lessons use real-world applications and are designed to increase students’ math and science skills and to teach students about several different disciplines of engineering. Our project has proven to be very successful and we expect this summer to be even better!

Similar to last year, this year we have the opportunity to invite 100 students to participate in an Engineering Education Excellence Institute. Students who are registered will go to the UNL campus to enjoy a day of interacting with world-renowned engineers, executives in industry, and leaders in government, touring on and off-campus sites, and experiencing and reviewing lessons from a student perspective presented by middle and high school teachers related to aspects of engineering.

Will keep this post updated throughout my time at the institute.

Try this: Put a blindfold on someone, take them to a park or a beach or a meadow and ask them to walk for as long as they can in a straight line. Then watch what happens:

San Francisco is piloting a nearly 20 million dollar parking intiative provided by U.S. Department of Transportation’s Urban Partnership Program. The pilot, active in 8 SF areas, relies heavy on supply-demand pricing and live notifications of available spaces and their price.

Say you’re heading out with some friends for dinner and  drinks afterwards. Before leaving you can check parking trends around the restaurant to decide if finding a spot will be easy.

SF Park:

SFpark sensors, installed in parking spaces and in City-owned garages, track in real-time where parking is and isn’t available. Sensor data is uploaded wirelessly to the SFpark data feed, which will then make that information available to the public via SFpark.org, street signs, and smart phone applications. Real-time information about where parking is available will help drivers find parking with less hassle.

Ambitious program.

Chris Wallace:

Mr. Olson, we want to thank you so much for joining us today. We’ll keep following your lawsuit. And I gotta say, after your appearance today, I don’t understand how you ever lost a case in the supreme court, sir.

I still can’t get over the bizarre audacity of Coke’s legal case. Forced to defend themselves in court, they are acknowledging that vitaminwater isn’t a healthy product. But they are arguing that advertising it as such isn’t false advertising, because no could possibly believe such a ridiculous claim.

Ok, American consumers, they know we’re stupid. Check the calories/sugars of anything you drink before you classify it as healthy. Looking for a low calorie sports drink with some decent flavors? Gatorade G2

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/vitaminwater.htm

As far as Vitamin Water’s defense that no one would actually believe their product promotes and improves bodily function, I’ll let you be the judge:

For the full story…

Click for More Photos

Pirates. Not Jack Sparrow. Not the users from piratebay.org. But the Somalian pirates who continue to hijack commercial ships and luxury cruisers are increasing in frequency and their piracy isn’t limited to one country. The French, Germans, Saudis and Americans have been targeted by the 21st century pirate of the open seas. The UN is developing a plan to help targeted ships and potenital targets navigate safely in the gulf of Aden.

Map of Recent Pirate Attacks

The Boston Globe has a collection of Hi-Res Somalian Pirate photos that help redefine our understanding of pirates. Check it out

This is no surprise. Ever since red NetFlix envelopes started appearing in mailboxes across the country and Video On Demand services increasing, the days of running off to blockbuster on Friday nights is coming to an end. These RedBox’s are popping up everywhere, already 12,000 locations in the US.

Blockbuster, a Dallas based company, has cautioned the SEC about it’s chances of staying in business, it has “substantial doubt” considering they’re financial situation and loan agreements. 

I don’t use blockbuster, and I don’t know anyone who still rents a DVD release for 7 bucks at a local blockbuster. They’re too many alternatives (NetFlix, RedBox, VOD Services, Hulu) that are better and significantly cheaper. Blockbuster always made renting video games easy, but that service alone won’t keep them afloat. 

Can’t wait for this liquidation sale!