It feels like I have not updated the site in the longest time. In only the span of the three weeks I have been back at my dorm, I went through many events:

• The Edison Lecture Series: Renewable Energy
• A talk with the professor who gave me the failing grade
• OA Retreat

The Edison Lecture Series: Renewable Energy
The Edison Lecture Series is an outreach event put on by the University of Texas Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department. It was also the reason why I went back to the dorm so early — to help the solar car team with our lecture and car display. Our lecture was a smashing hit — not only did the chairman of the ECE department ask us to do an abbreviated version for every one of the subsequent lectures, but we received a generous $6,500 donation!

A talk with the professor who gave me the failing grade
One day, I saw the professor leave. The first thing he did was to talk about how bad he felt having to give the grade that I received because I clearly busted my rear for him. He even tried to work the numbers a bit, but to no avail. I then had the opportunity to tell him that all is well and I understand what a hard decision he had to make. As much as I love the “favorites” game when it’s in my favor, it is simply unethical. Besides, it is human to not succeed on the first try every now and then. Take my OA job for example. I did not make it the first time around because I need “one more year.” As much as I did not like it, I am now in the post as an orientation advisor and will make myself worth their while. I will do the same thing for Professor Andrews.

OA Retreat
Here is a question for you: What is an easy way to form close bonds among cohorts who barely know each other? Why, you can take them somewhere and stick them all in one cabin or two and do a few activities together! In only 24 hours, we felt as if we knew each other for months! We had fun with activities that talk about social justice, find our leadership personalities, and other fun teambuilders. I found out that my color is “gold,” which means traits such as

• Strives for a sense of security
• Tends to be left-brained and analytical
• Duty, Loyalty, Useful, Responsible
• Helpful and trustworthy
• Loves to plan

I was somewhat surprised to not see the “rebel” side of me come into play — there are times when I would question the status quo.

Pictures of my OA experience: http://gallery.cyeungrun.com/oa2007

I was looking through my email today, and there are a few that I would like to share with you all:

The first one is from my HIS 356P (The US in the Civil Rights Era) class. We were assigned a five-page essay over either the 1968 Olympics or a comparison between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. It was the Sunday before the deadline when I received this:

Did Prof. Greene ever give us a prompt for either paper? If so can someone send it to me/give the jist of it to me? If not does she just expect us to write a 5 page essay about Malcom X and Martin Luther King or what? If you get this and you know anything about it pleeeeease write me back.

I got two words for you, buddy: You’re dead meat!

The first two days of school came with two miracles: It was canceled and it snowed in Austin! Apparently, someone missed the first day of actual school:

hey everybody,
i missed our last class (first class - intro to psych) after the ice storm - i was trying to keep my igloo from melting. could any of you drop me a line to just give me a heads up on what we went over, what’s our textbook, where to find our syllabus, etc.? i would REALLY appreciate it and will totally pay you back! thanks!

Sir, that has got to be the dumbest excuse I have heard — are you saying that you can build an igloo with a tiny bit of snow? I don’t think so! No help for you!

Over the past year with the help of Digg, I was able to see the speculation behind Apple’s highly-anticipated “iPhone,” including the much pleasing thought that it just might be sold unlocked (i.e. you are able to use any carrier). However, that is not the case. This, in addition to the lack of support for 3G wireless and inability to add 3rd-party programs, makes this phone an unattractive buy.

Per an exclusive deal with Cingular, the iPhone is available for $599 with a two-year contract from Cingular. Naturally, the phone will come locked to Cingular’s service. Setting aside the fact that Cingular’s service could be craptacular in certain areas, the price point already brings this phone to the point of being unpractical. Indeed, there are products that are able to do everything the iPhone can (and then some) for significantly less.

Two phones I can readily point out that are capable of doing everything the iPhone can (and then some) are the Palm Treo 680 and the T-Mobile Dash. While it is possible to get an unlocked version of the former for $399, the latter can be obtained with a two-year contract for $199. Both feature not only 3G support, but unfettered ability to add any program you wish to do whatever you want with the phone. Can the iPhone offer that kind of freedom? I don’t think so. Now, if some “bad guys” unlock the phone, you can actually use it with other services.

With everything said, I believe that the iPhone is defective by design. I was particularly offended when Lurie from Cingular called unlockers “bad guys.” I believe in reciprocity, so here’s my statement: The iPhone is yet another pair of iCuffs for the iSheep. A fool and his money are soon parted. I will tell you more about these “bad guys” later.

Finally, I was not paid to mention any of the brands. I know that T-Mobile has a very liberal policy with respect to their phones and do not cripple them much (if at all).
Written with contributions from natmaster and Spencer.