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VA Biodiesel Conference
Today was a busy day. This morning I worked with the security officer for the company I am working on to finish some paperwork for my internship this summer. Dr. Bachmann had asked me to stop to find out about how he wants me to help with the Virginia
Biodiesel Conference on Monday. He asked me to help load the presenters presentations on to the university computer. It should be an exciting day, especially considering for me it starts early Monday morning (pre-8 AM)!
Dr. Marchal, in ISAT 344 (Intelligent Systems) reviewed material, as next week he is going to be out of town and has canceled class. I have some work to do on some assignment point recovery this weekend for his class.
This afternoon my group met for ISAT 341 (Simulation & Modeling) to work on our group project for Dr. Henriksen (it is due tomorrow). We took a break and reconvened at 5 pm to finish up some work.
I've got to do some work on my senior thesis introduction and annotated bibliography. I'll let you know how it goes!
Posted by Matt on March 30, 2006 07:41 PM | Link | Email Matt
Harrisonburg Children's Museum
I didn’t get a post written last night because I was working on research for my Senior Thesis Literature Review. The CISAT library has subscriptions to research databases that allow searching of scholarly (works that have been reviewed and published) abstracts (brief synopsis of a paper’s contents) to find papers quickly that apply to your research area. Unfortunately, the papers I am looking for are not accessible from the university in digital or paper formats. For this JMU has a service that is free, called the Interlibrary Loan. I enter the information about the article or paper I need and JMU searches other libraries and tries to get the book or a digital copy for my research. I can also have the library deliver my books from Carrier (on the quad) to the CISAT Library so I can pick them up when I’m going to class!
Yesterday afternoon, I spent time at the Harrisonburg Children’s Museum, in downtown Harrisonburg working on a Community Service Learning Project for CIS 320 (Telecom). I am updating their reception computer, and ensuring security on their network. I installed some software for them, and tested their connectivity throughout the museum.
This afternoon, I am going to meet with the Director of Operations of the museum to donate several iMac computers from Fairfield Language Technologies. It’s a great opportunity for the two entities to connect and share resources.
Right now I’m ready for CIS 320 Exam review, I’ll post more later.
Posted by Matt on March 29, 2006 11:00 AM | Link | Email Matt
Midplane Swap
I didn't have lab to TA this morning, so I got to sleep in, which was nice because I am recovering from a cold. I wish the weather would just even out and decide to be spring. I'm tired of this flux in temperature.
In CIS 320 (Telecom) we reviewed our exam study guide in preparation for exam on Friday. It is going to cover a large amount of material, but it shouldn't be too difficult because we've had quizzes on all the material along the way.
This evening at work I had to replace the broken midplane of an iMac G5 with the working midplane of another machine with a broken screen and power supply. That way at least one of the two iMacs are functional. It was exciting when I screwed the midplane in, connected the power and the machine booted successfully!
Tomorrow morning I have my ISAT 351 (Biotech) exam, so I've got to finish up studying.
Posted by Matt on March 27, 2006 10:33 PM | Link | Email Matt
Work-Filled and Productive
Friday, was rather uneventful, I went to Lab and helped answer questions about the Visual Basic applications that the students were programming. Then, in CIS 320 (Telecom) we reviewed Internet connectivity for businesses (private lines and frame relay).
Friday afternoon at work, I worked on diagnosing the status of several returned iMac G5 computers. We use those machines at our kiosk locations located throughout the states.
Friday evening, I had a group meeting with Dr. Henriksen and my Simulation group to discuss the status and changes needed for our model. Our model was relatively well built and accurate. We only need to change some minor details and naming of entities.
After the group meeting, I went out to eat to celebrate Lauren's roommate's birthday! It was her 20th – Happy Birthday Megan!!
On Saturday, I went to my house and went through some boxes of stuff from when I was in High School, trying to consolidate and get rid of the stuff I don't need or use. We cut the stack of boxes in half, which is exciting because it's less stuff I have sitting around taking up space at my parents house – which makes them happier.
Today has been work-filled and productive. I had a group meeting to work on an Artificial Neural Network project for ISAT 344 (Intelligent Systems). Followed by some reviewing of ISAT 351 (Biotech) slides in preparation for my exam on Tuesday. This evening I've been working on a quiz and review for CIS 320 – we have an exam on Friday. Sunday is traditionally workday to catch up on the things I didn't do over the weekend that I should have.
Tomorrow brings the beginning of another week, and I'll write later to fill in how it went.
Posted by Matt on March 26, 2006 09:50 PM | Link | Email Matt
Innovation and Competitiveness
This morning, I woke up bright and early and met Dr. CJ Broderick, Dr. Chris Bachmann and Mr. Chuck McCarty at JMU's Alternative Fuel Vehicle Lab to help prepare for a visit from the congressmen. We brought over the Ford Escape Hybrid, Flex Fuel Chevy Suburban, Compressed Natural Gas Chevy Cavalier, and a Biodesiel Bus.
This afternoon, Congressman Goodlatte and Congressman Blunt visited ISAT and met with JMU President Dr. Rose, Dr. Warner , Dr. Brown, Dr. Noftsinger, CISAT Dean Dr. Benson and other JMU students and faculty. I spoke with several of the students and faculty that were outside ISAT to greet the congressmen.
JMU President Linwood Rose with Congressmen Roy Blunt and Bob Goodlatte. More Photos
Congressmen Blunt & Goodlatte with CISAT Dean Jerry Benson. More Photos
Me with the Ford Escape Hybrid, one of ISAT's alternative fuel vehicles. More Photos
Rep. Goodlatte announced that he is working to introduce a bill in the house to support American competitiveness in innovation and technology. He called the bill The Innovation and Competitiveness Act. Both Rep. Goodlatte and Rep. Blunt complemented Dr. Rose and the university on their forward thinking and aggressiveness toward funding. Rep. Goodlatte mentioned the cautions of using earmarking in legislation and said through reform, the process could be completed with the right steps to make it a successful way to provide funding to specific projects. It will be exciting to see how this affects the university research funding. Hopefully it will allow the expansion of a Biodiesel processing and testing facility.
After Rep. Goodlatte's speech I went to ISAT 341 (Simulation and Modeling) to work on finishing the baseline model for my group project. We have a meeting tomorrow afternoon to put some finishing touches on it before we meet with Dr. Henriksen to discuss the project.
I've got to get to work on a quiz due in the morning for CIS 320 (Telcom).
Also, if you have any questions about any aspect of JMU – feel free to contact me!
Posted by Matt on March 23, 2006 08:50 PM | Link | Email Matt
Early Morning
This morning I helped Dr. Cushman with her lab (the class I TA for). They are coding a lab with Loops in Visual Basic .NET. In CIS 320 (Telecom) Dr. Choi introduced the different types of Internet service, ADSL, SDSL, Cable and Dial-Up.
Mrs. Greens had Breakfast for Lunch (Eggs, Bacon, and French Toast), which made for a great meal!
This afternoon, I was at work taking apart some iMac G5 computers to troubleshoot and diagnose their various issues. The majority unfortunately have Logic Board problems and are cost prohibitive to fix.
Tomorrow will be an early morning, as I'm going to help Dr. Bachmann prepare for a visit from Rep. Goodlatte and Rep. Blunt. They are discussing Alternative Fuels and future projects at JMU. I'm headed to bed to get some sleep for tomorrow!
Posted by Matt on March 22, 2006 09:42 AM | Link | Email Matt
Descrete Event Simulation Project
Wow, it's been a long day. Biotech this morning went well. Dr. Bachmann discussed organ donation and the function of kidneys. In Intelligent Systems Dr. Marchal reviewed Artificial Neural Networks in further detail.
It snowed off and on all day, which could have been nice, but it really made campus cold and wet (which is not really fun).
This afternoon I had my Simulation Exam, which went better than I expected. The exam covered more material I knew better (I think that since it was my second exam in this class I knew how to better prepare).
Tonight I met with my group for Simulation and continued coding our discrete event simulation project in ProModel. We've got a bit more work to do tomorrow evening, but it is slowly coming along.
That's all for now, time to get some sleep!
Posted by Matt on March 21, 2006 11:57 PM | Link | Email Matt
Review for Exams
Okay, in an effort to make this blog a routine in my life I am going to attempt to blog on a daily or pseudo-daily basis.
CIS 320 (Telecom in Business) went well. Dr. Choi lectured on topics discussed in my ISAT 464 class: Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), telephone carriers and related regulations, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). We discussed the use of Skype for communications via the internet.
I had a deliverable due for ISAT 341 (Simulation and Modeling) and I forgot to bring it with me when I went to class, so that caused more back and forth running in my day between my apartment and Showker.
This afternoon I'll be rather busy, I've got to get to work for a bit to check on my desk (they were going to change cube walls), then find time for dinner before I head back to ISAT to lead the review session for ISAT 252 (they have a test on Wednesday night). Then tonight I've got to crack open my books again to review for an ISAT 341 exam tomorrow afternoon.
Right now I'm waiting for a class to finish up so my CIS 320 Lab on Wireless Networking can begin.
Posted by Matt on March 20, 2006 03:42 PM | Link | Email Matt
Washington, DC - Here I come!
It's really been a busy semester so far. Working an average of fifteen hours a week, the class I TA for, and all my classes and homework, I haven't had a chance to keep this up-to-date. Here is a brief update.
Before spring break my team in Intelligent Systems (ISAT 344) turned in an Expert Knowledge Base project. It was a vacation selector that asked questions to determine what vacation destination fit the users preference best.
A month ago I sent my resume in for a summer internship position with a contractor in Northern Virginia. I was called in for an interview the Friday before spring break. The interview was a great experience and consisted of an introduction to the company, a lunch with several project leads and employees, and then four individual interviews. I was very impressed with the entire process; it shows that there are employers who really care about their employees, and candidates for employment. I received an email last Monday offering me the internship! I am excited about this great opportunity for my summer. I'll be spending my summer in the DC area working with the contractor.
For spring break I went to Duck, NC on the Outer Banks. The weather was rainy on Monday, a little cool mid-week, and beautiful on Friday (of course, the day we leave it gets nice). Since it was still out-of-season many of the shops were closed or just opening for the season.
This is the Atlantic Ocean and the beach access to the resort.
Here is the outdoor pool (which we never used because its not heated) and some of the units at the resort.
We didn't get in the water, as it was very cold… instead we walked the beach.
Last week was busy trying to get back into the groove from break. At work I prepared some computers for donation to the Harrisonburg Children's Museum in downtown Harrisonburg. Classes are preparing for our second round of exams in the next few weeks, which will be absorbing most of my time. I'm also starting to prepare my Senior Thesis proposal, which is nerve-wracking because next year is my last year of college!
Posted by Matt on March 19, 2006 09:45 AM | Link | Email Matt
