Posted by University Club at College Park on 8:28 AM
We hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July this year! Here is the answer to your trivia question.
Answer: Vermont
The other 10 were: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Colonies became the first 13 states. Vermont became the 14th on March 4, 1791.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 11:07 AM
Do you want to get outside, but you are not sure where to do it? There are many ways to explore the outdoors even if you live in a city. Apartment Therapy has your list of ways to become "outdoorsy" no matter where you live.
1. Camping at home Got a backyard? Then you've got the perfect bear-free zone in close bathroom distance for creating a fun camping spot for yourself or the whole family. Pitch a tent, drag your favorite blankets and mattresses outside, build a fire in a fire pit and enjoy a night of staring up at the stars (until you get tired of being outside and can slip back inside to sleep).
2. Forest bathing In Japan, they have Shinrin-yoku, which translates to forest bathing. It basically means walking through a forest and immersing yourself in the aromatic smells of nature, even for a short time. If you happen to live near a forest, bathe away! But if not, find your own little spot of nature you can cell phone-free walk through, paying close attention to smells and textures. It could be a local park, a botanical garden or even your own backyard if you've planted lots of lovely flowers and other smell-good things in it.
3. Urban hiking Grab a friend, pack a light bag, pick a within-walking-distance destination and do what I like to call urban hiking — a longer-than-usual jaunt through and past the same streets you drive past every day, going slower and pausing to take in sights, smells new scents and notice things around you. If you live in a hot environment, don't do this in the heat of day (in fact, don't do any of these activities at noon if you live in a hot zone). And though figuring out the best path to get to where you're going is part of the fun, remember that not every city in the world is super walker-friendly; be extra vigilant crossing streets and don't listen to music, rather paying attention to the sounds around you. And take these things with you.
4. Meetup for an outdoorsy thing at your own pace We mentioned the website Meetup in the last exploring post (we swear they're not paying us!) but they are a great way to explore more of the outdoors in a way that you might find enjoyable, whether that's going kayaking with new friends or going on an outdoor photography excursion. Find the thing that makes you excited to be outside and do that.
5. Find a foraging class Are you a foodie that prefers being in a kitchen than in the wilderness? Find a foraging class where you live or in a nearby bigger city. It's amazing the free plants to eat there are out there for the taking, and it'll make you view your surroundings in a whole new way.
6. Birding and bugging You can find a bit of nature just outside your door, even if you live in a big urban city! Buy or borrow a bug or bird book, grab a magnifying glass or binoculars and marvel at the flora and fauna that exists even among the sidewalks and concrete. Just don't pick up anything you don't recognize and don't disturb any snoozing creatures!
Posted by University Club at College Park on 9:56 AM
What natural cleaner do you have in your home? Apartment Therapy has some great natural cleaners that are budget friendly. The list below includes various cleaning items for areas in your home. There are even cleaning items that are good for your home and for yourself. Keep reading to learn more!
A cheap, effective cleaner that renders my bathroom unusable due to the danger of asphyxiating on dangerous chemical vapors or an effective, natural cleaner that costs so much that I have to downsize or take on roommates to afford it simply will not cut it. Fortunately there are other options! Here's a list of great, inexpensive cleaners that I use in my own home.
1. This Homemade Citrus Cleaner is amazing! It's a bit of an investment in time, but as it's made from discarded citrus peels and plain white vinegar it costs less than a dollar for the whole batch.
2. Barkeeper's Friend is only $2.00 a canister and has a dozen uses. It's the only thing that gets the stains off the bottoms of my le Creuset, so I'm definitely a big fan.
3. Bleach, another multi-tasker. Great for whitening laundry, removing stains, and sanitizing kids' and dogs' toys (diluted of course). I prefer the chlorine-free biodegradable Seventh Generation Bleach, it's only $4.49 a gallon and lasts forever!
4. CitraSolv Degreaser is essentially a highly concentrated version of our Homemade Citrus Cleaner, which makes it perfect for cleaning heavy grease stains on driveways and in garages, as well as removing permanent marker and oil based paint from spots where they don't belong. For someone without children it is surprising how often I need to clean up paint/marker/crayon from walls and furniture, I get a little enthusiastic with my projects!
5. Earthstone Kitchen Scrub Stones are like pumice stones for your oven. They're $3.95 for two stones, which will last through many cleanings of your oven, range, broiler, and even your Pyrex.
6. Now, you'll have to hear me out on this one. At about $18 a bottle, Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap doesn't appear to be cheap, but the 32-ounce bottle goes a long way and can essentially clean anything in your home, including your very own body. Really, you can use it to wash the dishes, mop the floor, do the laundry, cleanse produce, and yes, wash your hair and shave your legs too. Plus it comes in eight great scents, including my favorite, unscented (I know, I'm pretty wild!).
7. Good old-fashioned 20 Mule Team Borax is cheap (under $4.00 a box), and performs one of my favorite tasks, cleaning the machines that are supposed to be doing the cleaning. It kills mold and gets rid of mildew smells that might lurk in the washing machine and freshens a less than fresh smelling dishwasher, plus in its more traditional function as a laundry aid it softens water and adds to the effectiveness of detergent.
8. Up & Up Floor Sweeper Cloths are meant to be a replacement for a Target brand floor sweeper, but I tend to simply use them on their own to dust surfaces and occasionally to "foot mop" the floor. They're $3.59 for 16 cloths and perfect for times when you suddenly need to tidy up because someone is going to stop by. I also like to slip one in my suitcase when I travel so I can dust off my shoes during my trip, it's amazing how dingy a pair of black shoes can look when you've been wearing them several days straight!
9. Microfiber Towels ($9.88 for 18) are great for cleaning and polishing smooth surfaces. They're particularly good at achieving a streak-free finish on shiny surfaces like the glass front of your microwave or oven. Plus, they're reusable, which is good for your wallet and your conscience.
10. Magic Erasers are a guilty little secret of mine. I've been fascinated by them for years, ever since a college chemistry professor explained how the open-cell foam pads are created, it's cleaning and it's science! I hate that they're disposable, but I absolutely love how effectively they clean difficult stains without added cleaning agents. They're only $2.69 for a box of two, which is great as I only tend to use about one a year for cleaning scuff marks on the walls and floors!
Posted by University Club at College Park on 8:14 AM
You are out of school for the summer time to have some fun. This means that it is time for an old past time. Yard sales will be popping up throughout your town, and we have found some great purchases that can save you money in the future. Grab your friends and head to the yard sale to save your household money this summer. Apartment Therapy has some great ideas for your summer vacation.
1. Rugs. Rugs are notoriously difficult to sell secondhand, which is why you will see plenty of them around at yard sale time. Head out for a few Saturdays, you are bound to find a new rug for the kids' room for under $30. I found one recently, a 5x7 foot 100% wool rug for $5! It had been passed over by others because one small corner was a little frayed - a problem easily solved by tucking it under a crib.
2. Furniture: Do you need to furnish your apartment? Yard Sales are the perfect opportunity to find a cheap piece of furniture for your new home.
3. Old Music: Have you always wanted an old record player or old music from your childhood you forgot about? This is the perfect place to find that old music for a decent price.
4. Entertainment: Yard Sales can be a great source of entertainment and a fun afternoon with friends. You never know what treasures you are going to find!
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:51 AM
Are you prepping for finals? Here are some great tips on how to ace your finals! Read these over before you start making a schedule and prepping for the dreaded week of papers and exams. You can learn more at US Weekly.
1. Count your way forward. Many students, when starting to think about preparing for finals, look at the dates of their finals, then count their way back. "Biology final on Wednesday? That's two or three studying days needed. I guess I'll start hitting the books on Sunday." A far better idea is to count up from the day the study questions are handed out (or if your prof doesn't bother with such niceties, a week before the exam) to the day the exam will take place. "Seven days? Then I'll divide the course into sevenths and study two weeks' worth of lectures each day."
2. Shed some commitments. You'll find you have a lot easier time studying if you make extra time for it. Put off any unnecessary social obligations or family commitments. And, if you're working, try if at all possible to take 10 days off for final exam period (or at least trim your work schedule). Even a few strategically placed extra hours can make the difference between doing just OK on finals and doing a really great job.
Best-Kept Secret. If you can finish your term papers the week before the last week of classes, it'll free loads of extra time to study for finals.
3. "Triage" your study time. Some students think they should spend equal amounts of time preparing for each of their finals. Instead, proportion your study time to how hard the final is likely to be and how well you already know the material.
4. Figure out what's covered. One of the most important things you need to be clear about is what materials are going to be tested on the final. Are readings and discussion sections included, or is the final going to focus almost exclusively on material from the lectures? Is the final going to concentrate on materials since the midterm or is it going to be a comprehensive or cumulative final? Knowing the extent—and the limits—of the exam will make it much easier to organize and structure your studying.
5. Decide if it's going to be a grand tour or lots of local attractions. Professors have two strategies in making up finals. Some profs design a single, big question or two; other professors give a series of more focused questions, each covering some single issue in the course. Before you start studying, make sure you've figured out your professor's test-construction strategy.
6. Torture the samples. In the typical college course, there are many resources available that give you specific information about what questions will appear on the final. Sometimes, the professor or TA simply drops hints about what "would make for a good final exam question." But other times, the questions are right there in the open. A study guide, sample final, or set of review questions can often furnish questions amazingly close to the actual exam questions.
7. Study with a group only if it makes sense. Many students believe (mistakenly) that a study group always affords an advantage: more brain power plus peer pressure to crack the books. This works well when your study buddies are at least as smart as you. Exam time isn't charity time.
8. Cram with the professor (or TA). One of the best—and at some colleges, most under-used—resources is the review session. Here the professor (or sometimes the TA) will give you a window into the final. He or she might sum up the high points of the course, do sample questions or problems, give study tips, or sometimes just divulge about how he or she was thinking about the topics of the course. In any event, it's the single biggest help in studying for the final.
9. Leverage your notes (when allowed). Increasingly, professors are allowing students to bring their notes and books to the exam. Rather than the trick question, "gotcha!" kind of exam, these professors want to see how well you can express your ideas, given the data. Be sure your notes are in tip-top shape if you're given this chance.
10. Read the instructions—and make a plan. When you get to the exam and get your test sheet, take the time to carefully survey the format of the test. How many questions are you being asked to answer? Is there a choice? How much does each part count? Then make a (tentative) plan—right up front, before you start working—of how much time you're going to devote to each question.
4-Star Tip. Don't waste too much time outlining your answers, writing down formulas you've memorized, or (when given a choice) starting a question and then stopping and starting another question. You're being graded on the quality of your answer, not on notes to yourself or false starts.
11. Be sure to develop your answers fully. Many students don't realize that, on essay exams, part of what's being graded is how well you develop and explain your answer, not just how correct it is. Consider explaining your points in more detail so that someone unfamiliar with the answer would know, just from what you say, what the answer is.
12. Make it easy on the grader. In many courses, the professor or other person grading will have 70 finals to read in a space of two or three days, which means about 10 or 15 minutes per exam. You're more likely to get a good grade if you: make clear which question you're answering; begin to give your answer in the very first sentence of your essay; show all work in a problem-based exam; and, above all, write neatly.
13. Pace yourself. Two or three hours is a long time. Think of the final exam as a work session, divided into a number of sub-sessions. Take a few-minute break between each question or part. Approach each question separately from the rest.
14. Don't panic too soon. In three hours, confronted with a number of questions of varying degrees of difficulty, there are bound to be ups and downs—times you're feeling better, and worse, about how the test is going. Ignore such instantaneous feedback. Most tests are designed to have some harder questions, and in any case, such self evaluation is often wrong.
15. Stay 'til the bitter end. It's amazing to see, but many students leave before the exam is over. That's never a good thing to do, since there are always problems to be checked over or essays to be added to or proofread. Even making a single correction to a problem, or adding a single point to an essay (don't be afraid to pencil a paragraph into the margin or on top of the page), can spell the difference between a good grade and a not-so-good grade.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:45 AM
The University of Maryland is moving to the Big Ten Conference. The University wants to celebrate this historic move with celebrations, events, and activities. The move will officially take place on July 1st, 2014. You can learn more here. The University of Maryland today announced plans to commemorate the historic move to the Big Ten Conference. The "THINK B1G" plan includes a series of special events, campus celebrations, and promotional activities to mark the University's entry into the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2014.
"The move to the Big Ten Conference is a university-wide effort," said President Wallace D. Loh. "It's more than a change in athletic conference. Arts, academics, research – all will be enhanced by this transition."
"For our alumni, for our fans, for our students and for the entire university community, this is an exciting time to be a Terp," said director of athletics Kevin Anderson. "I could not be more excited to start competing in the Big Ten Conference."
Key components of the plan, which was developed by a university task force that represented all six divisions of the university plus athletics, include:
Annual Red-White Spring Football Game – This college football tradition will be played under the lights on Friday, April 11 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium, and will feature Big Ten Network t-shirt giveaways and post-game fireworks.
Fearless Ideas Events – A series of events for alumni and friends featuring special 'THINK B1G' programming. Events include Maryland in Manhattan, April 24; Fearless Ideas Rockville, May 1; and Fearless Ideas Arlington, May 8.
"From the Gridiron to the Battlefield: Progress in Understanding and Mitigating Brain Injury" – Taking advantage of UMD's position as the closest institution in the Big Ten to our nation's capital, a special Traumatic Brain Injury Research Forum will bring together University of Maryland researchers with the head of the CIC's Traumatic Brain Injury Research Collaboration.
16th Annual Maryland Day – This annual event draws over 100,000 alumni and friends to College Park to enjoy over 450 exhibits, events and performances. On Hornbake Plaza, there will be autograph sessions with the football and men's and women’s basketball teams, plus an interactive tent with the Big Ten Network, plus plenty of THINK B1G giveaways.
THINK B1G Campus Celebration – A two-day celebration marking the official joining of the Big Ten Conference, June 30-July 1. Includes a special event in Baltimore and a Big Ten Night at Nationals Park on June 30, and a campus celebration featuring food, giveaways and a special program featuring President Loh, Kevin Anderson, and other surprises on July 1.
Destination Maryland: THINK B1G – A new conference for influential high school guidance counselors from Big Ten markets is planned for summer 2014.
Campus-wide Launch Event – On first day of classes, September 2, a campus-wide celebration event featuring B1G games and giveaways.
Homecoming Weekend – Special inaugural season merchandise, commemorative memorabilia, new signage, a Homecoming Festival on McKeldin Mall, and much more is being planned for Homecoming Weekend, October 16-19, all around the 2014 theme – THINK B1G.
Special Unveiling of a new THINK B1G Ice Cream Flavor - A special commemorative B1G ice cream flavor will be ready for unveiling at the July 1 on-campus event, courtesy of the chefs in Dining Services.
In addition, a comprehensive two-month THINK B1G marketing campaign is planned to include outdoor billboards, campus signage, social media marketing, contests and giveaways
Posted by University Club at College Park on 8:46 AM
Spring cleaning is something that everyone dreads, but it is important in any household. Have you started your spring cleaning yet? Read this blog for some great tips on how to make your spring cleaning that much easier. You can learn more at allstate.
Make a list of what needs to be cleaned in each room.
Lists help me stay organized – especially if I have a huge project, like spring cleaning, on my plate. Before I even get started, I walk through each room and write down what needs to get done. Writing a list out also helps me make sure I have all the cleaning materials I need before I get started, saving me tons of time later. It’s a pain in the butt when you have to stop everything to run out and buy more carpet cleaning solution.
Make your playlist.
I have a cleaning playlist that includes the Black Keys, Boston and the Rolling Stones. Listening to music while I clean just seems to make things go by faster. Of course, you don’t have to make a playlist; you could always just turn the radio on to your favorite station. Get a trash and donate box/bag.
As you go through each room, make sure to declutter. Throw away old magazines and papers from the previous year. Put items you no longer use or need, like that book you bought 10 years ago but never read, in the donate box. Once you’re done cleaning your whole house, itemize your donate pile because you may be able to deduct those donations on your taxes. Work on one room at a time.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you want to clean your entire home all at once. Try writing down all the rooms in your home on a piece of paper and checking each one off as you go. If you can work on at least two or three rooms each weekend, you’ll get a lot more done and still have free time on the side.
Set an amount of time to work on each room.
I know I can get easily distracted, looking at items I’d forgotten or old photographs, and before I know it I’ve spent the entire day cleaning just one single room. Set a timer so you don’t fall into this trap. You can also use the timer to give yourself a little break here and there. Much like a list, it helps keep me on track. Trust me, I get easily distracted. Get some help.
Don’t do all the cleaning yourself.
Recruit your kids, significant other or roommates to help you out. I know that when my roommates and I pitch in together to clean the kitchen, it takes about half the amount of time that it takes when I do it myself. To be honest, if those who live there make the mess, they should also help clean it. Start from the top and work your way down.
This is just the law of gravity –
clean from the top of the ceiling to the floor. Knock all the dusty cobwebs from the corner, wash the curtains, clean the windows, dust the furniture, vacuum the furniture and finally vacuum the floor. Use natural cleaners.
Many chemical-based cleaners emit hazardous fumes. Some cleaners when mixed together can even emit toxic fumes that can seriously hurt you. Vinegar is a great substitute to use in your bathroom or kitchen and as a general household cleaning solution.
My grandmother had sworn off “newfangled” chemical cleaners some years ago. She only cleans with vinegar. It makes sense, though, because the acidity of vinegar is extremely high at a pH level of 2. A study in the Journal of Environmental Health found that vinegar is comparable to bleach when killing harmful bacteria like E. coli. Be patient.
My dad always told me to work smarter, not harder.
Take your time and let grimy surfaces, like the ones in your bathroom and kitchen, soak in your cleaning solution. Work on something else on your list while your cleaner does the hard work.
Reward yourself at the end.
For me, having something to look forward to at the end of a long day of cleaning sure makes things go a lot faster. Plus, you worked hard and deserve it. Treat yourself.
OK, so these ideas won’t make all the dirt magically disappear, but the tips above can make the process a little less agonizing. Just remember to pace yourself. You don’t have to do everything in one day.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 7:53 AM
Are you always on the lookout for free or discounted items? Apartment Therapy has your list of some great discounted or free items this week. Keep reading below to learn about free ebooks, discounts on itunes gift cards, and more!
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:50 AM
Have you heard about Hackathons? The University of Maryland will host a technology summit to produce inventive hardware and apps for technological devices. The students split into teams and spend their weekends "hacking" away to produce codes and software. You can learn more at the UofM.
University of Maryland students will host Bitcamp, the university's first Major League Hackathon, April 4−6, 2014 in Cole Field House on the university's College Park, Md., campus. More than 750 college and high school students from across the country are expected to attend the innovative technology summit at UMD.
A hackathon is a weekend-long event where students work in teams to produce inventive hardware and applications for computers, mobile devices or the Web—some of which could serve as the basis for new companies. After 24 to 36 hours of 'hacking," teams showcase their ideas to a panel of judges and participants.
Bitcamp, which is being planned entirely by a team of undergraduate students, will focus on non-competitive student exploration, collaboration, and creative thinking, and will feature a large trade exposition of students' software and hardware creations, or hacks.
"There is a growing movement of 'hackers' that are reclaiming the term to embody innovation, entrepreneurship, and the creation of new software and hardware," said Patrick O'Shea, UMD's vice president and chief research officer. "We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement and host this showcase of innovation at the University of Maryland."
UMD's Terrapin Hackers team was named champion of the Fall 2013 Major League Hacking Season for their performance and attendance at five hackathons across the nation. Energized by the positive outcomes that come from hacking, such as the team's first-place winning sorting trash can at the University of Michigan's MHacks competition, Bitcamp organizers are shifting the hackathon environment for their April event.
"We are creating a new hackathon experience," said Bitcamp organizer Jeff Hilnbrand, a junior mechanical engineering student at UMD. "Our YOU+TECH theme abandons the traditional judging system in favor of encouraging students to create projects inspired by their own passions and interests, instead of inspired solely by competition."
The hackathon experience is meant for all—and offers a chance for students to focus and grow in a compressed timeframe.
"The culture around hackathons encourages experiments, mistakes, and even failure—after all, failure is one of the best ways to learn how to do something better," said UMD junior Brent Bovenzi, a double major in electrical and computer engineering and government and politics. "It is this culture that Bitcamp seeks to expand. Bitcamp is different from other university hackathons—instead of focusing on competition or prizes, Bitcamp values participant experience, collaboration and storytelling."
Bitcamp will feature live blogging and other multimedia components to document the event and give the community a glimpse into the true nature of hackathons.
"At the end of the event, hackers walk away with amazing experiences and new projects, or 'hacks,' that they built themselves," said senior computer science major Joshua Berenhaus. "Bitcamp wants to spotlight as many as possible."
Brendan Iribe, CEO of Oculus VR, a company developing immersive virtual reality technology that's wearable and affordable, will open Bitcamp with a keynote speech.
Students can sign up to attend Bitcamp at http://bitca.mp. Any student enrolled at a university may be eligible for travel reimbursement to attend the event.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:38 AM
Are you ready for summer? Everyone across the United States is feeling
the effects of this winter. Here are some great tips on how to overcome
that winter depression! You can learn more at apartment therapy.
1. Smile. Smiling at our friends when we feel like
frowning, really does make a difference for you and them. 2. Look outside at the sky. Even when it's miserable
outside, spend time meditating by the window. Look at the bigness of the
sky and think outside of the space and present issues of your house.
(Both points 1 and 2 are coming from this blog post,
a religious blog, but I don't think you necessarily need to be
religious to agree that smiling and looking at the sky are great places
to start.)
3. Remember, you can still go outside. Even though it
is cold. Even though it might be snowing. Take a short walk with a friend or loved one. 4. If nothing is helping, go and see someone. Talk to
a friend. See a doctor. It might be as simple as taking Vitamin D. But
if you are feeling hopeless, anxious, depressed, have little energy,
don't want to see people, are oversleeping, and are gaining weight you
may have Seasonal Affective Disorder. It can be easily treated with
light therapy and a management plan.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 11:13 AM
A UMD group has just launched a Kickstarter for their new product.
CoolCAD Electronics LLC has invented a Gatekeeper Chain security project
for your computer. The colorful device automatically locks your
computer when you leave and unlocks it when you return. You can learn more here.
CoolCAD Electronics LLC, a University of Maryland-based electronics design company, just launched a 30-day campaign with the popular crowd-funding site Kickstarter for its new GateKeeper Chain
security product, a small, colorful key fob that automatically locks
your computer when you leave and unlocks it when you return.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:11 AM
Are you craving that familiar food from your childhood? You can have
grown up tater-tots that do not look like they come from a school
cafeteria? Here is a great recipe from The Kitchn.
Grown Up Tater-Tots
Serves 2 to 3
1 pound small potatoes, like baby Yukon Golds or fingerlings 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Italian parsley, finely chopped
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly scrub the potatoes and
arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or
until they are tender enough to pierce with a fork, but not browned. Let
the potatoes rest for 10 minutes or until they are cool enough to
handle.
Turn the oven up to 450°F. Using the bottom of a plate, a
sturdy rocks glass, or measuring cup, smash the potatoes with firm,
downward pressure. Squish each potato to about 3/4-inch thick. They will
crack and split, but they should, for the most part, stay in one piece.
Brush or drizzle generously with olive oil, sprinkle with
minced garlic, and place back in the oven. Bake until crispy and golden
brown, about 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parsley, and try not to eat the whole pan by yourself.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 11:28 AM
Do you take tons of pictures on your digital camera, phone, or ipod in college? It is hard to keep
track of all the pictures you take on all of your devices. Here is a
great organizational system to keep track of the digital photos you
take. You can learn more at apartment therapy.
Raise your hand if you're like me and your downloaded photo
files are a huge, unorganized, hot mess. Yeah, I thought so. Although
the digital age has made it so convenient to capture all the moments in
life that you want to remember, this also means that there are way more
photos to organize and keep track of. So let's band together and start
cleaning up the mess with these photo filing tips...
I would start with getting in the habit of downloading
your images from your camera or phone on a regular basis. Depending on
how many images you take, set up a schedule for once a week or once a
month and then set an alarm to remind you. When the time comes, set up a
file system to keep them tidy and organized once they are downloaded.
Image Archive Organization: you can try something like this...
Start with a folder for the year.
Then a folder for each month — you can even take out the current
month and put it on your desktop to make it easier to download to, and
then put it back in the year when the month is over.
Make a few subject folders in the month that you already know you will have, like holidays, celebrations, vacations, etc.
You can make subfolders if you need to.
Then, as you download your files, create new subject folders in
that month according to your images. At this point it would be good to
delete any images you don't want to keep.
Photo Management Software:
Managing your image library using software
allows
you to tag and search images with ease. Just tag your images in the
program when you import them and never lose an image again. For
instance, you can use tags like birthday and Matt, and find every
birthday image of Matt that you have ever taken. Or get very specific
and search Matt, birthday, 2013, 40th, party hat and get every image you
took at Matt's 40th birthday when he was wearing his party hat.
Some of the top retail management softwares that include import,
review, and professional editing capabilites are Lightroom and Aperture.
Some of the top free or cheap store and display applications are iPhoto, Picasa, Flickr, Shutterfly, Smug Mug, and Photobucket.
Secure Storage:
Ok, so you have all of your images organized and easy to
find. Now let's talk about how to make sure they don't just disappear in
some crazy computer meltdown. Yes, that means we are gonna talk about
the dreaded subject of backing up. Losing precious images is one of my
biggest fears. There are a few ways to go about it:
You can get an external hard drive for a second
secure copy. Also, leaving all of your images on your computer's hard
drive will eat up a lot of space quickly.
You can then make DVD's of important images as a secondary backup in case your hard drive crashes.
OR you can put them in a cloud system online to make sure they are always available in case other systems fail. Here is a review of the best image cloud systems out there.
And of course, you can always print out important images or create photo books of the year's best.
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:33 AM
A University of Maryland professor is working on a vaccine that could be used to treat children with cancer. It is seen to be a hopeful alternative to the harmful side effects that chemotherapy can cause. The $375,000 grant was awarded by the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The grant will help fund books, equipment, and the trails. You can learn more at The Gazette.
A University of Maryland, College Park, professor is designing a cancer vaccine that could be used to treat children without risking the harmful side effects of chemotherapy, and is now being backed by a national cancer foundation.
Christopher Jewell, a UM assistant professor of bioengineering, received a $375,000 grant in December from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer to support his research as it applies to pediatric cancer.
“This is a pretty big grant for an assistant professor,” said Jewell of Silver Spring. “It’s really a great opportunity to gain some innovation, expertise and hopefully make a difference for pediatric patients.”
The three-year grant, which began in early January, will help fund equipment, books and materials for the project, as well as vaccine trials on mice, Jewell said.
Jewell’s research aims to create a designer vaccine that will specifically target lymph nodes and help the immune system eliminate cancer cells and prevent their return, he said. Once developed, the technology could be modified to treat various types of autoimmune diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, he said.
“Cancer vaccines have been studied, because it’s a very promising idea,” Jewell said. “But the problem is the field just hasn’t gotten that to work very well in cancer patients.”
Jay Scott, co-executive director for the Pennsylvania-based Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, said Jewell’s research stood out because it presented a treatment that was safer for children than traditional treatments.
“One of our priorities is obviously find new cures, but also treatments that are less toxic for the kids,” he said. “We’re looking for something that might be innovative. Something that hasn’t been tried before.”
Jewell’s grant was one of the largest awarded by the organization, which receives nearly 400 applications each year, Scott said.
“This is a very prestigious award,” he said.
James Andorko, 24, of Silver Spring is one of around 10 students and post-doctoral researchers working with Jewell and said he is thankful for the chance to participate in the research.
“It’s definitely exciting,” Andorko said. “Winning the grant and getting an opportunity to work on this project opens a lot of doors.”
Yu-Chieh Chiu of College Park is a post-doctorate researcher who has been working in Jewell’s lab since July. He said he was drawn to the project because of Jewell’s energetic and innovative approach.
“At this point everybody is trying to kill cancer. There are hundreds of different ways to kill cancer,” he said. “This project is very different from other approaches. From Dr. Jewell’s primary data, it seems pretty feasible.”
Posted by University Club at College Park on 10:12 AM
Are you looking for a new organizational system for the new year?
Buzzfeed has a list of 50 Clever DIY Organizational Ideas. You can look
below and check out Buzzfeed for the complete list.
1. Tea Shelf
Organize all your teas (or coffees or spices or what-have-yous) in this prettified champagne box by Sarah from Look What I Made.
Materials:
an old wine or champagne box (you can get it at wine stores or even
some delis), two pieces of the lid of the box (you’ll get it in pieces
anyway since it breaks when opened), four screws, decorative paper (old
wrappig paper will do the trick), and a screwdriver. 1. Take
the box and fit the paper in the back. Just fold the edges in to get the
right size. No need to glue it- adding the shelves will secure it in
place. 2. Take the pieces of the lid and fit them in where you want the shelf to go. Screw them to the sides. 3. Once you have the pieces of the lid set and steady, the little shelf is finished.
2. Book Letter Holder
Don’t let your mail just pile up on the counter this year. Use this tutorial by Renee from Bulb to Blossom to turn an old book into an elegant letter holder.
Materials: a book (a smaller hardcover works nicely), craft glue, a sponge brush, a ruler, and a utility knife. 1. First, after separating the book into equal sections, apply glue to the inside of the seam. 2. Use the sponge brush to spread the glue evenly along the seam. 3. Roll the first section of the book inward and press it into the seam, and hold in place. 4. Continue this process for the remaining sections. 5.
After the glue has dried, use your ruler and utility knife to score the
cover of several times, removing the excess. Do this for the front and
back cover.
3. Address Book
You meant to send out those thank you cards,
mail that New Year letter, and just keep in touch in general. However
when the “daunting” task of writing that letter, and penning 30+
addresses… sometimes best of intentions is as far as it goes. So create
this zero effort address mailing book by Ursula from Homemade by Carmona
that takes the scary out of the task! Perfect for Christmas cards,
paying bills, sending out party invitations, or just your everyday
letter.
Materials: binder, plastic divider pockets
and/or sheet protectors, variety of address labels, and stationery
materials (cards, envelopes, paper, stamps, stickers, and ribbon). 1.
Create address labels. Using the template instructions included with
the labels, type up addresses by category. Try categories such as His
Side of the Family, Her Side of the Family, Friends of the Family,
Business Associates, Church Friends, even Monthly Bills, etc. Don’t
forget to create return address labels. 2. Print an address
template on paper rather than directly onto labels. Addresses may change
over time, and it is better to keep a paper template you can copy off
of when you are ready to print your actual labels. Make any necessary
changes on your computer and print up a new paper template rather than
waste pre-printed labels. (The only exception is return address labels.) 3.
Organize and stock the binder. Use pocket dividers or sheet protectors
to organize address templates, a variety of label styles (same size),
cute stationery, stickers, stamps, etc. 4. Use your address book
often!! When it is time to plan that party or send those thank you
notes, pull the appropriate address category, print your labels, adhere,
and send.
Simply paint some magnetic bowls and
use them to store all your metal necessities, such as pins, paper clips,
jewelry, nuts and bolts. This simple tutorial shows you how.
Easiest DIY ever- use six-pack beer box to store your craft supplies, such as knitting needles, tape measures, and yarn. This blog had the bright idea.
Stacking spices in a cupboard just
doesn’t work. But you can easily (and cheaply) make a pretty and
practical spice display with small glass bottles, wire, a white Sharpie,
and this tutorial.
Chalkboard paint and mason jars won’t
be going out of style in January 2014. Try this colorful variation to
decorate your office odds and ends, as done here.
But if you’re over the whole chalkboard thing, try etched glass instead. These instructions explain how to make glass kitchen containers for keeping your pantry sorted.
Simply secure chicken wire to the interior of an empty frame to make a lovely and functional earring rack. This tutorial shows you how.
16. Salt Dough Magnets
Organize your life with these handy little
magnets made from flour, salt, and water. Use them to keep track of the
dishes, your to-do lists, etc. Check out this recipe.
Find a precut wooden base and screw
in a jumble of differently colored perfect hooks. Store scarves, purses,
keys, etc. by the door. Here are the details.
Do you want to get outside, but you are not sure where to do it? There are many ways to explore the outdoors even if you live in a city. Apartment Therapy has your list of ways to become "outdoorsy" no matter where you live.
A hackathon is a weekend-long event where students work in teams to produce inventive hardware and applications for computers, mobile devices or the Web—some of which could serve as the basis for new companies. After 24 to 36 hours of 'hacking," teams showcase their ideas to a panel of judges and participants.
2. Look outside at the sky. Even when it's miserable
outside, spend time meditating by the window. Look at the bigness of the
sky and think outside of the space and present issues of your house.
(Both points 1 and 2 are coming from this blog post,
a religious blog, but I don't think you necessarily need to be
religious to agree that smiling and looking at the sky are great places
to start.)
1 pound small potatoes, like baby Yukon Golds or fingerlings
