Physics Balsa Bridge Building Contest

Every year the Physics 12 and 11 students of Notre Dame are involved in a bridge building contest. The main goal of the contest is to make the strongest bridge out of only balsa wood and glue. The bridges are also judged and voted by the students as most unusual, most attractive and workmanship. So far, the current record for the strongest bridge is 209.4 kg (465 lbs.) that was made by Matt Sullivan in 2000. This year, the contest is being held on May 6, 2008. This is also the first time I'm going to be a part of this contest. So I hope you wish Lauren (my partner) and I good luck!!!

For more information about the bridge building contest and for a picture of Matt Sullivan's bridge, check out this website: http://www.balsabridge.com/

For pictures of the bridges last year (including photos of them being destroyed), visit this website: www.myndrs.com/bridge07/index.html

Here is a pretty cool link that I found on the balsa bridge website: www.hevanet.com/bridgink/

The contest has been going on for many years, and throughout those years ND has had many sponsors, such as BCIT, UBC, SFU, Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC. For the logos of these sponsors click here.

Vancouver has many interesting bridges - here's my favourite: the Skytrain Bridge

Visual Basic: Multi-From Project

The ICT 12 class has just finished a multi-form project which had many programs that we have made earlier in Visual Basic. Some of the programs included in my project are "Rocket Racer," "Shell Game, " "Calculator," and "Temperature Converter". We also were asked to have a theme for our projects, and we had to redesign all the programs to match our theme. I chose a candy and chocolate theme for my project. The class was also instructed to create a splash-screen, closing screen, menu and an "easter egg." An easter egg is a hidden portion of the project, that can only be viewed when the user presses a particular combination of keys. An example of my easter egg is shown above. To view the "easter egg" in my project, you must press Ctrl + Alt + C when you're on my menu screen.

Computer Disassembly

During the last week of school before the Christmas holidays, my ICT 12 class was given an assignment to disassemble an old computer. In groups of two, we took apart a computer while identifying the different parts inside of it, such as the motherboard, network card and RAM. After we've taken apart all the pieces we could, we had to try and reassemble the computer again. It was somewhat difficult to remember where each part went (especially the data connectors), and it took a bit more strength to put the pieces together than it was to take them apart. Once we got the computer completely reassembled, we brought them to Mr. Vogel and plugged it in to see if it worked, which mine did. Even though this assignment was often frustrating at times, it was satisfying to learn that I am somewhat capable of putting a computer back together.

Before I go, I would just like to wish everyone a happy 2008!!!

Python: @ NDRS

If you want to know more about the computer language Python, check out this website www.myndrs.com/python. The site is run by the ICT 12 teacher Mr. Vogel, and it includes many Python and other Computer Science resources, and some examples of software written in Python. You can even download the package if you're really interested in trying Python out.

Digital Cameras

If you want to buy a camera, check out this website: http://www.ndrs.org/iol/cameras.htm for an updated list of all the latest digital camera models. The list includes the price(s) of the camera at different stores, the megapixels, and some of the camera's special features. It even shows which digitals cameras are considered "best buys." All the models mentioned in the list can be found in the Lower Mainland, but just remember that the prices refer to the Vancouver area

MediaMax & Python

Last week I signed up for a MediaMax account, which allows me to store files. It's kind of like my backup, just incase something happens to my main files. So far, I have stored files from Visual Basic, such as ND Subjects and just recently, Digital Clock.

Yesterday, I installed the program Python onto my computer at home. Later on in the year, my class will be doing some assignments using this program.

One Laptop Per Child

"One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) was founded by Nicholas Negroponte. The goal of this organization is to provide children in developing countries an educational experience - in other words, an access to knowledge. From November 12, 2007 until December 31st, OLPC has established an offer to North American residents called, "Give 1 Get 1," which allows the consumer to get 2 laptops for a certain price, with one of them being sent to a child in a developing country.


For more information about OLPC, visit their official website at:
http://www.laptop.org/.

For a review from someone who owns an OLPC laptop, click here:
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=1014

For an article about OLPC from the Wall Street Journal, click here:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/Wny$100LaptopProjectIsUnderSiege.aspx


(Image Credit: http://eris.njit.edu/~timothyk/uploads/olpc-green-white.jpg)