First world problems and being thankful

This morning, I stepped out the door into a deluge of rain. After very little rain in the past couple of months, we've gotten multiple inches of rain in the last 5 days.  As soon as I started down my steps, I got drenched even though I had a gold umbrella.  My first thought was "Man, I sure wish I had been able to sell my condo and buy something with a garage".  The thoughts of selling the condo and moving elsewhere are tied up with where I'm going to be, which is tied to the current twilight zone issues with my current job, and whether or not I'm staying at VT.  This was what was on my mind on my way to work and while I was slogging up the hill to McBryde Hall to my job.  I get to work early so that I can read headlines and catch up on the news before I get started at work. 

I happened to see an article on WDBJ7 about Virginia Tech opening a "Campus Kitchen" to help provide meals to people in need in out community.  VT is actually the 48th campus to start doing this.  Read more about this nationwide student driven initiative. 

The next website I clicked over to was the Roanoke Times.  One of the headlines was "Virginia Tech, UVa among schools joining effort to revamp admissions process".   One of the goals of this project is to encourage more students to start considering college earlier in their high school careers.  According to the article, "the new tools also are intended to streamline application and financial aid processes as a way to reduce barriers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often fail to receive all the consideration and financial aid they are due, the coalition said." 

At that point, I felt like a slime for being mad about not having a garage.  There are much worse things than not having a garage: not having food, not being able to get an education, and not knowing when your family member will be back on their feet again.  A high school friend's daughter has been in a horrible accident, has been in the hospital and ICU for a few weeks, and may be there many more weeks.  From there, it will be on the rehab.  They just set up a GoFundMe account, if you are able to donate. 

I kept hearing the phrase "first world problem." That sounds a lot better than "whiny ingrate issue."

Campus Safety: Charging stations and uBeam

In the Sunday Roanoke Times, there was an article called "Last call, last charge."  In Blacksburg, Champs Sportsbar & Café became the first bar/restaurant to install a $4K charging station from GoCharge.  This is part of an initiative with "No Hokie Left Behind," trying to keep students (and citizens) safe.  The stations will allow charging of iPhones and Android smartphones.

Shortly after reading that, I saw an article in Fortune Magazine about Meredith Perry and uBeam.  She is working toward creating "wireless charging at a distance."  According to the article, she has a working prototype which investors have seen.  How long before we might be hearing more about uBeam? 

Campus safety is something that pops into my mind quite often.  Working at Virginia Tech, working with college students, talking to young women, hearing things "through the grapevine," and many other things trigger those thoughts. 

It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where these types of things weren't needed, but they are.  Who knows how these technologies might avert a tragedy?  Being able to charge your phone might not seem like a life or death matter, but it could be.   Wireless charging might be the future of technology, but for now, charging stations could be a lifesaver. 

A fan of the Google Doodles? Try making a dress with code

I always enjoy the Google Doodles.  That has to be a really cool job: designing the daily Google Doodle.  Today's Google Doodle is "Made with Code."  The hook is "Create, code, shine. Design a Fashion Week Dress with Made with Code."

I just designed a wearable tech dress in about 2 minutes flat.  Pretty cool.