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Did you hear that?
Michigan is the first team to cross the finish line in Calgary!
But first placing is not official yet. We will have to wait for the organizer to announce the result as there is a possibility, no matter how small it is, that Michigan might have incurred some sort of penalty.
Man, this is too tense.
Dedicated to Mirai Aki, Ivan and all the members of University of Michigan Solar Car Team 2003. And to SpectrUM.
Michigan is currently first enroute to Calgary. Word has it that it’s getting cloudy over. If that is so, it seems that race is not over yet.
In any case, go get em Mirai!
p/s – Reliving the drama, two years later.
Yesterday was fun and a little bit weird. Everything that could go wrong went wrong save the solar modules and our lives.
The day started early for me because I slept early last night, exhausted by the Solar Car work session. At six in the morning on Saturday, there was nothing for me to do so I watch CNN over the net while surfing. Bored, I took my bath and prepared myself for an experiment my team and I was going to conduct at ****** *****’s facilities. Then, just before I shut my computer off, I accidentally click on a link to a weblog with an entry ”Please God, tell me I am dreaming.”
And my reaction right after clicking the link was Please God, tell me I am dreaming. NASA had lost contact with SS Columbia. At that time, Columbia loss was not yet announced. I had wanted to follow the event but I had to go to Ohio.
So, I left and waited for Ivan and the gang outside of the Michigan Union with a pizza in my hand. They were late and I was freezing to death in the cold morning. Then, they arrived and I found out that Jaz replaced Brent and Anastasia was not coming. We had planned to leave boring Ann Arbor at 1030 hours but found ourselves still in Ann Arbor half an hour later. (It was Mirai’s fault.)
The journey went smoothly and enjoyable until we heard about SS Columbia. The atmosphere in car was quiet but Jaz tried to lighten it up by talking about South Park. From South Park, the conversation went to politics and ended up criticizing Bush’s policies against Iraq. One of us even said that Bush is going to blame Iraq over Columbia loss which of course, was actually asked by the media later on.
While we were talking nonsense (especially on how ”they killed Kenny stuff”), we lost our way due to several severe wrong turns. Talk about not paying attention to the road. Worse, I found out that instead of printing the complete direction from MapQuest, Ivan wrote it down a piece of paper without proper details. Nevertheless, we reached United Solar at around noon safely.
During the test, Mr. **** ******* was very nice to us. Not to mention his courtesy – we ran our test out of the usual business hours.
The test ran six hours straight, without even a sip of water. I also almost killed an A module by accidentally dropping it to the hard, solid concreted floor.
Luckily, a few thousand dollars was saved because the module actually survived the impact. By 1800 hours, Jaz and I were having headache due deprivation of food (I am not kidding. I had a bad headache that I puked. And damn Ivan, he thought I was kidding. For God’s sake, my face was freaking pale!!!)
After the test, we put the modules into a huge case, thank Mike and left the facility. In the car, instead of discussing the result (the result was favorable by the way), we argued whether we should eat fast food or proper food. In the end, we decided to eat at a bar called Futtbucker (I am still blurry on how we reached this decision). It turned out later that it was not a bar (thank God). The dinner was good. Grilled salmon, tots and stuff were enough to help me to get over my headache.
Once satisfied, we continued our journey to Ann Arbor but we failed to realize one thing, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE and the moon was high up in the sky. We knew that we were already in Michigan but seeing Detroit in the horizon was not in the plan. Ivan had somehow drove the Jeep eastward. Once he realized that, he went westward and suddenly, all sign civilization ceased to exist. No highway, no nothing. We were frantically trying to stay calm. A few long moments later, a road sign with Ann Arbor written on it and were relieved. BUT, that is not the point of this entry dear diary.
While, quoting Jaz, we were going to the unknown, we heard a strange beep. We looked at a small screen at the dashboard and realized, THERE WAS ONLY 18 MILES WORTH OF GAS AND WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE STILL.
”You know guys, in the trunk, there are **** * ******* ****** ***** ** ***** *******. If we are stuck in the middle of nowhere, some crook gonna rob us and sell it.” Jaz was driving us nuts.
17 miles.
16 miles.
”Should we go back or should we risk it forward?” asked Ivan.
”We know that there is nothing behind so the probability of discovering a gas station is larger if we go on”, answered Mirai with the failure to pronounce all the ”r”es.
”Yeah, better something than nothing” I said.
So, we went on and on.
15 miles.
13 miles.
”Hey, it skipped 14!” I screamed. Everybody joined in with ”shit”.
12 miles.
11 miles.
The smart Jaz said ”You know guys, what’s really comforting? Cars usually stop before gas is empty.”
”How is that supposed to be comforting?!?!?!?!?” yelled Ivan.
9 miles. This time it skipped the integer 10.
”Wait, this car is made by Europeans, it should be smart enough to tell us how much exactly we can go!” Mirai Aki suggested.
”Oh, Jeep is made by Americans.” Jaz cut.
”Americans!!! No!!!”
”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”¦!!!”
Now, it was sheer panic. We thought we were totally screwed but then, we saw a sign – ”˜Ann Arbor [something less than 9] Miles’.
”We’re saved!!!” declared Mirai.
6 miles. This time, the meter skipped 2 integers. We were screwed.
”Alright guys, whatever god out there, just pray. I’m a Shinto, you Jaz?” asked Mirai.
”Sikh”
”You Hafiz?”
”I’m a Moslem”, I replied.
”Ivan?”
”I’m atheist.”
”Shit, we are going to die. Good luck praying.” I said. The three Believers started to panic even worse. An atheist!!!
3 miles and S Main St., ANN ARBOR. This was the first time all four of us were actually glad seeing the lights of Ann Arbor. By then, it was really loud in the car. Mirai keeping on screaming like a girl, Jaz was suggesting unbelievable suggestions, Ivan trying to calm himself at the helm and I kept on laughing like a drunken man.
3 miles still and still no pump station.
”AMOCO!!! Our savior!!!” declared Mirai.
3 miles still and we were saved by AMOCO, a polluter.
158 miles. I made a mental note – for this, I won’t say a shit about Bush for a week. I swear to God.
”What a day. Columbia, late for an hour for the test, no food, accidentally dropped the module, headache, a restaurant called Futtbucker and being lost in the middle of the night, there must be something else” somebody said and it was true.
Near Rackham Graduate School, Ann Arbor Police (they arrested me once for snowball fighting) stopped us. This must be the climax.
”Shit”, that was all Jaz and I could muster.
Luckily, the police just warned us.
The fellowship of the solar modules continued their quest to return the solar modules to the PowerLab.
Once there, victory was announced but Jaz was not satified.
”Should we checked the solar modules in the bag?”
”Let somebody else find out. I had enough for the day”, I said.
Ivan drove me home later.
”Alright Hafiz, brush you teeth and go to sleep”, Ivan said.
”Thank you for showing up Hafiz”, Mirai thanked.
”See ya”, Jaz said.
”Later all”.
Immediately after I reached home, I stripped and went straight away to bed.
Sweet home Michigan.
Below, an excerpt from Mirai’s Log:
Division leaders: Please forward this to your division if possible.
Power Electrical Division, Mirai’s Log: February 1, 2003AD
It was the most important day for SpectruM Power Electrical Team. We finally got approval of solar module testing from our greatest project manager, Josh Harmsen, and our finest engineering director, Jeff Chen.
Ace driver of Power Electrical Team, Ivan Goenawan, rendezvoused with fellow members, Hafiz Noor Shams, Jaswinder Singh and Mirai Aki, this morning at 10:30. We headed out to testing facility of ****** *****. There was a little confusion with orientation, but we successfully arrived at the facility on 12:00.
Without any consumption of food, we tested modules until 17:30. The test was successful: all the modules were supplying decent amount of power.
Satisfied with the result of the experiment, we left the facility, and headed back to Ann Arbor. On the way back, we stopped by Futtbuckers, finest self serving dinning, even though we expected it to be a bar.
The way back home was, in some sense, adventurous and chaotic. We drove thirty minutes after dinner, and found ourselves in front of Futtbuckers again. We were terrified: what is wrong with this area? Is this some kind of twilight zone? We kept on driving, until we showed up in middle of nowhere.
Jaswinder screamed, ”We are in middle of unknown!”
He was absolutely precise. There was no sign of civilization. Suddenly, we heard a small electrical beep in the vehicle.
”What is that?” Mirai blurted out of curiosity of what happened.
”Oh,we’re running out of gas.” Ivan responded with rather calm voice.
”F###!” Mirai screamed.Although, Mirai remembered a small detail about the vehicle which he heard from his friend before. A car won’t stop for a while even a gas meter indicates empty gas. When Mirai calmed down with the recognition, Ivan turned on the small monitor built into vehicle. Everybody observed the screen with their mouth wide open: the monitor said, ”18 miles to gas empty”. Remember, we were still in middle of nowhere.
16 miles, 14 miles”¦”¦.. count down began.
Somebody in the car said, ”Everybody, there must be a gas station in next 14 miles.”
Jas added to that statement, ”You know guys, what’s really comforting? Cars usually stop before gas is empty.”
Ivan yelled in obscenity, ”How’s a f%%% that supposed to comfort us!?”
Mirai cried out loud like a girl, and said, ”Wait, this car is made by Europeans, it should be smart enough to tell us how much exactly we can go!” There was a moment of silence.Jas broke the silence, ”Oh, Jeep is made by Americans.”
Mirai freaked out, ”Americans!!! No!!!”
Count down continued. Suddenly 12 miles turned into 13 miles. Mirai naively yelled, ”It’s a miracle!”
Ivan said, ”Oh, I just slowed down.”
Meter went back to 12 at that moment.
9 miles, 8 miles, 6 miles”¦”¦ Meter was decreasing inversely proportional to our screaming intensity. 4 miles, and we finally saw lights.
Yes, the light of civilization. Light of Ann Arbor! Home. Isn’t it such a wonderful term?
3 miles”¦”¦ We were crying. Finally, there it was. Amoco, gas station!
Who has ever appreciated a gas station as much as we did before? We were all relieved. It was 2 miles when we finally arrived. After refuel, we headed out to Power Lab to drop off solar modules. On the way, somebody next to our vehicle was telling us to open our window. It was a police. Ivan got warning for going through yellow light. Jas and Hafiz said ”Sh**!”
We successfully delivered solar module at power lab on 21:30. We are currently logging at 22:00 next to cemetery. This all actually happened when we were carrying **** * ******* ******* ***** ** ***** *** ****’s heart and soul.
This is Mirai Aki, closing in.
Go Blue!
Michigan, as in right now, officially, is leading the pack in American Solar Challenge 2005. According to official timing update, Michigan is well over 10 minutes ahead of the nearest challenger, Minnesota. Almost all teams are currently in Medicine Hat, Canada, preparing for the final stage – a dash to Calgary.
Minnesota in their blog blame the weather for being less than merciful. Michigan was lucky to be not under the clouds although according to Michigan, Canadian wind is giving them a hard time.
Another competitor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is approximately 20 minutes behind Minnesota. They were first for some time before crossing the Canadian border but a hailstorm changed that.
I’m excited to see Michigan taking the lead as the curtain comes down. If Michigan wins this edition of ASC, it will be the fourth title and hence continues to be the winningest team in ASC history.
Anyway, this is a map showing the route between Medicine Hat and Calgary. Medicine Hat is located at a junction nearest to the intersection of a dash line (Saskatchewan-Alberta border) and a solid line (Canadian-American border). Mapquest says that’s 183 miles.
Go Blue! All the best!
And then onwards to Australia! (I hope Michigan is going… 2003 was a tough year. It’s time to take revenge.)
While browsing Project Petaling Street earlier to relieve myself of boredom, I came across a blog’s entry questioning democracy. Those questions are legitimate and it’s true that democracy is not without flawed. However, they are several points that I disagree and here, I will offer a different perspective.
Author of the blog first touches on how majority rules. I quote him (or her but since English lacks a neutral term, I’ll use he/his/him out of convenience) here.
The Majority Vote
This is what democracy has it’s base in, that the majority always has it’s say. But look at our own nation. Recently there was a discussion on the NEP and it’s revision, the 2020 goal. Many non bumis said it was unfair and undemocratic. In my opinion, it’s totally democratic, since the majority of the populace, or the Bumiputera support it and votes in the government that keeps it in return, because bumis hold a 60-40 majority in terms of population, is the government going to back down from the majority of it’s voters? No. And if so, i’m sure the 60 percent will find a party willing to support the NEP, so i ask you, unless the bumis were gratious enough to give up their rights like the Whites of america or the non bumis having enough children do you see a solution?
I have nothing to say here except that I agree with it. That’s what democracy essentially is.
Then, the author mentions voting idiots.
The Idiot Vote
I question the reason why idiots get to vote, just imagine if only 20 percent of people knew the parties, candidates, issues and consequences. Then what would the other 80 percent be? Obviously idiots, idiots who are impressionable, stupid and can’t diffrentiate State from Parliament. So in a democracy, we’re essentially putting our lives and future into the hands of people who can’t tell left from right. Why are we the more intelligent people giving dumb animals the right to vote? Equality has nothing to do with it, the greater good is at stake here, and i’m as sure as hell not going to give up my right to choose because the majority of idiots think that voting for the party with the flashiest banners, nicest clothes and best media manipulation. Since opening the eyes of idiots is like try to cut a diamond with a flaccid penis, i suggest a screening system of sorts, for example my favourite “Service guarantees citizenship!”
While I do agree with him about there are voters that lack certain information in order to properly practice his right to choose, I firmly disagree to disallow these idiots, or politically correct term, uninformed voters from practicing their right to vote.
If we in the name of greater good prevent these voters from the ballot, we would be no better than a tyrant. A tyrant would choose at his wimp who would be able to vote by invoking this idea of uninformed voters or to some extent, imperfect or asymmetrical information (The term imperfect or asymmetrical information only applies if a voter actually gives a damn about an election rather than being nonchalant). A tyrant could easily label the supporters of his opponent as ignorant and naive, of which from the tyrant point of view, being uninformed of the need to elect the tyrant over and over again. The term uninformed is subjective and it’s dangerous to tinker with.
The solution to this is free flow of information. The author asserts that educating these uninformed voters is as useful as talking to a brick wall. Well, he is wrong. If a person intends to vote and new information is available, a rational voter will certainly take that piece of information into account. Moreover, if a voter doesn’t care about anything and hence doesn’t have the urge to know who’s who, what’s what, which, why and how, it’s kind of obvious that he won’t exercise his right to vote. Thus the question, why do we need to prevent him from voting in the first place?
It is far easier and less trouble to let everybody votes. Enough of that. Let’s move to the next item in the list, non-contributory voter.
The Non Contributor Vote
Seriously if someone enters your home asks for free food and lodging plus you give so to him, are you going to challenge whatever the owner of the house says? No, be thankful the owner took you in the first place. Why should we, the tax payers help the lower class that contributes nothing, i believe that people should only be given a right to vote if they contribute, something like the Wikimedia foundation vote, where the greatest contibuters wield the most power to vote and become candidates, so in a sense, the more good you do, the more power you wield, may sound bad to most, but to me it isn’t , naturally good people will rise the ranks due to their contribution, doesn’t need to be monetary, but it can be judged on many fronts. How would like it if some stupid lepaking kid who smoke 2 packs a days and doesn’t work to wield a vote? Seriously these people don’t deserve it! And if they don’t deserve it why in God’s name should we give them the power to steer the future of a nation!
A citizen of a country, living in that country, will be affected by any policy brought forth by the government, regardless whether he does contribute to the country or doesn’t. It’s because of that that they do and should have a voice. Furthermore, allowing merely contributing citizens to vote is similar to taking a walk well before the French Revolution when only landowners have the right to vote. Certainly, that walk to the past is an undoing all the progress humanity has made in achieving a fairer society.
Finally, higher unconscious vote. Honestly, I have no idea what that term means but according to the author:
The Higher Unconcious Vote
The problem is that simply, democracy isn’t exercised all the time! Only during the elections, how can we as the voters vote on anything more than not only our leaders, but the choices they exercise, like how politicians are pressing for the change of UNITAR to UNIUMNO, it’s just plain stupid, but what can we as the public do? We aren’t given the choice to shoot it down are we? Ofcourse we chose these SOBs as our representatives, but do they actually represent our choice? I never saw any politician holding a meeting on the census of certain issues in my area do i? In the end these politicians merely promise to serve our will, but in the end, serve their own will! When was the last time your representative held counsel with the people who voted him in to hear their thoughts? Only when it’s convenient. Just like the LRT ad fiasco, the stupid MP blamed his Voters for wanting to raise the issue, either his voters are all the aformentioned above or he’s looking for an easy way out!
All I can say is you reap what you sow. The voters are at fault here, not the system. Vote him out in the next election instead of reelecting him.
Michigan has been racing in the American Solar Challenge for eight days now and is currently, seems to be first in the Canadian prairie though on the record, Minnesota is the leader. As Michigan has said, it is too close to know for sure who really is first.
I’ve been following the race right here from Malaysia, keeping an eye on various teams’ blog and GPS tracker provided by organizer. I think is the first race ever in which I’m dependent on various solar teams’ blog and the GPS system. The usage of both tools might have happened before but for me, this is the first time I actually see the utilization of both tools.
Those blogs give a more accurate view of what is going on in the race from each competing team’s viewpoint. More importantly, those blogs give a more up-to-date report on the situation compared to the official site, which save the GPS trackers are updated only so often.
It’s true that those blogs are only updated once a day but with blogs visitors leaving useful comments behind, the blogs are practically being updated continuously.
If you are interested the official site is at NASC 2005. They have the GPS tracker here.
The leading blogging teams are, not in order…:
Michigan
MIT
Missouri-Rolla
Minnesota
Go Blue! Eh!