This is how we do it

For the second year in a row, Forbes today named Milwaukee-based MedEnable Systems (NYSE: MDN) its top party corporation for 2005. (Article Here)

You see, it's not just me.

Do it for the kids

Humans are damaging the planet at a rapid rate and raising risks of abrupt collapses in nature that could spur disease, deforestation or "dead zones" in the seas, an international report said Wednesday. (NYTIMES)

Environmental issues like this are going to sneak up on society some day when it is all too late. Then everyone will look back on all the tell-tale signs we are giving right now.

Is it just my name painted on but a one way street

I took an economics test today sans any form of calculator. I had a few "quantities" that I had to leave as equations. Thank you 6th grade teacher for teaching me to estimate. I also woke up 5 minutes before the test. I used to have a good alarm system.
I don't like routines. It desensitizes you to surroundings. If you listen to a CD enough times you will begin to associate the end of one song with the beginning of another. When you hear the preceeding song on the radio, as it ends you will initially expect to hear the next one from the CD. If you take the same route to work everyday you begin to miss small changes in the environment of your path. Living with a certain feeling for long enough dulls it to where it may eventually pass through. Only the deeply written shall remain.

It is official. I will be in Cairo to study for next fall. I interviewed for Salaam a few days ago and will find out in about two weeks if I am accepted. I could have quite a few arabian nights coming up..
Got a couple ends to tie up before then.

Hello Lamp Post. How you doing?

We had a problem with a meter in the lab. We tried the trusty method of "jiggle a couple wires."
It didn't work.

Because someone has to regulate the porch

Tonight my corner remains populated and consumed with energy.
To my left are two fine gentlemen engaging in what appears to be a conversation over a magazine, or perhaps the joint they smoked last night. One of them continues to play a riveting drum solo on his chair.
To my right are some fine damsels no doubt discussing the surprising turn of events in their lastest lifeless social circle. I guess Starbucks closed too early.
And all I want to do is minimize costs and maximize profits...

When all you got is five minutes

Changing lives is hard work
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

A glimpse

Team America
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

From Global Village at AXLDS 2005.

take a short reprieve

a few photos

waiting for the world's applause

I tell you man..the first two weeks, you get all these butterflies in your stomach...you want to jumb around all over, and then...
...she kisses you
...and you just want to fly

Outswaggered out in the school yard

Initially I pondered the idea of compiling a list of all "hilarious moments of cross-cultural macking." Then fewer and fewer were compiled as efforts dwindled.
We hit the cachaca like it was 1969 and then i hopped on my plane. I returned with 4USD and many thoughts. As I rode to the airport I nibbled on a chopstick and waded through the many faces of Brazil, wondering which I would return to see and knowing all along the first in line.
There are many moments and pictures, which shall appear soon.

Digs left me one mantra. I think I did ok. I left a bit of my own legacy for them to chew on until the triumphant return.

6 more hours

I am sitting next to luciano from MC of Argentina. He had to take care of some work. After we finish, we are finding a bottle of cachaça and throwing all regrets to the winds. I hope I make my plane.
This trip was worth washing the bank account.
I also have about 40 bones left to dish out.

Some need to pray to the sun at high noon...

Vitoria is never going to see it coming.
They will never know what hit them.

Madison.

I am meeting up with a cute little baby now to check out sao paolo.

Brazil Navidad

Despite many forces and self-inflicted barricades, I am now in brazil at the MC house. it is hard to capitalize letters, so i wont do it anymore.
i am killing a little time until me and henrique meet up with some other people and grab a bite and a few drinks
i watched 3 movies on the plane ride. ´pay it forward´ and the incredibles were good. then i watched one about dancing. it starred richard gere and a latinized j-lo. i think it was just because i had so much momentum in watching a screen
i will in fact be taking a bus to vitoria. it is about a 12 hour ride.
to the Adventure!

i think i will now take off my dress pants

Me and my newest host

Need more malted fuel
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

At Oozfest BG once gave me a piggy-back ride. We tried going over a ditch and his ankle gave out. "Crumbled" is probably the best way to describe our crash.

Me and my newest hose

Need more malted fuel
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

At Oozfest BG once gave me a piggy-back ride. We tried going over a ditch and his ankle gave out. "Crumbled" is probably the best way to describe our crash.

It's not as if this barricade blocks the only door

This weekend was all about returning to the roots. Friday included a nice extended power hour, with the usual ensuing dance party, though that was a bit of a lackluster. Saturday saw the spur of the moment party idea, Spring Break '97 theme in honor of our Sister LC.
I kept tabs on the Mountian Mayhem action. It seemed like they were doing well. Emir called me several times last night with some friendly words, mostly beginning with F.
Saturday also saw my return to the great Appalachian Trails. It wasn't the same without The Messiah DJ'ing a soundtrack for me though.

I am now at the laundrymat. There are the 2 token cute girls. One of them smiled at me. The other is giving me these crazy vibes...

Quote of the weekend from this guy:
"W, why aren't you picking up your phone? It's 7:30am your time and we missed our flight, as was expected..."

Perfect.
I'm at BG's house right nowso that I can hit up Chicago real early tomorrow to pick up my visa (I hope).

Great Scott

Two of the Sun trainees have recently joined the fray.

drew
Dan

I met them at Ice Fishing and have to say, they are real cool. No one knows which part of Europe they are really from, which adds to the erotica.
Aight, time to finish up work quick and then head over for the HR Team power hour. No better way to do team orientation, I say!

Wise enough to win the heart, fool enough to lose it

National University of Singapore has agreed to look at my case "more closely." For reference, a requirement for this study abroad program is no grades below a "B." I have 2.
I must fill out this online application and stuff.

Today the Director of Human Resource Development signed on to participate in my ULDS conference. He will give the keynote and also run a break-out session. He gave me several more leads.

I will return to Chicago on Monday to pick up my Visa. I think I fly out of Madison at 7:20pm. I got a heppatitis A shot today.. not for this trip, but for my study abroad aspirations.

As the Chips fall where they may

Good Morning troops!!! (I know it's noon, but assume you are in the West Coast or even better assume it's Sunday and you just woke up)

Hope you are all right!!! Ready to hit this brand new day... If not I got something to get you ready... A sprinkle of exchange that will make your day fabulous, if made mine anyways.

So, here's the dizzle.

At WSC'05 Chi-town, few people were interested in participating in the Salaam Program and attended the Salaam Prep Seminar, so they decided to become Salaamers (in Jen's words Salaami Boys).

The Salaamers had a first mission of promoting the Salaam Program in their universities and chapters... Results were awesome, great, fabulous...and I would like to recognize the efforts that these people did, and share with you these terrific numbers :)

University of Wisconsin - 20 Salaam Applications
Baruch College - 15 Salaam Applications
University of Illinois - 14 Salaam Applications
The George Washington University - 13 Salaam Applications
Yale University - 12 Salaam Applications
Indiana University - 12 Salaam Applications
The Ohio State University - 11 Salaam Applications
University of Texas at Austin - 10 Salaam Applications
University of Miami - 9 Salaam Applications
Arizona State - 7 Salaam Applications
University of Colorado - 5 Salaam Applications

Total applicants from these LCs 128

Also, Thanks to "MMM" (My Main Man) Claude Clodomir, who was the Conductor for these artists.

Final, thanks to the "Brain" known as Dody who was helping us a lot personally to make this campaign a success

These people are what Jacques Chirac would call "Les Grands Calibres" which means the best of the best, the cream of the cream, the finest.

Those who made my day!!!

And have a nice day!!!

Youssef Gaigi

In response to Katie L's challenge...

IMG_5984
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Notice how our spoon is boy-girl-boy...
And let me tell you it was tight.
Much to my liking.
I slept on this futon again last night, a la Dody. I am not sure what we would do if he wasn't convienently located near everything I need to go to in Chicago.
I made it back in time to take the test at 1pm, but I decided to study for an hour and take it at 2:30pm.
I think I did ok. Math tests are hard.

There are people in a room next to me watching a movie and occasionally being very loud. I'm in the library. It is 2:00am.
Exhaustion almost got me today. I didn't succumb.

The only way I do it

The lack of a Brazilian Consulate (in Chicago) website prompted me to not include one necessary piece of information. I will be leaving Madison for Chicago at ~9:30 this evening. I must be back by 2:15 at the latest tomorrow if I hope to have all alotted time for my math test.
It is 2.5 - 3 hour drive.
In Style.

Up through the down chute

Madison and Baruch lead LC's in Salaam recruitment. We lead by one. I like to think that was my application.

Tomorrow's just another day and I don't believe in time...

Question

Is Starbucks an ethical company? Does it deserve my business?
I'm doing a little research. I'd like to see some articles or sources.

Here am I, a fallen arrow

Nothing like starting out the day with a real uplifting email. Luckily the sun is out.

The current parties signed on for ULDS goes something like:
student government, business school, Student Leadership Program
I hope to add a professor or two by the end of the week.

Not bad for 3 days. Dody, when will your name join this prestigious list? You know SilverKey wants a piece of this pie.

The least that lady could have done was spit her gum onto the grass instead of the sidewalk.

I woke up with my head in the toilet bowl

That's where I like to think.

The girl across the table is cute. An inquisitive type it would seem.
I often ask myself how long I will live a sleep deprived life style. I often comment that this day marks the end, only to surpassed perceived limits during extended intellectual tractor pulls.
I show up late to lab every week with a look of astonishment when everyone else has already arrived. I try to look in such a way that they feel belittled for showing up on time. I think it works.

Adam has joined the community. He is our VP of Outgoing Exchange. Sexual references run rampant.
We have definitely surpassed Austin.
The guy and girl switched sides of the table, reminding me to keep things fresh.
Variety is the spice of life, you know.

I am a nice dude

Start out the week with a cool 3.5 hours of sleep. Good thing the lunch is packed already.
Hoping to get through several meetings regarding my Ultimate Leadership Development Seminar in Madison this week. Henceforth it will be ULDSiM or ULDS, depending on morale and stamina.
I need a sexy name and slogan to appeal to the masses.

Keep one eye open the further you go

I would like to see ASM do a campus campaign for an improved university recycling program. An easy start would be getting janitors to incorporate a recycling bin into their clean-up cart and having easily identified recycling bins next to printers.

A few of the Next Gen's

A few of the Next Gen's
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Playlist ready. Coffee done. Let's roll..

What's in there waiting neither one of us knows..

First coffee: 11:45pm CST

This place is olde school. They'll appreciate a couple a high class guys like us.

back-seat bingo: necking in a car
bad news: a depressing person
blow off: defeat in a hot-rod race
cat: a hip person
chrome-plated: dressed up
classy chassis: a great body
cruisin' for a bruisin': looking for trouble
jacketed: going steady
on the stick: together, bright, perpared
passion pit: drive-in movie theater
radioactive: popular
real gone: very much in love
shoot low: be careful
threads: clothes
word from the bird: the truth

For more 50's slang


Oh yeah, my little sis got a blog.

Writing the songs our voices won't share

Opposition to gay marriage is perplexing to me. I've been given a few major fronts, but I don't really any to be too legitimate.
For those basing their arguments on religion and the fact that each person is a 'vessel for God,' that's fine. However, God is not in the constitution. Remember why we founded this country? Your religious persecution has no place in the governance of the country. What happened to loving thy neighbor? I met one person who just didn't want them titled "marriages." Whatever, call them civil unions. All these people want is equal rights and the due benefits for committing to another person.
Also, your faith doesn't have to sanction the act of marrying gay people, but some faiths may find it within their edicts. Allow them to do so. You can keep on hatin' until you catch up to those of us in the 21st century.

Think gay marriage will ruin family values? Think again. Show me evidence that children are actually damaged from that kind of environment. I would bet results would prove the opposite. I imagine that this kind of upraising would emphasize values like caring for others, accepting alternative ideas, different mindsets, etc..

Are you defending the institution of marriage? Cripes, you got worse problems than two dudes trying to show devotion towards another. Isn't that actually helping the face of marriage? Two people devoting to one another? They might even stick it out. Take a look at the divorce rates and tell me marriage is the platinum plated gold you make it out to be.

I also heard an interesting argument linking a falling economy and gay marriage. I don't think I'll do justice to that argument. Besides, I gotta get outta this lab and find me some chrome-plated babies.

12 days

Brazil is my favorite country.
I hope to move there shortly after I graduate.
I haven't been there yet.

Then I like Switzerland.

In the process

The True All Nighter.

Movies have that movie thing

I'll take the two-fifty option.
Over easy.
Wheat.
Water, please.
Thanks.
I gots just under 2 hours to eat and study 11 math problems I have not completed. But I saw Kaitlin and feel revived and envigorated. We share our phrase and I snicker.

And the weak shall inherit the earth

AIESEC 041
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start to mold a new reality closer to the heart.

Another tally

After using the evening to pursue other dreams, it has been determined the math quiz in 9 hours will be quite difficult. Alas, it will be child's play compared to the physics exam in 29.
I'll revel in things like the character I just built.

And here shall you once again spread your wings wide

As a person, one has certain duties and obligations owed to those they call their friends, like buying their drinks on their 21st winter, even when your girlfriend wants to share a bath and listen to jason mraz all night. Or going to Smut 'n Eggs, just so they can say they've done it. Or coming home with that surprise Ian's so you can see that tear of appreciation. Or when it hits the fan and the wall looms forever too high.
And so, I will live by those words. Friday looms near, and for this guy, two thumbs included, that means friendship trumps all.