ME sophomore Liu Cheng was sporting the ultimate geek chic item last week on the deck of Bechtel Terrace. The tribute to a Nintendo game console speaks to technically-minded young men everywhere. For those who are wondering . . . it doesn’t actually work.

Civil engineer overwhelmed with fame after American Idol appearance

William Hung is Berkeley’s newest celebrity. The CEE junior has been overwhelmed with national and international media attention since his two-minute appearance on the television show American Idol.

After his February 10 appearance on a show that hunts for America’s next singing sensation, Hung’s life has changed. The show broadcast Hung’s audition of She Bangs by Ricky Martin and his subsequent humiliation at the hands of one of the notoriously mean judges...[FULL STORY]

EECS student tries to promote Microsoft Imagine Cup competition on campus

Anil Dhawan’s volunteer job as a student consultant on behalf of Microsoft has been a challenge.

“UC Berkeley has a history of shunning Microsoft products. Because this is where BSD/Unix was created, there’s a legacy of pro-Unix, anti-Microsoft sentiment,” he says...[FULL STORY]

Grad students invent smart pillow alarm that doesn’t wake up every one in the room

There are many products on the market that perhaps shouldn’t be there. There’s the Flowbee, the vacuum haircut system that promises a good haircut with minimal skill. Then there’s the Chia Pet planter, which grows inedible sprouts on a sheep-shaped clay pot.

Conversely, there are products that are not on the market but should be... [FULL STORY]

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