Frustrated with your Internet service provider? Towson University has an app for that.

The school announced on Friday the creation of the Maryland Broadband Map, which allows users to see what kind of Internet access is available at different locations around the state. Input an address, or click on a spot on the map, and it will spit out the types of access there and the providers that you can pay to get it.

Users can also find out how fast their internet connections actually are with the speed test.

“By engaging the greater community in achieving Maryland’s goal for statewide broadband service availability, the interactive map will help more of the state’s citizens enjoy the enormous advantages of access to information, services, and opportunities for economic growth,” said Dyan Brasington, Towson’s vice president for economic and community outreach.

For instance, dropping The Daily Record’s digits (11 E. Saratoga) into the tool shows five types of connections — DSL, fiber optic, mobile wireless, satellite and “other copper wireline,” which just doesn’t sound as cool as satellite or fiber. There are 16 ISP’s available to serve up web access to that address, from At&T to XO Communications.

Much of downtown has similar options, and many areas around the state have at least a half dozen ISP’s beyond the big guys like Comcast and Verizon. But the farther from I-95 you travel, the slimmer the pickings get. Residents of the town of Accident, Garrett County, for example, have to choose between cable and satellite hook-ups offered by four providers.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

If you’ve ever responded to an obnoxious Red Sox fan at Oriole Park, “Yeah? Well our crabs could kick your lobster’s butt any night off the week!” then this is the bet for you.

The university presidents of Towson and New Hampshire have a friendly little wager going for the Oct. 3 football game between the UNH Wildcats and the TU Tigers: one bushel of Maryland blue crabs against one dozen New England lobsters (or, “lob-stahs”), winner takes all.

And much like when the Boston Red Sox play the O’s here, you can expect a strong New England presence for this one. The UNH D.C. Alumni Chapter and UNH Athletics are partnering to ensure the university has a strong presence at the game and are hosting a tailgating reception for Wildcat fans before the 3 p.m. kickoff at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson.

I like this idea; it’s clever. But they could bump it up a notch. Like say, next year, instead of a bet they should have a crab and a lobster “race” across a fish tank in lieu of a coin toss to decide the receiving team. Of course that would probably cause a PR storm…but it could be pretty entertaining.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

As a University of Maryland alum, I’m feeling a little ashamed of myself and my fellow graduates now that the Council for Aid to Education’s report is out.

The CAE report reveals the total contributions raised by colleges and universities around the nation in 2007. Overall, contributions were up.

Here’s how some of Maryland’s higher ed institutions fared in 2007:

• Johns Hopkins – $430.4 million
• University of Maryland, College Park – $85.5 million
• University of Maryland-Baltimore – $46.2 million
• UMBC – $13.2 million
• Towson University – $7.8 million

And here’s how some of our neighboring state schools fared:

• Rutgers – $102.7 million
• New York University – $287.6 million
• Penn State University – $182.9 million
• University of Virginia – $282.6 million
• UNC-Chapel Hill – $246.9 million

Why do you think contributions to UMD fell behind what other nearby state universities received?

According to President Mote, over 6,000 students graduated in 2006 from the undergrad program alone, and the quality of applicants continues to rise. And UMD is ranked in the top 20 public research universities. So why can’t it even raise one-fourth of what JHU did? Or compete with UNC?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Towson University has found its “Donald.”

John K. Tolmie, president and CEO of St. Joseph Medical Center, will take the “Donald Trump” role in the school’s adaptation of NBC’s The Apprentice, known as The Associate.

A release from the school reads:

Winners of TU’s adaptation of NBC’s The Apprentice will each be named ‘The Associate’ and gain the opportunity to work with Tolmie after graduating in May. Tolmie is the first leader representing the healthcare industry in the four-year history of the competition.

Throughout The Associate competition, participating local companies present cases to the student candidates, whose two teams compete. Each week one candidate from the losing project team is eliminated as Tolmie and others evaluate candidates.

Sounds like an interesting way to get businesses interested in the school’s students. The fun begins Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. in Stephens Hall, Room 310. If you go, come back here and let us know how it went.

JOE BACCHUS, Web Specialist

Powered by Bookmarkify™

For the past few days, my commute to work has been accompanied by the mother of all countdowns on 89.7 WTMD, Towson University’s radio station. The station is counting down the top 897 albums of all time according to over 2,000 loyal listeners who submitted their top 10 albums.

In an era of corporate playlists and DJs who’d rather run their mouth instead of playing records, it’s nice to be able to listen a local station that offers a wide range of music for all us aficionados out there.

A majority of radio stations seem to enjoy drowning listeners’ eardrums in a nauseating repetition of songs and mindless morning chatter. So here’s to one of the last local bastions of audio independence.

If you get a chance, give TMD a listen. At last check, they were down (or up, depending how you look at it) to No. 615. If anyone’s curious, the countdown kicked off with “Hair Original Soundtrack” at No. 897.

FRANCIS SMITH, Special Publications Assistant Editor

Powered by Bookmarkify™