Safe and Secure

How does locking your bike and leaving the keys make sense?

Putting Everything Into Perspective

In light of the disappointing end to my last football season at Georgia Tech, I am trying to ponder the bigger picture and look back on the past year. (Also, this is consolation to some extent)

First, Tech may get beaten by some big teams and seems to get the shaft by every announcer and ref on the planet, but us students have a smugness that makes it bearable. Knowing that as long as we remain a Top 25 team we would dominate any combined ranking of academics and BCS rank.
Second, we still had winning seasons each of the four years I have attended despite dismal post-season performance. I have had the pleasure to attend all but two home football games and had a wonderful time with friends doing so.
Lastly, even if a team like Iowa or Georgia beats us one day of the year and claims victory for that moment, the rest of the year the Tech grads employ and outperform them.

Although my time at Tech isn't over yet, I partly am glad to be heading towards graduation and the paycheck and free time that accompany it. There is still is a part of me that will miss Georgia Tech. Yes, we have no life. No, we have no parties. Girls? Negative. But, we all have something in common. We know how to work hard and have become used to it. That gives us a realistic outlook on life and the ability to think at a higher level than most engineering students. I've enjoyed some of the courses at Tech that teach us not to be a lackey but how to be a manager and how to make our knowledge useful and profitable. The downside is that I have generated a contempt for students who choose "unproductive" majors such as law, fashion, literature, and art. Everyone has a place in society, but complaining about how hard it is when you partied in college no longer seems acceptable to me. Perhaps that's a hard line to take, but what goes around comes around.

As I enter the most time-demanding semester of my career I only hope that I can just sprint to the finish before running out of energy. While motivated by a full time job offer, this goal seems as close and yet as far away as ever.

This past semester I was fortunate to be able to successfully enact my plan of meeting new people and forgetting some of my previous "friends" for some people I truly enjoy spending time with. I did this better than I expected; become close with several people I work with, had some great times with my best friend, and rekindled the fire with some old friends. For once, I felt like I know what I'm doing academically (aside from one class), and really enjoyed my studies. 2009 has been good to me, and I definitely was glad for the most part at how it turned out. I think the secret to my success last year was spontaneity, just going with the flow and taking opportunities as they arose; whether it be a spur-of-the-minute outing with friends, making a late night business trip to D.C., or inviting over an old family friend during Fall Break, I've never regretted any of it and benefited in so many ways.

My resolution for 2010 is to step up to the plate and take action when needed. Maybe I'll speak my mind when called for, or just speak more from the heart, or perhaps take a risk that I would normally second guess. With my career officially beginning this year I want to ensure that I start strong and make a lasting impression. Life is too short to wonder about what could have been.

Tech Dating Guide Part I

How to meet women by starting a casual conversation and setting up a date.
Girl: "It is really cold out here!"
Tech Guy: "This is nothing, I went to the Orange Bowl."
Girl: "Really? In Miami? Tell me more!"
Tech Guy: "It's a long story, how about I tell you over coffee or lunch?"
Bingo! You just broke the ice! More handy advice coming soon....

As long as he doesn't run with scissors...

Found this article titled:
"White House: Obama can Walk and Chew Gum".
Seriously, I promise this is not from the Onion.

cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/01/04/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6054148.shtml

In other news, I got an almost personally signed letter from Senator Webb. The color printed marker signature was pretty clever, anyone with half a brain would have assumed it to be legit. I discovered otherwise.

2009 Album of the Year

This award may seen sort of arbitrary because I definitely have not listened to every major album release this year. However, my criterion are simple: I want to see something complex, something different, and some true talent. For that I turned to jam bands and classic rockers, the last bastion of rock n' roll prowess on Earth. Mainstream rock and pop are automatically excluded because, well, it's crap. Honestly, lyrics don't justify a band to me- I need some real musical talent. Rap is not eligible because to win album of the year you must be a form of music.

As mentioned before, the two top contenders this year are Derek Trucks Band with Already Free and Gov't Mule with By a Thread. Both albums are amazing in their own right and have some stupendous guitar work.

First, the runner-up. By a Thread is such a cool album. I honestly cannot say how much I love listening to this CD. The variety of styles on each track has something for everyone. In typical Warren Haynes fashion, there are plenty of heavy riffs and slick guitar solos. Jorgen Carlsson is amazing, he is exactly what the band needed and, in my opinion, is better than Andy Hess on average. Saying that this isn't the best album of the year because it wasn't something monumental like Dose would be incorrect. In fact, I think this is the best album produced by Mule since Woody passed away. However, considering what Mule typically does, this album falls right in line. The winner this year has something special that took me by total surprise and elicited a strong emotional reponse.

Already Free is a killer. There is a special bluesy attitude to every track, and the entire album exudes this feeling of uplifting. I always break into a smile when I hit play on this sucker (which has been probably 50 times or more this year). Derek Trucks' slide work is top-notch, he has handily earned his distinction as the best slide guitarist currently alive. There are so many tracks on this album that get you tapping your foot and singing along. All of the vocals and harmonies are superb, and the song featuring Trucks' wife on leads vocals is so full of depth and deeper meaning. One of my favorite tracks is "Get What You Deserve", I've never heard anything quite like it, and really love the band's dynamic on this track. In short, the group feels so tight on this album and they pretty much scored a touchdown with every single track. Anyone who doesn't own a copy of this album should probably make their next move to be to the record store to pick one up. Once you start listening, you'll replay it over and over until you have every song in your heart.

Both of these albums should be purchased by all lovers of music, and the Gov't Mule album has a slight caveat to being runner-up: if I was asked to recommend which band to see live if they could only choose one I would immediately tell them to see Mule. Derek Trucks is great to see live, but after hearing both albums' material played live, Mule does a much better job of improvising on it and putting together a more involving show. Every show of theirs is something great, and they don't disappoint to this day. Warren Haynes has such a large library of songs to choose from that you never know what might get played or who might be guest-starring in a show. Derek Trucks plays a little more closely to the album, but aside from Already Free his material might be a little too offbeat for most people, including me.

Rating something higher than music from my favorite band was difficult, but I think Already Free deserves recognition due to the unique style and memorable licks which immerse the listener and virtually place him in the Trucks home studio with the band. Bravo, after all this 2010 is going to seem quite dull.

If Facebook says it....

... it must be true.

The fact that a site frequented by young people shows this result means only bad things for Mr. Change.

Depressed over football

I'm so glad someone else feels the same way I do about the Tech game. At least my fantasy team isn't getting killed.