Why is it when someone is writing an e-mail that they appologize for it's length? Would you appologize if you were writing a letter? I assume that the information is useful or relevant to whatever the topic is so if you're writing it, then it's supposedly useful. If it's not useful then why are you writing it? Thus, if you write a long e-mail it's supposedly about something I need to know and it shouldn't matter that it's "long".
Maybe length was an issue when everyone was using a 14.4 kbs modem when a few extra sentences were taxing on the download time. Though now that should not be a problem. I guess it's a product of technology change. That's my rant for awhile.
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Thursday, October 02, 2003
The more I learn the more I realize I don't know
The title pretty much sums it up. This realization has really started to come to me the past couples of days. What do I know? Having just graduated from college now in grad school. Compared to other people I'm around everyday I've done squat and don't really know all that much about how the world works. For example, today in Urban Neighborhood Revitalization we did a case study about a how to set up a mixed income, integrated subdivision. Going over the case study before class started I tried to come up with resolutions to the racial issues but I couldn't. In class we had a discussion that started off innocuously as usual classroom discussions do, but it quickly turned into a passionate argument between several members of the class. Some background about the class, there are 20 students split about 50-50 male-female, 2 black females, 1 Austrian girl, and the rest are white Americans. Immediately this makes any racial discussion biased and a tenous subject. I didn't speak up today because I was contemplating what was being said. I have no idea what it's like to be a minority or even a member of the majority that is living in poverty. How am I supposed to "fix" societal problems such dealing with equity and social justice? The only way I could personally relate to the integration discussion was through my scout camp experience that forced the interaction of Buckhead kids and inner city kids that quickly errupted into chaos. Bringing this back to topic, the resolution of the class was that people must have the ability to choose where they live and the ultimate goal should be education and cultural studies beginning at the earliest age. How do you do this? The kids learn to be biased from their parents who learned from their parents and so on. Where does the cycle begin and end, it's a difficult situation.
Before the class today and I had been contemplating this thought as well. I realized how much my thinking and consciousness of the world had changed since high school and even the beginning of college. Education and experiences are the key to understanding the world. What if I hadn't worked at scout camp for two summers, what if I didn't go to Europe in Jr. High, What if I didn't go to GA Tech and hear five languages at a time when walking around campus? Who would I be? Would I have learned that I have to respect and engage with people other than me? Would I be in my little Carrollton, GA world in my ethnocentric bubble? Most likely yes, and that's a disturbing thought. While I am still extremely sheltered from a lot of things I am grateful I have learned about the world around me and have developed a consciousness and the ability evaluate.
Finally, after watching the last several episodes of ER, and question that has long plagued me has come back. How does one best serve? Is it on a local scale, regional, national, or even global in nature? I have pondered this for quite awhile and came to the conclusion that there are service opportunities everywhere, one just has to find the right niche. However, after watching ER and seeing the destruction and hearing the dialog about elitist American ideals I am drawn to the idea that the global cause takes precedence over local needs. Why should my efforts be spent in revitalizing neighborhoods in the US when the Americans most likely have a far superior quality of life compared to those in war-torn areas. Why shouldn't our focus be on international service? But then I'm drawn back to the thought that why not help the guy in our backyard, everyone should be valued equally. As in the case study, it's a difficult situation, and one that I'm not likely to resolve any time soon. So until later, later.
Before the class today and I had been contemplating this thought as well. I realized how much my thinking and consciousness of the world had changed since high school and even the beginning of college. Education and experiences are the key to understanding the world. What if I hadn't worked at scout camp for two summers, what if I didn't go to Europe in Jr. High, What if I didn't go to GA Tech and hear five languages at a time when walking around campus? Who would I be? Would I have learned that I have to respect and engage with people other than me? Would I be in my little Carrollton, GA world in my ethnocentric bubble? Most likely yes, and that's a disturbing thought. While I am still extremely sheltered from a lot of things I am grateful I have learned about the world around me and have developed a consciousness and the ability evaluate.
Finally, after watching the last several episodes of ER, and question that has long plagued me has come back. How does one best serve? Is it on a local scale, regional, national, or even global in nature? I have pondered this for quite awhile and came to the conclusion that there are service opportunities everywhere, one just has to find the right niche. However, after watching ER and seeing the destruction and hearing the dialog about elitist American ideals I am drawn to the idea that the global cause takes precedence over local needs. Why should my efforts be spent in revitalizing neighborhoods in the US when the Americans most likely have a far superior quality of life compared to those in war-torn areas. Why shouldn't our focus be on international service? But then I'm drawn back to the thought that why not help the guy in our backyard, everyone should be valued equally. As in the case study, it's a difficult situation, and one that I'm not likely to resolve any time soon. So until later, later.
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Ramblings
It's been a rainy, lazy, and boring Sunday. I went to the football game yesterday and watched UNC get stomped by F$U. The pregame and first series were awesome, the sea of blue was into the new season and then the team got busted up. Pictures here: My Moblog
I went to brunch at the Carolina Coffee Shop with the grad student group at University Presbyterian Church this morning, followed by church. After church thunderstorms rolled through and set the tone for the rest of the day. A day spent watching tv on my computer, writing down the rest of my assignments, and generally being lazy. Thankfully tomorrow is Labor Day and there's no school so hopefully I'll get some reading done.
Finally, here's a picture of me being productive earlier in the week, I'm reading my micro book at the Johnson Center (I think that's the name) on the big patio next to the Morehead Planetarium.
I went to brunch at the Carolina Coffee Shop with the grad student group at University Presbyterian Church this morning, followed by church. After church thunderstorms rolled through and set the tone for the rest of the day. A day spent watching tv on my computer, writing down the rest of my assignments, and generally being lazy. Thankfully tomorrow is Labor Day and there's no school so hopefully I'll get some reading done.
Finally, here's a picture of me being productive earlier in the week, I'm reading my micro book at the Johnson Center (I think that's the name) on the big patio next to the Morehead Planetarium.
Thursday, August 21, 2003
Clanging of the cymbals...
You know it's time for school to start when the drumline is outside practicing and the Hare Krishnas are walking down the side walk singing and playing their cymbals. Yes folks, I'm in Chapel Hill now and it's quite an interesting feeling. I really don't know anyone except for Brian my roommate and the few people I talked to today at the first of 4 days of orientation. The drive up on Monday wasn't very eventful and the traffic ceased to exist which was a bonus.
We stopped at a McDonalds in SC and there was a G-wagon with Sprewells.
We arrived in Elon around 4 and then moved the big truck to the tractor store and I got to drive it around the back lot...yes I drove the manual truck for the second time.
After that we went to a new cafeteria and proceeded to eat too much food.
Tuesday was spent moving into the apartment. It's definitely not a good idea to have a 6' long desk that needs to go on the second floor of a townhouse. Next time someone needs to remind me that a flat would be the way to go. Brian seems like a cool guy, we have a lot in common thus far though we've both been busy with moving and orientation. His mom is also really nice and has been helping set up the apartment and especially the kitchen, she's adding the woman's touch. Today was the first day of orientation and it was interesting to see who actually came to UNC that was at the open house; I noticed several people that seemed gung ho about the program that weren't there today. Overall the class seems extroverted and active which is something that will take some getting used to. Also another surprise was the age range of students. I expected there to be a fairly big gap between students but it doesn't appear to be too big. Of course there are the older folks that have been out for a long time but most seem to have graduated college in the last 5 or 6 years, however, I counted only 6 of us that just graduated out of a class of approx. 45. Tomorrow will be more orientation all day and then I'm dreading Saturday. As a TA I have to attend a campus-wide training session from 8:30-3 yes you heard me on Saturday from 8:30-3, not my idea of fun the weekend before school starts. Monday brings more orientation and then classes start Tuesday.
Now that we're on the subject of classes...I'm not really sure what to expect and I haven't really been able to tell from today's sessions. It's either going to be a ton of work or not going to be bad at all. Pretty either really, really bad or only a little bad, most likely the former. None of the other people I talked to know what to expect either and seem to have some trepidation like I do about what's about to start on Tuesday. I'm sure everything will work out and I'm just having new place and surroundings jitters but it's time to see if I can hack it. Was my undergrad time a waste? I sure hope not but now's the time to see. Another thing that's bothering me and that hasn't really been an issue before is the social aspects of being a graduate student. I'm used to just hanging out and maybe then grabbing some food then hanging out some more. It seems like that's not the norm for most people. Since I don't drink alcohol, at least yet, it's going to be weird to be around people that are. For example, there is an outing on Saturday night to some Wine Bar, who goes a wine bar? Doesn't sound like much fun to me. What does one wear to a wine bar, beats me. So do I want to go, nope. Will it look bad if I don't go, probably. So will I go, most likely not. It's definitely going to be a year or two of firsts, hopefully I'll find some friends either in classes or at church. Hopefully I'll learn to be a graduate student and I guess eventually grow up.
Sorry for rambling but it's nice to write what's in my head sometimes, especially when friends aren't around anymore. Here's some more pics.
My building:
More pics updated frequently at My Moblog.
We stopped at a McDonalds in SC and there was a G-wagon with Sprewells.
We arrived in Elon around 4 and then moved the big truck to the tractor store and I got to drive it around the back lot...yes I drove the manual truck for the second time.
After that we went to a new cafeteria and proceeded to eat too much food.
Tuesday was spent moving into the apartment. It's definitely not a good idea to have a 6' long desk that needs to go on the second floor of a townhouse. Next time someone needs to remind me that a flat would be the way to go. Brian seems like a cool guy, we have a lot in common thus far though we've both been busy with moving and orientation. His mom is also really nice and has been helping set up the apartment and especially the kitchen, she's adding the woman's touch. Today was the first day of orientation and it was interesting to see who actually came to UNC that was at the open house; I noticed several people that seemed gung ho about the program that weren't there today. Overall the class seems extroverted and active which is something that will take some getting used to. Also another surprise was the age range of students. I expected there to be a fairly big gap between students but it doesn't appear to be too big. Of course there are the older folks that have been out for a long time but most seem to have graduated college in the last 5 or 6 years, however, I counted only 6 of us that just graduated out of a class of approx. 45. Tomorrow will be more orientation all day and then I'm dreading Saturday. As a TA I have to attend a campus-wide training session from 8:30-3 yes you heard me on Saturday from 8:30-3, not my idea of fun the weekend before school starts. Monday brings more orientation and then classes start Tuesday.
Now that we're on the subject of classes...I'm not really sure what to expect and I haven't really been able to tell from today's sessions. It's either going to be a ton of work or not going to be bad at all. Pretty either really, really bad or only a little bad, most likely the former. None of the other people I talked to know what to expect either and seem to have some trepidation like I do about what's about to start on Tuesday. I'm sure everything will work out and I'm just having new place and surroundings jitters but it's time to see if I can hack it. Was my undergrad time a waste? I sure hope not but now's the time to see. Another thing that's bothering me and that hasn't really been an issue before is the social aspects of being a graduate student. I'm used to just hanging out and maybe then grabbing some food then hanging out some more. It seems like that's not the norm for most people. Since I don't drink alcohol, at least yet, it's going to be weird to be around people that are. For example, there is an outing on Saturday night to some Wine Bar, who goes a wine bar? Doesn't sound like much fun to me. What does one wear to a wine bar, beats me. So do I want to go, nope. Will it look bad if I don't go, probably. So will I go, most likely not. It's definitely going to be a year or two of firsts, hopefully I'll find some friends either in classes or at church. Hopefully I'll learn to be a graduate student and I guess eventually grow up.
Sorry for rambling but it's nice to write what's in my head sometimes, especially when friends aren't around anymore. Here's some more pics.
My building:
More pics updated frequently at My Moblog.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Bored at work
It's been a couple of weeks since I posted. Not much of interest has gone on except for attending the Oxford Family Reunion, a Braves game, and Gulf Shores. Today I've been really, really bored at work because there isn't enough for me to do, at least today. So I've spent my time surfing the net and reading the message board at Go Jackets.com. On one hand it's nice to get paid for doing nothing but also it makes me wish I was actually doing something productive. Oh well.
After reading reviews for NCAA 2004 (football game for PS2) I think I'm going to buy it and actually get some use out of my online adapter.
The fishing at Gulf Shores was amazing. It had been a long time since I had been able to fish in the ocean. I like it a lot better than freshwater fishing because the variety and size of fish you can catch is much more varied. You never know what you'll get. Pictures are posted in the pictures section of the page (camera phone pics coming soon). Here's what I caught:
Saturday:
2 sharks about 2.5-3' long
5 catfish of varying size
4 Jack Crevalle, about 7" long
1 Remora about 8" long
Sunday:
1 Jack
1 catfish (first cast of the day and a double with the jack)
1 preganant Blue Crab
1 something really big that came unhooked
1 Ladyfish
Overall pretty decent weekend of fishing if you ask me. I used dead shrimp and a jig and plastic shrimp for bait.
Time to go collect the mail and run it through the meter.
After reading reviews for NCAA 2004 (football game for PS2) I think I'm going to buy it and actually get some use out of my online adapter.
The fishing at Gulf Shores was amazing. It had been a long time since I had been able to fish in the ocean. I like it a lot better than freshwater fishing because the variety and size of fish you can catch is much more varied. You never know what you'll get. Pictures are posted in the pictures section of the page (camera phone pics coming soon). Here's what I caught:
Saturday:
Sunday:
Overall pretty decent weekend of fishing if you ask me. I used dead shrimp and a jig and plastic shrimp for bait.
Time to go collect the mail and run it through the meter.
Monday, July 07, 2003
"Wouldn't it be nice...
...if we were older then we wouldn't have to wait so long."
That's an interesting line from a Beach Boys song. In this context I'm going to talk about it not in the intended sense but in one that applies to my current state in life. As a fresh college graduate life is rapidly changing, yes that's cliche but it is. The main difference is getting a job, albeit summer job, though it's a job nonetheless. For a little background here's my work experience during college
Summer after freshman year: Worked for SMI processing checks in NC for 40-60 hrs/wk
Summer after sophomore and junior year: Interned for the City of Carrollton and worked from 8:30-12:30 so work half day get half paycheck
Summer after graduation: Interning at J. Smith Lanier and Company full time
So that puts us back to the present. I got to thinking tonight as I was sitting in front of my computer waiting to talk to folks that doing such as thing is pretty sad. Yes I sat here longer today than usual due to the deluge outside but still why don't I do something else? One conclusion which came to mind is that I don't really have a life. My 3 friends from high school that I always do stuff with aren't in town this summer so that knocks out one boredom fighter right there. The second thought that crossed my mind is that life in the real world is mundane and repetitive. You get up at the same time everyday, go to work and do your thing there, and then come home. Wow sounds exciting to me. Maybe it's because my job is really, really boring and consists of filling, unfileling, typing stuff into the database, and getting and taking the mail to the post office. I keep telling myself it pays the bills which it will do in the fall when I need the money, however would I want to spend the rest of my life in such a position? The answer is a definitive no. As a result, I have started to grasp the concept that people always preach, love what you do. Hopefully I'll be able to do that after grad school, it just seems so far off. Yes I did say that the working life is mundane, repetitive, and boring but maybe that changes once you get into it for a year or so and start making money. Well at least that's what I'm hoping. I'm not hoping that money will make me happy, I just hope that once I get settled I can start to actually have a life adn get involved. Being a transient student makes you less and less a part of a community as time passes. People move, things change, you get out of the loop or farther from the loop that you were never in. Summers away from friends and a routine are not very fun, and I'm just now starting to realize that. I fully intend to make the most of the last two years of college at UNC. Hopefully, it won't take me two years to make friends and actually get to start knowing people.
Well back to my original quote, does it really get better as we get older? Hopefully it does, finding friends, organizations, building relationships seem to help the time pass in a less painful way.
Until later,
Brian
Comments:
katie ( / ) (IP: 66.143.112.16)
i think that the worst thing about college is how much it sucks to have friends leave. i mean, i can't really imagine that you aren't gonna be there this fall. people move away and being with my sister has sort of reinforced the fact that we will all separate, because she and her friends are so scattered now. it's sort of a sad thing, but inevitable. the cool thing is that we will get to stay friends and keep up and visit each other and all that. this summer i have had the distinct feeling that i'm waiting to go back to school to feel like i'm in the loop of all of you in atlanta, but i realize that i have to just do what i'm doing now, and wait for stuff to happen in its own time. if any of that made sense...
2003/07/21 @ 20:34:05
That's an interesting line from a Beach Boys song. In this context I'm going to talk about it not in the intended sense but in one that applies to my current state in life. As a fresh college graduate life is rapidly changing, yes that's cliche but it is. The main difference is getting a job, albeit summer job, though it's a job nonetheless. For a little background here's my work experience during college
So that puts us back to the present. I got to thinking tonight as I was sitting in front of my computer waiting to talk to folks that doing such as thing is pretty sad. Yes I sat here longer today than usual due to the deluge outside but still why don't I do something else? One conclusion which came to mind is that I don't really have a life. My 3 friends from high school that I always do stuff with aren't in town this summer so that knocks out one boredom fighter right there. The second thought that crossed my mind is that life in the real world is mundane and repetitive. You get up at the same time everyday, go to work and do your thing there, and then come home. Wow sounds exciting to me. Maybe it's because my job is really, really boring and consists of filling, unfileling, typing stuff into the database, and getting and taking the mail to the post office. I keep telling myself it pays the bills which it will do in the fall when I need the money, however would I want to spend the rest of my life in such a position? The answer is a definitive no. As a result, I have started to grasp the concept that people always preach, love what you do. Hopefully I'll be able to do that after grad school, it just seems so far off. Yes I did say that the working life is mundane, repetitive, and boring but maybe that changes once you get into it for a year or so and start making money. Well at least that's what I'm hoping. I'm not hoping that money will make me happy, I just hope that once I get settled I can start to actually have a life adn get involved. Being a transient student makes you less and less a part of a community as time passes. People move, things change, you get out of the loop or farther from the loop that you were never in. Summers away from friends and a routine are not very fun, and I'm just now starting to realize that. I fully intend to make the most of the last two years of college at UNC. Hopefully, it won't take me two years to make friends and actually get to start knowing people.
Well back to my original quote, does it really get better as we get older? Hopefully it does, finding friends, organizations, building relationships seem to help the time pass in a less painful way.
Until later,
Brian
Comments:
katie ( / ) (IP: 66.143.112.16)
i think that the worst thing about college is how much it sucks to have friends leave. i mean, i can't really imagine that you aren't gonna be there this fall. people move away and being with my sister has sort of reinforced the fact that we will all separate, because she and her friends are so scattered now. it's sort of a sad thing, but inevitable. the cool thing is that we will get to stay friends and keep up and visit each other and all that. this summer i have had the distinct feeling that i'm waiting to go back to school to feel like i'm in the loop of all of you in atlanta, but i realize that i have to just do what i'm doing now, and wait for stuff to happen in its own time. if any of that made sense...
2003/07/21 @ 20:34:05
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Where have I been (Best Buy)
Sorry for the long no posting period. It's summer so here's what's been up followed by a tyrade about Best Buy.
1) Graduated
2) Mission trip
3) Yard work
4) Moved some stuff out
5) Sister graduated
6) Moved more stuff
7) Went to NC
8. Finished moving
9) Worked and moved computers
10) Got a job and have been working
Best Buy Rant
How's that for some alliteration.
Anyway, so to make a long story short my mom is getting a new cellphone. Because my sister and I are getting sprint phones through my dad, she is going to get sprint as well. So when I was looking through the paper today I saw an add on a pretty decent sprint phone for with rebates that ends up being free. So we drive 30 mins to Best Buy in Douglasville so she can mess with it to see if she likes it. Before we got there I warned her how the cell phone sales people at Best Buy are. They get right up on top of you and won't leave you alone, even if you say I'm just looking in a forceful tone. Today was no different, the guy stood there right on top of us even as I tried to screen him out by standing with my back towards him and slowly walking backwards to get him to move away.
Since I'm the type of person that researches anything and everything before I buy or even go look at it (the wonders of the internet) I hate to be bothered by pesky sales people. Basically I left my mom, who does like pesky sales people, to her own devices and let her mess with the phones. Well she decided she wanted the phone so we told the guy that we wanted it and were going to activate it at online ourselves due to better plans online. He says no that's not possible and I say oh yeah it is. The sales paper says activation is not required. He says we don't sell phones without activation and I said the paper says you do. So he gets the paper and who is right? You guessed it, ME. So he talks to some guy that says there has to be a credit check which is rediculous since we are just buying phone. Whoever heard of junk like that? So after another 10 mins of hounding and my mom talking on the phone to some sprint people, the guy says we have to go to the spring store on Cobb Pkwy. You know what I thought? Bump that. So I was about to walk and then we decided to talk to the guy some more. After more hassle he finally talked to the manager and got approval to sell us the phone.
Moral of the story.
1) Know your stuff before you go to Best Buy
2) Supposedly Best Buy does not work off commissions but it sure seems like the phone folks do. They even have work sheets to fill in that describe the sales pitch, our's said something like Shoulder to Shoulder Sales Pitch. If I wanted somebody to be all up on my shoulders I'd have gone to a massuse.
3) Have some on run a diversion if you look at phones at Best Buy, get the sales person distracted so you can look at phones unbothered.
4) Best Buy is the best place to buy cds.
The end,
Brian
Comments:
Jaclyn ( (IP: 64.12.97.11)
you cheat...your journal entry is almost the exact same thing that is on the community center. That shouldn't be aloud. I need a more diverse website from you
2003/06/13 @ 07:43:36
1) Graduated
2) Mission trip
3) Yard work
4) Moved some stuff out
5) Sister graduated
6) Moved more stuff
7) Went to NC
8. Finished moving
9) Worked and moved computers
10) Got a job and have been working
Best Buy Rant
How's that for some alliteration.
Anyway, so to make a long story short my mom is getting a new cellphone. Because my sister and I are getting sprint phones through my dad, she is going to get sprint as well. So when I was looking through the paper today I saw an add on a pretty decent sprint phone for with rebates that ends up being free. So we drive 30 mins to Best Buy in Douglasville so she can mess with it to see if she likes it. Before we got there I warned her how the cell phone sales people at Best Buy are. They get right up on top of you and won't leave you alone, even if you say I'm just looking in a forceful tone. Today was no different, the guy stood there right on top of us even as I tried to screen him out by standing with my back towards him and slowly walking backwards to get him to move away.
Since I'm the type of person that researches anything and everything before I buy or even go look at it (the wonders of the internet) I hate to be bothered by pesky sales people. Basically I left my mom, who does like pesky sales people, to her own devices and let her mess with the phones. Well she decided she wanted the phone so we told the guy that we wanted it and were going to activate it at online ourselves due to better plans online. He says no that's not possible and I say oh yeah it is. The sales paper says activation is not required. He says we don't sell phones without activation and I said the paper says you do. So he gets the paper and who is right? You guessed it, ME. So he talks to some guy that says there has to be a credit check which is rediculous since we are just buying phone. Whoever heard of junk like that? So after another 10 mins of hounding and my mom talking on the phone to some sprint people, the guy says we have to go to the spring store on Cobb Pkwy. You know what I thought? Bump that. So I was about to walk and then we decided to talk to the guy some more. After more hassle he finally talked to the manager and got approval to sell us the phone.
Moral of the story.
1) Know your stuff before you go to Best Buy
2) Supposedly Best Buy does not work off commissions but it sure seems like the phone folks do. They even have work sheets to fill in that describe the sales pitch, our's said something like Shoulder to Shoulder Sales Pitch. If I wanted somebody to be all up on my shoulders I'd have gone to a massuse.
3) Have some on run a diversion if you look at phones at Best Buy, get the sales person distracted so you can look at phones unbothered.
4) Best Buy is the best place to buy cds.
The end,
Brian
Comments:
Jaclyn ( (IP: 64.12.97.11)
you cheat...your journal entry is almost the exact same thing that is on the community center. That shouldn't be aloud. I need a more diverse website from you
2003/06/13 @ 07:43:36
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Relevant Song
Why Georgia - John Mayer
I am driving up 85 in the
kind of morning that lasts all afternoon
I’m just stuck inside the gloom
4 more exits to my apartment but
I am tempted to keep the car in drive
and leave it all behind
cause I wander sometimes
about the outcome
Of a still verdictless life
am I living it right
am I living it right
am I living it right
why, why Georgia, why
rent a room and I fill the spaces with
wood and places to make it feel like home
but all I feel’s alone
it might be a quarter life crisis
or just the stirring in my soul
either way
I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life
am I living it right
am I living it right
am I living it right
why, why Georgia, why
so what so I’ve got a smile on
It’s hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
don’t believe me
don’t you dare believe me
when I say I’ve got it down
everybody is just a stranger
but that’s the danger in going my own way
I guess it’s a price I have to pay
still everything happens for a reason
is no reason not to ask yourself if you are
living it right
are you living it right
are you living it right
why, why Georgia, why
I am driving up 85 in the
kind of morning that lasts all afternoon
I’m just stuck inside the gloom
4 more exits to my apartment but
I am tempted to keep the car in drive
and leave it all behind
cause I wander sometimes
about the outcome
Of a still verdictless life
am I living it right
am I living it right
am I living it right
why, why Georgia, why
rent a room and I fill the spaces with
wood and places to make it feel like home
but all I feel’s alone
it might be a quarter life crisis
or just the stirring in my soul
either way
I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life
am I living it right
am I living it right
am I living it right
why, why Georgia, why
so what so I’ve got a smile on
It’s hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
don’t believe me
don’t you dare believe me
when I say I’ve got it down
everybody is just a stranger
but that’s the danger in going my own way
I guess it’s a price I have to pay
still everything happens for a reason
is no reason not to ask yourself if you are
living it right
are you living it right
are you living it right
why, why Georgia, why
Saturday, May 03, 2003
And....I'm done!
Hey,
After a long day of graduating I'm finally home to relax. Here's a brief synopsis of the day's events.
1) 5:33 Woke up
2) 7:30ish got to campus
3) 7:45-9 stood around in a queue (I could be ISyE) with my fellow soon-to-be PubP graduates
4) 9 something processed into a packed out colessium through the secret tunnels. I'm serious about the packed outness...that place was full.
5) Stood some more as the procession continued, and continued, and continued. Hit some balloons around.
6) Graduation stuff and speakers. I was looking forward to hearing from Elizabeth Dole but her political speech, typical of such speakers, wasn't really up my alley, nor was up in most of the Ivan Allen student's allies. Much grumbling was heard as she talked about the war and the U.S. responsibility to the be in charge of the world (my interpretation).
7)Got my "memento suitable for framing" (an alright picture of Tech tower with a Thoureau quote)
8. Sat there for a long time
9) Graduation ended and must frustration ensued as there were a lot of people and I couldn't get hooked up with the family for probably 45 mins due to plans that didn't work out.
10) Ate dinner at Houston's on Northside, really good place. Ate a GT cake mom got for me.
11) 5:20 finally back home.
Needless to say it's been a long and eventful day. I liked being able to sit with my PubPeeps during graduation. One interesting observation that I had as well as all of the non-engineers was the overwhelming loserness we sortof felt when the College of Engineering students stood up (an entire half of the stadium floor and hearing the ensuing crowd roar was intimidating. Of course this is an engineering school and that should be expected but it was disheartening. However, I'm extremely glad I went to Tech even though I'm not an engineer.
Until I get bored, later.
After a long day of graduating I'm finally home to relax. Here's a brief synopsis of the day's events.
1) 5:33 Woke up
2) 7:30ish got to campus
3) 7:45-9 stood around in a queue (I could be ISyE) with my fellow soon-to-be PubP graduates
4) 9 something processed into a packed out colessium through the secret tunnels. I'm serious about the packed outness...that place was full.
5) Stood some more as the procession continued, and continued, and continued. Hit some balloons around.
6) Graduation stuff and speakers. I was looking forward to hearing from Elizabeth Dole but her political speech, typical of such speakers, wasn't really up my alley, nor was up in most of the Ivan Allen student's allies. Much grumbling was heard as she talked about the war and the U.S. responsibility to the be in charge of the world (my interpretation).
7)Got my "memento suitable for framing" (an alright picture of Tech tower with a Thoureau quote)
8. Sat there for a long time
9) Graduation ended and must frustration ensued as there were a lot of people and I couldn't get hooked up with the family for probably 45 mins due to plans that didn't work out.
10) Ate dinner at Houston's on Northside, really good place. Ate a GT cake mom got for me.
11) 5:20 finally back home.
Needless to say it's been a long and eventful day. I liked being able to sit with my PubPeeps during graduation. One interesting observation that I had as well as all of the non-engineers was the overwhelming loserness we sortof felt when the College of Engineering students stood up (an entire half of the stadium floor and hearing the ensuing crowd roar was intimidating. Of course this is an engineering school and that should be expected but it was disheartening. However, I'm extremely glad I went to Tech even though I'm not an engineer.
Until I get bored, later.
This is it!
It's about that time...time to graduate! If use a lot of exclamation point please forgive me. After 4 years of papers, bad grades, and good grades it's all about to be over. Opening new doors and closing others (but there's still windows to look through). Finished my thesis and 3 finals, wee haw!!! Now time go to here Elizabeth Dole speak, hopefully it will be interesting. Next time you hear from me I'll be a Georgia Institute of Technology Alumnus!
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
So Fresh and So Clean Clean
With less than 4 days until graduation I thought I'd post some pics from freshman year.
Comments:
Ben ( / ) (IP: 66.245.140.77)
I think I would have killed myself in that loft, just personally.
2003/05/02 @ 05:25:36
Comments:
Ben ( / ) (IP: 66.245.140.77)
I think I would have killed myself in that loft, just personally.
2003/05/02 @ 05:25:36
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
2 more days
Yes you read that right, only 2 more class days. What does 2 days of class mean? Let's see...4 classes (normally 5 but one is cancelled) and 5.5 hours of class time. Though that may sound great, and no doubt that it is, I still do have to finish my thesis and actually write my environmental policy paper that's due at 3 on Thursday. You know it's bad when you actually want to work on a thesis instead of a 12 page policy paper. At this juncture I don't think I have enough to write about wetland mitigation banking but I guess what I have will have to suffice at least for now.
On other fronts there have been a bunch of last time at Tech things this week such as my last Hot
Topics Bible study, last pizza night tonight, last Monday, last Tuesday, and on and on. I wish I would have actually done some work earlier in the semester so that it wasn't all piled up now but oh well enough whining. I think I'll be fine about not having Tech classes and some other things but it'll be the small things that I'll miss like the quirks of the student population, the whistle, the NAPC Christmas symphony concert, and the city. I'll definitely miss all of my friends but thanks to the wonders of the internet we'll be able to keep up with each other.
Emily finally made her decision about school and will be going to Wellesley. I'm proud that she is going off to be independent; I think she'll love it.
Ok enough procrastination, time get cracking on the wetlands paper.
On other fronts there have been a bunch of last time at Tech things this week such as my last Hot
Topics Bible study, last pizza night tonight, last Monday, last Tuesday, and on and on. I wish I would have actually done some work earlier in the semester so that it wasn't all piled up now but oh well enough whining. I think I'll be fine about not having Tech classes and some other things but it'll be the small things that I'll miss like the quirks of the student population, the whistle, the NAPC Christmas symphony concert, and the city. I'll definitely miss all of my friends but thanks to the wonders of the internet we'll be able to keep up with each other.
Emily finally made her decision about school and will be going to Wellesley. I'm proud that she is going off to be independent; I think she'll love it.
Ok enough procrastination, time get cracking on the wetlands paper.
Monday, April 14, 2003
I'm going to Carolina in my mind
After a long hiatus I have returned out of trying to find something to do instead of writing my thesis. Well as you can tell from this post's title, I'm going to UNC for grad school. It took me awhile to finally make the decision but I think it's going to be a good change. The monetary offer was a little better than Tech's as well. I'm not too keen on being around the same folks all the time for the next 2 years, especially since most are closer to 30 than I am to 20, but it will work out (hopefully).
On other fronts, I am lacking motivation which is a very bad thing when one is trying to graduate. My school work to do list consists of the following:
Thesis
Thesis presentation
Environmental Policy Paper about wetland mitigation banking
Legal Aspects of Business quiz
3 finals including one at 8 am on Friday of finals week
GRADUATION!!!
On other fronts, I am lacking motivation which is a very bad thing when one is trying to graduate. My school work to do list consists of the following:
Sunday, March 30, 2003
The Sneakers Return
Hey,
This weekend was the 2nd Annual WCF Spring Sneak Retreat. For those of you that have no clue what that means, it is a retreat where a group of people, in this case the graduating students, plan a retreat and the participants don't know where they are going. On the way down the sneakers participated in a photo scavenger hunt of random stuff. Links to the pics will be coming soon. Anyway, since I'm gradauting I was in charge of planning and running the show. I think everything went well, the weather was beautiful, the food was great, and everyone seemed to have a great time camping at Laura S. Walker State Park in Waycross. Ok that's enough typing for now since I'm tired from driving and doing stuff so if I get inspired later I'll write some more. I'll leave you with this:
This weekend was the 2nd Annual WCF Spring Sneak Retreat. For those of you that have no clue what that means, it is a retreat where a group of people, in this case the graduating students, plan a retreat and the participants don't know where they are going. On the way down the sneakers participated in a photo scavenger hunt of random stuff. Links to the pics will be coming soon. Anyway, since I'm gradauting I was in charge of planning and running the show. I think everything went well, the weather was beautiful, the food was great, and everyone seemed to have a great time camping at Laura S. Walker State Park in Waycross. Ok that's enough typing for now since I'm tired from driving and doing stuff so if I get inspired later I'll write some more. I'll leave you with this:
Monday, March 24, 2003
Going to Carolina in my mind?
Hey,
Got back from UNC yesterday after a long weekend up there for open house. It was kind of strange since I'm actually one of the youngest propspective students. Out of approximately 50 people there were only about 10 that are still in school or just graduated last spring. I haven't made up my mind where I'm going but I'm definitely leaning towards Carolina.
On other fronts, not much time left in the semester and too much work to do. Hopefully I get some motivation to make some major progress. We had our first Wallflowers vball game last night and we won! Well the other team didn't show up but it's still a victory, and hopefully it won't be our own. Opening night of Wallabies softball is tonight so we'll see how that goes this year, I definitely think it should be better than last springs seasons. We have much better team work and experience since most everyone is back this season.
Got back from UNC yesterday after a long weekend up there for open house. It was kind of strange since I'm actually one of the youngest propspective students. Out of approximately 50 people there were only about 10 that are still in school or just graduated last spring. I haven't made up my mind where I'm going but I'm definitely leaning towards Carolina.
On other fronts, not much time left in the semester and too much work to do. Hopefully I get some motivation to make some major progress. We had our first Wallflowers vball game last night and we won! Well the other team didn't show up but it's still a victory, and hopefully it won't be our own. Opening night of Wallabies softball is tonight so we'll see how that goes this year, I definitely think it should be better than last springs seasons. We have much better team work and experience since most everyone is back this season.
Thursday, March 20, 2003
"The disarmament of Iraq has begun" -- Ari Fleischer
I just turned off the TV at 1:02 am on Thursday morning after watching the beginnings of the military action in Iraq for several hours. As Katie put it in her blog we were too young to really understand the first Persian Gulf War. As a 5th grader I collected Gulf War cards, kind of like baseball cards, but with military apparati and leaders, as some of you know I have the George Bush and Saddam Hussein cards and as I write this I also remember that I have a Peace card with a dove and I think the UN logo in the background.
Where am I going with this? Twelve years later and now a senior in college, the gravity of the situation really starts to set in. A majority of the soldiers being interviewed on tv are several years younger than me but probably more mature than I'll be for many years to come. The experiences they have had and will have will most likely far surpass anything I'll ever do. As for my opinion on the war I'm still forming it. My mom asked me tonight and I said I don't have enough information and she said she knew that's what I'd say. I guess with my public policy training I've learned to be diplomatic and cautious in my statements, but I think it is also important to have an opinion. Forming opionion on controversial topics is a subject I've been striving to improve on the past year or so, hopefully this situation and the constitutional issues class with its challenging topics will help in this area. It's just difficult to form a concrete opinion about something when it doesn't directly affect oneself. However, it must be done. So...after much contemplation I think I've come to terms with the military action in Iraq. Sadaam is a bad person that should not be in power and it appears that force is the only way to reckon with him at this point. Does that make me a war monger? I don't think so. As Bonhofer professed, it's something you have to do when the result of inaction would be far worse than the sins of the action. I think we've come to the point where inaction would lead to terrible outcomes. Hopefully, and that's a big hopefully, the outcome of this war will be what the U.S. and the supporting coalition intends and it won't turn into another Vietnam. The people of Iraq and the Middle East seem to want free societies and as it did in the U.S. it might be costly but well worth it in the end.
Where am I going with this? Twelve years later and now a senior in college, the gravity of the situation really starts to set in. A majority of the soldiers being interviewed on tv are several years younger than me but probably more mature than I'll be for many years to come. The experiences they have had and will have will most likely far surpass anything I'll ever do. As for my opinion on the war I'm still forming it. My mom asked me tonight and I said I don't have enough information and she said she knew that's what I'd say. I guess with my public policy training I've learned to be diplomatic and cautious in my statements, but I think it is also important to have an opinion. Forming opionion on controversial topics is a subject I've been striving to improve on the past year or so, hopefully this situation and the constitutional issues class with its challenging topics will help in this area. It's just difficult to form a concrete opinion about something when it doesn't directly affect oneself. However, it must be done. So...after much contemplation I think I've come to terms with the military action in Iraq. Sadaam is a bad person that should not be in power and it appears that force is the only way to reckon with him at this point. Does that make me a war monger? I don't think so. As Bonhofer professed, it's something you have to do when the result of inaction would be far worse than the sins of the action. I think we've come to the point where inaction would lead to terrible outcomes. Hopefully, and that's a big hopefully, the outcome of this war will be what the U.S. and the supporting coalition intends and it won't turn into another Vietnam. The people of Iraq and the Middle East seem to want free societies and as it did in the U.S. it might be costly but well worth it in the end.
Monday, March 17, 2003
Contemplating
As I have been pondering the seemingly emminent war individually and in Bible study I have realized that it is imperative that one should try to analyze situations from multiple angles. By avoiding ethnocentric views it is easier to attempt to understand the stances taken by others. Although this task is difficult and inperfect a disregard of its usefulness would be a travisty. By approaching political and other decisions from the other parties' perspective a tanglble understanding can be gleaned from their perspective. My thoughts on this stem from my PST 2068 class, even though it may sound like I liked it PST is not fun, anyway. According to John Rawls one should approach policy and decision making behind a veil of ignorance. Basically requiring decision makers to place themselves in a status-free world, one in which they do not know their state in life and with that knowledge they must make their decisions. This scenario, though ideal and unrealistic, remains useful in an everyday context of attempting to understand how leaders may be making or possibly should be making their decisions (though I believe it rarely happens as Rawls would have it). In conclusion, remember your perspective and then conduct a thought experiment, what would you be thinking if you were an Iraqi nomad or a soldier in the U.S. military.
Ok enough with the philosophical talk. Here's what's been happening on the Brian front.
1. Friday and Saturday were spent scouting out the WCF Spring Sneak location and having a great time. I'd post pictures but then it would give away the "sneakret".
2. Sunday: church and some homework
3. Monday: Tons of homework I didn't do on Sunday, class, glasses broke hopefully I'll be able to get replacement frames or new ones ASAP as in before I leave on Thursday for the UNC Planning Open House. I also found out today I didn't get into Harvard, oh well, it was too expensive anyway.
That's it for tonight, hopefully you didn't fall asleep and drool on yourself and your keyboard while reading this.
Ok enough with the philosophical talk. Here's what's been happening on the Brian front.
1. Friday and Saturday were spent scouting out the WCF Spring Sneak location and having a great time. I'd post pictures but then it would give away the "sneakret".
2. Sunday: church and some homework
3. Monday: Tons of homework I didn't do on Sunday, class, glasses broke hopefully I'll be able to get replacement frames or new ones ASAP as in before I leave on Thursday for the UNC Planning Open House. I also found out today I didn't get into Harvard, oh well, it was too expensive anyway.
That's it for tonight, hopefully you didn't fall asleep and drool on yourself and your keyboard while reading this.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Stuff
Hey,
Well got back into the swing of things after a too short spring break. Found out I did get a GRA to Tech which is really nice to know. Also found out I don't have Environmental Policy next Thursday which is good because I was going to miss it since I'm going to UNC that day, on the downside I found out I have a Business Law test that day at 4:30 hopefully the prof. will let me take it early. Another bonus yesterday is that I don't have to present my Enviro. paper until April 10, Katie got the first presentation day March 27 that stinks for her but at least she'll get it out of the way. Not much else going on except procratination and planning for the Spring Sneak, we now have reservations wooha. Later.
Say Goodbye
What Dave Matthews Song Are You?
brought to you by
Well got back into the swing of things after a too short spring break. Found out I did get a GRA to Tech which is really nice to know. Also found out I don't have Environmental Policy next Thursday which is good because I was going to miss it since I'm going to UNC that day, on the downside I found out I have a Business Law test that day at 4:30 hopefully the prof. will let me take it early. Another bonus yesterday is that I don't have to present my Enviro. paper until April 10, Katie got the first presentation day March 27 that stinks for her but at least she'll get it out of the way. Not much else going on except procratination and planning for the Spring Sneak, we now have reservations wooha. Later.
Say Goodbye
What Dave Matthews Song Are You?
brought to you by
Monday, March 10, 2003
Sunday Sunday Sunday
It was a beautiful day. For a song about beautiful days download New Man (Beautiful Day) by Matthew Kahler.
Went to church yesterday and there was a grand total of 6 folks in Sunday school but that was good because it made for a great discussion. We talked about a quote by Karl Barth that goes something like Christians should live their live with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. We discussed this in the context of the potential war. Evne though there were only 6 people in class there were 6 different opinions about the situation which were cool to hear. To further aid the discussion Thomas brought up Dietrich Bonhoeffer's doctrine that one should act in response to a situation when non-action would lead to a worse outcome even though acting is a sin itself. Where I stand on the issue is still up in the air given the many possible motivations for a war presented by the president. I think if the human rights violations are occuring as many people say then we should help do something about it but when it gets to the cusp of action and non-action I don't know how to determine this. Hopefully our leaders will be able to make this determination through their beliefs and their political knowledge. Furthermore, we should definitely seek further alliance with the UN though we may have to go out on our own to rectify the situations in Iraq and North Korea.
In closing I'll leave you with one final thought that kind of blows my mind. Since I live near Dobbins Air Reserve Base there occassionally military jets fly over my apartment. This morning I was thinking that it sure is nice to know that the jets are not dropping bombs as they fly overhead, I cannot imagine what it would feel like to be somewhere they are actually dropping bombs.
Went to church yesterday and there was a grand total of 6 folks in Sunday school but that was good because it made for a great discussion. We talked about a quote by Karl Barth that goes something like Christians should live their live with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other. We discussed this in the context of the potential war. Evne though there were only 6 people in class there were 6 different opinions about the situation which were cool to hear. To further aid the discussion Thomas brought up Dietrich Bonhoeffer's doctrine that one should act in response to a situation when non-action would lead to a worse outcome even though acting is a sin itself. Where I stand on the issue is still up in the air given the many possible motivations for a war presented by the president. I think if the human rights violations are occuring as many people say then we should help do something about it but when it gets to the cusp of action and non-action I don't know how to determine this. Hopefully our leaders will be able to make this determination through their beliefs and their political knowledge. Furthermore, we should definitely seek further alliance with the UN though we may have to go out on our own to rectify the situations in Iraq and North Korea.
In closing I'll leave you with one final thought that kind of blows my mind. Since I live near Dobbins Air Reserve Base there occassionally military jets fly over my apartment. This morning I was thinking that it sure is nice to know that the jets are not dropping bombs as they fly overhead, I cannot imagine what it would feel like to be somewhere they are actually dropping bombs.
Saturday, March 08, 2003
Several Days
Well I haven't started this thing off well skipping several days but here I am.
Wednesday:
Went running, then home.Got 2 e-mails from Tech about grad school, I got accepted in both but the first said I wouldn't receive a school funded GRA but the second said I would. Just like Tech to add further confusion to the grad school decision process.
Thursday:
Errand, errands, errands then back to ATL.
Friday:
Went running and fishing. Also went to the Wisechild, Clay Cook, and Pete Schmidt Band concert at Oglethorpe University. Wisechild was great as usual and showed off their massive chops at their intstruments. Clay Cook was much better than the first time I saw him at Eddie's Attic. If you're wondering who Clay Cook is he was in the Lo-Fi Masters with John Mayer and wrote some of the songs that John Mayer now performs. Last night was the first time I'd seen the Pete Schmidt Band, even though I have mp3s from a couple of years ago, and it was great show. The are kind of like a combination of DMB and John Mayer, the drummer had some chops as well. I'd suggest checking out all of the above groups, especially Wisechild.
Comments:
Dad ( / www.turbodata.net ) (IP: 66.190.170.227)
Hey I like your Web site. You didn't tell me about your acceptance into Tech's Grad school!? Congratulations!
Now decisions, decisions!
2003/03/09 @ 17:12:51
Wednesday:
Went running, then home.Got 2 e-mails from Tech about grad school, I got accepted in both but the first said I wouldn't receive a school funded GRA but the second said I would. Just like Tech to add further confusion to the grad school decision process.
Thursday:
Errand, errands, errands then back to ATL.
Friday:
Went running and fishing. Also went to the Wisechild, Clay Cook, and Pete Schmidt Band concert at Oglethorpe University. Wisechild was great as usual and showed off their massive chops at their intstruments. Clay Cook was much better than the first time I saw him at Eddie's Attic. If you're wondering who Clay Cook is he was in the Lo-Fi Masters with John Mayer and wrote some of the songs that John Mayer now performs. Last night was the first time I'd seen the Pete Schmidt Band, even though I have mp3s from a couple of years ago, and it was great show. The are kind of like a combination of DMB and John Mayer, the drummer had some chops as well. I'd suggest checking out all of the above groups, especially Wisechild.
Comments:
Dad ( / www.turbodata.net ) (IP: 66.190.170.227)
Hey I like your Web site. You didn't tell me about your acceptance into Tech's Grad school!? Congratulations!
Now decisions, decisions!
2003/03/09 @ 17:12:51
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
Hello World!
Hey,
Out of a lack of something profound to say, I want to welcome you to my journal. Most days it will probably be boring as junk to read, but others I may get creative and think of something good to write. Anyway, since I'm about to graduate I figured I'd jot down my thoughts as May 3 approaches. So if you're bored check out The Oxville Gazette to see what's up in my world.
Out of a lack of something profound to say, I want to welcome you to my journal. Most days it will probably be boring as junk to read, but others I may get creative and think of something good to write. Anyway, since I'm about to graduate I figured I'd jot down my thoughts as May 3 approaches. So if you're bored check out The Oxville Gazette to see what's up in my world.
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