Happy Easter

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Get what?

Last weekend was the much beloved ACC basketball tournament. The first game I watched was on Thurday night between Tech and UVA broadcast by ESPN2. ESPN and the related channels (not sure if the Ocho made any appearance) broadcast the games nationally with the traditional southern broadcast produced by Raycom. If you're an ACC sports fan you'll know that there has been a long standing relationship between the conference and the various iterations of Raycom sports, and during that relationship the broadcast quality has been merely passable. Compared to ESPN and even CBS there is no contest, Raycom loses everytime in my opinion. Camera angles are terrible in football and basketball, plays and other action are missed because of bizare cut aways and bad graphic overlays, you name it and they've probably done it. I shouldn't complain too much though because it is nice to be able to watch a less popular and audience drawing event which my Yellow Jackets all too often end up playing in as half the bill, but this year's ACC Tournament took the cake for bad programming choices.

The intro, outro, during game music was completely centered around an artist called Lil' Mama and her song/rap called "Shawty Get Loose." Come on now? The ACC/Raycom must have made big bucks with that tie in. Hearing Mike Hogewood promote the song and repeatedly exclaim "Shawty Get Loose" was comedic and quickly grew old. It was ridculous. I also want to mention ESPN's bad intro/outro breaks which featured a very strange opera singer that wasn't that great, what's up with that? One message for the ACC: Dear ACC, please don't sell out anymore than you already have.

More entertaining and insightful commentary on the song below:

Raleigh News & Observer
Barry Saunders - "ACC is too loose on song"

A grad school classmate of mine that is the biggest sports fan I know and also hosts a sports radio show on the UNC student radio station WXYC
IronDog Chronicles - Pre-NCAA Rants (towards the bottom of the post)

Modern Marvels

Thanks to a three day conference/workshop I'm attending in West Virginia this week I drove up today and did some sightseeing on the way. When I was in the state last summer I accomplished one of my life goals of seeing the New River Gorge Bridge and I drove across. Unfortunately it was raining so I didn't get out and do any exploring. Thankfully today was a beautiful day so I visited the visitor center, the overlook, and drove the old route across the river through Fayette Station. If you're ever in WV for some reason take a side trip to see the bridge, it's a pretty impressive structure.

New River Gorge National River

Here is the photo gallery.

In My Mind I'm Going to Carolina

I've struggled with my thoughts on this week's random murder of UNC Student Government President Eve Carson. Normally I hear about murders, bombings, robberies, and other crimes everyday on tv and it usually doesn't phase me...this one has been different. I don't know if it's because I'm growing up and more caring in my thoughts or if it's because I walked through that neighborhood everyday and night for 2 years not too long ago and my sister did the same thing even more recently, or just because of the tragedy of the loss of life of brilliant young woman that had unknown possiblities ahead of her. Most likely it's a combination of all three and more.

It pissed me off to learn of the crime, but today's release of ATM photos showing the "person of interest" driving her car and using her ATM card just gets me going. I know I shouldn't harbor ill feelings against the guy, but knowing the peace of Chapel Hill and of the university community has been disturbed bothers me. What kind of person does something like that? Argh.

I hope that UNC can resume the sincere since of community that exists across campus once the students return to campus and Chapel Hill doesn't receive a black eye.

Sorry for the ramblings. I didn't know Eve, but I've been frustrated that things like this happen and don't know really how to deal with the feelings.

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now I'm cryin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

There ain't no doubt in no one's mind
That love's the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I'm going, going
I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and goin' to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Goin' to Carolina in my mind
And I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind
Goin' to Carolina in my mind

(Goin')
(I'm goin')
(Say nice things about me 'cause I'm goin' southbound)
(Carry on with out me 'cause I'm goin')
- "Carolina in My Mind" James Taylor

Quuuuuueeeeee!

Since becoming a UNC fan 5 years ago (man I'm old) I've watched a decent amount of bball. There are the typical feel good stories like Wes Miller, but I think the ultimate has been Quinton Thomas' emergence the last half of this season. The past few years he's been injury prone and had some handling issues, but he's stepped up big time after Lawson's injury. The heart has always been there and the confidence is now breaking through. Congrats to Q for a great senior season!

Here's an excellent article from today's N&O about Quinton: "Thomas pens UNC's feel-good story"

What's Up in Oxville?

The past couple of weeks have been pretty busy at work and as much as I hate to say it I've been a little stressed. Luckily it looks like things are getting worked out on a couple of projects and we'll be able to move forward. Thanks to a creative coworker I have some new artwork depicting me trying to save a deal. The kicker which was pretty dang funny was that he stuck the drawings up on my window as I was on a conference call for the project.

The project goes up in flames...


or I go to jail.


Today I ventured up to Blue Jay Point County Park on Falls Lake for some communing with nature. I parked at the park and hit the section of Falls Lake Trail that traverses the park. The parking area is in the middle of the trail so I headed north until the trail hit Six Forks at Upper Barton Creek then turned around and headed south to the other end at Lower Barton Creek. The one way distance is 3.1 miles so I guess I did somewhere around 6.2 miles plus a few sidetrail jaunts. Falls Lake is about 8 feet below full pool which revealed a grounded boat and penisulas that used to be islands. It's prime exploring country and I think I'll take a trip back up there soon.

I didn't take many pics, but they can be found here.