Hooray for crappy internet providers. The company I lease with actually changed there's a couple months ago, it may be marginally better, it's certainly nothing to jump for joy over. The wonderful thing about the new company is that when you first try to get onto the internet, you're directed to a sign-in page before you can use their service. As I have routers set up, I only had to do this the first day with their funky Klingon user name and binary password.

Apparently they thought they'd test my mental capacity or organizational skills by asking out of the blue to enter the information again. Luckily I'm lacking in both of the above and had really no idea. It's ok, they've planned for this, they will e-mail you your username and password. That's right, they'll send an e-mail to an account where you can access to sign in to the service. For those of you paying attention, you might have figured out, like myself, that you can't actually get to your e-mail account! If you can't sign-in to the service, YOU CAN'T USE IT! I should take this philosophy to heart. Perhaps someday I'll borrow someone's car, and then accidentally lock the keys inside. When they ask me what to do, I'll tell them not to worry, because I've made a duplicate. It's across town, but I'm not sure how you'll get there without the car... Morons.

If you were ever interested in coming to Iowa State, this could be as good a time as any. We might either have very good sports teams, or impressively bad as the revolving door of head coaches spins faster and faster out of control. We've already replaced a head basketball coach (Morgan) with a winning record in each of his three seasons with a possible rising star (McDermot). It almost seems that the coaching decision is more of an investment strategy. We've made money/wins with this person, but there is greater potential for higher returns if we go another direction. Instead of maintaining a proven path of wins and returns, we'll gamble on something greater. We've now done the same with wrestling, relieving one of the greatest wrestling coaches (Douglas) who's held the position for 14 years and coached numerous Olympic teams, with a the only gentlemen (Sanderson) to go his entire collegiate career undefeated. Oh, and features an Olympic Gold Medal. It seems like we could be on to something, but then again, we may just be keeping up with our overall mediocre play. Maybe next we could address that one Coach (McCarney) with only 4 winning seasons over 10 years (McCarney)...

On a related note, congratulations to the ISU Gymnasts for winning the Big XII Championship

My final for my class on creativity involves writing a paper that addresses one fairly straight-forward but difficult question...

"How can the United States recapture its creativity and innovation leadership in the world?"

We are allowed to brain storm with others and try and get a range of ideas and opinions to write on, so I'm looking for you help. If you read this blog, or just this post, please feel free to consider the question and leave a comment with your view. Your solution can be as broad or narrow as you'd like. If you want to address it from a political standpoint, feel free. If you think it has to do with the way people are brought up, or perhaps schooling, feel free to say. I'm looking for any idea or thought you have on the subject. So read this post, ponder the question and feel free to leave a response. Then stop back in the next few days for what will hopefully be some more interesting/intriguing or at least humorous posts...

Graduation is about to occur. Well, about in general terms. It's still a month away, but after 6 years, that's pretty damn close. I've been looking over jobs and trying to find some things to apply to that may help me pay off my 6 digit school loan. It seems that there is plethora of jobs I really don't want to do, and the rest, I don't really feel qualified for. Some I'm just plain not qualified for. It turns out that after six years, they don't just give you a Masters for your time, damnit. Beyond that, I don't really feel that I've learned anything particularly useful. I know I've learned some things, but when reading the job descriptions and requirements, I'm fairly certain I haven't learned THOSE things. So... if you happen to be reading this and are looking to hire a strapping young lad with a great work ethic, is quick to learn knew things and has a degree in marketing, give me a shout! Thanks.

I'm sitting in a nice little cubicle on the fourth floor of the library on campus. I tend to like the little cubicles because I'm surrounded on three sides and it's somewhat comforting, although I don't really know why. Maybe for the same reason that I like sleeping with heavy blankets that seem to encase your body, it's a security thing I suppose. Anyways, I've spent the better part of two hours now trying to find information for my management groups presentation in two weeks. We have to present information about a company and an industry that lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. I didn't really think it'd be all that hard, unfortunately I was wrong. Apparently industries don't want you to know anything about them, go figure. So as I sit here and bang my head on the wall, I thought I'd share some of the philosophical views expressed through pen or carvings on the cubicle wall...

"Patricia Es Bonita"
"Puerto Rico at ISU!!!"
"OSCM 320 SUX!"
"Delta Delta Delta ARE BITCHES with NICE TITS"
"Happy Holidays"
"www.cupfood.com -> free diliver"
"420"
"I'm SPM, you know my name -> You are nothing but a shit hole!"
"Excuse me flo?"
and beyond that wonderful collection of inspirational prose, there is a lengthy discussion involving religion. God lives in the wood it seems...

Another Spring Break has come and gone and the weather is making sure that we don't forget it. It must be some shock for those lucky enough to travel south to the beaches of Mexico, or even those that went west to ski the slopes of Colorado. Our weather wasn't anything spectacular over break, but it was nice and comfortable. Sunny and 50's, not too shabby for Iowa. Today, however, is different altogether. The thermometer bobs just above 30 and the wind whips across campus with great ferocity, blowing dry dust, dirt and leaves in your face. The sky is overcast and yields very little warmth, either in terms of temperature or color. It's somewhat surreal actually. Our campus is certainly one of the most beautiful there is with wide expanses of grass, trees and flowers. Old buildings mingle with newer styles and creates a kind of mosaic of architectural beauty. Not today though, with the cold and the overcast their is no life in the scenery. It's almost like watching some moving where they've filtered the colors to give it a harsher feel. Everything just seems so cold and lifeless. Even the cars speckled across campus in vastly differing colors seem subdued. It's an odd day, and I don't think I like it

This country astonishes me on an almost daily basis. Like pretty well everyone, I have my opinions on Homosexuality, Gay Marriage, Abortion and a slew of hot issues. For most things I take the stance that the majority of humans aren't out to harm others, or incite capital hill rioting. There is a post by Regina Lynn over on one of Wired's Blog about the HPV vaccine that adds to my astonishment of the narrow minded-ness of those that seem to run our country. (And it's not always the politicians, in fact I would say that it's mostly just those with the most money and the intolerant stance that quite often turns me off to Christianity.)

Click Here for the HPV Post


My view clarified:: I should note that I'm not anti-Christian by any means. I am talking mostly about those who tell absolutely everyone that they are in fact Christian, and everything they say is the truth according to God. I'm talking about those who can only judge others, and find their flaws. I am talking about those who don't read the bible, but instead cite only certain passages so that it seems to back their personal opinions and views. I am talking about the people that accuse others of being unchristian like, while they themselves call others names and do far worse (apparently in the name of God). I'm talking about the intolerant, the ignorant who hide behind the guise of Christianity.

So, after a rousing first day of games for the 'ol tourney, it seems that I've managed to get about half of my picks correct. Astonishing I know. Perhaps today shall go better. (It should be pointed out that although I picked Iowa to go a few rounds, I secretly hope they lose. Feel my Hatred Mr. Haluska, Feel it!)

Unrelated note: Goodbye Mr Morgan and staff...

There is a fun little website/program out there now called Pandora. (www.pandora.com) The idea behind the site is that by entering songs or artists that you like, it is able to create a streaming radio station for you to listen featuring other artists with similar attributes. It's a wonderful way to find new music and a lot of artists you may have never heard of. If there is a song that you like, you can link directly to itunes or amazon to purchase the song for your personal library, a neat little trick. On the right side of my blog you can find links to listen to the radio stations that have been created based on artists that I've entered as well as a sample of some of my favorite songs played thus far.

Image courtesy of Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

*Interesting note, the spell check for blogger doesn't recognize "blog," interesting...

I am currently on Spring Break, supposedly. I've never actually gone anywhere for spring break and this year is no different. Instead I'm enjoying all the amenities my apartment has to offer. Cable TV, Heat (I have the option of air/conditioning, but since it's in the 30's outside I don't feel that's a particularly useful function currently.) For 6 years now, spring break has meant nothing more to me than less classes and more work. Perhaps when I get to the professional world I can take a week off in the Spring and go somewhere where the beer is freely flowing and the clothing is optional. Of course most likely by the time that's feasible, I'll have some issues getting my walker through the sand.

Last Thursday night my girlfriend, her brother, a friend and I saw Mr. Folds at the Val Air Ballroom down in DM. The show was very good. I haven't listened to a lot of his new stuff, but I do own some Ben Folds Five and was fairly excited to hear him live. The beginning of the concert was pretty good but the last third especially rocked. It seemed like the energy doubled and there was some good old jamming and general rocking. All in all a good time. Bad venue, but good time.

Setlist:
1. Bastard
2. Gone
3. Trusted
4. Jesusland
5. There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You
6. All U Can Eat
7. Still Fighting It
8. You to Thank
9. Annie Waits
10. Landed
11. Zak and Sara
12. Bitches Ain't Shit
13. Brick — solo
14. Fred Jones Pt. 2 — solo
15. Army — solo
16. Prison Food
17. Give Judy My Notice
18. Ascent of Stan
19. Narcolepsy
20. Where’s Summer B.?
21. Rockin’ the Suburbs
22. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces

~Encore~
23. Philosophy
24. Not the Same

Edit:: I added "Ascent of Stan" as pointed out by "Me"