For plenty of men & women, the end of college life has arrived & or will arrive soon.
Why for? you may ask.
It all comes down to one word & one word alone: Graduation.
Graduation is not only another routine rite of passage, marking the end of college life as we know it. It's not the end of one chapter in this work-in-progress. To tell you the truth, it's the beginning of another chapter, the start of something brand new.
It's our welcome to the real world.
I should know; it was only 2 1/2 years ago since I graduated & I can say these words with sincerity. Life in the real world isn't a picnic; it's not a cakewalk. And it sure can be a struggle against every imaginable element at times. With its deadlines & commitments, the real world can indeed be an imposing atmosphere on occasion.
Our transition from the good old days of college to the real world is going to be tough. But if we can take what we learned from four years of school & implement those relevant lessons of note into our work/social philosophies (wherever we wind up), if we can use our networking & leadership skills to the fullest advantage while we're ahead, the road ahead won't be as bumpy nor will it be a rough ride to Atlanta, Chi-town, among other cities I didn't mention.
Graduation is going to come up soon & with it the culmination of four years of fun, lessons learned, lessons yet unlearned all come to the forefront. And not only that, it will mark the start of something new in our lives, a chance to take our education to greater heights.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spaces & places: traveling quotes from yours truly
The road goes on forever but for its travelers, life on it doesn't always go as intended.
You may be who knows how many miles away from home but take time out of your day to tell your moms, pops, friends & significant others how much you love them. Some people delayed on doing just that & never got a chance to say the words they needed to while they were in the prime of life. (In short, don't take anything for granted; tomorrow isn't automatically guaranteed.)
Life on the open road can be full of surprises: first it's smooth sailing on a paved road & before you know it, it turns to gravel. You'll wonder to yourself it was worth your time to stay on Highway A & decide to turn around to do more aimless driving around in the middle of nowhere. But I'll tell you this: keep on going, don't stop, don't turn around. Keep moving ahead until you've reached the end of the line & then you can say, "I have arrived!!"
Like our favorite songs, & even our first loves, there will always be a special place which leaves its mark on our lives & on our hearts.
If you say you want to live life to the fullest, get out & see the world every chance you get. That's telling everyone you're the adventurous type. Not only that, you're telling 'em you've got a well-rounded personality as well.
So I'll soon be home...no, I've still got an hour to go, maybe two from the looks of things. But wherever home is, I'm going to be back soon.
Life is, was, has always been, will always be a journey.
You may be who knows how many miles away from home but take time out of your day to tell your moms, pops, friends & significant others how much you love them. Some people delayed on doing just that & never got a chance to say the words they needed to while they were in the prime of life. (In short, don't take anything for granted; tomorrow isn't automatically guaranteed.)
Life on the open road can be full of surprises: first it's smooth sailing on a paved road & before you know it, it turns to gravel. You'll wonder to yourself it was worth your time to stay on Highway A & decide to turn around to do more aimless driving around in the middle of nowhere. But I'll tell you this: keep on going, don't stop, don't turn around. Keep moving ahead until you've reached the end of the line & then you can say, "I have arrived!!"
Like our favorite songs, & even our first loves, there will always be a special place which leaves its mark on our lives & on our hearts.
If you say you want to live life to the fullest, get out & see the world every chance you get. That's telling everyone you're the adventurous type. Not only that, you're telling 'em you've got a well-rounded personality as well.
So I'll soon be home...no, I've still got an hour to go, maybe two from the looks of things. But wherever home is, I'm going to be back soon.
Life is, was, has always been, will always be a journey.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pictures of home away from home
A good 15 minutes or so east of Flint, MI (or roughly 3.5 miles east of Goodrich, MI, whichever you prefer) there once used to be a camp I went to a few weeks prior to school starting back up again: Camp Lakeview was its name & it was a beauty back in the day. Right next to a state recreation area (Ortonville) & who knows how many miles from the nearest paved road, this was a little piece of heaven, a quiet place, serenity plain & simple.
Looking back on those times spent up there, I can't help but wonder how good it felt not just to be a few hours away from home but embracing & appreciating the wonderful works which God made for every one of us. For me, one week of camp life was one week of contemplation, a time for meditation in a quiet atmosphere out in the country. And of course, life was good & beautiful while out in the sticks: I wouldn't have passed the last week of July (into early August) for any other time of the year when it came to having fun & good times, what with summer winding down before our very eyes.
Right here in the middle of nature, in a rural landscape...I'd give a lot just to relive those days again if I could. Times like those haven't been gone forever, now have they?
Looking back on those times spent up there, I can't help but wonder how good it felt not just to be a few hours away from home but embracing & appreciating the wonderful works which God made for every one of us. For me, one week of camp life was one week of contemplation, a time for meditation in a quiet atmosphere out in the country. And of course, life was good & beautiful while out in the sticks: I wouldn't have passed the last week of July (into early August) for any other time of the year when it came to having fun & good times, what with summer winding down before our very eyes.
Right here in the middle of nature, in a rural landscape...I'd give a lot just to relive those days again if I could. Times like those haven't been gone forever, now have they?
Out on the road
Down the road I go.
Down the road I go, windows down, wind blowing through my hair as I race down these thoroughfares...Life is looking good right now & who would want it any other way?
Every time I take to the open road I'm reliving my childhood all over again...back then I was a rambunctious little sonofabuck with a heart for adventure, always looking to break free from the small space I was confined in. And was I ever an adventurous type back in the day!!
More than ever, I've been heading to places which left a particular stamp on my life in some way or other. Whether it's Sidney, OH (home of the CSX Big Four bridge over the Great Miami River) or just up the road to Pokagon State Park, I've gone out & seen the world from a whole new perspective, I'll tell you that much. It's not like I'm going on a cruise down Memory Lane though: ever since those good old days of riding in the front passenger seat with Dad as he took the byways back home from West Milton, OH or Cedar Point, I've had this urge to travel which hasn't quieted down one iota & each subsequent trip that I take brings a whole new bunch of memories worth treasuring.
Down the road I go, unstoppable in my pursuit of happiness, feeling free as a duder can be right now.
Down the road I go, windows down, wind blowing through my hair as I race down these thoroughfares...Life is looking good right now & who would want it any other way?
Every time I take to the open road I'm reliving my childhood all over again...back then I was a rambunctious little sonofabuck with a heart for adventure, always looking to break free from the small space I was confined in. And was I ever an adventurous type back in the day!!
More than ever, I've been heading to places which left a particular stamp on my life in some way or other. Whether it's Sidney, OH (home of the CSX Big Four bridge over the Great Miami River) or just up the road to Pokagon State Park, I've gone out & seen the world from a whole new perspective, I'll tell you that much. It's not like I'm going on a cruise down Memory Lane though: ever since those good old days of riding in the front passenger seat with Dad as he took the byways back home from West Milton, OH or Cedar Point, I've had this urge to travel which hasn't quieted down one iota & each subsequent trip that I take brings a whole new bunch of memories worth treasuring.
Down the road I go, unstoppable in my pursuit of happiness, feeling free as a duder can be right now.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Some words of wisdom
Funny how time slips away before you get a chance to fully embrace it & what it all means.
Funny how we never make the most of our opportunities while they're still available.
Funny how we get a chance to look at the roses outside our door but we never take time out to smell their scent.
Funny how we're eager to meet our heroes/role models but hesitate to tell them how we truly feel, much less articulate how much we admire them.
Funny how we can talk about love but never live it out every day.
Funny how we can say how much we love someone but our words ring hollow, a good sign that we were never sincere or honest all along.
Funny how we can show our support for so-&-so one week only to shut them down the next.
Funny how we can act like the life of the party on the weekends but when the buzz wears off (& with that the start of a whole new week) we act too cool or too good to be bothered by anyone.
Funny how we can have our priorities all in line only to find they're way out of order.
Funny how we can say we're going to do something but never do it.
Funny how we can say we're going somewhere but we can't say where to.
Funny how we can say we've got plans when we don't have any to begin with.
Funny how we can profess that we're perfect only to slip up later on.
Funny how we can take back time but we can't take back things that we said & did.
Time's of the essence; while it's still yours, do a lot more than make the most of it.
Funny how we never make the most of our opportunities while they're still available.
Funny how we get a chance to look at the roses outside our door but we never take time out to smell their scent.
Funny how we're eager to meet our heroes/role models but hesitate to tell them how we truly feel, much less articulate how much we admire them.
Funny how we can talk about love but never live it out every day.
Funny how we can say how much we love someone but our words ring hollow, a good sign that we were never sincere or honest all along.
Funny how we can show our support for so-&-so one week only to shut them down the next.
Funny how we can act like the life of the party on the weekends but when the buzz wears off (& with that the start of a whole new week) we act too cool or too good to be bothered by anyone.
Funny how we can have our priorities all in line only to find they're way out of order.
Funny how we can say we're going to do something but never do it.
Funny how we can say we're going somewhere but we can't say where to.
Funny how we can say we've got plans when we don't have any to begin with.
Funny how we can profess that we're perfect only to slip up later on.
Funny how we can take back time but we can't take back things that we said & did.
Time's of the essence; while it's still yours, do a lot more than make the most of it.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thoughts on Graduation
Another week of regular classes, then Finals...
For those folks approaching the end of the line as undergraduates, Graduation is just around the corner as well. These last days of college life, true, are going to be hectic, as one stays holed up in the library for hours on end getting pumped for next week's exams; as one contends with class projects, presentations & other whatnot, hoping to stay firing on all 4 cylinders come next week; as one contemplates the next steps he/she will take once Graduation's highs have finally worn off for good.
Graduation may be the end to one chapter of our lives but it is also the start of another chapter if we stop to give the matter some thought. We may miss lots of our closest friends, we may miss the comforts/amenities of home life, we may miss our favorite hangouts...there are a lot of old ways & memories we can't seem to abandon, even if we tried to. Honestly, there's a lot of stuff we're going to miss once Fall Semester rolls around & once we've finally set foot in the real world, wherever we wind up going.
Graduation, though, is a new start, a chance to begin anew. True, we still can connect with old friends, we still can hang out when time permits. True, we still can visit our alma mater when we get the chance. But once our time at college is up, the real world welcomes us & some things we thought that we'd never do without...well, they'll end up by the wayside.
Graduation is a time to let go, some will say, of those old habits which we slugged around on our shoulders for four years or so. And so we will, however reluctantly. But in the meantime, there's still life to be lived, time left to live it up. And time enough to get a breather from the incoming storm which will either make or break our whole year.
For those folks approaching the end of the line as undergraduates, Graduation is just around the corner as well. These last days of college life, true, are going to be hectic, as one stays holed up in the library for hours on end getting pumped for next week's exams; as one contends with class projects, presentations & other whatnot, hoping to stay firing on all 4 cylinders come next week; as one contemplates the next steps he/she will take once Graduation's highs have finally worn off for good.
Graduation may be the end to one chapter of our lives but it is also the start of another chapter if we stop to give the matter some thought. We may miss lots of our closest friends, we may miss the comforts/amenities of home life, we may miss our favorite hangouts...there are a lot of old ways & memories we can't seem to abandon, even if we tried to. Honestly, there's a lot of stuff we're going to miss once Fall Semester rolls around & once we've finally set foot in the real world, wherever we wind up going.
Graduation, though, is a new start, a chance to begin anew. True, we still can connect with old friends, we still can hang out when time permits. True, we still can visit our alma mater when we get the chance. But once our time at college is up, the real world welcomes us & some things we thought that we'd never do without...well, they'll end up by the wayside.
Graduation is a time to let go, some will say, of those old habits which we slugged around on our shoulders for four years or so. And so we will, however reluctantly. But in the meantime, there's still life to be lived, time left to live it up. And time enough to get a breather from the incoming storm which will either make or break our whole year.
Friday, April 18, 2008
And yet another one
Where do I begin? & where do I end my searching?
On any given quest, the need to search is not only relentless but also a constant affair as well. I found that out for myself just prior to Initiation & am still learning it now in the real world.
True, I'm proud to be Greek. I'm proud to be a Sig. Nothing wrong with that. The thing is, life as a Sig or an SAE doesn't stop after graduation & neither does the quest to become a better brother, living up to the organization's precepts & standards on a daily basis.
The race is not yet complete, the prize not yet guaranteed. Such is life on a quest: you feel you've arrived at point A but still find you still have quite some distance to travel before you're actually there. Likewise, you feel you've got the race won, victory attained once & for all, but you're still a good mile or so from the finish line. You still have your work cut out for you; you haven't arrived or become the outright winner by any means.
In terms of striving, that truly says something for anyone who's been on a quest: the need to live up to the fraternal standards & ideals are indeed strong but you can't use halfway approaches to
live up to your fraternity's mottoes. You can't cut corners in hopes that you one day will no longer have to worry about reaching perfection. Being a Sig, a Delt, or an SAE is not about automatic arrival into the fold: it's a lifelong process, a constant quest for sure.
And that's yours truly stating fact.
On any given quest, the need to search is not only relentless but also a constant affair as well. I found that out for myself just prior to Initiation & am still learning it now in the real world.
True, I'm proud to be Greek. I'm proud to be a Sig. Nothing wrong with that. The thing is, life as a Sig or an SAE doesn't stop after graduation & neither does the quest to become a better brother, living up to the organization's precepts & standards on a daily basis.
The race is not yet complete, the prize not yet guaranteed. Such is life on a quest: you feel you've arrived at point A but still find you still have quite some distance to travel before you're actually there. Likewise, you feel you've got the race won, victory attained once & for all, but you're still a good mile or so from the finish line. You still have your work cut out for you; you haven't arrived or become the outright winner by any means.
In terms of striving, that truly says something for anyone who's been on a quest: the need to live up to the fraternal standards & ideals are indeed strong but you can't use halfway approaches to
live up to your fraternity's mottoes. You can't cut corners in hopes that you one day will no longer have to worry about reaching perfection. Being a Sig, a Delt, or an SAE is not about automatic arrival into the fold: it's a lifelong process, a constant quest for sure.
And that's yours truly stating fact.
Current playlist #7
David Bowie, "Speed of Life," Low
David Bowie, "Sound and Vision," see above
Wire, "The 15th," 154
Joy Division, "Isolation," Closer
Joy Division, "Transmission," Substance
Brian Eno, "In Dark Trees," Another Green World
Brian Eno, "Here He Comes," Before and After Science
Interpol, "Untitled," Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol, "Obstacle 2," see above
Roxy Music, "Angel Eyes," Manifesto
David Bowie, "Sound and Vision," see above
Wire, "The 15th," 154
Joy Division, "Isolation," Closer
Joy Division, "Transmission," Substance
Brian Eno, "In Dark Trees," Another Green World
Brian Eno, "Here He Comes," Before and After Science
Interpol, "Untitled," Turn on the Bright Lights
Interpol, "Obstacle 2," see above
Roxy Music, "Angel Eyes," Manifesto
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Back to the world
After an amazing weekend, I'm back to business as usual. And if that's not enough, back to life in the real world.
Somehow, someway I braved the cold, the wet, drizzling rain, wet snow just to have two days of fun back in Muncie: on Saturday it was supporting my favorite ladies (AOII :-)) @ Powderpuff then on Sunday I showed up for Delta Zeta's Turtle Tugs. To sum things up in just one word, my weekend was awesome. Weather aside, I had the time of my life & you can't go wrong with that.
Now the workweek has began & only now, the weather is becoming more cooperative...man, it's starting to warm up. If only it was nice & warm last weekend...aw well...life was good even then. It still is now, now that I'm back into the swing of things.
I'm back to the world, the real world & all of its deadlines, all of its expectations & commitments.
Somehow, someway I braved the cold, the wet, drizzling rain, wet snow just to have two days of fun back in Muncie: on Saturday it was supporting my favorite ladies (AOII :-)) @ Powderpuff then on Sunday I showed up for Delta Zeta's Turtle Tugs. To sum things up in just one word, my weekend was awesome. Weather aside, I had the time of my life & you can't go wrong with that.
Now the workweek has began & only now, the weather is becoming more cooperative...man, it's starting to warm up. If only it was nice & warm last weekend...aw well...life was good even then. It still is now, now that I'm back into the swing of things.
I'm back to the world, the real world & all of its deadlines, all of its expectations & commitments.
Friday, April 11, 2008
going, gone!!
Little 5 may be in full session this weekend but I've got to forego the trip to Bloomington...lol...I know, I wish I could be down for that.
Then again, no: with Powderpuff tomorrow & Turtle Tugs on Sunday (hopefully the weather is cooperative) this weekend is going to be twice as nice. Or should I say doubly awesome!!
I've been hit with the travel bug almost every weekend now & Muncie has been the one destination of choice; this weekend won't change any of my travel plans (Not even Lil' 5 could work any wonders here).
In a short while, I'll be out on the road, going to see the world like none other. And oh ya, do what I do for a good cause!!
Then again, no: with Powderpuff tomorrow & Turtle Tugs on Sunday (hopefully the weather is cooperative) this weekend is going to be twice as nice. Or should I say doubly awesome!!
I've been hit with the travel bug almost every weekend now & Muncie has been the one destination of choice; this weekend won't change any of my travel plans (Not even Lil' 5 could work any wonders here).
In a short while, I'll be out on the road, going to see the world like none other. And oh ya, do what I do for a good cause!!
A Higher Standard
When it comes to wearing one's Greek letters, it's not all about pride or prestige. It's not all about popularity. It's something much more than any of these things: it's all about holding oneself to a higher standard & a higher set of expectations.
However, there are those duders who have a different take on the matter & they never cease to amaze me. For such men, being a member of a fraternity (note they won't state this openly) is all about getting plastered & scoring with lots of wonderful ladies. What kind of fraternities would allow men of this sort to enter their chapters with a mindset which is not only immature but also plain antithetical to the creeds & standards which their chapters were based on to begin with? I guarantee this much, only the problem chapters would go to lengths of this magnitude to allow duders in who can "perpetuate the house tradition," as it were.
On the other hand, there are men who sincerely give four hoots or more about their fraternities & they sincerely care enough to know that they're looking for duders of the highest caliber, duders who are willing to step up & get involved in who knows how many aspects of campus & Greek life. They know what place the chapter holds in their lives & they know that to keep their chapter on the up & up as far as house management, academics, scholarship, etc. are concerned, they can ill afford to churn out chapter members who are nothing but a bunch of dead weight & don't want to bring any positive benefits to the house.
It's about accountability, holding oneself to a higher standard & with it higher expectations.
To think that the fraternity is nothing more than a well-stocked bar, that the fraternity is actually irrelevant to one's intellectual & spiritual growth (not to forget personal either)...that's downright unacceptable as well as an insult to your fellow initiates & the ones who came before.
Just keep that thought in mind whenever you've got the letters on, duders; seriously, that's all I can ask for now.
However, there are those duders who have a different take on the matter & they never cease to amaze me. For such men, being a member of a fraternity (note they won't state this openly) is all about getting plastered & scoring with lots of wonderful ladies. What kind of fraternities would allow men of this sort to enter their chapters with a mindset which is not only immature but also plain antithetical to the creeds & standards which their chapters were based on to begin with? I guarantee this much, only the problem chapters would go to lengths of this magnitude to allow duders in who can "perpetuate the house tradition," as it were.
On the other hand, there are men who sincerely give four hoots or more about their fraternities & they sincerely care enough to know that they're looking for duders of the highest caliber, duders who are willing to step up & get involved in who knows how many aspects of campus & Greek life. They know what place the chapter holds in their lives & they know that to keep their chapter on the up & up as far as house management, academics, scholarship, etc. are concerned, they can ill afford to churn out chapter members who are nothing but a bunch of dead weight & don't want to bring any positive benefits to the house.
It's about accountability, holding oneself to a higher standard & with it higher expectations.
To think that the fraternity is nothing more than a well-stocked bar, that the fraternity is actually irrelevant to one's intellectual & spiritual growth (not to forget personal either)...that's downright unacceptable as well as an insult to your fellow initiates & the ones who came before.
Just keep that thought in mind whenever you've got the letters on, duders; seriously, that's all I can ask for now.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
For Once
In an atmosphere where the prevailing mood is "reform or get packing," it seems that some fraternities, even if they got the message numerous times from their respective headquarters, just don't get it. Or worse yet, they don't want to listen to the ominous warnings from HQ at all. This makes for one less house in the Greek system & one less problem for IFC to worry about, right? For the most part, yes.
But fraternities whose history has been nothing except a lenghy tome of run-ins with the law, behavioral problems & other outright negative headlines - well, it's up to them whether they want to improve their status on campus or not. If they blatantly choose to stay stuck in their rut & regress even further into far worse antics, HQ is more than happy to come to the rescue (either by revoking their charters, suspending their chapters indefinitely or a dreaded house cleaning).
Then again, closing down a house to eradicate the "frat-boy" culture isn't enough. Neither is suspending the chapter for who knows how long. Same with house cleanings. The will to change a fraternity for the better starts with the heart & not solely with the mind.
Of course, this change isn't going to occur overnight; it takes time. It takes waiting it out. It takes perseverance. And most of all, it takes a whole lot of faith & hope to assure us that Alpha Kappa is sincerely making a comeback of the ages, not as one of the Greek system's premier party houses, but as one of the top chapters on campus with a 3.1 GPA as well as one chapter with plenty of duders who are involved in various campus organizations & are making strides to make their presences felt inside & outside the Greek community.
As for those chapters who deliberately stay their course, they only have themselves to blame once HQ steps up & does the inevitable. What then? what then?
But fraternities whose history has been nothing except a lenghy tome of run-ins with the law, behavioral problems & other outright negative headlines - well, it's up to them whether they want to improve their status on campus or not. If they blatantly choose to stay stuck in their rut & regress even further into far worse antics, HQ is more than happy to come to the rescue (either by revoking their charters, suspending their chapters indefinitely or a dreaded house cleaning).
Then again, closing down a house to eradicate the "frat-boy" culture isn't enough. Neither is suspending the chapter for who knows how long. Same with house cleanings. The will to change a fraternity for the better starts with the heart & not solely with the mind.
Of course, this change isn't going to occur overnight; it takes time. It takes waiting it out. It takes perseverance. And most of all, it takes a whole lot of faith & hope to assure us that Alpha Kappa is sincerely making a comeback of the ages, not as one of the Greek system's premier party houses, but as one of the top chapters on campus with a 3.1 GPA as well as one chapter with plenty of duders who are involved in various campus organizations & are making strides to make their presences felt inside & outside the Greek community.
As for those chapters who deliberately stay their course, they only have themselves to blame once HQ steps up & does the inevitable. What then? what then?
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Wondering what's next
As the school year slowly draws to a close, plenty of Greek men & women are preparing for their final days as undergraduates as best they can: lots of job interviews, getting their resumes in order, projects & classes that will determine if they will graduate or no, staying up to speed on their portfolios & other prerequisite whatnot. Indeed, the next few weeks are going to be as hectic as they are going to be fun & good times.
This doesn't mean that we still can't run against the wind. Bob Seger knows that we still are running against the wind, the restless bunch that we are, even though the real world might try & regulate our pace a bit, with its "...deadlines & commitments/what to leave in, what to leave out." We can still love living life & we can still enjoy every minute of it. We can still go out & see the world, the adventurous souls we've always been at heart. There's no denying that we can still have our share of fun in the next few weeks or so; the college experience hasn't lost its charm just yet. We can still find time to live life & go many places even in the real world. So those hopes of adventure & good times haven't been lost after all.
At the same time, we're beginning to buckle down, to make an assessment where we're going to head off to once we reach that crossroads, once Graduation comes calling. It's a time for reflection, a time to make some serious decisions while we're ahead. Any notions of procrastinating or feeling we can waltz through life without planning anything in advance will soon be thrown out the window as the real world opens its doors to us, & Seger's last lines in that final prechorus to "Against The Wind" once more make their presence felt. These last few weeks of life as an undergraduate are pretty important ones to think about, & I'm stating fact.
Especially if you're wearing Greek letters, these last few weeks of undergraduate bliss are a big deal as the job interviews come pouring in, as one plans to move on & begin another chapter in life whether it be in Indy or Chi-town or anywhere else. Yes, these final weeks of life as an undergraduate are definitely going to be hectic but no one ever said that the best things in this world ever came easily, did they?
This doesn't mean that we still can't run against the wind. Bob Seger knows that we still are running against the wind, the restless bunch that we are, even though the real world might try & regulate our pace a bit, with its "...deadlines & commitments/what to leave in, what to leave out." We can still love living life & we can still enjoy every minute of it. We can still go out & see the world, the adventurous souls we've always been at heart. There's no denying that we can still have our share of fun in the next few weeks or so; the college experience hasn't lost its charm just yet. We can still find time to live life & go many places even in the real world. So those hopes of adventure & good times haven't been lost after all.
At the same time, we're beginning to buckle down, to make an assessment where we're going to head off to once we reach that crossroads, once Graduation comes calling. It's a time for reflection, a time to make some serious decisions while we're ahead. Any notions of procrastinating or feeling we can waltz through life without planning anything in advance will soon be thrown out the window as the real world opens its doors to us, & Seger's last lines in that final prechorus to "Against The Wind" once more make their presence felt. These last few weeks of life as an undergraduate are pretty important ones to think about, & I'm stating fact.
Especially if you're wearing Greek letters, these last few weeks of undergraduate bliss are a big deal as the job interviews come pouring in, as one plans to move on & begin another chapter in life whether it be in Indy or Chi-town or anywhere else. Yes, these final weeks of life as an undergraduate are definitely going to be hectic but no one ever said that the best things in this world ever came easily, did they?
Monday, April 7, 2008
Crean and Crimson
Finally!! IU has found a head coach with Midwestern roots, Midwestern connections, & no NCAA baggage to carry around like his predecessor. It's none other than Tom Crean, whose previous stint was at Marquette & whose track record there was nothing short of amazing!!
Could he be the perfect fit for the job? I sure feel that he is. And plenty of Hoosiers fans should rejoice in the fact that Crean has lots of credibility on his resume, one thing Kelvin Sampson never had at either Oklahoma or his last coaching stop in Bloomington. If that's not enough, this could be the start of a whole new era of Hoosiers basketball, minus the drama & rumors of rules violations being committed. Sure, we could have asked for the General to return but trying to rehash those glory days would be a bit much to ask.
But at least we've got a coach who's lived & breathed Midwest air his whole life; you gotta love that much already.
Could he be the perfect fit for the job? I sure feel that he is. And plenty of Hoosiers fans should rejoice in the fact that Crean has lots of credibility on his resume, one thing Kelvin Sampson never had at either Oklahoma or his last coaching stop in Bloomington. If that's not enough, this could be the start of a whole new era of Hoosiers basketball, minus the drama & rumors of rules violations being committed. Sure, we could have asked for the General to return but trying to rehash those glory days would be a bit much to ask.
But at least we've got a coach who's lived & breathed Midwest air his whole life; you gotta love that much already.
Reissue redux
Just when I thought Impulse! would decide not to re-issue all of John Coltrane's output for the much-heralded label, I was so wrong. And I'm sure a lot of folks were thinking the same as well.
Recently, Impulse! decided to woo us into buying classic albums in one of the best ways possible: original album art, liner notes, you name it...all at an affordable price too!! (This means you don't have to shell out almost $20 for another awesome Trane CD again...hahah.) But if you stop to think about it, these latest reissues are a good call:
If anyone owned a John Coltrane album (on the Impulse! label, no less!!) back in the day, the feeling of seeing that orange & black bifold cover, the liner notes written like so...this latest batch of reissues should bring back lots of beautiful memories indeed.
They sure did for me. Not only that, the sound is majorly amazing. I felt that the John Coltrane reissues released back in the mid-90s were not bad at all but these new remasters knock the mid-90s releases out of the water...the sound positively jumps out at you; it's that stellar. This may be my own personal opinion but these latest Impulse old-school re-re-releases are kind of a big deal, given that they deliver the goods in spades: great sound, great cover art/liner note reproduction. And if you're a hardcore fan of John Coltrane or any other artist who recorded for the almighty label called Impulse!, you shouldn't pass up this opportunity to buy these latest reissues. (I meant that too BTW!!)
Recently, Impulse! decided to woo us into buying classic albums in one of the best ways possible: original album art, liner notes, you name it...all at an affordable price too!! (This means you don't have to shell out almost $20 for another awesome Trane CD again...hahah.) But if you stop to think about it, these latest reissues are a good call:
If anyone owned a John Coltrane album (on the Impulse! label, no less!!) back in the day, the feeling of seeing that orange & black bifold cover, the liner notes written like so...this latest batch of reissues should bring back lots of beautiful memories indeed.
They sure did for me. Not only that, the sound is majorly amazing. I felt that the John Coltrane reissues released back in the mid-90s were not bad at all but these new remasters knock the mid-90s releases out of the water...the sound positively jumps out at you; it's that stellar. This may be my own personal opinion but these latest Impulse old-school re-re-releases are kind of a big deal, given that they deliver the goods in spades: great sound, great cover art/liner note reproduction. And if you're a hardcore fan of John Coltrane or any other artist who recorded for the almighty label called Impulse!, you shouldn't pass up this opportunity to buy these latest reissues. (I meant that too BTW!!)
Two down, two to go
For the first time in a dog's age, the Final Four wound up with nothing but top-seeded teams.
On Saturday, two of those teams were shown the exit doors (UCLA & UNC). Now the last two teams standing are playing with nothing to lose & so much to gain.
Who would've thought that Kansas & Memphis would make it this far into the season? And yet here they are, each team poised to make history in some way or other when they meet for the NCAA championship. I thought the Tarheels would win it all but they let me down in a major way against the Jayhawks. Then I thought UCLA would upend Memphis in every aspect of the game...
but fate wanted otherwise & there you go: Memphis from the Conference USA (what kinda conference would let a team like the Tigers go unscathed for 2 straight seasons?!) & Kansas from the Big 12. This is prime time, two teams & only one emerging an outright victor. Could this be the Tigers' year? Or could Kansas prove the doubters wrong? Just hang loose & wait until that final buzzer sounds; then & only then will we know who the real deal is in college basketball.
On Saturday, two of those teams were shown the exit doors (UCLA & UNC). Now the last two teams standing are playing with nothing to lose & so much to gain.
Who would've thought that Kansas & Memphis would make it this far into the season? And yet here they are, each team poised to make history in some way or other when they meet for the NCAA championship. I thought the Tarheels would win it all but they let me down in a major way against the Jayhawks. Then I thought UCLA would upend Memphis in every aspect of the game...
but fate wanted otherwise & there you go: Memphis from the Conference USA (what kinda conference would let a team like the Tigers go unscathed for 2 straight seasons?!) & Kansas from the Big 12. This is prime time, two teams & only one emerging an outright victor. Could this be the Tigers' year? Or could Kansas prove the doubters wrong? Just hang loose & wait until that final buzzer sounds; then & only then will we know who the real deal is in college basketball.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
In the long-suffering nation of Zimbabwe, a ray of hope is starting to shine down on men, women & children whose lives & very well-being have been destroyed by Robert Mugabe's misrule & autocratic mannerisms. The sun hasn't shined all out just yet, but since elections have been held, chances are it may shine brighter than ever.
And why is that? For the first time in ages, Mugabe hasn't gotten the upper hand as far as votes are concerned. Which gives Zimbabweans plenty of reason to feel optimistic, knowing that the tide is beginning to turn in their favor. After so many rigged elections in the past (as well as false hopes from Mugabe himself), this may come across as a relief, a permanent one at that (unless Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF, has something to say about it).
If elections finally turn out as expected, that is to say Mugabe finally is dealt a losing hand, this could be the end of the Dinosaur Dictator era in Zimbabwe. He led his nation out of colonial rule; he gave his fellow Africans reason to rejoice at their liberation from British power. But he couldn't save it from corruption, mismanagement as well as wanton misrule. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the highest rates of inflation in the world. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has one of the world's highest unemployment rates around. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the lowest rates of life expectancy around. All thanks be to Mugabe for completely offing the nation economically & politically, the very nation he came to save.
Now the tables have turned. If Morgan Tsangivarai (one of Bobby Mugabe's longtime bugbears & political opponents) is lucky to win it all, the wheels of hope may once more turn in a nation desperate for change in every aspect.
And Mugabe may be shown the door for good, after three decades of plain incompetence & blatant misuse of his power.
And why is that? For the first time in ages, Mugabe hasn't gotten the upper hand as far as votes are concerned. Which gives Zimbabweans plenty of reason to feel optimistic, knowing that the tide is beginning to turn in their favor. After so many rigged elections in the past (as well as false hopes from Mugabe himself), this may come across as a relief, a permanent one at that (unless Mugabe's party, ZANU-PF, has something to say about it).
If elections finally turn out as expected, that is to say Mugabe finally is dealt a losing hand, this could be the end of the Dinosaur Dictator era in Zimbabwe. He led his nation out of colonial rule; he gave his fellow Africans reason to rejoice at their liberation from British power. But he couldn't save it from corruption, mismanagement as well as wanton misrule. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the highest rates of inflation in the world. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has one of the world's highest unemployment rates around. No wonder then that Zimbabwe has the lowest rates of life expectancy around. All thanks be to Mugabe for completely offing the nation economically & politically, the very nation he came to save.
Now the tables have turned. If Morgan Tsangivarai (one of Bobby Mugabe's longtime bugbears & political opponents) is lucky to win it all, the wheels of hope may once more turn in a nation desperate for change in every aspect.
And Mugabe may be shown the door for good, after three decades of plain incompetence & blatant misuse of his power.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The race is on
All I can do is wonder right now. To be honest, I can't help but wonder.
'Bout what? Right now, the search is on for a new men's hoops coach @ IU & the last most likely candidate for the coveted post (a certain Mr. Bennett from Washington State) shut down an offer from the Hoosiers so he could stay on @ Pullman. Plenty of IU fans are feeling my agony as they hope their new head coach doesn't carry the same baggage of NCAA violations into town like Kelvin Sampson did (much to our consternation, he made the same foul-ups in Bloomington BTW).
A lot of folks are thinking about who'd they want as the new Hoosiers head coach & of course some of the names ring lots of bells. And here's the dream list of candidates I wish would grab that vacant spot:
(1) The General...bring back Bobby Knight!!
(2) Rick Pitino (the dude has made a name for himself @ Kentucky & now Loo'vull)
(3) John Calipari (head coach over @ Memphis)
(4) Coach K
(5) Roy Williams
(6) Sean Miller (head coach @ Xavier)
(7) Tom Izzo (head coach @ Michigan State)
Sure, they may sound like perfect fits for Sampson's old spot but then again do you see most of them leaving their powerhouse programs at the 11th hour & trying to change the Hoosiers overnight? I can't. You can't. Lots of IU fans who have been beat around the bush for the longest time are saying they can't.
All we can do is wonder, & think about the direction IU's AD is going to take just to find the right man to fill this coaching void. What we do hope for is that they don't pick up another bolt from the blue whose track record is full of question marks & negatives.
'Bout what? Right now, the search is on for a new men's hoops coach @ IU & the last most likely candidate for the coveted post (a certain Mr. Bennett from Washington State) shut down an offer from the Hoosiers so he could stay on @ Pullman. Plenty of IU fans are feeling my agony as they hope their new head coach doesn't carry the same baggage of NCAA violations into town like Kelvin Sampson did (much to our consternation, he made the same foul-ups in Bloomington BTW).
A lot of folks are thinking about who'd they want as the new Hoosiers head coach & of course some of the names ring lots of bells. And here's the dream list of candidates I wish would grab that vacant spot:
(1) The General...bring back Bobby Knight!!
(2) Rick Pitino (the dude has made a name for himself @ Kentucky & now Loo'vull)
(3) John Calipari (head coach over @ Memphis)
(4) Coach K
(5) Roy Williams
(6) Sean Miller (head coach @ Xavier)
(7) Tom Izzo (head coach @ Michigan State)
Sure, they may sound like perfect fits for Sampson's old spot but then again do you see most of them leaving their powerhouse programs at the 11th hour & trying to change the Hoosiers overnight? I can't. You can't. Lots of IU fans who have been beat around the bush for the longest time are saying they can't.
All we can do is wonder, & think about the direction IU's AD is going to take just to find the right man to fill this coaching void. What we do hope for is that they don't pick up another bolt from the blue whose track record is full of question marks & negatives.
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