I’m currently listening to: Saves the Day - Rocks Tonic Juice Magic

I didn’t do much this weekend.  In fact, I can literally count on my hands the number of things I took part in.  Everyone else seemed to have grand plans for the weekend, so I decided I would take it easy.  I envisioned I would work on my senior project for a few hours, and check off most of the remaining work, go on my eight mile run, and then maybe rent a movie.  Instead, I was unable to finish my run (having to walk after five and a half miles).  I spent fourteen hours slaving over this terrible project, and ended up depriving myself of both sleep and food.  Did I accomplish anything?

Despite my feelings of frustration, I did get a decent amount of work accomplished.  Unfortunately, I feel I went about it the wrong way, I sacrificed my precious free time to a meaningless project that could have waited.  I don’t know what it is about programming, but once I approach a problem, it consumes me.  I cannot stop until I understand it.  This isn’t as big of a problem when working for a company, because at the end of the day, I go home and forget it.  However, with this senior project, I was at home, and I chose not to do anything until I solved the problem.  This was pretty stupid.

I want my weekend back.

I don’t start class until 2pm on Mondays.  This is a unique situation for me, because I have never before had so much time from when I wake up to the start of class.  I must say it has been quite boring so far.  Sure, waking up at 10:30 was nice, but by noon I had run out of things to do.  Hopefully, as the semester wears on, I will find more interesting ways to plug this gap in my schedule.  Maybe it will include updating this blog on a more regular basis.

People can say what they want. They can call me a racist, they can say that I am a bigot, but Chief Illiniwek represented all that was honorable on our campus. For over eighty years the Chief stood as a symbol of honor, loyalty, courage, and respect. Now, the NCAA has decided that they no longer wish for us to honor or remember Native Americans with these qualities. The Chief danced his last halftime performance tonight, and a little piece inside of me died. It honestly feels like I have returned from a funeral.

Tonight was a very special night. For starters, it was a big game against our rivals Michigan. It was also senior night. However, perhaps most importantly, it was the last night to celebrate the Chief.
The halftime performance was stunning. I couldn’t believe that this was the last time I would watch the crowd go wild after those famous leg kicks. I don’t believe that the words to Alma Mater will ever be sang as loud, or with such emotion as on this night. Just when we all thought it was over, the Chief turned back, and addressed all portions of the crowd. It was a perfect way to go out. There were standing ovations as the camera followed him down the hallway to the locker rooms. At this point, over half of the students in the cheering section removed our orange and wore black in remembrance of the Chief for the remainder of the game.

The Chief will be greatly missed. Right now, I can’t even comprehend that he is gone for good. It seems so foreign to me, that when I introduce my children to the University of Illinois, I will have to tell them about when the University had a real mascot - when the Chief was still allowed to dance. The PC crowd may have killed our hero, but he his honor and legacy will live on. I can only pray that the University will do what is necessary to preserve and commemorate this wonderful tradition. Perhaps a statue, or a museum. At the very least, the Chief’s regalia should be put on display somewhere.

I would like to thank Mr. Dan Maloney, and every Chief that came before him. You have created a wonderful legacy of honor and integrity. I appreciated your efforts to Save the Chief, and I know that you did all that you could. You kept the Chief’s dignity even to the moment you walked off the court (even in the hallway where you stood for the remainder of halftime for that matter).

Chief- you will be missed by many. Its sad that the ridiculousness of a few vocal individuals and the cowards at the NCAA were finally able to get the best of you.

Update: ESPN’s coverage of The Chief’s Last Dance

I’m currently listening to: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?

Since the temperature has not reached above 10 degrees for the last week, and frequently dips below zero, I figured I would let you all know that Ivan Denisovich and I are now best friends. In fact, just the other day, as Andy and I were waiting out in the sub-zero cold facing twenty to thirty mile an hour winds as we waited for the Illinois vs. Michigan State basketball game we decided that our predicament was worse than our troubled hero’s. You see, Mr. Denisovich had the task of hard manual labor to occupy his time. This helped his situation by providing both a means of generating body heat, as well as a way to pass the time. However, Andy and I were stuck waiting in the cold, with nothing to do but stand in line. By the end of the hour, my feet were honestly frozen. I had never been concerned about frostbite until this moment. I am not exaggerating that it took until the ten minute mark (of game time) for my feet to thaw. Notice, we get into Assembly Hall roughly forty-five minutes before the game starts. This means my feet were frozen for approximately an hour and fifteen minutes after entering the building. I just thought you all should note the type of pain and suffering I am subjected to. Pat, if you want the book rights to record my plight, you are more than welcomed to them.

P.S. we got floor seats and the game was awesome, I have no regrets.

I’m currently listening to: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Lower the Gas Prices Howard Johnson

After taking my Econ 103 test this evening, I pretty much feel that I could be put on the same level as Adam Smith. Alright, perhaps this is a bit of a stretch, but I think I did very well. I definitely enjoy macroeconomics a lot more than micro. Everything on the global scale just seems so much more relevant than micro. I guess that’s why I’ve been thinking of going into the banking industry. Screw small business!

Aside from my positive feedback on my test, today was rather undelightful. I wouldn’t call it horrible, but it just was not enjoyable. It rained all day, not a peaceful rain, but the type that comes late enough in the fall that you wish it were snow. At least then I would not have scampered around soaked all day. In fact, I probably would have made a post about how great the weather was.

Finally, I would like to give props to Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. This small band out of Springfield, MO has impressed me with their live show, and given me great hope that they will be the next Polyvinyl act I fall in love with. I pre-ordered the album to be shipped on the 13th, but all that arrived was the Headlights EP, a sampler, and a blue Airhead. I can’t decide which item was the most pleasing. That’s the beauty of independant labels, I’ve never gotten candy (or a sampler!) in my order from Sony or Dreamworks. However, I must now email the customer service department to see if I can get the last of my order. Luckily the label is in town, and they should be able to ship me my cd in no time at all. Then life will be good.

P.S. I really need a digital camera so I can start taking my own pictures instead of scouring the Internet for photos to steal. If only I had a couple hundred bucks hanging around… maybe for Christmas.

I’m currently listening to: Rise Against - Siren Song of the Counter Culture - Paper Wings

There is something about baseball season (and Spring) that makes time go by faster. Perhaps it is the semester starting to speed up, coupled with the fact that nearly all free time in the evening can be spent tracking some baseball game. I don’t really know, but it is nice to think that in approximately one month I will be back home for summer. I feel sort of guilty that I haven’t posted here in a while. I had a decent post in my mind the other day, but I never got around to posting it. I really don’t have a whole lot else to say, I got a 100% on both my Econ and Physics tests, that was pretty cool. Aside from those minor accomplishments, I am kind of bummed that I am missing the Alk3/Against Me! concert– I hear the Alkaline Trio are playing an hour and a half to two hours of older material at these sets (they play so long they even require an intermission time during their set). That sounds like it would be insane, but unfortunately Chicago is sold out and St. Louis is on a Monday. Oh well, such is life.

JD