Just when I think I'm out (of Iowa)...

So, barring any new developments, I will be attending (not the) Iowa State University this fall, working towards a master's degree in astrophysics. Even if there are new developments, I will probably still be going there, because it was the only astronomy-related program I applied to. So, in anticipation of this, I am attending their Open House this weekend.

Oh yeah, and I have a teaching assistantship for going there as well. Fist pump. Fist pump.

(COMPLETELY UNRELATED [except for money]) Also, I knew my work as a JET Programme judge last month was recognized, but I didn't know it would be monetarily rewarded. Suh-weet.

I bet this is Hansbrough's nickname. Not.

To Grant Wahl, Alan Shipnuck, and whoever writes the captions for SI:

OK. I get it. This year's Tar Heels squad has a bunch of freshmen in the starting lineup. You might call them young, inexperienced, naïve, or even verdant. But did you have to describe the team using the word "callow" three times in one issue (20 March, pgs. 42, 63, 74)?

It's as if you all just watched Mallrats, or when you checked the thesaurus, it was already turned to that page.

The vitriol, the pub, and other things*

I hate, hate, hate with hammers, Indiana roads. The speed limit on I-65 is 70 for cars, etc., 65 for trucks. This causes extremely annoying backups as the interstate turns into a two-lane highway whereever a convoy is present. This also leads to an inordinate amount of crashes, as I learned first-hand on October 28 last year. (I remember the date because I was in the Loop for the victory parade that morning.)

Going along the highway, you will see several tire tracks in the median, damage to signs and fencing, and random debris all over the place, suggesting that Indianans drive as well as the average Southerner does when it snows. Nice to see this complemented by the vast array of light-duty trucks, many of which are decoed with racing team logos.

Moving on to some lighter notes...

There's scary, then there's walking into a pub in Bloomington just before Indiana plays in a second round game. It doesn't help when you are pulling for the guy whose mustache is as bad as your own.

I finally returned to the Waffle House this weekend, but not really. Turns out, the breakfast Mecca known as WaHo is called Waffle & Steak due to a competing presence in Indiana. This gives rise to the affectionate moniker, "WaSte."

For those scoring at home, I ordered a triple, had it scattered, then smothered, double covered, capped, and peppered. I also used tabasco and pepper, and used salsa, 57 sauce, and mustard at various points in the meal.

I was also disappointed to learn that "Ramblin' Man" wasn't on the jukebox.

"Wait Until Dark" is a pretty cool movie. Hollywood needs to get back to making movies based on plays, if Tom Stoppard ("Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead"), Neil Simon ("Barefoot in the Park"), and "Deathtrap" are any indication. Of course, I have no clue about the current state of affairs of New York or London theatre.

*Footnote: Title refers to the Cowsills, "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things." I figured some folks might get it, but as I have learned in the past, I seem to operate on a different wavelength from other folks.

I know, the Pistons did it first

First my team attempts to one-up the Red Sox by having a cheesy (but awesome, heh) theme song in "Don't Stop Believin'," and now, thanks to A.J. Pierzynski's involvement with TNA wrestling, gets to pass around a championship belt for the player of the game all season. I am awash with emotion right now. Is this one of those Mastercard moments?

If that wasn't enough, at the pay-per-view, A.J. helped the man who once wrestled as the KISS-sponsored Demon beat his opponents by belting them over the head with a home plate. Where does one get a home plate for a wrestling match? From none other than the newest clean-shaven Yankee, who happened to be sitting in the front row.

As Donatello said in TMNT II: The Secret of the Ooze, "Genius. Pure genius."

Why it matters

Go there. And there.

Back in the early '90s, I used to dream about Kirby coming back to Chicago to play for the Sox.

To me, this would be pretty comparable to Payton succumbing to liver disease a few years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't become a sports fan until 1990 (which is why I'm a Sox fan), so I can't truly empathize with them.

While I'm talking about my friends' sports idol, I just want to mention: when you finish up, Frank, come on back. It's nothing personal. Just look at Ozzie.

News and Notes

So, I was listening to both volumes of the Trainspotting soundtrack while driving this weekend, and I made some pointless observations.

I think I like #2 more than the original, considering "The Passenger" isn't as overplayed as "Lust For Life," along some other underrated fare ("Think About The Way" and "Atmosphere" come to mind). Plus, considering it was $5 at BMG Music Service, it was a pretty swell buy.

I think my favorite "The System, is Down" song would have to be Underworld's "Dark and Long (Dark Train Mix)," closely followed by "Born Slippy," Daft Punk's "Superheroes," "Digital Love," and Zombie. Zombie. Zombie Nation...

LCD Soundsystem. Good stuff.

It's Just horrible thAt I would forget the blog written bY the former maNagEr of UI Quiz BoWl, because IT is clever, concise, and I Have it in my bOokmarks. I don't know what coUld possess me To forget her Page, even though she stIll can'T change the format to add links of her own (including mY own site). So, that rectifies that.

Aloysius Murphy, whadya havta to say bout this?

Aside from the sniffles, I have not gotten sick all winter. I blame the relatively mild weather, the vast majority of my time spent indoors, my daily vitamins (Centrum only), and my lack of overexertion.

I expect to get throttled for this by some karma enhanced retrovirus in the future. I love my immune system.

Oh yeah, and ISU sent me an e-mail, stating that I should be on the look out for an offer letter. They received my last documents on the 13th, and completed the transcript overview on the 22nd, ONE WEEK AGO. Un-bee-leave-uh-bull.