Sporcle Quizzes Are Awesome!

During Christmas break, my family introduced me to Sporcle. It was a life-changing experience. I have since learned a lot about geography, history, literature, music, science, and sports, among other things. My favorite quizzes (so far) are the following.

U.S. Presidents
U.S. Capitals
Countries of Africa
Countries of Europe
Countries of Asia
Countries of North America
Countries of South America
Countries of Oceania
VH1's 100 Songs (80s)
VH1's 100 Songs (90s)
Artists Who Hit #1 (2000s)
Bible books - New Testament
Bible books - Old Testament
Big 4 U.S. Sports
#1 Ranked Tennis Players
Periodic Table
Greek Alphabet
BBC Top 100 Books
NBA Champions
The Last Five
World Series Winners

Unrelated to the New Year

Several people have asked me if there's an electronic copy of my dissertation. In the unlikely event that you might be interested, the link is http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/ETD/image/etd2706.pdf


Really boring stuff. And it takes a while to load. Enjoy!

Recent Changes

This may be a long and boring post, but it might be the most exciting post you've ever read!! Will you dare to risk it?

A year ago, I finished school and started a new job and finally made it to the real world. I know, it was about time. My original plan was to retire when I graduated and become a jazz musician. Unfortunately that didn't happen. What did happen was that I decided to get my own apartment in Waldorf, Maryland, which was about as close as I could get to work without sacrificing my standard of living beyond an acceptable point. It seemed like it would be smarter to live closer to work, since I'd be making that drive almost every day, rather than living closer to people. No offense intended to all you southern Maryland people (with notable exceptions to whom offense is indeed intended).

At first I really enjoyed living alone. It was a nice break from all those things from which it was a break. It was nice to be able to come home and do whatever I wanted and watch whatever I wanted and completely relax and just hide from life for a little while. Maybe I needed that after having roommates for so many years, but eventually it became rather wearisome to drive to church, institute, friends' apartments, or anywhere I wanted to go that wasn't in the middle of nowhere in southern Maryland.

Well here I am a year later and I've finally made some key changes that will help me get back to a more social life, and a life that will be much improved in many ways I hope.

The biggest change was my recent move to Alexandria, Virginia, which is much closer to the people I know out here and all the LDS single ladies that everyone tells me I need to meet. I also have roommates now, which is hugely important, as everyone knows.

Some less important, but still significant changes include the selling of my tv and couch, and a general paradigm shift towards simplifying and getting rid of all the extra, unnecessary stuff I have rather than continuing to buy more and more stuff just because it's cool and I can. Albeit I don't believe I will ever get rid of my leg lamp.

I also got rid of DIRECTV which I never should have gotten in the first place. I should have listened, Colette. You were the wisest of all (see facebook status comments way back when). I did enjoy some HD sports along the way, but was it worth it? I don't think so.

Oh, and I haven't bought a movie in a while.

And I finally went to traffic court for that ticket I got a while ago. The judge ended up cutting the fine in half and dismissing the points on my record, so I'm happy.

And I'm done with all my Christmas shopping, unless of course you're dying to have me buy you something. Speak now or forever hold your peace. I figure if you made it this far through my post, you deserve something. No promises, though.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

I Bid Thee Adieu

Yes. It is true. My companion of 2.5 years has gone away, leaving me sad and lonely. Alas. Woe is me. She's kept me company through the good shows and the bad shows, the fantastic sporting events and the less than stellar. I may never find her equal again. How can I ever again watch the Masters, the 24 season premiere, a midnight viewing of Wicker Park, or play Super Smash Bros on the N64 without shedding a tear or two. I can't. It's impossible. Go ahead. Dare me to try it. I'll fail.

What can be done? The answer eludes me. Hence, I will do nothing. Perhaps her memory will fade away into the past like the integrity of Major League Baseball, or perhaps it will linger as a cherished moment, such as John Beck's pass to Harline, Jason Lezak's record anchor leg to defeat the French in the 2008 Olympics, or the times when I defeated Samus with Pikachu (or with Fox, Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, or Ness). Only time will tell.

Goodbye, my friend.

Victims of Their Own Success

I would like to take a moment to reflect on the recent success of BYU football under Bronco Mendenhall. While there have been some deeply disappointing games, two so far this season, and a handful during previous seasons, I would invite you to walk with me down memory lane.

2004

Crap. Crap. Double crap. Triple crap?
Last year under Gary Crowton.

5-6 overall record.

Third straight season with a losing record and without a bowl game.

The most memorable game for me was the 28-27 loss to a ranked Boise State team after missing what would have been a game-winning field goal.

2005

First year under Bronco Mendenhall.

6-5 record during regular season (6-6 overall).

Bowl eligible for the first time since 2001.

The most memorable games are, unfortunately, the overtime losses to TCU (51-50) and Utah (41-34), but at least they went to overtime. Just think, we were two overtimes away from being 8-4 in Bronco's first year.

2006

Bronco's second year.

11-2 overall record.

Ranked as high as 15th during the season.

Undefeated in conference play.

Two close losses to Arizona (16-13) and Boston College (30-23 in OT) kept us out of a BCS bowl.
5 points away from a perfect season (just try and question my math skills, I dare you).

Beck to Harline baby!!! (Harline is still open.)

Destroyed Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl 38-8.

Raised expectations to super high levels for 2007.

The end of a fine career for John Beck. I salute him. FYI - he is currently 3rd string QB for Baltimore.

2007

Bronco's third year.

11-2 overall record.

Ranked as high as 14th.

Undefeated in conference play.

Two early non-conference losses kept us out of a BCS bowl.

Eerily similar to 2006.

Revenge against Arizona (won 20-7).

4th and 18 Max Hall to Austin Collie.

Played UCLA twice, losing the first, but winning the Las Vegas Bowl 17-16 with a blocked field goal at the end of the game.

2008

Bronco's fourth year.

10-3 overall record.

Ranked as high as 7th.

Started the season 6-0, reaching a 16-game winning streak, ranked in the top 10, and prompting much hullabaloo about BCS Bowl busting.

Defeated UCLA soundly in the skirmish 59-0.

Disappointing losses at TCU 32-7, Utah 48-24, and Arizona 31-21 in the Las Vegas Bowl, but interestingly, despite the mid-season loss to TCU, a win over Utah would have made us conference co-champions with Utah and TCU, and possibly would have landed us in a BCS bowl depending on the final rankings. Alas, it was not to be.

2009

Bronco's fifth year.

Started 6-2.

Ranked as high as 7th.

Upset Oklahoma in season opener, leading to a top 10 ranking and discussion of a possible berth in the national championship game.

Unfortunately, there were two disappointing losses to Florida State and TCU but there is still time to salvage a respectable season.

Overall:

I have to applaud Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU coaches and players for how quickly they turned the program around after Gary Crowton left. Two conference championships in the first three years and BCS buster potential every year since 2006 make a pretty good case. Sure, there are still some things to figure out and there has been some disappointment each year, but it is only because of all the success, which has raised expectations and put us in the national spotlight. It's tough to meet rising expectations when you've already climbed so high. Not to mention that TCU and Utah could have beaten anyone in the nation last year, not just us. Same goes for TCU this year.

This is my positive take on the BYU football program.

Texas

A few weeks ago, I went down to the BYU-Oklahoma game at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. It was basically the best Labor Day weekend of all time. Besides the great football game, it was also my first real visit to Texas and I think I even saw a big, bright star (at night). My brother Nathaniel and I stayed at my other brother Mark's house in Wylie and we got to see our littlest niece Adriana, who made the trip even funner (yes, funner is a word). We also made it to the Sixth Floor Museum where Kennedy was assassinated, which was very enlightening. Well, I've decided to keep this short and just put in a picture of Adriana and some pictures and videos of the game. You can get more at my brother's blog here if you want. Enjoy.

Yes. She is that cute.

A fitting tribute.

Very large BYU football player.

Large (and excited) BYU fans.

Looking around at the big honking stadium.

Rushing the field. Unfortunately, we were a little too far away to participate.

Utah

Last week (Aug 19-24) I made it back to Utah for the first time since graduating. I was much more relaxed this time than when I was scrambling to finish school and getting ready to drive across the country to start a new job and a new life. It was really nice to see my friends and family. I didn't actually take any pictures, so, uh, sorry.

I got in Wednesday in the afternoon and went to my brother's place in Sandy. It was fun to stay with them, especially since I got to party with their 7 and 5 year old son and daughter, Zealan and Caslea. I went to a Canyon Terrace reunion that night. It was fun to reminisce about our many crazy adventures. To pay respect to this little gathering, I would like to share some haikus from apartment 33's famous haiku page.

CT33
The perfect attention span
For reading haikus

Cleaning the kitchen
It's a big waste of my time
It will never last

Who is your daddy
I don't think I need to tell
But yes it is me

Thursday was quite eventful. I made it back to Cafe Rio for lunch with my friend Karin. Then I gave myself a personal Provo history tour, including parallel parking on condo row. Later I stopped by Colette's new place in south Provo and we caught up and figured out how to hang the hammock on the balcony. Thursday night was dinner and games at the Shepherds' house, where I stayed for a few months when I was finishing up school. Thanks for dinner and an awesome evening! By the way, I added the farmtown app. Just FYI. Maybe you guys can work on my farm for me? It's pretty bad so far.

Friday, I was invited to go to Chuck-A-Rama for an early dinner with my grandpa and my uncle. We had a nice visit and I kept the food down, so it was a success. That night my friend Becca planned a party at her house and even invited me to come over. Thanks Becca! It was great to see everyone. I reached three milestones that night. I sang the vocal part on Rock Band (as opposed to singing the guitar part), I lost to 3 girls at Bohnanza (a card game involving many types of beans), and I ate a costco brownie bite and dried mango at the same time.

Saturday morning I got to watch my 5 year old niece score a goal in her soccer game. Pretty awesome. I asked her what her favorite thing about soccer was and she said it was the snacks. Very wise. Lunch in the park with my family and going to see my sister's kittens took up the afternoon. Later that night, I met up with the guys at Ruby River in Sandy. Somehow we all got there at the exact same time and ended up parking right next to each other. We were all of one mind that night and it was one to remember. My 16 oz New York Cut and Jacketed Baked Potato never tasted so good.

Sunday was pretty awesome. Kung Fu Panda in the morning with my niece and nephew. First time I'd seen it. Temple dedication in the afternoon. Dinner at the Mower's house that night. Can life get any better? Of course, there was also States Sequence after dinner. And Dreamer the Dog did some tricks. And Katie Mower drew a picture of me. Thanks Katie. May you enjoy many more years of Dreamer and Scooby Doo.

I want to apologize to everyone I didn't get to see and to whom I didn't say goodbye. I was rushing around so much that I failed miserably in that regard. You'll all just have to come visit me so I can make up for it.