Marked Thoughts

Happy thoughts

2009-09-29T05:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a great day. My grandfather and I went up to Ellijay and got some apples and then had soup and a sandwich at a little restaurant up there. We had a good time and then on the way home we decided to detour and go to the outlet mall in Dawsonville. Haha, that was fun as well. I would never recommend taking the detour we took (turning on hwy 53 in Jasper and going to Dawsonville) though, it took an hour or so which is way longer than way we normally go.

In other news, maybe I'll have a job soon. :)

This kid has it sooooo bad...not

2009-07-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Week Off

2009-05-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

My week off between spring and summer semester is almost over, but it has been a good break. I haven't really done anything special, but it's the first break during which I haven't worked in a really long time, actually, it may be the first break I that I've taken time off during since I started working in high school. But anyway, it's been nice just to sleep late while I'm home for the week. I've got lots of Call of Duty time in this week lol. You know you are a nerd when your week has consisted of reinstalling old computer games, playing too much xbox 360, buying a dvd copy of 5 episodes of the Starship Troopers animated TV series, and reading scifi novels.
I also did some cleaning and organizing in my room, which made me a little sentimental. I found old letters and cards from high school friends, friends that I've not stayed in touch with well. It made me realize just how fast time has flown by since those days and how sad it made me feel to see those old friendships neglected. I'm am going to put more effort into staying in touch with my college friends once I'm gone.
Well, I'm tired, so it's off to my dream land...

Graduation

2009-05-04T18:31:00.001-07:00

Graduation ceremony is this Saturday, and like many other graduating students, I am excited, anxious and curious as to what the future holds. Going to college almost four years ago was a big step in life and it has flown by faster than I thought it would. I've had fun, made mistakes, learned valuable lessons, and matured as a person here at Georgia Southern. I will always look back on my time here as something special. While I am somewhat sad that I will be leaving GSU behind, I know that the future will bring many exciting and challenging experiences. As graduates prepare to move on, we all should take the time to reflect on how GSU has helped us become the people we are today. To all grads, good luck!

Spring Concert

2009-05-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

Friday's spring concert, while not exactly the kind of music I prefer, was very enjoyable. It was great to get out and let loose with hundreds of fellow GSU students. I had never listened to Dashboard Confessional until the concert and even though I'm not a big fan, they played a good live show. Moonhammer also played a great show and the charismatic frontman really made their performance entertaining. It's great that GSU has these concerts. Even though I'm graduating, I hope they continue this trend of free concerts and invite various artists to come play here.

Negative Waves

2009-04-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

It seems that everything going on in the world today is negative. We hear that global warming is threatening our existence, our economy is tanking, swine flu could become a global epidemic, pirates are attacking ships, terrorists are prevailing in Pakistan, the bailout is going to burden future generations, etc, etc, etc. I'm starting to wonder when there will once again be a positive outlook on life in our society. I'm hoping that it happens soon, cause it is a downer to wake up to negative information flowing from the television and Internet.

Miss USA

2009-04-21T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Miss USA pageant has been in the news this week because of a question Perez Hilton asked Miss California. He asked her about the legalization of gay marriage and she stated her opinion, that did not believe gay marriage is right; a view that probably cost her the Miss USA crown.
I believe that her answer was honest and the right one. Though she may not have won the title Miss USA, she is the real winner to me. I think it takes a lot of guts to stand up for what you believe in front of someone that does not agree with your opinion- and on television for that matter.
I don't think Miss California was given a fair question. There are better questions (and just as hard to answer questions), that aren't controversial. There are two very opposing sides to that issue and I think that no matter what answer she gave, some people would have not been happy about it. Judges' questions should be screened before the show for fairness.
And as for Perez Hilton, I think he is a jerk for pushing his agenda on someone like that.

Campus

2009-04-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

One of the features that truly sets Georgia Southern apart from other universities, besides its outgoing staff and good facilities, is its beautiful campus. GSU's campus is a great place to spend time. The landscaping is done well; there is a lake, ponds, fountains, bricked walkways, beautiful plants, animals, buildings with good architecture, etc. The campus offers a nice outdoor atmosphere that is inviting and clean. There are many great places around campus that are perfect for sitting down and reading a book. People come on campus and fish at the lake. Some people even lay out and tan. GSU students are truly blessed with a beautiful university.

2009-04-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

The semester is winding down and students are preparing for finals, summer plans, possibly graduation, etc. Though some students are starting to get tired of school, it's important to finish the semester strong. No matter how good your grades are, if you do poorly on end of the semester projects or finals, your good grades could go down hill in a matter of just one or two weeks. Finishing the semester with hard work and determination is vital to establishing a successful routine that will help you maintain your grades, earn academic recognition (i.e. the Dean's List), and keep you focused on your goals.
Take some time at the end of the semester to take finals seriously and work hard.

Car trouble

2009-04-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

I've had some recent car troubles and it has helped me realize how important it is to not only maintain your vehicle but also have a trust worthy repair shop to take your car. Car repairs can be expensive, in my case it was $350 to replace the alternator on my car. You need to have a place to take your car where you will get an honest mechanic to do the job. Luckily, I do. I'm not doing an advertisement here, so I won't tell where. Another thing is, people need to make sure that they are taking their vehicles in for routine maintenance. If you don't keep up your car, it is more likely you will have to pay for expensive repairs down the road. Our vehicles are important to our everyday lives and it's important that we take good care of them.

Upcoming Concert

2009-04-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

There is an upcoming free concert on campus featuring Dashboard Confessional. This will be the third free concert that has been held at GSU in the past year. I think doing the free concerts is a great idea. It's good to have events like this for students since Statesboro is far from cities that have concerts by big name bands, and it gives the chance for students to enjoy some free entertainment. My only gripe about the concerts is that they need to have a variety of music types. So far, the concerts have just featured rock and rap artists. There needs to be a variety; perhaps some R&B, Bluegrass, Heavy Metal, Southern Rock, Pop, or Punk groups should be tossed in the mix just for a variety. I'm not trying to complain. I'm just trying to offer what I think the school should consider.

Job fair...a waste of time.

2009-04-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'm disappointed in the communication arts career fair that was held at GSU yesterday. It seemed very unorganized and hastily put together. The turn out of various reps from companies was poor and the ones that did show up did not have a lot to offer. I felt as if I had wasted my time by going. My professors had been urging us to attend this fair for weeks, but why? Why was something so fruitless worth our time? The next time our teachers talk something up and have us miss class or work to attend, the event better be well organized and thought out. Students are hungry for job opportunities and raising their hopes just to let them down is not the right thing to do.

Sleep

2009-04-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

I used to hate sleeping. I would go to bed late and get up around 7 a.m. every day just a few years ago. Now, I cannot stand losing sleep. Getting a good night of sleep is key for starting each day feeling rejuvinated and motivated. The amount of sleep you get can affect your attitude at the start of the day. I think it's important for everyone to get an ample amount of rest at night. Making good grades, staying motivated, and having the energy to stay awake in class all depend on the sleep you get. Plus it is just a healthy practice to have good sleeping habits. I would encourage all students to try and get more sleep if they can.

2009-04-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

I think there should be more healthful food alternatives in the Pickle Barrel on campus. There is a lot of candy, chips, soft drinks, ice cream, high sodium frozen and condensed meals, but there are not many healthful options. When I get tired of campus food, I take my meal plan to the Pickle Barrel so I can get some food to cook at home, but I often leave with food that I will later feel guilty for eating. There are simply not enough fruits and vegetables in the our campus' general store. It would be great to see some more produce items made available there. Students and people in general are more conscious of what they are eating now, so I'm sure many students would appreciate some healthier items in the Pickle Barrel.

2009-03-31T12:57:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is that special day holiday that people usually forget to remember. April Fools of course! This is one of my favorite days of the year because it's interesting to see what different April Fools pranks organizations and people come up with for the gullible. These pranks provide a good laugh and add something interesting to what would normally be just another day. This day allows for even the most serious of organizations to show their sense of humor. I'm still planning on what prank I will do tomorrow to dupe my peers. Have a fun April Fools and be aware!

2009-03-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Over spring break, I didn't go to some exotic getaway, I didn't party, I didn't go on a road trip, nor did I do anything that would excite my readers interest. But, I'm going to talk about what I did anyway. I sat in the basement at my parents' home, worked at my old job, and chilled with a friend. Spring break isn't only about going to vacation spots and partying. In fact, it's mostly about just getting away from the stress of college life. I spent hours of my spring break just playing Call of Duty: World at War in the basement. I didn't need to go on a vacation or do something out of the ordinary, I just needed some time to take my mind off college. Working at my old job, at Zaxby's as a cook, I had the opportunity to earn a few bucks and work with my old "work family." I enjoyed my spring break because I didn't have to think about school. That's what spring break should be about; Not big trips but simply getting away from class work.

2009-03-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

On Saturday February 28, 2009, I attended the Scion Rock Fest at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA. Metal bands played on different stages throughout the day, starting just after noon, at the event. Thousands of headbangers, some driving down from as far as Denver and Cleveland, converged on the venue for the event. Mastodon, an Atlanta based band of growing popularity within the genre of music, headlined the event with an 1 1/2 hour performance from 9:30 - 11 p.m. A list of the bands that played at the event can be found HERE Below I have posted some clips I have compiled of the event.

Scion Rock Fest clips

2009-03-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

Pizza is probably one of my favorite food items: it's cheap, tastes awesome, filling, and does not require dirtying up dishes.
The problem is, Statesboro has so many good pizza places to choose from. There are the giants, Papa John's, Pizza Hut, and Domino's. There are smaller joints like Don Corleone's and Hungry Howie's, and of course the pizza buffet next to Lowe's.
So, with all these options, which location do you choose? Well, It depends on how much money you have, how much you want to eat, and what kind of pizza quality you are willing to buy.
On a tight budget, Don Corleone's has a cheap medium pizza for people willing to dine in during the evening. Their pizza is pretty tasty too. So it's a cheap deal for some pretty decent pizza.
If you want to eat a lot for a small fee, the buffet is your obvious choice. They have a fair price, OK pizza, and lots of flavors to choose from.
In my opinion, the best quality pizza in town is Hungry Howie's. Their pie tastes great, you can customize the crust flavor, and the pizza is reasonably priced.
So, if you are considering buying pizza in the Boro, keep these things in mind.

Ragin Preacha

2009-02-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

There is something the campus has lacked this semester. Though many people are annoyed by them, I miss the extreme preachers that come and badger students around the rotunda. I think they are loony, like everyone else does, but unlike those who get pissed off at these ranters, I find them hilarious. Seeing them on campus adds some entertainment to the boring routine of class. Their outrageous banter is also a good reminder that, thought I have been super stressed with school activities, I'm still sane. I'm a Christian, but I believe in reaching people through love, not hatred. I hope to see some fire and brimstone raining around the rotunda soon!

Swimmer Madness

2009-02-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

Without trying to sound too much like the Britney Spears guy, people need to leave Michael Phelps alone. Just because a picture of him smoking from a bong is floating around doesn't mean everyone should start criticizing him. I'm not saying it is ok to smoke an illegal substance, I think people should just back off a bit. People make mistakes and Phelps is not excluded. I know Phelps is supposed to be a role model, but our President, who smoked weed in his youth, is a role model for many. There is a double standard and people need to leave the guy alone. This isn't even real news. People need to focus on the issues that affect everyone.

Hello!

2009-02-03T13:30:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my blog!

My first post is going to be about Georgia Southern University's campus transit. It's 4 weeks into the semester and the bus crowds are still huge. I think it's time for GSU to add more buses to the route because there have been many days where I have to wait until the third or fourth bus arrives before I can get on. I know many other students share the same frustrations. It's annoying to have to leave extra early to insure that I get on a bus so I can arrive at class on time.
I also don't understand why they start removing buses from the route around 4 or 5. There are tons of students still on campus during those hours. Overcrowding at the bus stops is just as bad in the evening. I think more buses should be running on the route during the evening.
We all pay fees for the transit system, so I think we should be adequately accommodated.