Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Here is something to ponder. Since I am a guitarist, I need to ask the question; what is the greatest guitar on a song you have ever heard? Notice I did not say guitar solo, but if it is a solo that is perfectly alright. My ideas of a great song change all of the time, so don't be afraid of saying something you won't agree with later. Here are my favorites at this time.

Greatest guitar solo ever (and I mean forever and ever and ever): Cult of Personality-by Living Colour specifically Vernon Reid

Honorable Mention: Guitar solo on Comfortably Numb-by Pink Floyd specifically David Gilmour

Great songs:
"Subdivisions" Rush
"Aenema" Tool
"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" Van Halen
"5150" Van Halen
The entire Cream reunion DVD
The entire "Rush in Rio" DVD
"Pleiades" King's X
"Papa was a Rolling Stone" The Temptations
The Messiah in a live music setting (alright, I've never experienced the Messiah live, but I know it would be awesome!)

Thursday, March 09, 2006

There is good news and bad news.

There are more people reading this than I thought and that is good news.

The bad news is that I have to moderate comments now. I guess I have a case of e-growing pains. Please, don't hesitate to leave comments. Just keep in mind that they won't be published until after I read them.

I once lost an election to a card draw (weird huh!) My opponent, who incidentally turned out to be as passionate about things as I was, pulled a queen and I drew a seven. Though I had never played cards in my life, I had a fairly good idea that a queen beats a seven, but I wasn't completely sure and I wasn't about to do a victory dance or give a losers handshake. So, I waited (about 5 seconds) until the proper authorities declared me the loser. After the hoopla a journalist asked me what I was thinking after drawing a seven and I told her that I wasn't sure who had won. She exaggerated the story in the paper and voila.... instant idiot. People I don't know made fun of me and said some rather nasty things. If you know my real name go ahead and google it, there might still be residue of my 15 minutes of fame and idiocy. It is an easy thing to talk smack, especially anonymously on the internet. Unfortunately, it is the mark of a coward and has infected my tiny little blog.

So, if you're the one talking smack on my blog kindly piss off.

Legitimate gripes will be addressed, heck maybe even debated.

Self-righteous (you know who you are) insulting smack will never see the light of day.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

I have been working for some time on a History Education degree at Utah Valley State College. I am a senior now and hopefully I will finish the confounded thing by this Christmas. At any rate, throughout the years I’ve grown close to a few other students and professors.

Here are a few of my instructors:

http://www.uvsc.edu/profpages/view.cfm?user=10001329 Meet Professor Snedegar, or as he prefers Keith. This is my all time favorite professor. He teaches in what I call “English lecture.” When I am in his class I feel like I am at a prestigious university in a far off land. His knowledge is a mile wide and a mile deep.

http://www.uvsc.edu/profpages/view.cfm?user=10008272 This old guy is a walking legend on campus. He only speaks 15 or so languages and has forgotten more history than I’ll ever learn. If you have the opportunity to be confused in his classes for a semester, consider yourself blessed.

http://www.uvsc.edu/profpages/view.cfm?user=10001727 The ever controversial Professor Bennett. She will pull the rug out from under you and then make you remember why. Her class was an immense challenge and a grand learning experience.

http://www.uvsc.edu/profpages/view.cfm?user=10001426 If you think I’m a crappy writer now you should read the crap I wrote before Kat Brown’s grueling class. She IS the teacher who teaches history majors to write at UVSC. She has a biting, sarcastic wit that makes her classes fun and educational. Plus, and a big plus it is, she is a lot cuter than Alex Stecker.

I could not find a web page for the best adjunct professor in UVSC’s arsenal; Rick Fish. This guy is hardcore! He came from professional history so you know he knows his stuff. The fact that he is adjunct speaks volumes for the antiquated snobbery found at universities. Fools, asses, petty administrators, this man is the exception to your bourgeoisie zealousness (how is that for low-class professor speak). It is a downright travesty that he is still adjunct. For those of you responsible for this injustice….screw you! A pox on you and your stupid ways.

There is nothing like the idiocy of academia.

There are a lot of students who are doing history as a jump to law school. And most don’t really carry a passion for the discipline. There are also those that think that history is an easy route to a degree. Most are usually weeded out even before any sort of official matriculation. There are a few who are assuredly headed for scholarly greatness.

Of all the friends I’ve made (that includes you Darrin) and professors I’ve learned from, there is no one I admire more than David Ssejinja. David is a man living for something worthy. He has what I believe is a quality of life that most never even glimpse. In class David is mostly quiet, except when there is laughter. And his laughter is loud and infectious! His comments are intelligent and usually put a different spin on things (which is very important in the discipline of history). David hails from Uganda and is committed to helping the disadvantage people of his country through his foundation.

http://www.ssejinja.org/

I know David personally and he is trustworthy. His foundation gives in clear and practical ways. So, please give 'til it hurts.