This is a continuation of Book of Revelations. So scroll down and read that first, or don't. Fine, be that way.
My stubbornness and steadfast approach to do the right thing has stunted my growth. I was a little crazy in high school. Lightubes were my favorite toy. I was relatively unable to talk to girls. Football was my social life. I busted my ass to survive at Eustace in the classroom. By all accounts I was a damn good kid but you were a little afraid of me.
I did not give in to the popular thing to do, and I still don't. I have never smoked weed or cigarettes or did any drugs. However, I'm willing to admit that after all these years I was wrong about alcohol. I was never drunk until my 21st birthday. Drinking has allowed me to evolve my social life. I'm more open to trying new things or doing things that I wouldn't normally do.
As a 20 year old I was more hard working and focused than many 30 year olds. I wasn't very happy though. Drinking has allowed me live out the high school and college years that I failed to experience. I was trying to push forward without experiencing my sophomoric life. I was mature and I still am but I am playing catch up for the the fun that I missed out on. I need to get the drinking out of my system before I can move on.
In the college article that precedes this post I was going to say that I should have went to a random school such as TCU or Clemson and I would have had more fun. I do not really believe that I would have survived without playing a sport or joining a fraternity. La Salle allowed me to stay in touch with high school friends. Its up for debate whether or not I needed the training wheels. If I would have been willing to drink at this age perhaps I would have fallen in line with a decent group of friends and had more fun in college. This would have allowed for me to go to that random school and ultimately have fun. I wasn't ready though. I would have struggled in a foreign place without a solid group of friends.
I was more open and met many new people when I went out my senior year of college. I gave it my best effort and things didn't turn out perfect, but it was the best time I had in college. I won't talk to too many people from college because I didn't have as many true friends as high school but here's a toast to peer pressure. Drink up.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Book of Revelations
Think back 5 years or so. You are deciding where to go to college? What is factoring into your decision?
I was unmotivated in my search for a college. There was only one that I wanted to go to and it was a longshot. My backup plan was Seton Hall and it was the only school that I demonstrated any kind of emotion when I was accepted into. I applied and was accepted into Hofstra, Drexel, La Salle, Sacred Heart, and the University of New Haven. To be truthful I didn't really give a damn about any of them. The one school that rejected was the University of Michigan. Generally I was excited about college because you always heard how great it was. I just didn't want to go anywhere other than Michigan.
Criteria for Decision?
I knew that a school with smaller class sizes would suit me
Good Business School
Closer location
Some type of quality football or basketball team
I felt a general apathy towards going to attending a college away from home and not knowing anyone. This in hindsight was a mistake but more on that later. I decided not to play football and pick up pro wrestling. I decided that living in a city was probably a good idea. I wanted to know my roommate and I wanted to be close to my girlfriend. This made La Salle a decent fit. I was happy to learn that I could have a car on campus and live in the city. Seton Hall had me in fear of being trapped on campus. I was also concerned about the environment at basketball games because of the distance from campus.
Part of me wishes that I played football. At the time I was satisfied with trying a new activity and watching and attending Michigan Football games. It's frustrating knowing that I can't go back and play now because you can bet your ass I can still contribute. Living in the city of Philadelphia was a vastly better decision than living in the Newark area. However the campus life may have been superior at Seton Hall. I was glad to be hanging around Philadelphia area people as opposed to New York area people. I am glad to be working in the Philadelphia area as opposed to the New York area.
Going to a school without knowing anyone has its advantages if you can make it through the rough start. As I have begun writing this paragraph I am realizing that I probably would not have survived at many other schools. To be continued...
I was unmotivated in my search for a college. There was only one that I wanted to go to and it was a longshot. My backup plan was Seton Hall and it was the only school that I demonstrated any kind of emotion when I was accepted into. I applied and was accepted into Hofstra, Drexel, La Salle, Sacred Heart, and the University of New Haven. To be truthful I didn't really give a damn about any of them. The one school that rejected was the University of Michigan. Generally I was excited about college because you always heard how great it was. I just didn't want to go anywhere other than Michigan.
Criteria for Decision?
I knew that a school with smaller class sizes would suit me
Good Business School
Closer location
Some type of quality football or basketball team
I felt a general apathy towards going to attending a college away from home and not knowing anyone. This in hindsight was a mistake but more on that later. I decided not to play football and pick up pro wrestling. I decided that living in a city was probably a good idea. I wanted to know my roommate and I wanted to be close to my girlfriend. This made La Salle a decent fit. I was happy to learn that I could have a car on campus and live in the city. Seton Hall had me in fear of being trapped on campus. I was also concerned about the environment at basketball games because of the distance from campus.
Part of me wishes that I played football. At the time I was satisfied with trying a new activity and watching and attending Michigan Football games. It's frustrating knowing that I can't go back and play now because you can bet your ass I can still contribute. Living in the city of Philadelphia was a vastly better decision than living in the Newark area. However the campus life may have been superior at Seton Hall. I was glad to be hanging around Philadelphia area people as opposed to New York area people. I am glad to be working in the Philadelphia area as opposed to the New York area.
Going to a school without knowing anyone has its advantages if you can make it through the rough start. As I have begun writing this paragraph I am realizing that I probably would not have survived at many other schools. To be continued...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Where the Real Action Is
Many People over react in the stock market, just like many other things in life. In the stock market though, their nest eggs and life savings are at risk. There are many kneejerk reactions. 3rd Quarter Earnings were worst than expected the stock falls and probably harder than it should. Buy when you think its at the bottom and watch it go up tomorrow morning.
If you are new to the stock market I would suggest picking a few stocks and just watch their movements throughout the day. Some stocks are traded in high volume and their price fluctuates a great deal throughout the day. It is interesting to see some patterns develop.
1.The game is a full go from 9:30-4 M-F. If your down you can still come back. A loss of $200 in one week can be a gain of $200 the next week.
2.Your odds are better. Just like in regular gambling at a casino or your bookie you have to lay odds. The odds you lay are on the trade commissions. This is about $20 for the purchase and sale of stock. The difference here is that your not -110. You can buy $500 worth of stock of $5,000 and your still in for $20.
3. It's legal gambling but you have to pay taxes on winnings.
Easy Rules to follow.
1.Buy in multiples of 100. Example 100 shares, 200 shares, not 151 shares because its what you can afford. This is because it can be difficult to dump these shares into the open market.
2. Do not reinvest dividends. This would use the money you have earned on dividends to buy more shares of stock. Keep your profits.
3. Have a minimum of $3000 to invest.
4. Do not buy or sell when Market is closed. You never know what the market is going to open the stock price at. You can end up paying much more than you anticipated, or receiving less than you expect for the sale.
Which Discount Broker is right for you?
If you are new to the game I would suggest TD Ameritrade. Great promotion right now. If you deposit $2,000, you get free trades for a month. If you deposit $25,000, you get free trades for a month and $100. TD Ameritrade has no hidden fees and is $9.99 per trade. Their user interface is superior to sharebuilder and that's why it gets the nod here.
-ETrade has hidden fees that you have no business paying. Avoid it at all costs.
-Sharebuilder is good- 9.95 per trade. Automatic Investing is available for $4.- This involves choosing a stock and purchasing a few shares at a time. This could be an advantage if this interests you.
Scottrade is $7.99 per trade but I'm not sure what the deal is. I hear good things though.
If you are new to the stock market I would suggest picking a few stocks and just watch their movements throughout the day. Some stocks are traded in high volume and their price fluctuates a great deal throughout the day. It is interesting to see some patterns develop.
1.The game is a full go from 9:30-4 M-F. If your down you can still come back. A loss of $200 in one week can be a gain of $200 the next week.
2.Your odds are better. Just like in regular gambling at a casino or your bookie you have to lay odds. The odds you lay are on the trade commissions. This is about $20 for the purchase and sale of stock. The difference here is that your not -110. You can buy $500 worth of stock of $5,000 and your still in for $20.
3. It's legal gambling but you have to pay taxes on winnings.
Easy Rules to follow.
1.Buy in multiples of 100. Example 100 shares, 200 shares, not 151 shares because its what you can afford. This is because it can be difficult to dump these shares into the open market.
2. Do not reinvest dividends. This would use the money you have earned on dividends to buy more shares of stock. Keep your profits.
3. Have a minimum of $3000 to invest.
4. Do not buy or sell when Market is closed. You never know what the market is going to open the stock price at. You can end up paying much more than you anticipated, or receiving less than you expect for the sale.
Which Discount Broker is right for you?
If you are new to the game I would suggest TD Ameritrade. Great promotion right now. If you deposit $2,000, you get free trades for a month. If you deposit $25,000, you get free trades for a month and $100. TD Ameritrade has no hidden fees and is $9.99 per trade. Their user interface is superior to sharebuilder and that's why it gets the nod here.
-ETrade has hidden fees that you have no business paying. Avoid it at all costs.
-Sharebuilder is good- 9.95 per trade. Automatic Investing is available for $4.- This involves choosing a stock and purchasing a few shares at a time. This could be an advantage if this interests you.
Scottrade is $7.99 per trade but I'm not sure what the deal is. I hear good things though.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Manayunk: Write it in stone
I have no idea how things are going to shake out. To relocate, things are going to have to shape up nicely. The plan for Manayunk is March. The expected added cost to me is $9,000 per year.
This would include rent, food, gym membership, parking, cable, internet, and other general expenses.
I have heard that there are places you can park you car and pay a monthly rate of around $40. This seems reasonable to me depending on how close it is to where you live. Living in a housing community has been discussed and after speaking with people who live in Manayunk I feel it is probably best to get an individual house.
Rules/Requirements for Manayunk
1.House must be within walking distance of the bars- This is for several reasons. You don't wanna to worry about driving, parking, or taking a cab. The Bars are close to 76. This is important for work related issues. It makes it easier to bring someone back.
2.People I live with must be willing and able to go out. You have to be able to go out and talk to girls. Don't hurt the team. Also you should be able to just hang out and chill at the bar on some nights.
3. Ideally there are no more than 3 housemates. 3 is more than I would like but its the norm, and it's ideal for payments.
4.Gym- I could do the gym thing and running thing on my own but ideally someone would want to go to the gym and be active.
5.The place is liveable and an upgrade from college. It is a place you could bring a girlfriend and a parent and not have them say this place is gross.
6.Girlfriends do not live in the house. This would be bad for everyone. An occasional stay is welcomed but you don't pay rent so get the fuck out. Also don't turn your back on your housemates if you have a girl.
7. Be willing to leave Manayunk for Old City, Rittenhouse square or wherever on any given weekend night.
The plan: I'm selective in who I would want to live with and right now I plan on living in the house for just a year because I feel I would outgrow the situation after that. I'm am willing and able to drop the cash at the drop of the hat. As you might expect, this plan is in stone, until tomorrow.
What can change: I could change jobs, no longer making Manayunk a desirable place to live. I could get a girlfriend and Manayunk would not seem so important.
This would include rent, food, gym membership, parking, cable, internet, and other general expenses.
I have heard that there are places you can park you car and pay a monthly rate of around $40. This seems reasonable to me depending on how close it is to where you live. Living in a housing community has been discussed and after speaking with people who live in Manayunk I feel it is probably best to get an individual house.
Rules/Requirements for Manayunk
1.House must be within walking distance of the bars- This is for several reasons. You don't wanna to worry about driving, parking, or taking a cab. The Bars are close to 76. This is important for work related issues. It makes it easier to bring someone back.
2.People I live with must be willing and able to go out. You have to be able to go out and talk to girls. Don't hurt the team. Also you should be able to just hang out and chill at the bar on some nights.
3. Ideally there are no more than 3 housemates. 3 is more than I would like but its the norm, and it's ideal for payments.
4.Gym- I could do the gym thing and running thing on my own but ideally someone would want to go to the gym and be active.
5.The place is liveable and an upgrade from college. It is a place you could bring a girlfriend and a parent and not have them say this place is gross.
6.Girlfriends do not live in the house. This would be bad for everyone. An occasional stay is welcomed but you don't pay rent so get the fuck out. Also don't turn your back on your housemates if you have a girl.
7. Be willing to leave Manayunk for Old City, Rittenhouse square or wherever on any given weekend night.
The plan: I'm selective in who I would want to live with and right now I plan on living in the house for just a year because I feel I would outgrow the situation after that. I'm am willing and able to drop the cash at the drop of the hat. As you might expect, this plan is in stone, until tomorrow.
What can change: I could change jobs, no longer making Manayunk a desirable place to live. I could get a girlfriend and Manayunk would not seem so important.
5 Picks for Saturday
3-2 Last Week. 11-8-1 on the season.
Florida @ Georgia(+16) 3:30 CBS. Well Florida has been unimpressive lately.
CMU(+4.5) @ BC 3:30 ESPN U. I'll take the Chippewas.
South Carolina (+5.5) @ Tennessee 7:45 ESPN. This is an intriging matchup that will likely have alot of turnovers. Two great defenses and two subpar offenses.
USC(-3.5) @ Oregon 8 ABC/ESPN 2. History is on my side.
Texas @ Oklahoma State(+9) 8 ABC/ESPN 2.
Florida @ Georgia(+16) 3:30 CBS. Well Florida has been unimpressive lately.
CMU(+4.5) @ BC 3:30 ESPN U. I'll take the Chippewas.
South Carolina (+5.5) @ Tennessee 7:45 ESPN. This is an intriging matchup that will likely have alot of turnovers. Two great defenses and two subpar offenses.
USC(-3.5) @ Oregon 8 ABC/ESPN 2. History is on my side.
Texas @ Oklahoma State(+9) 8 ABC/ESPN 2.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
World Heavyweight Championship of College Football
First of all not my research or idea but very interesting. What if the world of college football played to a title belt that transferred hands in each defeat. A draw results in a retain and the belt is dated back to the first title game. Here is what it looks like.
http://apogee2.blogspot.com/2009/10/update-to-all-time-college-football.html
http://apogee2.blogspot.com/2009/10/update-to-all-time-college-football.html
Monday, October 26, 2009
Don't Call it a Bucket List: Sporting Events and Venues
Anfield- Liverpool FC has been playing on the ground since 1892 and has been rumored to be winding down its tenure as the home of the Reds. Located in Liverpool, England, it is a financial commitment to go there. I am trying to coincide it with trips to other venues as well. If you are making a trip like this you want it to be perfect. Maybe a Champions League game during the week and a Saturday afternoon at Anfield so you get two Liverpool games. Liverpool has a famous fan support section that leads the chants and songs. This is called the KOP("Cup"). This is because they eminate from The Kop stand. Sitting in the Kop end would be ideal for this trip. Tickets are challenging even with a fan membership and Capacity is just 45K. If this sounds like Fenway Park and Red Sox it should. The club has not won a league title since 1990 to add to the similarities.
Duke-North Carolina at Cameron Indoor. This rivalry has blown up with the ESPN hype machine starting in the early 90s. It is overrated but still a great show. I feel that the atmosphere at Cameron Indoor is better than at the Dean Dome but perhaps I am wrong. Tickets at the Dean Dome would be significantly cheaper due to being more than twice as large as Cameron. Tickets would be significantly priced at either venue and I would prefer to sit as close to the students without being inside the student section as possible.
World Cup- To go and cheer for the USA would be unreal. If attending this event I would like to be in a fun country. South Africa 2010 doesn't get the job done for me. Tickets are gettable, time off work, probably not.
USA Soccer vs Mexico at Estadio Azteca. In the heart of Mexico City lies this 105K stadium filled with insane Mexican fans. They throw bags of urine on Americans. They racially taunt, they have voodoo dolls and hang players in effugy (spelling?). It sounds like the 700 level at the Vet, only worse. I want to go in there feeling all the hate and come away with the first U.S. victory in the stadium. Ticket packages are available from USsoccer.com.
SEC Saturday- Truth is there are numerous stadiums I could put on the list. The trouble with going to many college campuses is that they are hard to get to. Usually not real conducive to reaching from a major airport. The goal is to go to major stadium for a major game and as many as possible. This is not just limited to the SEC but it would take care of an experience I have not yet had.
Texas High School football Friday night then Texas A&M the following day. Why A&M? I just feel that it is the best venue in the state with the best fans. They have the bonfire on Friday night and yelling practice. Huge ROTC program adds to tradition of 12th man.
Rupp Arena- Kentucky Basketball is a religion. Can you Imagine when Pitino comes to town on Jan. 2 this year what that place is going to be like.
Feel free to add to the list because I'm sure I am forgetting something.
Side note: Events where I could easily find Michigan were not considered because I plan on doing them anyways. ex. Assembly Hall (Indiana University) and Notre Dame Stadium.
Duke-North Carolina at Cameron Indoor. This rivalry has blown up with the ESPN hype machine starting in the early 90s. It is overrated but still a great show. I feel that the atmosphere at Cameron Indoor is better than at the Dean Dome but perhaps I am wrong. Tickets at the Dean Dome would be significantly cheaper due to being more than twice as large as Cameron. Tickets would be significantly priced at either venue and I would prefer to sit as close to the students without being inside the student section as possible.
World Cup- To go and cheer for the USA would be unreal. If attending this event I would like to be in a fun country. South Africa 2010 doesn't get the job done for me. Tickets are gettable, time off work, probably not.
USA Soccer vs Mexico at Estadio Azteca. In the heart of Mexico City lies this 105K stadium filled with insane Mexican fans. They throw bags of urine on Americans. They racially taunt, they have voodoo dolls and hang players in effugy (spelling?). It sounds like the 700 level at the Vet, only worse. I want to go in there feeling all the hate and come away with the first U.S. victory in the stadium. Ticket packages are available from USsoccer.com.
SEC Saturday- Truth is there are numerous stadiums I could put on the list. The trouble with going to many college campuses is that they are hard to get to. Usually not real conducive to reaching from a major airport. The goal is to go to major stadium for a major game and as many as possible. This is not just limited to the SEC but it would take care of an experience I have not yet had.
Texas High School football Friday night then Texas A&M the following day. Why A&M? I just feel that it is the best venue in the state with the best fans. They have the bonfire on Friday night and yelling practice. Huge ROTC program adds to tradition of 12th man.
Rupp Arena- Kentucky Basketball is a religion. Can you Imagine when Pitino comes to town on Jan. 2 this year what that place is going to be like.
Feel free to add to the list because I'm sure I am forgetting something.
Side note: Events where I could easily find Michigan were not considered because I plan on doing them anyways. ex. Assembly Hall (Indiana University) and Notre Dame Stadium.
Is it ok to look?
Match.com uses the catch phrase "Its ok to look." Is there really anything for a 22 year to find? Probably not, but that does not mean it wouldn't be interesting. It could be potentially interesting for a fling. JDate.com is potentially interesting candidate because their seems to be some level of communication that is allowed for free. It could make for a good test run. Jdate is primarily for Jewish singles but it is used by other religions as well.
I think the general perception people have is that online dating is desperate and often last resort. I would guess that the average user is 26 or 27 and not that attractive. However I believe that in the social networking age more people are turning to these dating sites sooner. It may be an avenue to just meet new people and mess around. Has any reader made the leap or thought about making the leap?
I think the general perception people have is that online dating is desperate and often last resort. I would guess that the average user is 26 or 27 and not that attractive. However I believe that in the social networking age more people are turning to these dating sites sooner. It may be an avenue to just meet new people and mess around. Has any reader made the leap or thought about making the leap?
Why Can't I Lift
It is so hard to stay committed to lifting when your numbers are falling, you have nothing to play for, and your kinda depressed. This is my battle when I come home from work everyday. I throw on some music, turn on the TV to distract myself from the uselessness of what I am doing. The spark is not there. I stall and take frequent breaks and take twice as long to do a normal workout. I have tried to mix up my workout a great deal in order to find new motivation and to some degree this has helped. However the intensity that is required to really lift has been missing. Part of the reason for this is because their is no other activity to play for. There is no football, no wrestling, no delusions of granduer. Where do I find the passion to continue?
A few suggestions
-Start running more- train for a marathon. This would at least accomplish some fitness goals.
-Join a gym- I have been so good at self motivating for 3 years but it appears that I need some help now. Getting there and getting home may motivate me to get the work done quicker.
-Start sparring- MMA, boxing, something for fun.
A few suggestions
-Start running more- train for a marathon. This would at least accomplish some fitness goals.
-Join a gym- I have been so good at self motivating for 3 years but it appears that I need some help now. Getting there and getting home may motivate me to get the work done quicker.
-Start sparring- MMA, boxing, something for fun.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
5 for Saturday
2-2-1 last week bring me to 8-6-1 on the year.
Oregon (-7) @ Washington 3:30 ESPN Gameplan, ABC Regional. I'll take Oregon here because they have been playing well since the opener.
Penn State @ Michigan (+4.5) 3:30 ABC. Last time Michigan was a home dog they won (ND +4). I expect them to have a chance to win it at the end.
TCU(-1) @ BYU 7:30 Versus. I 'll take TCU to win straight up here.
Oregon State @ USC (-20.5) 8 ABC regional. Oregon State has beaten USC the last two times at home. Too bad this one is in SoCal.
Texas (-13.5) @ Missouri 8 ABC regional. Texas can win by two touchdowns even on the road.
Oregon (-7) @ Washington 3:30 ESPN Gameplan, ABC Regional. I'll take Oregon here because they have been playing well since the opener.
Penn State @ Michigan (+4.5) 3:30 ABC. Last time Michigan was a home dog they won (ND +4). I expect them to have a chance to win it at the end.
TCU(-1) @ BYU 7:30 Versus. I 'll take TCU to win straight up here.
Oregon State @ USC (-20.5) 8 ABC regional. Oregon State has beaten USC the last two times at home. Too bad this one is in SoCal.
Texas (-13.5) @ Missouri 8 ABC regional. Texas can win by two touchdowns even on the road.
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