So, it appears as if I'm down to just one blog post per month. I'm really going to try and make an effort to write more. My mind is always writing, but I rarely write it down these days. I find that as I get older, it gets more difficult to set apart alone time to write, or read, or do whatever it is you do. But, there's good news, bad news, and even worse news.
When asked which one I want first, my answer is always the bad news. I think it's better to get the bad news first because then it only gets better. In this case, I'm giving the good news first.
THE GOOD NEWS:
The Cincinnati Reds signed MVP first baseman Joey Votto to a 3-year, $38 million contract. This tells me a couple things about the Reds. 1) The Reds got a steal! Votto will only be making a little over $12 million a year, which is about $10 million less than Albert Pujols makes per year. Votto is a very humble person, who doesn't want to be the guy who makes over $20 million. That is clear, because he could have taken arbitration and the Reds would have more than likely had to fork over the money to keep him on their roster. 2) This also tells me, the Reds are trying to win. I think the attitude in Cincinnati is finally shifting! There seems to be an increasing expectation to win. In professional sports, winning is everything. There is no telling what will happen with the Reds next season, but it's a guarantee that with Votto, things are looking up.
THE BAD NEWS:
School has started up again. Hanging out with friends is cool, but it really puts a damper in my day when we hang out because we're in class together. It's not fun. That's beyond the point though.
Somebody has to say it, so I'm going to be that somebody. Facebook is crazy. I love the idea behind facebook. I love that people use it to keep up with family members, old friends, old classmates, etc. I hate that people use it to creep on other people. Don't get me wrong, I've done my fair share of creeping, but I'm not that guy that checks up on the girl you like 7 times a day to see who she's talking to. To be honest with you, I don't care that much. If you pop up on my news feed, and I feel you are worth the time it takes to look at your page, then good for you. If not, good for you. Facebook is becoming more boring than ever. I've given thought about deleting my facebook, but honestly, I would be so out of the loop. Nowadays, you aren't dating until it's "facebook official." Whatever. Facebook has grown into a multi-billion dollar company. I'm interested to see how long facebook will be around...
THE EVEN WORSE NEWS:
It's not really news, but I kind of want to touch on something. What do you do when you don't know what do? Take homework for instance. When you don't know what to do, you ask a friend, ask the teacher, ask someone who actually knows what they are doing. When you have a question about something, you normally go to the source. Now, look at a situation with a girl. You definitely can't go to the source. So, what do you do? Do you ask a friend? Someone who's been in that same situation? You can ask a friend, but it's only an opinion on what to do. Every situation is different and that means you are basically left to fend for yourself. You have to do something. Are you proactive about the situation? Try to switch shoes and see her point of view? Rely on your reads? How about run away? Like I said, every situation is different and it's hard to decide what to do. I guess the 'even worse news' is that you just have to take it step-by-step. Try one thing, and if doesn't work, try another thing. Last resort = leave it alone...
If things aren't going the way you want them to...move on!
January 17, 2011
December 16, 2010
Money isn't Everything
I think I have figured out why I take so long to write in between posts. I don't have anything to write about. Honestly, how many times can I write about girls and my views on relationships before it gets old? I've already met my limit. I think about writing everyday, and most of the time I do, it's just in my mind. It gets harder and harder to sit down to write about my views on the world. I could easily sit here and write about what is going on in the world of sports. I could talk about Cliff Lee going to the Phillies, Carl Crawford going to the Red Sox, the Cavs laying an egg against the Heat, how Duke is by far the best basketball team in the country, and even about how Mark Cuban wants to explore an alternative to the BCS system in college football. I could do all those things, but it wouldn't set me apart. Why read my stuff when you can read Bill Simmons' column? Truth is, I just want to give my point of view, and no, I'm not writing about sports in this post.
I've been thinking about something a lot lately. I'm not trying to figure out the meaning of life, but I'm trying to find out the most important thing in life. We can start with family. Mine is my base. My rock. I know that no matter what I do, I can absolutely count on them to be there. Regardless of how many times I argue and get into physical altercations with my brother, I know that he will do anything for me, and vice versa. There are three girls in my life that mean everything to me. My two sisters are very different from each other, and me, but we are all so close. Whenever I need something, I go directly to them. My mom is the most amazing person I know. She is a teacher, and I love her to death. She raised four kids on a teacher's salary single-handedly. I respect her in so many ways, I can't even describe them in words.
So many people are worried about getting the good grades, and getting their GPA up. Personally, I think it's ridiculous. There was a time in my life, when grades were everything. As soon as I came home from school I did my homework, and I never went outside to play until my homework was finished and 100% correct. But, when I got older I realized there was so much more to life. I kind of look at it this way: I can get straight A's every quarter. It's not that I purposefully don't, it's just that I focus on other things. For instance, I try and build 10 relationships a quarter. I think one strong relationship will go a lot further in life than an 'A' that I got in Algebra class in college. 10 relationships in 10 weeks. That's a heck of a quarter. That's a successful quarter for me.
I had a talk with my brother about money earlier in the day, and he said money is everything. Don't get me wrong, money makes life a lot better because you can do things with it that are fun. But, money is not everything. Money is 1/10 of life. My brother thinks I'm flawed and crazy because I said I think relationships are more important than money. He went on to talk about how you need money to support your family once you get into that relationship. I quickly stopped him. A relationship doesn't just involve someone who you are going to spend the rest of your life with. What about friends? Colleagues? Family? Personally I try my hardest not to burn any bridges in life because I know that at any moment I could need someone to lean on. To me, relationships are my life. Each of my friends has a different relationship with me. I cherish that about life. It's not the same thing every day. Different people have made an impact on me, on my life, that I will carry with me until the day I die.
I'm not here to say that you're idea of the most important thing in life is wrong, I'm just saying, you can't discard what relationships do for you. Sometimes you cry, laugh, and then cry because you laugh. I was asked a question the other day. Who can you count on if you can't count on your best friend? Well, I don't really know that answer. The easy answer is family, but that question is deep. The answer is going to be different for everyone. Some will say their parents, brothers, sisters, God. Everyone needs a friend. You can't have a friend, if you can't be a friend. Build those relationships with people, mend the ones that have gone south, and cherish the ones that are close to your heart.
I guess the way I look at it is, when I die, I hope I'm not judged by how much money I either made, or didn't make. I hope I'm judged by the amount of people that I have touched in my lifetime. You don't even have to do anything great in your lifetime to make an impact in somebody else's. At the end of the day, I don't want to be great, or make a lot of money, I just want to have people that I can talk to, hang out with, and love.
Love is such a strong word that people are so afraid to use it, but to be honest, there are so many people that I love. If one of them died tomorrow, I would be lost without them. I think it's very important to let them know. Don't hold back. Tell you're best friend you love them. Tell your brother you love him. I don't care when, or who you tell, just tell them.
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C.S. Lewis
I've been thinking about something a lot lately. I'm not trying to figure out the meaning of life, but I'm trying to find out the most important thing in life. We can start with family. Mine is my base. My rock. I know that no matter what I do, I can absolutely count on them to be there. Regardless of how many times I argue and get into physical altercations with my brother, I know that he will do anything for me, and vice versa. There are three girls in my life that mean everything to me. My two sisters are very different from each other, and me, but we are all so close. Whenever I need something, I go directly to them. My mom is the most amazing person I know. She is a teacher, and I love her to death. She raised four kids on a teacher's salary single-handedly. I respect her in so many ways, I can't even describe them in words.
So many people are worried about getting the good grades, and getting their GPA up. Personally, I think it's ridiculous. There was a time in my life, when grades were everything. As soon as I came home from school I did my homework, and I never went outside to play until my homework was finished and 100% correct. But, when I got older I realized there was so much more to life. I kind of look at it this way: I can get straight A's every quarter. It's not that I purposefully don't, it's just that I focus on other things. For instance, I try and build 10 relationships a quarter. I think one strong relationship will go a lot further in life than an 'A' that I got in Algebra class in college. 10 relationships in 10 weeks. That's a heck of a quarter. That's a successful quarter for me.
I had a talk with my brother about money earlier in the day, and he said money is everything. Don't get me wrong, money makes life a lot better because you can do things with it that are fun. But, money is not everything. Money is 1/10 of life. My brother thinks I'm flawed and crazy because I said I think relationships are more important than money. He went on to talk about how you need money to support your family once you get into that relationship. I quickly stopped him. A relationship doesn't just involve someone who you are going to spend the rest of your life with. What about friends? Colleagues? Family? Personally I try my hardest not to burn any bridges in life because I know that at any moment I could need someone to lean on. To me, relationships are my life. Each of my friends has a different relationship with me. I cherish that about life. It's not the same thing every day. Different people have made an impact on me, on my life, that I will carry with me until the day I die.
I'm not here to say that you're idea of the most important thing in life is wrong, I'm just saying, you can't discard what relationships do for you. Sometimes you cry, laugh, and then cry because you laugh. I was asked a question the other day. Who can you count on if you can't count on your best friend? Well, I don't really know that answer. The easy answer is family, but that question is deep. The answer is going to be different for everyone. Some will say their parents, brothers, sisters, God. Everyone needs a friend. You can't have a friend, if you can't be a friend. Build those relationships with people, mend the ones that have gone south, and cherish the ones that are close to your heart.
I guess the way I look at it is, when I die, I hope I'm not judged by how much money I either made, or didn't make. I hope I'm judged by the amount of people that I have touched in my lifetime. You don't even have to do anything great in your lifetime to make an impact in somebody else's. At the end of the day, I don't want to be great, or make a lot of money, I just want to have people that I can talk to, hang out with, and love.
Love is such a strong word that people are so afraid to use it, but to be honest, there are so many people that I love. If one of them died tomorrow, I would be lost without them. I think it's very important to let them know. Don't hold back. Tell you're best friend you love them. Tell your brother you love him. I don't care when, or who you tell, just tell them.
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival." - C.S. Lewis
November 2, 2010
Ode to the Nice Guys
Hello world. It is officially November, and it has been almost exactly a month since my last post. I'm not too happy about that, but I was fairly busy, so hopefully November marks a new era of updating this blog.
Things I'm going to talk about in this post will include: Twitter, Donovan Mcnabb, Derek Jeter, The World Series, Tiger Woods, and also a little about nice guys.
I have always been opposed to getting involved in the Twitter community. There is something about the whole tweeting thing that isn't attractive. Actually, I could not have been more wrong. My friends set me up a Twitter account, and I have been religiously tweeting my soul away. Twitter is just another social network that sucks the time in the day right out from under your feet. But,I can't get enough of it, so let the day be wasted!
Donovan Mcnabb was pulled from the game this past Sunday in favor of Rex Grossman because according to head coach Mike Shannahan, Mcnabb doesn't have the physical stamina to perform the two minute drill. That, I would understand if Rex Grossman was the next Michael Vick, but he's not, nor will he ever be. To make it even worse, the Redskins worked out the fattest quarterback to play in the league ever since I can remember, in Jamarcus Russell. I'm not too sure if the Redskins are trying to motivate Mcnabb to play better, but to be honest, working out Jamarcus Russell may actually take the pressure off of Mcnabb, because Russell is not good. Did you see what he did in Oakland? Exactly! What a waste of an athlete.
How about Derek Jeter. He is arguably the best shortstop to ever play the game, and he is definitely one of the best leaders to ever play the game. As much you may hate him, like I do, you have to respect his talent, and leadership ability. His contract is up after this year, so the Yankees are faced with their toughest decision since getting rid of Joe Torre. He is the Captain, and forever will be the Captain, but he is aging. Questions are surfacing about moving him to 3rd base in order to limit the area he has to cover because he has lost his range as a shortstop. But, if the Yankees do that, what will they do with Alex Rodriguez? He can't play shortstop anymore! Surely the Yankees want Jeter back, but he is coming off his worst year of baseball in his 16 years of playing professionally. He won't be awarded with a 10 year, $189 million contract like his last one. The Yanks have some decisions to make about the future of their franchise. Without George Steinbrenner around, it will definitely be interesting to see how the sons of the ever so famous Steinbrenner handle the family business!
I just want to briefly talk about the World Series. The San Francisco Giants did something that nobody in Major League Baseball thought they could do, with the exception of the team itself, and that is win the big one. They went through the best pitchers in the game on their way to their World Series win. Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee couldn't stop the Giants, and that really says something about the Giants offense. They had the perfect combination of Offense,and Pitching, which ultimately wins championships. Congrats to the Giants for beating some of the best pitchers in the game with their unconventional lineup! Barely getting into the playoffs really gave this team a boost, and that boost carried them to a World Series victory, so I say Congrats to you!!
As bad as Tiger Woods has been since coming back from his major downfall, you can really tell how much he has done for the game of golf. Being hurt, not playing, and just not performing well finally caught up to one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game. For 281 consecutive weeks, he sat atop the world of golf with his #1 ranking in the world. In total, Woods is one week shy of being #1 in the world for 12 years, which is 623 weeks. This really puts how good he actually was into perspective. Although you may not agree with what he did, I don't, you still have to respect him for what he did for the game of golf as a whole.
Now, let's talk about nice guys. A lot of people talk about how nice guys always finish last, but my philosophy doesn't necessarily with agree with that mantra. I do agree that nice guys tend to finish last, at least during the college years. It is pretty clear a lot of girls like to have fun, and they don't want to be bogged down by having a boyfriend. But, I think it is also clear that after college, girls want to settle down. They aren't going to settle down with the douche bags they hooked up with in their college years. They will go right for the nice guys. You know, the ones who want to find the love of their life. The ones who want kids, and will be a good father. The ones who can financially support a family. The ones who will show unconditional love to their wife and kids. The guys who will be there every time his wife is crying. The ones who want to take their kids to school because they want to be in their lives. The guys who come home from work and want to be with the family. The ones who are mature. The ones who are around, and the ones who love, with all their heart. The guys who are nice. So, to the nice guys, keep your head up! Your time may not have come yet, but just sit back and let life take you on its course. Your time will come. I promise!
Things I'm going to talk about in this post will include: Twitter, Donovan Mcnabb, Derek Jeter, The World Series, Tiger Woods, and also a little about nice guys.
I have always been opposed to getting involved in the Twitter community. There is something about the whole tweeting thing that isn't attractive. Actually, I could not have been more wrong. My friends set me up a Twitter account, and I have been religiously tweeting my soul away. Twitter is just another social network that sucks the time in the day right out from under your feet. But,I can't get enough of it, so let the day be wasted!
Donovan Mcnabb was pulled from the game this past Sunday in favor of Rex Grossman because according to head coach Mike Shannahan, Mcnabb doesn't have the physical stamina to perform the two minute drill. That, I would understand if Rex Grossman was the next Michael Vick, but he's not, nor will he ever be. To make it even worse, the Redskins worked out the fattest quarterback to play in the league ever since I can remember, in Jamarcus Russell. I'm not too sure if the Redskins are trying to motivate Mcnabb to play better, but to be honest, working out Jamarcus Russell may actually take the pressure off of Mcnabb, because Russell is not good. Did you see what he did in Oakland? Exactly! What a waste of an athlete.
How about Derek Jeter. He is arguably the best shortstop to ever play the game, and he is definitely one of the best leaders to ever play the game. As much you may hate him, like I do, you have to respect his talent, and leadership ability. His contract is up after this year, so the Yankees are faced with their toughest decision since getting rid of Joe Torre. He is the Captain, and forever will be the Captain, but he is aging. Questions are surfacing about moving him to 3rd base in order to limit the area he has to cover because he has lost his range as a shortstop. But, if the Yankees do that, what will they do with Alex Rodriguez? He can't play shortstop anymore! Surely the Yankees want Jeter back, but he is coming off his worst year of baseball in his 16 years of playing professionally. He won't be awarded with a 10 year, $189 million contract like his last one. The Yanks have some decisions to make about the future of their franchise. Without George Steinbrenner around, it will definitely be interesting to see how the sons of the ever so famous Steinbrenner handle the family business!
I just want to briefly talk about the World Series. The San Francisco Giants did something that nobody in Major League Baseball thought they could do, with the exception of the team itself, and that is win the big one. They went through the best pitchers in the game on their way to their World Series win. Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee couldn't stop the Giants, and that really says something about the Giants offense. They had the perfect combination of Offense,and Pitching, which ultimately wins championships. Congrats to the Giants for beating some of the best pitchers in the game with their unconventional lineup! Barely getting into the playoffs really gave this team a boost, and that boost carried them to a World Series victory, so I say Congrats to you!!
As bad as Tiger Woods has been since coming back from his major downfall, you can really tell how much he has done for the game of golf. Being hurt, not playing, and just not performing well finally caught up to one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game. For 281 consecutive weeks, he sat atop the world of golf with his #1 ranking in the world. In total, Woods is one week shy of being #1 in the world for 12 years, which is 623 weeks. This really puts how good he actually was into perspective. Although you may not agree with what he did, I don't, you still have to respect him for what he did for the game of golf as a whole.
Now, let's talk about nice guys. A lot of people talk about how nice guys always finish last, but my philosophy doesn't necessarily with agree with that mantra. I do agree that nice guys tend to finish last, at least during the college years. It is pretty clear a lot of girls like to have fun, and they don't want to be bogged down by having a boyfriend. But, I think it is also clear that after college, girls want to settle down. They aren't going to settle down with the douche bags they hooked up with in their college years. They will go right for the nice guys. You know, the ones who want to find the love of their life. The ones who want kids, and will be a good father. The ones who can financially support a family. The ones who will show unconditional love to their wife and kids. The guys who will be there every time his wife is crying. The ones who want to take their kids to school because they want to be in their lives. The guys who come home from work and want to be with the family. The ones who are mature. The ones who are around, and the ones who love, with all their heart. The guys who are nice. So, to the nice guys, keep your head up! Your time may not have come yet, but just sit back and let life take you on its course. Your time will come. I promise!
October 3, 2010
That's Incredible
After just one post, the new segment "Weekly QB" has already been scrapped. I quickly realized that I have thoughts about football running through my head constantly, and to translate that onto paper, or a blog, is simply not cool. So, new segment..."That's Incredible."
You wanna know what's incredible? This is kind of old news, but let's be honest, it's still incredible. Let's take a look at ESPN. The so-called "Worldwide leader in sports" quite frankly stumbled a bit, when the opportunity arose for the NCAA March Madness tournament to sell their digital rights. I can't believe ESPN would let Turner Sports beat them out for the rights to show the March Madness tournament on their stations. Now ESPN will have to wait 14 years for another opportunity like that to come by. What's Incredible? That's incredible!
How about the fact that nice guys always finish last, at least in their college years. I understand girls want to have fun, meaning, be slutty, in their college years. But, don't come running to me after college, because I don't do sluts. If you want me, you are just going to have to 'have fun' with me while you are still in college. Nice guys finish last? Now that's incredible!
Let's talk about me updating this blog. I don't really think like I used to. Awhile ago, if I had something to say, I would get on here and say it. Now, I don't really do that. Don't ask why, but it has decreased the amount of times I update this blog. This is the first time in a couple weeks, technically more if you count the ones I actually wrote. Is it incredible I don't update this blog as much? No. But, it is incredible I actually updated this!
Ladies and gentleman, the Cincinnati Reds are in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. That is truly incredible!
What I think is really funny, is when people call themselves good looking. That is incredible!! Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And, you really make yourself sound conceded. If you are cute, someone will tell you so. Don't be one of those people because then you may be attractive...
Here is what is really on my mind. You know how hard it is to get a girl to hang out with you, especially when all you want to do is get to know her? Believe it or not, not all guys want to get you in the sack right away. And, if they do, then they are not cool. Personally, when I say let's watch a movie. It means let's watch a movie, and talk. It doesn't mean I want to make out with you for hours upon end. It's really pretty crazy. Girls like confidence, but some don't. I wish there was a formula, but unfortunately there will never be one. When I say, let's hang out, I mean let's hang out. Talk, walk, just chill and watch tv, dance, sing, whatever the case, that's what I mean. I don't mean, hey come over and let's get it on. No, that just wouldn't be me. It's so difficult, really because if I try and explain how I am different than other guys, the girl looks at me, like she has been down that road before. So, constantly I am at a loss. I don't want to be aggressive, because that is never good, but I want to be confident. Yet all there is to show for it, is me being single for 20 years. Is that incredible? No, that's disturbing!
You wanna know what's incredible? This is kind of old news, but let's be honest, it's still incredible. Let's take a look at ESPN. The so-called "Worldwide leader in sports" quite frankly stumbled a bit, when the opportunity arose for the NCAA March Madness tournament to sell their digital rights. I can't believe ESPN would let Turner Sports beat them out for the rights to show the March Madness tournament on their stations. Now ESPN will have to wait 14 years for another opportunity like that to come by. What's Incredible? That's incredible!
How about the fact that nice guys always finish last, at least in their college years. I understand girls want to have fun, meaning, be slutty, in their college years. But, don't come running to me after college, because I don't do sluts. If you want me, you are just going to have to 'have fun' with me while you are still in college. Nice guys finish last? Now that's incredible!
Let's talk about me updating this blog. I don't really think like I used to. Awhile ago, if I had something to say, I would get on here and say it. Now, I don't really do that. Don't ask why, but it has decreased the amount of times I update this blog. This is the first time in a couple weeks, technically more if you count the ones I actually wrote. Is it incredible I don't update this blog as much? No. But, it is incredible I actually updated this!
Ladies and gentleman, the Cincinnati Reds are in the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. That is truly incredible!
What I think is really funny, is when people call themselves good looking. That is incredible!! Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And, you really make yourself sound conceded. If you are cute, someone will tell you so. Don't be one of those people because then you may be attractive...
Here is what is really on my mind. You know how hard it is to get a girl to hang out with you, especially when all you want to do is get to know her? Believe it or not, not all guys want to get you in the sack right away. And, if they do, then they are not cool. Personally, when I say let's watch a movie. It means let's watch a movie, and talk. It doesn't mean I want to make out with you for hours upon end. It's really pretty crazy. Girls like confidence, but some don't. I wish there was a formula, but unfortunately there will never be one. When I say, let's hang out, I mean let's hang out. Talk, walk, just chill and watch tv, dance, sing, whatever the case, that's what I mean. I don't mean, hey come over and let's get it on. No, that just wouldn't be me. It's so difficult, really because if I try and explain how I am different than other guys, the girl looks at me, like she has been down that road before. So, constantly I am at a loss. I don't want to be aggressive, because that is never good, but I want to be confident. Yet all there is to show for it, is me being single for 20 years. Is that incredible? No, that's disturbing!
September 29, 2010
I Didn't Write This...But It's Funny! And True if I must say...
Ode to the Nice Guys
This rant was written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.
This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.
The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.
So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003
This rant was written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.
This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they’re at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don’t end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you’d ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.
The nice guys don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don’t seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, he’s too nice to date” or “he would be a good boyfriend but he’s not for me” or “he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask him out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.
So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.
Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003
September 23, 2010
Weekly QB
Forbes released their "Forbes 400: The Richest People in America" and not surprisingly Bill Gates is once again at the top of the list. His mega-corporation not only revolutionized the world, but also his life. His net worth? $54 billion. Oh, and did I mention he has been number one for the past 17 years?
Number two on that list is Warren Buffett. Buffett is known for not only his company Birkshire Hathaway, but also for being one of the best businessmen ever. His net worth rounds out to $45 billion. At the age of 80, Buffett plans to give away 99% of his wealth away to charity when he passes, more specifically the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I suppose the other 1% will go to his children.
Rounding out the top three is Larry Ellison, the owner of Oracle. His net worth comes out to lowly a $27 billion. He too plans to give away his money to charity, 95% to be exact.
The most amazing part of this is the top two are about $20-30 billion dollars away from the number three guy.
Where is the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg? His net worth is $6.9 billion. Oh, and he's only 26 years old. Apparently, Mark made the biggest jump percentage-wise in net worth from last year to this year, 245% to be exact. He is the 35th richest person in America by the way.
NEXT...
I'm looking to start a new weekly 'segment' if you will. I want to call it "Monday Morning Quarterback" but unfortunately the big shots at ESPN have all but trademarked that phrase. So, preliminarily, I will say my 'segment' is going to be called 'Weekly QB.' It's possible this will change, because like all things, change is inevitable. I am looking to not only talk about the NFL, but also the NCAA, and possibly, which really means most likely, about baseball...At least until the Cincinnati Reds get eliminated from the playoffs. It will go a little something like this...
Weekly QB:
I'm not really sure what I was most upset about when I heard Braylon Edwards got a DUI. Was it the fact that the league has a personal escort service for all players? Meaning, on the nights when you have a little too much to drink, your ride is one phone call away, no questions asked. Or was it that his beard is still there? Maybe he should shave that bushy beard and get smart. That could be one of his '12 steps' on his road to recovery. Other than that, I really don't think this effects the Jets football team at all. Edwards was a good, not great, college football player, and he will never be a good NFL receiver; decent maybe, but never good.
I like how Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is getting so much hype recently. It's awesome that he can go out and beat Connecticut and Notre Dame pretty easily. Against ND he had a great game, but I'm not sold. Michigan struggled last week against Massachusetts. Who? Exactly. Regardless, neither of those three teams are that good. And, to make another point, I would like to see him do something against a good defense. If he does big things against a good team, I will become a believer. Not that he is great, but that the Michigan football team is a decent team this year. It's about time.
The best 0-2 team at the moment that will make the playoffs in the NFL is the San Francisco 49ers. This team is good. Alex Smith showed he can be clutch; he just needs to be consistent from here on out. Defensively, they are fantastic, and they have one of the best head coaches in the league. Mike Singletary was a great player, and I think he can be an even better coach. Watch out for the team by the bay for the rest of the season.
The Cincinnati Reds are just games away from getting into the playoffs! This is a much needed boost for the Reds organization. Though attendance is down, hopefully they can sell out their home games for the playoffs, which should happen. Their magic number for now, is at 3. This will stay there for at least a day, while the Reds are traveling, and the Cardinals already won.
I'll leave off with a question to think about: How did Rufus the Bobcat tackling Brutus the Buckeye effect Ohio University? Leave comments below if you wish...
Number two on that list is Warren Buffett. Buffett is known for not only his company Birkshire Hathaway, but also for being one of the best businessmen ever. His net worth rounds out to $45 billion. At the age of 80, Buffett plans to give away 99% of his wealth away to charity when he passes, more specifically the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I suppose the other 1% will go to his children.
Rounding out the top three is Larry Ellison, the owner of Oracle. His net worth comes out to lowly a $27 billion. He too plans to give away his money to charity, 95% to be exact.
The most amazing part of this is the top two are about $20-30 billion dollars away from the number three guy.
Where is the creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg? His net worth is $6.9 billion. Oh, and he's only 26 years old. Apparently, Mark made the biggest jump percentage-wise in net worth from last year to this year, 245% to be exact. He is the 35th richest person in America by the way.
NEXT...
I'm looking to start a new weekly 'segment' if you will. I want to call it "Monday Morning Quarterback" but unfortunately the big shots at ESPN have all but trademarked that phrase. So, preliminarily, I will say my 'segment' is going to be called 'Weekly QB.' It's possible this will change, because like all things, change is inevitable. I am looking to not only talk about the NFL, but also the NCAA, and possibly, which really means most likely, about baseball...At least until the Cincinnati Reds get eliminated from the playoffs. It will go a little something like this...
Weekly QB:
I'm not really sure what I was most upset about when I heard Braylon Edwards got a DUI. Was it the fact that the league has a personal escort service for all players? Meaning, on the nights when you have a little too much to drink, your ride is one phone call away, no questions asked. Or was it that his beard is still there? Maybe he should shave that bushy beard and get smart. That could be one of his '12 steps' on his road to recovery. Other than that, I really don't think this effects the Jets football team at all. Edwards was a good, not great, college football player, and he will never be a good NFL receiver; decent maybe, but never good.
I like how Denard "Shoelace" Robinson is getting so much hype recently. It's awesome that he can go out and beat Connecticut and Notre Dame pretty easily. Against ND he had a great game, but I'm not sold. Michigan struggled last week against Massachusetts. Who? Exactly. Regardless, neither of those three teams are that good. And, to make another point, I would like to see him do something against a good defense. If he does big things against a good team, I will become a believer. Not that he is great, but that the Michigan football team is a decent team this year. It's about time.
The best 0-2 team at the moment that will make the playoffs in the NFL is the San Francisco 49ers. This team is good. Alex Smith showed he can be clutch; he just needs to be consistent from here on out. Defensively, they are fantastic, and they have one of the best head coaches in the league. Mike Singletary was a great player, and I think he can be an even better coach. Watch out for the team by the bay for the rest of the season.
The Cincinnati Reds are just games away from getting into the playoffs! This is a much needed boost for the Reds organization. Though attendance is down, hopefully they can sell out their home games for the playoffs, which should happen. Their magic number for now, is at 3. This will stay there for at least a day, while the Reds are traveling, and the Cardinals already won.
I'll leave off with a question to think about: How did Rufus the Bobcat tackling Brutus the Buckeye effect Ohio University? Leave comments below if you wish...
September 18, 2010
Clearing My Mind
It's been a long time since I have updated this blog, but I promise, I'm coming back strong. I have talked about this subject before on here, but I didn't do it justice, so this is the real deal. Some of you have already read this, but read it again, because it's that good. Enjoy!
Growing up as a guy, society has their perception of what a man should be. Men are supposed to have a chiseled jaw with a five o’clock shadow, combined with a six, if not eight, pack. Men are supposed to be tough. They have to be strong, both inside and out. Men should have all the answers, whether it’s what’s on TV, or what kind of car someone should buy. Men are definitely not allowed to share their emotions with other people. This is what it means to be a guy right? You have to be closed off to the world, and look good doing it, as well as having all the answers. Right?
Well, judging by the above description, I am not a man. I mean, I am, but I don’t really fall under any of the above categories. My jaw could not be any farther from chiseled, and the constant five o’clock shadow is more like I can’t even grow facial hair. I know what you’re thinking; is this kid twelve or something? The answer is no, but I do get that a lot. In fact I’m 20, with 21 being right around the corner. Back to the manly descriptions; I don’t have an eight, six, four, or even two pack. In exchange for the rock solid abs, apparently my family chose a belly and ‘love’ handles for their genes to pass on. Whose idea was that?
I played football for all four years throughout high school and all I can show for it is a plaque and a varsity letter. My body doesn’t even look like I played football, meaning I’m not strong, on the outside. At a time when I was looking to get big muscles and get fast, all that happened was I grew upwards, (and outwards) and got slower. I suppose the one thing I can say is I’m pretty strong on the inside, but who isn’t. If you put your mind to something, you can always accomplish that thing, right? I certainly do not have all the answers. Clearly, see Fall Quarter GPA of my sophomore year. Although, I do tend to know what is on TV, I only know one thing about cars. You should get your oil checked on a regular basis. Oh, and in case you didn’t pick up on it, I would say I have an exceptional sense of humor.
I’m sure by now, you are probably wondering, both why I am writing this and what direction I’m going to go with this from here. Well the first question is yet to be determined, and as for the second one, I’m sure I’m going to take this a different way than you would think I’m going to, so bear with me. My teacher told my class to write informally, but not too informal. I don’t necessarily follow all the rules, especially this one, because I write better this way. Seriously though, who follows all the rules, don’t you speed on the open road sometimes?
This year marks the beginning of my junior year at Ohio University. I know what you’re thinking; all this kid does is party and get drunk everyday. Well, not quite. Yes, OU is now the number two party school in the country, as said by the Princeton Review. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Before I touch on that, I’ll tell you about my first two years here. My freshmen year was good, but don’t get me wrong, I had thoughts of transferring closer to home, and to a cheaper school. As tuition keeps getting raised yearly, and my bank accounts are quickly declining, it is getting tougher to pay for school.
I wasn’t allowed to have my car here for my first year so I didn’t get the whole effect of Athens, Ohio. I didn’t really know why, but I came back for my sophomore year. Maybe it was the friendships I had built, or maybe it was the false sense of hope things would change around this town. Regardless of reason, I came back. The relationships I had built during my sophomore year were amazing. I know I will have friends that will be there for me whenever I need them. Now in my third year, and loving Athens after spending a summer here, I want to share something I have learned.
Do you know what a walk can do for you? I didn’t, but that was before I knew about ‘the late night walk’. ‘The late night walk’ is really a ‘man walk’. I wish we had a better name for it, but honestly, we are guys, and we are not creative. The ‘man walk’ is really an opportunity to say whatever is on your chest. There is a catch to this walk though. You can’t just go on a walk with some random guy, or some guy you kind of know. It has to be with a good friend, and I mean a good friend, one that you wouldn’t mind having as a best man at your wedding. For instance, the guys I go on this walk with, they may know me, better than I know myself. I have cried to these guys before, and I swear I only cry when someone close passes, or during a sad movie. If there are relationship problems, these guys know about it.
So what’s the point of this walk? The ‘catch’ is, this walk is an opportunity to speak your mind. No matter how bad of an idea I have, I can say it on this ‘man walk’ and I know everything will be fine. These walks aren’t mapped out either. You walk until you are done talking. Granted there will be a next time, but you have to say what you have to say. There are some rules to this walk, though not official. Rule number one is at all times, you should speak your mind. Even if your thought is negative towards another person on the walk, it’s something that should be said. Rule number two is there is a no judgment zone. Meaning, as soon as the walk starts, no judgment will be passed from one to another. Which also means as soon as the walk ends, feel free to judge all you want, just kidding. The third and final rule for the ‘man walk’ is that whatever is said on these walks, stays on these walks, at all times.
Without breaking rule number three, I will tell you what type of things we talk about. A very common subject is girls and relationships. Now, I know I said I don’t have answers, but I do have answers for this subject. Granted, when it comes to my own relationships, I just don’t know what to do. I give great advice, but I don’t follow it. I have talked about family situations back home, and even financial situations. We talk about what we want to do with our lives after college. A lot of this walk is just clearing the mind of all the things blocking you from having a good time.
I am in constant need to clear my mind. I am a 20 year-old kid who is a Resident Assistant at the nation’s number two party school. For those of you who don’t know what a Resident Assistant does, I basically enforce policies set by the University. I constantly struggle with getting my school work done, enforcing policies, not trying to be the mean RA, making friends, and trying to still have a good college experience. I have given up a lot of my college experience by being an RA, but I refuse to let my job hold me back. These walks are a good chance for me to clear my mind. I don’t really have that many stress relievers. I listen to music, sometimes go on long drives to nowhere, and now I go on these late night ‘man walks.’
Earlier I said I didn’t know why I was writing this, but to be honest I’ve known the whole time. I wanted to share with you, not only a little bit about myself, but one of the things I do that has been something I’ve come to look forward to. I hear, and say, things in these walks I never thought I would. Every walk is different, but every walk is special to me, and I don’t see why they can’t be special to everyone. I encourage you to find your best friend and go on a walk, and hopefully it changes your life, just like my walks have changed mine.
Growing up as a guy, society has their perception of what a man should be. Men are supposed to have a chiseled jaw with a five o’clock shadow, combined with a six, if not eight, pack. Men are supposed to be tough. They have to be strong, both inside and out. Men should have all the answers, whether it’s what’s on TV, or what kind of car someone should buy. Men are definitely not allowed to share their emotions with other people. This is what it means to be a guy right? You have to be closed off to the world, and look good doing it, as well as having all the answers. Right?
Well, judging by the above description, I am not a man. I mean, I am, but I don’t really fall under any of the above categories. My jaw could not be any farther from chiseled, and the constant five o’clock shadow is more like I can’t even grow facial hair. I know what you’re thinking; is this kid twelve or something? The answer is no, but I do get that a lot. In fact I’m 20, with 21 being right around the corner. Back to the manly descriptions; I don’t have an eight, six, four, or even two pack. In exchange for the rock solid abs, apparently my family chose a belly and ‘love’ handles for their genes to pass on. Whose idea was that?
I played football for all four years throughout high school and all I can show for it is a plaque and a varsity letter. My body doesn’t even look like I played football, meaning I’m not strong, on the outside. At a time when I was looking to get big muscles and get fast, all that happened was I grew upwards, (and outwards) and got slower. I suppose the one thing I can say is I’m pretty strong on the inside, but who isn’t. If you put your mind to something, you can always accomplish that thing, right? I certainly do not have all the answers. Clearly, see Fall Quarter GPA of my sophomore year. Although, I do tend to know what is on TV, I only know one thing about cars. You should get your oil checked on a regular basis. Oh, and in case you didn’t pick up on it, I would say I have an exceptional sense of humor.
I’m sure by now, you are probably wondering, both why I am writing this and what direction I’m going to go with this from here. Well the first question is yet to be determined, and as for the second one, I’m sure I’m going to take this a different way than you would think I’m going to, so bear with me. My teacher told my class to write informally, but not too informal. I don’t necessarily follow all the rules, especially this one, because I write better this way. Seriously though, who follows all the rules, don’t you speed on the open road sometimes?
This year marks the beginning of my junior year at Ohio University. I know what you’re thinking; all this kid does is party and get drunk everyday. Well, not quite. Yes, OU is now the number two party school in the country, as said by the Princeton Review. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Before I touch on that, I’ll tell you about my first two years here. My freshmen year was good, but don’t get me wrong, I had thoughts of transferring closer to home, and to a cheaper school. As tuition keeps getting raised yearly, and my bank accounts are quickly declining, it is getting tougher to pay for school.
I wasn’t allowed to have my car here for my first year so I didn’t get the whole effect of Athens, Ohio. I didn’t really know why, but I came back for my sophomore year. Maybe it was the friendships I had built, or maybe it was the false sense of hope things would change around this town. Regardless of reason, I came back. The relationships I had built during my sophomore year were amazing. I know I will have friends that will be there for me whenever I need them. Now in my third year, and loving Athens after spending a summer here, I want to share something I have learned.
Do you know what a walk can do for you? I didn’t, but that was before I knew about ‘the late night walk’. ‘The late night walk’ is really a ‘man walk’. I wish we had a better name for it, but honestly, we are guys, and we are not creative. The ‘man walk’ is really an opportunity to say whatever is on your chest. There is a catch to this walk though. You can’t just go on a walk with some random guy, or some guy you kind of know. It has to be with a good friend, and I mean a good friend, one that you wouldn’t mind having as a best man at your wedding. For instance, the guys I go on this walk with, they may know me, better than I know myself. I have cried to these guys before, and I swear I only cry when someone close passes, or during a sad movie. If there are relationship problems, these guys know about it.
So what’s the point of this walk? The ‘catch’ is, this walk is an opportunity to speak your mind. No matter how bad of an idea I have, I can say it on this ‘man walk’ and I know everything will be fine. These walks aren’t mapped out either. You walk until you are done talking. Granted there will be a next time, but you have to say what you have to say. There are some rules to this walk, though not official. Rule number one is at all times, you should speak your mind. Even if your thought is negative towards another person on the walk, it’s something that should be said. Rule number two is there is a no judgment zone. Meaning, as soon as the walk starts, no judgment will be passed from one to another. Which also means as soon as the walk ends, feel free to judge all you want, just kidding. The third and final rule for the ‘man walk’ is that whatever is said on these walks, stays on these walks, at all times.
Without breaking rule number three, I will tell you what type of things we talk about. A very common subject is girls and relationships. Now, I know I said I don’t have answers, but I do have answers for this subject. Granted, when it comes to my own relationships, I just don’t know what to do. I give great advice, but I don’t follow it. I have talked about family situations back home, and even financial situations. We talk about what we want to do with our lives after college. A lot of this walk is just clearing the mind of all the things blocking you from having a good time.
I am in constant need to clear my mind. I am a 20 year-old kid who is a Resident Assistant at the nation’s number two party school. For those of you who don’t know what a Resident Assistant does, I basically enforce policies set by the University. I constantly struggle with getting my school work done, enforcing policies, not trying to be the mean RA, making friends, and trying to still have a good college experience. I have given up a lot of my college experience by being an RA, but I refuse to let my job hold me back. These walks are a good chance for me to clear my mind. I don’t really have that many stress relievers. I listen to music, sometimes go on long drives to nowhere, and now I go on these late night ‘man walks.’
Earlier I said I didn’t know why I was writing this, but to be honest I’ve known the whole time. I wanted to share with you, not only a little bit about myself, but one of the things I do that has been something I’ve come to look forward to. I hear, and say, things in these walks I never thought I would. Every walk is different, but every walk is special to me, and I don’t see why they can’t be special to everyone. I encourage you to find your best friend and go on a walk, and hopefully it changes your life, just like my walks have changed mine.
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