Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Now that the Olympics are over, I wanted to share a few thoughts I've had on them, although those thoughts are few and far between since there is no sports, TV, or fun allowed in the Everhart home, but here's what I think.

First off, why is Men's Field Hockey a Sport, I thought the actual name of that sport was Women's Field Hockey, wouldn't it then be called Men's Women's Field Hockey, and that's just wrong.

The best part about the Olympics is when you wake up at 4:00 AM, and you know there is some cool Volleyball or Water Polo game on. Speaking of which, Water Polo is totally awesome! But the coverage is now almost totally exclusive to prime time (except sailing?!?) and I haven't seen a single live event. I understand that this country only wants to watch Americans, and only the good parts, but all other times, when real sports fans are watching, show Qatar getting their ass handed to them in a soccer game vs. Bolivia.

And I know how appealing the on the field interview is, but if they just lost, give them time to recover before asking them how they feel about not coming through on the grandparents dying wish of getting a gold medal. On second thought, don't ask about it at all, just find out how the race went.

I really want to date a gymnast, bad.

Big boos to MLB. I think its cool to start a World Cup of Baseball, but it would be so much more awesome in the Olympics. Give the players a couple weeks off every four years (and get rid of interleague play while you're at it). Instead Olympic Baseball is all but dead. The coolest thing I remember from all Olympics is the first tournament they used NHL players. It was like a different all-star game every day, that mattered! Plus they weren't rusty from having five months off, it was the middle of their season.

I'll say this about Women's Basketball: they can't dunk, but they have excellent fundamentals. Men's Basketball: exactly the opposite.

As Aymond said, and I'm paraphrasing, judges suck. I classify them as umpires or officials, who also suck, but are justified in many sports and don't diminish the sports awesomeness quotient. However, something that is definitely not cool that needs judges is race walking. I'm not discrediting the athletes, walking 50 km fast while maintaining the same form is a feat; I don't know how the judges watch every single step, but good for them too, but I just don't know how this is a competition. It's the sort of sport an abused child would make up, right between sitting still the longest and rocking back and forth in a corner.

Did women's tennis players wake up one day and say, "This lesbian thing isn't working, let's start being extremely hot!" Seriously, check these girls out.


Did you know that Singles Synchronized Swimming used to be in the Olympics? Good job to the IOC for getting rid of this oxymoron of a sport. There is talk of removing softball, in part because of it's close relationship with baseball; I hope they don't. And you know those crazy people on real video shows that tie trucks to their sack and pull them across football fields, I heard somewhere, can't really remember, that they want to be considered an Olympic Sport. Good for them, now take your saggy balls somewhere else.

No, like I really, really, really want to date a gymnast!

  Sunday, August 29, 2004

I worked a second job this weekend. This one was all technical and stuff too, but I can't tell you where or what I was doing. I signed a no disclosure agreement and everything.

I was reminded of why I loathe engineering, actually why I loathe working period: politics. Everyone is out to look better then the rest, and it's frustrating. A little lesson in accountability kiddies: a word people throw around a bit too much. There was a problem with the product so the two guys in charge of what I was doing called up a third guy for advice whom I'm guessing was some sort of authority on this. The conversation went like this:

Dudes: We have a problem with the product.
Boss Guy: Does it hurt functionality?
Dudes: No.
Boss Guy: Will the customers hate us?
Dudes: No.
Boss Guy: Will it require a lot of strenuous work to fix?
Dudes: Yes, what should we do?
Boss Guy: I don't know, go ask Jimmy Joe Bob.

After consulting three other engineers, a dude on vacation, the cook, two girlscouts, and a really hot rollerblader, the responsibility (ie. blame) eventually fell on the guy who couldn't speak English, ahhh Tebor.

My personal opinion, if I'm the boss and something goes right, it's my fault. If something goes wrong its only because I have a great team of people working around me. Obviously, in this one situation, it seemed alright to let the product through, but if something unexpected happened then the Boss Guy needs an out. I understand consulting others, especially if they are more familiar with what may be going on, but you're the guy in charge, this is your shindig, you make the call, you own up to it.

If you are at work and someone above you asks for your opinion and then says it's your call, he's not giving you responsibility, he's looking for a scapegoat. Aside from that, based on what I saw today, I am completely capable of being an excellent engineer, and I would be much better at it then these putzes.

  Monday, August 23, 2004

I hope I don't need to remind everyone what day tomorrow is.

  Thursday, August 19, 2004

I'm hopefully not stealing anyone's thunder here, but James Byrne received a lucrative job offer last week. I say this for three reasons: a) Congratulations are in order for James b) I'm now the last of my class remaining not to have a serious job and c) I wanted an excuse to use this picture.

I know many of you have been jealous of my exploits in California, and I have to admit that it is a good portion of what you guys think it's cracked up to be. I would like to remind you all, though, that I came out here cause I knew life in the Everhart household would be miserable enough to motivate me to make something out of myself. If the past three weeks here are any indication: I'll be getting a nice job real soon.

I also wanted to add something else for the sake of ensuring that this picture doesn't run onto the next entry. I hope you guys have watched the gymnastics competitions during the Olympics. They have these Greek chicks on there that walk around showing the different team members where to go. They hold up signs with countries names on them, so they are easy to spot. These girls are hot!

  Friday, August 13, 2004

If this doesn't get a response from the home crowd I don't know what will. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you...


an eight year old Frank Serrapere! I will now field questions.

  Sunday, August 08, 2004

I made a post on the XUS blog about this last week, but evidently everyone has been waiting for me to say something else. Tai is doing this ridiculously awesome 40 mile walk for cancer. I figured all the guys on the trip that took advantage of her graciousness in San Diego would be willing to help out, as it would be a great way to individually show our appreciation.

If you weren't with us in Southern California then I know you are probably already drained from donating money for cancer, but this really is an amazing event, and what's really awesome is how psyched Tai is to do this. This is what she had to say about it in the email she sent me:

"I'll have to spend the next month and a half training, fundraising, and preparing for the walk. It's probably one of the biggest challenges I've ever taken on, but I'm so excited about doing it because I know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer. I have no doubt in my mind that I can walk forty miles, and I am blessed to be healthy and strong enough to do it!"

The folks back home may remember Tai as the girl I would flirt with when I was hanging out with my girlfriend Senior year. She is super radical and even if you don't remember her, she remembers you. We talked about high school when I saw her last month and she even mentioned how I had the coolest friends.

So to sum it up: Tai is the coolest person in the world, cancer sucks, go to Tai's personal donation page, and put down a few bucks, or as Tai told me, "If you don't feel like paying money online, feel free to send me 50 cents through the mail!"

  Sunday, August 01, 2004

This evening I did just about what was the coolest thing I've ever done: unprovoked and unescorted I initiated contact with this Ultimate Frisbee Club and played for three hours. New people scare me so I tend to shy away from situations like this, but being here with none of my pals around has really afforded me the time to think about the things I want and to initiate them in the quickest and most efficient way possible. The people there were cool too, except for this one little ninny, but we won't talk about her.