Imagine a fraternity without greek letters. A fraternity that has banned khaki shorts, polo shirts, and Birkenstock sandals. Where massive parties are held for all to enjoy. With brothers who would do anything for each other. Without absurd pledging traditions or exorbitant fees. A fraternity built for men who desire success in every facet of life and who are willing to put everything on the line to achieve it.
Welcome to the Galt House. Home of the Johns.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
When it Storms
Sometimes when he heard the rain start falling he would walk out into the night. He would walk until the wind picked up and the rain was falling horizontally. He waited until the most intense moment in the storm. At which point he would look up.
He didn't know why he had to do this. He didn't know why he forced himself to stand against the storm without the protections that everyone else fled to. And he didn't know what he was looking for in the sky at that moment.
The storm would subside, the wind would slow, and the rain would become just a trickle from the sky. He felt two things. He had stood through the storm without being swept away and felt satisfied, but he had still not found anything in that sky and felt disappointed. But perhaps it was the other way around.
He didn't know why he had to do this. He didn't know why he forced himself to stand against the storm without the protections that everyone else fled to. And he didn't know what he was looking for in the sky at that moment.
The storm would subside, the wind would slow, and the rain would become just a trickle from the sky. He felt two things. He had stood through the storm without being swept away and felt satisfied, but he had still not found anything in that sky and felt disappointed. But perhaps it was the other way around.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Engineering Computer Programming
I knew this course was going to be tough. Even with my experience from two years of computer science in high school, I was nervous about this course from the beginning. It's a self-paced computer programming course required for all mechanical engineering majors. I've managed to avoid it until now, and I regret that decision greatly. It has been a very difficult evening working on the first lesson, but the professor's tutorial has been a great help indeed. I will now share a few pearls of wisdom from his tutorials.
"If I had one wish for you, it would be that you would NEVER meet the debugger, but alas that is not to be."
"Please do NOT read [the textbook] until told to do so."
"C is a very complicated computer language, especially for someone who has never done any programming before, and there is a wealth of reading that you will have to do. But if you start too soon, you will get very discouraged."
"By the way, don’t ask any of your professors to write an application for their own computers. Most cannot."
"Remember, if something goes wrong, you can always restart your computer."
"Mathematicians are crazy!"
"Don't quote me"
"It says: Mr. Computer please go to the library called io"
"Kind of like an Easter egg hunt."
"Remember I'm pretty sneaky"
"He said that a computer was a good slave--it did exactly what you ask it to do, no more and no less."
"Computer programming is not a spectator sport."
"but this one error can cause the debugger to go off on a wild goose chase."
"He has a special window on your computer where he lives and does his work. He prints out his thoughts as to what is wrong with your program there."
"I think my student was wrong--we are the slaves and must do exactly what the computer as master requires!"
Clearly Dr. Koen is most verbose on his passion for computer programming. I hope one day to be as articulate and knowledgeable about my passions as he is about his own. I must now go back to the difficult work of writing and compiling my first "Hello World" C program and the many variations required of me.
"If I had one wish for you, it would be that you would NEVER meet the debugger, but alas that is not to be."
"Please do NOT read [the textbook] until told to do so."
"C is a very complicated computer language, especially for someone who has never done any programming before, and there is a wealth of reading that you will have to do. But if you start too soon, you will get very discouraged."
"By the way, don’t ask any of your professors to write an application for their own computers. Most cannot."
"Remember, if something goes wrong, you can always restart your computer."
"Mathematicians are crazy!"
"Don't quote me"
"It says: Mr. Computer please go to the library called io"
"Kind of like an Easter egg hunt."
"Remember I'm pretty sneaky"
"He said that a computer was a good slave--it did exactly what you ask it to do, no more and no less."
"Computer programming is not a spectator sport."
"but this one error can cause the debugger to go off on a wild goose chase."
"He has a special window on your computer where he lives and does his work. He prints out his thoughts as to what is wrong with your program there."
"I think my student was wrong--we are the slaves and must do exactly what the computer as master requires!"
Clearly Dr. Koen is most verbose on his passion for computer programming. I hope one day to be as articulate and knowledgeable about my passions as he is about his own. I must now go back to the difficult work of writing and compiling my first "Hello World" C program and the many variations required of me.
Eventually
The mornings are alright.
I usually wake to my quiet alarm and take a shower while still only half conscious. I'll throw some clothes on and walk quickly to class. I try to grab some lunch before noon when the cafeteria isn't too crowded. I finish most of my homework at the last minute because there's really no motivation to get it done any earlier. This causes a general lack of understanding the material and leads to more study time before tests. Home is a 15' x 10' dorm room shared with another guy. The community bath is decent after the cleaning lady comes around 11. Most of my time is spent in my room on my computer.
My days are alright. It's the nights that I fear.
It's the anxiety of knowing that I'll eventually have to lay down. Knowing that I can't stay working indefinitely. Knowing that I'll have to turn out the lights and pull up the covers.
Knowing that I'll have no one to hold onto through the night except my pillow.
I usually wake to my quiet alarm and take a shower while still only half conscious. I'll throw some clothes on and walk quickly to class. I try to grab some lunch before noon when the cafeteria isn't too crowded. I finish most of my homework at the last minute because there's really no motivation to get it done any earlier. This causes a general lack of understanding the material and leads to more study time before tests. Home is a 15' x 10' dorm room shared with another guy. The community bath is decent after the cleaning lady comes around 11. Most of my time is spent in my room on my computer.
My days are alright. It's the nights that I fear.
It's the anxiety of knowing that I'll eventually have to lay down. Knowing that I can't stay working indefinitely. Knowing that I'll have to turn out the lights and pull up the covers.
Knowing that I'll have no one to hold onto through the night except my pillow.
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