that other guy’s thoughts

We all know about the eco-terrorists and militant vegans out there. You know, the ones that don’t want us to consume any animal byproducts, or test out lipstick on bunny rabbits, or let anything bad happen to any animal ever. You know the ones. To them I ask a simple question:

What do we do with the cows?

You see, if we don’t feed domesticated animals, they will die. All of them. Because they are domesticated. If we don’t eat cows then farmers won’t raise cows. If no farmers raise cows, then no cows get fed, if no cows get fed, then all cows die. And if the species of cow goes extinct, which, correct me if I’m wrong here, is a bad thing.

Now you I can ponder all sorts of scenarios in which the domesticated animals of the world survive a flourish on “Reserves”. But Reserve is really just a fancy name for “Zoo”, and last I checked, you all weren’t too happy with the idea of zoos either.

So what say you Mr. Hippy Man? Can I eat a cow, or do I let them all die?

I finished up my junior year by turning in my Structures II final exam yesterday at 10 am. I slept from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm in an attempt to show my body some gratitude for putting up with the crap I did to it over the last 9 months.

For those of you who don’t understand exactly, let me explain:

My junior year in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas is the most difficult academic marathon in existence.

Reread that last sentence and let it sink in

No seriously, reread it

Are we on the same page? Now let me explain before you pronounce me outlandish.

The coursework itself is ominous. 18.2 & 17.3 hours of purely engineering courses in some of the most difficult aspects; electronic circuits, aerodynamics, structural analysis, aircraft stability and control, jet propulsion, the list goes on. Not exactly birds of a feather are they?

And bear in mind that 18 hours of engineering work generally means 36 hours of work outside the classroom. Unless you’re in aerospace, then it means about 45. And we’re talking actual work, not studying or memorizing, actual work. Typing lab reports, calculating induced drag coefficients (Lift Coefficient^2/(pi*Aspect Ratio*Oswald’s Efficiency Factor) for those of you keeping track at home), finite element analysis of arbitrary wing structures, 40-page weekly stability assignment, you name it and I’ve done it. And that is just to complete assignments, saying nothing of comprehension for the tests, because you’d have to add at least 10-15 extra hours a week if you want to understand the analysis you’re doing. The school workload alone is enough to kill small rodents and liberal arts students.

Now consider the fact that you’re competing against the best and brightest students in the country. Because after all, the standard University stoners and existential lost souls don’t exactly call the School of Engineering home. (And don’t play word games here, in any curved class you are essentially ‘competing’ against you’re classmates).

Now consider the fact that I have a part-time job, and spend 20 hours a week dealing with whiny professor’s computer problems.

Add it all up and now tell me you disagree with my assessment.

18 hours in class, 45 hours doing homework, 10 hours for comprehension, 20 hours of paid work = 93 hours of productive time per week. That’s equivalent of working 13 hours days, 7 days a week, in one of the world’s most difficult areas of study

Show me somebody who does that, and I’ll show you another aerospace engineer. There is a reason that 91% of freshman entering the AE program don’t graduate within 4 years. Yes, 91, it’s not a misprint. There were 67 people in my freshman class. 6 of us are graduating next year.

In conclusion:

Kyle = not lazy

done.

Burt & the gang at my ideal future employer are doing it right.

For those of you who couldn’t tell, that is indeed space you’re looking at. And you’re not looking at it through some big budgeted government sponsored camera. It’s Burt Rutan leading human progress, the way it should be led.

It would be an honor and a privilege to work for this man. I look forward to the day I can meet him face to face and shake his hand.

So here’s the big question about 8 years too late.

Did Alanis Morisette make all the statements in her song “Ironic” intentially non-ironic, or does she actually not know the defination of the world? Either would defeat the purpose of the song.

Option 1: It’s intentionally ironic in the sense that the only thing ironic in the song is the misuse of the word ironic. But then the song would be entirely pointless.

Option 2, she’s dummer than my left tennis shoe.

editor’s note: this post marks the 500th post ever made here @ TOG’s Thoughts, I’d light up a swiss cake roll for myself, but I’m afraid I’d ignite due to lack of sleep

…this is why I went to Florida a month ago.

editor note: I’m a Junior, not a Senior. I’ve been here for 3 years so I’m a Junior regardless of the number of hours on my transcript. I feel very passionate about this, no one knows why.

They call you lady luck
But there is room for doubt
At times you have a very un-lady-like way
Of running out

Your on this date with me
The pickin’s have been lush
And yet before the evening is over
You might give me the brush

You might forget your manners
You might refuse to stay
And so the best that I can do is pray

Luck be a lady tonight
Luck be a lady tonight
Luck if you’ve been a lady to begin with
Luck be a lady tonight

Luck let a gentleman see
Just how nice a dame you can be
I know the way you’ve treated other guys you’ve been with
Luck be a lady with me

A lady never leaves her escort
It isn’t fair, it isn’t nice
A lady doesn’t wander all over the room
And blow on some other guys dice

Lets keep this party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me baby, I’m the guy that you came in with
Luck be a lady tonight

A lady never flirts with strangers
She’d have a heart, she’d be nice
A lady doesn’t wander all over the room
And blow on some other guys dice

Lets keep this party polite
Never get out of my sight
Stick with me baby, I’m the guy that you came in with
Luck be a lady tonight

-Frank Sinata, Luck be a Lady Tonight

Reason 9,842 I will make more money than you:

I’m doing homework right now, at 3:30 on a Saturday morning. I’m going to bed soon, and will get up…and do homework until 3:30 Sunday Morning. Then’ll I’ll go to bed and do homework till 4:00 am on a Monday morning…rinse and repeat for 2 more weeks.

During this tour of duty, I will be writing more technical documents than should be legally allowed for public safety reasons. In times like these, you’d be amazed how quickly the desire to get stupid-drunk for days creeps up on you. If only so that you could purge the memories of this horrific experience in an inebreated brain-cell killing binge that would make F. Scott Fitzgerald proud.

…is my President.