What's weird is that I haven't made any new friends in about three years. I mean actually went out a met someone and became their friend on my own. I know that doesn't make any sense because I'm friends with tons of people I wasn't friends with a few years ago. But the difference - I just realized - is that everyone I've met in the last couple of years I've met through people. Most everyone I know I can trace back through other friends people.
Now that people have left town for jobs and summer I find myself down a few friends. But a couple weeks ago I was at beer olympics and was placed on a team with a couple random guys. We got eliminated early and I ended up drinking with these two 5th year seniors for a couple of hours. They were pretty cool, and I went home not thinking much of it. Over the next couple of weeks I saw them at the bar a few times. In spring term the crowds move between the bars depending on the day of the week. So I saw them at Mitch's on Wednesdays and The Jug on Mondays.
Last Wednesday Mitch's blew a circuit and weren't serving $2 pitchers and Peter and I were about to leave and the guys happened to be there and said they were going to grab a case and drink. We ended up drinking with them for another couple of hours and I think that I might have made some new friends. But I won't be official until we've exchanged numbers which would be way awkward. So perhaps I'll stick to the random bar encounters.
I seem to have a knack for meeting people right before I move out of town.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Not a great day
June 21 is my favorite day of the year. It is my favorite for two reasons. The first is that June 21 was always the beginning of the summer throughout my primary education. June 21st still means that the summer is just getting into swing and lazy days and the beach are in the near future. The second reason that I love June 21st is that it is the longest day of the year. I really love having the not set until 9:15 at night. I wish all days would be like June 21st.
Today was not a good June 21st.
I woke sideways on a bed in Las Vegas and was too drunk to tie my shoes. I then endured 9 hours of epic-hangover traveling to get back to Ann Arbor only to find that my room had been broken into. Luckily I had my computer with me, but even if I didn't I do have my much discussed computer lock. I'm not sure the total extent of what's missing but I can tell you I am down a Maglite, Airsoft pistol, switchblade and digital camera are all missing. The most disappointing loss though is my American flag with a semi truck superimposed. It will be missed. Also, let me know if any of your friends just picked up a totally sweet American Flag.
Today was not a good June 21st.
I woke sideways on a bed in Las Vegas and was too drunk to tie my shoes. I then endured 9 hours of epic-hangover traveling to get back to Ann Arbor only to find that my room had been broken into. Luckily I had my computer with me, but even if I didn't I do have my much discussed computer lock. I'm not sure the total extent of what's missing but I can tell you I am down a Maglite, Airsoft pistol, switchblade and digital camera are all missing. The most disappointing loss though is my American flag with a semi truck superimposed. It will be missed. Also, let me know if any of your friends just picked up a totally sweet American Flag.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Brian Accidentily Makes $28
The University often sends me emails asking me to participate in research experiments. But because they need a certain number of people to show up they usually double book the sessions to ensure there are enough participants. For those who show up after the session is full they give them $5 for showing up and send them on their way. I have come to learn that it is much more lucrative to show up near the start time and get the $5 then to actually spend an hour on the experiment for the $15.
So today I was working up near north campus and my shift ended at 6:50 and there was an experiment that started at 7. I decided it would be perfect. I could stop on the way home and pick up a fiver and then use that to drink for free all night. That $5 would mean that I could have two $2 pitchers and Mitch's and even have enough for a dollar tip. Those are 60oz pitchers so I could have a great night out on the $5 from stopping on the way home.
When I got to the lab it turned out that they weren't full so I actually had to participate. The basis of the experiment was to study decision making where you sat at a computer and were put into random groups of 6 students. You then had to rank letters based on certain payouts depending on which particpants had the highest priority which changed often. It was a little too complicated to explain on here but the basic premise was that the better you were at ranking things with high payouts the more money you got for the experiment. I quickly realized that this was just game theory and with a little bit of strategy I was able to find the Nash Equilibrium. I was able to consistently get a high number of points. They said at the beginning that the average payout was about $15. I made $28. Too bad that because I am a university employee it will come in my next paycheck (with taxes removed). Unlike the $5 cash that I could have gotten.
So my scheme of taking the $5 by showing up late might not be as good as my scheme to dominate choice experiments.
So today I was working up near north campus and my shift ended at 6:50 and there was an experiment that started at 7. I decided it would be perfect. I could stop on the way home and pick up a fiver and then use that to drink for free all night. That $5 would mean that I could have two $2 pitchers and Mitch's and even have enough for a dollar tip. Those are 60oz pitchers so I could have a great night out on the $5 from stopping on the way home.
When I got to the lab it turned out that they weren't full so I actually had to participate. The basis of the experiment was to study decision making where you sat at a computer and were put into random groups of 6 students. You then had to rank letters based on certain payouts depending on which particpants had the highest priority which changed often. It was a little too complicated to explain on here but the basic premise was that the better you were at ranking things with high payouts the more money you got for the experiment. I quickly realized that this was just game theory and with a little bit of strategy I was able to find the Nash Equilibrium. I was able to consistently get a high number of points. They said at the beginning that the average payout was about $15. I made $28. Too bad that because I am a university employee it will come in my next paycheck (with taxes removed). Unlike the $5 cash that I could have gotten.
So my scheme of taking the $5 by showing up late might not be as good as my scheme to dominate choice experiments.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
I have a dream
Notes are in red. Most of the people in this dream were people I went to high school with and still occasionally see. I'm not using full names though.
To set the scene it is nighttime in the midwestern city of Ann Arbor. The first part of the dream that I can remember is that I am at Charley's with Danica and someone else. I can't remember who this other guy is but I get the feeling that I despised him in the dream at least. We go to leave and this guy and Danica start walking ahead of me like 20 feet or so. We are walking down South U and they pass Paul who they both know but don't stop to talk to him. This is weird because Danica and Paul are dating. I see Paul who is wearing a loosened up suit and I talk to Paul about why he wasn't at the bar/talking to Danica. It turns out he was at work.
I keep walking alone and then turn down Tappan and see Jacque D. walking a few feet behind Emily W. and Leila O. I catch up to Jacque and I joke with her because we are both wearing big headphones. She asks me if my parents bought them for me and I joke that I am 22 and I buy things for myself, like a haircut. I'm pretty sure this was shameless flirting. When we get to South U, I turn towards state and she turns the other way. I then start talking to Emily and Leila. All of the sudden Neela jumps on my back piggyback style. This probably was in the dream because we gave each other piggyback rides to Rick's last week in real life.
We almost fall then I do the "elevator" and lift her back up. I specifically remember them referring to me going from a squatting position to standing up as the "elevator".
We notice that we are in front of Kappa Sigma and there is a painting drying on an easel in the front yard. I inspect it and it appears to be a self portrait of an Asian kid that was painted in the yard. Some passerbys are talking about stealing it and I am indifferent to them stealing it. All of the sudden the Asian kid comes out of nowhere with a golf club. I don't really see what happens because I am looking at the painting but when I turned around one of the kids that was joking about stealing the painting had the golf club and the Asian kid was cowering in fear with a math textbook over his head. Like we did in elementary tornado drills. Mark A (he showed up out on nowhere, which is why dreams are so much fun) and I are now both wearing or Cruise09 leisure jackets and talking to the guy with the club. I'm asking him what happened and I am a little upset that he hit the artist in the head with a 3 wood. The passerby's eye is all bloodied and he is explaining what he did when Mark tells me we should get out of there. I go back to the easel to pick up my swede jacket and see the Asian kid all bloody and hiding in the bushes across the street and talking on his cell phone. I then run around the east side of Kappa Sigma alone. While I'm running through a narrow wooden area I pass by some girls on the path who appear to be going to Ricks. I tip my hat towards them all as they pass. I think one of them was Jackie W. Who I haven't seen/talked to in years. The wooden path begins to descend into a stairwell with walls on either side. I can hear the sounds of a children's tune while I'm walking down a short hallway. It turns a corner to a set of an amusement park ride that had been built in a hallway intersection. It was much like that of It's a Small Would with flowing water but it looked more like the quality of the waterfall in the basement of the DKE house during Tahitian weekend. I instantly knew that I had found the secret path to Ricks. I jumped some rocks over the river and followed the curve of the hallway on the other side. It came out to an open doorway near the back bar of Rick's. I went into the bathroom to splash water on my face and to drink some water but there is a big guy in a white tux there and I have to wait for him. Then I drink water from the sink and wake up with a really dry mouth but with the feeling that the secret path out of Rick's goes back to Neela's apartment building. The best part about the secret path is that it's only about 100 feet long but it magically goes the distance of several blocks.
Interpret this dream and find the secret path to Rick's.
To set the scene it is nighttime in the midwestern city of Ann Arbor. The first part of the dream that I can remember is that I am at Charley's with Danica and someone else. I can't remember who this other guy is but I get the feeling that I despised him in the dream at least. We go to leave and this guy and Danica start walking ahead of me like 20 feet or so. We are walking down South U and they pass Paul who they both know but don't stop to talk to him. This is weird because Danica and Paul are dating. I see Paul who is wearing a loosened up suit and I talk to Paul about why he wasn't at the bar/talking to Danica. It turns out he was at work.
I keep walking alone and then turn down Tappan and see Jacque D. walking a few feet behind Emily W. and Leila O. I catch up to Jacque and I joke with her because we are both wearing big headphones. She asks me if my parents bought them for me and I joke that I am 22 and I buy things for myself, like a haircut. I'm pretty sure this was shameless flirting. When we get to South U, I turn towards state and she turns the other way. I then start talking to Emily and Leila. All of the sudden Neela jumps on my back piggyback style. This probably was in the dream because we gave each other piggyback rides to Rick's last week in real life.
We almost fall then I do the "elevator" and lift her back up. I specifically remember them referring to me going from a squatting position to standing up as the "elevator".
We notice that we are in front of Kappa Sigma and there is a painting drying on an easel in the front yard. I inspect it and it appears to be a self portrait of an Asian kid that was painted in the yard. Some passerbys are talking about stealing it and I am indifferent to them stealing it. All of the sudden the Asian kid comes out of nowhere with a golf club. I don't really see what happens because I am looking at the painting but when I turned around one of the kids that was joking about stealing the painting had the golf club and the Asian kid was cowering in fear with a math textbook over his head. Like we did in elementary tornado drills. Mark A (he showed up out on nowhere, which is why dreams are so much fun) and I are now both wearing or Cruise09 leisure jackets and talking to the guy with the club. I'm asking him what happened and I am a little upset that he hit the artist in the head with a 3 wood. The passerby's eye is all bloodied and he is explaining what he did when Mark tells me we should get out of there. I go back to the easel to pick up my swede jacket and see the Asian kid all bloody and hiding in the bushes across the street and talking on his cell phone. I then run around the east side of Kappa Sigma alone. While I'm running through a narrow wooden area I pass by some girls on the path who appear to be going to Ricks. I tip my hat towards them all as they pass. I think one of them was Jackie W. Who I haven't seen/talked to in years. The wooden path begins to descend into a stairwell with walls on either side. I can hear the sounds of a children's tune while I'm walking down a short hallway. It turns a corner to a set of an amusement park ride that had been built in a hallway intersection. It was much like that of It's a Small Would with flowing water but it looked more like the quality of the waterfall in the basement of the DKE house during Tahitian weekend. I instantly knew that I had found the secret path to Ricks. I jumped some rocks over the river and followed the curve of the hallway on the other side. It came out to an open doorway near the back bar of Rick's. I went into the bathroom to splash water on my face and to drink some water but there is a big guy in a white tux there and I have to wait for him. Then I drink water from the sink and wake up with a really dry mouth but with the feeling that the secret path out of Rick's goes back to Neela's apartment building. The best part about the secret path is that it's only about 100 feet long but it magically goes the distance of several blocks.
Interpret this dream and find the secret path to Rick's.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Brian saves a frat, takes a homeless man off the street and makes $11
Impressive huh?
A few weeks ago I was walking up to Gayle "The Hailstorm" Lawyerlady's office to discuss how dumb Wilson White is. I was walking by Shady Phi (the frat with the volleyball court in their yard) and I noticed that their grill was on fire. There was a dude on their porch who was wearing a backpack who I assumed was doing something about the fire. What he was doing was throwing things onto the fire that normally don't put fires out. Like big plastic trash cans. A few of the people on the sidewalk started looking at each other and wondering why this guy was fueling a fire right next to the house. I told everyone "I got this" and whipped out the old cellular and called the police. While I was talking to the police the guy started drinking all of the leftover beer on the porch and then walked away, this lead me to believe he was a bum. I waited for a couple of minutes for the frat bros to come out or the fire department to show up but since neither seemed to happen I just walked over and put the fire out myself by pulling off the burning parts and throwing them in the lawn. Don't worry I didn't use my firehose. Eventually the fire department showed up and the frat dudes came out and I got to be the hero. I didn't really care about the frat that much seeing as they already had their pipes burst over winter break. But I did find out later that if the house had burned down they could have rebuilt it into a much nicer house, so take that greek system!
Later that day the cops called me and told me that they had captured the guy. I think it was because of my awesome description of a scruffy guy in khakis and wearing a backpack. Later they asked me to be the lead witness in a felony arson case against the guy. If there is one thing I love more than blogging it is putting this nations homeless behind bars. I gladly said I would be there and told my boss that I had been subpoenaed which I think they had to believe because who would make that up?
Today I showed up in court ready to nail this homeless bastard. But before I got my chance to tell of that fateful day the judge decided that the bum should get a psychiatric evaluation because he might not be fit to stand trial. All this means is that there will be another hearing. But the good news is that you get paid to be a witness, even if the case doesn't end up going to trial. So I made $11. Plus I have the future opportunity to make another $11. Which doesn't really compare to the opportunity cost of going to work all afternoon today.
So when the future date arrives I will be sure to let you know how long I'm putting him away for. I hope they don't give him the chair, I wouldn't want that weighing on my mind.
A few weeks ago I was walking up to Gayle "The Hailstorm" Lawyerlady's office to discuss how dumb Wilson White is. I was walking by Shady Phi (the frat with the volleyball court in their yard) and I noticed that their grill was on fire. There was a dude on their porch who was wearing a backpack who I assumed was doing something about the fire. What he was doing was throwing things onto the fire that normally don't put fires out. Like big plastic trash cans. A few of the people on the sidewalk started looking at each other and wondering why this guy was fueling a fire right next to the house. I told everyone "I got this" and whipped out the old cellular and called the police. While I was talking to the police the guy started drinking all of the leftover beer on the porch and then walked away, this lead me to believe he was a bum. I waited for a couple of minutes for the frat bros to come out or the fire department to show up but since neither seemed to happen I just walked over and put the fire out myself by pulling off the burning parts and throwing them in the lawn. Don't worry I didn't use my firehose. Eventually the fire department showed up and the frat dudes came out and I got to be the hero. I didn't really care about the frat that much seeing as they already had their pipes burst over winter break. But I did find out later that if the house had burned down they could have rebuilt it into a much nicer house, so take that greek system!
Later that day the cops called me and told me that they had captured the guy. I think it was because of my awesome description of a scruffy guy in khakis and wearing a backpack. Later they asked me to be the lead witness in a felony arson case against the guy. If there is one thing I love more than blogging it is putting this nations homeless behind bars. I gladly said I would be there and told my boss that I had been subpoenaed which I think they had to believe because who would make that up?
Today I showed up in court ready to nail this homeless bastard. But before I got my chance to tell of that fateful day the judge decided that the bum should get a psychiatric evaluation because he might not be fit to stand trial. All this means is that there will be another hearing. But the good news is that you get paid to be a witness, even if the case doesn't end up going to trial. So I made $11. Plus I have the future opportunity to make another $11. Which doesn't really compare to the opportunity cost of going to work all afternoon today.
So when the future date arrives I will be sure to let you know how long I'm putting him away for. I hope they don't give him the chair, I wouldn't want that weighing on my mind.
VICTORY!
Hi Brian
Maintenance confirmed that when they repaired the side door it was operable and could be opened at the time.
FYI, maintenance provided us with another picture which was taken back in September 2008 before the door was repaired. However, as a gesture of good will, we will credit your account for the legal fees and repairs to the broken door in order to foster good relations and in the hopes that the house will be treated more kindly in the future.
Thank you.
Yours Truly,
Michelle
Note how they never admitted that they were wrong. Like they were doing us a favor by not charging us their legal fees. Either way I'm very pleased that I won. But it wasn't without the help of my free lawyer Gayle "The Hailstorm" Lawyerlady who referred to my emails as "brillant". This calls for a celebration tune.
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