Hey, remember that time when Mike kicked in Rob's door?

Or that time when Brad's room was filled with balloons?

Or that time I disappeared, twice?

Or... you get the point.

I miss college.

Yah, I am Hans, De Fastest Rider-Vou Shoult All Let Me Ride My Bicycle in Circles, Yah?

Here's a letter I almost submitted to the IDS- I'm still on the fence about it because the rule has been officially instituted at this point..under the noses of the masses, as usual. That's how we do things at IU.

Back 30 years ago, you might say the little 500 was in the height of its participation on campus. 80+ teams each year would attempt to qualify in what is known internationally as the “world’s greatest college weekend.” It’s the reason students go crazy almost the full week leading up to the two races, taking part in drinking heavily and attending concerts with big headliners. The traditions surrounding the race are steeped heavily in the structure and rules laid out in its formation in 1919.

IUSF has come into question with recent changes to the race’s format- last year’s repeated changing of the gearing of bikes for the women’s race, disqualification of the director of Team Major Taylor, and now the biggest change yet- allowing category 1 and 2 riders to enter the race (ids articles 1|2). The United States Cycling Federation, which licenses most cyclists in the country, has 5 categories- once a rider wins enough races to get to a 1 or 2 status, they’re considered “professional.” Until now, only categories 3 to 5 were allowed in the race.

The issues here are many- the first being that the rule itself makes exception for the very people trying to institute it, as they either already fall under category 2 status or will next year. The rider’s council is dominated by top-tier teams, which is hardly representative of the array of riders who participate each year- how can this change be made without the rule-makers only benefiting themselves? Even if a change like this is implemented, the appropriate thing to do is to implement it retroactively.

Finally, consider the changes the rule itself makes. In more recent years, the field has barely been able to be filled for the women’s race and only ends up cutting a few extra teams from those who attempt to qualify in the men’s. Cycling has gotten more advanced- it’s getting harder for new teams to enter the race and be successful, and now they want new riders to try and compete with professionals?

The foundations of this race were not to rocket athletes into cycling fame. It was about a group of guys, riding around a building in the Collins (MRC) courtyard. What a way to disgrace Howdy Wilcox and everyone else who helped root and grow the little 500 into what it is today.

Engarde!

Engarde! I am writing stuff. I have accepted your challenge. But to what end? I'll tell you what end! Some other time. Right now I have to find that piece of floss which is always hiding in the dark recesses of my mind. You know that one? Maybe not, but whenever it is plucked (as the string on a violin), I find myself writing something of this order. Yesterday it was playing Mozart.

bling bling.

i wish more people would write stuff here.

bling bling.

i wish more people would write stuff here.

I've got nothing of relevance to say.

So who'd be up for joining waple on a road trip across the country this summer? If we take a van we can fit up to 7 people (not recommended and I don't have a van), but more than one car might also be a bad idea. I don't know a damn thing about any of my plans except they would take place in the summer and most likely hinge on me having a job lined up for the coming school year already. I would want to visit the southeast (Mississippi, etc), the northwest (so I can pee on canada), and the new england area if possible (so I can spread the news that I peed on canada).
Other than that, I really need to get a job. Why do I feel like that's painting myself into a corner? Jobs require lots of time and work and are taken to provide money. With more money comes more spending (and mo' problems* see Notorious B.I.G.). Jobs eliminate free time/post-pone it for a later date. Why not just not take a job, spend less money, and have all the free time one wants? And does anyone notice how all the people on the show The Real World now lead quite unreal lives? Every time I switch on MTV they're playing some dumbass team games for money surrounded by beautiful people on some tropical beach. The unfortunate ones give talks across the country for big bucks. Where is this a REAL WORLD? One of the many reasons I hate MTV. Moron TV (and we sometimes play noise, which some call "music"). Whores. This sucks.
And as for my dating life, my last date was with my grandma last weekend. No joke.
I can't flip off the world hard enough.
Hope everyone is well.
Love,
Waple

What I did this New Year's...

"Damn, I spent all my money on homeless people." -Thom

Just 'cuz this is funny...

I will not lie. I was invited to join this group on the facebook. ("If I have a daughter, she will never look like this..)

The officers are just as hilarious.. "How much cock did you suck to get that smirk on your face?" - Jennifer Miller "Get that dazzle purse out of my face or I'm gonna burn it." - Cara Smith "Chuck Norris should give you a roundhouse kick to your overly made-up face." - Mandy Jones "In India, we don't even recognize you as a person." - Kumar Dhruva Aggarwal

Hope you're all coming for New Year's.. it's official- check your e-mail!

JP out.

super sweeeeeet!

YES! Everyone needs to come to chicago for new year's eve!!! Chicago totally rocks 'cause I'm here! as well as brad, thom, waple, and ben. Woooo party in chicago! This is perfect 'cause I just got new champagne glasses, and cool new coasters that are made out of shiny tinsel and they're sooo cool and now we can use them! I'm so excited.

New Year's?

Sooo... what's everyone's new year's plans?

I was thinking it might be super sweet if I drove up to Chicagoland (my family is a two-car one now!), and we could all meet and do something totally crazy and awesome.

I could collect Mike Conway and Matt Fararhahellenee, and anyone else who would be in town, we could soccermom it in the family minivan up to Chicago, then do whatever we will.

No Rob, not little boys- but something cool.

Basically, I'm looking for a massive S(C)G reunion. If not New Year's, SOON. Suggestions/thoughts?

SG rocks my socks

yay I miss smith ground. Remember when I put troll versions of everyone on the wall with speech bubbles? I'm such a dork, I can't believe you guys humored me and went along with it.
I'm coming to b-town this weekend, hope to see those of you who are still there. Wooo.

Weather!!

I just had to point out that those of us in Bloomington just received the most bogus string of weather happenings in the last 36 hours: 3 tornado warnings, two severe thunderstorms, flooding, and SNOW.

Dubble you tee eff.

dude, check her out.

She's got hyuj...... blogs. Frickin HYUJ blogs. (I mean boobs) For whatever reason I find this hilarious amusing. I'm going to add "blogs" to the list of slang for boobs.

I'm 14,
Andrew

oh, and...

That picture is perfect for this blog! Who took it? I want copies. It looks like it might have been taken before an awesome birthday celebration...?

Random smith ground memory: the time Rob and I got really mad at each other over something I don't recall so I poured water in his shoes that were outside his room and then foolishly ran into my own room away from his wrath, leaving my shoes behind which rob promptly poured coke into. ASS.

first time blogger

Hi, first time blogger, long time admirer. So... what does this thing do? I could figure it out myself but I don't exactly have all the time in the world. And isn't this a google creation? God I love google, if only I'd bought the stock when it was at 170 when I'd wanted to... here's good advice to you all: invest in google and china. It's like putting your money under a copy machine. Hooray! On a similar note, I've invested in China's Google. It has yet to make me money. Patience, laddy. Patience. Hope you're all well.

Love,
This guy

BOOBS!!!


P.S.-Rob's a sailor. OOOOOOH, hiiiiii!

Diamond! Brilliant!

I know I just posted on here, but I had something else I wanted to share with you all that I thought deserved it's own entry.

Since you can't hear my music from down the hall anymore and come over to ask me what that fuckin' badass song is, I figured I'd start the online equivalent of that here and let you all know what music i'm excited about.

With that said, I hope you all know the greatness that is "Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon", "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "Lonely Lady #17" (not to mention other classics) by Neil Diamond. Lord knows I loved those songs until I made my mom and dad's copy of his Greatest Hits skip and now that he has a new album out I have something to live for again.

Mr. Diamond's new album 12 Songs, which was released yesterday, is one of lyrical restraint and maturity. Mostly comprised of candid words and Neil's own strummings (this is special because he's been using a studio guitarist for a while now), you can't help but feel like this wonderful man wrote these songs simply to share his knowledge of life with you over cigarettes and a bottle of whisky. (Did I mention the album was produced by Rick Rubin?)

If you still think this is some kind of joke, go to Neil's myspace site, friend him up and down, and hear the album for yourself. Just listen to his honesty and you'll believe all over again.

Digital Bling

What up, bling?

I'm expecting this blog to get some love worn edges, like a good book or your favorite porno mag. It will probably also get Old Crow spilled all over it, like most anything on Smith-Bling proper. Let the dirty pixels fly!

Check out my gravel pit

It's the pit I keep my gravel in. Natch.

Wutang!

Perfect! At last something to persuade me away from Facebook, and Hi5, and homework...