Caught In The Whirlwind
QoTD
QotD: Teacher’s Pet
Aug 23rd 2006
What was (or is) your favorite subject in school?
I’ve always been into the science stuff. In high school at least. I’m a hands on kinda person, so having lab time where you get to experiment with stuff and see what you’re learning actually work is really cool and something you don’t normally get with other subjects.
When I got to college though, things turned slightly. Since I was taking things which are more in my field of interest, it ended up that any course that had to deal with computers/programming ended up being my favorite. It also helped that I had the most awesome teacher EVER. (Thank you Mr. Kotary!)
Unfortunetly, after I finished up my first two years, I got really dissatisfied with the whole thing since I really wasn’t learning anything new. So now I don’t really have a favorite subject…I’m just trying to get the shiny piece of paper that lets other people know I can do what I’m already doing.
QotD: In Heavy Rotation
Aug 22nd 2006
What albums are in heavy rotation for you right now?
First up, we have Frost* – Milliontown. I got turned onto this particular group through the Mike Portnoy Forums when somebody posted over there that people should check them out. It’s made up of a bunch of people from other bands, like Jon Jowitt and Andy Edwards from IQ.
The main creative force behind it is Jem Godfrey, who is primarily a pop songwriter who secretly has a love for Progressive music. Frost* is his take on what progressive rock/metal should be. I’m always horrible at explaining how music sounds, so it might be easier for you to go check it out and listen to some of the samples 
It’s a very well produced album, and probably my favorite release of the year so far.
Another CD that’s been played a lot recently is from Spock’s Beard. Their second release after the departure of Neal Morse, Octane, really shows their growth as a band. I think they’ve finally found their sound, which is a cross between Prog and more popish songs. They’re really not that great at making long epic songs anymore, but the individual parts of A Flash Before My Eyes can stand on their own. What they excel at are tracks like There Was A Time and As Long as we Ride which are shorter songs with great hooks and wonderful production and playing. I can safely say I enjoy both the Neal Morse era Beard and the new Post-Neal era stuff.
Oh, and ONE WEEK until Dream Theater – Score is released! This is a live DVD and audio CD release from one of the best shows of Dream Theater’s carreer at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The best part is they got a full orchestra to play along with them in the second set and encore. I’ve heard samples of Metropolis Pt. 1 played along with the orchestra and I can’t wait to get the full audio quality of this one. There’s going to be a teaser preview happening this weekend on VH1 Classic if you get that channel. About an hour of the concert is going to be shown, and each showing is preceded by an episode of Metal Mania hosted by Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci
QotD: My First Car
Aug 21st 2006
Tell us a little something about your first car. Do you have any photos you can share?
Submitted by tamara.
If you count the minivan my parents let me drive as my primary means of transportation, my first car was a Dodge Caravan. Green. 1998 I believe. They let me use it since they my mom had just gotten a new car and we had a “spare” hanging around which I needed for commuting to college and stuff.
Tragedy stuck though! Bad head gasket 
So what they did was trade it in to the dealership (who didn’t really notice the head gasket thing…oops) to buy my dad a truck and get him out of our other minivan, which was a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan. In teal. I ended up getting the grand caravan after that for a while. Until my sister got her license that is.
My Car
At that point, my parents suggested that I look into getting a car of my own, and after looking around (since I had a steady job and all), I ended up going with a brand new 2003 Honda Civic LX. That would be my first car, if you’re counting cars which I had paid for myself. Well, still am paying for. It’s almost paid off now.
Sorry, no horror storries of a horrible clunker here with parts falling off. Now, if I could get one of my friends to post on Vox, he’s got some stories…He has the worst luck with cars.
QotD: Here Comes The Bride
Aug 20th 2006
What was the last wedding you went to? Were you in the wedding?
The last wedding I went to was a couple years ago. My Aunt finally got around to getting married to, well…I guess he’s my uncle now
They’ve been together for as long as I can remember, but finally got around to tying the knot a couple years back.
The next wedding I’m going to is my Sisters wedding next year. I think it’s in July…too far away for me to know the exact date already.
QoTD: Is This Thing On?
Aug 19th 2006
When was the last time you had to speak in front of a group? How did you feel?
The last time I had to speak in front of a group was in my third year of college (back when I was still going full time). I had to do a presentation in my Operating Systems class about network security. Like firewalls and intrusion detection, things like that.
I hate, Hate, HATE public speaking. I’m a generally shy individual face to face, and as such, I really dislike getting up in front of a group to talk. This time was no different. But for some reason once I launch into the talk, I’m fine. It’s just the anticipation that really gets to me, if that makes any sense at all. I dread actually going up there, but once I’m there, I’m fine. Aside from my really bad habit to say “um” a lot.
QotD: Howdy Neighbor!
Aug 18th 2006
How well do you know your next-door neighbors?
I’m generally a fairly private individual. I like to keep to myself (Well, face to face anyway) until I really know somebody. Which, for obvious reasons, makes it pretty hard to be friends with people
The same thing happens with my neighbors. I know their names, a little bit about them, etc. But not really a heck of a lot of the other details. Except for my landlords (As I mentioned earlier, I rent out the other half of their house). I know them pretty well since they’ve been friends of the family for many, many years before I moved in here. A really nice older couple. We chat whenever we happen to see each other.
As for the neighbor on the other side, or across the street…not so much there.
QotD: The Best Part of Waking Up…
Aug 17th 2006
What’s your morning beverage of choice? Coffee, tea, juice? Homemade or store-bought?
I generally have Milk with breakfast. Store-bought or course, although I do live near a dairy farm…hmm… I prefer 2%.
After the milk, I usually have orange juice when I get to work. I’ve never been a coffee guy (never had it actually) and I was never able to get into tea, but I really haven’t tried much there. It’s a possibility I might enjoy it, but I just haven’t worked up the courage to try it out yet.
On the milk topic, I may be the only weirdo that doesn’t put milk on cereal. I firmly believe that, except in one specific case, liquid and solid breakfast food should remain separated in their own separate containers. Unless I’m eating Cheerios. In that case, the milk must be poured into the cereal.
I am aware that I’m weird.
UPDATE: In the interest of full disclosure, I feel it is my duty to report that I had chocolate milk this morning instead of orange juice.
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