As an incentive for the TKP Club reaching 150 members, I offered to submit myself to a Reddit-style AMA. Well, the TKP community answered the bell and surpassed that number by the deadline I imposed. We're now up over 220 people and slowly climbing. As your reward, I now offer you the chance to ask me anything. The season is about to start, so get your minds right (or very, very wrong...)
New to TKP and want to know something? Fire away. Returning from the offseason and you haven't caught up on all the latest interesting stuff? I'm here to help. Do you have something totally random, funny, insightful, or personal that you want to ask me? [pours a fresh glass of bourbon] Let's do this thing.
I will answer questions from now until the end of the weekend or maybe early Monday morning. Initially, I thought I would put a hard 24-hour limit on this, but people may be busy on the weekend and not see it. So Monday morning I will probably wrap this up. I will answer everything as soon as I can, so check back often!
All members of the TKP community, TKP Club members and non-members alike, are welcome to submit questions. If you are not a TKP Club member, and are financially able to do so, please join and help Joe keep this awesome community going. I understand financial reality for some of you (hard times, student, etc) so if you can't, it's all good. But if you can, your contributions help this site remain one of the coolest places on the Internet and will pay for the awesome reporting, analysis, and commentary that we all love so much.
Comments
Would you rather sweat butter or have broccoli hair?
oh we're off to a roaring start
Sweating butter would mean I would never have dry skin in the winter. Winner.
And TKP delivers!
Is a hot dog a sandwich?
Meat? Check.
Bread? Check.
It's a sandwich.
Let's dive deeper on that 'meat'. In your expert opinion, what the hell are we REALLY eating in a typical hotdog?
Probably squirrel.
Nope. I've eaten my share of squirrel meat, and it's far and away better than most hot dogs. Would have said all hot dogs, but I've had a few that would give most any meat dish a run for its money.
I defer to your experienced opinion. I'm a scientist; I'm used to being wrong. When new grad students used to ask for advice when I was near finishing my Ph.D., I told them - get used to being wrong. I had (at that point) published 10 papers. My initial hypothesis was wrong in 9 of them. But at least you always learn something, because you get it right in the end.
Squirrels are tasty. Just saying.
Chicken anyone?
Squirrel gravy and homemade biscuits on a bright cool fall morning. Now if that ain't country, I'll kiss yer ass.
This, that sounds like a perfect breakfast, so long as there is a Bloody Mary or two involved. Hot dogs are typically going to be either 100% beef(kosher) or a combo of pork, beef, and mechanically separated poultry. Personally, if I'm buying a grocery store hot dog, I'm going with boars head pork and beef franks in a natural casing. I'll go to town on a few of those bad boys. If you can't tell, I'm pretty into hot dogs, well, really any emulsified meat product.
Agree with you on all accounts. Definitely prefer a natural casing hot dog, and if paired with just the right chili, I can eat a half dozen as long as I have a few cold brews to refresh my palate as I go. In my opinion, the world could use a few more really good hot dog stands, but I dream.
I've seen the grand ole opry,
And I've met Jonny Cash...
Perfect example of DAC's biggest fault. He had so much talent in his own right, yet so many of his songs reference other musicians for validity. Dude is great live though.
It's moderation like this that will kill TKP, KILL IT I TELL YOU!
It's a calzone. Or maybe squirrel cordon blue.
Does a one legged duck swim in circles?
I don't know, but the one with a third foot growing out of one of its legs down by the Duck Pond sure as hell has a hard time getting around.
Biscuits or English muffins?
English muffins. I ate one every day for breakfast for most of high school.
I will not downvote opinions.
I will not downvote opinions.
I will not downvote opinions.
You will not f*ck with the moderator during his voluntary AMA.
You will not f*ck with the moderator during his voluntary AMA.
You will not f*ck with the moderator during his voluntary AMA.
It's all about English muffins toasted with butter in the toaster oven, top em with cheese, broil it to melt.
You had me till cheese.
Oh no, are you a cheese Frenchian?
I like cheese in the right way, not just put on top a muffin.
A muffin and an English muffin are wildly different things.
Well, ya take an English muffin, see, and you drizzle a little olive oil on it. You then lay on a medium slice of a garden fresh tomato, salt and pepper it, maybe a little more olive oil. Sprinkle on some grated Parmesan cheese, pop in the oven for a few minutes and you're in bidness.
you gotta put some meat or an egg on it before cheese.
Too many calories for an every day breakfast! Plus with each person in the family having one, it's just plain cheaper.
Then I gotta go just butter or peanut butter on it.
Sounds like something Rich Rodriguez would do!
YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW
This never fails to elicit a chuckle from me.
Yeah, when we have English muffin pizzas, we add the sausage, or whatever for a meatsa pizza, but I don't usually have them for breakfast.
What do you plan to do with your degree long term?
I want to be a university professor. It really is a path that makes you question your choices and sanity, but I hope it will be worth it. You have to fight every day to convince others that your research works and you have to somehow convince enough people in high places to fund the work. And you have to keep that up for the rest of your life. Oh hell, now I need another bourbon...
Do you have any pets/will you post pictures of said pets?
EDIT: This is a shameless attempt to get cute animal pictures on TKP
Ahhhhhhhh. Those green eyes are piercing and beautiful according to my 8yr old daughter. She thinks both are very cute. Ya know there just aren't enough cute pet pics on the inter web these days....wait....
Tell your daughter the dog has tapetum lucidum, and ask how she feels.
Corgi strong!
What's the longest you've gone without sleep / lack of sleep in pursuit of academic achievement? And what was it you were working on?
Finals week during fall semester junior year was rough as hell. I had three exams within 48 hours, which means I could have moved one, but I said "screw it" and dove in headfirst. Aced them all. The last was general biochemistry (BCHM 4115), which was one of the hardest classes of my life. It's probably one of the hardest classes at Tech, period. I think I totaled about 8 hours of sleep during the three days encompassing those exams.
The other time that comes to mind was the week before my preliminary exam in grad school. I had to prepare a short talk (~15 minutes) on my research proposal and then submit to a couple hours of questions. Those questions can be about anything. The dissertation committee uses the prelim to determine where a grad student's limit is. How far can you push before you finally tap out. It gives them a sense of your potential as a researcher and ability to think quickly. They literally can ask you about anything, but mercifully, I had a great and supportive committee who only asked me biology, chemistry, and biochemistry questions. A couple of hours later, I had passed. But the studying for that prelim was killer. Maybe a few hours of sleep each night for a week, but I had also been preparing for about 3 months beforehand.
Ahhhh the prelim. I remember during mine I was having dreams about it for a solid 2 months EVERY night. The feeling once you pass is indescribable. Congrats dude!
_
Marry, fuck, kill
Rich Rod, Lane Kiffin, Jim Harbaugh
Savage
Tom Savage sucks too
Fuck: Lane Kiffin (leave in the morning, "see how Tennessee felt?")
Marry: Harbaugh (I mean, the guy is going places)
Kill: RichRod (presented without comment)
Be glad to help with he who shall not be named. Best way, Ice Knife!
You have failed to link the gif regardless of context!
You are awesome
via GIPHY
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
follow up
Does Sara still sell seashells by the sea shore, and does Peter Piper still pick a peck of pickled peppers?
A chuckton.
Not since the economy crashed.
Who is your favorite Fuller?
Nina. The woman is a champion.
What is your go-to guitar?
Fender Fat Strat. All the classic tone of a normal strat in the first two pickups, all the crunch of the humbucker at the bridge.
Pretty sweet! What about amplifiers?
Guitars are highly overrated
Ask me how I know that you're a millennial.
Besides, these two would definitely disagree.
I used to have an American fat strat that was pretty rad. But alas, I am a Tele guy at heart.
A buddy of mine plays a Tele. Great guitars, I was just always a Strat guy. Fender is my favorite brand, though the Les Paul I've played is a dream. My next axe is probably an SG, but I'll always come back to Fender.
From an owner of a few Strats, a Les Paul, and an SG, you will not be disappointed with the SG. All the great tone of a Les Paul but less bulky/heavy. My favorite guitar ever. Still like Strats a lot too, but the tone from the SG is unreal.
The SG: Fantastic sound. Horrendous neck dive.
why i never bit on their SG short scale bass
This isn't a question at all it is a thank you GuitarMan (I found a lot of comfort in your post) to you and the rest of TKP family for all your kind words on one of the most difficult days of my life when I posted this thread.....
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2015/march/2/ot-guys-i-lost-my-mom-mor...
I never really had a chance to properly thank everyone so I wanted to take this opportunity to to do so. I know its a year and a half later but with the season right around the corner and seeing this thread it just hit me and I thought I should thank everyone.
I lost my dad in March of this year. It was hard then, and it's still hard. TKP has been a big reason why I keep my spirits up; you're not alone in turning to this community for support and levity. When news of Beamer's retirement broke, I was with my dad in the hospital because he had pneumonia. I got a text from a friend about the news, and where did I turn? Yep, right here. I read the story to my parents. My dad, even though he was weak and tired (the first of many health fights in the next few months), talked with me about Beamer's career and summed it up with, "Frank did it the right way. He's a good man." If you knew my dad, you'd know that's high praise.
And fuck cancer.
Fuck cancer indeed my friend. I lost my dad to cancer in March of 2011. I had a lot of dark days after that. I still think about it every day.
Sorry to hear that. When my dad passed, a friend told me that the pain of losing a parent may lessen slightly with time but it never goes away. I suspect it is true.
The blessing and curse of a long illness (though my dad was only sick for a few months, since he was diagnosed too late) is that you can begin coping while your loved one is still sick. The moment that it really became clear to me was when I spent a weekend with my parents, and I did everything around the house that my dad normally would have - replaced a shower head, fixed a toilet, replaced a garbage disposal (with a bit of his help, since he was still well enough to do a few things), and changed the oil on one of the cars. When everything was done, I realized what it was going to be like without him, at least as far as taking care of my mom. It's a feeling I never wish on anyone.
Thought I might get tears in my eyes from laughing when I opened this thread. I was half right I guess
Lost my mom 18 days after I got married 6 years ago. It was completely unexpected. The sadness ebbs and flows too. You might go through the anniversary of his death just fine, but two months following be crying on the floor of your closet (sometimes you just need to get where no one can see) thinking about how they used to help with this, and they are just not around to ask any more. It stinks. Sharing memories is good though, as close as we ever get to them being alive again I think..
I agree completely. During the initial grieving period, I asked myself, "what the hell do I do now that my dad is gone?" He was a constant in my life, always there for advice and support. He was the wisest person I knew.
But then something became clear. While I now no longer have my dad at my back, he spent much of life (and the entirety of mine) preparing me for this. It became obvious to me all the lessons he taught me, how to think for myself, how to challenge things that didn't make sense, how to fix things, take care of my car, and to be forthright in my dealings with other people. It hit me like a damn freight train. Perhaps you don't necessarily know what you have until you lose something or someone. It's changed the way I think about a lot of things.
I check in with my mom each Sunday night, at minimum (though I often talk to her during the week). So in about an hour, I'll have a nice chat with her.
Call your parents, people. If you're lucky enough to still have them. Put down what you're doing, call them. Say hi. Ask them how they're doing.
I clicked on the forum topic to see what was new and exciting in the world of our mod and as I scrolled down I stumbled upon this conversation. This is the time of year when we miss those we have lost even more. During the VT/Pitt game I baked a turkey for the family dinner that night as a "test run" for my two kids Thanksgiving this year, and as I carved the turkey I took the oysters of the bird and gave them to my 4 year-old son and said this is the best part of the turkey enjoy. He smiled walked away eating the meat and I thought to myself how my dad used to do that with me every Thanksgiving. God bless all of you and Happy Thanksgiving.
What is your favorite VT memory not including athletics? and what's your record number of plates cleared at D2?
The Drillfield vigil after 4/16. Nothing crystallizes the feeling of what it means to be a Hokie, in my mind. The spontaneous "Amazing Grace," followed by "Let's go, Hokies!" at the end was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of my life. I loved Virginia Tech, and had for many years, but after that moment, I knew that my time at VT was truly formative and would shape the way I live the rest of my life. "Live for 32" is the last line in my dissertation acknowledgments.
Four. Note that for most of college, I was about 120 lb, soaking wet.
Is French's Super Secret Identity Chad Dukes of 106.7 (DC) the fan infamy? I ask this because he went on an epic pie rant the other day about how it is the greatest food ever so...
No, but if I reveal French's true identity, I will cease to exist. On the plus side, the following morning, you will have a brilliant X's and O's breakdown of my untimely demise...
Love Chad but wish he would bring up the Hokies more often. The station as a whole could do better, but he's from NOVA and the Junkies are from Bowie so all they talk about is UMD.
If you had to pick a favorite qb who handed us a loss as your homeboy, who would it be?
Aaron Rodgers
Donovan McNabb
Matt Ryan
Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck. Read the SI story on him from a few years back. He actually seems like a really cool guy and is super smart.
When did we play Aaron Rodgers?
When we played Cal in the bowl game after the 2003 season. Lost in a shootout.
yep! Correct!
McNabb for me ranks up there as one of the many memorable and horrible losses because he blew chunks before throwing for the winning TD with time expiring.
You might say that game was . . . sickening
Sitting or standing wiper
Um, is the second option an actual thing?
How? Don't your knuckles get wet?
Do you have tiny hands?
Actually, the opposite. I have very long, slender fingers that are somewhat disproportionate to my height (I'm not a freak show, so don't get any weird mental images) and when I was about 14, my doctor thought I might have Marfan syndrome (legend has it that Abraham Lincoln had it). Fortunately, I do not, as confirmed by an ultrasound of my heart, which, if it hadn't been for an assessment of a life-altering disease, would have been kind of cool to be watching.
Makes playing guitar super easy, though.
HEY! I have the same story actually! I have pectus excavatum and an abnormally long wingspan. Had testing done when I was like 15 to see if I had an enlarged aorta so from someone who knows how scary that appointment is, I'm glad your only part freakshow!
Are you me?
Well, I can't play guitar... and I can't leg nuke trolls. So sadly no. I am a (former) scientist though! Researched genetics in my undergrad.
So, over or under? I'm fascinated by your lifestyle.
Over. I am both fascinated and scared at the potential directions of this sub-thread.
Talk about no holes barred...
No holds barred. It's a wrestling term meaning that moves that usually get you disqualified are legal.
Do not google no holes barred.
Also the name of a badass movie.
Yeah, I know.
Tell us the legend of how you came to be moderator.
It was a cold October evening. It came to me in a dream, a beautiful vision of stomping trolls, calling out BS, and mainly promoting inane behavior under the guise of credibility. I awoke refreshed, with a new lease on life. I began a letter to Joseph, in gilded ink, written with a tail feather of the Hokie Bird. I was soon notified that my petition had been successful. A digital badge would accompany my username, and the power to deca-downvote had been bequeathed to me. Henceforth, I have undertaken my responsibilities with great dedication and a large number of memes.
Ok now the real story
I spend most of my free time here and have a good feel for the community. I am prone to getting sucked into fun sub-threads and inane topics, and occasionally post poignant and thoughtful remarks. Through a few conversations, I offered Joe my help, and when he decided that the community needed a mod due to its quickly growing size, he coded up some power-ups for me and here I sit.
I feel it would have been more appropriate to ask thusly:
Would you rather be Mike London or Bronco Mendenhall?
I choose "cattle prod to the testicles."
Let's try this again.
Which would you rather fight
A Horse on a Treadmill's weight in Wahoos or a Wahoo the size of a Horse on a Treadmill?
Give me the giant Wahoo. We all know it's just going to fall off its horse. Game, set, match.
Historically, fish have done poorly riding horses.
Pick the battles you can win.
Second question: do you wet your toothbrush before or after putting on the toothpaste?
Before.
Good man
He's not an animal.
I do both
I used to do both.
I still do. I just used to, too.
What is your favorite uni combination that VT has ever worn?
#TeamNoPants or we riot.
Um, #ALLMAROONJERSEYWITHNOPANTS?
DON'T MIND ME I'M JUST WARMING UP OVER HERE!
Oh... with no pants?
I am a fan of #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING because a formative memory of my VT football experience was 2003 vs. Miami. Epic night.
If I have to pick a favorite "different" design, give me these:
Yes!!! All Maroon!!
Never mind, misread. +1 for all-maroon everything!
Who is the ONE player you would want on this 2016 VT Football team from the past not named Michael Vick, Tyrod Taylor, or Bruce Smith?
Jake Grove. Football games are won on the line.
I regret that I have but one leg to give. That is the most correct answer ever!!
Follow up question. Out of those 4 just mentioned, which single player would bring us closest to a national championship with this current team?
The Sack Man. As much as Grove would be a difference-maker on the line, I think we have enough experience and young talent to be pretty good there. If the D-line can get more pressure (and who better than Bruuuuuuuuce?) then that makes the job of the secondary that much easier. And we can always use DE depth. I think we have talent at the position (I think Ekanem is a steady hand and very talented, and I think Hill can become an impact player), but I wonder about depth given some recruiting misses.
Interesting choice but I see your point. I probably would have gone MV7. The guy just changed games and had enough of an impact as a single player that he alone would put them in a championship conversation.
That was my initial reaction, as well, but I thought: "what does this team need?" Fuente's system doesn't require a dynamic QB, just someone that can make steady plays, with talent at the skill positions around him to do the rest. Of course, MV7 elevated VT just by sheer athleticism, which never hurts, but I felt that given our recent defensive struggles and depth issues (on both the line and in the secondary with all the shuffling), Bruce would be most needed by the 2016 Hokies.
You are given the honor of choosing a lifetime supply of the following:
Pick one and explain why you made that choice.
Natty Ice, because that was the beer made available to me when learning to play quarters while pledging my fraternity. Good memories.
What fraternity?
Alpha Chi Sigma.
Since the name is out there, I will clarify - as a professional fraternity, we have no chapter-sponsored parties and no alcohol at official events except an annual alumni banquet. But the Brothers all run in the same circles (especially since it's a professional chemistry fraternity and everyone has classes and such with other Brothers), so we hung out a lot together on weekends and they were (and still are) very welcoming to pledges. So in those settings, we all had a great deal of fun.
Wait, seriously? I was in AXE too! Alpha Xi pledge class
Then we definitely know each other. I was the MA when you pledged.
Yes I do and good to know
How many Rails can you down in one night out?
These days, probably two. After age 25, my ability to drink went straight downhill. In my prime...probably one more than I should have.
I've never had a night with a rail not end poorly.
Post you've taken the most pleasure in "moderating"?
Equal tie among all of those that pushed someone beyond -25 if they're being a real asshole. The ability to keep this community free from complete morons is something I do enjoy. With one of the Shockwave alts, I picked up his entire commenting history and downvoted it until he was gone.
How are you on bass?
I prefer salmon. www.instantrimshot.com
Passable. I haven't picked up a bass in a while, so I'd be pretty rusty, but given the overlap between guitar and bass, I can keep up. I can read music in just about any clef thanks to playing in orchestra (I'm also VTViolinMan, but that's a not as cool of a moniker).
I knew you'd take that bait.
Me, I've been messing with the bass on and off for about 3 1/2 years now. Coming from playing piano for a good 27 years now, my issue isn't theory but technique.
Second question. Can we get a TKP house band started up over here?
Yeah, I have the opposite problem. I can't play piano for crap. I can't say that I have put a large amount of effort into it, but I have a really nice keyboard that I got a few years ago and I've done some dabbling. Moving from stringed instruments to keys is tough. I can imagine the opposite is true. It's not just physically different but your brain does things in a different manner, as well.
It does! Like, I've had to get used to the idea that I can play, on bass, the same note in no fewer than four different places. Then I feel my brain cramping as I figure out which one is the best choice.
Meanwhile on piano, an E4 is an E4.
Yeah, that's a hard thing to wrap your head around. But once you see the patterns, you'll find an immense flexibility to a guitar or bass. At first, studying scale patterns is a bit overwhelming, but once you get over the learning curve, you find it is an awesome tool.
Best affordable bourbon for hokie football season?
Jim Beam Black Label.
Smooth enough to enjoy and it's got just enough of a kick to remind you why you are drinking after a game.
Have you tried Evan Williams 1783? My new go to affordable bourbon. It is off the chain good.
I'll have to try it once my current bottle of Jim has run dry. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks I'll try both!
Boxers or briefs?
Boxerbriefs? What kind of false dichotomy is this?
Agreed this is a false dichotomy, but to answer the OP, boxers.
What is the best thing you have ever successfully snuck into or out of Lane Stadium?
Sadly, I am really boring when it comes to gameday stories. I occasionally tailgate but never drink a whole lot, and I am not into contraband.
Probably the greatest success I had was inadvertently sneaking my pocket knife in and out. I have carried a small folding knife with me every day since I was about 17. Normally, I left it at home when going to games, but I forgot it was in my pocket until I got to the gate. Since I never carry anything visible with me, I never really get a real look from security, so I got through and got it home.
Funny story similar to that one. Like you I regularly carry a small folding knife clipped to my front pocket. Didn't think about while walking into the stadium one cold November day, at least not until I happened to get a pat-down from a sheriff's deputy. He feels the knife through my jacket and asked what it was. Without thinking I answered "oh that's just a pocketknife", probably because I was more worried about the half-dozen or so airplane bottles I had stashed in various pockets. Luck was with me, however, as he just waved me on through...
I play the drums. You play guitar. Lets make a TKP theme song. What should it be?
"Bourbon, Barbecue, and Beating Hoos"
I initially read this answer as Beating Hos....and wondered why you would say that?
So I know you're a researcher and eventually want to make it back into academia but what advice would you give someone that is just beginning their thesis project? Was there something that really helped you in job interviews or something that you would've done differently on your project now that you're out of school and know what to expect afterwards?
Do something that is meaningful to you. Seriously. A lot of people view grad school like they do undergrad - "what do I have to do to get a degree in the end?" The path to a B.S. is charted for you by your department. The path to a Ph.D. is charted by you. Of course, the adviser has veto power, but if the work is within his/her expertise, there should be no problem.
The reason I say this is because academia is a thankless environment for early-career people. I get paid probably half of what my counterparts in industry (or even government contracting) make. The payoff for me will (hopefully) one day be a tenured post that allows me (relative) intellectual freedom to work on projects I find interesting. If, as a graduate student, you don't work on something you find meaningful, it will be hard to push through the hard times. And of course, those are more prevalent than anything else. For every one thing that works, ten things fail. When you need to do something "easy," something hard gets in the way that derails the whole damn thing. If you don't love it, you won't make it with your sanity intact.
As far as job interviews, I've actually never done one. I finished my Ph.D. and started emailing professors about postdocs. I got hired to my current position based on my CV alone. That's pretty rare, but it worked really well for me. But as I am currently filling out applications for faculty positions, I can tell you that the big thing is to be able to effectively communicate deliverables. Everyone has ideas, but can you tell a reader of your application "I will do [X] by applying [really cool methods] and it is meaningful because [these are the anticipated outcomes]." Even more importantly, how will your research bring in money? Without fundability, you'll never get hired. If you're looking to get into academia as a faculty member, get yourself a fellowship somewhere along the way, at the graduate or postdoc level. I was awarded an NIH fellowship for my postdoc, which is pretty critical. If you don't have a track record of fundability, your options, sadly, become limited. It's a vicious cycle - without money, you can't do work, but you can't get a job and do work without getting money.
Thanks for all the advice!
You bet. Keep me posted on how your progress goes, and if I can help in any way, let me know (hit me up on Twitter or ask Joe for my email address). Ut Prosim.
Will do, thanks!
Are you married? If so how long? If not when has your girlfriend told you you need to ask her?
Married seven years.
She also a Hokie?
Yep
Any little moderators running around?
Only the four-legged ones pictured above.
Pumpkin or Pecan pie?
Umm your forgot Sweet Potato, the best pie.
We're talking pie, so we're all winners here.
A wise person once said a cookie is round like a pie and therefore suggestingly is a pie. But not all pies are cookies. Thoughts?
Everything aspires to be pie. Cookies are tasty, but they are not pies.
I've always had a love of sweet potato casserole, but that is not shared with sweet potato pie. Would I take it over any cake tho? Of course.
As long as the pecan pie is my wife's bourbon chocolate pecan pie, that's the one I choose.
That sir, is a keeper. Both wife, and pie.
Not quite sure how now one has asked this yet...
Would you rather fight 100 duck sized horses or one horse sized duck?
There is a variant posted above, but I knew this would show up anyway. In this case, I choose the 100 duck-sized horses. Whereas the Wahoo above defeats himself, here I rely on my wife's advice. She's a veterinarian, and when she was in school and working with horses, she would constantly tell me, "horses are designed to fail." Their anatomy is extremely fragile. So basically, I would just extend the fight to the point that all of the horses hurt themselves without me really doing anything except let them run around.
Probably the only answer to this question I've seen that's been actually thought out and reasoned.
Add in the fact that birds are, by and large, meaner than most horses, and while a horse might try to bite you, a horse sized duck would try to eat you.
Like fighting team yoshi...
If you could make another TKPer do an AMA who would you pick?
fernleyhokie - I feel like that guy has stories.
He's the one TKPer I'd love to sit down with over beers and just listen to him tell stories.
Second
ah.. you guys....
This is an incredible compliment from Guitarman, GoKartMozart, Horse and the others that legged his answer.
I have not yet gotten the key added to my name but it should be there this week, so if this is something that people would like I will of course oblige. I want to help drive sponsorship of TKP and I will gladly serve up my dignity for it.
A few caveats:
1) I will be happy to go sloppy seconds but only after Guitarman is done with his, so perhaps starting Monday night USA time. It's the last week of preseason and it should help pass the time as well as hopefully drive in a few new key players (including myself)
2) as GoKartMozart said, some stories probably could only be told in person for a variety of reasons but I feel I have plenty in the bank to give. So don't hold back, because I have seen and done a lot of crazy shite.
3) I have been planning a trip back to VA and/or Blacksburg pretty much every year since the last time I was there which was 5 years ago. So..... IF we get to 300 Key Players before Battle at Bristol and IF I do get back this year I will host a TKP night either at First Down in NOVA or somewhere in Blacksburg. Fortunately for you, and unfortunately for my wallet, I will be traveling to NYC several times this fall for some business so I will be in the neighborhood. And by "host" I mean I will buy fellow KeyPlayers free alcohol, perhaps not everyone if there is crazy turnout, but for majority I suspect. Hell, depending on how the night goes could be for all TKPers.
4) to get some more simple answers out of the way: I am married; I cannot play a musical instrument; I have a nearly 5 year old daughter, a dog, a cat and a goldfish; I have several businesses; am a designer (arch. landscape, urban designer/planner) by education and for the majority of my career; and to top Guitarman in at least one skill I have surpassed him on the no sleep for academic success notch with 3 nights and nearly 4 days with zero hours sleep.
Lastly, I would like to thank Guitarman for always being cool as a cucumber. There is not a single person on here that I think is as level headed and sincere as this man. He is always respectful, objective, and present (seriously, you must have TKP on google glasses or something). You are a scholar and a gentleman, and I am proud to, at the very least, be virtual friends with you, even prouder that there's a Hokie out there like you. Class act all the way.
I certainly hope your travel plans work out. Look forward to toasting a bourbon with you one day. Thanks for the kind words.
Bender was banned from this site. What is the name of the account he reregistered under?
Only Joe knows that. I have my guess but I can't say for sure.
Oh my haha I wanna know so badly
I went on a Bender once. Everything got blurry.
(/s, I'm actually a teetotaler)
You brought her, you bender
We have a small group of guys who occasionally goes to the beach and plays poker, not for money, because we drink wat too much to play for money. We do have some initiation rituals though....
You have to bring "good" bourbon. What do you bring?
You will have to tell a story about being trashed. Drunkest you ever got, sickest you ever got from drinking, or most embarrassing thing you did drunk?
What is the story?
If you are unable to get from the bar back to the room on your own, and we need to push you in the shopping cart, do you want us to put you in butt first, knees first, or back down?
Will we want to invite you back? Why or why not?
Whichever one makes my wife question my sanity when the credit card statement posts.
Drunkest I've ever been was at my bachelor party. I believe the tally was 13 drinks (mixture of beers and liquor). Went to a Salem Red Sox game (we had a suite), hit a few bars in downtown, ate at Joe's diner at about 3 AM, and stumbled our way home to my place in Terrace View. Nothing crazy happened but that was closest I've ever been to being sick from drinking (side story - I've never puked from drinking). But man, was that hangover a killer. I should have been sick, because I would have felt better the next day. Fought that one off all day. Thank God for Gatorade.
Man, I'm diving in headfirst myself because that sounds like fun.
I may not have any wild stories, but I have been told that my tendency towards humor does get amplified a few beers in, so I think I'm a reasonably fun guy at a party or a poker game. I also make sure everyone is OK at the end of the night. Now, I have stories about taking care of other people, but for their privacy, I'm not going there in this forum.
Movies...comedy or action? Both? Favorites? Favorite movie line(s)?
I like comedy and action in equal parts. I'm easy to please when it comes to movies.
Favorites? V for Vendetta, Boondock Saints, Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter series, probably a few more with no clear-cut favorite.
Favorite Lines? There is something I always find hilarious about Ian Malcom (Jeff Goldblum) deadpanning "Must go faster, must go faster" in Jurassic Park while they're being chased by the T-rex.
Simpsons fan? If so, favorite no main character, episode and line.
Yep, but it's been a long time since I watched any.
Gotta love Professor Frink and anything he says. So that's not a quote, but a general observation.
Not sure if I have a favorite episode, but I always looked forward to the annual Treehouse of Horror episodes.
Moderation in all things - a happy balance or a tepid existence?
Happy balance.
Jimmy John's or Subway?
Is it even a comparison?
I know some people who prefer Subway or JJ. I agree, there isn't a comparison, just wanted to see if GuitarMan was a normal human being (by sandwich standards).
Firehouse
Which Wich. Fantastic subs, albeit a little pricy.
A hot grinder sub at Zero's Subs if there's one around you (mainly a 757 chain but they have some franchisees out there).
There used to be a Roanoke location that opened when I was in school Off Valleyview near the theaters. However, it appears to have closed down for awhile now.
As a new resident to 757, I now have a mission.
JJ by a long shot.
Are you a friendship bracelet kind of guy
Or a buddy band kind of dude?
Buddy Bands are the cooler name, but Zach Morris was the cooler dude. Side with the guy behind the product.
What does TKP look like a year from now?
Well if we can't get more people in the Key Players Club, it may not be here unfortunately.
Hopefully, largely the same. That would mean there's enough support from the TKP Club to keep things going on their current trajectory with all the reporting, insight, and film study that we know and love. As long as we can keep that together, the community should remain engaged, insightful, and fun. I don't think there's a lot that needs to change, we just need to continue on the same trajectory.
And if not, then Joe will turn this place into a psychedelic Myspace page for anyone who isn't ponying up the cash.
Coolest place you've ever visited?
Paris was pretty awesome. I was there as an invited speaker at a conference (my first such invitation) and got to spend close to a week there. The conference kept us all pretty busy, but I did get a chance to visit some historical sites and the Eiffel Tower. Real French patisseries are amazing, as well.
Do you know how to use the 3 seashells?
Thanks to Google, yes.
Wow. Nice pull. Demolition Man largely underrated.
What were the topics of your grad thesis/dissertation? Explain it like I'm five.
In short, Alzheimer's disease. There is a protein in the brain that sticks together and seems to be associated with the progression of the disease, but no one knows how or why. Our understanding has evolved in recent years to the point where we may have been barking up the wrong tree for a while, but everything I learned is still relevant, even if it's not central, to disease progression.
I do molecular simulations, so I am the kind of biochemist who doesn't actually use pipettes and stuff. All my work is on a computer. We use basic principles of physics to simulate how molecules move and interact. The details get really complex in a hurry, but suffice it to say that this is a really efficient way to study behavior that you can't see with any experimental method.
Oh so you are the guy using all that stuff. I work with patents focused in bio/pharma applications. See stuff related to AD and bioinformatic simulations all the time
Back when I first remember Alzheimer's ('90s I think), it was linked to aluminum can usage. Is that still a theory, and is/was there any weight to the science?
Accumulation of several metals in the brain does occur in Alzheimer's (notably copper and iron, but aluminum does factor in). But the notion of enough aluminum leaching from cans and somehow finding its way across the blood-brain barrier in sufficient quantity to seed a full-blown disease state is absurd to me. No reputable study has found any causal link here.
Not to mention we knew about the disease and some of its molecular details a few decades before aluminum cans were even a thing.
Ever watch "Through the Wormhole", especially when they get into the combined theory about everything ? Trying to explain how both the macro and the micro worlds work together by one single theory or equation seems intriguing.
I haven't seen "Through the Wormhole," but I've watched similar stuff before. If you want a real mind trip, look up Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe." I watched it during undergrad and it both confused and intrigued me. (EDIT: "The Elegant Universe" was the title of his book, which was adapted by PBS for a NOVA three-part series. Just so no one thinks I've gone nuts and "watch" books). The unification of all physical forces under mathematical constructs that rely on things our brains can't even perceive is a real trip. It largely works, but for reasons that are unclear. I often wonder if the human mind can ever comprehend the actual nature of reality.
Another good resource for cool physics and quantum topics is PBS Spacetime. They post to YouTube once or twice a week. Everything from astrophysics to elementary particles.
Thanks, I'll check them out as soon as I get through reading "The Gene: An Intimate History".
Which University is on top of Alzheimer's research right now? In the US and around the world?
I don't know if there really is one specific choice. There are a few all-stars in the field, both in terms of basic and clinical research. There are people doing really boundary-pushing work in my arena of computational studies, but the more advanced biological and biochemical research is being done in a few places.
Sadly, the truth is that after over 100 years of work, we still have very little clue how the disease starts or how to address it. Clinical trials of drugs often fail, the drugs on the market don't actually treat anything (they just mitigate symptoms until the disease gets so bad that they stop working), and 99% of cases have no predictable origin since only 1% of Alzheimer's cases have a specific genetic link.
Wow. This is a great area of research. It so happens that I am a partner in a Senior Living company in Australia which I plan/hope to launch in the USA next year. I am doing feasibility studies on several markets and numerous plots of land now.
I realize that you are on the math and simulation bend of things but if I do get it launched and you do find it useful I can offer our future villages up for research purposes as we will have assisted living at many locations.
I have a friend, who took over several of my projects when I finished my Ph.D. and left the lab, who has a strong interest in patient interactions and has been involved in several gerontology studies. She actually helped develop kits for caretakers of senior citizens in assisted living facilities to keep their minds engaged and active. I could put you in touch if things work out. As I understand it, the kits are quite affordable and received excellent reviews in a senior facility in Blacksburg.
feel free to put her in touch with me now. we have existing villages in Australia with 2 more launching soon, and are opening in UK this fall. And there is quite a market in China for Assisted Living these days.
I'll send her your email address. You can remove it if you like.
I thought I read a mention somewhere that there is a higher incidence of developing Alzhiemers in people that care for the elderly and current Alzhiemers patients than the general population. Is this true? Is this prion related and/or possibly communicable?
I have not heard that about caretakers. Epidemiologically, Alzheimer's appears somewhat more prevalent among "unskilled" (blue-collar) workers, perhaps as a function of using different parts of the brain throughout the lifetime. Caretakers, doctors, nurses, etc. do not fall into that category.
Alzheimer's has not been shown to be communicable. Now, some scientific caveats:
1. It is possible to spread protein aggregation disorders. If I inoculate a flask of neuronal cells with exogenous amyloid-β peptide from an Alzheimer's patient or peptides that are synthetically created, aggregates will develop and those cells will die. This implicates Aβ as a pathological entity. But, the current thinking is that it alone is insufficient for the disease. As we say in science, necessary and sufficient are different. Which leads to...
2. Yes, Aβ does actually interact with the prion protein, PrPC. This may lead to aberrant intracellular signaling or may serve as a nucleation point for aggregation. The development of what we call "soluble oligomers" of Aβ (i.e., little aggregates that can still float around) is the most likely problem with respect to toxicity. But we don't fully understand the details of these processes. I have only quickly looked through a few Aβ-PrPC papers so I cannot speak authoritatively about what is known there.
3. In theory, if I inject a healthy individual with Aβ, directly into the brain, they may get Alzheimer's disease or a related condition called cerebral amyloid angiopathy. But there is no guarantee. This is one of the great mysteries in our field. Some people accumulate Aβ in their brains but never develop Alzheimer's. They have some compensating mechanism, either via clearance, inactivation, or something else entirely that does not allow the disease to take hold.
What are three features you would like to see implemented on TKP?
1. Comment Hall of Fame
2. In the "My Comments" overview, have an indicator (different color, an icon, etc) if a comment has gotten replies
3. Send French a pie of his choosing in gratitude for excellent film study
2. Because where it lists the number of replies now and links to said replies is too hard to use?
This shows what I mean. I am a pretty high-volume commenter. The link to the reply is nondescript when I'm scrolling through. I'd like something more obvious. This is my only nitpick about the design of the site. Often, it's hard to tell what is a link and what is text. When I'm scanning through, or know I've been particularly active across many threads, I'd like something that sticks out like a sore thumb. I understand if Joe prefers a minimalist design (I am a fan of this approach and have done web design in the same style) but for commenting and discussion, I want to be sort of beaten over the head with "pay attention to this!"
Agree completely.
Perhaps like the "new" or updated icons that appear in orange on the full tracker.
I've thought it might be cool to display the "top comment" shading on the recent comments as well, but that may discourage actually reading the threads.
When reading music, notes or intervals?
I'm trained in notes (and tablature for guitar), but I have a pretty good ear and could probably fake my way through working off intervals.
What percentage of xkcd comics do you get the first time you read them?
Something higher than the occupancy % of Lane Stadium North during the UVA spring game.
What superhero would you be and why?
Spider-Man was always my favorite comic book as a kid. He was a smart, wise-cracking guy who could nearly fly, was super strong, and having "spidey sense" to know when danger was coming seemed to make him almost unbeatable.
Follow up: which secret identity is most like you? Which secret identity do you wish you were?
Peter Parker.
(stares at student loan statement) Bruce Wayne.
Where did you get your Hokie news/humor fix before you discovered TKP?
I didn't.
I got bits and pieces of news about players and performance from friends who worked with the team during undergrad (2003-2007) and maybe early grad school, but really I didn't have anything. I never followed recruiting and didn't know anything about the depth chart until I picked up a program at the first game. I kick myself for not going to spring games during undergrad, but they never seemed to make a big deal out of them, and I never seemed to find out the dates until after they were over and I was reading about the outcome in the CT the following Monday. TKP has filled a vast void in my life.
When we were undergrads was the heyday of TGF.
The Hokie Huddler was big in my day, as was Rick Watson on the radio.
Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, or Chevy Camaro?
Challenger, hands down.
Good man!
We can't be friends anymore
Signed, Camaro driver
To What TV/movie character would you say you are most similar and why?
I relate to Leonard. I'm nerdy, got picked on in school, but I'm not totally socially awkward. People have asked me if I'm a genius before but I don't think I am (so I'm not Sheldon). I just work really hard. I also happened to marry a gorgeous blonde :)
Worst Maryland Driver story.
I probably have a new one every day.
Probably the worst was a guy that I suspect was intoxicated or on drugs of some sort. A pickup truck came barreling down the left lane of I-95, swerving all over the place. I got out of his way and he weaved through a bunch of cars in pretty heavy traffic (steadily moving at the speed limit, but tightly bunched up). A few miles down the road, there was an accident involving about 12 vehicles. And sure enough, there was asshole truck driver's vehicle, on its side in a ditch. I suspect he took out a bunch of other vehicles. In hindsight, I wish I had called the cops, but without a plate, I wasn't sure there was much I could do, and I was hesitant to reach for my phone while avoiding this nutjob and also navigating dense traffic.
The other run-of-the-mill stuff is people routinely driving on shoulders to get around traffic, parking in lanes of traffic (Baltimore) and going about their business, not knowing how to make a left turn while staying in their lane, etc. Routine stuff that just boggles my mind. How these people are alive and functional is a mystery to me.
I need about tree-fiddy...you got it?
Looks like you need to update your profile picture. May I suggest:
Was VT your first choice for college? What was your back up school to VT?
VT was my first choice. My sister started at VT in 1999, and I came to love the school while she was there. My high school guidance counselor suggested JMU due to their (at the time) recent investment in science facilities. They do have a very nice setup (I was there for a Virginia Academy of Science conference in 2011) but VT was the better choice. I applied and was accepted, so they were my second choice.
Bonus answer: I did not even apply to UVA.
VT Checklist:
Explore Steam Tunnels
Streak the Drillfield
Snowball Fight with Corps
Break curfew in Slusher Tower
Paint Chest at Football Game
Ace a class that you blew off
Appropriate something sentimental that you shouldn't have upon Graduation
Be the first one to buy a donut at Carol Lee's in the morning
close down a bar on main street
Sharky's 911 wing challenge (Do they still have that?)
"find" your way into Lane and walk the tunnel
Explore Steam Tunnels - nope
Streak the Drillfield - nope
Snowball Fight with Corps - minimal involvement, didn't want to die
Break curfew in Slusher Tower - no comment
Paint Chest at Football Game - nope
Ace a class that you blew off - check
Appropriate something sentimental that you shouldn't have upon Graduation - check (the item in question will remain a mystery, but though small it has great value to me)
Be the first one to buy a donut at Carol Lee's in the morning - check (I think, I was there super early one morning)
close down a bar on main street - came close, but left Sharkey's a few minutes before closing once, so they didn't really kick us out
Sharky's 911 wing challenge (Do they still have that?) - nope
"find" your way into Lane and walk the tunnel - nope, but I did get to do it as a graduate in the Honors program
for the record, I support a fernley AMA
1. Do you play any silly games (like golf)? (full disclosure, I love golf...and I'm terrible at it)
2. If there is one fan-base outside of the Wahoos that you absolutely despise it is_________?
3. What is your favorite fan-base outside of the Hokies?
4. How high can you count on one hand?
5. If you were stranded on an island what one thing would you want to have with you?
6. Favorite food (please be more specific than pie)
7. Any superstitious game-day quirks?
8. How tall is Bucky Hodges right now?
9. What is your reddit username?
10. Am I your favorite TKP poster with the letters VPI and ME in them? (I won't be offended if not :p)
1. Do you play any silly games (like golf)? (full disclosure, I love golf...and I'm terrible at it) I'm not very athletic. I played baseball as a kid because I was pretty good at it, and some people consider baseball silly, so sure?
2. If there is one fan-base outside of the Wahoos that you absolutely despise it is_________? Miami
3. What is your favorite fan-base outside of the Hokies? Nebraska
4. How high can you count on one hand? As high as my phone will allow me to go. You only need your thumb :)
5. If you were stranded on an island what one thing would you want to have with you? Satellite phone with a fully charged battery
6. Favorite food (please be more specific than pie) A well made lasagna or a properly cooked burger
7. Any superstitious game-day quirks? Not really, but my annual tradition is to always wear my Hokies United shirt to the first game of the year, except in 2012 when we opened against GT and it was Orange Effect
8. How tall is Bucky Hodges right now? Not sure, my phone ran out of memory and my thumb got tired
9. What is your reddit username? N/A
10. Am I your favorite TKP poster with the letters VPI and ME in them? (I won't be offended if not :p)
A) your Favorite TKP comment/ series of comments
B) Favorite TKP Inside Joke
C) Go To GIF
A) Don't deny my pussy touchdowns
B) Toss-up between DDMPT (see point A) and "it's pronounced Kevin" I don't know why, but the latter always gives me a chuckle
C) Depends on the situation. Usually it involves Googling "Emma Watson [insert situation] GIF" because there's really one for all occasions.
What are your specific aims in your current research and in your faculty-position applications? Are you applying for NIH K99s?
Largely studies related to polarizable force field development and applications. I actually can't get more specific than that. But if my adviser and I are right about what we're seeing, we're about to change the way people do molecular simulations.
I applied for a K99 and it was not even discussed. 6 months of my life developing that proposal. It scored very well but somehow didn't even get looked at by the study section. Now I'm out of the eligibility period, so it's cut off at the knees. I have some opinions on the whole thing, but suffice it to say that's a bit of a sore spot right now, as a microcosm of the BS you have to go through to get funding in the first place. On the plus side, that's basically a finished proposal that will be submitted as an R21 as soon as I actually secure a faculty position. The science was uniformly praised, but it was derailed by petty crap that often comes up in grants.
Sounds like pretty exciting stuff. I hope your research goes well.
My hugest complaint of Academia was the circularity of the funding/publishing and the crap you have go through on both ends. I finished my dissertation 2 years ago, and we're still working on publishing the work. It seems the best way to get funding is to have a high-profile publication and then proffer the most obvious next steps as your specific aims in a grant application. The sources of funding appear more ready to reward for past findings than new innovative ideas. Best of luck navigating this ever difficult task of ensuring funding and publishing well. I don't envy you.
On a related, but different note, if you ever want to speak to a Patent Agent (soon to be Attorney) as a friend and colleague, please feel free to contact me anytime. I would be more than willing to just talk about the process, how to direct your research to have a patent focus in addition to funding/publish cycle, etc.
Thanks! One day, I suspect (if all goes well) that I will need some good patent advice. I have no experience in it, but my boss owns a few patents as he is heavily involved in pharmaceutical design.
I agree about the difficulty of the process. NIH always talks about innovative ideas, but when it comes down to it, the reviewers often go, "well, we don't know if it will work..." and provide some BS critique to dismiss the idea. Same with publications. My actual science in the K99 was actually praised (1's and 2's in the initial scores) but it was all the administrative/bureaucratic nonsense that bogged me down. The worst is when all the reviewers say different things (Rev. 1: "[x] aspect of the training plan was excellent" Rev. 2: "no mention of [x] at all in the training plan.") It's like they read different things. Of course, that's because they're over-burdened with hundreds of applications. A function of dysfunction, really.
You suddenly awaken in an alternate time line where both you and Emma Watson are single and are both approximately the same age if that's not already true. In addition through some miracle Emma had decided to go on a date with you. She wants to have dinner at your place to not draw unwanted attention in public, but she also wants to have an after dinner activity of your choice.
This is a lot of stress to put on one person so you get the luxury of choosing 5 players or coaches from past or present VT football or basketball teams to make your night success.
Given the above information your goal is to try and secure a 2nd date with the lovely Miss Watson. So:
1. Who did you choose for your go to team?
2. What are you having for dinner? I'm looking for at least 1 main dish, 1 side dish, a dessert, and a drink pairing.
3. What after dinner activity do you choose to seal the deal for getting date #2?
Wow, this is a lot of pressure, even in hypothetical form. So here we go.
I get my main man Bud Foster to work the door. He's there for security to make sure no paparazzi show up. I respect Miss Watson's need for privacy.
I'm firing up the grill to make dinner as she arrives. We're having some of my specialties - smoked turkey legs (brined the night before, of course) over apple wood chips. For the side, a variety of fresh veggie kabobs, marinated in lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. I've already got dessert prepped and in the fridge; I make a mean creme brulee and it's ready to go. Drinks are on ice, home-brewed beer. My best so far has been a blonde ale, fermented with strawberries for a light sweetness. Strawberry blonde, can't go wrong.
The grill is going and I introduce my date to my close confidant, Buzz Williams, who convinces my lovely companion that I am a motivated man, going places, and extolls my virtues and tells his own entertaining anecdotes. Buzz is a first-class wingman. Tyrod Taylor shows up, and we have a beer while reminiscing about all of VT's glory days and the 10-win streak. This speaks to my school spirit and passion for VT, as Tyrod's most successful years also aligned with some of my most professionally fruitful years.
I am a fan of games. I think you can learn a lot about someone over a good board game. For this, we turn to Cranium. I know Emma is an Ivy League grad and I have a few brain cells to spare myself, so I think this is a great forum to get to know each other and have some fun. Since we need teammates, I pick two of the smartest VT players, Chris Drager and Brandon Facyson. We impress each other with our sense of fun and trivia.
Date #2 is secure.
This is the sort of well thought out, high quality content that makes TKP so good. This is better than the best answer I thought of.
Side note, I've been separate from access to a smoker and beer for about 3 months now. I would currently do things for a turkey leg and beer that I'm not proud of if the opportunity came up.
11: Did the heisman committee get it right last year or would you have chosen somebody different? Who? Why?
12: Do you believe the SEC bias is a thing?
11: Did the heisman committee get it right last year or would you have chosen somebody different? Who? Why? Christian McCaffrey - the guy was electric every time I watched him play
12: Do you believe the SEC bias is a thing? Yes, but I think it is over-played
13: blue or white?
Blue
I definitely saw white...wtv..I'll let you off easy
14: If you had the opportunity to travel to any country in the world where would you go and why?
Italy. It has amazing art, history, and food. I have a friend currently vacationing there and I am very envious of her Facebook pictures.
Italy is awesome. Honeymooned there and absolutely loved it! Good choice!
15: Your favorite bloke form Top Gear (the real one)
Never watched it. /ducks
Favorite Blacksburg Restaurant and why?
Most underrated Blacksburg food spot and why?
Favorite Restaurant anywhere and why?
I'm hungry..
Souvlaki. Cheap and delicious. Their sign says there's no service, but that's a lie. Those people are great.
I don't know if it qualifies as underrated, but since everyone thinks of TOTS as just a bar, their ribs are pretty on point.
Not really a restaurant, but the few times I've eaten at The Inn at VT, damn. Amazing.
Souvlaki Philly cheese steak sandwich is a must for home games. Good choice.
16: How many football games are you attending in person this year?
17: What is your prediction for the season?
18: How many games will the hoos lose?
19: Fastest mile time?
20: Do you have any siblings? How many? Older? Younger?
16: How many football games are you attending in person this year? Likely none, unfortunately. Open weekend time is at a premium this year, for a lot of reasons.
17: What is your prediction for the season? 8-4
18: How many games will the hoos lose? 1 / (number of fans at spring game) =
Serious guess, 8
19: Fastest mile time? Uh, 7:00 or so? My cardio is, as Joe would put it, "butts"
20: Do you have any siblings? How many? Older? Younger? One, older sister.
Favorite dining hall and meal?
West End. Ribeye with veggies of the day. I only ever ate it at the end of the semester when I had extra cash, though.
Kids these days have hibachi tables...grumble grumble get off my lawn grumble grumble...
It's been six years and I still miss the London broil from West End with veggies and mash.
We did not have "dining halls" when I went to VT, we had "mess halls". Think the only ingredient of value included in meals was salt Peter. :--(
Cheese sandwich at grill next to laundry at the end of the mall was considered gourmet. Good food on campus was a foreign concept, but it was cheap and included with tuition. Man have things improved !
Hillary or Trump?
haha..J/K...don't answer that
H/t Alum
Does VTGuitarMan have time to stop, and smell the roses?
If you could ask HightyTighty one question, what would you ask?
Why am I asking you a question during my AMA?
You see what I did there.
I think my favorite part of this response is the punctuation on the last line.
Three very similar, but slightly different questions:
1. Who is your favorite guitar player?
2. Who do you think is the best guitar player living or dead?
3. Which guitar player has the best tone, or at least the tone you wish you could achieve?
My answers: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Prince, and Tommy Victor of Prong (I used to be a bit of a metalhead).
1. Hendrix
2. Hendrix
3. SRV
OK everyone, I'm going to wrap this up. I have to head to work in a few minutes and besides, this page is becoming awful to load. Thank you for the great response! I had lots of fun answering your questions and getting some insight into your brilliant, creative, and demented minds.
It's game week, TKPers. Go Hokies!
What's your take on resurrecting dead topics?
Big, if true.
Having trouble inserting images into posts. What am I missing?
I think the image may have to be hosted on an external server.
Must be hosted somewhere. When you click on the image button above the comment box here, paste the direct link to the image.
For example:
And when he says "direct link to image", it needs to be an address that ends in a file extension for an image (e.g. .png, .gif, .jpg, .bmp, .tiff, etc.).
To get this address, right-click the image and click "open image in new tab". If googling, click the image, and then click the button to the right that says, "View Image".
Oh that's what AMA stands for!...
Either I'm going crazy or everyone's Twitter button says "Follow @NavyEMC".