American hero and Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong passed away yesterday. Armstrong, the first man to step foot on the moon, was 82. RIP.
Tag / Boiler Up!
30 Day Picture Challenge Day 25 – A Picture Of Your Day
Not one, but two pictures of my day, at least my weekdays. The first is my desk, with my computer monitor and the different Purdue and White Sox knick-knacks that adorn the wall of my cube. The second picture is my shelf and cube wall, with more knick-knacks and pictures of Angelina, Danny, and Michael.
My First 5K
With very little training and not quite knowing what to expect, I headed downtown yesterday morning with one simple goal: to finish the race ahead of a least one other person. Was the mission accomplished or was it a day filled with failure?
The day started at 4:30 in the morning with a quick shower and breakfast before hitting the road at 5:00. There is not a lot of public transportation options from the suburbs at that time of day, and I didn’t want to spend $20 for parking, so I drove down to 35th Street and switched over to the Red Line, which got me down to the greater museum campus around 6:15, an hour before the race started.
Everything was going down on the south side of Soldier Field, which is where I met up with my old friend Tina and her friends that were also participating in the festivities. It basically turned into 45 minutes of pictures before it was time to line up in the starting corral. Continue reading →
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 20
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
We wrap up with Volume 20, which stretches over late 1995 and the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college. At some point, I noticed that the tape players on my boom box were slowing down and apparently could not be repaired, which spelled the end for these collections.
Side A
Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The first single from the Pumpkins double album opus was taped off the radio via what I assume was Q101.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012
Melissa Etheridge – Your Little Secret
The first single from Melissa Etheridge’s underperforming followup to her smash hit album was taped off the radio from an undetermined station.
Lisa Loeb – Do You Sleep
Lisa Loeb’s latest was taped off the radio, also from an undetermined station.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/27/2011
Goo Goo Dolls – Name
The first hit for the Goo Goo Dolls appears to have been taped off a CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/21/2012
Collective Soul – The World I Know
The latest middling hit from Collective Soul was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 6/2/2012
Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You
The hit from the Empire Records soundtrack was taped off the radio thanks to Q101.
iTunes stats: Never played
Garbage – Queer
The breakthrough hit for Shirley Manson and the boys was taped off Chicago’s new rock alternative.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/21/2012
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 19
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 19 stretches from late summer 1995 and into the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college. Again, it mostly features what was considered alternative music, with Coolio interjecting some street flavor for good measure.
Side A
Tripping Daisy – I Got A Girl
The one hit for Tripping Daisy was taped off the radio courtesy of Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011
Foo Fighters – This Is A Call
The debut for Dave Grohl’s new venture was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 10/10/2011
Pearl Jam – Whipping
Pearl Jam’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Hootie and the Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You
Hootie’s ode to, among other things, the Miami Dolphins was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 8/28/2009
Elastica – Stutter
The follow up from Elastica was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Cranberries – Ridiculous Thoughts
The latest from the Cranberries was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Green Day – J.A.R.
Green Day’s contribution to the Angus soundtrack was taped off the radio, likely Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 10/11/2011
Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket
The second release from the juggernaut that was Jagged Little Pill was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/31/2011
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 18
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 18 covers the summer of 1995 and the lead up to the first of my two senior years of college.
Side A
Stone Temple Pilots – Dancing Days
The Led Zeppelin cover was taped off the radio courtesy of, I assume, Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012
PJ Harvey – Down By The Water
The surprise mainstream hit for the indie darling was taped off the radio from Q101.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/15/2012
REM – Strange Currencies
The latest from the Athens, GA boys was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Live – All Over You
Live’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/15/2011
Soul Asylum – Misery
The latest from Soul Asylum was taped off the radio from Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/2/2011
Collective Soul – December
Collective Soul’s latest was also recorded from Chicago’s new rock alternative.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 6/24/2010
Elastica – Connection
Elastica’s hit was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/25/2012
Juliana Hatfield – Universal Heart-Beat
The solo release from Juliana Hatfield was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/22/2010
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 17
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 17 picks up in early 1995 and the second semester of my junior year and takes us into early summer. At this point, it is nearly all alternative, with just one hip-hop breakthrough.
Side A
Hole – Asking For It
The latest from Courtney Love and company was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 2/7/2011
Cranberries – Twenty One
The latest from the Irish lads and lass was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Veruca Salt – Number One Blind
The latest from Chicago’s indie darlings was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/1/2012
Stone Temple Pilots – Unglued
The latest from STP was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 8/19/2011
Pearl Jam – Better Man
The latest from the grunge superstars was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/19/2012
Nirvana – Where Did You Sleep Last Night
The posthumous unplugged hit for the Seattle rockers was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 4/23/2012
Weezer – No One Else
Weezer’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 5/23/2012
Offspring – What Happened To You?
The Offspring’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/31/2012
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 16
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 16 takes us from the early fall of 1994 towards the end of the year and the first semester of my junior year of college. The song selection is nearly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop and pop hits to go along with it.
Side A
Hole – Doll Parts
The latest from Courtney Love and company was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 5/24/2012
Live – I Alone
The Live hit was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/24/2012
Deadeye Dick – New Age Girl
The one hit wonder was acquired via Lafayette’s hit music station, 96.5 WAZY.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/15/2012
Nirvana – About A Girl
The unplugged performance was also recorded from the good folks at WAZY.
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/17/2012
Aerosmith – Blind Man
The extra B-side thrown onto Aerosmith’s latest greatest hits package was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/9/2011
Real McCoy – Another Night
The international dance hit was taped off the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 1/11/2009
Warren G – Do You See
The Warren G release was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Urge Overkill – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
The Neil Diamond cover was taped off the cassingle.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 5/13/2011
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.
Side A
Frente! – Labour Of Love
The hit from Marvin! The Album was recorded via Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 4/20/2012
Mazzy Star – Fade Into You
The mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company was taped off WKQX Chicago.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012
Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse
The posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle was, again, obtained from Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/1/2012
Warren G – This D.J.
The follow up to Regulate was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: Never played
Cracker – Eurotrash Girl
The hidden track was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 9/1/2011
Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
STP’s latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 10/3/2010
Gin Blossoms – Allison Road
The Gin Blossoms latest was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012
Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)
The debut hit from Weezer was taped off Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012
Side B
Mix Tape Monday – Volume 14
Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.
Volume 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college. The song selection continues to be mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.
Side A
Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty
The entry from The Crow soundtrack was taped off the radio, from what I’m guessing was the new Rock 103.5.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 10/2/2010
Aerosmith – Crazy
The final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler, was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012
Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
The big hit for Soundgarden was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/17/2012
Green Day – Longview
The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream was taped off the radio, specifically Q101.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/30/2011
Hole – Miss World
The introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience was taped off the radio, again from Q101.
iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012
Pearl Jam – Dissident
The latest from Pearl Jam was taped off the CD.
iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012
Sarah McLachlan – Possession
The first hit for Sarah McLachlan was taped off what must have been a cassingle.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/31/2012