Day 31 -- Final blog post!

Well, I wish I'd prepared something a little better for my final blog post.  So if you've been reading this, you'll have to put up with mediocre finale.

This wraps up my first of 12 new Try Something News.  Every single day this month I blogged.  I'd always sort of wanted to have a blog, so this was an easy kick off to this year of trying new things.  I won't be posting anymore, at least in this blog.  As of now, this blog had a total of 2,541 pageviews from 10 different countries.  Which is super awesome.

Next month, so starting tomorrow, I'll be watching a new documentary every day throughout February.  I imagine I'll follow a list of top docs, but if anyone has suggestions/recommendations, I'd obviously bump it to the top.  I'll probably share really good documentaries on Facebook, noting its viewing is a part of my try something new for 30 days challenge.

Other than documentaries, I really want to run 100 miles during a month -- something that'll come to fruition only through sheer force of will because I hate to running (but I love gerunds).  I also signed up for NaNoWriMo.org (National Novel Writing Month), which will be November's devotion.  But I haven't for sure decided on anything else -- so find me and give me suggestions!

TED
For the last TED Talk of this blog, I'm actually not going to share anything science/future/tech related (actually surprising, probably).  Paul Kemp-Robertson: Bitcoin. Sweat. Tide. Meet the future of branded currency.  This Talk really got the old gray matter working upstairs -- I began wondering how far into the future will privatized currencies be present (dominant?) before governments decide they don't like it?  Or will they even decide that...  I wonder also about the inefficiencies in the markets in which these currencies may trade and if there will be any arbitrage opportunities for the first movers?

Wikipedia
Also not science/future/tech related, Arbitrage.  I referenced arbitrage as an opportunity to profit in the paragraph above.  Basically, it's "taking advantage of a price difference between two or more markets", but if you want to learn more about the risks, types, and infamous Long-Term Capital Management, click the link and read the page.

Spanish Word
gracias, te quiero todo -- thank you, I love you all

Bonus Snapchat Section
Because this is a funny Snapchat.  So many posters like this are hung throughout the Ghetto and Dark Side ironically.

Seriously, thanks, everyone, for reading my blog and following me through this first month of my 12 month Try Something New for 30 Days New Year's resolution!  I've loved the first twelfth more than I could have imagined solely because of the social support and modest following.


All that's good,
George

Day 30 -- Beer of the Bi!

The Nest hosted Beer of the Bi this fortnight with quite the showing.  We had about 20 club members at the meeting plus another 15 or so that BTOB.  Because it is our very own Aswin Vijayan's birthday, the Beer of the Bi theme was IPAs.  A very happy birthday to you, Aswin!

TED
Nicolas Perony: Puppies! Now that I’ve got your attention, complexity theory is a great talk.  Complexity theory might not be the first topic you'd opt into reading about, but Perony does a great job speaking to the masses about it.  He doesn't use too much technical jargon, and the examples he provides are pretty good for the layperson.

Wikipedia
Another little tribute to Aswin -- India.  Everyone, go learn a little about India.

Spanish Word
el gato muerto cerca de la cama -- the dead cat by the bed

Day 29 -- Greenbush, Three Floyds, and Founders

The names in today's title are three of my top favorite craft brewers.  From Greenbush - I particularly like Anger, a Black IPA/Cascadian Dark Ale; from Three Floyds - Permanent Funeral, an Imperial/Double IPA; and Founders - Breakfast Stoud, an American Imperial/Double Stout.  Nom nom nom nom.

TED
Chrystia Freeland: The rise of the new global super-rich is a decent TED Talk.  Freeland is Canadian, and you can tell.  Which I liked.  The subject matter isn't anything new (she provides some statistics and opinions on the state of wealth distribution), but she gave it a new spin by remarking about the trends into the future and the implications that will come.  A little ominous if you let yourself extrapolate from her numbers what it might mean for 99.9% of the world's population (think: basic income and joblessness).

Wikipedia
I learned a new word today: polymath.  I've long said (at least to myself) that I want to be a Renaissance Man.  That's the reason for all the "projects" I do everyday (see my Lift habits from Day 7 -- International Programmers' Day (01110111011011110110111100100001)).

Spanish Word
el colegio/instituto/secudaria -- high school

Day 28 -- Fourth to last post

It certainly has been a fun month maintaining this blog.  Today ends the fourth week I've posted every day.  I'll only have 3 posts after this one.  I don't think I'll do anything special, but perhaps announce Feb's Try Something New challenge.

As of the time of this writing, total page views for this blog are 2,458 -- very, very cool to me.  I never would have expected anything over just a few hundred.  Readership has remained fairly constant, too.

Today marks the end of exactly a week that I've kept up with a new exercise routine.  Throughout college, I don't think I've stayed consistent with exercise for more than 2-3 weeks.  I'm really determined break that this time, which I think I will largely thanks to my Lift app.

TED
Nick Bostrom: A philosophical quest for our biggest problems is a Talk that is truly philosophical and requires truly big thought.  I wouldn't recommend watching this one unless you're in a mindset that is receptive and open to big ideas.  If this is the first video you'll have watched on the subject matter (on humanity's future/transhumanism), it'll probably sound like craziness/pseudoscience.

Wikipedia
I hung a big map of Saint John, US Virgin Island on the wall right in front of my desk.  It's absolutely one of my favorite places on Earth (right up next to UD's Ghetto, South Bend, IN, and Ireland).

Spanish Word
champú seco -- dry shampoo

Day 27 -- almost didn't make it!

Im blogging now from my Blogger app as I wait for JJ's to deliver to me a delicious #12 and #6. After wine tasting, Mariah and I went to The Shack to start celebrating the then unannounced snow day. Rumor has it that the official announcement was withheld until Arrow Wine and Spirits closed at 9:30.  Ain't no nevermind. 

TED

Howard Rheingold: The new power of collaboration

Mariah and I watched this one right before we went over to Kiefaber tonight.  Provides a little extra optimism for the human race. 

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid

Link to Lactice acid -- something we talked about in the components tasting for wine class tonight. 

Thanks if you read and watched. I must apologize for brevity -- it's not super easy to blog from iP5s :/

Day 26 -- A Quickie

I've got just a quick post for today.  I was busy and away from home for a lot of the day and am just trying to get the post in before we "wine down" the weekend at The Shack on Kiefaber St.

TED
Today's Talk might be a nice break for anyone stressing lately.  Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend.  Basically, McGonigal provides some new research findings and offers some suggestions how to make stress your friend.

Wikipedia
As I read the chapters for my wine tasting class tomorrow, I thought I should share the Wine tasting descriptors with you all so that when we taste test wine together we can sound real 'mart.

Spanish Word
el presidente de los estados unidos de américa -- the president of the united states of america
The Presidents of the United States of America (the band) -- The Presidents of the United States of America

Day 25 -- Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

Just a couple hours ago I submitted my first law school application (!).  I've been working on my personal statement for the past several weeks, and I now have a 4-page, 3-page, and 2-page version.  What relief!  I couldn't have done it without my editor, Mariah Douglas, who is awesome.

TED
I think I mentioned this video in passing during one of my future posts, but I want to highlight it today.  It's a much more optimistic take on humanity's future, one to which I subscribe.  Peter Diamandis: Abundance is our future.  It really isn't too technical and is about 16:00 minutes.  Super good.

Wikipedia
Something Diamandis said in his talk above sparked my interest in materials not on this planet.  Soon thereafter, I found myself reading about Asteroid mining on Wikipedia.  Fascinating!

Spanish Word
billetera -- wallet


Thanks for reading, peeps