You never know what you got till it's gone. Although you think I might be referring to a significant other, best friend, or family member, I'm actually referring to the most important thing for many college students: a day off, of which we have exactly one of this semester when you exclude spring break. If you thought people were indecisive about choosing majors, you should see...
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Author: Bryan Gee
Bracketology, or How to Pick a College
It's that time of the year again. No, I'm not talking about spring break, mating season for half of the world's animals, or the looming start of major league baseball. It's March Madness time.
Picking brackets is something of an art and a lottery at the same time. Statistically, those who spent weeks researching the 68 teams in the tournament fare no better than those who le...
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Phase Changes
The first official day of spring is less than two weeks away, although if you just looked at the weather forecast of our "winter," you would have thought that spring came several weeks ago. With spring comes: (a) warmer weather, (b) longer days, (c) pollen, (d) pollen allergies, and (e) sponsor selection. Like most other experiences that I've had as a sponsor, watching some of ...
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Mudbugs
What's in a name? A lot apparently if you're a crayfish. These feisty crustaceans also go by the names of 'crawfish', 'crawdad', and 'crawdab' depending on what part of the country you live in, three fairly similar names, but they can additionally be known by the names of 'shawgashee,' 'yabby / yabbie,' and 'koura.' In fact, this paper from the Smithsonian Institute, published ...
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Food-ology
Food and science, two of my favorite things to indulge in, rarely meet on the same playing field (unless you indulge in the aptly named field of food science through a chemistry class called The Chemistry of Food and Wine). Yet food made its way into my classes on a few occasions this week, prompting me to think back on some other memorable moments at Pomona where tasty morsels...
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If Only, If Only…
"You will ultimately be defined by the sum total of your responses to circumstances, situations and events that you probably couldn’t anticipate and indeed probably couldn’t even imagine. So just keep your eyes on the course and be ready to move in different directions depending upon the crises and opportunities with which you are faced." -David Stern (NBA Commissioner, 198...
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The Final Ascent
Winter is coming.
Indeed, if you're an avid Game of Thrones fan like myself, the eagerly anticipated Season 4 will be upon us in just a few months. Unfortunately, I have more pressing matters on my hands at the moment. I have to survive the actual blizzard of finals week (more like a week-and-a-half) just to make it to winter break when I can sleep. And sleep. And sleep ...
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Instant Gratification
In the discussion about generational divides and differences, one of the phrases that inevitably comes up is 'instant gratification.' In a time of unprecedented technological innovation, the digitizing of many aspects of daily life, and Amazon Prime (did anyone see the 60 Minutes segment where Jeff Bezos discussed his plans for 30-minute delivery by airborne drone?), my generat...
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Five Steps to a Fountaining
A birthday at Pomona isn't just any ordinary birthday. If your friends have enough time, maybe they'll decorate your door (see picture below). They might bake you a cake (or buy you one depending on how much culinary talent is in the sponsor group). Perhaps they'll throw you a surprise party (less of a surprise if some people can't keep secrets). Or maybe you all have midterms ...
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Walking Amongst the Undead – Practical Benefits of Humans vs. Zombies
I nervously glance behind me for what seems like the tenth time in the last thirty seconds. The pleasant California day, with its clear, sunny skies and balmy weather, seems anything but comfortable; all I can see are the potential dangers hidden behind every leafy shrub, every unknown corner, and every shadowy pillar. I feel as if I am being watched from every direction by eye...
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