I found out on Sunday that I slipped by with another 4.0 this semester. At one point I was concerned I might get as low as a 3.4. I'm thankful to my marketing professor especially, who, if I did my math right, definitely graded on a curve. I guess harassing him to do so after every test finally paid off. I got an 88.9 in the class but he marked it an A and I'm not arguing. I hoped to maintain a 4.0 when I went back to school, but unfortunately I got a professor my first semester back that was pretty arbitrary with his grading, and I started with a 3.75. I haven't decided definitely on what I want to do with my degree, but I feel that being able to show major diligence in my grades in the last chapter of my higher education should go a long way.

I've all but abandoned Tweak the EQ, as I haven't had time to do it justice, and having begun it, I realized how many sites there are like it that have full staffs and the inside track with the record companies. I may revamp it sometime in the future, or I may just let it fade away. Time will tell. I only mention that to segue into saying that lately I've been listening to some older albums. Two of them have come to my attention due to more recent works by the artists. The first is Regina's Spektor's album from a few years back called Songs. Its every bit as good as her new one, and not quite as quirky, which in her case is a good thing. The second is Thickfreakness by The Black Keys. I'd never listened to The Black Keys until Attack and Release, and I can't believe what I've been missing. It's blues rock and it's so, so good. It's the kind of blues that seems relevant to me and is enjoyable to listen to for more than just the grittiness and hard-edged appeal of the blues, but also the rhythm and melodic appeal of rock at its best. It sounds like a slightly less talented but more grown-up version of many White Stripes songs. The third thing on my playlist is First Rays of the Rising Sun by Jimi Hendrix. It's not the Hendrix you hear very often, but it's every bit as good as "All Along the Watchtower" or "Hey Joe," and at times even better.

Wayne Randall died this morning after a long battle with cancer. In memory I offer this:

Requiem

Well he stormed with his feet
And he clapped with his hands
He summoned all of his joy when he laughed
It suffered all of his joy when he cried

And sometimes when he got into talking
Man he could rattle all day long
He was a good man and now he's gone

Well in war he was a tiger
When it was over like a dove
He summoned all of his strength in the climb
It suffered all of his strength in the fall

And sometimes when he got into fighting
Man he could fight with you all day long
He was a good man and now he's gone

He put his trust in a higher power
He held his power like a holy grail
He summoned all of his faith in the lifting
It suffered all of his faith in the fail

His heart was stronger than a heavy metal bullet
And that's why I dedicate this song
He was a good man and now he's gone

His heart was stronger than a heavy metal bullet
And that's why I dedicate this song
He was a good man and now he's gone

~M. Ward