"Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account."

- Oscar Wilde



The end of the year - time to look back one last time before charging on ahead.

For me, personally, 2004 was a remarkable year that saw two major events in my life. First was getting engaged to an amazing woman. While I'm the one who's 6'7'' and she's 5'3'', I'm the one looking up to Lori in so many ways. 2004, if for no other reason, was a great year simply because of how much we've grown together, and for how much we have to be thankful for.

2004 was a great year for another reason. My dream project, release of a solo piano instrumental CD, was completed in February of this year. Even if "Maintain Radio Silence" had not been received in such an favorable way, I could still say I've managed to do one of those "life checklist" things that I've always wanted to do. I reflect back at the complete insanity that was the four-day recording period in August 2003 that made up the entire album - cutting the tracks, laying down the synths, and mixing it - and really can't wait to get back into a studio and grind out a sequel. (And if you bought it over the past year, thanks again!)

2004 saw the exit of my grandmother from this world. While so many things we take for granted, I consider myself fortunate when I say she was definitely not one of those things. The time we got to spend together toward the end of her cancer was invaluable to me.

Once we close the book on 2004, its time to look ahead and envision the new year. The first image that pops into my head upon reading Wilde's quote is the unbelievable masses of dead in Asia due to the recent earthquakes and resulting tsunamis. Earthquakes are so rare in the Indian Ocean region where this quake struck that the standard warning devices in the other major oceans weren't employed, and so the area was completely unprepared for the tragic disaster that literally left the rest of the world shaking. These people, just like the rest of us, were planning for a promising new year - a hopeful new beginning.

No one ever promised us anything. No one ever entitled us to anything. So let 2005 be the year we go out and do what we've always thought about doing - what we've always dreamed of doing.

2005 will be a very big year.

Auburn just closed out its SEC Championship victory over #15 Tennessee, securing its first 12-0 record in school history.

If they end up not playing for the national championship, something's really wrong. Of course we need a playoff in Division I-A football - everybody knows that. But for Auburn to get criticized for scheduling The Citadel and some other weak non-Division-I schools, when they have the 9th highest strength-of-schedule rank in NCAA Football (going into the SEC Championship) then they should certainly be playing for the national title. (OU and USC were both in the 20's and 30's in schedule rank.)

Meanwhile, having returned from a successful, adventurous one-day trip to New York City to launch AHSIMC fundraising efforts, I have had more time to spend with my new friend: Halo 2.

The game is just RIDICULOUS. Dave Cowart and I have been playing a lot, and we'll fire it up (frequently along with some other Auburn folks), create a party (a chat room where we all can talk to one another via headset until the game starts) and launch any number of different types of games and scenarios, all while staying on the same team and playing opponents of equal difficulty. The whole thing is really well done...guess there's a reason they've sold 5 million copies as of the beginning of December!

With the Nintendo DS arriving a week or so ago, as well as a plethora of highly-anticipated games (Metroid Prime 2, Half-Life 2, the new Call of Duty game, Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, etc., etc.) its amazing that Halo 2 is continuing to stand out as a premiere title.

One of these days, I'm going to get involved in the gaming industry. Just got to make some money before I can get in there and invest it!

Been a while since I've posted here. I'll try to keep this updated more regularly.

I've been listening to the leaked "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb", the upcoming new album by U2.

MINDBLOWING.

This album will go down as U2's best work since "The Joshua Tree", and perhaps - PERHAPS - is their best album of their entire masterful career. Yes, its that good. "City of Blinding Lights", track 5 on the album, is one of the best songs they've ever written. The entire album is of such astonishingly high quality that you forget its being released in a year that's seen a remarkable amount of highly mediocre mainstream music being peddled, including disposable pop lip-syncers and "teen angst" flavor of the month.

In other news, Halo 2 hits stores tomorrow night (Tuesday morning) at 12:01 AM. Haven't decided if I'll pick it up then, or after class on Tuesday, but I will be tearing it up over XBox Live Tuesday night and well into the rest of the week. Life is good.


Oh yeah, and thank God that the presidential campaign is over. While I voted for John Kerry, believing he brings a far greater foreign policy presence to the White House, I must say Bush's tax reforms and Social Security changes sound pretty good. Americans have simply had to endure too much over the past couple of years - sure, the Janet Jackson fiasco wasn't as huge of a deal as everyone seemed to think it was, but it was the icing on the cake after such utter travesties as trying to take "Under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance.

While the Democrats paid the price for their guilt by association for political misfirings like the aforementioned Pledge debacle, they could very easily be back in control as early as 2008, if they bring out their best folks - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with the latter being a particularly intriguing candidate. I believe both are smart enough to bring the Democratic party out of the left-wing nuthouse and back toward the center enough to be serious contenders in the next election cycle. John McCain, who the Republicans may counter with, would also be a great candidate.

Enough about 2008. I'm looking forward to seeing how much progress Bush can make over the next four years, and am just happy there's some resolution to all this political infighting...for now.

Just a quick blog entry to update about the math tournament - it has been an enormous success. I am the midst of grading tons of exams, but the main figures are in: about 200 schools and over 5,000 students from across the country participated in the First Annual American High School Internet Mathematics Competition (www.ahsimc.com).

The first checks have arrived from folks buying the 2004 AHSIMC Solutions Guide, which is a great thing too. Hopefully we'll sell them all before our big National Awards Announcement on November 1, where we'll announce the winner and runner-up, along with several other awards, via national press release.

Then it'll be on to the next step.

Be careful what you wish for.

Democrats should remember these words over the next couple of months. While George W. Bush is certainly a lightning rod of Democratic hatred and contempt, and has ended up on the wrong side of so many issues as to virtually guarantee a loss come November 2, those who have come to hate the President simply because of the "way he looks" or his corporate history, rather than his current policies, are making a big mistake.

I'm the first to admit that Bush is not exactly a smart man. He lacks communication skills - there's evidence he screws up personal, one-on-one communication as much as he falters in speeches to large groups - but is this a reason to vote him out?

He's also shown a remarkable inability to be compassionate. I couldn't care less what anyone has to say on the matter - a Constitutional ban on gay marriage is one of the most ANTI-CHRISTIAN acts our government could possibly commit, and should never have even been contemplated by any of our country's elected officials. I find Cheney's executive role in the party that proposed this bill to be revolting, considering his gay daughter.

Toss in an Iraq here, bad economy there, lack of contrition everywhere, and its most likely lights out for Bush come November 2.

But let me tell you why this isn't great news for Democrats. Being President of the United States means you not only have to deal with domestic policy issues and master international relations - both of which Kerry can do - but the President also has to have charisma and a sense of dramatic flair. This is the age of TV and the internet, after all, and a boring Kerry could lull Democratic hopes into a long-term coma.

With actually compelling Democratic Presidential candidates coming down the pipeline in 2008 and 2012, such as O'Bama from Illinois and Hillary Clinton, a Bush defeat could allow Kerry to thoroughly convince the nation's vast moderate constituency that electing a Democrat isn't such a great idea after all. It would be an ironic end to this political era for the political careers of these two people, with marks of true leadership and charisma, to be derailed by none other than George W. Bush.

So while Democrats rally against Bush with historic fervor and ferocity, don't let the long-term implications a lackluster Kerry tenure could cause get lost in the shuffle. After all, you gotta be careful what you wish for ... you just might get it.

Lots of change over the next few months, and certainly over the next year...getting married next summer, launch of the AHSIMC behemoth in just a month now, escalation of promotion behind "Maintain Radio Silence"over the next year, as well as school! And looking for a job next summer! Lots to do!!

I recently discovered this song and it really captures the feeling of questioning what's going on in life at any given moment. Not so much doubting that we are on the correct path, but just kinda taking a step back and looking at the big picture of life, and wondering WHY.

My faith in God only makes me want to ask "why?" even more. I am amazed that my years of prayer regarding my personal life, as well as prayer for the ability to contribute something to the world around me, has been answered in the incredible way it has at this point in August 2004. But it just makes the question of "why?" that much more compelling. Maybe over the next year, it will start to become clearer.

And with my grandmother, the last of my grandparents, on her deathbed even as I write this, the question of "why" takes on a different meaning. Why will she not be able to see me get married? Why does she have to suffer, dying a slow death to cancer?

And of course, I could just as easily ask why has she been allowed to be such a valuable part of my life for so long ... much longer than some people get to have family around them.

Its exactly what John Mayer's asking here. For now, we wait and wonder - and be so grateful for what we do have.

2005 will be a great year.


"Why Georgia" - John Mayer

I am driving up 85
in the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon...
just stuck inside the gloom.

4 more exits to my apartment,
but I am tempted to keep the car in drive...
and leave it all behind.

Cause I wonder sometimes about the outcome
of a still-verdictless life.

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right??
Am I living it right?
Why ... why Georgia, why?

I rent a room and I fill the spaces
with wood in places to make it feel like home...
but all I feel's alone.
It might be a quarter-life crisis,
or just the stirring in my soul.

Either way...
I wonder sometimes, about the outcome
of a still-verdictless life.

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right??
Am I living it right?
Why Georgia? Why?

So what? So I've got a smile on?
Its hiding the quiet superstitions in my head.
Don't believe me when I say I've got it down.

Everybody is just a stranger
but that's the danger
in going my own way.

I guess its the price I have to pay.

Still, "everything happens for a reason"
is no reason not to ask myself:

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right??
Am I living it right?
Why? Tell me why...
Why Georgia? Why?

Long time since I've posted here...lets get up to date!

Just saw "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle."  Really funny stuff.  A bunch of random humor about two stoners...I didn't expect to be that funny, but it was hilarious.  Check it out next weekend.

I did a routine check on Google to discover that the Toledo City Paper reviewed "Maintain Radio Silence" and had some nice things to say.  I have a quote from the review up on my webpage, www.bradleymetrock.com.  Its really cool to discover that your work has had a positive impact with someone you don't even know.

The 1st Annual American High School Internet Mathematics Competition is quickly approaching.  Ben has been hard at work polishing up the solutions guide, his girlfriend Ellen has been putting in some great graphic design work in designing us a logo, and I've been working on compiling a database of press contacts so we can get the word out about this thing!  Its a really exciting time, as every day brings the tournament closer, and an increasing realization that this will be really, REALLY BIG.

I'm close to wrapping up my music research project as well.  I've been running some regression analyses and compiling data on the effect of piracy, particularly across genres, and have some theories that I'll be putting out there in a paper by the end of the summer.

I happened upon the playlist of the person who downloaded the 100,000,000th song off of Apple iTunes, and have discovered two great new artists: Jamie Cullum and Ben Jelen.

Check these guys out ASAP!  I just downloaded Ben Jelen's entire album, and he's got some stunning pop songs on there.  "Come On" is simply gorgeous, and I highly recommend downloading it in your preferred method, legal or not...

I head out to Arlington, Texas, tomorrow to visit Lori and her family.  She's been out there the past week and a half hanging out with the fam before law school starts up at Tennessee in mid-August.  When both of us return on the same flight back to Nashville on Thursday, 7/29, things may be a little different...?  Did I just say that?

I had the good fortune of being able to take a day or two to drive up to Chicago and visit Gaurav and Carlos.  We all hung out, took in a Cubs game (Prior got hurt....not good...), and had some great food in Little Italy.  Its so wonderful to be able to hang out with friends and catch up...thanks guys for being so hospitable up there.

When I come back, it'll be off to Huntsville to meet Mathew Crawford, Tipton, and network with other math sponsors in promoting the AHSIMC.  Then on July 31, I'll be at Anita's wedding, and then on August 1, it'll be back to Nashville for a while until the school year starts.

If you're reading this, take care, and talk to you soon.

March has been a busy month! Let's get caught up.

First, Vandy made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1993! Great season for the Commodores, and a nice farewell for Matt Freije.

I'm going to temporarily hold off on discussing, in detail, what's going on with my album, but its very exciting stuff. In addition to promotions I've been doing, I've also been looking for a "residency" in town, where I come in the same night every week and perform songs from Maintain Radio Silence. Things are moving right along and some significant developments are close.

Another thing I've been working on is starting the National Online Mathematics Competition, which will be the United States' first online math contest. Yes, the AHSME (American High School Mathematics Exam), NME, and some others have been around forever...but no one has ventured online yet.

Our first test is completely written, and shortly a webpage will be developed for "NOMC". The idea will be to get schools to participate, at no charge, for the first year, and to develop fully fleshed out revenue streams once we have a base level of participation.

I won't go into much detail here on this issue either, but it could generate some nice income as early as 2005.

One final note...I was pleasantly surprised to receive an email from Owen officials that they are looking to license music from Maintain Radio Silence to use in some upcoming video material. Not only is this a great chance for me to help my school, but I could also be looking at some good money from the licensing as well. More on this soon too.

Hope everyone is doing well. The fourth (of 4) "mods", or quarters, is underway at Vandy business school, and it looks like a nice end to a great year. Taking courses in Business Ethics, Business in the World Economy (macroeconomics), and Corporate Financial Policy, as well as the Compendia music industry project that lasts all semester. So I'm keeping busy!

Remember, if you haven't purchased your own copy of Maintain Radio Silence, head on over to www.bradleymetrock.com NOW! Talk to you guys soon.

My website for Maintain Radio Silence is up and running - its accessible either at www.bradleymetrock.com or www.maintainradiosilence.com.

I am so excited that the project is complete and ready to sell! I really think people will enjoy it.

Business school is back in full force - I'm taking three classes this quarter, in addition to a project with Compendia Music Group along with Kris and Quentin. The project will entail creating a tool to measure the profit potential of artists, so the company can more easily decide what acts to sign and which to pass on. There will be other tasks involved too, but that's the primary one.

My three classes are Strategic Management - a "core" class which all students are required to take - and two Finance classes, Securities and Portfolios, as well as Corporate Value Management. In Strategic Management and "Corp Val", we have groups which divide up large team-based assignments to complete. Securities and Portfolios focuses more on individual problem sets.

Maybe one day I'll finally be done with school, forever, and will get to experience the real world. Maybe.

Kris, Quentin, and I have also started our own management group/record label, and are closing in on signing our first act. Can't say much more about it right now, but as soon as something's definite, I'll post the artist's website and some of his music here. While nothing is definite, for whatever act our management group signs, Mariner Records may get the rights to the first album recorded early in 2005.

Lori, her brother James, John Hart and I participated in a football playoff pool, where each of us put in $5 and the person with the most points (received for correct predictions of the games) wins the $20. Unbelievably, Lori ended up winning, which has now become a complete and total embarrassment. Ok, not really, but I don't know any guy who enjoys losing a sports-related contest to his girlfriend...

Books of the moment: "Moneyball" - Michael Lewis; "The Number" - Alex Berenson
Movies of the moment: "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark"; "Dune"
Video games of the moment: "Final Fantasy X-2"; "NCAA Football 2004"
Music of the moment: "Sing the Sorrow" - AFI; "All That You Can't Leave Behind" - U2