This is an update to let everyone know that my blog and domain will officially be changing over shortly after the start of the new year.  This domain change, the third and last, also signifies my blog landing on its destined format - I will strictly be offering my opinions on space news, particularly in the area of the NewSpace (commercial spaceflight) development boom.

Once the new domain and blog are set up, it will be found at:

www.newspaceodyssey.com

The general format that I’ll be aiming for will have all the old, non-space related Zeitgeist Zephyr posts chronicled away onto their own page on the site, with all the older space posts, and the new posts to come, posted on the main site.

I’ve truly enjoyed exploring my “inner blogger” over the past three and a half years, covering everything from spaceflight to politics, but for the sake of growing my readership and focusing my own interests, NewSpace Odyssey will allow my blog to have focus and wider meaning and depth, on the Internet and in my own mind, and, most importantly, for those who at present and in the future will be reading it.

Happy New Year to everyone and I’ll see you on the other side of the blogosphere as the spirit of the westward wind carries this blog into the space age.

First of all, I won’t jump into a blog post paying homage to Asher Roth and his song of the same title of my post, but I will point out that his song couldn’t ring truer to the party culture that many college students embrace today.

No, today in what will be the first real post I’ve had in ages and likely the last one until the Christmas holiday season, I’ll be regaling the college culture that embodies not just the all-too stereotypical party life, but also the larger academic realm, both inside and outside the classroom.

College students today are some of the busiest people in the world.  In no other atmosphere that I’ve discovered is the opportunity given to take on a full time job (plus some) per week in academic classes while simultaneously being encouraged to ‘get involved’ and ‘find your passion.’  All the while, there’s the challenge of meeting new people everyday, sometimes from other corners of the globe, and figuring out how to interact with them.  It’s a delicate balancing act that few can maintain without accruing some form of stress.  It’s an unavoidable side affect.

But sometimes, in the midst of the chaos, there are weeks or even entire semesters where something clicks and everything goes right.  What I’m talking about is when a college student enters the flow, and rather than fighting the current and worrying about what’s downstream, they take on life as it hits them, change course when needed, but generally just sit along for the ride.  They take on a simultaneous role as observer and doer, relishing in every moment that comes their way.

When shown the daily schedule of a college student, some people might be shocked that so much can happen in one day and be accomplished, but the college student takes on sometimes two lives and can gain so much experience in a day that the flood of knowledge simultaneously reaches a level of stress and enjoyment that a divine ecstasy is induced, and the essence of life is, albeit for a brief moment, understood in its entirety.

The life and role that I’ve assumed, for example, gets me out of bed around 6 in the morning when I workout to keep my body in peak health, a necessity for the day that is soon to follow.  But in a general case, once hygienic and dietary needs are met for the morning, some homework is inevitable before the first class of the day.  Spread out as they may be, the interlude between classes is filled with a mixture of studying and socializing, in balance some days, off balance on others.  Following the last class in the afternoon and some more homework and socializing, extracurricular activities take dominance.  Fraternity meetings are held, professional societies convene, and other clubs congregrate and celebrate.  Not an evening goes by that at least one activity is underway by one of the groups, competing for attention by the other groups and the all-necessary homework school calls for.

Consistently though, pushing through the stress of such a schedule, is the personal satisfaction of it all.  Each activity and class filling a void that otherwise leaves a sentient being feeling like something is missing.  At the end of the day, all satisfaction is reached and the fast paced world of the college student pauses, as praise to God is lifted upward for the glory of all that has been presented in their life.

The weekend comes, and the student blows off steam, has fun with friends, and relishes in the week’s accomplishments.  A deserved break indeed!  The college party becomes a release valve critical to maintaining sanity in such a hectic life.  And as that weekend closes, and the trash produced by the parties is cleaned up, the student has some time to reflect before hitting replay.  The conclusion that is ultimately reached?

“I love college.”

I would also like to correct something that I noticed a little over a week ago.  The reports that the government misused the Patriot Act to arrest Ashton Lundeby were fabricated by his mother to get media attention on the issue.  One of the schools that was called in with a bomb threat was Mill Valley High School in Shawnee, Kansas.  I know several students at that school and I apologize for bringing publicity to this issue.  He’s obviously guilty, well known online as “Tyrone” for making prank phone calls in the past.  That being said, he still deserves fair justice and, while being fake, still draws attention to why the Patriot Act needs to be reworked.