Intro to Freeboard Blogging!

Wow, I guess this makes me a blogger. That's pretty cool. I will explain my draw to this concept of blogging, but first I must state my aversion to the world "blog" or any adjective, verb, or adverb derivative thereof. However, since I have used this term three times in three sentences, I must relinquish my bitterness and acknowledge that even if the word is pretty nerdy, I like what it represents. This is a chance for me to share some of my brilliance with the world (and in case you were unaware the four of you reading this do constitute "the world"). I also happen to have a brain that thinks random things in life are fascinating and incredible. When I relay these random moments of excitement to others, they usually think I'm crazy. So, I will release them here.
That's where the idea for this blog name came from - it's a three-fold answer.

• "Free Board" because chalkboards in classrooms are constantly used to bring ideas before people for the purpose of discussion. I hope things I will about will ignite debate and open doors for new ideas to be shared and challenged.
• "Freeboard" is the nautical term for "the vertical distance from the waterline to the top deck." Freeboard is one of the most significant indications of the safety of a boat. A boat without enough freeboard is will likely capsize with the smallest input of instability. I believe there are beliefs, people, and ideas in my life that ensure I stay stable in an unstable world.
• Lastly, "Freeboard" was what my Ocean Engineering class (VT '07) used as the answer to all questions to which we didn't know the answer. "What is the purpose of the correlation allowance in relation to the eddy-making resistance?" "FREEBOARD!"; "What is the triple integral of the boundary layer at the point of transition?" "FREEBOARD!"; "What was the name of the army that defeated Napoleon at Waterloo?" "FREEBOARD!" (you get the idea).

So that's it, I'll explain more as we go on, but for now - at least this seems like a reasonable way to begin.

**1 warning: I cannot spell to save my life. So I apologize to all you excellent spellers out there for offending you.