The Art of Small Talk

Ok, apparently I thought I was good at this, but I guess not. So my question is: what the hell do people talk about at bars if you're talking to people you don't know very well? This is separate from hitting on chicks when you're just being a smooth dude, complimenting them, making jokes, dancing, telling fish stories, etc.

But otherwise, bar talk is weird. Its generally loud, so its hard to hear. In that case, keep taking shots, jaeger bombs, and beer, and then the night will get crazy in a heartbeat. When its not loud, I guess there are a couple of general topics to discuss, but when dealing with people who are hard to talk to (i.e. just don't have much to say), this becomes difficult and frustrating.

I also find it hard to have general conversations with women I'm attracted to. Sometimes this is necessary. For example last night I was out with a couple prospective students and I definitely was into one of them, but, for the sake of keeping things solid (after all, they were here for a school visit), I elected to keep things passive.

So anyway, I write all of this to ask the question as to how you extend general conversation in social settings. What topics seem to interest people the most? What do you do when you meet someone who can't hold a conversation?

On a final note, Explore McCombs weekend was extremely successful. I met a lot of fantastic people, and I really hope that they all apply and are accepted to Texas. I'll be keeping in touch with many of them as this school year progresses in the hope that they become my classmates in the fall.

Ok, thats it.

Just Getting Away

Confessions of Chris S. Part Uneaux

When I was a kid I hated taking long driving trips. To a large degree, I still do. However, after making two long driving trips last year, I've concluded that I want to drive, alone, to some random place. I've told some of y'all how I want to go to some random bar in the middle of nowhere (such as a hotel bar) just to hang out with the locals.

Anyway, if you think talking a random roadtrip sounds really cool, let me know. Peace y'all.

Finance

Over the past 2 weeks, I participated in 2 finance-intensive business school competitions. The first was a stock pitch competition in which my group was asked to prepare a buy/sell recommendation on Coca-Cola (we said sell).

The second competition was a finance case challenge where my group (a different one from the first) was asked to put together a recommendation on the potential acquisition of VANS shoes by Vanity Fair (we said VF should buy VANS for $18.36 per share).

I won both of these competitions, which means either (a) I'm pretty good at finance or (b) I'm good at finding really strong teammates. I'm a pretty humble guy, so I'm gonna go with (b), although, to my pleasant surprise, most people are telling me its (a).

Anyway, the following picture was included in a draft of our KO (KO is the NYSE symbol for Coca-Cola) presentation and I thought it was funny.

Lyrics

I went to 6th tonight, met up with some cool b-school friends, and some cool non b-school friends (Sara, Abby). For some reason I had Pharrell lyrics going through my head all tonight, so I may as well post them. If you read this, go ahead and download the song. Pharrell's lyrics are good, and since I've been told I look like him, just imagine me singing it (girls only, guys please do not imagine me singing this). It's called Number One and its Pharrell featuring Kanye West. This is the first verse only.

I musta hurt your feelings (come on)
Your temper hit the ceiling
You know I wanna talk to you (get em P)
Oh girl come on (come on)
But to maintain this livin (come on come on)
God knows it's not given (come on)
You know I got a lots to do (let's take em up)
Oh girl come on (come on)
I know this part ain't pretty (come on come on)
But you know I been busy (yeah)
Thats why I can't talk long on the phone (uh huh)
Oh girl come on (come on)
So honey if you with me (come on come on)
Know I'll look for your pretty (yeah)
Face to smile when I get home
And when we make love you know it's gon' be amazin (yeah)

Cause you're my
[Chorus - Pharrell (Kanye)]
Number 1 (baby girl you and me)
Smash hit (thats a hit to me)
Off the charts (look how she get to me)
Classic (she may not be nothin to you but she the shit to me)
Soon as I'm done (tell me how you love that)
I'm dashin (number 1 can't put nothin above that)
Home to hold your heart (you deserve a verse from me)
And smash it (we gon' party like it's our anniversary)

Ok, thats it. Catch y'all later.

Quite 'A' Name

This is just a thought I had just now. Over the past 10 weeks (since school started), I have met quite a few people. But what's strange is that a ton of the girls I've met all have names that start with A. I don't have a hard time remembering all this, but I just thought it was strange. A rundown:

Amber (cross 'em)
Ally
Amy
Abby
Abby
Alison
Ashley
Alicia

Yes, I know its only 8, but when was the last time you met 8 people in a 10 week span who all had names that started with the same letter? And this is all girls, I've also met 2 guys whose names start with A, so you could call it 10. See, exactly - you've never done it.

Anyway, there's a party at Canvas (5th and Congress) tonight, so come join me!