Daniel Jeffries Clarksville Tennessee - Financial Executives International Award

Each year, the Nashville Chapter of Financial Executives International hosts an awards ceremony, honoring one student from each university in middle Tennessee.  The Deans of each university’s college of business selects one Accounting or Finance Major to be recognized at the ceremony and receive a generous scholarship check.

               

This year, Daniel Jeffries from Clarksville, Tennessee was recognized as the most outstanding student from Austin Peay State University’s College of Business.  Daniel was recognized for his outstanding performance in upper-division accounting courses, his work as an Internal Audit intern with the university, and his volunteer work as a tax return preparer in the VITA program.  Currently, he is preparing to graduate with his BBA in Accounting, and he will be moving to Los Angeles soon afterwards to earn his Master of Science in Finance from USC. 

A Look at Cloud 9's Current Roster By Daniel Jeffries Clarksville Tennessee

                There aren’t a lot of things to do in a relatively small city like Clarksville, Tennessee, which leaves ample time to read up on eSports and follow pre-season matches.  One team that’s pretty much always in the spotlight is Cloud 9.  2017 was a good year for C9’s League of Legends team, and this year looks just as promising.  Even with the departure of Impact and Contractz, there’s no shortage of talent on this team.  Here’s a look at their current roster:

Licorice – Top Lane

Eric Ritchie, AKA “Licorice”, was a substitute player for C9’s Challenger team for a few years, until he joined eUnited in 2016.  From there, he proved himself as a formidable top-laner, and he helped their team secure first place in both Spring and Summer 2016.  Cloud 9 quickly took note of Licorice’s prowess, and they recruited him as their main top-laner for this year.

Svenskeren - Jungle

Sven is widely regarded as one of the best junglers in the world.  As a fairly aggressive jungle-main, he has a strong track record of establishing a strong advantage with early ganks, which forces his opponents to play it safe and avoid making bold plays.  Sven’s performance last year with TSM allowed them to finish as the #1 team, and it’s definitely possible he’ll continue this trend by securing a championship win for Cloud 9 this year.

Jensen – Mid Lane

Jensen is one of the most terrifying Mid players to lane against, especially given his skill at denying CS for his opponents while maintaining nearly perfect CS for himself.  A staple part of C9’s roster, Jensen has been with the team for 3 years now, and they’d be foolish to let him go at this point.  His skill with Zed is arguably on-par with Faker in his prime, and I’d expect most teams to auto-ban Zed whenever they’re matched against C9 this year.

Sneaky – AD Carry

Sneaky has been around for a while as well, and this will be his 5^th year with Cloud 9.  A well-known streamer, Sneaky puts forth little effort in hiding his playstyle, which allows his opponents to study his strategies well.   Fortunately, he recently switched roles from Mid to AD Carry, so there’s not much data for his opponents to look at currently.  This preseason, Sneaky’s proving himself as a formidable ADC, especially when he picks Vayne or Tristana.

Smoothie - Support

Smoothie has a strong reputation among Support players for his ability to secure kills with crowd control abilities.  Like many talented League players, he’s often able to predict opponents’ moves pretty consistently.  His success rate with landing Thresh hooks reflects this, as there have been times where his opponents will waste their Flash and end up getting hooked anyways.  Paired with Sneaky as ADC, Smoothie is in a strong position to help Cloud 9 secure a Championship win this year.

Daniel Jeffries Clarksville Tennessee -The Evolution of Radiohead, Part 2

Last week, I left things off on a high-note by discussing The OKC and Kid A eras of Radiohead.  While most would agree that they have not been quite able to recreate that level of commercial and critical success, Radiohead still managed to produce several more quality albums, while continuing to experiment with other genres.

2001:  Amnesiac

Even the b-sides of Kid A are pretty incredible for the most part.  In 2001, Radiohead released several of these b-sides as a standalone album called Amnesiac.

The tone is definitely similar to Kid A with regards to its use of ambience, string and brass instruments, and synthesizers.  While most fans would agree that Amnesiac is not quite as strong as its predecessor, there are definitely some standout tracks.  “Pyramid Song” utilizes a full orchestra and remains one of their most beautiful tracks to date.

2003:  Hail to the Thief

Released in 2003, Hail to the Thief represents a shift back towards more conventional guitar-driven alternative rock, though there are definitely some ambient and electronic tracks mixed in.  This makes the flow of the album seem somewhat unusual at first, though it’s still a very solid collection of tracks. 

                Lyrically, this album is definitely more political and anti-establishment than their earlier work, particularly in the opening track, “2+2=5,” a reference to Orwell’s 1984.

2007:  In Rainbows

This album caught a lot of media attention when it was released online with a “Pay what you want” model.  Even though you could essentially get this album for free if you wanted to, the band actually made more money with this album than any of their previous albums, since it was released independently.  In case you’re wondering, I actually paid $80 for the special edition vinyl version, and I regret nothing about this decision.

Musically, In Rainbows spans many different genres from alternative, to art pop, and of course, experimental electronica.  “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” is definitely a stand-out track, although honestly there is zero filler on this album, and every track is a winner.

2011:  The King of Limbs

You may remember the music video for “Lotus Flower” from this album that launched an internet meme, based on Thom Yorke’s interestingly spastic style of dancing. 

The King of Limbs puts a lot of emphasis on drum and bass, and is one of the bands most rhythmic albums to date.  Mixed with the heavy electronic/ambient presence throughout most of the album, this definitely makes for an interesting record.  I’ll admit that there’s arguably some filler here, but the standout tracks (such as “Bloom” and “Lotus Flower”) are some of the band’s most creative tracks to date.

2016:  A Moon Shaped Pool

After a 5-year hiatus where the band members focused on solo releases and other projects, they released A Moon Shaped Pool in 2016.  Probably my favorite album of the last decade, A Moon Shaped Poolcould perhaps best be described as art rock, with overtones of ambience and heavy use of piano and string instruments. 

This album also has more ballads than any other Radiohead album (see “Daydreaming” and “True Love Waits”, with love and forgiveness being prevalent lyrical themes.  For those in the mood for something more conventional, there are some very strong guitar/bass driven tracks as well (“Ful Stop” and “Identikit” come to mind). 

2017 to Present

Though there’s still no news yet about Radiohead’s next album, they released a remaster of OK Computer called OKNOTOK in 2017.  This remaster was extremely well-done, and the bonus tracks included are pretty top-notch as well, though I wish they included more than just 3 previously unreleased tracks.

Going forward, we can only speculate what Radiohead’s next album will encompass, but I wouldn’t rule anything out.  Given their tendency to reinvent themselves with almost every album release, anything is possible.

The Evolution of Radiohead, Part 1 By Daniel Jeffries - Clarksville Tennessee

                Radiohead fans are a pretty diverse group, with listeners from many different genres including alternative rock, jazz, electronica, post-rock, avant-garde, and so on.  The group is unique in the sense that they tend to reinvent themselves with almost every one of their album releases over the last two decades.  Here’s a brief history of how their sound has evolved over time:

Early Days:  Pablo Honey and The Bends

When Radiohead was first formed (under the name “On a Friday”) in the mid-1980s, they didn’t really differentiate themselves from other rock groups of the time period.  With the release of their first hit single, “Creep” in 1992, they found some commercial success.  Pablo Honey was released the following year, and most listeners compared them to early grunge bands, with some even calling them “Nirvana-lite.” 

                Three years later, they found both commercial and critical acclaim after releasing The Bends, which many fans consider to be their best conventional rock album.  Although most people would describe it as a fairly straightforward alternative rock album, they started experimenting with creating soundscapes and ethereal effects.  With the release of their next album, however, they took it to an entirely different level.

The Glory Days:  OK Computer and Kid A

In 1997, Radiohead released OK Computer, arguably their first album worthy of the title “masterpiece.”  Compared to most alternative rock albums in the mid 90s, OK Computer was one of the most progressive albums that continues to inspire artists to this day.  They found a way to creatively blend alternative rock with ambiance, with even some elements of electronica.  It was also pretty revolutionary as a concept album, with recurring themes about the perils of technological dependence in its lyrics.

                Even though most fans would have been content with Radiohead releasing more of the same, the group decided to change gears entirely at the risk of alienating most of their audience.  When they released Kid A in 2000, they essentially divided their fanbase in half, at least in the short-term. 

                Kid A is a fairly experimental electronic album with overtones of jazz and avant-garde, which didn’t sit well with those who expected another straightforward rock album.  It’s admittedly pretty inaccessible, and the record takes a few spins to set in, even for more open-minded fans of electronica and other genres.  Possibly their most divisive album to date, listeners tended to either dismiss it as a poor change of direction, or they hailed it as one of the greatest albums of all time.  Personally, I am of the latter opinion, especially since this album kindled my interest in electronica and post-rock and completely changed the way I listened to music in general. 

For those who aren’t yet familiar with Radiohead’s work, I wouldn’t suggest starting out with Kid A.  Rock fans would be better off starting off with The Bends, or perhaps OK Computer if you’re feeling bold and in the mood for something a little different.

In next week’s blog, I’ll wrap things up by describing how their sound evolved with their 5 most recent albums, so stay tuned!

By Daniel Jeffries Clarksville Tennessee – My Personal Top 5 Psychological Thrillers List

Psychological thrillers, otherwise known as mindf**k films, are unique in the sense that they prompt us to ask ourselves the big questions in life while keeping us at the edge of our seats.  If you’re ever in the mood for an exciting film that may or may not trigger an existential crisis, any of these five films will do the trick.  If for some reason you haven’t seen any of these films, don’t worry, I refrained from giving spoilers.

1.Requiem for a Dream

Based on the novel by Hubert Selby Jr., Requiem for a Dream is a cautionary tale that shows how the lives of four different people were shaped by drug addiction.  It’s fascinating what these characters tell themselves to rationalize behavior that’s clearly against their best interest, even though many of us tend to do the same (though not necessarily from drug-use).  Darren Aronofsky does an incredible job with cinematography, and the classical score sets the tone perfectly.  While one could probably write a thesis on the film’s ending alone, the most I can say without spoiling it is that it’s hopelessly depressing.  Be sure you’re in the right state of mind when you watch this masterpiece.

2. Fight Club

No thrillers list is complete without Fight Club.  In case you haven’t heard about this film from whatever rock you’re living under, this filmis about a white-collar worker (played by Edward Norton) who forms an underground “fight club” with a soap maker played by Brad Pitt.  There are definitely some anti-establishment themes here, though even a corporate stiff could thoroughly enjoy this film.  As far as twist endings go, this has one of the twistiest, to the point where it’s like watching an entirely different film the second time around.

3. Se7en

As a story about two detectives trying to catch a killer who models his crimes after each of the seven deadly sins, this isn’t your typical murder mystery.  It’s amazing what people are capable of when motivated by their own twisted sense of justice, especially when combined with a radical belief system.  Unlike some of these other films, however, the antagonist is very hard to empathize with.  Like most films in the genre, Se7en has a twist ending, though unlike Shutter Island’s finale, this one is pretty universally well-liked.

4. Memento

One of Christopher Nolan’s first sleeper-hits, Memento stars Guy Pearce as an amnesiac who cannot form new memories, and essentially lives his life in 5 minute intervals.  Even with this debilitating disorder, he’s determined to track down his wife’s killer at any cost.  It’s interesting how one can lose their memories while still being motivated by love and passion.  This film does a pretty good job of addressing the questions, “Who are we without our memories?” and, “Is life nothing more than the sum of our experiences?

5. Shutter Island

You can never go wrong with a neo-noir Scorsese flick.  Although the film starts out with a “whodunit” mystery vibe, things get more complicated pretty quickly.  As you would expect, Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance is nothing short of masterful, and he does a great job of showing conflict emotions of intrigue, curiosity, and remorse as he’s interviewing the asylum’s patients.  Although many viewers didn’t like the twist ending, I felt that it was entirely plausible given the abstract nature of this genre.

By:- Daniel Jeffries

How to Break Your Procrastination Habit By Daniel Jeffries

We all know the struggle of trying to finish a work project or study for an exam when there are thousands of ways to distract ourselves online.  A few years ago, I couldn’t work on an assignment for more than 10 minutes without checking my Facebook feed or playing a quick game of Starcraft.  Here are some techniques that I used to kick my procrastination habit:

• Keep your phone/remote control in your closet:  Think of things in terms of activation energy, or the amount of effort it takes to start a task.  When your cell phone or remote control is sitting right next to you, the activation energy required to send a text or turn on your TV is low, and these become are huge potential distractors.  Whenever you need to focus on work, try keeping your TV remote/cell phone in the back of your closet, while keeping your textbooks/work papers within arms-reach.  It’s a simple concept, yet I was amazed by how much easier it was to focus on work with this trick.

• Remove bookmarks for Netflix/Facebook/etc.:  Similar to the trick above, you’ll be way less tempted to compulsively check social media updates when it takes more than a single click to do so.  I keep links to these sites inside an obscure folder, which is in another obscure folder, and so on.  After a while, I was able to work for hours without even thinking about anything else.

                 

• Strive to reach a state of “flow”:  There are a ton of articles about how to reach “flow,” a state of peak concentration.  Different techniques work for different people, but I found meditation to be particularly helpful for this.  Being mindful of your breath for 5-10 minutes before studying/working can help tremendously, especially if your worries and anxieties are preventing you from reaching flow.

                                           

• Remember consistency; the hardest part is starting out:  It only takes a few weeks for an unpleasant task to become a habit.  The same logic applies for breaking an unwanted habit like procrastination.  Keep this in mind whenever you’re tempted to put off your studies.  Within a few weeks, prioritizing work over pleasure will become second nature.

Daniel Jeffries - Top 5 Underrated Restaurants in Clarksville Tennessee

These restaurants may not look like much on the outside, but you’ll be amazed by the quality of the food.  Why wait for 30 mins+ for a table at Cheddar’s when you can avoid the lines by eating at a lesser-known hole in the wall?  Here are what I believe to be the most underrated restaurants in Clarksville:

1.  Smoove's Grill

When I first saw that the price per pound for pulled pork and brisket here were about half the price of other BBQ joints in Clarksville, I was skeptical.  How could they afford to sell high-quality meat at $8 per pound?  I don’t know how they do it, but they make the best BBQ I’ve ever tasted.  The ribs are so tender, the meat literally melts right off the bone!  If I were passing through Clarksville and could only stop at one place for lunch, this would definitely be where I’d go.

2.  La Morenita

I know I shouldn’t have two Mexican restaurants on the same list, but I just can’t help myself.  I never would have guessed that Clarksville of all places would have quality Mexican grub, but I’m glad that these places proved me wrong.  Definitely try the chorizo and huevo rancheros here.

3.  Keondra’s Restaurant

Soul food, a staple cuisine of Southern culture.  This place has it all:  catfish, biscuits and gravy, and you can even order off menu sometimes!  Their green beans are the most fresh I’ve ever tasted; be sure to order an extra portion!

4.  El GrullenseTaqueria

As a former resident of LA, I’ve had plenty of amazing meals at taco trucks and stands, and La Morenita matches the best of those in quality.  They have mastered the use of Southwestern spices; not too salty, and just the right amount of kick!  Try the tripe or lengua if you’re feeling bold!

5.  Tropicana

The only Dominican restaurant in Clarksville that I know of, which makes it the best Dominican restaurant here by default.  You can’t go wrong with the baked chicken, steak, or shrimp pasta here.

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Daniel Jeffries