Monday, February 28, 2011
Sometimes You Just Gotta Look
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Finishing
When I think about finishing things I first go back and think about starting them. When does something really begin? At the first thought that pops into your head, or when it begins to substantiate in some material form? It is easy to say that starting something is "easy", and at other times it is easy to say that it is "hard". What is finishing then?
I just finished a book I started two years ago. I was stuck at page 284 until last Sunday. Today as I came to the end at page 700 I felt the joy of finishing. I have done this many times. The next book lined up is Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. I think I started it about six years ago. I have read the first twenty-five pages somewhere between eight and nine times, and I will probably do it again today.
Finishing is achievement. It is the reward for the effort. The end. In reality, it is just another start. To talk of finishing is the recognition that something else must now be started. We don't finish things to just finish things. Instead, we finish things to move on. This often occurs without realizing it, but it should be realized. Finality, is not really final at all, because it is essential to continue to build. If something is really final it is an oppressing reality in which we deny ourselves the lessons learned by the pursuit.
With that bit of enlightening rambling out of the way I will continue on to a more important matter. The finishing of a quart of Mississippi Mud.
I realized last night that I had not had a beer in a while. I went and purchased this little brown jug in hopes of being able to play on the street later if the job front doesn't pick up. The combination of dark and light beer pleased my palate. Upon finishing it I was sad to see there was no more, but I am confident that finishing this was not the end.
I just finished a book I started two years ago. I was stuck at page 284 until last Sunday. Today as I came to the end at page 700 I felt the joy of finishing. I have done this many times. The next book lined up is Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. I think I started it about six years ago. I have read the first twenty-five pages somewhere between eight and nine times, and I will probably do it again today.
Finishing is achievement. It is the reward for the effort. The end. In reality, it is just another start. To talk of finishing is the recognition that something else must now be started. We don't finish things to just finish things. Instead, we finish things to move on. This often occurs without realizing it, but it should be realized. Finality, is not really final at all, because it is essential to continue to build. If something is really final it is an oppressing reality in which we deny ourselves the lessons learned by the pursuit.
With that bit of enlightening rambling out of the way I will continue on to a more important matter. The finishing of a quart of Mississippi Mud.
I realized last night that I had not had a beer in a while. I went and purchased this little brown jug in hopes of being able to play on the street later if the job front doesn't pick up. The combination of dark and light beer pleased my palate. Upon finishing it I was sad to see there was no more, but I am confident that finishing this was not the end.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Reading
Lieutenant Commander La Forge loves to read
Reading is an instrumental part of conveying information. It is easy to take for granted the amount one can learn from a book. I have grown to enjoy reading more and more. It is a skill just like any other. It takes time, patience, and the understanding that you get a little bit better with every page you read.
Every book is another opportunity. If you walk into a bookstore it easy to see just how much is out there. Like life there are an almost infinite amount of directions to go in. Learn to cook, learn about economics, journey into a fantasy. It is interesting to see that when people have told me to read I have shyed away from it. As I have matured I have become better about finishing the readings assigned to myself. Further, there is so much to do in a normal life, where you actually have a job, family, or things to do, that reading can take a back seat. It may be unrealistic to dedicate a great deal of one's time to reading.
That being said the one thing I think is unique to reading as opposed to other forms of information conveyence is the uniqueness of the imagery created in our own heads. The pictures that develop in our own thoughts are unique to every individual. I know movies have made it possible to see characters therefore making them less unique. Fortunately, not all books have been warped into movies. I like thinking of characters of fiction in my own ways. In a way I am contributing to the story, albeit on a miniscule level, by adding in my own details. Too many other forms of information just try to tell you want to see, feel, or think. A book may try to do this, but in the end it is really left to our own interpretations.
Further, the process of finishing a book is analogous to many obstacles in our lives. Each new endeavor starts out in a different way. Some things may push us away, and we may be afraid to really get through those first stages. At some point it begins to fall into place and we become hooked. Each page, and chapter becomes the reward. Then before you know it the end arrives.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Book Review : Outliers
Many books have attempted to convey success as attributable to a certain trait or characteristic that an individual possess. In Outliers Malcolm Gladwell seeks to dig deeper into what makes someone successful. It is another work that seeks to challenge conventional wisdom in order to understand the world around us. We often think that professional athletes, technological moguls, and financial gurus are products of one innate trait that allows them to achieve great things. Society often views the successful as those with "talent" or "god granted ability". While this may be part of it Gladwell seeks to convince readers that Outliers lay outside the average for multiple reasons.
When you start is important to where you finish. One of the themes that runs throughout Outliers is the incorporation of the "10,000 hours to mastery" idea. Gladwell incorporates it early by looking at what makes successful Canadian youth hockey players. The best players, in a study conducted by Gladwell, were those who were born closest to the cut off date to play in a respective league. Essentially, the boys who were the oldest in their given league were the most developed physically when they began to play hockey. Those born on January 1, played with those born on December 31. The older boys start with the advantage of physical maturity which is combined with more practice, and selection on better teams that practice and play more. The effect snowballs and seems to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A boy selected for his potential, really his slightly greater physical development, over time becomes a better hockey player than the boy who was born later in the year.
What this shows is that aside from talent, circumstance plays a big role in the development of the successful. Bill Gates was born in the time frame that allowed him to be ahead of the technological curve. His location allowed him to sneak to the University of Washington and program on one of the few computers in the United States for hours on end. Without the unique opportunities his hard work would not have mattered. Acknowledging circumstance, in particular the time period people were born in, is a major part of Outliers.
The book draws on examples like Gates, The Beatles, and Robert Oppenheimer to show success. At the same time the book shows how one trait often associated with success, for instance IQ, is not always a guarantee. Gladwell attempts to convey that while having a high IQ is most definitely beneficial. All that really matters is being smart enough. All the brains in the world won't get you very far if you don't have the ability to relate and work with others. In this way Outliers makes the case that success is not based upon one variable alone, but instead the sum of all parts. Not a revolutionary idea, but the book is interesting nonetheless.
What makes it interesting is the tendency for the general public to oversimplify success to one particular thing. Money, IQ, or innate ability are easy variables to point at. Outliers makes the case that, like many things, there is often more than meets the eye.
My own thoughts are that success is complicated. It is a ball of many inputs. To isolate one is to overlook the fact that a great deal of the time the WHOLE is greater than the sum of its part. It is not an exact science, but instead an art. There is no guarantee of success, but failure can be guaranteed if you don't take the necessary steps to work towards success.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Item of the Week
Throughout my childhood my family would categorize my latest wanted item as the "item of the week". One week I would be really into something like yo-yos, skateboarding, or the harmonica and the next I would move onto something else. Many of the items I would actually find a way to acquire either through my parents giving in to my constant nagging, or by using my own money. I have wanted a lot of things over the years, and it's funny to think that the things that made the most difference were the ones that I did not get. Going without makes you value the important things in your life. You can't, and shouldn't, always get what you want.
Focusing on one objective is a difficult task. Too much focus and you can burn yourself out, but too little and you will only get so far. I have changed my mind so many times in my short life that I have never really been able to focus on something for the necessary time to really see results. An undergraduate degree in a major I just kinda of picked out of a hat is the only substantive accomplishment that spans a time frame longer than a few months.
It often seems like I have let indecision guide me more than actual decision. I honestly don't know why I chose to go to Iowa State. I really didn't even explore other schools. I have figured out, to some extent, that researching multiple options is not a bad thing. My reasons for doing things have all too often been from the advice of others. This could spawn from a desire to please people, the lack of knowing what I want, or the fact that I want it all. Often, it was probably just the easy way out.
While formal education is important I can honestly say that what I learned wasn't from the subjects of the courses I took. Instead, it was about the theme of education. Learn, work through problems, and figure out what you want from your education. Learning is part of our everyday lives. I went into school thinking I could be a lawyer, or a politican and that someday I would do big things. All that was on my mind was the fact that I could someday accomplish something that would impress other people. In my early years that was what getting good grades was about. In the last few I figured out that what I really got from school was what I needed. A swift kick to the groin. Life is not about impressing people, or doing what others tell you. Life is figuring out what you want and going after it. Be confident in your abilities and live up to your own standards.
Growing up I was easily persuaded by what others thought was cool, and to some extent I am still that way. I am trying to figure out who I am as an individual while being confident that people will still respect me for that person. The "item of the week" often guided me by laying out what I wanted. I still have my wants, but I recognize that if I decide for myself I can get what I need.
Note - This weeks item is a mustache.
Focusing on one objective is a difficult task. Too much focus and you can burn yourself out, but too little and you will only get so far. I have changed my mind so many times in my short life that I have never really been able to focus on something for the necessary time to really see results. An undergraduate degree in a major I just kinda of picked out of a hat is the only substantive accomplishment that spans a time frame longer than a few months.
It often seems like I have let indecision guide me more than actual decision. I honestly don't know why I chose to go to Iowa State. I really didn't even explore other schools. I have figured out, to some extent, that researching multiple options is not a bad thing. My reasons for doing things have all too often been from the advice of others. This could spawn from a desire to please people, the lack of knowing what I want, or the fact that I want it all. Often, it was probably just the easy way out.
While formal education is important I can honestly say that what I learned wasn't from the subjects of the courses I took. Instead, it was about the theme of education. Learn, work through problems, and figure out what you want from your education. Learning is part of our everyday lives. I went into school thinking I could be a lawyer, or a politican and that someday I would do big things. All that was on my mind was the fact that I could someday accomplish something that would impress other people. In my early years that was what getting good grades was about. In the last few I figured out that what I really got from school was what I needed. A swift kick to the groin. Life is not about impressing people, or doing what others tell you. Life is figuring out what you want and going after it. Be confident in your abilities and live up to your own standards.
Growing up I was easily persuaded by what others thought was cool, and to some extent I am still that way. I am trying to figure out who I am as an individual while being confident that people will still respect me for that person. The "item of the week" often guided me by laying out what I wanted. I still have my wants, but I recognize that if I decide for myself I can get what I need.
Note - This weeks item is a mustache.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Free Time
It has been a month since I took off from my parents garage. The four pounds of cashews have been eaten. I have done laundry, finally. The hat that was upon my head when I left was blown away in an unfortunate "windshield covered in dirt with no wiper fluid incident."
Let's Kill This Dragon
I feel guilty when I am not working and others are. Not to say that I don't enjoy working, I do. But I should forgive my self for the free time I create for myself. There is such a thing as being lazy. Procrastination is another problem for the free time agenda. The more you put things off the less freedom you will have. So free time in it's truest sense is not spent doing nothing, it is play, relaxation, or fulfillment. These things are not mutually exclusive, and free time endeavors can run the gambit for an individual.
Work is a necessary condition of life. Some are able to find a job that they truly love and enjoy doing everyday. Other people find work that meets their need for money, but don't get much gratification from their job. Most people fall somewhere in between this dichotomy. Free time endeavours are humanities outlet. Sanity for an insane world.
Honestly, I do know exactly where I was going with this post. I'll tack that up to too much free time. I am coming to the realization I will have work here in the near future, and I will not have as much time for relaying these quasi-incoherent messages to my six followers. Cherish your free time, make the most of it. Because, like the promise that this post may have contained at its outset , it will quickly slip away never to be recovered.
"Do it now, while you are young and on your own", is a phrase you hear about travel, adventure, and free time from older individuals all the time. It is a true statement. It is EASIER to do while poor, family-less, and limber. It is not impossible to seek adventure at any stage of life. Free time is about creating that adventure. Try new things, go new places, and figure things out. Squeeze the hell out of every penny of your "free time". This is not to say that I don't watch the tube, obviously this blog is 94% YouTube content, but make sure to shut off some of the tech and get out into the world and DO.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Modes of Transportation
Getting from point A to point B is an interesting endeavor for every individual. There are so many ways to do it. Legs, bike, car, and plane are some of the forms that come to mind. All have their positives and negatives. All seem to fit into a specific scenario that makes one form more appropriate than another.
The first things that comes to mind when someone says "Rollerblades" is probably a eight year old girl with a pink helmet and wrist guards blazing a path down a sidewalk. For this girl Rollerblades are an acceptable form of transportation. Take that image and warp a sixty-five year old man into the picture and you have something different all together.
The man in question was a gangly ol' coot, probably due to the immense amount of rollerblading done on a daily basis, who was jiving down the sidewalk. With his dog out in front, and his wristguards secured as he sped along quite pleased with himself. I can just hear his inner monologue, "I am saving the world one rollerblade trip at a time." It was not quite as good as this display, but he was just as graceful.
Whether or not rollerblades are a socially acceptable form of transportation aside, Ron Swanson would say they aren't, the man IS saving the environment. For that he should be commended. Wrong, nothing good has ever come from rollerblading. More often than not you skin your knees while you zoom around with your butt wagging about behind you.
Albert Einstein is quoted as having thought of the theory of relativity while riding his bicycle. For that reason
I'll go as far as saying that the bicycle is the vehicle of the intellectual. So what about rollerblades? To that I defer to the most interesting man in the world.
The first things that comes to mind when someone says "Rollerblades" is probably a eight year old girl with a pink helmet and wrist guards blazing a path down a sidewalk. For this girl Rollerblades are an acceptable form of transportation. Take that image and warp a sixty-five year old man into the picture and you have something different all together.
The man in question was a gangly ol' coot, probably due to the immense amount of rollerblading done on a daily basis, who was jiving down the sidewalk. With his dog out in front, and his wristguards secured as he sped along quite pleased with himself. I can just hear his inner monologue, "I am saving the world one rollerblade trip at a time." It was not quite as good as this display, but he was just as graceful.
Whether or not rollerblades are a socially acceptable form of transportation aside, Ron Swanson would say they aren't, the man IS saving the environment. For that he should be commended. Wrong, nothing good has ever come from rollerblading. More often than not you skin your knees while you zoom around with your butt wagging about behind you.
Albert Einstein is quoted as having thought of the theory of relativity while riding his bicycle. For that reason
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Book Review: Siddhartha
Herman Hesse's Siddhartha is a story of exploration into what it means to be alive. The book articulates the complexities of life while, at the same time, showcasing the beauty of life's simplicity. Quite the paradox indeed. This book is about the journey. How one man comes to find his way in the world.
Siddhartha was written during the end of the World War One era and published in 1922. It seems to encapsulate the spiritual notions of the time. A move away from the dichotomous nature of religion of the 19th Century and an embrace of the spirituality associated with Buddhism. Hesse's work chronicles the journey of a boy named Siddhartha who is a seeker of the truths of life.
Siddhartha does not, or maybe more amply put , cannot, accept the teachings of others. He is clever, kind, and patient. A man who is liked by all that come into contact with him. In many ways he is a prodigy, and things come quite easy to him. This in turn leads to his curiousity. His way must be different from others, because it is "his" way. Even in the presence of enlighted ones, like Buddha himself, Siddhartha is not swayed from his desire to experience the world on his own path.
His life takes him down many paths. He learns to "Think, Fast, and Wait". While these do not seem like amazing traits they give him the ability to let the world happen around him. He does not force the world to do his will, but he makes it possible for the world around him to present what he wants in front of him. Siddhartha has the unique ability to put himself in the right circumstance.
The book is a great depiction of a life. We often arrive at some point in our own lives and wonder how exactly we got to this point for good or for bad. Siddhartha shows that the chain of events in our lives is logical but inherently crazy. Flux is the only constant.
"What is a treasure and wisdom for one man always sounds like foolishness to another."
The message of Siddhartha is that every individual must choose their own path. It is experience that makes wisdom. Failure is another good way to put it, but through failure comes wisdom.
"When someone seeks then it happens all too easily that his eyes will see only the thing he is seeking, that he cannot find anything, cannot let anything in, because he is always thinking only of that thing he seeks, becausehe has a goal, because he is possessed by the goal. Seeking means having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal. One may indeed be a seeker, for, striving toward your goal, there is much you do not see which is right before your eyes."
Siddhartha does not, or maybe more amply put , cannot, accept the teachings of others. He is clever, kind, and patient. A man who is liked by all that come into contact with him. In many ways he is a prodigy, and things come quite easy to him. This in turn leads to his curiousity. His way must be different from others, because it is "his" way. Even in the presence of enlighted ones, like Buddha himself, Siddhartha is not swayed from his desire to experience the world on his own path.
His life takes him down many paths. He learns to "Think, Fast, and Wait". While these do not seem like amazing traits they give him the ability to let the world happen around him. He does not force the world to do his will, but he makes it possible for the world around him to present what he wants in front of him. Siddhartha has the unique ability to put himself in the right circumstance.
The book is a great depiction of a life. We often arrive at some point in our own lives and wonder how exactly we got to this point for good or for bad. Siddhartha shows that the chain of events in our lives is logical but inherently crazy. Flux is the only constant.
"What is a treasure and wisdom for one man always sounds like foolishness to another."
The message of Siddhartha is that every individual must choose their own path. It is experience that makes wisdom. Failure is another good way to put it, but through failure comes wisdom.
"When someone seeks then it happens all too easily that his eyes will see only the thing he is seeking, that he cannot find anything, cannot let anything in, because he is always thinking only of that thing he seeks, becausehe has a goal, because he is possessed by the goal. Seeking means having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal. One may indeed be a seeker, for, striving toward your goal, there is much you do not see which is right before your eyes."
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Olympic Lifting
I am a weakling. Let's just get that out into the open. I have never been a strong boy. I say boy, because that is what I am. Men are strong, powerful, and burly. They have beards and do things like lift large televisions by themselves, or alert you that it's "10 o'clock" while they are strolling around the house in their tighty whities. (For those 6 readers who are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, these are references to the things "men" in my family have done at some point in time.
This last season of rugby I played flanker. I was undersized, and the only reason I could even compete was because I have always been scrappy to some extent. I would have been a more productive player if I would have put on about 20 pounds or better yet learned to squat.
Coming to California was about shaking things up and doing things I have never done before. My biggest goal on that level is to get strong. I chose to come and learn the Olympic lifts because they are a sport that can make you pretty damn strong and even more athletic. I have never really been an individual athlete. I have always been a "team player". There is a lot of satisfaction in team sports, but I believe that I needed to get out of my comfort zone, and do something where everything rides on me. Further, the athleticism that develops from Olympic lifting transfers to many other athletic endeavors. Someday if I go back to playing rugby, soccer, or whatever else I may want to do, I will be that much better for it. I am just starting out on this adventure and I am excited to see where it takes me.
The Olympic lifts are composed of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Here is a quick video that displays just how powerful an Olympic caliber lifter can be.
That's a man.
Since I can remember I have always cared to much about my weight. Thinking I was chubby, or overweight. In reality I was just skinny fat. A boy without the discipline to stick to lifting weights and getting strong. I could always just go run to get a great "workout" and stay trim. Running is all well and good. A great way to drop some pounds and stay in shape, but it never really aligned with my goals. You are not going to get strong, like dad strong, or one pound of brisket followed by 6 pints of Guinness strong by running.This last season of rugby I played flanker. I was undersized, and the only reason I could even compete was because I have always been scrappy to some extent. I would have been a more productive player if I would have put on about 20 pounds or better yet learned to squat.
Coming to California was about shaking things up and doing things I have never done before. My biggest goal on that level is to get strong. I chose to come and learn the Olympic lifts because they are a sport that can make you pretty damn strong and even more athletic. I have never really been an individual athlete. I have always been a "team player". There is a lot of satisfaction in team sports, but I believe that I needed to get out of my comfort zone, and do something where everything rides on me. Further, the athleticism that develops from Olympic lifting transfers to many other athletic endeavors. Someday if I go back to playing rugby, soccer, or whatever else I may want to do, I will be that much better for it. I am just starting out on this adventure and I am excited to see where it takes me.
The Olympic lifts are composed of the Snatch and Clean and Jerk. Here is a quick video that displays just how powerful an Olympic caliber lifter can be.
In Russian for your viewing pleasure.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Stay on Target
The importance of staying on target can not be understated. Once you have laid out your objectives it is important to keep them in your vision. I am, by nature, very goal oriented. I have talked a great deal about the path to the eventual end, but I think the target itself is of importance. Setting a target can be a difficult thing to do. In reality we don't just set ourselves on one particular target, but a great deal of them throughout our lives. One target leads to another and that one to another.
It is important to evaluate just what our goals are. I made the decision to come to California quite hastily. Every mile I drove was one step closer to my goal. Once arriving in the area where I want to stay for a while I had to set my sights on a new target. Broadly stated that target is "staying here as long as you can"
My long term goals are to learn the olympic lifts from a great coach, and train with some quality people at Catalyst Athletics. The ancillary targets that come with it are finding a job to support myself for the time being and an affordable place to live. I have stated before that everything has been kind of handed to me throughout life. Goals have always been there, but help has always been provided. Now, although I am not without help, it seems as if I really have to figure out just what targets I want to pursue. Where do I want to work? Is it a career or just a job?
This process has made me realize just how inexperienced I really am. The Catch-22 of the situation is that all employers I really want to work for require experience. (I know this is more of my own Catch-22 as opposed to the employers) I am supremely confident of my skills to learn and adapt to nearly any job out there, but getting that across to employers can be a bit difficult. I will have to take a big dose of humility and realize that no matter what I have to start somewhere. Further, I will have to get over my fear of committment and realizing that it is just a starting point.
Staying on target requires both broad and narrow goals. Broad goals to determine who we are in the situations around us, but narrow goals to capture our true desires and motivation. It is hard to stay on target when things go bad, but continuing the pursuit will eventually lead to good things.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Pyramid of Greatness
There are few times in my short life where I can recall being in as weird of a state as I am now. I am unemployed. Living in a families home where I am more of an "occupier" of space than anything else. Maybe I've always just been taking up space? I moved to California to lift weights. Pretty messed up right?
Finding work has proved more difficult than I thought. Who wanted want to hire an attractive young man like myself? Aside from a job I have not found a sugar mama yet either. I am a little discouraged, but I am still optimistic. I have a lot of good stuff on my side. I do possess a great number of beneficial skills. Many of them are found in the Ron Swanson "Pyramid of Greatness".
Follow this link to check it out. Swanson on Greatness
I am a lover of Pig, Cow, and Chicken Protein. Further, I avoid skim milk at all cost. I am Frank in times of great need, and physically fit. I am working on the facial hair and torso. It will take some time, but I will get there. Further, I possess the pinnacle of the Swanson Pyramid, Honor. My integrity runs to my core and I will go as far as I have to in order to reach my goals. This pyramid is a great source of inspiration and it will remain as my desktop background for a long time to come.
Those of you unfamiliar with Ron Swanson and his ways should check out "Parks and Recreation". It airs in NBC's must see TV lineup on Thursday nights.
Finding work has proved more difficult than I thought. Who wanted want to hire an attractive young man like myself? Aside from a job I have not found a sugar mama yet either. I am a little discouraged, but I am still optimistic. I have a lot of good stuff on my side. I do possess a great number of beneficial skills. Many of them are found in the Ron Swanson "Pyramid of Greatness".
Follow this link to check it out. Swanson on Greatness
I am a lover of Pig, Cow, and Chicken Protein. Further, I avoid skim milk at all cost. I am Frank in times of great need, and physically fit. I am working on the facial hair and torso. It will take some time, but I will get there. Further, I possess the pinnacle of the Swanson Pyramid, Honor. My integrity runs to my core and I will go as far as I have to in order to reach my goals. This pyramid is a great source of inspiration and it will remain as my desktop background for a long time to come.
Those of you unfamiliar with Ron Swanson and his ways should check out "Parks and Recreation". It airs in NBC's must see TV lineup on Thursday nights.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Book Review: The Amateurs
David Halberstam's The Amateurs chronicles the quest of young rowers in the late 1970's and early 80's. The book provides an interesting perspective on a sport that often goes unrecognized even as part of the olympics.
The book depicts the life of an amateur rower. There is no professional rowing circuit. For these young men the Olympic Games are the pinnacle of the sport. The Amateurs is an interesting look into both privelege and sport. I say privelege because most of the men that participate in rowing come from backgrounds that lead them to Harvard, Yale, or another Ivy League school. Their legacy status gives them a chance where many others would be ruled out without a chance.
The book is interesting on the level that all of these men had privelege, but because of their passion for the sport they put off, careers, family, and regular life in order to pursue their dream. Rowing is an intense and specialized sport. Every workout is demanding and the physical needs of a competitive rower are extensive. While some of the rowers in the story were granted with a powerful physical nature, others had an intense capacity to push themselves mentally that made up for whatever they were lacking physically.
Halberstam goes into great detail to show the backgrounds and the "rowing culture" of these young men. The social relationships held between rowing teams, and their coaches are interesting and very dynamic. It is a competitive world driven by the egos of young men who ultimately think they are the best. In the end there can only be one man to race in the American single boat, and the battle for that spot is rather engrossing.
Other aspects of the sport are, seemingly, more art than science. Rowing, or crew, is a matter of finding that team dynamic and stroke that can make an okay single rower into a great team rower. A good quad set of rowers, for instance, is not just the sum of its parts. When everything is clicking a good team of rowers can reach levels that are much greater than if you look at each rower seperately.
The Amateurs is an interesting depiction of just how goal driven people can be. It is a testament to sacrifice and hardwork. Further, the book speaks to just how bad we all want an identity that gives our life meaning. The desire to be an "Olympic Rower" was so powerful for these young men. The book provides an in depth look at a sport that often goes overlooked. Finally, it is a testament to the fact that if you want something bad enough you just have to go out and work for it believing the whole time that you will find a way to make it happen.
The book depicts the life of an amateur rower. There is no professional rowing circuit. For these young men the Olympic Games are the pinnacle of the sport. The Amateurs is an interesting look into both privelege and sport. I say privelege because most of the men that participate in rowing come from backgrounds that lead them to Harvard, Yale, or another Ivy League school. Their legacy status gives them a chance where many others would be ruled out without a chance.
The book is interesting on the level that all of these men had privelege, but because of their passion for the sport they put off, careers, family, and regular life in order to pursue their dream. Rowing is an intense and specialized sport. Every workout is demanding and the physical needs of a competitive rower are extensive. While some of the rowers in the story were granted with a powerful physical nature, others had an intense capacity to push themselves mentally that made up for whatever they were lacking physically.
Halberstam goes into great detail to show the backgrounds and the "rowing culture" of these young men. The social relationships held between rowing teams, and their coaches are interesting and very dynamic. It is a competitive world driven by the egos of young men who ultimately think they are the best. In the end there can only be one man to race in the American single boat, and the battle for that spot is rather engrossing.
Other aspects of the sport are, seemingly, more art than science. Rowing, or crew, is a matter of finding that team dynamic and stroke that can make an okay single rower into a great team rower. A good quad set of rowers, for instance, is not just the sum of its parts. When everything is clicking a good team of rowers can reach levels that are much greater than if you look at each rower seperately.
The Amateurs is an interesting depiction of just how goal driven people can be. It is a testament to sacrifice and hardwork. Further, the book speaks to just how bad we all want an identity that gives our life meaning. The desire to be an "Olympic Rower" was so powerful for these young men. The book provides an in depth look at a sport that often goes overlooked. Finally, it is a testament to the fact that if you want something bad enough you just have to go out and work for it believing the whole time that you will find a way to make it happen.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Live Til You Die
This is a good video from a respected strength and conditioning coach. I realize that sport isn't life. Although, I believe that the lessons learned in sport and strength and conditioning inevitably transfer to our everyday lives. Needless to say I like the message.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Summary - Happy V-Day
David James Hagerty
450 Del Medio Ave.
Palo Alto, California 94040
Cell: 563-260-3832 | hagertydj@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE
Political Science and History Major looking for a career that allows for creativity, leadership, and incorporation of a wide skill set.
Summary
Not A Douche-bag
SKILLS
§ Skilled in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
§ Organized
§ Self Starter
§ Task Oriented
§ Proficient Communication Skills
EDUCATION
Iowa State University | Ames, Iowa |
POL S: Political Science (B, M), HIST: History (B, M) GPA: 3.70 | August 2007 - December 2010 |
Magna cum Laude
WORK EXPERIENCE
Hagerty Lawn Care | Muscatine, Iowa |
Owner/Operator | January 2001 – August 2010 |
§ Maintained 25-30 Lawns Annually for a variety of commercial and private properties
§ Organized work schedule from week to week in order to maximize productivity and customer satisfaction
§ Recorded data for billing and scheduling to maintain effective business practices
Crossfit Ames Coach/Trainer | Ames, Iowa August 2010 – January 2011 |
§ Instructed trainees through functional movements while interacting and building solid trainer athlete relationships
§ Managed classes and sessions of weight-training in order to maximize results for trainees
§ Programmed workouts for individual trainees catering to needs and specific goals of individuals
ACTIVITIES
§ Iowa State Triathlon Club
§ YPals Mentor
§ Food at First Server- Community Food Bank
§ Crossfit Ames Coach
§ Iowa State Rugby Club - President
HONORS & AWARDS
§ Iowa State Dean's List 2008-2010
§ Muscatine Football's Feisler Leadership Award 2006
§ Bishop Scholarship for Youth Leadership
§ Graduated December 2010 Magna cum Laude
Above is my resume. The summary has been tweeked a little bit for the purpose of this post. I will credit my older brother for the inspiration. We all, at some point in our lives, are looking to summarize what we are in order to seperate ourselves from the crowd.
I think I am a pretty good guy. In short I'm not a douche-bag. I have been fortunate to always have a job when I needed one. So this whole application and interview process is new to me. My underlying thought is "hey, I'm a hardworker, help me out, give me a chance and I'll show you.
I know that work will come. In many ways this job situation is like a woman, or a relationship. I am not particularly looking at the moment. When I do start looking it may not be as easy as saying "hey, I'm not a douche-bag. Maybe you'll like me if you give me if you give it a chance". Alas, life is not that easy. Things take time. While not being a douche-bag is a good asset, and certainly a benefit, it can't be your only line. Not being a douche-bag means that you undoubtedly have some other great qualities. Give it some time and those will shine through.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Good and Bad
I think a lot about the duality of life. I was struck this morning by the fact that everything good seems to be accompanied with a downside. As I sat outside a coffee shop a man with a cool dog was forced to pick the dogs poop up with one of those "convenient" doggy bags. Having no trash receptacle nearby he was forced to carry the poop with him for a distance down the sidewalk. I watched and thought about how that dog, awesome as he was, caused his owner some amount of trouble. This is a common example, pets, children, and spouses can all be subject to some amount of cost benefit analysis.
Yet, to do a cost benefit analysis with something you love seems to objectify it in a way that makes the bad seem more important than the good. In reality the good always outweighs the bad. To look at the bad and make its value overly important is to make the part more valuable than the whole. I recently read a book about amateur rowers who were working to compete in the 1984 Olympics. The book constantly spoke of the pain, struggle, and sacrifice that is associated with rowing. Much of the book was focused on the hardship of these amateurs and the fact that even though they worked incredibly hard their sport was, in the end, unappreciated.
In the end the gratification came from within. They realized that their sacrifice, and hard work had been them stronger people. It is too easy to look at the negatives of a situation and make a ruling that it is not worth the pain. To say that a "poopatrator" like that dog is not worth it simply because he defecates in public places on occasion can overlook the happiness that he brings to his owner.
I am a victim of putting to much emphasis on the bad. It's easy to get wrapped up in the negative, because the negative, frankly, is scary stuff. Focusing too much on the bad and the fear that arises from them can stop us from doing things that in the end will only make us, smarter, stronger, and a better individual. Each negative that is overcome will give a little bit of confidence, and a little bit of confidence can go a long way.
I have always had a skinny-fat complex. I was a chubby young man, at least I thought so, and I have never been strong. For that reason I always tried to go around lack of strength by doing something else well. In particular I would run a lot and build a great amount of endurance. Endurance is not a necessary part of being a good football player for example. While working around a particular problem may be a good way of overcoming some obstacles for others it is just a cop out. Inevitably, for me to get stronger I am going to have to eat, put on a bit of fat, and lift heavy weights. This is something I have honestly been afraid of for a long time. Think intimidated in the weight room type of scenario. The fact of the matter is that the only way to overcome this is to confront it. If I let the things I have perceived to be negatives, gaining weight and fear of getting fat, I will never be able to reach my objective.
Just like the "poopatrator" dog, I cannot allow the negatives to stop me from achieving the benefits. Now, in some cases the poop may be just what we're after.
Yet, to do a cost benefit analysis with something you love seems to objectify it in a way that makes the bad seem more important than the good. In reality the good always outweighs the bad. To look at the bad and make its value overly important is to make the part more valuable than the whole. I recently read a book about amateur rowers who were working to compete in the 1984 Olympics. The book constantly spoke of the pain, struggle, and sacrifice that is associated with rowing. Much of the book was focused on the hardship of these amateurs and the fact that even though they worked incredibly hard their sport was, in the end, unappreciated.
In the end the gratification came from within. They realized that their sacrifice, and hard work had been them stronger people. It is too easy to look at the negatives of a situation and make a ruling that it is not worth the pain. To say that a "poopatrator" like that dog is not worth it simply because he defecates in public places on occasion can overlook the happiness that he brings to his owner.
I am a victim of putting to much emphasis on the bad. It's easy to get wrapped up in the negative, because the negative, frankly, is scary stuff. Focusing too much on the bad and the fear that arises from them can stop us from doing things that in the end will only make us, smarter, stronger, and a better individual. Each negative that is overcome will give a little bit of confidence, and a little bit of confidence can go a long way.
I have always had a skinny-fat complex. I was a chubby young man, at least I thought so, and I have never been strong. For that reason I always tried to go around lack of strength by doing something else well. In particular I would run a lot and build a great amount of endurance. Endurance is not a necessary part of being a good football player for example. While working around a particular problem may be a good way of overcoming some obstacles for others it is just a cop out. Inevitably, for me to get stronger I am going to have to eat, put on a bit of fat, and lift heavy weights. This is something I have honestly been afraid of for a long time. Think intimidated in the weight room type of scenario. The fact of the matter is that the only way to overcome this is to confront it. If I let the things I have perceived to be negatives, gaining weight and fear of getting fat, I will never be able to reach my objective.
Just like the "poopatrator" dog, I cannot allow the negatives to stop me from achieving the benefits. Now, in some cases the poop may be just what we're after.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Patience
"God grant me patience.......I want it now!" - Somebody
I am not a patient person. I want everything to happen in a timely manner. That time is most often "right now". For that reason I struggle with looking long term, yet I see the necessity of the big picture. Each day is a step in one direction. I know that I am headed somewhere, but exactly where, I am not sure. I have a thirst for accomplishment. Even greater than my thirst for accomplishment may be my desire for the reward.
Most of the time my demands are probably unreasonable. I can attribute many of my failures to simply being impatient and unwilling to see something through. I have been in California for two weeks. I should take the successes I have had and just keep moving in the right direction. Still, I am frustrated when things don't occur on my timeline. This is part of my growth. I have been fortunate to be the center of my universe, maybe spoiled fits better than fortunate, part of learning and wisdom comes from losing some of my control.
This is another duality that I struggle with. Control and the lack thereof. Somethings are under my control and some things are not. I have pursued leads, but I will always question if I have done enough. How do I know when to sit back and how do I know when to jump in? Everyone faces this problem. What sets the succesful apart from the unsuccesful may be the confidence to push on when things aren't entirely in our control. Patience does not have to be reactive. I guess what I am looking for is the patience to know that I will keep pushing on despite the bumps along the way.
I am frustrated, but the fact that I am frustrated means that I do care. I should probably relax. My fate will not be decided in 3 hours, 3 days, or 3 weeks. Is it good things come to those who wait? Or those who wait miss out on good things? I guess I'll just keep pushing on to figure that out. When it's time to wait I guess I'll figure out if it really is the hardest part.
Homer is waiting for his background check to clear. He really wants his gun.
I am not a patient person. I want everything to happen in a timely manner. That time is most often "right now". For that reason I struggle with looking long term, yet I see the necessity of the big picture. Each day is a step in one direction. I know that I am headed somewhere, but exactly where, I am not sure. I have a thirst for accomplishment. Even greater than my thirst for accomplishment may be my desire for the reward.
Most of the time my demands are probably unreasonable. I can attribute many of my failures to simply being impatient and unwilling to see something through. I have been in California for two weeks. I should take the successes I have had and just keep moving in the right direction. Still, I am frustrated when things don't occur on my timeline. This is part of my growth. I have been fortunate to be the center of my universe, maybe spoiled fits better than fortunate, part of learning and wisdom comes from losing some of my control.
This is another duality that I struggle with. Control and the lack thereof. Somethings are under my control and some things are not. I have pursued leads, but I will always question if I have done enough. How do I know when to sit back and how do I know when to jump in? Everyone faces this problem. What sets the succesful apart from the unsuccesful may be the confidence to push on when things aren't entirely in our control. Patience does not have to be reactive. I guess what I am looking for is the patience to know that I will keep pushing on despite the bumps along the way.
I am frustrated, but the fact that I am frustrated means that I do care. I should probably relax. My fate will not be decided in 3 hours, 3 days, or 3 weeks. Is it good things come to those who wait? Or those who wait miss out on good things? I guess I'll just keep pushing on to figure that out. When it's time to wait I guess I'll figure out if it really is the hardest part.
Homer is waiting for his background check to clear. He really wants his gun.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Laughter- The Best Form of Misinformation
Yesterday I talked about misinformation. Simply put, you can't know everything. You may have to figure out what is more important to you, health care, or Shaquille O'neal. If you are going to be misinformed at least make sure you are getting a laugh out of the deal. Often, satire reveals more truth than we know.
For my fake news I turn to the Onion. It is a great resource for the goings on in the fake news world. I am fond of the saying "if you can't laugh at yourself, than who can?". I think this quote can apply to humanity as a whole. Our history is in many ways comical. Our battles and arguments often trivial.
I.E Bart Simpson on Christianity,
"It's all Christianity people the little stupid differences are nothing next to the big stupid similarities."
The Onion, in many ways, tells it like it is. Today's video on "The First Openly Drunk Senator" at least brings the drunkenness of our political representatives into the limelight. Hell, all bus stops should have shelters! GENIUS.
Dave Tillis
For my fake news I turn to the Onion. It is a great resource for the goings on in the fake news world. I am fond of the saying "if you can't laugh at yourself, than who can?". I think this quote can apply to humanity as a whole. Our history is in many ways comical. Our battles and arguments often trivial.
I.E Bart Simpson on Christianity,
"It's all Christianity people the little stupid differences are nothing next to the big stupid similarities."
The Onion, in many ways, tells it like it is. Today's video on "The First Openly Drunk Senator" at least brings the drunkenness of our political representatives into the limelight. Hell, all bus stops should have shelters! GENIUS.
Dave Tillis
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Information Asymmetry- AKA Communication Breakdown
Information Asymmetry was a large part of the book Freakonomics. I am of the opinion that a lack of information within one party, and for that matter a lack of information in general, is the root of many social problems. In the Led Zeppelin song "Communication Breakdown" the pivotal point of the problem is it tends to "drive me insane". While it is a weird analogy the lack of communication can lead to immense problems of information asymmetry and thus INSANITY.
The old adage that "ignorance is bliss" is only true to the extent that "what you don't know can kill you". In a world where news is on 24/7, and the Internet is filled with "information" we have just as much misinformation as ever before. With all this information how is it that we still have religious conflict, social strife, and political turmoil? Sorry, I try to use less intense language, but the "turmoil" was taken directly from the New York Times headlines for the day.
I fall victim to the idea of "ignorance as bliss". I often refuse to check my checking account balance based upon the notion that money will remain in there as long as I just keep swiping my debit card. It won't, and I must overcome the fear of being broke and move on. Facing your fears is the only way to get over them. So, what are the effects of information asymmetry, and how do we go about making the world more informed.
A good place to start may be to realize that their is no way to know everything. This is common sensical, but even our opinions are often entirely based upon one piece of here-say that is probably pretty inaccurate. It is vital to have opinions, but my own feeling is that I should probably shut the hell up in matters of importance where I have no idea what to say. Listening is a great tool to learn about the world around us. I am a talker. I say way too much. Most of what I say is probably a lot of BS. Admittedly, I should learn to shut up and do a lot more listening. I am getting better, but I still have a long way to go. Even with all the listening in the world it is important to realize that I only have so much time to invest, and that in many phases I am better suited to debate which trilogy was better, the original Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings, rather than debating fiscal policy in the United States. Pick your battles, but always be looking to learn.
Another important part of the equation is the fact that we don't have to agree with others to respect their opinion. All too often it is easy to blow up over a difference of opinion. The next step is to completely push back from that opinion and hide in our own opinions without trying to learn why that person or party holds the opinion they do. This goes along with listening. Often, a great deal of ground can be gained by simply listening to another persons opinion. You don't have to be convinced, but the communication may go a long way.
I think what I am getting at, and what I seem to come back to in many of these posts, is that information is a contradictory concept. Too much and we are overloaded, most of this is in actuality misinformation, but too little and we fail to understand the world around us. Overcoming information asymmetry is a matter of being open to new concepts of ideas while taking things with a grain of salt. We can't know everything, but we can overcome a great deal of information asymmetry by communicating effectively and actually debating instead of just talking at other parties with our ways set in stone.You don't have to have Masters in communication to be a good communicator. In fact I would bet most of us can do a little better than Phil Davison.
The old adage that "ignorance is bliss" is only true to the extent that "what you don't know can kill you". In a world where news is on 24/7, and the Internet is filled with "information" we have just as much misinformation as ever before. With all this information how is it that we still have religious conflict, social strife, and political turmoil? Sorry, I try to use less intense language, but the "turmoil" was taken directly from the New York Times headlines for the day.
I fall victim to the idea of "ignorance as bliss". I often refuse to check my checking account balance based upon the notion that money will remain in there as long as I just keep swiping my debit card. It won't, and I must overcome the fear of being broke and move on. Facing your fears is the only way to get over them. So, what are the effects of information asymmetry, and how do we go about making the world more informed.
A good place to start may be to realize that their is no way to know everything. This is common sensical, but even our opinions are often entirely based upon one piece of here-say that is probably pretty inaccurate. It is vital to have opinions, but my own feeling is that I should probably shut the hell up in matters of importance where I have no idea what to say. Listening is a great tool to learn about the world around us. I am a talker. I say way too much. Most of what I say is probably a lot of BS. Admittedly, I should learn to shut up and do a lot more listening. I am getting better, but I still have a long way to go. Even with all the listening in the world it is important to realize that I only have so much time to invest, and that in many phases I am better suited to debate which trilogy was better, the original Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings, rather than debating fiscal policy in the United States. Pick your battles, but always be looking to learn.
Another important part of the equation is the fact that we don't have to agree with others to respect their opinion. All too often it is easy to blow up over a difference of opinion. The next step is to completely push back from that opinion and hide in our own opinions without trying to learn why that person or party holds the opinion they do. This goes along with listening. Often, a great deal of ground can be gained by simply listening to another persons opinion. You don't have to be convinced, but the communication may go a long way.
Misinformed
I think what I am getting at, and what I seem to come back to in many of these posts, is that information is a contradictory concept. Too much and we are overloaded, most of this is in actuality misinformation, but too little and we fail to understand the world around us. Overcoming information asymmetry is a matter of being open to new concepts of ideas while taking things with a grain of salt. We can't know everything, but we can overcome a great deal of information asymmetry by communicating effectively and actually debating instead of just talking at other parties with our ways set in stone.You don't have to have Masters in communication to be a good communicator. In fact I would bet most of us can do a little better than Phil Davison.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Book Review: Freakonomics
I recently reviewed Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. That books focus was on how small things created big social epidemics by reaching a tipping point. Essentially, the book asked a lot of questions and sought to answer them by looking into small changes in the world around us. Freakonomics does some of the same things. Steven Levitt's style of economics is less about monetary policy and more aligned with asking obscure questions and questioning what is generally taken as common knowledge.
To call Steven Levitt a rogue may be a bit over the top. In reality he just goes about solving, or at least trying to solve, questions that economists tend to overlook. Instead, of moving into the private sector or focusing on economic policy, Levitt explores "freakish" problems in society. Regression analysis is his main tool for answering questions like "Why do crack dealers still live with their moms?", "What's more dangerous a hand gun or a swimming pool?", and "Is there corruption in sumo-wrestling?". The result is that economic principles that normally perplex the average fellow, like you and me, can be laid out and made quite simple yet interesting.
Admittedly, this book is not very difficult to get through. I think at one point it was assigned to one of the Macro-Econ classes at my high school. One of my professors in college essentially used this book as the basis of the class. In hindsight I realize that his sweet ideas on solving collective action problems were straight out of Freakonomics. That being said the book is a good tool for anyone interested in solving problems. It teaches analysis and thinking outside the box that we don't necessarily get in our everyday lives. Often, our problem solving process is "If problem A use solution B". This is not only dull, but it can also overlook other variables, and underestimate the complexity of a situation.
Freakonomics is an examination of one of Adam Smith's underlying themes as a Philosopher and Economist.
"Smith's true subject was the friction between individual desire and societal norms." - Freakonomics, Pg. 14 How do we act in terms of larger society? We are driven by our own preferences, but we are also social creatures who realize that if we do not fit somewhere productively inside the whole of society it doesn't matter what our preferences are. The constraints of society really seem to dictate a great deal of our actions.
Levitt's book asks obscure questions, really they are questions we should be asking anyway, about things like the real interests of "experts" and the role of information asymmetry in our everyday lives. Information asymmetry is the notion of a "lemon's market" where one part has more information than other in a transaction. We rely on experts to help guide us through the purchase of cars, homes, and diversifying our portfolios. The reliance on these experts is based upon the fact that they know more than we do and we pay them for their resource. Freakonomics simply calls into question the reliance on an "expert" noting that sometimes the incentives for a real estate agent are not always enough to truly have their interests aligned with their customer.
It should be noted that I am not saying to avoid using car salesmen, realtors, or financial experts. In the case of my father you should all think about using his services more. DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIOS. Mike Hagerty can be trusted. Just take into account the interests of the "expert". My view of Freakonomics is that the books purpose is to ask questions, and take the many things around us we tack up to conventional wisdom with a grain of salt.
My view is slightly skewed towards a more syncratic perspective. I have said before that there is no magic bullet to anything. Common knowledge is a tool for simplifying the world around us. Freakonomics simply introduces us to the possibilities of other variables at work that may even defy common knowledge. Understanding the world around us is a matter of looking at it from as many perspectives as possible.
"On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity."
- Adam Smith
To call Steven Levitt a rogue may be a bit over the top. In reality he just goes about solving, or at least trying to solve, questions that economists tend to overlook. Instead, of moving into the private sector or focusing on economic policy, Levitt explores "freakish" problems in society. Regression analysis is his main tool for answering questions like "Why do crack dealers still live with their moms?", "What's more dangerous a hand gun or a swimming pool?", and "Is there corruption in sumo-wrestling?". The result is that economic principles that normally perplex the average fellow, like you and me, can be laid out and made quite simple yet interesting.
Admittedly, this book is not very difficult to get through. I think at one point it was assigned to one of the Macro-Econ classes at my high school. One of my professors in college essentially used this book as the basis of the class. In hindsight I realize that his sweet ideas on solving collective action problems were straight out of Freakonomics. That being said the book is a good tool for anyone interested in solving problems. It teaches analysis and thinking outside the box that we don't necessarily get in our everyday lives. Often, our problem solving process is "If problem A use solution B". This is not only dull, but it can also overlook other variables, and underestimate the complexity of a situation.
Freakonomics is an examination of one of Adam Smith's underlying themes as a Philosopher and Economist.
"Smith's true subject was the friction between individual desire and societal norms." - Freakonomics, Pg. 14 How do we act in terms of larger society? We are driven by our own preferences, but we are also social creatures who realize that if we do not fit somewhere productively inside the whole of society it doesn't matter what our preferences are. The constraints of society really seem to dictate a great deal of our actions.
Levitt's book asks obscure questions, really they are questions we should be asking anyway, about things like the real interests of "experts" and the role of information asymmetry in our everyday lives. Information asymmetry is the notion of a "lemon's market" where one part has more information than other in a transaction. We rely on experts to help guide us through the purchase of cars, homes, and diversifying our portfolios. The reliance on these experts is based upon the fact that they know more than we do and we pay them for their resource. Freakonomics simply calls into question the reliance on an "expert" noting that sometimes the incentives for a real estate agent are not always enough to truly have their interests aligned with their customer.
It should be noted that I am not saying to avoid using car salesmen, realtors, or financial experts. In the case of my father you should all think about using his services more. DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIOS. Mike Hagerty can be trusted. Just take into account the interests of the "expert". My view of Freakonomics is that the books purpose is to ask questions, and take the many things around us we tack up to conventional wisdom with a grain of salt.
My view is slightly skewed towards a more syncratic perspective. I have said before that there is no magic bullet to anything. Common knowledge is a tool for simplifying the world around us. Freakonomics simply introduces us to the possibilities of other variables at work that may even defy common knowledge. Understanding the world around us is a matter of looking at it from as many perspectives as possible.
"On the road from the City of Skepticism, I had to pass through the Valley of Ambiguity."
- Adam Smith
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Origins
So, I guess I should cover the origins of my nickname. In first grade we had weekly writing sessions where we would create short stories, our teachers would edit them, and then we would illustrate the books. I put out some high quality stuff.
Luckily, we never had writing time extended by four hours. Nonetheless, we would right our little fingers off with all the mind numbing stories we could about topics like "Dude", "Soccer", and "My Best Friend Colin", all actual titles of mine by the way. My mother and sisters in law discovered these epic titles while preparing for my high school graduation party. They became a last minute contribution to my "shrine of awesomeness".
One particular story was entitled A Christmas Story. The story followed a similar line as the popular Dickens story, and by similar I mean it was plagerized exactly, except that the Scrooge like character said "Humrat" instead of "Humbug" and Tiny Tim became Tiny David. God, I am clever. Well, needless to say these stories and this one in particular entertained my family. I was quickly known as Tiny David from then on.
It is probably very fitting. I have never been a menacing or large fellow. My personality is probably more jolley than scroogelike, and I try to think of myself as just another person in this big old world. Someday, when this blog becomes an Oscar winning feature film known as "Tiny David's Big Adventure" I will be thankful my family dug up those classic literary works of art.
Luckily, we never had writing time extended by four hours. Nonetheless, we would right our little fingers off with all the mind numbing stories we could about topics like "Dude", "Soccer", and "My Best Friend Colin", all actual titles of mine by the way. My mother and sisters in law discovered these epic titles while preparing for my high school graduation party. They became a last minute contribution to my "shrine of awesomeness".
One particular story was entitled A Christmas Story. The story followed a similar line as the popular Dickens story, and by similar I mean it was plagerized exactly, except that the Scrooge like character said "Humrat" instead of "Humbug" and Tiny Tim became Tiny David. God, I am clever. Well, needless to say these stories and this one in particular entertained my family. I was quickly known as Tiny David from then on.
It is probably very fitting. I have never been a menacing or large fellow. My personality is probably more jolley than scroogelike, and I try to think of myself as just another person in this big old world. Someday, when this blog becomes an Oscar winning feature film known as "Tiny David's Big Adventure" I will be thankful my family dug up those classic literary works of art.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Living up to Expectations
We all have expectations of ourselves, our friends, and our coworkers or teammates. Living up to these expectations can be a difficult task. I know that working to live up to my expectations has always helped me to perform better in sports, school and work. As I sat watching the Superbowl with my 12 year old roommate, and a man named Charles who had his Ipod in and Marvin Gaye turned up to 11, I thought about Aaron Rogers living up to his expectations as the next great quarterback in Green Bay. Pending his endorsement of Wrangler Open Fly Jeans, zing Brett Favre, I think he has done a pretty good job in his first three years.
I know that I have always put a lot of pressure on myself to live up to the expectations of others. This is not a bad thing, but it can also lead to making decisions or choosing paths that others may want for you. Instead, it is important to figure out what YOU want and go after it to meet your own expectations. I'm not necessarily talking about "Lowered Expectations". It is more about figuring out what you really want and then going after that with Great Expectations.
I will provide my own example. I have always had what I sort of phrase as a "badass" complex. I always wanted to be, and do stuff that was "badass". For that reason I had always said I want to go into the military, jump out of planes, etc, etc. This is not to say that I don't think I could do that stuff, but it was more of my magic bullet to life. If I did that stuff I would be forever respected and admired. I created a set of expectations based upon what I thought others would deem "badass". The fact of the matter is that there is no silver bullet, or easy answer. There is no "key to everything" for our expectations, diets, lives.
The short of the matter is that you have to figure out what you want in life and go after it. This doesn't have to be one thing. It is of a theme throughout life. Living up to others expectations is definitely a good thing, but make sure that their expectations are in line with yours.
On a final note The Sizzler is about two blocks down the road from my living arrangement. Maybe I will give Bunifa a call.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Treading Lightly
I am in a new area, and when in a new area it is important to tread lightly. Utilizing GPS has been a huge help to me while navigating. At the same time it is probably a pretty big crutch. Many people got around quite well before the invention of GPS and they did just fine. In some instances my focus on the direction the GPS is giving me has made me lose sight of the things around me. Let's just say I have been honked at in a few instances. Treading lightly simply means don't do anything too stupid.
Yesterday, while leaving the grocery store I input an address in my GPS. As I followed the path laid out for me I accidently, slowly, pulled out in front of a car. It was in a parking lot so there was no real danger of getting T-Boned, but the other driver was not real happy. To make things worse another car coming from the other direction had to stop while I was pulled out in the middle of the intersection. A moment of indecision on my part caused the whole group to be at a stand still for a few moments. I recieved two honks and a couple of "warm" gestures for my mistake.
As I, finally, was able to navigate by both cars one driver happily gestured for me to take a gun and kill myself. He was an older gentleman that evidently needed to get somewhere before he died. Nonetheless, he had a point. I should pay attention first to my immediate surroundings and then focus on my destination. It is easy to overlook the journey in hopes of attaining the reward.
Yesterday, while leaving the grocery store I input an address in my GPS. As I followed the path laid out for me I accidently, slowly, pulled out in front of a car. It was in a parking lot so there was no real danger of getting T-Boned, but the other driver was not real happy. To make things worse another car coming from the other direction had to stop while I was pulled out in the middle of the intersection. A moment of indecision on my part caused the whole group to be at a stand still for a few moments. I recieved two honks and a couple of "warm" gestures for my mistake.
As I, finally, was able to navigate by both cars one driver happily gestured for me to take a gun and kill myself. He was an older gentleman that evidently needed to get somewhere before he died. Nonetheless, he had a point. I should pay attention first to my immediate surroundings and then focus on my destination. It is easy to overlook the journey in hopes of attaining the reward.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Book Review: The Tipping Point
How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference!
Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point is a collection stories about what he terms as "social epidemics". How do things like the American Revolution, Sesame Street, and wars on crime take off from their humble beginnings? The simple answer is that they grow steadily, and in most cases slowly, until they eventual tip and take off into more prominent positions in society.
Many small things around us are easily taken for granted. Your friend that knows "everybody". The graffiti, or lack thereof, in public places. The format of a children's show like Sesame Street. All of these things while appearing to be completely different have one thing in common. They all are products of many small factors that lead to their eventual prominence in our society.
There are many parts to the tipping point, and to describe them all would not only do a disservice to the book, but it would also take me to long. That being said I will focus on a few of the prominent pieces of "social epidemics".
The first being that friend of yours who knows "everybody". Gladwell describes this person as a "connector". Connectors play important roles in the spread of information by creating a network or web of diverse acquaintances. These are the people you can sit down on a plane with and talk to the entire flight with ease. Mastering the loose tie is what a connector is all about. The weak tie is the person who connects friends to other friends, acquaintances to jobs, and patrons to knew restaurants that come highly recommended.
Connectors are one type of person that Gladwell describes as integral to the spread of social epidemics. I will allow you to read the book learn about the other two types. What is important is that the message conveyed by these persons must be adequately "sticky". In other words the message must remain on our mind even when the conveyor of the info is gone. Children's shows like Sesame Street and Blue's Clues master the art of being sticky in order to help children learn. These shows scientifically adapted their program in order to determine what stuck in the minds of young viewers. In that way they went above and beyond what might be sticky for an adult. Advertising, marketing and sales are all dependent on the stickiness of product image. If a product is sufficiently, hip, innovative, or at least marketed effectively it will be more sticky to consumers.
So what is the result. Well, overlooking a great amount of minutea that the book covers that little things we may take for granted can eventually cause a little issue to turn into a "social epidemic". I will let you read the book to discover just how people and messages can play a role in reaching that tipping point. What is important is to realize that little changes can add up to make big changes. This can be both for good or bad.
For example a few degrees of temperature may not FEEL much difference. How different does 65 degrees feel from 67 degrees. Or how much different does 14 degrees feel from 17 degrees? Not much. BUT 65 degrees feels a lot better than 14 degrees. TAKE THAT IOWA.
You can all laugh at me when I come crawling back to Becky and Mike with no money!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thy Ten Commandments
Today I encountered another elderly individual asleep in public. Fortunately, unlike yesterday this man had his pants on. He had an uncanny resemblence to Moses. As I attempted to take a picture of him with my camera phone, this is rude and childish do not attempt unless you are writing a blog about some sort of life journey, he awoke as if the will of god had provoke him. As I turned away and played off the act as if I was using my phone for some other nefarious purpose I decided that there must be a set of guidelines for sleeping in public.
1. Thou shall not snore if under the age of 65.
2. Honor thy neighbor, do not sleep if seated directly next to another individual.
3.Thou shall not sleep while occupying a phone booth, single stall in restroom, or dressing room.
4.Thou shall rest thy head and cover thy face. To prevent embarrassing photography this is a must.Refer to exhibit A.
1. Thou shall not snore if under the age of 65.
2. Honor thy neighbor, do not sleep if seated directly next to another individual.
3.Thou shall not sleep while occupying a phone booth, single stall in restroom, or dressing room.
4.Thou shall rest thy head and cover thy face. To prevent embarrassing photography this is a must.Refer to exhibit A.
5. Sleeping in public is a curve. Baby= Ok, 85 year old male= ok, but in between are varying levels of improper public sleeping.
6.A linear pattern is established for time of day. Morning at around 9 AM= your a lazy bum, but 9PM = your a well rested individual who values a good nights sleep.
7.Value your reputation. If you are an esteemed individual avoid the public cat nap out of fear of negative publicity.
8.Keep your valuables in a safe place. Don't get caught dozing and become the victim of a petty criminal!
9. If snoring is a necessity do it in an area where your loud noises will be less noticed. I.E. my father likes to sleep in the car while waiting for other to get done shopping. His snoring goes undetected thanks to the enclosed area.
10.Honor thy cat nap. 15-20 Minutes is fine, but keep it under 30 or you will begin to lose your esteemed reputation as a productive member of society.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Getting Caught With Your Pants Down
Borders has been sort of my base of operations. Between their free wi-fi and the library's I have been able to get work done. I took a bathroom break during my most recent to see that the first stall was occupied by someones pants on the ground. I proceeded to go to the bathroom. I came to the realization that this man was snoring while sitting on the pot. They do say that it is a good place to read and relax. I guess I'll try taking a nap in the future.
I have been filling out applications and turning in resumes for the past few days. Today I took advantage of some career exploration tools that the city offers to go over the process of getting a job. I discovered that my Phone number was incorrect. Ouch! I am a moron. Pants on the ground. So what am I gonna do? I promptly adjusted the resume and drove to the places I had applied and turned in a new resume. Bonus networking and the good thing is that they know I am willing to fix my errors.
Pull em back up. Pull em back up!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Thankful
As I have grown up I have realized the importance of the things around me. It is to easy to take for granted the many good things in our lives. As I am looking for housing and employment I am taking time to realize just how easy it has been for me in the past because of the help of family and friends. While this new hunt is fun, for now, it also gave me pause to reflect on the fact that I have never had to worry about a roof over my head or money, even though I often was overly concerned with money. The reward of finding a place to live and some type of income will come eventually, for now the flux of life is fun. Other people, less fortunate than myself, have it a lot worse.
I am looking at my situation as a challenge. It shows my naivete. Other people look at job hunts and housing hunts as critical to their survival. I took this trip to get away from the security blanket in order to try to develop as a person. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in life, in fact at some point I think it becomes the ultimate desire. For me, in my current place, I am looking to branch out. Many people do not even get the opportunity to "branch out". Instead they must act out of necessity with little concern about "growing" and instead must be focused on survival.
I am thankful for the people who love and support me in my life, as well as the opportunities that they have granted me. I guess even my perspective grants me the ability to say that "The Journey is The Reward". Many people's lives are not a journey, but a struggle.
Comedic Part of the day: After that mystifying note on thankfulness I think it is appropriate to lighten the mood with a bit of humor. I left my sunglasses on the roof of the luxurious 1997 Honda Civic while I was turning in a few job applications. I heard a light scratching as I drove about a block. Then I saw the glasses slide down the back of my vehicle to be immediately crushed by a "soccer moms" SUV. I am thankful I didn't put my phone on the roof, checks pockets, and that the sunglasses were found two years ago and not purchased.
I am looking at my situation as a challenge. It shows my naivete. Other people look at job hunts and housing hunts as critical to their survival. I took this trip to get away from the security blanket in order to try to develop as a person. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in life, in fact at some point I think it becomes the ultimate desire. For me, in my current place, I am looking to branch out. Many people do not even get the opportunity to "branch out". Instead they must act out of necessity with little concern about "growing" and instead must be focused on survival.
I am thankful for the people who love and support me in my life, as well as the opportunities that they have granted me. I guess even my perspective grants me the ability to say that "The Journey is The Reward". Many people's lives are not a journey, but a struggle.
Comedic Part of the day: After that mystifying note on thankfulness I think it is appropriate to lighten the mood with a bit of humor. I left my sunglasses on the roof of the luxurious 1997 Honda Civic while I was turning in a few job applications. I heard a light scratching as I drove about a block. Then I saw the glasses slide down the back of my vehicle to be immediately crushed by a "soccer moms" SUV. I am thankful I didn't put my phone on the roof, checks pockets, and that the sunglasses were found two years ago and not purchased.
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