Focus

Sometimes, a person loves something so much that it is all they think about. For my dad at the moment, it is fixing our house to sell, and finding the right house to move into. For me, at least until Friday, it was Dave Matthews Band. We had tickets for a few months to the show on Friday, and the closer the show came, the more obsessed I became.

The picture above is the album cover from their latest release, Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King . Friday's show was part of their 2009 summer tour supporting the album, which is largely about their late saxophonist, Leroi Moore. The show was a blast, and I will never forget it, but it's not the show that I want to discuss.

"Hype" can get really big. The hype in my life for this event was enormous. I thought about the show every day after we got tickets. I listened to DMB songs almost every day. The only CD for a straight two weeks was the new one, and it was the only thing that was played for those two weeks. I was more excited for this concert than I have been for nearly everything else that I've done. It ended up being one of the coolest things I've seen, right behind Africa (Which was also this year. Yeah, big year for the Irish American).

Not only was I excited, I was incredibly focused on it. I bought songs, learned their history, the members, and listened to them constantly. I have found that I get like this when I am truly excited for something. It was the same way with my Africa trip. My computer was only used to learn about South Africa, look at pictures of South Africa, and to learn what I would be doing in South Africa. If there is one way to tell how excited a person is for something, this has to be it. When they are completely taken over by the subject, they are truly excited. Other times, they may say they are excited, but maybe not as much as they could be.

It is focus that truly shows what we enjoy, because if we didn't love it, why would we focus on it? People who are incredibly good at what they do, are likely very focused in their work. They also likely enjoy their work tremendously, or else they wouldn't work so hard. Why would you develop a skill that you don't enjoy and isn't necessary to survive? True focus, in this way, is reserved only for the things which we love.

Psych Out

Our baseball coach often tells us, "Baseball is only ten percent physical, the other ninety percent is all mental." He says this because he wants us to realize that we have to be not only physically prepared, but to be mentally prepared and in a state to win. This manner of thought applies not only to baseball, though. It applies to nearly all facets of life.

Whenever I am scheduled to work and someone asks me to do something, I might tell them, "I have to work tonight." That is usually not the case though. I don't have to work. In fact, it is more truthful to simply say that I am going to work, or that I want to work. No one has to work. Ever. If you wanted to, you could never work a day in your life, but you wouldn't be very happy because you wouldn't have anything. Saying that one has to work is a mental "psych-out". By saying that you have to work, you don't look forward to working, to the reward you will get for your hard work come payday. This is why I now try my hardest to not say that I have to work, but instead that I am going to work, or that I work.

Similarly, people psych themselves out by saying that they can't do something before try, or that they don't like a certain food before they try it. I have done this myself on many occasions. Confidence, on the other hand, can foster success. If you go up to the plate planning on getting a hit, you have a better chance of getting one, simply because you have put your mind in a state that is ready to get a hit. If you go up to the plate hoping for a hit, or expecting a strikeout, you have put your mind in a state that won't get you a hit. You have psyched yourself out.

An example of my own psych-out or psych-up:

Often, I have a lot of homework. More than often, it is so much that it is challenging to finish all of it without staying up until two in the morning. Sometimes, I tell myself, "Oh wow, I don't think I'll get this done. What is the most imperative to get done first." While it is important to prioritize, I am likely going to not do the "less" important work. One thing I do that can be both good and bad, is that I set a goal for bedtime, usually 10:00. This goal sometimes ends up becoming an excuse for not doing some work. Other times, it helps me to get work done so that I can go to bed, for I value sleep more and more these days.

How do I mentally prepare for the work? If I am in an exceptionally good mood, and not tired of doing school work, I will tell myself, "OK, we're getting it done tonight, no matter what it takes." When I take this route, I get things done, even if I stay up late. This method is normally reserved for projects that I had put off until the last minute, but I have started to think that I should use it more often. Like baseball, I am physically prepared to do the work (other than when sleep deprivation kicks in, or my mind is shot from a long day at school), but I need to get mentally prepared to be productive, even if it is a challenge.

Corn Diplomacy

50 years ago today, September 23, two days before my mother was born, Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev was in my very own state of Iowa! Why, you ask, would a Soviet leader be in the meager state of Iowa? Well, Mr. Kruu.... was in a little town in Iowa called Coon Rapids, on a farm owned by one Roswell Garst.

Mr. Garst did some pretty awesome things during his life. The man was an executive of a hybrid seed company, one of the largest at the time, but often used the business for other motives. He traveled throughout the United States and around the world advocating improved food production, including the use of hybrid corn technology. While traveling around the globe, Garst was more than a corn man, he was an ambassador. His work helped to improve food production in many countries, and he continued selling corn to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. In 1959, Garst hosted then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev on his farm. This trip was very diplomatic during a time when relations between the US and the Soviet Union were rather tense.

Who would have thought that corn, a mere food plant, could create such diplomacy? I congratulate Roswell Garst for using his line of work to do something so great for the world. Garst used corn to improve the lives of people that he never knew, and probably people that weren't even born yet. He also used corn to create ties between countries at odds.

This what we need in today's world: unconventional diplomacy. You know, the sort of peace making that occurs not in the aristocracy of government, but among the multitudes of people. True, Krushchev was a government man, but he wasn't brought here by the President, but by a farmer and businessman. Garst was doing what he believed was right at that time, and it was a great move. Not only had the man improved agriculture in many countries, making food available for thousands, but now he had become a true diplomat. He brought the highest level official from a rather hostile country to the US, not to discuss politics (although it did come up), but to discuss business and agriculture. However, the visit ended up being a somewhat political event, bringing the two countries together. It was unconventional diplomacy, started by corn, that worked for Garst and the US then, so let's try some now and see what happens.

Applause

I would like to take a few moments to recognize everyone out there who puts effort into what they do, even if they're only good at that one thing. You are my kind of people. Talents should be taken advantage of, and the only way to use them is to put effort into that activity. There are people out there who seemingly float through life as if nothing matters, which is totally wrong. Everything matters; we are only here for a short time, so I believe everyone should use their gifts to do something productive for everyone who doesn't possess those talents. Most of us aren't able to produce beautiful music, but the people that show up on the radio and sell lots of music are people who use their talents to provide us all with music that we enjoy. Not all of us can perform surgery, but some are, and the ones that work hard to develop those talents help all of us simpletons lead healthy lives.

Within a week, three people have quit from my work. All three of these girls have held tons of jobs. They've had more jobs already at no more than 20 years old than I ever plan on having! I find it hard to believe that job-hopping from restaurant to restaurant is often considered developing your natural talents. This is why I applaud everyone out there who put in effort to be the best that they can be. These are the kind of people who hold jobs, and who eventually get promoted!

In school, there are two, possibly three general levels of effort. At the top of the scale are the kids who try hard to be the best. They participate in everything, take the tough classes. These kids care about school, and want to do well. The next level I would say contains the highest number of people. This level would be the kids who maybe don't enjoy school, but they still do their work, and participate in activities, because they like those more than the academics. Then there are the students who only go to school because they can't drop out for some reason. Kids in this category probably arrive at the bell and leave just after the last one. They take the easiest classes possible, and some don't even try in those courses. I'm definitely not saying that all kids fall into these categories, but I think that a fair few probably do

The last category is the one that I don't understand. I could be wrong, they could be focused on something that doesn't have to do with school at all but is still productive, and that's awesome. I support that, but I still think that if they can put effort into that activity, then they can put some sort of effort into school. It's the people that seem to not care about anything that I question. Some people only show up at school, nothing else, and then if they do work, they only do it for the money, and probably don't last anywhere for very long.

For me, I need the things I do to matter, either to me or to other people. I go to school because it will help me to achieve in the future. I volunteer because it helps people, and I enjoy it. I will admit, I go to work for the money, because after all, I don't plan to be working in a restaurant the rest of my life. However, I like to think that I don't slack off. This may be because I like to have things to do, but also because I think if I am getting paid to be there, I should be helping the restaurant be the best while I am there. I also don't like to let my co-workers or teammates down, so I try to do my part, as well as whatever else I can do to help.

Therefore, I appreciate everyone else out there who puts in effort, anyone who cares about what they do. If everyone put effort into something, especially something that they are talented at, we would have an awesome place to live in. There are plenty of ways to do something productive, and plenty of people out there to help, so it's just not good enough to wander through life. So, thank you if you're doing something for yourself or others. You rock!

Just For Laughs

These days, we have many varied ways of communicating, mostly through the internet and the phone. On the internet we can find people that we have never met, something that is difficult to do over the phone unless you start pushing random buttons. These services have allowed us as humans to meet people that we normally wouldn't. However, 25 years ago, the internet wasn't available, so people either knew people, met them in person, or never knew them. How were you ever supposed to find your perfect match? It probably seemed like a daunting task until one day, someone thought to make these:








That must have solved the problem...


Look at those poor guys. We laugh at them now, with their funny clothes, dirty sanchezes, and their awesome hair-dos, but there are modern versions of these guys out there. Know anybody who is on E-harmony? How about anybody that puts personal ads in the paper?


I just wonder, why would these guys use this video-mate service, and tell the lady viewers that they wear funny socks? It seems like a waste of time, but I'll give these guys credit. They are honest. Maybe it's the fact that they don't have to look at the viewer that gives them the courage to say some of these things.


Even if they are brave, or simply more outgoing in front of a camera, watching these videos is a great time for us. Nobody does video dating anymore that I know of, so it's hard for me to imagine someone actually expecting it to work. Did any of these guys actually get called? They could have thought the same thing about people in 2009, though. The idea of meeting someone over an internet connection, where you might not even see pictures, does seem absurd if you take a minute to step in their shoes.



If all of these different ways of meeting people are funny, why do people keep using them? I think it's fairly simple: people have a need for someone else who will be their friend.

Kanye...Kanye...Kanye...

What is wrong with Kanye West? I really like some of his songs, but seriously? He needs to quit trying to be an "activist". His "activism" is not really helping anyone, in my opinion. First, he bashed on former President George Bush, saying he hated black people. Honestly, the racism card is going out of style! It's hard to say this country is racist when we have voted a black man into the White House. How can you top bashing on the President of the United States of America? You can't, but you can sure try, and guess what? Kanye did. The first act gained him the hate of many Bush supporters, and maybe even some non-Bush people. Now, though, after his incident at the 2009 VMA's, he has gained the hatred of millions of young girls out there that love their Taylor Swift.



I don't know if I totally disagree with him. I do think any video Beyonce puts out is better than Taylor Swift's, but saying that on stage is absolutely inappropriate. Say something like that after the show, instead of ruining the girl's moment. Beyonce probably already has enough VMA's that she doesn't really care about that specific award. Taylor Swift, however, might only have a few, if any, so any award that she wins is huge.



I almost feel bad for Kanye West. He has to keep coming up with new ideas to stay in the spotlight. After the Gold Digger hype, his fame dwindled some, so he totally re-made his look and music into what his current music is with Stronger and Heartless. These acts that he keeps committing are hurting his image. He could be one of the best artists of our time if he didn't keep bashing on people. Instead, he's just another crazy celebrity.

Favoritism

As I sit here trying to finish my homework late at night due to a night at work, I listen to some music on Pandora, I have come up with a good question that baffles me every time someone asks it. The common query: What is your favorite kind of music? Also very related: Who's your favorite singer, or what's your favorite book, favorite movie, etc. My reply to all of these is, why do I have to have a favorite? The one inquiry into my interests that bothers me, and is impossible to answer, is: what kind of music is on your iPod?

For me, what is on my iPod is, first of all, whatever I like. I try not to simply buy the music that is popular at the time (although that does happen), rather than buy a song that I enjoy. Being a musical person, I always listen to the music behind the lyrics. Lackluster beats just don't get me as excited as an intricate bass line does. People who look at my iPod might think I am strange due to my wide variety of music genres. When I say I have everything, I do not lie. My in-pocket musical library contains anything from "gangsta" rap to Sibelius violin concertos. This is why these questions about favorites are so difficult for me to understand, and to answer. How am I supposed to tell you my favorite genre when I like them all, when I listen to them all. Maybe next time I should just fool them and say Irish polka rap...or maybe not. I think my best answer to the question is music with depth.

Why do we ask others what their favorites are, though? As children we are asked what our favorite color is, or our favorite animal. The obvious answer to me is that we are simply very interested in other people. We want to know about them, and these questions are conduits for us to access their personality. I spoke earlier of my seemingly wide variety of music genres, which now, when thinking of our favorites as aspects of personality, has a much different meaning. While some people have a definite favorite conventional genre (rap, country, classical), others might not have a single favorite in these everyday genres. Instead, these individuals look for qualities in the music other than the label given to it. A good example that comes to mind is Hope by Twista and Faith Evans. Some people enjoy the lyrics and rhymes that Twista delivers much like a rap song. Other people might listen to the song from another viewpoint, focusing on the strings in the background (Yes, rap musicians do use strings sometimes) as well as the light percussion. The common "genre" on the iPods of these people would be musical music.

Questions about favorites are so difficult to answer, as well. Haven't you been asked by someone what your favorite movie is and simply been unable to answer? The category of Movie contains an extreme number of films that to pick one that is my favorite, at least for me, is a daunting challenge. Plus, it is so hard to decide what is better between a fingernail-biting action/suspense movie and a tear jerking Nicholas Sparks type movie. The way they cause emotions is so different and so profound in their respective ways, that to decide which one is "better" is nearly impossible. One solution could be to ask, what's your favorite action movie, or your favorite sad movie. Asking these, however, would be odd as well, because you still don't know which one they like more! Therefore, my friends, the question of favorites will always be asked, and you will always be expected to have an answer ready. You could do like me and say Irish polka rap, or you could just pick one of your top 5 and say that's your favorite. If you feel bad about placing that one above the others, take your top 7 (I know, it's hard to pick that, too) and pick one as your favorite for each day of the week.

Did you ask?

I really don't know if there is a way to write significant amounts of anything about people and avoid hitting on the subject of relationships. But I don't know if I really want to go into it too much right now. I think a good place to start is with something that is current at our school: homecoming. It such a different general feeling than during the rest of the year. Everyone is pairing up with the opposite sex and grouping up with other "couples". The hot topic nearly every day is who is going with who, how Joe asked Jill, etc.



One item that a few of my friends have expressed interest in is the fact that their girlfriends still expect them to ask them to the dance. Yes, a man's girlfriend, for some unknown reason, still expects him to ask her to an event that they both know they are going to attend together. It's not like he's going to ask or go with someone else, yet he must put flowers in her car, or surprise her at a cross-country meet with a sign (props to N.N. for that idea, although unused. Also, no I do not have a girlfriend). Is there some romantic gene that is only present in the female gender that possesses them to desire this confirmation of a partnership? I don't know if I'm alone, but I think it would just be a waste of time and money creating a special way to ask the person you already know you're going with. I really don't have much else to say on this point; it's just too odd.

To go or not?

Oddly, an event just two days ago fits perfectly as a first topic. Two days ago, my father went to the ER to be examined for chest pressure. He's fine, which is why I am ok to share this with everyone, and is also why no one should worry. One might think a person with chest pressure, a quite serious symptom, would maybe have someone take them to the hospital, and right away. Not Mr. Irish American Sr. He started feeling it around eight in the morning and didn't go to the hospital until one in the afternoon. If that wasn't bad enough, he drove himself...from 30 miles away.

This is why I would like to pose the question: why do people down-play symptoms that can be quite serious for other people? I think this is a difficult question, as everyone reacts differently to different situations. My dad reacted with worry, but skepticism, and went after a great deal of contemplation. Although I would like to think that I would go immediately, I would most likely do the same as he did. This worries me though. How many people wait to go in to get seen and end up with more damage, or even dying?

Part of the problem may be our hospital system that we have in the United States, and in Iowa. Our emergency rooms can gain bad reputations with long waits, but the truth is, they really know what they’re doing. I volunteer every week in the same emergency room that my father visited, and I know they will do everything they can to make you happier and healthier than when you entered. So I beg everyone in a serious condition who might put off a visit to the ER to just go! This is especially true for anything heart-related like chest pains. They will get you in first, without question. (That is unless someone is on the verge of death)

I guess I just wonder why some humans downplay their medical problems so much, while others totally exaggerate them. The people who downplay theirs are missing out on the chance of improving their way of life by getting treatment. The people who exaggerate them are wasting their time, and congesting the system that some people need so badly. (Enter higher health costs due to people that can’t pay for their worrying) But if I had to recommend a person to be one way or the other, I’m not sure which one I would pick. On the one side, not getting treated can hurt you and others around you. However, worrying too much can also hurt yourself and others.

Odd? I say yes.

Hello World

Hello all! My goal for this blog is to record and discuss things we as humans do. What things do we do that are seemingly "odd"? How do we interact in unique ways? Most of the things I talk about will probably be things that I have observed my self or possibly from news stories, YouTube videos... it could be anything. When it is available online, I will provide the reader with access so that they can see what I'm talking about. I would like to simply discuss these things with all of you readers, and maybe we will all be left wondering, why?