My Post Grad Library

Today I finished my fourth piece of classic Russian literature since graduating college. I'm not sure how I embarked upon my classics binge, I simply figured that a book is not considered a classic by mistake. My latest installment was Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. Many balk at reading a dark novel for pleasure, but the content is not so much my concern instead I focus on the writing itself. Dostoyevsky has become one of my favorite authors after having read a pair of his books. In Crime and Punishment he details the events of a criminal over a short period of time: before, during and after a murder. One aspect that I enjoy overwhelmingly is the depth of the main character. In particular Dostoyevsky's ability to complicate him and take him from a despicable character to a complex, troubled, but overal decent person. Another fascinating aspect was the psychology of the main character at different phases and the way it was explored.

I read The Brothers Karamazov upon a friend's suggestion and became immersed in it almost immediately. Easily one of my favorite books of all time. The juxtaposition of the three brothers and their strained relations with their father, all the while they all have at least a bit in common, which made for great reading. I suppose having now read two Dostoevsky novels he tends to include tragic aspects. This book creates great suspense and a true relationship with its characters. The length of the book can be a bit daunting at first (over 1100 pages) but with such great storytelling I found myself wanting more. The book explores so many themes and areas beautifully. The idea of spirituality is discussed throughout, with each brother representing a different viewpoint, and it helps make the entire novel incredibly thought provoking.


George Orwell's 1984 is a chilling and in many ways terrifying novel. The most worrisome part of the post apocalyptic classic is the distinct aspects that can be reflected or predicted in our own society. We are certainly a long way off from Orwell's Big Brother, but there are many things that struck me as eerily reminiscent as I was reading. The book is certainly captivating and a lesson to be taken seriously. Many read this book as part of a curriculum in school, but certainly a good one to go back to and look at it again.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is considered by many one of the best novels written. I found it to be wonderfully written and painfully interesting. Looking back now there are certain similarities that I can draw between Lolita and Crime and Punishment. The way both books look into the psychology of unusual minds fascinated me. Lolita tells the story of a love affair between a middle aged man and a young girl, who becomes his obsession. An interesting look at love in a very uncommon way. The main character goes to great lengths to pursue her despite his realization that his imagined life cannot be reality.

Cloud Atlas was another recommendation from an avid reader, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The first half of the book gives portions of six stories going in order from earliest (1800's) to latest (sometime way in the future) with little or very subtle indications that the stories are related. Each portion is written in a various style too. A journal, letters, diary, spoken, etc. which adds a very intriguing element to the book. The second half begins the descent down the ladder, finishing each story and connecting them in unexpected ways. The book explores the theme of connectivity among generations and was a fascinating and very fresh novel. Recently made into a movie, which not only did not do the book justice but the directors seemed to manipulate it into their own perception.


Anna Karenina was an incredibly beautiful and tragic novel. Leo Tolstoy is easily amongst my favorite authors and this stands out as one of his best. The various story lines that he creates in his novels exploring various themes, which are prevalent now as they were centuries ago, are artfully crafted. His style of writing and ability to set up a scene bring you into a story. Anna Karenina delves into the subjects of love, betrayal, pride, shame and so much more. The film was recently released, and I, like so many readers before, profess the superiority of the book, but emphatically I say the film did not even seem to try to capture the true essence of the novel.



War and Peace currently sits atop the list of my favorite books. A bit more daunting in its length (1400+) and deep subject matter, but it could not be more worth the trials and tribulations of getting through. At times profound and transcendent through its subjects of high society in Russia during the Napoleonic era, Tolstoy tells a marvelous story. Various story lines are again prevalent in this Tolstoy masterpiece and are intertwined perfectly. The ability to switch from scenes of battle to scenes of courtship, stirring up various emotions and calling upon philosophy give this novel such a unique greatness. If ever I were to recommend a book it would be this one. Not necessarily an easy read but certainly worth the time.

I have mixed in a few other books since the end of my college career. I read The Hunger Games series to take a break from all the heavy stuff. I enjoyed it but found that by the end the author didn't exactly seem to know where she was going with it. A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by the author of the Kite Runner, told a beautiful story of Afghanistan and the struggles of women through the lens of two generations during multiple wars. I listened to a book (George Orwell's Animal Farm) on tape, which is highly out of character for me, but I enjoyed it immensely, especially when the reader sang. As for whats next I'm still undecided. Obviously I'm impartial to Russian literature, but something different may be in order.





 

HockeyTown

The Shortcomings of Jim Leyland

I am an avid Tigers fan. I watch quite a bit of baseball between March and October. Jim Leyland is the manager in Detroit and he is well respected amongst those in baseball. I share a lot of the respect, but there are times when I'm ready to give up on the old timer. Today is one of those days.

Just a few minutes ago the Tigers lost a game they should've easily won. A 3-2 lead in the 8th inning and Jim decides this is the perfect time to debut the recently called-up rookie Bruce Rondon. Now, I know the kid has tallent, and I know that he needs to learn to pitch in late inning situations, but first he just needs to become acquainted with the big leagues. Rondon reportedly had to be talked out of quitting baseball after finding out he was not going to start the year in the majors. He has not exactly matured yet. So he gives up a run. Not bad, tie game. We go into extras. Jim sticks with Phil Coke for a second inning. Typically relievers only throw one inning, but when extra innings are looming you tend to stretch them out. But this situation played out just a few days ago and it didn't exactly go well. So you would think you might try someone else this time, but 5 runs later the Tigers have no chance and they drop the 5th of their last 6.

I think Jim Leyland has an enormous knowledge about the game of baseball. I think he does a good job in the clubhouse and keeps his team loose and in order. But he is far too loyal to his players. He is always beyond optimistic in running a struggling guy back out there to blow another opportunity or keep the slump going.

Another annoying facet of Leyland's is his coaching staff. Jim employs his friends. I get that you want guys that you trust, but when there aren't results, when those guys have no business coaching big leaguers you'd think a change would be made. Wrong. You can't blame the coaching staff really, but theres a reason its there and I don't see why Detroit is not interested in having a few better options to help out.

The Tigers have been the best team in the central for nearly half a decade, but there have been few regular seasons that they've actually played that way. A manager isn't everything, but a good one goes a long way (Joe Maddon) in getting the best out of every guy on the roster.

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Professional Sports

As an employee of a sports entity and a fan of sports for the majority of my short life, I have an unshakable belief of the rampant usage of performance enhancing drugs throughout the professional sphere of sports and beyond. I, like most around me, take a hard lined, politically correct approach against such widespread cheating. There is a real and immediate advantage coupled with long term consequences.

Baseball is a sport that has been at the center of PED's for a little over the past decade. While there have been strong improvements relative to other professional sports there is still a long way to go. By rough estimations from people I've talked to it would not surprise me if anywhere from 40-75% of players are still using performance enhancers to recover quickly. Whether that is cynical or realistic I cannot say, but I'm inclined to go with the latter.

A while back I read a Bill Simmons article on his take of PED's in professional sports. One point I would like to latch on to is the fact that there is no leading figure among the clean players who is taking a stand against those that are dirty. An example I would like to see is Derek Jeter. Hardly a guy who would be using drugs, which is made more obvious by his lengthy return from injury, he should be the figure head for a campaign against PED's in baseball. If I'm Derek Jeter or anyone like him and I've gotten to the place I have the right way I want to punish those who have cheated to get there or stay there. The problem being that his peers and co-workers would likely ostracize him or anyone else who used their voice to try and clean up the game.

The worst part of it all is that I think a lot of guys coming up through the ranks of professional baseball feel forced to take steroids or other performance enhancers just to keep up. The way the game is now in order to compete you have to be dirty or an unnatural specimen to begin with. Not only is it terrible that one feels he has to cheat to compete, but the things he has to do to his body and the detrimental effects seen later in life, which could be avoided if the game were cleaned up.

I don't know if it can be done, and I admire Bud Selig for trying, but it always seems like the cheaters are a step ahead of the good guys. Unless the veterans, the clean ones, the ones who've done it the right way stand up to stigmatize the behavior and police their own clubhouses it will be a long time before were back to a level playing field.

A True Professional: Mr. Tiger

Today I had the opportunity to eat lunch and have a conversation with one of the greatest Detroit Tigers of all-time: Al Kaline. The hall of famer who now works in the Detroit front office was down in Lakeland to watch Jose Valverde, who is likely to reassume the role of closer for the Tigers next month.

This is the second time I've gotten to sit down with Mr. Kaline and each time he has left the same overwhelming impression on me. For a man of his status and with all his accolades he is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. He will have a conversation with anyone around him and treat him in the same manner he would a friend. I don't know if his amiable nature is the product of a bygone era or if he is just a needle in the haystack, but I highly doubt an equivalent superstar in today's game would act similarly.

We talked about a variety of things: the conditions of Detroit, the educational system, how Jose Valverde looked on the mound, but it did not matter what we talked about Al Kaline was engaged and friendly. Its always amazing to watch what some athletes can do physically on the greatest stage, but sometimes its more impressive to meet one and find out he's just like the rest of us.

Al Kaline Statue at Comerica Park

We're doing it wrong...

NCAA Profit Distribution: An Unsolvable Problem

Last night was the Men's Division I National Championship in basketball. Louisville won, as I anticipated, and I can't help but believing their run after the Kevin Ware injury and especially their comeback over Wichita State were too good to be true. However, this post is not a reflection of my cynicism of college or professional basketball but instead an argument for paying the players that bring in all the revenue from the most popular college playoff tournament in all the world.
The NCAA opposes the idea because they feel the athletes are being compensated with a "world class education." However, that education does not even begin to match the monetary compensation a star athlete would receive if they were to get a cut of the billions of dollars brought in every year by NCAA sports. The NCAA uses the likeness of a player to make money as well. Jerseys with the names of players are sold and yet not a penny goes back to that player with his name on the back. But if a player turns around and decides to sell his own jersey that could mean huge penalties for the university and the player.
I feel adamantly about paying athletes because they bring in the revenues, but how to do it is incredibly complicated. Do the best players get the biggest cut? Is that determined by seniority or statistics or some other factor? And if it isn't based entirely on play will there need to be a draft instead of just recruiting. If it does go to a draft then who would participate? Just the four major conferences, shutting the door on all smaller schools who are trying to compete?
Regardless of how it works I think it needs to happen. If a star player gets a career ending injury in college he is losing millions upon millions of dollars because he never had the opportunity to play in the pros. And on top of that they could lose their scholarship because they are no longer playing for the university. Compensation needs to be real, players deserve their cut, because without them none of those billionaires who see the greatest share would be seeing anything.

Here is someone who can articulate this argument a lot better than myself theatlantic.com

A Beginning's End

Only about a month ago I wrote with eager anticipation of my first Spring Training game as the Announcer for the Detroit Tigers. I write now having survived and flourished through the entire spring season save one game. One exhibition contest remains in Lakeland and my 15 minutes are all but up. I am thrilled with the experience having reflected on it only briefly. The games flew by but I will undoubtedly remember them for a long time to come. Based on my new nickname "voice of the tigers," adopted by my bosses, I feel that I've exceeded not only my own expectations but their's as well. 

While so much good has come from this past month I can say with relative confidence that sports is not my career calling. I don't know what I am more passionate about than sports, which can be frustrating at times, but I feel as though I am more suited to be a fan. I say this for a variety of reasons. Going behind the scenes is fascinating but when you get caught up in the business and entertainment aspect of this industry everything happening on the field loses some meaning. The hours are designed to be unpleasant. Yes, you are working a sporting event, but its still work and over time it begins to feel like work, although maybe not as much. And all those nights and weekends spent with coworkers over friends makes for somewhat of an unnatural social life. My last gripe about the sports industry is the pay. I've found that many end up taking a pay cut for similar jobs simply to be in sports and I no longer feel thats worth it. 

But, even with all this I am excited to spend this next year, potentially my last, in sports. I will announce for the minor league affiliate of the Tigers and continue living the dream for a short while longer. So as I bid adieu to spring training I look forward to searching for what is meant to follow as I enjoy the rest of my time in baseball.

 

One of My Favorite Artists: Billy Joel

I have liked Billy Joel since I was introduced to him at a very young age by my father. But, after seeing him live in concert twice my appreciation for the Piano Man grew enormously. He differentiates himself from most other performers with his stage presence and I think the above video captures that.

Climbing

- Watch More Funny Videos I was terrified the entire time I was watching this. Glad this isn't my job.

Longing to Travel

Like Theres No Tomorrow

We have all heard the cliché "live like there is no tomorrow" or "act as if each day is your last." The same basic principle: don't waste your time doing things you don't like, don't put off your dreams, goals and adventures. And while I can agree with the idea behind it, this particular cliché almost always upsets me.

One cannot truly live as if it is their last day on Earth without substantial proof that it is such. Or without complete disregard to the future. I think of it in this way, if I knew I would die tomorrow I would take huge risks, without a moments thought of the consequences. I would completely forget about my momentary worries and do radical things, dropping everything, spending everything. And when I wake up tomorrow I've set myself back a month or a year financially. Sure I probably had a great day, if I did not die, but the argument boils down to a preference toward one amazing day or a good life with plenty of great days sprinkled in.

I don't think its natural to plant yourself behind a computer or sit in an office all the time and constantly delay gratification. That's why I get behind the cliché "Live in the moment." A very similar idea, but more realistic. Life requires spontaneity, stepping outside of comfort zones and adventures leading to new experiences. You can't simply stop everything and go for broke, but you can shake the dust and break the routine. I am willing to work hard to realize the life I dream to live, but I will never allow that work to usurp my life.

Wake Up America

My Own Insignificance

Lately I have been on a frustrating quest to find my passion and my purpose in life. This lofty but personal question is something I've found very difficult to answer. I want to know where to put my energy and focus so that I can pursue whatever it is I love to do. Lists full of goals, dreams, weaknesses and interests have brought me no closer to an answer. Often the words of wisdom will ring through my head, "you are not alone, many people before you have gone through the same thing." So where is the manual? Where is the guide that will alleviate this frustration? But I suppose with such a personal inquiry the journey must also be equally as unique.

However, I have the ability to take a step back from my first world problems and examine things from a new perspective. Videos like this one from Neil deGrasse Tyson fascinate me. But, I look at things a bit differently from this brilliant man. While he feels bigger and empowered to know that we are made up of this universe, I enjoy the idea of my insignificance. I like knowing that the problems I am having today or will have in the future are so meaningless when considering the vastness and extent of everything. Not to say our human existence lacks value, but in the grand scheme it is simply a grain of sand amongst all the world's beaches. We give our lives such great importance because its all we know, have known and will ever know. But in terms of the universe humans are but the blink of an eye.

I love to stare into the sky and look at the stars. Think of what has taken place a billion years before and what will come over the next billion years. To even try to comprehend all that is difficult. But when I put myself into that perspective, my life of about a century seems so beautifully unimportant. And based on such an idea I say to myself, if my life is truly insignificant what should I do with my short allowance of time. Often the best answers are: see the small bit of the universe I can reach and help those around me to enjoy their short existence. We live in a beautiful place and it would be a shame to allow relatively new, manmade confines of society prevent me from seeing it with the company I wish to share it.

Economic Hitmen

Over the Loudspeaker

A week ago I wrote about my anxiousness toward my upcoming debut as the Public Address Announcer at the Detroit Tigers spring training. Over the weekend that moment finally came. While I was nervous, I had mentally prepared myself for those first words and once I got those out I could breath again. The experience was amazing. The energy, the response, the game and everything that went along with it. I made only a few mistakes (a lot better than I was expecting) and I received high praise from my bosses and peers.

One person that I was trying greatly not to upset was the official scorer and director of media relations for the tigers. He sits right next to me. Last year he was known to argue with the announcer over his mistakes. So when he gave me what I believe to be a compliment I was somewhat elated. He asked me, "where does that voice come from? You weigh all of 12 pounds." He did also tell me at the end of the game that I'd done a good job.

I am excited to have the opportunity to announce a whole season's worth of games. It will be a long year, but certainly a memorable experience. Luckily, it seems highly unlikely that I will ever tire of baseball.

Witness to a Sad Scene

Earlier today I was running along a paved trail near my house. About two miles into my run something completely unexpected happened. A deer bolted out of the woods to my right about 20 feet in front of me. It ran full speed into Markam Woods Road crossing the first lane but t-boned a car in the second lane. The sound was gut wrenching. The deer was on its side in the middle of the road still moving. Traffic continued to flow by. I was next to a church and found a woman inside and she called 911, but after calling we went out to check and the deer was gone. I continued on my run but my thoughts did not stray far from the shocking event that had just occurred in front of me.

My first thoughts as I continued down the trail were sad. It was horrible to see that happen to an animal. I became upset that things like this probably occur quite often in areas far from here. Humans have and continue to leave such an unnatural footprint on our world. We have created an infrastructure that is geared toward our convenience and our comfort with little thought of the consequences. There may have been a time when people lived harmoniously with all living things in this world, but it seems that now our existence is a detriment to everything that is not human. Not to say that human advancement has not been great, in many regards it has, but I think we've gone too far. In certain areas, especially in my immediate area, there is so much ugliness. Everything is built up with strip malls, parking lots, roads, highways, office buildings, restaurants, etc. Within the last century this area like many others in Florida was probably beautiful with an abundance of nature. I understand the need for cities and non-rural areas, but the urban sprawl covers too much of this marvelous nation. There are so many things humans could be doing better to live symbiotically with the rest of the world, but few remember or realize there is an alternative way of life.

The Internet is a Series of Tubes

Corporations ruin America.

Game One

As of Saturday, February 23, 2013 I am to be employed, at least for the short term, as a Public Address announcer in Lakeland, FL. This fact has occupied my mind quite incessantly for the past few days as my first appearance on the mic is looming. Nervous excitement is the feeling that clouds my daily thoughts as I prepare myself for this new experience. I love baseball, and I follow the Detroit Tigers almost obsessively. So, the fact that I will be calling out the names of those that represent the team I love is both surreal and terrifying.

My mantra during the past few days has been a phrase borrowed from JFK. "The only thing I have to fear, is fear itself". I have come to truly believe these words, if only in the way I apply them to this situation. I am confident in my ability to do my job successfully. And it is in this confidence that I believe the only way I will do poorly is if I allow the nervousness created by my fear of failure to affect my performance. By eliminating fear I feel I eliminate any true probability of failure.

But, as I get closer and my thoughts dwell longer on those first audible words that will introduce myself to a crowd of thousands it is difficult not to become a bit anxious. My goal is to do the job perfectly. I don't know what it is I want to do with my life, but maybe this experience could help guide me to wherever it is I should ultimately end up. Regardless of how Saturday goes or any of the many games to follow, I am unshakably certain I will look back and marvel at the opportunity I have been given.


The great Ernie Harwell inspires me.

Plastic

This video sheds light on an awful problem of which we are all partially at fault.

Happiness

I just watched the President's State of the Union address to congress. My reaction is good, I liked it. I almost always enjoy when the President speaks. However, the cynic in me feels that regardless of his uplifting rhetoric and well thought out plans, there is little hope of intelligent progress. Obviously I am frustrated (like most of the country) with American politics. But that is not the point of this post.

A thought occurred to me about halfway through the speech: I did not recall hearing the word "happiness". I could be wrong, I certainly did not have a copy in front of me and I'll admit there were points when I did not give the President my full attention, but I did watch the speech in its entirety. The problem I had was not the lack of the word itself, but the entire idea of happiness was missing. As a country we are slipping in our rank of nations in terms of happiness (according to Forbes). Currently, the United States is rated 12th. Certainly not a bad mark, but I do not feel the USA is climbing that list but is instead declining. Education, sustainable energy, lower unemployment are all valuable targets to emphasize, but why not explicitly launch an effort to ease the pursuit of happiness. I believe many policies and goals in this nation do facilitate happiness, but I think the USA should be interested in making its citizens happier over wealthier.

The American Dream is not, or at least is no longer, an attempt to secure a happy life, but a hope for capitalistic wealth. That is if the American Dream still exists at all anymore. Many quote the line "money does not buy happiness" and I believe that to be true. On the other side though, a lack of money, at least in this country, is usually a way to prevent happiness. I think we should take a page out of the book of other countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Australia) who are listed as the happiest countries in the world based on a variety of things. Lets not spend so much time trying to be the "best" in the world but instead the happiest.

Knock Knock

Critically Acclaimed

Lately I feel as though there are times when my brain is not functioning altogether. This feeling could be attributed to a great many things, but I will narrow it down to two. The ingestion of contemporary media and the lack of training on proper thinking.

I tend to read fairly heavy literature. Lately, I've been on a classics binge. War & Peace, The Brothers Karamazov, Anna Karenina, etc. All 19th century books, layered with philosophical issues. I read them sometimes with difficulty, other times with ease, but I always make it through (outside of James Joyce's Ulysses). The books spark emotions and harbor deep thoughts that are otherwise untouched in daily life. The words carry an uncanny relevance to today's soceity and those that will come after. And while I grasp some if not most of what the authors are trying to convey, I cannot help but feeling like there are parts I am missing. Connections that are not coming together. I don't know if its that I am searching too hard for deeper meaning or if the teachings I've had did not prepare me to tackle such issues. One thing I know for certain is the way in which we (my generation especially) digest media these days is not helping. It is far too easy to turn my mind off. To look at a screen and simply be entertained. Plot lines of shows are too straightforward, too predictable. There is no room for my own interpretation. Now, this is a general statement, and I realize and recognize when there is media that absolutely challenge their audiences. But for the most part I feel thought provoking media is declining and with little objection from the industry producing it.

My other concern is, regardless of whatever else I consume, what if its a lack of education in the area of thinking and thinking critically that is my constraint. I speak to those with bright minds and years of wisdom and experience and I feel I have gathered insight on my lack there of. When my father speaks of law school or a friend brings up a masters program part of that advanced education is teaching the student how to think. Hearing that in some ways upsets me. Why in undergraduate school was I not being taught how to think? Maybe I should've taken a class in philosophy. I don't know that a higher degree of education would necessarily solve my specific problem of interpreting complex ideas in classic literature, but I certainly think it would help. It bothers me that even though I really enjoy the work of Leo Tolstoy, I could be missing something, regardless of its significance. Although it's possible I'm being a bit too hard on myself. Even scholars who devote their lives to the study of such works probably have to go through it a couple of times before catching everything. And in the end its truly all open to interpretation.

Winning the Lottery

A thought ran across my mind late one night, why is it that many choose to live mundane lives, devoid of adventure and fun. Maybe that is an extreme. Why do people give up doing new and exciting things every day of their lives? The answer is easy: Work. Why? Money. Why? To do those things and have that life they are giving up to go into work. But, its a combination of work and money. To live that life of adventure and discovery one must have money. I say that mostly from observation and not through trial and error. But, it is my belief that most of us, if given the appropriate funds, and the mindset to break out of the social norms would vault into a life of bliss. However, I can only speak for myself. Maybe it isn't that I need money to take that step away from the societal assembly line, but the mindset or the courage of someone willing to risk life.

Instead of taking the giant leap away from everything known there is a baby step that, while it may be but a trick it is at least, in my mind, a step in the right direction. Playing the Lottery. Now, there are those that argue playing the lottery is a waste of money. Statistics show that uneducated play more frequently. The chances are terrible. But, to play one set of numbers once a week for a year totals $52. I can barely fill my tank with that. That's a nice night on the town. A new pair of shoes. The point being, $52 can easily be spent in the course of 24 hours, so how egregious would it be to spend that money over the course of a year? Furthermore, is that small sum not worth even the slightest chance of unlocking a new life unburdened by monetary needs. Now at this point I feel I must state that I do not gamble. I am not writing this to justify a bad habit. But I believe that sacrificing just one meal at a nice restaurant is worth the fraction of a chance at not having to go to work, at least for a while. Because I have lists of things waiting to be done, seen and explored that are hindered only by a price tag. And at worst, at least your losings go to a good cause.