Posted in Musik on December 28, 2009 by SweetEnlow
Since I have been home, I have not had an access to my personal computer for my normal music scowering. However, I recently heard John Mayer’s new single “Heartbreak Warfare” and instantly recognized its greatness.
Mayer is without a doubt the best guitarist out there, at least within the pop-blues realm, but most people LOVE to hate on him. They hate on his voice, live performances, or just his overall persona. Either way, these people are just jealous because Mayer is a baller. The funny thing is Mayer actually noticeably lets these dorks get to him. His interview in last months Details Magazine provides a good insight to Mayer’s approach to these people. Either way, a definite ladies man, fan of Ron Paul, and a talented songwriter, all should appreciate Mayer and his craft.
I just sampled his new album and it’s pretty standard Mayer – as in, its pretty damn good. He is not my favorite musician, but I do definitely enjoy him. His lyrics are great, guitar playing unrivaled, and – except for his goofy-ass faces – his live performances are highly entertaining.
Posted in Style on December 28, 2009 by SweetEnlow
I am often lambasted by women for proclaiming that I like women to dress well all the time. That includes but is not exclusive to: the grocery store, the library, class, cooking, attending daily function, the gym. The desire to dress well at all times should be as important to one’s fashion approach, men or women, as black-tie or the weekend garb.
Basically, one should adopt the boy scout motto of “always be prepared” when leaving their home. Why? Because one never knows who they might see – a beautiful girl, your boss, your subordinates. One should not only look respectable, but they should look good.
Do not criticize and say that it is a pain-in-the-ass or it requires an unnecessary process. Taking an extra five minutes to make yourself look better with your clothes is much more convenient than the 1 and 1/2 hours spent in gym earlier that day or, to some, even brushing your teeth.
Keep it in mind… you never know who you might see.
The picture is one of the most laughable things I have ever seen... check out that caption
Posted in Books, Lifestyle on December 26, 2009 by SweetEnlow
Yesterdays post was silly (I honestly think it works though), but today’s post is entirely serious and hopefully one worth reading.
Yesterday, America had what has been described as an “attempted terrorist attack” with the failed bombing of the Northwest flight approaching Detroit. A Nigerian nationalist with supposed ties to al-Qaeda is taking credit for the attempt (claiming he received the explosives from AQ in Yemen).
Fortunately for America, the attempt failed due to incompetency. However, the event brings about larger questions, none more important than “what exactly is the root cause of these attacks?” Like most Americans, many concentrate on fixing the immediate situation with color alerts, tighter security, and full on invasions of countries. This is in direct opposition to understanding the root causation of such actions. Because I am somewhat forced to stay political neutral, I would like to bring to the forefront the opinions of the politician Ron Paul, as well as three authors and prominent atheists, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Christopher Hitchens.
Ron Paul - still can't rid himself of the Blue Suit unfortunately
I first discovered Ron Paul through Baby and ever since reading his book “The Revolution” I have been an avid supporter, particularly on his foreign policy. Ron Paul argues that, in short, America has been attacked by terrorists, not because of religious fervor, but rather America’s use and abuse of the Middle East for the benefit of our own interests. Since the 1950s, America has been involved in government establishment of puppet leaders (to counter the Soviets) and private oil exploitation. Both approaches to the Middle East have caused what the CIA calls “blowback” – that is, in an attempt to benefit America, the actors have actually caused much greater harm, none more so than 9/11.
Understand this – People don’t just hate America for no reason – in fact, I am sure most would say that they would love to be in America – rather they hate us because we exploit them, or more importantly, because they think we exploit them. Take a second and think about it at its most primitive – would you like someone coming into your home telling you how things are going to be, even if it is a better way of life? Doubtful.
(If you are interested in government exploits, check out the book “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” by John Perkins)
That is Paul’s argument and it is powerful. However, as I was reading this morning from Sam Harris’s book “The End of Faith,” many people around the world have been exploited by the US, and many people live in immense amounts of poverty, yet they fail to fly planes into our buildings.
(Again, though I am a non-believer as well, I will remain neutral here)
Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens all state that the cause for all this mess is in fact Islam, particularly with Jihad. The undying faith these people have in Allah, though admirable in some sense, is causing there to be global terror. Now, I know what you are saying, “Well, this is just a small percentage of Islamic people… isn’t Jihad about an inner struggle… these people are just extremists.”
You are right, the people who attack us, the extremists, are a small percentage of Islam, but many fail to realize just how large Islam is. Let’s ballpark it at 1 billion. If you claim these extremists represent 1% of the Islamic population, that puts us at……..10 million people. Concerning Jihad, Yes, it is about inner struggle against ones sins….to some. However, the Hadith is very clear about its desire for war on infidels.
The points made here are not my own, but a brief summary of Dawkins, Hitchens, and Harris’s three books. Nevertheless, they are powerful points that should be considered. 10 million extremists is a large number - it only took 19 for 9/11.
The terrorist yesterday provided a perfect introduction for a post I was going to make about these three mens book in the first place.
To respect the spirit of the holidays, I wasn’t going to post a serious entry about the glories of atheism until after Xmas – that would be poor tact; however, these three books changed my life. They caused me to re-evaluate everything I had ever thought and forced me to embrace reason and logic as the guiding principle for all my decision processes.
“The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins
“The End of Faith” by Sam Harris
“god is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens
I would only ask that you read one. After that, I guarantee that you will want to read the rest
Here is a great Sam Harris piece if you have the time.
Posted in Health on December 26, 2009 by SweetEnlow
First off, merry Xmas to all that are reading. I hope your holidays have been as enjoyable as mine thus far.
If you live in Tulsa, you know that we got a pretty rough blizzard here yesterday and it has caused me to think: what is the best technique to traverse ice by foot?
Here is my theory which has been battle tested in 3 winters in the northeast, 3 years in Montana (as a kid), and the occasional terrible storms received here in Northeast OK.
When it is Icy, of course go slow, but more importantly, don’t bring your feet off the ground. The majority of the slippage occurs when the foot strikes the icy surface beneath the walker. By never bringing the foot off the surface, one can keep the little friction that is already occurring thereby decreasing their chance of falling. It is kind of like ice skating with your shoes.
Just a theory, but it has worked for me. Would be an interesting case study on Mythbusters. Try it out Tulsans
Posted in Books on December 23, 2009 by SweetEnlow
I am not by any means an avid reader of fiction. Usually, I force myself to read fiction about every 4th book. Must of the time I am disappointed, but there have been some that have literally changed my life – their effects have often times far outweighed the substantial amount of non-fiction I have read.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
I just mentioned that some fiction literature has changed my life and no book more so than The Fountainhead. Rand gets a lot of praise for Atlas Shrugged, but I personally found it a little hard to take. The Fountainhead, however, was incredible. A blog could be devoted to Rand’s work so I won’t attempt to explain the plot or meaning etc… If you haven’t, please please please read this – life changing. My favorite book of all time, non-fiction or fiction.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The greatest piece of fiction from the last decade. Everyone who has read this short novel is mesmerized by the power through its simplicity – love expressed through brevity and clarity. I am interested to see if the movie will be able to capture half the emotion that is felt throughout the book. The last pages of this book brought me to uncontrollable tears. I give this book to everybody because it is that good.
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
The prequel to the ultra-popular The Silence of the Lambs, Harris’s first novel in the 3-part series is just as good, if not better than Silence. One of the greatest created characters ever, Hannibal Lecter, does not disappoint and the plotline is highly entertaining.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry is one the greatest American writers ever and I will likely dedicate an entire post to his eccentric genius. Lonesome Dove is part of his niche ol’ west genre and it is likely his masterpiece. It literally captivates you. It’s long, but you will read it very quickly. My parents always tell me that no other novel captures ol’ school Texas better than this book.
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
The unabridged version is a little long in my opinion, but that was due to the way ol’ school novels were published (chunks at a time in newspapers or magazines). Nevertheless, most know this story because of the movie, but the book is better – more ruthless and he drops Mercedes like the whore she is.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
One of my favorite books ever, but it definitely is one of the strangest. Again, most know the story because of the movie (is it a dream? or reality?), but the book is substantially better (and I am not saying that to sound more intelligent or well-read). Ellis is very funny and on point with his absurdity.
nail gun
1984 by George Orwell
Most read this in high school, but its power comes out more and more as one becomes more educated. I just wanted to throw this one in there because I love it…not really a shocker though
I like Dan Brown stuff too – he’s a joker, but he does his research and can undoubtedly craft an entertaining narrative.
Posted in Style on December 21, 2009 by SweetEnlow
I grew up in Tulsa,OK. It is a great place to be raised and/or to raise a family. However, it is not the most fashion-forward location in the country, even though mid-town Tulsa is highly affluent.
Because of the approach towards to dressing in Tulsa, I have been fortunate enough to understand a highly important aspect of dressing well: in order to be considered a very good dresser, you have to understand the overall personality of the area you are in and the event you are attending.
For example, in Tulsa, it is entirely appropriate to wear a casual T-shirt and jeans out to a bar. As long as it is done right, one can look very good and, more importantly, appropriate. I am traveling to Vegas here in about a week and it is appropriate there to wear a dark suit. I spend every weekend in Manhattan (sometimes Williamsburg!) and there it is appropriate to dress well everywhere you go. The grocery store requires excellence in the same way a popular lounge would.
If one travels to Stillwater, OK to attend a Frat party, but wears the latest Gucci loafers and a Prada Blazer, he may look exceptional (to some, not me), but he will look entirely inappropriate and completely out-of-place. He failed in his attempt to dress well. While his look may be dead-on for Vegas or Miami, but it does not belong in Oklahoma.
To re-iterate, in order to dress well, one must understand the event they are attending and the people they are surrounded by.
And for the people of Tulsa, as much as Jewel wants it to be otherwise, a T-shirt (non-graphic) is completely appropriate for their club.
This applies almost entirely to men. Women should dress tight anywhere and everywhere.
Posted in Books on December 20, 2009 by SweetEnlow
2009 is closing. Since I am home for the holidays, I have access to my library. That being said, I will be posting daily recommendations for books in different categories.
I am an economics major at The Institution, . I personally feel economics is the best undergrad major – broad, enlightening, and highly important. Thus, here is my list of recommendations for the best economics books I have read over the last year.
The White Man’s Burden by William Easterly
I have already devoted an entire post to this book, but I wanted to stress its importance once more. Without a doubt the best book I have ever read on political economics, particularly with foreign aid. After reading this book, your ability to discuss any type of foreign policy dramatically improves. One might think a book discussing foreign aid would be boring (this is initially what I thought for it was assigned as a mandatory class reading) but you will be pleasantly surprised.
Easterly also has a blog at www.aidwatchers.com and another highly-touted book entitled The Elusive Quest for Growth. I have not read it, but it is on the list.
All the Money in the World by Bernstein and Swan
The value of this book isn’t necessary in increasing your knowledge or ability to think, but in entertainment. This book is an investigative piece into the richest people in the world and their lifestyle. I desire to one day be on this list (seriously), so I find myself fascinated by these people’s lifestyle and their ability to pretty much do whatever they desire. A very easy read and very entertaining – good travel book.
My interests in economics is more in the history side rather than the technical side. That being the case, this book is arguably my favorite of all time. Gordon writes a great historical narrative of the US’s rise to wealth and the different type of economic institutions and policies taken to get there. If you enjoy American History, this is a must read.
Similar in nature to Gordon’s book, highly touted Harvard history professor Ferguson explains the evolution of economic systems better than anyone I have ever read. His account covers the international spectre, but is nonetheless highly fascinating. Again, if you are interested in history, this is another must read. It was so stimulating I finished it in one night
This book covers particular actions the government could take to improve the life of American citizens. I am fairly libertarian, but this book definitely forces one to accept the fact the government can take some action to improve the lives of the lesser fortunate. The fact that Thaler and his co-author are from the University of Chicago is a very powerful characteristic… few people are more against government involvement than Chicago. Thus, this makes for a very interesting read.
If you are interested in trading, or any type of characteristic of the market, then this book is great. Burnham basically explains how our primitive cognitive thought process causes the massive swings in the market. Great look at evolutionary psychology affecting economics.
Taleb is arguably the greatest trader on Wall Street and definitely one of the most sought after minds in the financial world. He made a killing in the ’87 crash, ’01 dot-com bubble burst, and the 07-08 crisis. His approach to trading and life is extremely interesting. His stuff is intellectual, but even understanding 70% of his writing is highly powerful.
Posted in Lifestyle on December 19, 2009 by SweetEnlow
Let me apologize for the halt. Final exams and military lifestyle don’t make for the best blogging schedule.
nevertheless…
The topic of this post is something that has been brewing within for some time and it was originally from the mouth of the great OneManArmy. It is geared toward men… sorry ladies
Picking up women at bars or clubs requires a lot of work, confidence, and luck. In addition, approaching women in general can be fairly nerve-racking, even for guys of confidence and good-looks.
All will face inevitable rejection, especially at popular bars and clubs. When girls go out, they inevitably put a defense up. It’s natural for people to make their attention harder to get when they know the opposite sex is openly vying for it (see… West Point dating scene). It’s all part of the game; girls go out looking for the right guy (hopefully) making them prove their worth; guys go out looking for a little lust, and usually look like morons in the attempt to succeed. However, what men need to realize is this: when attempting to pick up girls, have no fear… for if you succeed once, just once, then the good night turns into a great night – your failures are now forgotten and you have now turned into a success. If you attempt to get with 100 girls, fail 99 times, then win over the last one, you succeed. Picking up women is the only aspect of life where a 1% success rate still equates to actual success.
So guys, when you go out, dont fear the rejection, the girl just doesn’t know what she’s passing up (or your just a dork).
Posted in Sports on December 10, 2009 by SweetEnlow
Currently, my high school alma mater, Cascia Hall, has seen their football team win 41 consecutive games capturing their third straight state championship only last week. The Commandos are led by my former coach, Joe Medina. This is now his 4th state championship with 2 runner-ups… in ten years. Think about that. He has now been either number one or number two in the state with slow, white preppy kids for 6 out of 10 year. I wanted to take some time and congratulate both the Commandos and Medina as he has now undoubtedly become one of the top high school coaches in the South, likely the country.
Medina is at times an eccentric, ol’ school hard ass that demands much from high school players. However, unlike many high school coaches, Medina has unrivaled intellect, both with “Xs and Os” and with players Psyche. He was involved in many activities, both as teacher, coach, and employee, and is without a doubt a leader within the elite community that is Cascia Hall.
To go undefeated for 3 consecutive seasons (he only lost one game the year before by the way) is an incredible feat and deserves much praise, particularly in a state like Oklahoma. Medina was a serious influence in my life with his advice concerning the military and I know he did many things “behind the scenes” to get me where I am today. I am forever grateful. He is an inspiration too his players, no matter how hard he pushes them, and the community of Cascia should be kissing his ass daily to keep him where he is.
