Politically astute is a common phrase.  You hear it often in business and government.  Essentially it means to be adept at understanding situations and people and turn them to your own advantage.

At face value that sounds like something everyone would aspire to.  Why wouldn’t you want to turn a situation to your advantage?

Ultimately turning a situation to your own advantage often means turning it against others.  This is the guiding principle of a zero sum game, there are only so many spoils and as such all players are playing for themselves.

To put this into context, you can consider businesses or objectives of a government.  In business there are only so many people who can buy in a market.  If that number of buyers is limited, and it always is, the amount any one business can make is limited as well, which builds competition between companies offering similar products or services that meet the needs of the buyers.  That ongoing competition is the “invisible hand” coined by Adam Smith in The Wealth of Nations which regulates markets on it’s own due to people voting with their dollars.

So inherently in that situation you see organizations attempting to be astute to the needs of the market and nimble enough to meet them.  Sometimes they will attempt to dictate standards in the market or create problems in order to solve them, among hundreds of other things.

On a more micro level, within organizations of all kinds including government, there are individuals who are looking to improve their own position.  It’s very normal for most humans to strive for higher rungs on Maslow’s hierarchy and today that manifests in all sorts of competition within organizations, most of it perfectly moral and some less scrupulous.

Being politically astute is about understanding the environment and people within and acting in such a way that benefits yourself.  The term “political” isn’t necessarily a bad one in and of itself, however in today’s world it has a negative connotation with many people.  It’s viewed as not being trustworthy and to be completely honest I think some politicians aren’t worth trusting.  In fact, there are probably many.

A question exists:  should we be astute and look to improve our lot?  Or should we be honest?  Here’s a tweet from the other day, thinking about the topic.

In the last six months or so, it’s struck me how few new ideas or thought patterns have been developing in my head.  I’ve got it narrowed down to a few reasons:

It’s that time of year again.  Year after year, the tiresome inevitability of winter hits right around now.

People are grumpy.  Everything that irks you normally is just a little bit more annoying.

If you speak with most Minnesotans the first week of February, most of us are in a sour mood.  We’re tired of being cold and than punk Puxatawny Phil ain’t doing us any favors either.  Nice hat, by the way.

It’s all mental though.  And we know it.  The bottom line is that these last two months of winter are the hardest.  The first two are actually pretty nice.  November and December bring on the first snows and weather, but holidays are right there….so you are looking forward to it.

Many folks take a vacation right now.  That’s a smart move.  It gets you out of the weather for a little while and is perfectly timed to help you get through.  The rest of us are a bit disillusioned with our life choices for a few more weeks.

You might be thinking, “wait a second, you just took a vacation a month ago!” and you’re right.  I shouldn’t be complaining.  But I recognize the precarious nature of our esteem during these times and it merits mention.  It’s all mind state, and you CAN have good days at this point in the year.

I did not listen to as many albums this last year as normal.  My guess is that I purchased roughly 60-70% as many albums, which is odd as I didn’t set out too.  Part of it is the fact that many of the bands I listen to didn’t have new stuff dropping, part of it is that I’m just busier.  Putting together top tens is actually getting harder and that’s not a good thing.  Hopefully it doesn’t become any worse or I may have to go to a top five!

Honorable mentions are Silversun Pickups — Carnivas, Alt J — An Awesome Wave

Regardless here are my picks for last year in order of good to goodest:

Beirut: Rip Tide

I’ve listened to Beirut off and on for some time.  A few people who listen to really good music have recommended his work and I picked up the Gulag Orkestar some time back, but that album was too hit and miss.  It’s odd because it’s a very interesting album musically that relies on pulling things together with heavy drum Eastern European themes which are cool, but it made the album too hard to listen to.  The Rip Tide is much more cohesive and ultimately has more songs with lyrics which make it more valuable for me personally.  You can easily see Zach Condon growing and realize his potential.  He already has his own sound and seems unafraid to tread new waters.

Nirvana: Unplugged in New York

Yes, this album is 20 years old.  But it’s one of the best live albums of all time.  And it covers songs in a way that Nirvana never really approached in the studio on major releases.  It’s cohesive, melancholy and a great encapsulation of a tortured soul at his creative peak.  It’s as sad sort, at this point, realizing that Kurt could and would have done so many great things out side of grunge, but it also provides a swan song for his impeccable talent.  RIP.

Front Bottoms: Talon of the Hawk

New Jersey based Front Bottoms put out fantastic high energy indie rock.  Their songs are pretty simple and straight forward, with many sounding somewhat similar, yet their album is always fun to listen to and has a ton of energy.  They are a fun band to sing along with and get weird looks from other drivers, if you’re into that (and I am.)  The lead singer has an interesting voice and honest song writing that matches their simplicity in a very positive manner.  Recommended for people who like guitar rock and loud music.

Andrew Jackson Jihad: People That Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World

I’d never listened to Joshua Tillman before picking up this release.  He’s been around the block and actually did a stint with the Fleet Foxes for a small amount of time before rededicating himself to his solo stuff.

It took me a few listens to start enjoying this album, but once it grabs you it will not let go.  Father John starts the album with a slow and steady Fun Times in Babylon.  From their the album continues to go in and out with great songs like Nancy From Now On, Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings, Ladies Man and more.  The album is eccentric, being written after a drug induced bender which illustrates the advancement of all things in time and space during his time in Southern California.

It’s amazing.  It’s well thought out and there are so many good songs that if you haven’t heard it, it will take you weeks to really grasp the levity of the album.  It may take some time to sink in, but when it does, you’ll be far better off for it.

At the start of every year I like to set goals and reflect on what was accomplished.  Here’s what I had set as an objective last year:

1.  Buy a House. It’s time for Teresa and I to get a permanent address in South Minneapolis (hopefully.)  We will start the formal process of getting a lone and looking at houses pretty soon after getting back and can formally move as early as March, though we have a window of 8-10 months to find something we like.  This is a big step and something we’ve been thinking about a long time.  I’m excited about it.  When we do get a house, I’m hoping to get another dog, similar to Stella but with a different color.  We have a list of things we need in a house, and a fenced yard is one, which would help with the said new puppy.

2.  Pay off XX,000 in Student Loans off. I’m not quantifying this as it’s really not that important for others to understand just how much cash goes to it, just know it’s a lot of money.  I have a big amount out in loans and you’d flip your wig to see how much interest in generates.  They are 8% interest!  Most people I tell that reply with something to the effect of “WHAT?  That’s near criminal!”  Bad timing I suppose, but that’s what federal loan rates were when I went back.  Regardless, the faster it’s paid off the faster I can invest in other things, so the next few years those loans will be a big target.

3.  Lose 10 lb. and end 2013 in the 160-165lb. range. This was definitely one of my resolutions for 2012, and honestly I think I did pretty decently.  I lost 10 lbs and am roughly 173-175lb on any given day.   Losing weight is not easy.  But I’ve had a big swap of fat for muscle and look better by far than I did before starting the regimen.  A big part of this goal will be to alter my eating habits.  That’s always my albatross, but after getting home it will start.  Lots of lean meats, beans, apples and other fruits combined with a good exercise regimen.  As part of this goal I’ll also be looking into a new physical activity to combine with normal gym routines.  More to come on that, but I’m not sure what I’ll do as of yet.

In terms of progress, numero uno is signed sealed and delivered.  We have a great house in Bloomington that’s big enough to live in for a looooong time, should we choose to.  Regarding number two, I didn’t state precisely how much to pay off as a target, but it was a good size number and I also paid off slightly more than my objective.

The last goal was where I fell short.  Although I’ve made significant progress, I am still roughly 170 lbs.  That may not sound significant, but the amount of exercise and change in types of exercise feels like a win.  A lot more squats and core work, as well as a fundamental shift in how many calories I’m intaking has been a big improvement.  Also just being more aware of health and how decisions affect it in an ongoing manner is valuable.

Regarding this year, my objectives are more of the same:

1.  Pay off XX,000 in Student Loans off. Again no need to go into specifics as finances aren’t important in terms of actual amounts, but it does require discipline and a consistent effort to not spend too much on frivolous things.

2.  Save More Discretionary Income for Long Term Finances. Being an adult is pretty boring when it comes down to it.  You have to think long term and be conservative in order to make sure you can take care of yourself and family.  That’s what this goal is about.  I’d like to start purchasing stock from the company I work for (a great organization to say the least), put away money in a Roth IRA for both 2013 and 2014, as well as build up our emergency funds.  This is a lot of saving, but can be done if approached diligently.

3.  Lose another 5-8lb. and end 2014 in the 160-165lb. range. If it takes two years, I still got there, right?  :-)

4.  Take a few trips with Teresa to places we haven’t been to before. This is a bit contrary to my other goals as it takes money to travel, but there’s also a time/ability factor to travel.  If we want to have kids, trips are harder to organize and there are only so many years you have to do so.  Nobody on their death bed says, I wish I would have travelled less and spent more time at work.  Breaking away from work is harder and harder for me, so that makes this a very real goal.

Many people set goals for a new year and I’m no different.  What many people don’t do is write them down and then hold themselves accountable.  These goals are actually pretty simple, but they require spending time every day and approaching them consistently to achieve.  I find that writing them down makes me feel more accountable — it works for me and it might for you too.

I still would like to get a best of music post out for last year, hopefully I will do that soon.

All the best to you and your family this year!  Best of luck on your aspirations — I’ll leave you with a quote from Walden, my favorite book:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you’ve imagined.”

A good friend had told me about Cormac McCarthy some years ago and it’s taken me a while to actually pick up any of his works.  After scanning Amazon, it seemed like The Border Trilogywas a good place to start.  Turns out that premonition was correct, it is quite good.

The first of three novels is All The Pretty Horses, which is by all means the best out of the three in my opinion.  McCarthy weaves vivid imagery of the old West with grace in such a way that modern times are wistful for what once was.  The tale is that of John Grady Cole and his quest into Mexico as a youth.  It’s an engrossing story that is at times brutal and more often brutally honest.  It’s an excellent introduction to his writing style and I couldn’t put it down.

The second novel is The Crossing, which follows two brothers Billy and Boyd through another escapade through Mexico after a family tragedy.  They are driving to recover their horses which were unlawfully taken.  This book is also engrossing and keeps that same expectation of the old West and unknown.

The final book is Cities of the Plain and was also good, though not as interesting to me as the first two.  It actually follows the protagonists from both the earlier books as they are grown and working on a ranch.  Rest assured, it is still well worth reading, but didn’t have the same interest as the first.

McCarthy has gained acclaim for having written No Country for Old Men and The Road, among other well received works.  He is certainly one of the better modern day writers that I’ve read and it would be difficult to imagine people not enjoying his works.  However, these books are not written to be “page turners” they are poignant and flow well, but not suspenseful.  They are slower paced, much like the environment they so aptly describe.

If you are like me and enjoy the old west, these will surely be worth reading.  If you do not enjoy questing novels it may not be your cup of tea, yet that still wouldn’t take away from McCarthy and his abilities.  I’ll certainly be reading more of his works in the future.

For a few years, I’ve been mentally considering the idea of teaching in 15 or 20 years.  This is a long term idea that has really stuck with me for whatever reason; here are the main reasons why:

1.  I had a handful of good Marketing and business teachers, the ones that were truly great changed how I thought about work and made it much more interesting and fun.

2.  I had many teachers who really didn’t offer a lot of value to students and seemed to be “just getting by” with it as a job.  Teaching is a calling and is one of the highest potential value add jobs in the world.  It scales pretty well in the short term and immensely in the long term.

3.  Theory and philosophy are extremely interesting to me and building out my thought processes on marketing and business sounds like a very real challenge, one that I’d enjoy and could take years and years to formally build out.

4.  I think I have a very good understanding of the subject matter and the potential to enrich a lot of students’ understanding.

5.  Teaching is a big challenge in and of itself, it’s a new skill set and something I haven’t done formally very often in the past.  Becoming an accomplished teacher is a compelling task.

I’ve had some small forays into teaching already.  It’s a lot of fun, but a huge challenge.  Later this year I’ll be stepping in to help teach a Buyer Behavior course at the University of Minnesota (my alma mater) and am looking forward to it immensely.

What I do not understand are the requisite needs to actually become a teacher.  What types of certifications, licensing, classes and other needs that are expected to be covered in order to actually do it as a full time profession.  Hopefully I can get some answers to that in the next few decades.  :-)

This has been an atypical vacation in terms of writing. Many things happened that were noteworthy, but it didn’t all get put on paper.

We spent NYE at a very fun bar in Hopkins, a local joint where most of the proprietors from other bars and restaurants come to celebrate.  The DJ at first was playing some amazing music.  NY NY from Frank Sinatra played loud on NYE is pretty high up there in terms of life experiences.

We counted down the year with everyone and headed home.  It was a memorable year, that’s for sure.  I do need to put together a post on how well goals for last year went, as well as what I’ll be working on this year. As a brief preview, things went pretty well, but still plenty to do in 2014.

The day after NYE while walking in the water by the beach, I stepped on a sting ray and it stung me in the ankle!  It broke the skin, and hurt like hell, but our new friend Kathryn from the All Seasons helped by pouring some baking soda and water on it.  I was all good the next day.

We saw some Garafuna drumming while in Hopkins and also went snorkeling at a reef in the Caribbean.  The plant life and fish are wild.

After three days in Hopkins we left for Caye Caulker where we’ve been the last three days.  The first two days were kind of gray and rainy.  There are no paved roads here so when it rains the water gathers in huge puddles and you have to walk around them to get wherever you’re headed.

Caye Caulker is a very fun island.  It is much less crowded than other areas more common for tourism and the old world flavor of the city is really cool.  If you can call it a city.  I’d highly recommend checking out the Cayes if you come to Belize.  We enjoyed San Ignacio as well, but if we came back we’d just spend time on the Eastern side as it’s a little more fun.

During this time, I’ve looked at some news from MN and it sounds like it’s been very, very cold.  In fact school is closed tomorrow as dictated by the governor due to the cold.  So we’re headed back tomorrow and are preparing for a chilly arrival.  Still, it feels good to have missed some of it.

Overall, Belize has been a great trip and I could totally see coming back.  I would think it would be more popular given that it’s primarily an English speaking country.  I’m not sure if it’s just the additional cost to fly here or that Mexico has lower prices on many goods, but if you are looking for a Caribbean hot spot, it’s well worth checking out.

Time to jump in the pool one last time.  :-)

Harper Lee wrote a fantastic book back in 1960. Apparently she still makes $9000 per day from it today.

I’ve read it before, when I was in junior high school, but had since forgotten most of the plot.  The fact that it was in the deep south and was about an older time was about all that hit the mark.

Roughly four months ago I was browsing reddit/books and came across a “best of all time” list and started going through it.  That same day I purchased seven books.  To Kill A Mockingbird was one.  The others were Dune, Stranger in a Strange Land, Walden (fourth time I’ve purchased this book), and three others I can’t recall on vacation.

Just yesterday I wrapped up the book poolside and it’s pretty obvious why it’s an American classic.  It is a story of friendship and growing up in a small town divided by race.  It’s heart warming and nostalgic and something altogether heartwarming if you relish American life.

It’s also obvious why it has been the subject of scrutiny.  The word nigger is used often and without remorse in the book, and the subject matter covers rape and segregation of an older time.  Much like in the book, people simply don’t handle this subject matter well.  There is a very real fear in the public about race and inequality that causes books such as this to be criticized despite their inherent greatness (both literary and civil.)

I think that most people who are educated today do not take large issue with this book, but I’m certain there are many areas and teachers who think that it’s not worthy of being taught.

I can tell you that’s dead wrong.  This is a masterpiece.

The plot itself is mostly the trials and tribulations surrounding young Scout Finch and her older brother Jem as their father Atticus lawyers his most difficult case.  The case itself is that of Tom Robinson, who stands accused of raping a poor white girl.

The book reads like a sweet glass of lemonade on a warm late summer day.  It lingers.  It will make you smile at times and reverent at others.  It’s methodical and also easy to read as well.  It offers a great deal of introspection on people and how we treat one another, an angle on the poor things we do, as well as hope we will do better.

In short To Kill A Mockingbird should be read by anyone who enjoys reading.

It is well past time for me to write a little about our trip.  We are currently on day five, in a very nice town called Hopkins.  There are roughly 1,000 people living here and most everyone seems very happy and friendly.

Belize is a cultural melting pot unlike any I’ve seen.  There are many cultures represented and in no other place has it been so visually obvious, which is a good thing IMO.

We left Minnesota on the 26^th of December after a nice holiday celebration with my brother in law, who dropped us off at the airport.  It was -1 degrees when we were leaving and it has been in the 80’s most days here.  The weather hasn’t completely cooperated however, many days were overcast.

That is actually not a terrible thing seeing as the first part of our trip was oriented around hiking visiting Mayan ruins.  We stayed at a very nice little inn called Rainforest Inn, which for it’s price was a spectacular deal.  It was not a five star hotel by any means, but it was centrally located in down town San Ignacio and allowed us to book excursions quickly.

Teresa and I first hiked to Cahal Pech and walked the ruins.  Unlike many other historical sites, climbing the stone buildings is allowed here, so we got quite a workout.  We also planned to hike to Xunantunich but the river is too high and as such the ferry across has been shut down until the new year.

Instead we ventured to a cave tubing outpost, which was a lot of fun.  The caves themselves are quite long and it takes 10-15 minutes to float through them.  We also went spelunking while there, climbing army style through a very small opening to see cave formations.  It was quite remarkable in person, though I don’t know that it’s something I’d want to do often.

On our second to last day in San Ignacio we went to another site which was a bit larger than the first and required a 4×4 to traverse the terrain.  We were stuck multiple times in the road as it was a red claying sludge that was difficult to navigate, however our driver was very experienced and managed to dislodge us with four wheel drive each time.  It was far and away the worst road conditions I’ve been privy too, which made it more stressful, and fun!

Yesterday we began the bus ride to Hopkins and during the mid point decided to take a taxi which would cost us $30 American more than the bus/taxi route we’d planned, but saved us a few hours.  We are considering it again for our trip in two days.

Hopkins is truly peaceful and serene.  The beach is fine sand and due to the lack of tide has palm trees as close as ten feet from shore.  It’s one of the nicer beaches I’ve stayed at and it truly feels like vacation at this point.

Tonight we will be going to see local drummers at a bar about a mile away.  We ate there for lunch today and their pizza recipe is very good, it’s called the Driftwood Café and is worth stopping by if you find yourself here.  After the drumming set we’ll likely go out to celebrate the introduction to 2014!

I need to put together some thoughts on 2013, including goals and achievements, but that will have to be tomorrow as it’s time to get into the sea.  Happy New Years!