Pro-Choice?

Almost everyday at Valentine, before I take my requisite bowl of Kashi Heart-to-Heart, I head over to the pizza station and survey the scene. I like to see what ridiculous creation is on tap for the day. Potato pizza? Pineapple, pepper and pepperoni? Chicken and pesto? How about plain cheese pizza?

I am generally completely overwhelmed and do not take any slice to eat. In fact, this semester, I had one piece of Valentine Pizza. There are so many outrageous creations, and I can't decide which one to eat, so I end up eating nothing.

This paradox led to an interesting Valentine conversation with the basic question: is choice a good thing? Would the pizza guy be better off sticking to 2-3 regular, solid, predictable flavors as opposed to 8-10 seemingly random concoctions. Would I consume more of his product if there was less of it?

Barry Schwartz, a sociology professor at Swarthmore College and author of The Paradox of Choice, would probably tell the pizza guy to slow down and stop making so many freaking flavors. An Amherst student showed me a YouTube clip of Schwartz talking about choice (see below for clip). In it, Schwartz lists out the four negative consequences that have arisen from the overabundance of choice:

1. Regret and anticipated regret--If the product is not perfect, then you instantly wonder what could have been. Thus, before you make a decision, you are met by a sort of paralysis, rather than a liberation since you don't want to mess up and feel regret later on.

2. Opportunity Costs--As alternative options have become more attractive, the opportunity costs to decisions have gone up.

3. Escalation of Expectations--You expect perfection; anything less, and you'll be left disappointed.

4. Self-blame--With limited choices, if a product is bad, the honus goes on the producer. Today with so many choices, if a product is bad, the honus goes on you, because you could have chosen something better. Thus you get sad and depressed for your stupid decision.

"There's no question that some choice is better than none, but it doesn't follow from that, that more choice is better than some choice," said Schwartz. Adding, "We have long since past the point where options improve our welfare."

Instead, too much choice has created a "recipe for misery and disaster" according to Schwartz.

What should we make of this world of seemingly unlimited choice, where 10 different cereals, pizza flavors and drinks are offered to us each day at Val? In certain cases, as with the pizza, I simply don't make a decision. In other cases, as with the cereal and drinks, I use habit to defeat the overwhelming grasp of choice. I eat the same cereal/drinks every meal, and establish a comfort zone. Others simply mix five drinks or cereals together at one time so they don't have to make a decision yet they still don't starve.

"The secret to happiness," according to Schwartz, "is low expectations." With this in mind, maybe I'll finally try one of Mr. Pizza's crazy creations tomorrow at Val.

On second thought, I think I'll probably stick to my Kashi and Turkey Sandwich. I wouldn't want to stray too far away from my habits with just a few days left here at Amherst.

Puff Daddy Agrees: Hip Hop is Not Dead

Puff Daddy aka P. Diddy aka Diddy aka Sean Combs apparently had an experience similar to my own at Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour. Watch this video to see what I mean:

The Biggest Star in the Universe? Probably

"I love this shit, because I own this shit."

It took nearly an hour of non-stop performing before Kanye West finally talked to the audience at last night's Hartford stop of his Glow in the Dark Tour. And the man spoke the truth--he does own the music world.

Following shorter segments by Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., and Rihanna, Kanye went on an over hour long space traveling hit parade, touching on every major chart he's ever had. He was at times thrilling, inspirational, and egotistical. Throughout, he was freaking amazing.

With spaceship "Jane" there to guide him along, Kanye went on a bizarre trip through the Universe, filled with crash landings and shooting stars. It was at times depressing to see hip-hop's biggest star talk to a make believe space ship, but overall, the space theme added much to the set, including some wit and theatrics.

Kanye sang the new stuff--"Stronger," "I Wonder," "Flashing Lights..." The old stuff--"Gold Digger," "Diamonds are Forever," "Jesus Walks." And the unexpected--"All Falls Down," "Spaceship," and even "Don't Stop Believing." Every song was tinkered with for the live-concert, some more than others, to infuse them with a remarkable energy that kept the audience hopping and asking for more.

The highlight and climax of the concert was undoubetdly "Stronger," though "I Wonder" came in a close second. In both, Kanye's terse lyrics were clearly audible amid the chaos of screaming fans, blaring backgrounds, and impressive pyrotechnics.

The only down moments of the concert were "Get Em' High" and "All Falls Down," when Kanye went a bit overboard with the live-concert changes. When it takes you 30 seconds to realize what song is being played, that's not a good thing. But these were just minor flaws in a set that managed to touch every single big hit I wanted to hear ("Roses" would have been nice, but I realize it's a little to slow and depressing for a live concert.")

I'm pretty sure the rest of the concert was good, though my memory of everything before Kanye has been kind of scrambled. Lupe opened the concert with a short, sweet set. Though the seats were mostly empty, Lupe's goofy style connected with those who were there.

N.E.R.D. was simply LOUD. Every song sounded pretty much the same, as dueling drums covered up anything Pharell tried to sing. "Spase" was one of the craziest, psychedelic songs I have ever head, but other than that, N.E.R.D. did little more for me than destroy my hearing.

I was more anxiously awaiting Kanye than listening to Rihanna during her set, but the screaming girls seemed to like her. "Please Don't Stop the Music" was the highlight for me. "Umbrella" could have gone on a little longer, and it was really bothersome that the dancers never opened up the Umbrellas they were dancing with. I also didn't know Rihanna sang the "Come Mr. D.J." song, so that was cool.

Yet, the first acts could have been trash, and this still would have been the greatest concert I've ever been (note: I've been to very few concerts, but even if I'd been to a hundred, I'm pretty sure this would hold true). The "Glow in the Dark Tour" was not merely a concert, it was a spectacle.

Kanye West is not one to hide his greatness, and for that I am grateful.

"If this concert is rated B, then I want to know what is a fucking A."

So do I Kanye, so do I.