Just another blog?

http://boards.charlierose.com/board/topic.asp?pg=1&ti=16148&ri=267394

It has an online version of the article I mentioned in my previous post. May not be the whole version I think.

That's the name of an article by Owen Harries - maybe it is because I am not that well read, this struck me as one of the best pieces of intelligent non-fiction writing. The central theme of the article is the concept that how most intellectuals who are too caught up in the present and with ideologies that they have already subscribed to often predict very wrongly.

There is a whole range of bewildering such events in the near-past, including the end of wars around 1910, the demise of capitalism after the Great Depression, the victory of the Soviet in the Cold War and not-so-long-ago 'The End of History' by Fukuyama! He gives insights into why well-meaning intelligent individuals do this borrowing ideas from George Orwell and common sense.

What struck a chord with me was one paragraph where he points out about more often than not intellectuals are (in the real world) useless who hardly do things on the ground. And how they treat people like Eisenhower (who actually planned and executed the Normandy landing) as if they were idiots.

Even under intoxication, I will no longer refer to myself as an intellectual (or aspiring one) - now it sounds like a damning label. The article was published first in 'The American Interest' and is not available online. It also appeared in the last few pages of The Straits Times on the 27th January, 2006.

Do tell me if you can find an online copy.

PS - Refrain reading anything from Jeff Jacoby (writes for IHT, Boston Globe). If you need convincing, try http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/26/opinion/edjacoby.php

Also, this guy Howard W French's http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/15/news/letter.php though I must concede he is better at politico-economic matters. This one is just plain rubbish. Not that I have seen Memoirs or that I disagree with his facts.

1. Am still on my coffee abstinence effort - quite proud of it. But, dont expect it to last much longer.

2. Something mysteriously wrong with my finances. I suddenly feel I have too little money for a guy - who does not have alcohol/tobacco expenses, does not say colour his hair! or even spend on the more costly food items made of meat ( being a veggie!). I dint go back to India as often as some of my friends, nor buy any fancy electronics or Ikea products!

I have one of the lowest bank balances - that too despite my computer being funded by my brother. Bloody banks! Excepting a check on one mysterious transaction, I think all I can do is control spending from now one. BTW I truly dont knw how to get back to budgetting my expenses from now on.

This sudden finance curiosities sparked due to an inferiority complex regarding my IA paycheck - there is a 1400 $pm, a couple of 1300s, a few 1000s and many many 800s and 750s. I am a measly 540 $ - just because I had no good companies on my internship list! AAW! Life sucks.

3. Interesting incidents during my IA travelling -

-> Child walking holding mom's hand says something excitedly while I am out of range. Then I hear mom saying, " But, you cant escape it dear! Everyone has to grow up!".

-> Have you heard that particular SMRT announcement in Mandarin that goes "Jou Jou JOU" in the end? Or something like that? That day as I was (like always) pondering what it could mean there were a couple of Singaporean Chinese females who started laughing as they heard it. Then they made fun of it (I think - they spoke in Chinese after that!). But I am positive it was about the announcement because one of the girls mimicked it before starting to laugh wildly! Interesting language eh?

It is my fourth day of Industrial Attachment - just came back from lunch break! On top of this wonderfully horribly phase of depression that I am going through (I'd like to think it is a phase - its going to end rite?) I am in a research institute that is so not connected to my major beyond the fact that they both share a 'Bio' in their names.

The last time I was an 'academic' was in school when I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - the madness of knowledge, I used to call it. But, I have lost the touch to do any significant academic work. Definitely not if I dont have a passion for the subject matter.

Reading research papers seems a horrible way to spend time. So much that I am eagerly looking forward to the day when I will be asked to do a lab rat's work of filling thousands of cuvettes and taking readings (My friendly Belgian Ph.D. studying supervisor promises it will be early Feb).

So many things going in my head - so many scary thoughts and scary realisations. But, atleast most people here are decent. But, I am so self-obsessed right now, my social skills have taken a hit too!

Plus, the lack of coffee! After the doctor advised me to avoid that brown golden stuff for a couple of weeks, I have surprisingly managed to hold on to the challenge till now (my personal deadline - Friday). But, my brain tells me that a shot of coffee is likely to give me some cheer and improve my spirits. But, unfortunately I know thats not going to solve my problems. Not until my screwed up mental processes are fixed!

This is probably the 'easiest' non-fiction book I have read. Definitely give it a try. Exploring crazy ideas and crazy questions is quite a fun job and unless you do it really well, you cant make a living out of it. So, obviously Steven Lewitt must be a cool economist.

Though the article on 'Why do Drug-Dealers Still Live with their Moms' was had a nice starting point and well written, it was not as quirky as I thought it would be originally- the reason I took up the book in the first place.

Some interesting things said in the book -

1) Legalisation of abortion seems to have downed violent crime significantly in the US! If you are not squeamish about 'killing foetuses' (which changes the stats!) that is.

2) Most of the damage (or good) that your parents could do to you is before they start their parenting! In fact, the name they give you kind of summarises the effect they end up having!

3) Sumo wrestlers fix matches - and do you know the story of how teachers cheat?

I dont believe that dates carry anything special with them - Jan 1, May 19, Oct 21 - how does it matter? I have even had occasions where I forgot it was my birthday! But, I 'hoped upon hope hopen' that 2006 start auspiciously - cos 2005 sucked truly! Unfortunately, havent got any signs that it is going to be different this year - infact Jan 1 2006 was quite a nightmare.

I spent New Year's eve and mid-night in a super-dooper crowded Esplanade. The fireworks were brilliant and I felt good that finally I used my camera's photo-video capacities, but still dont have the accessories to upload onto the computer. I was with my family; considering how rarely we have been together over the last few years, this should have been a good thing. But, I was surprisingly disappointed that I was not in Ireland waiting for the Break Night of the WUDC. Ofcourse, better debaters than me who represented NTU did not break as I found out later! Only makes it worse.

2005 was bad - no, I did not lose a limb, or all my earthly property to a fire, or get embroiled in a civil war situation. But, this was the year when I lost my confidence and self-esteem repeatedly (and am yet to find it fully!).

I am leaving rest of my rambling to myself.

Will upload photos and videos once I 'ave the equipment.