2/26/2007

just went to read a student's blog, freezingpainoflife.blogspot.com, one of my ex-students, who is now doing o levels now.

come to think of it, from when i taught him (sec 2) and now he is sec 4, and in the same 2 years, i went from post-army to year 2. i seem to think that i learn less than him when i actually think i learn more. i learn to be overseas, for example, like independence and all that. but somehow, thinks seem more constant.

i like how secondary school blogs are all about pain death and destruction and the constant crush of homework. but, his life still sounds quite fun, and normal anyway. nothing too bad. he is a good catholic boy and will grow up to be well-adjusted. interestingly, under dislikes, he lists boot lickers, backstabbers and weird people. i thought these people were by definition bad.

aiyah, i thought i was quite weird also leh. i am not mould-breaking, but i am a little bit weird. if only i can let teenagers come to grip with weirdness. i think that should my aim in life. btw, he so young also think abt aim in life... respect.

today, must go advise year ones don't gey kiang, cause got course choice advice meeting. haha. see, how to use advise vs advice. spelling not accidental one. got rules.

the power of sleep

i must have forced myself to sleep before 12 last night and actually slept until 7.45 or so. the power of 8 hours of sleep. instead of nightmare i have nice dream about a couple who should be together awww.... it was so tempting, either play game for 1 more hour, do some econometrics, prepare for presentation today. in retrospect, alcohol makes me sleep well i think. because it forces me to sleep. cider is mild enough for me.

i cannot imagine how i used to wake up at 5.35 everyday. In retrospect, i guess it must help being sent to school because i did enjoy waking up early and getting to school early, sometimes to do work, but otherwise to waste time. its inhuman by the time it gets to the afternoon though. in jc, at least you could skip lectures to sleep but i was always so tired. ok, army also everyday wake up at 5.25 to do 5BX but everything was inhuman about the army lah.

the biggest reform to singapore's education system is to start school at 9. i think some ex-sleepyheads will finally catch on to school and start doing well.

2/22/2007

2/16/2007

received this poem today. i like it.

you're dirty baby you know it's true
if only everybody were dirty like you
no more wars we'd all be through
staying at home masturbating or wanting to screw
each other's asses with a giant bamboo
http://www.jstor.org/view/00028282/di971051/97p0034z/0

article on why we obey authority, procrastinate, and join deviant cult groups. and why simply having a price mechanism for incentives is not as effective as deadlines, bans and outright rules. examines the role of time-inconsistency in our decision-making. i think economics in the states is cooler, they interview drug addicts and all!

i like the part about how doing stuff in groups, with much vaunted teamwork and all, can lead to "groupthink" and the gradual giving up of principle. this happens everywhere.

"The problem is, Jesse, I don't think you really understand procrastination."
- comment on my attempted exposition of time-inconsistency

You are speaking to someone who sits on his ass the until deadlines come and even then fails to meet them. yeah yeah i know i do get my work done on time mostly but still...

it's a simple concept, but i think i haven't delved deep enough into it.

I think you need ATHENS or some sort of university journal access though.

I went to see a certain faculty member today, and i realised that one of the qualities an academic should have is to never shut up. regale undergraduates with your war stories about seeing meade and keynes and etc. i think its interesting how people who love talking function, i guess it just has to come from deeply wanting to share what you've experienced as well as honesty, saying the first thing that comes to your mind. i think you realise it can hurt people sometime, but it's a good thing, because you knock them early. i am utterly amazed by people who can just say what they feel.

but it's still nice to see somebody so happy to talk about work. now i respect people who are happy. i think it is very difficult to be happy in the modern world. not happy in the content sort of way, but happy enough to be able to keep talking and talking and living in a child's world. not entirely successful. "I don't publish enough because i only really get down to writing when i feel its right." It's not success then it's doing what you're comfortable with.

2/11/2007

"madam, life without you is like a broken pencil."

"explain?"

"pointless."
london saw proper snow last week, snow enough to build snowmen and to drench you as you walk to school. snow that makes everything white and pure and clean.