America has been getting a lot of flack from the international community for its reluctance to jump on board with Mr. Blair's plan for Africa. Mr. Bush is at the centre of these attacks, having already provoked international mistrust and suspicion thanks to his aggressive foreign policy. Mr. Blair is proposing a three-pronged attack on Africa's development problems:
-Write off international debt to Africa
-Hugely increase aid (perhaps double it)
-Promote fairer trade with African nations
There is no doubt that this plan could significantly alter Africa's future economic path, and improve living conditions for large segments of the poorest population on Earth. So is America just being evil in its reluctance to sign on?
The story is a little more complicated than that. Firstly, one has to recognize that the burden of instituting such a plan would fall largely on American shoulders. Humbug, you say, America has by far the largest economic capacity to support such a package! This, too, is true, but as any Spiderman-watching American could tell you, with great power comes great responsibility.
And America has recently had some stinging lessons in monetary responsibility and corporate governance. In recent years, only one other developed nation has had to suffer an Enronesque crisis like that which shook American economic might, and that was Canada who, despite good intentions, is probably just too small to have an enormous quantitative impact on foreign development aid.
So America, painfully aware of the potential damage that can arise from economic irresponsibility, is understandingly reluctant to give buckets of aid to Africa without first having assurances that the aid is going to be used to alleviate poverty. Assurances for America constitute, fundamentally, democracies. And this makes sense to a large degree. If there were actually political consequences for corruption among the African political elite, governments would probably be forced to use foreign aid much more effectively. But, as this week has shown, not even Africa's 'most democratic nation' can properly punish government MPs for (very) public corruption scandals.
America's worries are probably justified. The Millennium Challenge Account, which requires strict monitoring of aid disbursements before they are awarded, is a good solution to the problem of monitoring aid usage, and is entirely an American innovation. So from a reasoned perspective, America has a solid basis for refusing to be a part of Mr. Blair's project.
What America cannot forget, however, is that it has no excuse for ignoring global poverty altogether, and that as the most powerful nation on Earth, it is morally obliged to do something to help. A lack of aid accountability is a sorry excuse for refusing to save human life.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
AAA - America, Africa and Aid
The future of international development and poverty reduction lies embedded in the dynamic of this Triple Entente. Only positive, constructive and progressive relations between all vertices of this not-really-love triangle can assure that any of the international community's aid objectives will be met for the near future.
America has the money. This economic behemoth remains the irrefutable Gargantua of wealth and economic success in the post-modern world. The runner-up industrialized economy (Japan) is only a quarter of the size, and is only there because of American help in the first place. Despite some moderately developed economies taking impressive steps forward, they are not making the leaps that would be required for them to play in the same league as America within the next decade. If developing nations want to be the recipients of significant amounts of aid, they are going to have to dip their hands into America's coffers, with America's permission, of course.
Africa doesn't have the money. While most of Asia (most notably for China and India) hardly resembles the impoverished and hopeless continent of post WWII colonialism, and the Middle East and much of South America continue to joyfully surf the black waves of surging petroleum prices, Africa holds tenaciously onto its "Dark Continent" identity. It truthfully deserves the name: Sub-Saharan Africa is the only part of the world in which the proportion of the population living in absolute poverty is on the rise, and Africans also enjoy the aftermath of guerilla wars, genocides, and systematic oppression. This is obviously where America's money needs to be going if it is going to make a difference.
However, as with all triangular relationships, a 'give-and-take' solution is not going to work in this case. Firstly, despite African enthusiasm for having ever larger amounts of money funneled into the dark continent, the black hole is a strikingly effective analogy for the effectiveness of this tactic. Corruption, misplacement of funds and inbred conflict usually mean that any aid awarded Africa usually only accomplishes a fraction of its potential contribution, or disappears altogether. Moreover, America is not biting - it has, at least until the end of Mr. Bush's term, an unshakeable policy of promoting democracy everywhere, but particularly in the Middle East. If Africa is hurt by the attention that the Giant is paying to Iraq, their relationship suffers even more when America explores the possibility of democracy in Africa and realizes that it is probably impossible (at least on American terms.) America's approach in this regard is unlikely to change - Mr. Wolfowtiz's assurances that he really is going to focus on Africa and that he is not another pawn in hawkish Bush foreign policy are convincing few, World Bank stakeholders themselves included.
Can this Triple Entente be resurrected to help defeat the Evil Axis of poverty, disease and death? Not, at least, in the immediate future. The war will not be over by Christmas.
America has the money. This economic behemoth remains the irrefutable Gargantua of wealth and economic success in the post-modern world. The runner-up industrialized economy (Japan) is only a quarter of the size, and is only there because of American help in the first place. Despite some moderately developed economies taking impressive steps forward, they are not making the leaps that would be required for them to play in the same league as America within the next decade. If developing nations want to be the recipients of significant amounts of aid, they are going to have to dip their hands into America's coffers, with America's permission, of course.
Africa doesn't have the money. While most of Asia (most notably for China and India) hardly resembles the impoverished and hopeless continent of post WWII colonialism, and the Middle East and much of South America continue to joyfully surf the black waves of surging petroleum prices, Africa holds tenaciously onto its "Dark Continent" identity. It truthfully deserves the name: Sub-Saharan Africa is the only part of the world in which the proportion of the population living in absolute poverty is on the rise, and Africans also enjoy the aftermath of guerilla wars, genocides, and systematic oppression. This is obviously where America's money needs to be going if it is going to make a difference.
However, as with all triangular relationships, a 'give-and-take' solution is not going to work in this case. Firstly, despite African enthusiasm for having ever larger amounts of money funneled into the dark continent, the black hole is a strikingly effective analogy for the effectiveness of this tactic. Corruption, misplacement of funds and inbred conflict usually mean that any aid awarded Africa usually only accomplishes a fraction of its potential contribution, or disappears altogether. Moreover, America is not biting - it has, at least until the end of Mr. Bush's term, an unshakeable policy of promoting democracy everywhere, but particularly in the Middle East. If Africa is hurt by the attention that the Giant is paying to Iraq, their relationship suffers even more when America explores the possibility of democracy in Africa and realizes that it is probably impossible (at least on American terms.) America's approach in this regard is unlikely to change - Mr. Wolfowtiz's assurances that he really is going to focus on Africa and that he is not another pawn in hawkish Bush foreign policy are convincing few, World Bank stakeholders themselves included.
Can this Triple Entente be resurrected to help defeat the Evil Axis of poverty, disease and death? Not, at least, in the immediate future. The war will not be over by Christmas.
The Ascendancy of Blogs
The BBC now has a weekly report on the blogosphere; does this not strike anyone as a bizarre reversal of the news paradigm?
Intel the Chip God
Wow. If Apple really do adopt Intel chips over the IBM ones they are currently using for G5 technology, then how does Intel not have a complete and undefeatable monopoly over the PC processor market?
If you want power and quality in your non-mac PC, Intel chips are virtually the only option. Athlon put up a good fight, for a while, but have recently simply fallen behind...Intel are just too much of a chip and technology powerhouse. Apple, with their hardware-software integrative approach and 'relationship' business practices, was the only major player left who had not yet adopted the Intel standard.
If they actually go ahead with this, we could witness a 'Microsoftization' of the chip market, assuring that not only would we have to suffer under the yolk of an operating system monopoly, but under a chip monopoly as well.
How big is your wallet?
An interesting long-term consequence of this move, however, is that Apple may start to become a direct challenge to Microsoft PCs, instead of simply being a 'different sort' of computer that we use for somewhat unique types of work. Is this what Apple is thinking?
If you want power and quality in your non-mac PC, Intel chips are virtually the only option. Athlon put up a good fight, for a while, but have recently simply fallen behind...Intel are just too much of a chip and technology powerhouse. Apple, with their hardware-software integrative approach and 'relationship' business practices, was the only major player left who had not yet adopted the Intel standard.
If they actually go ahead with this, we could witness a 'Microsoftization' of the chip market, assuring that not only would we have to suffer under the yolk of an operating system monopoly, but under a chip monopoly as well.
How big is your wallet?
An interesting long-term consequence of this move, however, is that Apple may start to become a direct challenge to Microsoft PCs, instead of simply being a 'different sort' of computer that we use for somewhat unique types of work. Is this what Apple is thinking?
Friday, June 03, 2005
The problem with Africa
Africa needs help. Now. Shamefully, however, the majority of the developed world does not appear to recognize (or want to recognize) this need. I find it particularly worrisome that the most progress in aid for Africa is being made by the UK, only the world's fourth largest economy, while the top 3 (USA, Japan and Germany) are worse than passive: they are actually creating obstacles to the UK's relief initiatives. Shame on the EU as well for not stepping up; they should be directed toward Africa by the Franco-German alliance.
I believe that the UK's proposals under Gordon Brown would result in nothing short of an African revolution. 100% debt relief and a doubling of aid would, if instituted multilaterally, remove almost entirely the burden that has kept Africa down for the last 50 years. These measures can sound frighteningly drastic, but they are undoubtedly necessary if the world community is to have even a remote chance of satisfying the UN millennium development goals for 2015.
Africa is the problem. Therein lies the solution.
I believe that the UK's proposals under Gordon Brown would result in nothing short of an African revolution. 100% debt relief and a doubling of aid would, if instituted multilaterally, remove almost entirely the burden that has kept Africa down for the last 50 years. These measures can sound frighteningly drastic, but they are undoubtedly necessary if the world community is to have even a remote chance of satisfying the UN millennium development goals for 2015.
Africa is the problem. Therein lies the solution.
Waking Life and coffee
I watched Waking Life with Matt last night. Absolutely incredible. I am certain that it is a post-modern masterpiece, even if I didn't really understand it. To be able to fully appreciate the movie, I will a) need to watch it multiple times, b) read more philosophy.
I am starting to find my lack of a formal philosophy education increasingly frustrating. Hopefully I can remedy my ignorance in this field through personal reading, something I would like to attempt this summer (if I can finally finish Dune...) At Second Cup last night, before engaging in a philosophical rant with Matt on subjects vaguely pertaining to the movie we had just watched, I recognized the guy working behind the counter - Sean. Relevance? I mentioned to him the possibility of working at Second Cup over the summer, which would (he assured me) afford one the opportunity to read.
But I already have a job, I hear you say. This is true. However, there are several reasons for which the Second Cup job intrigues me. Firstly, I have never worked in a coffee shop before, and if I am going to do so, it's now or never. Secondly, I would remain in the job I currently have, and take the Second Cup job only as an evening gig - even though it only pays $6.50 an hour, the extra money would be nonetheless appreciated, and I would (ideally) spend most of the time reading anyway. It would also keep me away from my house, which is a hellhole right now. Thirdly, I am betting that you get free coffee out of it. That would be caffeine-o-liscious.
I am starting to find my lack of a formal philosophy education increasingly frustrating. Hopefully I can remedy my ignorance in this field through personal reading, something I would like to attempt this summer (if I can finally finish Dune...) At Second Cup last night, before engaging in a philosophical rant with Matt on subjects vaguely pertaining to the movie we had just watched, I recognized the guy working behind the counter - Sean. Relevance? I mentioned to him the possibility of working at Second Cup over the summer, which would (he assured me) afford one the opportunity to read.
But I already have a job, I hear you say. This is true. However, there are several reasons for which the Second Cup job intrigues me. Firstly, I have never worked in a coffee shop before, and if I am going to do so, it's now or never. Secondly, I would remain in the job I currently have, and take the Second Cup job only as an evening gig - even though it only pays $6.50 an hour, the extra money would be nonetheless appreciated, and I would (ideally) spend most of the time reading anyway. It would also keep me away from my house, which is a hellhole right now. Thirdly, I am betting that you get free coffee out of it. That would be caffeine-o-liscious.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
The end of the European dream?
I found this article from the BBC quite shocking. Why? Because it is one of the first indications I have seen of European Rejectionism becoming a grass-roots and populist movement. It is one thing for the government and political national elite to defy the demands of supranationalism and sovereignty sacrifice, but quite another for the 'man in the street' to express his discontent with the European dream, and in such large numbers.
Ironically, the attempt to litigate a European constitution, which if successful would have had very little effect on the status quo of EU politics, has prompted this backlash which may sound the death of European construction.
Ironically, the attempt to litigate a European constitution, which if successful would have had very little effect on the status quo of EU politics, has prompted this backlash which may sound the death of European construction.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Wikipedia is fantastic
Wikis really are great. Here is democratic deficit as an encyclopedia entry, solidified as a concrete concept in the ether of the Web.
Democratic Deficit at the World Bank
Today Wolfowitz starts his first day on the job as President of the World Bank (that hallowed institution I am praying will hire me). I personally think it was a poor appointment and another serious error by the Bush administration, and I am cautious of the direction in which Wolfowitz will take the World Bank. However, as a recently-graduated student trying to make a dent in global poverty, I'll start where I can, and a post within that organisation, regardless of its leadership, would undoubtedly be an incredibly valuable experience.
One term that struck me from the BBC article linked above was "Democratic Deficit", something Matt addressed vis-a-vis Canadian politics. Organisations grow. (In fact, they are bizarrely organic in this respect.) And when they grow, it appears as though the democratic deficit always becomes a significant problem: bureaucrats and internal politics reduce the organisation's efficiency and, more fundamentally, its ability to carry out its initial function and to represent (democratically) its constituents and stakeholders.
Do organisations have to remain small, or is there an effective cure for the DD that accompanies maturity?
One term that struck me from the BBC article linked above was "Democratic Deficit", something Matt addressed vis-a-vis Canadian politics. Organisations grow. (In fact, they are bizarrely organic in this respect.) And when they grow, it appears as though the democratic deficit always becomes a significant problem: bureaucrats and internal politics reduce the organisation's efficiency and, more fundamentally, its ability to carry out its initial function and to represent (democratically) its constituents and stakeholders.
Do organisations have to remain small, or is there an effective cure for the DD that accompanies maturity?
Live Aid
The original Live Aid was an awesome, beautiful, and generation-defining event. It's incredible that Geldof is going to do it again. Perhaps the most unbelievable part of this is that it needs to be done again at all - the West seems to have slumped back into its comfortable ignorance of the sufferings of people in the third world.
This is a powerful quote from Geldof himself:
This is a powerful quote from Geldof himself:
Still 20 years on, it strikes me as morally repulsive and intellectually absurd that people die of want in a world of surplus.
He's right.
Let the good times roll
This post is a rant. A very angry, pessimistic, sarcastic and unpleasant rant. So don't read it. It is purely for my own therapeutic benefit.
My life sucks. Today is June 1st 2005, and I have yet to hear from McGill, or any of the jobs to which I have applied. Oh, except for that one rejection. I am sleeping on the floor of my parents' house, because they a) don't care enough about me to provide me with a bed while I am living there, and b) won't even allow me to crash at a friend's. While at home, I am surrounded by siblings who constantly bicker and quibble with me. So I try to avoid being home as much as possible. I am working in a miserable summer job in auditing, which is boring enough to make me suicidal. Sure, it makes me some money, but my father won't even allow me to spend that.
I am almost convinced that this is the lowest place I have ever been to.
There is one companion who follows me on the journey, and never abandons me. Beer. God bless you.
My life sucks. Today is June 1st 2005, and I have yet to hear from McGill, or any of the jobs to which I have applied. Oh, except for that one rejection. I am sleeping on the floor of my parents' house, because they a) don't care enough about me to provide me with a bed while I am living there, and b) won't even allow me to crash at a friend's. While at home, I am surrounded by siblings who constantly bicker and quibble with me. So I try to avoid being home as much as possible. I am working in a miserable summer job in auditing, which is boring enough to make me suicidal. Sure, it makes me some money, but my father won't even allow me to spend that.
I am almost convinced that this is the lowest place I have ever been to.
There is one companion who follows me on the journey, and never abandons me. Beer. God bless you.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Sore
I had an amazing weekend, spending most of Saturday on top of the world on Grotto Mountain. Despite my expectation of a relatively easy scramble, this turned out to be a fairly challenging summit - I was hiking for around 7 hours in total (although it didn't help that I got lost a third of the way up the mountain and then had to turn back to start over). The ascent had a tough gradient, which was of course worse on the way down (my legs are in such bad shape from it that I don't think I can even go running today.) But the hardest part, as it always is for me, was the top. On this mountain, my vertigo was particularly encumbering, as the summit hike involved a 45-minute tramp along a knife-edge ridge. Beautiful, to be sure, but scary as hell.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
First rejection
Well, I guess it had to happen sometime, but it doesn't make me feel any less like shit. I got the first rejection (ever) of my job search efforts today. A boutique I-bank I had interviewed with in New York just before I came back to Calgary called me this morning to let me know that they didn't want me. Graciously, I suppose, they attempted to cushion the blow by describing to me how competitive the process was etc. blah blah blah. They even got the French guy I had 'bonded' with during one 20-minute session to be the messenger. How charming.
Fuck.
I really did not need this right now. After waiting for news from the mutliple options that I have on the burner right now, this hurts, and does little to improve my state of mind or to enhance my self confidence at this juncture. This is simply going to make me fret even more about the other jobs I am waiting to hear back from, and will probably lead me to chew my fingernails to a pulp before the summer is out.
I need society to show me that I am worth a damn.
Fuck.
I really did not need this right now. After waiting for news from the mutliple options that I have on the burner right now, this hurts, and does little to improve my state of mind or to enhance my self confidence at this juncture. This is simply going to make me fret even more about the other jobs I am waiting to hear back from, and will probably lead me to chew my fingernails to a pulp before the summer is out.
I need society to show me that I am worth a damn.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
I contributed
My office has the most horrible decoration of any cubicle colony I have ever seen. Now that really is saying something. But honestly, the sparse, wooden interior is punctuated only by an (impressively) extensive collection of those standard business motivation posters. You know the ones I'm talking about. They have these wonderfully bizarre, meaningless, and frequently out-of-place photographs that pretend to represent beautiful business buzz words: 'Cooperation', 'Leadership', 'Success'. To be frank, it really pisses me off that a poster company would be pretentious enough to believe it could motivate me to be cooperative with a picture of a crew team rowing together. All it makes me want to do is to escape the office and join crew. Fuck them.
However, despite the distractive thoughts that these posters may incite, today I actually accomplished one of the messages portrayed on the wall just around the corner from my office: 'Contribute'. I contributed today by teaching myself MS Access, and then by coming up with a plan to implement data bases in the storage of the vast swathe of information we are receiving for this particular project. My boss seemed please. I made sense. It rocked. Why? Because there is only one thing worse than a miserable summer as a corporate rat: a miserable summer as a worthless corporate rat.
However, despite the distractive thoughts that these posters may incite, today I actually accomplished one of the messages portrayed on the wall just around the corner from my office: 'Contribute'. I contributed today by teaching myself MS Access, and then by coming up with a plan to implement data bases in the storage of the vast swathe of information we are receiving for this particular project. My boss seemed please. I made sense. It rocked. Why? Because there is only one thing worse than a miserable summer as a corporate rat: a miserable summer as a worthless corporate rat.
Heroic mythology
Greatness is a transitory experience. It is never consistent. It depends in part upon the myth-making imagination of humankind. The person who experiences greatness must have a feeling for the myth he is in. He must reflect what is projected upon him. And he must have a strong sense of the sardonic. This is what uncouples him from belief in his own pretensions. The sardonic is all that permits him to move within himself. Without this quality, even occasional greatness will destroy a man.
- Frank Herbert, "Dune".
As I delve deeper into the herbertian universe of Dune, I am increasingly impressed by the depth of the story that Herbert has woven; the interlocking layers of political intrigue, the heroic construction, and, ultimately, the formulation and expression of a myth. From my own experiences in fantasy worlds (reading, gaming, imagining) I have subscribed to the belief that the core of any mythological system is its heroes. Heroes, in their superhumanity, paradoxically center the myth on humanity, thus providing an automatic medium through which a bizarre universe can plug itself meaningfully into the human experience.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Productivity shot
I am trying to be a good little corporate rat. I really am. I came into this summer job afraid for my future, repentant for my past, and with the hope that impressive performance could lead to a permanent position if I need it.
How on Earth am I to perform impressively if I can't do anything? Admittedly, I have only been in the office for a total of 2.5 days, and experience has shown that administrative barriers usually take at least a week to surmount. That does not change the fact, however, that I am sitting on my ass waiting for the corporate administrative motor to grind into action, the creaking clogs of the sleeping machine-beast struggling to respond. Frustrating, to say the least.
Even account auditing excites me more than hours of internet browsing. One can only visit Ebaum's world so many times in a day.
How on Earth am I to perform impressively if I can't do anything? Admittedly, I have only been in the office for a total of 2.5 days, and experience has shown that administrative barriers usually take at least a week to surmount. That does not change the fact, however, that I am sitting on my ass waiting for the corporate administrative motor to grind into action, the creaking clogs of the sleeping machine-beast struggling to respond. Frustrating, to say the least.
Even account auditing excites me more than hours of internet browsing. One can only visit Ebaum's world so many times in a day.
Extension
My buddies followed me back home after graduation, which meant that this long weekend, rather than serving as an opportunity to recover from the ravages of Senior Week, was devoted to an extended 4-day session of drinking and debauchery. I hope I will be able to work out when I try at lunch time. Reid, Whan, I love you guys, but I think I needed sleep more than beer.
Apart from saying goodbye to my mates, this weekend also featured my first viewing of Star Wars III. I would have to concur with Matt's opinion: if the movie has its moments, they are ruined by the inability of the plot to make Anakin Skywalker's transition to Darth Vader convincing. Sad, as this is the crux of the entire six-episode saga. Amazingly, Star Wars fanatics seem to be as excited as ever:
Star Wars idiots.
I, for one, however, do not intend to light myself on fire. Hell, we all know how dangerous even stick lightsaber imitations can be (thanks Ghyslain).
Apart from saying goodbye to my mates, this weekend also featured my first viewing of Star Wars III. I would have to concur with Matt's opinion: if the movie has its moments, they are ruined by the inability of the plot to make Anakin Skywalker's transition to Darth Vader convincing. Sad, as this is the crux of the entire six-episode saga. Amazingly, Star Wars fanatics seem to be as excited as ever:
Star Wars idiots.
I, for one, however, do not intend to light myself on fire. Hell, we all know how dangerous even stick lightsaber imitations can be (thanks Ghyslain).
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Made it
Thank God. Every single time I need to pack up my life and move it somewhere else, I have to get through a 24-hr period of intense stress and anxiety, which usually leaves me physically, mentally, and emotionally drained for a week afterwards. That's where I am right now. What I have gone through is best understood through snapshots:
I cried for the first time I can remember as I saw Angelica walk away.
I cried again after catching her, kissing her again, and then letting her walk away once more.
I did not sleep my entire last night in Philadelphia.
I drank. So, so much. Even in the morning as I left, my friends insisted I take a goodbye shot with them. My parents joined in.
I graduated. Shit. Now what do I do?
I lugged 2 70lb suitcases across the continent, sleeping intermittently.
I am sick. Every time I swallow, it feels like my throat is about to erupt. Matt gave me some fisherman's friends, which help, but which ultimately only mitigate the further damage I have done to my body with drinking since I got back.
I need sleep. I have been struggling to get into work on time because I am so sick and tired. Sadly, sleep is not on the foreseeable horizon, as my friends from Philadelphia are coming up today and we are, of course, going to get incredibly plastered.
I'll be ok.
I cried for the first time I can remember as I saw Angelica walk away.
I cried again after catching her, kissing her again, and then letting her walk away once more.
I did not sleep my entire last night in Philadelphia.
I drank. So, so much. Even in the morning as I left, my friends insisted I take a goodbye shot with them. My parents joined in.
I graduated. Shit. Now what do I do?
I lugged 2 70lb suitcases across the continent, sleeping intermittently.
I am sick. Every time I swallow, it feels like my throat is about to erupt. Matt gave me some fisherman's friends, which help, but which ultimately only mitigate the further damage I have done to my body with drinking since I got back.
I need sleep. I have been struggling to get into work on time because I am so sick and tired. Sadly, sleep is not on the foreseeable horizon, as my friends from Philadelphia are coming up today and we are, of course, going to get incredibly plastered.
I'll be ok.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Preapproved for Life
It appears as though I have graduated - well, in the least, I have passed all my classes and obtained a sufficient GPA within my majors to be able to graduate in the future. So apparently Penn and, by extension, society, have branded my ass with the painful (4 years of working-incredibly-hard-painful) mark of a degree. Well two of them, actually, which is probably part of the reason it was so painful.
It's a bit shit that bachelor degrees are as common nowadays as branded cattle - sadly, I kind of just feel like a lost member of the part of the herd that was stupid enough to siphon itself into the corral, while some of the other guys are still out there, eating greener grass, and avoiding having their asses burned. Will I feel different after walking across the stage? Will I feel different after working? Why will getting a masters degree be any different?
I hope to hell it starts to feel better. For the immediate future, I am going to dull the lingering sting of the branding iron with alcohol.
It's a bit shit that bachelor degrees are as common nowadays as branded cattle - sadly, I kind of just feel like a lost member of the part of the herd that was stupid enough to siphon itself into the corral, while some of the other guys are still out there, eating greener grass, and avoiding having their asses burned. Will I feel different after walking across the stage? Will I feel different after working? Why will getting a masters degree be any different?
I hope to hell it starts to feel better. For the immediate future, I am going to dull the lingering sting of the branding iron with alcohol.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Insanity
I-bankers are insane. Superdays are even more insane. Timothy Leary is the most insane of all:
"I declare that the Beatles are mutants. Prototypes of evolutionary agents sent by God, endowed with a mysterious power to create a new human species, a young race of laughing freemen."
Too bad the Beatle mutant aliens failed. Then maybe i-bankers would have a better sense of humour.
"I declare that the Beatles are mutants. Prototypes of evolutionary agents sent by God, endowed with a mysterious power to create a new human species, a young race of laughing freemen."
Too bad the Beatle mutant aliens failed. Then maybe i-bankers would have a better sense of humour.
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