Principles of economics, translated

parallels

At first I thought it was funny, you know, just a funny clip showing how silly Americans can be. If I were put in that situation, where there's a camera in my face and I've to answer a question, I'd probably say something stupid too. And besides, the author's selective and trying to drive his point across.

But as I got further and further into the clip, I came to a different realisation - the bottom line is that Americans seem to have a very inside-looking worldview. The world revolves around them, and everyone better bow down or be made to submit. That's why there's so much trust in the government's decisions, that's why Bush can get re-elected for a 2nd term. It's all to to with this lack of awareness that's all.

Believe it or not, I think Singapore's headed that direction too. Though to a different degree. Singapore still depends very much on the outside world to survive. But people just need to get entrenched into a comfort zone, and if this zone happens to be very small and self-centred, then its going to be a them or us polarization before you know it. If it doesn't affect me, I don't care. If it starts to encrouch on my comfort zone, bomb it all and see what lives.

sense and senselessness

It's been quite some time. I have been busy.

I saw my previous post. Survival of the fittest? Who was i trying to kid? It was almost something crazy that took over me.

Too many volatile events. Too many lengthy thoughts. Rather hard to configure them into coherent reminiscence. Happiness. Warmth. Gratitude. Spontaneity. Desolation. Unconsciousness. Where do I place them in this pensive heart and mind of mine?

The heart and the brain smiles at each other...and then they disagree. Conflict and destruction. They resign helplessly.

Commencement was good. In fact, I have been good for a long while since the start of the year. And then unfortunate things just happen...like a bolt out of stunning blue, and they seem to happen continuously.

A mind capable of deep understanding can be very conflicted. A heart born of intense sensitivity can be very fragile. Put them together when one is morose and the other torn, you land in this state of convulsive delirium.

Imagine laughing and appreciating humour and the next moment, your face is buried in a pillow soaked in tears that doesn't seem to dry. Imagine knowing that you are so fortunate and truly appreciating life, and then not long after, thinking that you do not deserve such blessings and feeling apathetic to such goodness. The cycle repeats after itself. Exhausting becomes almost too shallow for a word.

I'm feeling pretty drugged out these days but I'm still cramming in work. Today was alright until I came home and realized my ezlink card is missing and I can't figure out how I could have misplaced it. It's not like knowing how and where you lost it. I searched like everywhere and it's nowhere. It's trivial yet perplexing. It vanished and it just doesn't make sense.

Everyday starts happy and it ends in despair. Interesting, isn't it?

In fact, nothing makes much sense right now so really, sleep is the best remedy.

On a side note, I've always enjoyed azure ray. Time i have them on an entry. You can ignore the video. This song speaks and i hope it speaks the way you want it to. Enjoy.

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If You Fall by Azure Ray

Let's talk and we'll fill the air with imagery that lasts forever
So this is love that's a lovely thought
You have to care for it to keep it together

If you fall will you get up
You're stuck in a dream will you wake up
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it
And if it's cold will you stay warm
You drift too far will you swim towards the shore
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it

Lets just sing and we'll fill the air with melodies that blend together
You speak so sweet with words so delicate
A glass i hope will never shatter

If you fall will you get up
You're stuck in a dream will you wake up
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it
And if it's cold will you stay warm
You drift too far will you swim towards the shore
And if you fell in love will you hold on to it

survival of the fittest

Was just thinking of this on the bus home. Darwin once wrote about survival of the fittest, but I find myself wishing things were that simple. The old rules no longer apply. The new mantra does not stop at survival, the conqueror now strives to take all.

Of course, not every species aims for this new goal, but there is one species which has taken this creed to heart, helping to ensure that no other species has a chance to compete. I am of course referring to humans.

All species have the ultimate goal of reproducing, growing and colonising. In my opinion a fit species is one which is best able to exploit the boundaries and limitations of its environment without causing adverse impacts. These natural buffers tend to keep species from annihilating the planet with their sheer numbers. As humans no longer live within the natural environment we no longer see these natural barriers as something to stay within, for us they are something to be overcome.

Our intelligence has allowed us to strip forests, erode the land and kill all that stands in our way. Many of us can pretend that this has all been for the greater good. We can light up the sky with electricity, move ourselves around in our cars, enjoy a range of foods and return to a comfortable home at the end of a working day. However this is not the case for everyone. Throughout the world there are many examples of gross inequities which leave some people without freedom, without food or without a home.

As populations sure some have been extraordinarily successful. But as a species we have many populations which are just struggling to survive. As a species then we certainly cannot consider ourselves fit.