1. There is rarely a lot of sun where I live
2. When there is sun, I need to be in it
3. There is a relationship between sun exposure and number of books read, illustrated below
See how, when there's not a lot of sun, like in Winter say, book reading is high. Then, when sun exposure is really, really super high, like when you're on holidays in a hammock, book reading is high, but in the middle, when sun exposure is kind of middling, book reading suffers. That's where I'm at at the moment. All I can do in the sun right now, when it's shining, is drink cider and roll around in the grass. So.I did read one book, The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al-Aswany and while vaguely enjoyable it really was just a poor man's version of Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry, which is a freaking awesome, Raymond Carver-esque short story collection of untold brilliance. Alaa Al-Aswany's characters were a bit 2 dimensional and his style just wasn't the evocative genius of Mistry. That said, I did hear the dude interviewed on the BBC's World Book Club show and turns out he's actually a dentist, so you know, maybe I shouldn't have expected too much?
In other reading news, I'm completely addicted to reading The Economist and have taken out a subscription. This is complemented by my other dirty little addiction, an economics podcast from NPR called Planet Money. I've become completely fascinated by the idea of economics - HOW DOES IT WORK?!?! What is this mad crazy system of money that makes the world go round? Or not go round, as increasingly seems to be the case? And how in the name of God are all these chumps making arse-loads of money out of a system I don't understand but am completely beholden too? Anyway, I'm loving it. It's like reading takes from another world...
So. In short: I'm reading a really nerdy magazine, and there aren't any books on the horizon for about a month or so.
Yours, with apologies and cute graphs,
Princess Amber Margaret
Posts
Well, I reckon a short flight to Bangkok, a few beers, and a good sit on a balcony might be all we need to get through basic macroeconomics... what do you say?
ReplyDeleteRant, from a once bitter, now increasingly smug economics graduate:
ReplyDeleteAll the hip kids used to do international relations at uni, and the boring doofuses would do economics.
Well, who's ruling the world now? Not the UN, that's for sure. Not the diplomats, high on canapes and knocking back visa applications.
Everyone's come crawling back to the economists, begging to know the intricacies of Keynesian theory and monetary policy.
In conclusion: fuck realpolitik - the invisible hand is so much sexier.
/end rant
Amber! So excited about your blossoming interest in the sometimes very screwed up world of economics! Planet Money are my heroes and have you got into the Freakonomics podcasts? Also the The Economist podcasts, what with their plummy accents, awkward attempts at humour and foot fetishes (well, I don't know that last one for sure, but they sound like the kind who would have them). I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I reckon our bicycle-powered radio show could have an economics segment.
And this Friday I'm interviewing Joseph Stiglitz. What a babe.
"Is that a Nobel Prize in your pocket? Or are you just happy to see me?"
xx
Apologies - should have issued a nerd alert on that post.
ReplyDeleteJoseph Stiglitz?! Oh baby! Have you told Leo? Could be awkward... Where can I enjoy the fruits of this interview?
ReplyDeleteLex and fm - when you two meet, I'd like you to do a version of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk, which you kindly shared with me, fm. 'Prepare to get schooled in Austrian perspective' - gold.
See how I'm drawing graphs and shit? I'm like, totally on top of it.
Also, no need to apologise for rants on this, or any of my other rant-tastic fora.
Thanks for the Freakonomics steer! Can our bike-powered radio that only airs at my mum's house after the apocalypse have an 'economics podcast bad joke digest'?
x
Also fm - if that IS your name - you're so nearly there! I have a balcony and some beers, so come on over ;)
ReplyDeleteA blog post where you explain your lack of blog post.....more front that Myers Hammill!
ReplyDeleteI feel like you're about the fortieth person to recommend Planet Money to me... I may finally have to give up and tune in...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYou should see my Christmas windows...
ReplyDeletegrumpyguts - get on board!