Slow and Easy
Is exactly what my life isn’t going to be for the next little while. That said, I had a fantastic summer about which I’m going to have to fill the wonderful wide interwebs at some later point. Maybe this weekend, if I get bored.
For now, I get to share my upcoming semester’s reading list with you, my faithful (and non-existent) audience. You see, I’m taking 5 classes (and a language class):
Economics of Immigration
Dynamics of Commodity Economies
Jessup Moot Court Competition (yes, its a class)
Public Policy and Federalism
Behavioural Sociology of Conflict
Needless to say this will probably keep me quite busy. However, I am in Washington DC, after all. I’m going to do my best not to disappoint my own expectations in sightseeing and museum visiting (the Smithsonian(s) are huge! and free!). Also, this city seems to have a lot of free (or cheaper) cultural activities that I’m going to have to partake in. SAIS also offers a lot of super interesting-looking seminars, workshops, and visiting lectures. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend some of those as well as other similar stuff around the city.
Anyway, here’s my term 1 reading list. Its in chronological order. All I can say is:
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Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
- Dylan Thomas
Upcoming Content
Its only week 1 of this blog, and I’ve already fallen behind my self-imposed schedule. That’s graduate school for your (ie. a total and utter lack of discipline compounded by a million and one things to read, do, comment on, discuss, and forget about).
So, I’m laying out a credible commitment to do some future posting through this entry. Though, really, its only credible if anyone actually reads this and then harasses me about it. Hint.
Think of this a movie trailer for a much more interesting movie than the one you’re currently watching.
This is what I intend to comment/write on in the very near future:
1. The Problem With Heroes – why having having heroes (see def. 2) is natural, normal, usual, and yet very bad.
2. The Environment: Maker of the New Free Market – why the rising global concern and awareness for environmental issues will (should?) have a positive impact on market efficiency, free trade, and general positive global progress.
3. The Nuclear Option: The Necessity of Nuclear Energy – why we really, really need to get our houses in order and get over our fear of nuclear energy and start building reactors, researching technologies, finding synergies, and training a new generation of capable technicians and experts.
4. Taxes: The Ultimate Weapon – how modern tax systems have become the ultimate weapon in the financial, social, and psychological realms, and why we need to find a way to disarm.
5. The Question of Venezuela – why the developed world needs to take a harder and closer look at Venezuela and its policies and attitudes toward the country, its people, and its regime.
In addition, I hope to write some things on the European Union (as I have prepare a paper and a ‘readings journal’ for my EU Institutions class over the next two weeks. I’ll try to amalgamate/summarize some of that content into a blog entry or two.
Any other suggestions? I’m at a fancy grad school that deals with international policy, relations, economics, laws, and a whole myriad of other things. My classes this term were: Survey of Modern Latin American Politics, Macroeconomics, Theories of International Relations, the EU and its Institutions, and the Politics and Economics of International Energy (which I only audited). Next term, I’ll (probably) be taking: International Trade Law, The Creation of a Common Market through EU Law, International Monetary Theory, Industrial Organization and Market Regulation, Evolution of the International System (audit), and Climate Change and Energy (audit). [Note: you can hover your mouse over the links to see a description of the course, however, the link doesn’t actually lead anywhere).
Do you have any suggestions on what I can write about (given those courses)? Anything you want me to go and find out for you (I’d be more than happy to pester professors in office hours)? Do you have a thought that you want to share? Let me know. I’d love to hear you out.
So, that’s that.
As I said… hold me to my promises!
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The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost
