2013-14 International Relations Lectures Semester I

2012-2014 IBDP International Economics Lecture Slides

Illustrating Lonliness

A wonderful video explaining how social networking works and creates a sense of loneliness...

Must watch.

History and Perspective - Cool Stuff!

Live Leak hosted a fantastic video of the changing political geography of Europe and Asian Minor from 1000 AD to the present day.  Fascinating stuff if you like history and geography and politics.  Ideally I would have liked a time clock to go with the video too, but it is about 5 years for every 1 second.  Original source.

The blog, "Wait But Why", posted another fascinating graphic about time and perspective.  Think of it as the Total Perception Vortex on paper!

Have a look - source.

Lastly, for an epic burn, have a look at the Kickstart submission about Obama's duplicitous foreign policies.

Have a good weekend!

Desperado

A great article in the New York Times about the Mexican government's contest to identify the most useless and cumbersome bureaucratic process or law.  Done right, it is a great insight to see how inefficient the bureaucratic process really is and how it can be streamlined.  Also a great way to fight corruption.  Kudos Mexico, we could learn a thing or two from you.  Have a read.

Ozil, Ozil, Ozil, Aaja, Aaja, Aaja...

A good weekend for Arsenal wouldn't you say?  I wonder if we've used up all our luck already...

But, if Flamini is back, does that mean we might see Bendtner in an Arsenal shirt again?  *shudder*

Oh Syria... Why You Vex Me?

Forget the memes, forget John McCain playing poker on his phone during a Senate hearing on Syria and tweeting ":( I lost", forget Miley Cyrus twerking (hey Spellcheck, this is a real word now), forget Obama's Nobel Prize for Peace... what I want to know is, is the war going to hurt export of hummus?  Because I love hummus... Let's get serious people.

Photo credit: Tumblr

What Did They Use For A Totem?

Man, I love science... Economics really pales in comparison...  Don't believe me... Proof.

Music Roundup...

First, new discovery for me... San Cisco.

Fresh, happy, indie Aussie band with a crisp sound and a rare woman drummer.

Great sound... playing live the KEXP.

Second, staying with the theme of fresh, happy, indie and women drummers, here is Chaos-Chaos, formerly known as Smoosh.  The sisters started playing and touring since they were ten and eight... now their sound has matured and they're collaborating with a lot of great indie groups like, Head Like A Kite.  Have a listen, here they are live at the KEXP and as Daydream Vacation.

Second, our very own Ms. Aline Jorand, KIS Spanish teacher, translator and singer extraordinaire.  Brilliant cover of Psy's Gangnam Style at the Staff Concert.  Line to her music.

Happy listening folks.

Shout Out to DJ Panda

Hardcore House

The Best Game Ever!

The Kingdom of Loathing - go forth and enjoy.

Great Student Resource for IB Economics

An excellent source of information for IB Economics students including Extended Essay, Internal Assessment and other video lectures...

Good luck!

Am I Wasting My Time?

Robert Atkinson and Michael Lind seem to think so.  What do you think?  

"Econ 101 is Killing America".

IBDP HL Microeconomics Lecture Slides

Summer Reading List

Quick reviews of what I am reading this summer.  I was on science fiction and fantasy binge this summer...

1. Science in the Capitol Trilogy - Kim Stanley Robinson

Perhaps the most non-fiction science fiction I have read.  Dealing with the very real issue of climate change and the condition of scientific research and political machinations, this is one of the most immersive works of science fiction I have read.  It creates a believable reality that draws you into a future you believe is very likely.  It does not have lasers and fancy names... and that's the scary part.

2. The Kingkiller Trilogy - Patrick Rothfuss
Fantasy in the form of song and poetry, a combination of coming of age and immersion in the world of science and magic.  Wonderfully written, the first book "The Name of the Wind" and the sequel, "Wise Man's Fears", sets the stage for one of the most anticipated climaxes in popular literature since Harry Potter 7.

3. The Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson
A trilogy in four parts by master fantasy writer Sanderson (who finished The Wheel of Time series).  A work of high fantasy, "The Final Empire", "Well of Ascension", and "Hero of Ages" weaves together religion, philosophy, magic, and politics with superb insight into the human condition.  I'm presently reading the fourth - "Alloy of Law".

4. Bloodsong - Anthony Ryan
Another high fantasy novel, the start of a trilogy, this self published work by Ryan feels like an homage to "The Name of The Wind", but what a wonderful homage it is.  A coming of age story, of love and politics, it is like "Game of Thrones" with a hero.  A great addition to the genre.

5. Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
I re-read Ender's Game in anticipation for the movie release.  I can see no way a film can do justice to the sheer scope and angles of the book.  I'm also presently reading "Speaker for the Dead", book 2 in the Ender Sextology.

6. The Gate Thief - Orson Scott Card
I was a little disappointed by OSC's latest, a work of contemporary fantasy.  The characters seem crude and even the cruelty, which was poetic in "Ender's Game", seems forced and random.  I trudged through the sequel too, but no more.

MLA Citation and Other Resources

This is an excellent resource to ensure that your work is properly formatted.  Please remember, if you are using a cover sheet you do not require to have the same information repeat on page 1.

Please make sure you adhere to the norms before submitting your work.

"Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est." [1]

I haven't written about my journey into the foray of "classical" music for some time now, so here goes...  You can read the previous installment here.

This time I am going to concentrate on familiar pieces, familiar names, and familiar faces, and we begin at the beginning, with Beethoven.

1. Ludwig V. Beethoven - The 9th Symphony, Opus 

What can I say about this piece that has not already been said?  I'm reaching for the dictionary of superlatives.  Sure, it's long and there are times when I've dozed off all through the 2nd and 3rd movements... (like I said it's freaking long), but if you think about it as the summation of man's life, his work and his genius, it is truly deserving of the title magnum opus.  We use it as a benchmark for personal achievement.  Don't just listen to the Schezero Choral from the 4th Movement.  That's the crescendo, the previous three movements set up the scene, the themes, and motives and it all culminates to "Ode to Joy".  See also, the 3rd, 5th, and 7th Symphonies.

2. J.S. Bach - Cello Suites (Six Suites for the Unaccompanied Cello)

When Voyager 10 was being sent beyond the Kuiper Belt, a "Golden Disk of Music" was included among other things for aliens to learn about us (Remember Star Trek: The Motion Picture?).  Anyway, Carl Sagan was deciding what music to put on the disk and someone suggested Bach, to which Sagan quipped, "Now that would just be showing off."  I think the Prelude to the First Suite is evidence of that.

3. Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

One of the most difficult pieces of music to play, and Rachmaninoff had some excellent renditions and then Horowitz perfected it.  Seemingly cacophonous in nature, it ties together quite beautifully.

[1] - "Applaud my friends, for the comedy is over" ~ Beethoven on this deathbed.

Whatcha Readin'?

An interesting article about the state of micro-finance in Nepal.

WHO starts a panel to estimate the cost of climate change on health-care.

Welcome Back!

Dear class of 2014, 

Welcome back to your senior year at KIS.  I hope you all had a refreshing summer and now let's get ready to put the pedal to the metal...

We have a new tardy and absence policy as well as a new late submission of work policy.

We also have a lot of ground to cover, so I hope you are all prepared.

I will continue to use this space by putting up new thoughts, ideas, data resources, and interesting news articles, so keep an eye out.

Good luck!

Best,

Economic Data Sources - Research Resources

Here is a collection of excellent data sources for economic analysis.  You might find discrepancies in the data, but that is usually the case with economic data as the sources might differ.  So use caution while using the data and understand what it is trying to say before using it.

1. The World Bank - Excellent source of raw data for several key indicators, including education, climate change, health, development for over 200 countries for the last two decades.

2. Trading Economics - Although the full features of this site requite a subscription, the basic package still is a storehouse of information.  As the website suggests, the information is more focused on economic, financial and trade data.

3. International Monetary Fund - Again a great global resource for several key development and urbanization indicators for almost all sovereign nations with a particular emphasis on Europe and developing countries.

4. UNDP - Really good data, and user defined tables on human development related statistics.

To be updated with more resources as I come across them.