The Economics of the Everyday and the Extraordinary

In my free time, which does exist, I do things I do not need to do. Actually, I usually think of something while I’m doing something I do need to do and end up doing the thing I don’t need to do instead of the thing I need to do. In other words, I was doing my economics homework, and here’s what popped into my cafeteria turkey pot pie soup (by this I mean my brain; I actually did eat turkey pot pie soup a few days ago and I got the feeling the cafeteria staff was trying to pass off sludgy scrambled leftovers as “soup”).

Would you save your own child or let him die to save a thousand people? It’s a question of risk, because only God can know the future for sure. You could save the child, and have saved one person, or let him die and save either a thousand or none. However, there is a fourth option that comes in to play. Since you do not know whether the death of your child will without doubt lead to the salvation of a thousand people, you also do not know whether saving your child will without doubt lead to the death of a thousand. If you let your child die, you risk losing a thousand and one people, or saving a thousand. If you save your child, you risk losing a thousand people, or saving a thousand and one. The negative risk if you let your child die is higher than the negative risk if you save him, and the positive risk or possibility if you save your child is higher than if you let the child die, so the right answer must be to save your child.

I was told that this paradox is commonly used to refer to matters such as stem cell research and free will. Apparently I don’t think it is a paradox, but I’m being cautious about taking myself too seriously. I could just be making an error or playing a cruel mental joke on myself. Either way, I will probably figure it out with myself, we’ll come to some mutual agreement, and then myself and I will be friends again.

On a different note (I wasn’t aware writing involved making music but this cliché is so…cliché so I’ll draw a bass clef and jump for C to C sharp, a minor half step), I improved my Writing II grade (see previous post if you don’t know what I’m talking about). I guess the little bit of effort I expended in my last paper rewarded me with an A. It may also have been that I chose the topic which my teacher had said he personally thought would be the most interesting. Sometimes the best answers come from listening to the authorities, and other times the best answers are those you determine yourself.

Save-An-Tea Won

So I got a 71 on a College Writing II paper. To someone who’s had that grade before, you’re probably thinking “big deal” right? Well for someone who has never received a paper grade lower than A- before I’m thinking, “big deal.” Here’s how the grade affected me.

Scholarships—probably did very little, future grades will determine those.

Self-esteem—kicked a bit off the top.

Ego—kindly rear-ended and got the bumper knocked off.

Emotional State—smacked lightly a few times.

Motivation to work harder on the next paper—untouched.

So why didn’t the grade jolt me into the reality that I had inflated myself and become over-confident? Well it did, I’m just not choosing to react through writing better papers. Sure I’ll go through a few more revisions on the next paper, but I will expend little effort to make it better.

Why not work a lot harder on my papers? Well, I’m a nuclear engineer so writing naturally does not have to be my best subject. I am happily acing Calculus and Chemistry. Also, it was only one paper and I made some mistakes there that I don’t think I’ll make in the future. If nothing else, I’ll learn that hard work and good writing go a long way, I just don’t have the energy to spend on that right now.

If this entire post so far has seemed sarcastic to you, you either have an adept ability to interpret tone or you know me pretty well. I am upset about getting a 71 and I probably will work harder in the future to raise my grade. Nonetheless, I’m trying not to let it derail me; I did realize that I would probably get some low, undesirable grades that I had never received before. I am just glad that I have good grades in other areas.

Another annoyance of the week: I’ve had a cold that lingers. It hangs on like those linked sausages hanging from the ceiling of a little market that sells fruits and vegetables in wicker baskets. I always think the last sausage is going to finally gain his freedom from the string and drop to the ground. I could stand there for hours and still think the little guy has a chance. After a while I might even grade his performance. I’d give him a 71 for the ability to hang in there.

I Start Measuring in Kilopascals

Kilopascals are units of pressure to the thousandth degree and sometimes I think I can feel them above me.  I decided to start this blog because I need a way to write where I don't feel the kind of pressure that English professors allocate to their students.  But I need pressure nonetheless, mostly pressure to create a unique writing style so that I can interest someone.  Years of writing analyses of literature has sharpened my writing skills but I need to challenge myself more than that.

As a college student I also feel pressure from other sources; telling stories and writing about my life might help relieve some of that pressure.  I have been known as a person who stays relaxed most of the time, and I would like to continue the practice of "chilling".  Writing has been therapeutic for me in the past and it certainly won't hurt. So I'm enjoying it, and hopefully you will gain something from it too.

I'm just going to write in my own voice, and then the kernels of universal truth will implant themselves by consequence. At least, that's what I hope happens. Anyway, my eyelids are feeling the pressure so this is all I have to say for now. We shall see what else is in store for us in the future.
And in case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.