Some random ideas on Econs

Humans with the willingness and ability to spend, i.e. 'money votes', decides where human energy is put into with regards to the production of particular objects. Well, a roughly effective system, but what about other ways to make the decision?

Humans devote time, energy and creativity to produce stuff to satisfy themselves. The great ordering to random resources is due to the expenditure of human creativity.

The wealth of a nation, therefore in reality lies with whatever goods and services that we are able to enjoy now. A country that for example is unable to enjoy use of penicillin, is thus considered poorer than another who is able to enjoy such a good. We observe here, that innovations, play a great part in making ourselves wealthier. Money is a go-between, for us when we are trading goods, because it facilitates the exchange of goods and services within the economy. National Income is only a good indicator of national wealth when it is closely correlated to the value of goods and services available in the economy. For example, if there is an inflation, money would lose its value, and hence its correlation to the value of goods and services. Money is a derived quantity, where the demand for money on factors like, demand of goods and services, the expectations whether money is freely exchangeable for goods. The just mentioned expectations is referred to as liquidity of goods. When there is inflation, it means that everyone in the economy prefers to hold on to their goods, none is really willing to hold on to money. Why would this be so? Why would people lose their confidence that money is freely exchangeable for goods? Perhaps, because this system has one kink, that it is reliant on network effects. For the monetary system is a great system, but works only because everyone trusts that everyone else is using it. Maybe somewhere along, someone has stopped trusting this system. Perhaps it was with cause, perhaps without cause, but all it takes is for a few people to stop trusting this system. Because shortly demand of money would fall. Price of money would fall. After a while, other people would see this, and would not want to hold on to that money that other people have labeled as useless pieces of paper. Now the whole system breaks down. It takes a little while, more than alittle while actually to regain people's trust.

In some recessions, demand of good falling is instead seen by demand of money rising. People actually are scared of spending and start hoarding money. Supply of money is restricted. Perhaps the reason started with falling incomes. But people over-react. They contract their consumption and save more. Demand of money is also tied to expectations of the future spending. In any case, the prices of goods are falling, and producers go out of business. People are holding on to paper notes, and not buying anything, in anticipation of better times, except there does not seem to be any better time in sight. Because producers are going out of business, who is going to provide all those goods and services that consumers need?

In other recessions, supply of goods falls, and demand of money also falls. Perhaps several businesses have gone out of businesses for over-extending themselves. In any case, this sets of a chain of unemployment, falling incomes, falling consumption, falling demand of goods, and with less goods in the economy, people decide that the money is good for nothing to buy with. Price of money falls relative to the value of goods, and all the goods are now pricier. We have a case of stagflation here, with supply side issues being the cause.

Now...on the micro side, the really micro side, consider the case of 2 guys trying to trade. Obviously, being selfish and calculative humans that we are, we will try to cheat each other. The problem is how to walk away with the best deal possible. Because both sides really want the deal. During negotiations, the one who is more desperate usually loses more than he should. So each side will pretend to the other that heself doesn't really want the good, or that he could look for another to buy/sell. How do we reduce this kind of needless cheating? Maybe we need to utilise the concept of common knowledge and mutual knowledge. This thing needs thinking over..

Ok.. one major outfield down.. several to go.

Well, I finally endured ATEC which wasn't as hyped up for me compared to some of my platoon mates.. Yea, cos I was relegated to guarding a couple of 5-tonners, that no one would really want to attack. So it was pretty relaxing for me in a way, my duties including mostly of sleeping..

Well, without going into the full details, ATEC is supposed to be an assessment of a unit's fighting proficiency, kinda like a exam. How accurate is it? Oh well, like ALL exams in S'pore.. not very; in my opinion that is. Exams are after all set in different conditions compared to the real thing. The whole thing is scripted, and therefore comes with goals and expectations. Like all puzzles, they have a key, a shortcut. Cause you see, puzzles are constructed from rules and are therefore rigid. And all rules, can be bypassed.. You just need a little reasoning and creativity.

For example, I was told that our vehicle was supposed to guard a certain entrance, because they think the enemy was gonna attack somewhere in the middle of night. Well, me and my sergeant took turns to stand watch.. When it was my turn to look, I admit it, I was pretty nervous. After all, the enemy was more experienced in this kind of raids..There was only 2 vehicles and 1 pathetic infantry sentry of 4 men, guarding 2 entrances. Then, after all, the whole ridiculousless of the situation cam upon me as a reasoned it out. Why would the enemy divert forces to attack this location which was pretty out of way from the rest of the main force? Perhaps there was some crucial supplies that they wanted. Ok, that granted, how to conduct this attack? How much forces to bring? Where are they? So you need to scout out the location.. And if the enemy are really that good, they would accurately know what is the strength of the defending force. And they would correspondingly bring just enough to match it. Or they could really use quick surprise tactics. While armored forces will crush puny infantry on the battlefield, armored forces are no match of the swiftness of infantry units when close quarters. Because the armored units are slow and bulky once they are stationary. On close quarters.. infantry can probably get in close enough to at least disable the vehicle's operation before the vehicle can bring its firepower on that guy. Feasibly, one lone commando could take out our logistics. If that's the case, then our sentry is really futile against the determined enemy.. So why fret so much? As it is, I reasoned that they won't come to attack us, because we are just not worth the time for them to come for us. And we're proved correct, the whole night passed without any enemy forces ever coming, because all the enemy forces were concentrated on wiping out the main force.

Oh wells, it was a difficult 4 days, mainly because there was nothing to do, and I sat on that hard driver's chair for almost all the way.. Because if you get out of the vehicle, you are really vulnerable.. so why not just stay inside..? I think my butt now in some pain, from sitting down too much.. The food was horrigible, i survived mainly on biscuits.. Yea, the moments, where I was just sitting there doing nothing, watching the seconds go by, from morning to dusk, to night, watching the night sky fly past to give way to dawn again.. it was pure torture.. I took to anything, to keep myself sane, like trying to think about some math problems to solve, hum some music to myself, relive some of the moments with friends, think about the memories of some people.. I guess that is how life is for people in jail..

There is going to be more to come.. because next month is EX Wallaby. A whole f***ing month in Australian forests, who treat us like aliens invading their space, possible contaminants. I hope I don't go lose my mind over there. Please preserve me so that I get to see S'pore soil again on 31st Oct.

FF IX

Just finished playing Final Fantasy 9.. The story is really good. I know, I know its kinda late for start playing final fantasy, but seeing that I never got a playstation.. only recently I got a psp that I got to started on Crisis Core, and subsequently desired to know the stories of the other acclaimed final fantasy series..

Really, final fantasy 9 should be titled: How to Live by Zidane Tribal. For those who remember..

Virtue: You don't need a reason to help people. Therein lies the paradox of altruism. There's no visible gain from helping others voluntarily without extracting a price. Yet some do it. Of course, we need to recognise that the concept of gain and loss is really relative and fuzzy. The boundaries of what is a gain and what is loss move time to time.

Sorrow: How do you prove that you exist? Maybe we don't exist.. Existence problem is hung around many people's heads(most of all, philosophers' heads). How do you prove you exist? Perhaps..by deeds that you do, the ideas you leave behind, the memories of you in the hearts of others.. The deeds that you do, leave a mark on this world, the caused changes in your wake, much as a boat would as it bobs on the surface of water.. The ideas you leave behind, becomes symbol, for ideas are bulletproof and indestructible.. Ideas are proof of the potential of human creativity.. They become directions for others to follow.. Much as a planet would warp the space around itself, causing other objects around it to follow the curves.. The memories of you in the hearts of others.. live on even as you cease to exist. For you must have made a difference to the lives of others that you interacted with. I think, therefore I am..

Indulgence: I do what I want! You have problem?!! The choice is always yours to make.. and we must make it so that everyone makes their own choices.. To have others make choices for you.. that is to cease to live. Everybody have to make a decision somewhere.. for better or worse, you still got to make it. Therefore.. just do it. And then face the consequences later. Unless you already know the consequences of course..

Dilemma: Having sworn fealty, must I spend my life in servitude? Well, 'tis your choice.. Its surprising how leadership and service goes hand in hand, for your lord whom you swore fealty to depends on you more than you care to think.. Its a relationship that is mutual. Who says you need to live like dog always?

Devotion: Some day I will be queen. But I will always be myself. Oh yes.. our duties and destinies may require us to put on that mask, that mantle, but we should not forget that we need to be ourselves sometimes.. 'ere we forget to live, and live the lives of others.

Despair: To be forgotten is worse than death. Tell me about it... that you leave no mark behind in others.. shows that you are effectively not there at all, and therefore is as if you never lived.. or lived like a zombie and thus worse than death..

Arrogance: The only dependable thing about the future is uncertainty. Change the only constant around here.. If you are going to bet price of your stock in the stock market is going to be constant.. well, good luck to your wallet.. Over confident are we?

Solitude: I don't want to be alone anymore..

Garland: All life bears death from birth. Life fears death, but lives only to die. It starts with anxiety. Anxiety leads to fear. Fears leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.. Hate leads to suffering.. The only way to cure this is total destruction. In a world of nothing, there is no life or death, thus fear does not exist. This is the world that all life desires.

Life is a struggle, man.

People pass down stories of other people to whom they feel an affinity. The people in the story had flaws, as we all do. That is why they became heroes in the people's mind.

The story is actually much longer.. but the eidolon asked me to hurry up.

Wh..What..??! You defeated Ozma? I've come too far to retreat.. Onward!.. To FFVII.

Ideas, eternal and everlasting

Quina: "Something smell..."

Zidane: "What's wrong, Quina? You just came out of nowhere..."

Quina: "You no smell? Something smell wonderful..."

Zidane: "No, my nose doesn't work like yours does..."

Quina: "A-Aiyaaah!"

Zidane: "Wh-What happened!?"

Quina: "I-Is amazing, Zidane! Is miracle!"

Zidane: "?"

Quina: "It a feast!!!" [Quina imagines a gigantic feast around.]
     "I-Is unbelievable... I not know where to start! What I eat
     first? Hohoho!  I-Is sooo good! Hohoho!
      Is delicious!!! Delicious..."

Zidane: "Hey, Quina..."

Quina: "I no eat anymore..."

Zidane: "Oh, man..."

Quina: "!? Oh, what happen!? Feast is gone..."

Zidane: "What are you talking about, Quina? I think you were
      hallucinating."

Quina: "I-Is not true! I saw with own eyes!

Zidane: "But you were just running around..."

Quina: "Hmm!? I smell something this way!" [S/he heads to balcony]

Zidane: "Hey, Quina! Geez..."

Voice: "Quina! You stop!"

Zidane: "?"

[Quina goes out onto the balcony and finds Quan (!?):]

Quan: "I finally here..."

Quina: "Wh-Who you!? You the one who show me illusion!?"

Quan: "I Quan... Is illusion only if you see illusion... You saw
    because you travel around world."

Quina: "Wh-What you mean!?"

[Quale runs in.]

Quale: "Is cheap trick!"

Quina: "Master!? What you talk about!?"

Quale: "He my former master! He run away and escape training!"

Quan: "I no run from training... It you who make mistake."

Quale: "What!?"

Quan: "To eat everything not true way of gourmand! Your student
    already start to realize! Quina, what you saw you used
    imagination... Is your imagination you used to eat."

Quina: "I-I not know... But it taste like real food!"

Quan: "Is all good... You travel around the world and gain
    imagination. People who no have imagination no taste until
    they actually eat!"

Quale: "Mmm!?"

Quan: "You use imagination, is possible to taste all food in world!
    It no matter if it story somebody else tell. Is possible to
    eat with your imagination!"

Quale: "......"

Quina: "H-How did Master's master learn to do this...?"

Quan: "Is because..."

[Vivi runs in.]

Vivi: "Grandpa!"

Quan: "Ah, Vivi! You...no grow much at all. Is thanks to Vivi I
    learn about imagination... I teach Vivi, who not know
    anything about world outside. My imagination grow very big
    as I teach him!"

Vivi: "Grandpa..."

Quan: "To eat same as to live... Vivi, you understand? To see not
    only thing. To think and talk just as important. Life end
    when you die. But imagination share with others, live
    forever. My spirit almost gone. Is where my imagination
    end..."

Vivi: "No... Are you going away again, Grandpa?"

Quan: "No need be sad... Vivi, as long as you imagine, I by your
    side. Quina and Quale... Good luck..."

[Quan's being fades away.]

Quale: "M-MASTER!"

Zidane: "Hey, who are you guys all talking to...?"

Vivi: "What?"

Quale: "Quina... I start over from beginning..."

[Quale leaves.]

Quina: "Master..."

Zidane: "Who were you talking to...?"

Quina: "You no see, Zidane?"

Zidane: "See what? I saw you guys talking into space."

Quina: "I see... You still have long way to go, Zidane."

Vivi: "Never mind, Zidane. I'll tell you about it some other time.

Zidane: "?"

Vivi: "Let's get going! There are still so many things to
    understand!"

Zidane: "Y-Yeah..."
People who no have imagination no taste until they actually eat!
...Life end when you die.But imagination share with others,
live forever.

'Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. There is an idea,
Mr. Creedy- and ideas are bulletproof.'- V in V for Vendetta

'A man is just flesh and blood and can be ignored or destroyed. But as a
symbol...as a symbol, I can be incorruptible, everlasting.'
-Bruce Wayne, in Batman Begins

New toys everyday.. getting fancier and fancier

Well, army capabilities are forever getting better and better. We have incredible defense systems that aim to shoot down inter-continental ballistics missiles from outer space, not mentioning the amazing feat that those missiles could even cross such a big range.. And there's those new pixelised suits that from far, appears just like part of the background exactly how a picture would look like if you zoom out from the pixels on the computer screen. What rifles that shoot around the corner, cloaking mechanisms, communications between the separate units within the army..

Well of course, they are cool just like the toys that guys play with when we're younger.. But hey whats the point in their innovation? To deter and boost one's capability to take over and subdue other people. I guess thats something to boast about, being powerful and having the pride.

Incredibly, weapons and defense capabilities innovates themselves extremely rapidly for a organisation that is the epitome of monopoly. Otherwise, a military organisation is extremely inefficient. Why? Because the structure within is arranged by rank. And rank is earned through experience, which is in turn earned through age. Oh, there's nothing wrong with age-old wisdom, but then we become more and more unlikely to use imagination and creativity as we age, being more and more resistant to change and ideas.

Being the only organisation in the country, the army is effectively a monopoly, and the biggest example of one that is most un-profit driven. Defence sucks a big part out of our budget, with hardly any returns except for one word called 'Deterrence'.

Mercenaries would likely to be more efficient, but there's where the oft-heard reason in American debates comes in, 'oh, but these are crucial national interests that we are talking part.. surely we must protect them from external competition..' Admittedly its one of the drawbacks of the market-driven system. The service/good goes to the richest guy. Somehow we always are jealous of any guy thats rich. But part of being rich takes effort too.. even though it could be through very unpalatable means.. surely the the bandit would also be expending effort on his part to rob. He would be extremely calculative in the way he is spending his effort to get cash..

Show me how the use of force could ever be fully justified. Because I'm still waiting to hear it.