Thursday, July 20, 2006

Routines, Money Demand and the Heat

For some reason I haven't being able to log into blogger for a while now. I actually thought that maybe they had decided to axe my blog. After all it is suffering from serious neglect.

So what has changed? Nothing really. I am now used to my new routine. It's only for the summer and once that's over I'll be back in uni again. I quite like uni because I know that everyday will be different, each with it's challenges and opportunities. I now really wonder if I'm cut out for the rigid corporate world. I feel as though my sense of adventure might get lost with all the monotony that will surround me. My very kind manager even expressed her concerns that this mathematician might be bored stiff with the level of work they are shedding on me. However, I like the ethos behind this company which I now believe is Great Britain's best kept secret.

On the side, I'm busy tweaking a research paper I authored during my time in the States with high hopes of publication. I really have nothing to lose. It's an econometric study on Postwar US Money Demand. It's a welcome challenge. I have no trouble with the statistics (even though they can get laborious), it's the economic theory I'm trying to get my head around. Since my life academically, I've always chosen to avoid all things accounting, economic or commercial. And now that I'm taking the time out to educate myself, I really don't think I missed out on a whole lot. It doesn't compare to the intricacies and the blood sweat and tears mathematics throws at you. I'm sure a host of people would beg to differ but I'm really not tickled pink by Keynes's ideas.

This week the heat is on. Heat, dry dry heat. It's brought back memories of a sultry October in South West Zimbabwe. What's missing are the Jacarandas and their beautiful purple carpets. The last time I was this hot was on a drive to Las Vegas three months ago. The Nevada desert was not kind. I'm amazed at this country's reaction to extreme weather conditions. Schools close because they can't cope with the heat; two weeks ago more schools turned away their pupils because of thunderstorms and come winter more pupils will be turned away because of too much snow. I guess it sums up the general attitude of the population: a country content with the mediocre, too much of anything puts them off.

posted by mpenseli @ 10:44 AM