How to Complete that PhD

Dude, today is one of those days... can't seem to focus on my work. Don't really want to return to my early harvest programme article nor can I seem to make headway on the anatomy of ASEAN (the title is a hint of my intentions :) )

I actually skimmed through the past couple years of articles in the journal, Asian Affairs and found quite interesting read. Well, not interesting enough for me to put them here. However, in my quest to get some inspiration, guess what I found...

Greg Mankiw's article on advice for graduate students. http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2006/05/advice-for-grad-students.html

Have fun reading. I have only read 2 of them but found them helpful.

Have a good weekend- there's a BBQ tomorrow. Hope the weather will be cooler and that it will not rain.

Toilet Diplomacy

Gosh I can't believe 3 days have passed! Really need to work harder on updating this blog.

Guess what I found- more evidence of the importance of toilet diplomacy in Asia.

From the Agence France-Presse (27 July 2006 0641 am GMT) - "Japan Hails 'Toilet Diplomacy' with China"

"...when China's Li Zhaoxing popped into the toilet during Wednesday's talks in the Malaysian capital, and found that Japan's Taro Aso happened to be inside, the two seized the chance for a discussion.Journalists who had been pursuing Li through the hallways were mystified by the long visit to the facilities as they waited at the door for 20 minutes, unaware that Aso was also inside.When Aso returned to the meeting of ministers from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and South Korea, he informed his counterparts of the encounter."I just met Li in the toilet and we had a good discussion," Aso said to the other ministers when he returned, a Japanese foreign diplomat told AFP, adding that their contingent was referring to the incident as "toilet diplomacy".The two ministers on Thursday finally held their much-awaited official "bilateral" meeting which took place in the more dignified surroundings of five-star Nikko Hotel."

Another reason why you should not have an upset stomach when you are having participating in a diplomatic conference....

Rejected by New York Times

Just found an interesting article on International Studies Perspective (Volume 7 Issue 3, 2006 by Douglas Borer- "Rejected by the New York Times? Why Academics Struggle to Get Published in National Newspapers"

He offered 3 suggestions for the public intellectuals wanna-be:

1) Writing within the rules
- i.e. no more than 800 words. "the possibility of being published increases as the work required by the harried editor decreases."

2) Writing Differently with Due Dispatch
- "If you see a breaking story on CNN and think you have something to say, a good guideline for submission is 24-36 hours."

3) Keep writing

My only slight irritation regarding the article? He thinks that the Straits Times is from Hong Kong rather than Singapore. But then again, I won't mind getting the South China Morning Post for a change.

Life at work

Gosh, it's only my third blog and it's been more than 3 days since I started this... gotta learn to be more disciplined.

Anyway, I found more hilarious stuff- this time, it's on life in the office. It has some resonances with my experience..

This first is not as funny... but check out the song. It's a parody of James Blunt's You're Beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukk-emL34h0

This is definitely a must-watch... particularly for those who are involved in office work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O_5ef49N5I&NR

Somehow I don't think my wife will be as tickled as me but..

Education

Just what is it about education that drives Singaporeans mad?

Had a chat with my South Korean colleague and we were just chatting about the emphasis that parents placed on education in Korea (and of course in Singapore).

Dude, I still wake up sometimes remembering that I haven't done my ten-year series for the previous day! (For those who don't know what a ten-year series is- it's basically past year exams questions....)

On a lighter note, I found a couple of youtube videos that were really funny..

The (in)famous NUS Business School Advertisement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeqkQraNO7w&mode=related&search=

The Graduate (Hard Times)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2AZBwYG3bI&mode=related&search=

I don't think the below is as funny but I thought it showed the bias that Singapore society had for things foreign- especially education... it seems to be a rip-off from a Chinese movie but for the mind of me, I can't seem to recall which movie it is....

The NLS University advertisement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8PMF2JIvaY&mode=related&search=

Maybe I will write a bit more about education later...

Inaugural Post

Yay!! The first post...

Second attempt at blogging- hopefully this will work this time round.

Decided that it's far easier to upload photos than sending them via email :)

First photo of my nephew, Junwei at my wedding :)