Fear and Pleasure
Haven't blogged in a month, though fortunately I can always depend on readers who guilt me into writing something. There are all kinds of interesting, and often bizarre, episodes I find myself in these days, but I don't want to court trouble by blogging about them in lurid detail like an acquaintance of mine did. He's about to be the guest-of-honour of one of those dreaded tea sessions for wayward bloggers.Anyway, last week a colleague asked if I've received the eagerly-anticipated letter only a segment of our population are privileged to. I hadn't, but I expected that I didn't have to wait too long. Well, now I finally have it. The On Government Service envelope containing a letter headed "Offer of Complimentary SDU Membership". Wah, free membership and opt-out some more. The people up there think it's 'a gift to jumpstart your social life', and heaven knows I need some semblance of a social life. Apparently, a SDU membership is an opportunity for me to network with other like-minded graduates. Unless I'm already married of course, then the letter implicitly suggests that I not mix around so much interacting with fellow graduates. Instead, I should stay home and concentrate on making babies. Which I heard is an activity that is truly enjoyable only when the participants are not concerned with producing results. Something like learning mathematics, but plainly ridiculous from a certain perspective. Recent findings suggest that countries where children enjoy mathematics the most are the ones with the lowest scores on standardised tests. Ergo having fun, though a pleasant side-effect, seems to be counter-productive. A logical extension would be that making babies, in this country at least, shouldn't be made too enjoyable if we want maximum output from effort invested.
According to TIME magazine, the average number of condoms sold in South Korea increased significantly following its northern sister's subterranean blast. Now, these South Koreans bought condoms not because they were in a playful mood, but because they were stressed and worried by external threats. We all have our theories as to why this is the case. Mine is that Dr Strangelove is frequently broadcast on Korean free-to-air TV, but that's just my sleep-deprived brain talking. In any case, the effect is real enough that one ought not be surprised if it were revealed that 7-Eleven sponsors the counter-terrorism videos that bombard our jaded eyes on MRT trains. Of course, the big question is whether these condoms are bought to be used as they are meant to, or for a prophylactic property that wards off some post-giant explosion effect I know not of.
posted by KynTheMan @ 11:08 AM
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