Shallowness is the key to pleasantness

I think I'm becoming shallower and shallower each day. Nowadays, I'm occupied with things such as whether I'll be able to afford that Canon digital camera next month or whether I need lip glosses in more colours to add variety to my life. I think about bags, shoes, makeup. I watch bitchy reality shows such as The Apprentice 3 and America's Next Top Model (Nope) 2.

Being shallow makes things more pleasant not just for myself, but for others too. Friends and family find me more tolerable now. Most teenagers like to be angsty and philosophical. They sulk and scowl and refuse to belittle themselves by responding to your questions or acknowledging the fact that you are talking to them! And what excuses are offered for their behaviour? They are "confused" and "trying to find their directions in the adult world" etc.

I know because I went through that phase too. You keep thinking to yourself that here I am, pondering about life's deep questions such as what is the purpose of life and how I fit in the scheme of things, and all my parents do is to bug me about helping out with household chores. Probably you look down on most people too, as they don't seem as concerned, or as contemplative as you are. I think this adolescent brand of philosophy is more of self-centredness, the "I, I, I" philosophy. I have done that before, and was a bit tired of it, as no matter how much time I spend mulling over it, I still don't know the answers. Better go out there and experience it instead. Action over thought. Thought can be paralysing sometimes.

Anyway, shallow people aren't half as unpleasant as people who like to foist "deep" and "difficult" conversations on you. Talk that just goes in a circular pattern, and then you find that at the end of it you are still confounded. Well, whatever.

Don't come here for wisdom or level-headedness

I've spent so much time editing the paper of this junior academic and I'm still not done! When will I be rid of his paper, the twit? And this is a Saturday night! I got so mad that I just finished a bag of Twisties in under half an hour. My sister was amazed, and then pointed to the 2 twisties that were still stuck on my T-shirt.

His references are a mess, he has 3 pages of endnotes and he doesn't write well!

Was responsible for bringing this foreign visitor around. He seems kind of abrupt, and even impolite. He handed me his camera without a word, expecting me to take a photograph of him. When I've taken it, he took it back again without saying even a word of thanks. This is just 1 example of his repulsive behaviour. What a little asshole. Go back to your country!

I need to destress. Somebody, pay for my spa visit, please!

Academic life = all words no action

I have this simmering uneasiness that what I'm working on and working towards is not exactly as meaningful as some people made it out to be. I'm doing academic work, and perhaps I'm still an outsider and thus have not totally bought the idea that academics are doing useful, practical work.

The most important thing seems to be the churning out of papers. Research papers, journal papers, conference papers. And for what purpose? To provide more papers that other academics can research on and cite, so that they can write more papers? The rhetoric is never about improving the system; it's always about getting published, getting recognised by your peers. How many academics are truly sincere about wanting to improve the lives of others?