In a balloon

Actually, although the current consti readings are... not bad, they start to blur together after a while. I mean, read one critic, you've read them all; academics on constitutional law in my country don't really have radically different viewpoints. And reading about the constitution is just arghh. There's a deep sense of unreality, I think, because the constitution has been changed loads of time, and while reading in the parts we've been concentrating on, there's a vague sense of disquiet and maybe even injustice. I mean, I concede (sorta) the reasoning on stuff like nominated MPs and non-constituency (even typing this is painful) MPs but a part of my brain is still, like, this isn't how the world is supposed to work! So yeah.

Also, I dunno how to frame this question, so I'll just try to describe it. Since the last election when the opposition parties won a big fraction of votes in some constituencies (must create a shortcut for typing 'constituencies') but since most of the time, they still lost to the dominant party, under the first-past-the post system we has - I keep thinking, let's argue the merits of this system some other time, ok? - so it turns out there is a very small number of opposition MPs in parliament. Ok, in absolute numbers the opposition got 30-40% of the votes but less than 10% of the seats. Yes, there's something rather unsatisfactory about the result when you see it in this way.

But how is it that that has become a reason to criticise the system? If it's a sign of a deeper flaw in the system, then say so. But because the results don't jell with the perception of "fairness", it can't be the reason that the system is flawed? When we've been having this system all along? And it's never been brought up before? I dunno. ...I have to think more about this.

...when looking at the required reading for the class for constitutional law (the prof released the reading list a couple of days back). Like this intro/constitutionalism for dummies thing - doesn't exactly keep one on the edge of one's seat, does it? Probably it's because it's supposed to be a summary of some sort; judging by the bibliography, that is. And as a sidenote, it just seems to me that a bibliography that long for an article that's only 16 pages (printed) is indicative of either anally-inflicted pompousness or a rather weird form of academic insecurity.

I have acquired some doorstop-size books and there's a part of me that's afraid that the bookshelf will break if I place them on it, which is why they are on the floor, where a small stack has unwittingly become a foot stool.

Onward, anyway. Soon as I get more caffeine.

See icon. So much.

Finally got my grades. All B's. Which is averagely... average, and also means I've lost my funding. (It required at least an A to make up a higher grade point average.) So, dammit.

Also have to buy some very expensive textbooks for next term. Ditto.

Not to mention paying more for tuition. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

...It's my own fault for not being as hardworking as I ought to have been, and also shortcomings in my own IQ level, so can't really blame anyone. But still, di... yeah. (ETA: If it sounds like I'm sighing a lot, it's because I'm feeling doubtful about doing the next term. My brain has been having "Look, if you're not smart enough for this then so be it, give up and get a job" vs "Are you just scared about going through with the next term and doing even worse?" vs "What have you got to lose?" arguments with itself all day. >_>)

On a tangentially related note, have been doing volunteer work at pro bono office. Paperwork. Answering phones. And other stuff. But it's pretty interesting, plus it's bracing to be in the company of people who have a mission to help and who are not singlemindedly focused on grades, grades, grades. Only annoyance is, because it's a regular working stint, am feeling tired out at the end of the day; I feel almost too tired to go teach after work, which then makes me feel irritable. And then even more tired by the time it finishes. It's a bit sad to be eating dinner at 10.30. Am using an alarm clock these days because I'm scared of oversleeping. So tired. Used to be that I never used to use alarms in the past -- oh well, better an irritating noise (alarm's set on my phone) and being late, I suppose.

Unrelated note: knitted a shrug. And I look good wearing it! Also received my order of Handmaiden yarn. I also see that my days of ordering yarn online will no longer be, due to budget reasons. (I've only done it twice, tho.) Now, what to make with 400 metres of lovely green silk yarn??? Checking Ravelry just makes me tempted to order more yarn. But must make use of this year-end break to scratch my knitting itch; won't have time when term starts. But it's almost too pretty to knit!

Once upon a time, it was an article of faith that the common law was not made but had always existed. Like Plato's Forms, the law was perfect and pre-existing; mortals only saw shadows on a wall. Once in a while, a judge [who functioned much like an oracle] would declare what he thought he discerned to be 'The Law'. This was subject to clarification by a higher court which presumably could see better...

- Walter Woon, "The Doctrine of Judicial Precedent", The Singapore Legal System.

ETA: As for why I posted that, I just thought it was rather adorable to be reminded of Plato's Forms at this junction, considering how painstakingly tedious the article is.

***

I never thought I could say I've been doing too much reading, but I've been doing too much reading. (Undergrad experience not applicable as undergrads are generally believed - with good reason - to be at least slightly dotty.)

I really, really want to make a bracelet. This is not as crazy as it sounds. I passed by this shop earlier that was selling earrings cheap. I saw this long dangling pair that would look rather silly as earrings, but would look pretty if turned into a bracelet. Work of the moment to buy those earrings. But the bracelet...

Technically, it's actually only the second day because I spent two days catching up on my reading. And weekend-ing. >_<

So sleepy. I study (read and take notes, attempt to answer mock questions, write notes to self) for about 30-40 minutes before I start nodding off, and have to stand up and stretch or get a snack or whatever. Must go to gym soon; my back is stiffening up.

Attempting to enliven spirits by dipping into this bunch of books I got from the library, all about this famous judge, Lord Denning, whose judgments from a purely literary point of view are pretty entertaining (the law part still puts me to sleep).

Stuff to look forward to:

1) will visit World Orchid Conference tomorrow, yay!
2) And Richard III, double yay!

Not looking forward to:

1) Mum's operation ('s minor op. But.)

I wish I could put exams under there, but nah, I'm looking forward to them. Sort of. Just as soon as I finish studying.

Okay, promised self to put the computer away after 30 minutes.

I always had this idea that law was this massive, rigid, inflexible mass, which was one of the main sources of my ehhh with lawyers (the other had to do with the generally "superior to you plebians" attitude I'd encountered). Anyway, I used to think that legal stuff was set in stone and unchangeable.

So now they tell me in school that actually you've got to examine every assumption - and actually, try not to have too many assumptions* - which is weirdly familiar: weird because I totally was not expecting it, and familiar because I used to not do that when studying English. Have too many assumptions, I mean, only RL makes that difficult and I'm now used to the RL style of things and so making a switch back, this time in a different discipline, is pretty disconcerting. I have to keep reminding myself to think.

Maybe I should make a sign and put it on my desk. Like maybe: "DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING; IF YOU DO, EXAMINE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS".

...I'm not making much sense, huh. That's okay, I just wanted to ramble a bit.

Also, I got a C for the contract law midterm. >_< At least it was only 10% of the final grade. Though in the spirit of schaudenfreude, I must say that most of the class got C's. And if I, with my haphazard understanding of the class material and admittedly confused state** in class, got the same grade as the smart alecks and people who actually understand this material at first glance, then I'm not doing too badly... right?

**I know. I usually need more time for it to percolate and perhaps to read it through a few more times - and usually I get it only after we'd discussed it in class; but at least I get it, right?

*They've been saying it for weeks; I just never got into it.

To ppl presenting on the case of three old ladies who sold a car:

They are described as "elderly plaintiffs", "Miss Ingram" and the textbook says "old ladies".

It is, however, annoying when you describe them as "little old ladies".

Ow, hard to keep eyes open. Why am I blogging then? Good question, with a very bad answer. Have been working on pending assignment and am due to go and teach in another hour's time; so I'm just trying to keep awake till then (yes, I've had coffee).

Something that happened on Friday. We were discussing some case and it somehow, not-so-peripherally touched on the Taiwan-China issue, as in, how Taiwan isn't recognised in UN, yadda, yadda. Y'know, I don't live in either place, and ultimately I'm just not that invested in how the issue is resolved beyond hoping that it will be peaceful. Anyway. Just one of the many topics that come up when you live in Asia and have to, despite your best efforts, discuss China.

What happened here is one of my classmates is from China, and at the end of the class (and after lots of discussion that did not mention China-Taiwan) this classmate stood up and said that Taiwan belonged to China and that was that. (Ok, not in so many words.)

My reaction was, as expected, an eyeroll.

Hm... well, I like Taiwan. (I like China, too.) However China interprets the state of politics to mean that once upon a time they had a claim on Taiwan (whether that claim remains is what makes Chinese leaders bristle), what is clear now is that Taiwan is pretty unique and has its own philosophy, society (not to mention politics). I think we should go with the rule of self-determination, and a group of people should have the right to decide what they want as overlord a group.

Then again, just my thoughts. I can't really say with confidence what the majority of people in Taiwan feel. Maybe one day there will be unification. Maybe it will even be a peaceful one. Who knows? I'm just a spectator.

It probably goes without saying that I'm stressed. I have a criminal law paper due next week and I'm still errrh on the topic. It's probably too late to change it? Besides, I've already sent the prof my outline, crappy as it is. I've written 10% of it so far. It's going to be a quick and dirty, I can tell. This sort of hurts me - or would if I could summon up the energy to be hurt over what is essentially a prideful matter, which is that I remember a time when writing a paper was, like, snap of the fingers. Now? Ahahaha, I'm lucky if I can put together a topic sentence without contradicting myself.

( Read more... )

ETA: Crim law prof emailed to say that outline is ok, only: what's my thesis? Erm, I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out...

I really don't think I work all that much (or hard) but I think I gave one of my students a mild shock last week when we got to talking and he realised I worked on Saturdays and Sundays. As he already knew I teach in the evenings, this information means that I work every single day of the week. Poor guy, I think his self-assurance as a member of the hardest working race has taken a dent.

Though I really do not think I work all that much. I've tried adding the extra hours up now and then, usually in anticipation of my extra paycheque, but because teaching part-time is so unpredictable (student OT/overseas trips/blah blah beefcakes), I told myself that to do so would just be giving myself extra stress.

I have about 7 students presently. The 'about' is for the ad-hoc occasions when I stand in for other teachers. So, not really a lot. It's occasionally frustrating but non-strenuous, and I do like my students. It's not like I'm making bricks, right?

And look! I'm blogging, so I must have free time.