Coming up on New Year's

And so we slowly draw on the close of 2012 and gaze forward, into 2013, thinking that we take with us what we have learned to make ourselves better as human beings, and to make the world easier to understand and easier to live in. Looking back, it has been a somewhat hectic and destabilized year, and I am hoping that will change with the coming one. Still, they say that change is good, and if nothing else, it keeps you on your toes. Personally, I am not so sure. I think that a certain amount of change, coupled with a willingness to change if need be, is optimal. I mean, THEY also say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", right? 

Mozart and Audi enjoying the deep snow in Svabensverk. The fact that they were forced into it against their will, and lured to run with the help of small pieces of sausage is simply not mentioned in the picture. 

Some of my greatest treasures that I have amassed during the passed year would have to include my own simple "+/- system" for interpersonal relationships (is there another kind?), a simple and comprehensible way to make life just a little better every day. Trying to identify the signals, and responding to them in a "higher" fashion will make things a little better. And by thinking of the system, perhaps you will have an increased understanding of why you sometimes respond in "-" signals, even when you don't really want to.

I would like to make a case for some really interesting books I am presently reading. It is a strange mix, I'll give me that, but even the combination has a certain point to it. First, a book that I was taken by loads of years ago, back when I still lived in Lund. Tor Nörretranders "Märk Världen" (Notice the World) is about perception, consciousness and cognitive psychology. Perhaps not the best writer in the world, but the material really makes up for it. You will notice several thoughts from there cropping up in the blog from time to time. Then, Dan Ariely's "Predictably Irrational", dealing with behavioral economics or JDM (Judgement and Decision Making) uses rational analysis and economic thinking to analyze human behavior. And yeah, on that theme I have added "Freakonomics" to the list as well, but I will get back to that.
Salah presents his snout for close observation. It makes several points. Salah illustrates my interest in closely sniffing everything in the world around me. It will serve as an illustration of my curiosity. And I used to be very afraid, or rather respectful, of horses. Huge animals with immense power to trample your feet into oblivion. And put a horseshoe-shaped indentation in your forehead. Or a hamburger-sized hickey on your neck. Anyhow, I am not that afra...reserved any more. Which makes for better photos.
One of the interesting matters I am studying at present is about thermodynamical depth, the complexity of information, how information is linked to exformation and transferred, and how the challenge is not really taking in information and storing it, but rather to forget it. Still unsure about my studies this semester. I was planning to take behavioral science, but now I am just not sure. Don't know if I'll switch back to economics instead, or if I'll need to focus on education myself for the new job. Of course, a job is a job and I shouldn't really allow it to overflow into my private life. It is hard to contain, though.







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