Jul 21 2008
Some Catching Up
Collected the following during the paper-writing days, never had the chance to write them down. Here they are:
The New Yorker:
2007/11/12 James Surowiecki: why high compensation structure may undermine Principals’ interests:
1. Hedge fund managers reap large rewards on the upside without a correspondingly punitive downside
2. Stock option grant may “underplay risk is at work in … corporate America”
3. Higher portion of stock options in CEO pay lead to higher stock volatility (data available)
July 7-14, 2008: Adam Kirsch’s story about John Keats:
Very moving recount of a genius whose talent precedes his time. The article reminded me of a rather obscure essay written by Christian Andersen, “The Thorny Road of Honor“. I read the Chinese version (光荣的荆棘路) translated by 叶君健 when I was 15 years old. It made my blood boil and led me to a rather literary youth.
Keats’ life seems to be another moving case of redemption: in his death bed, he was bemoaning his lack of achievement,
‘I have left no immortal work behind me—nothing to make my friends proud of my memory—but I have lov’d the principle of beauty in all things, and if I had had time I would have made myself remember’d.’
He dictated his own epitaph, “Here lies one whose name was writ on water”.
His sense of mortality echoes particularly loud in me: “I have an habitual feeling of my real life having past, and that I am leading a posthumous existence.”
It wasn’t an easy read at all. But considering this book: Stanley Plumly “Posthumous Keats” (Norton; $27.95)
Oct 15, Jerome Groopman, Silent Minds:
How patients in vegetative state can still recognize faces, understand sentences and even imagine playing tennis. It is a very heavy read. But was impressed by the research methods.
Nov. Connie Bruck, Rough Rider:
“Liquidity equals value.” Very enlightening. Really solidified my view on the nature of Liquidity.
Foreign Affairs:
Richard Betts, “A Disciplined Defense“: Many figures available on defense spending, historical comparison and mis-appropriation.
Michael Desch, “Bush and the Generals“: A very spirited critique of the current civilian-military relations. Insightful reading of Huntington’s “The Soldier and the State”. Also in the context: McMaster’s thesis, etc.
Yuliya Tymoshenko, “Containing Russia“: That was an awesome article. Realist arguments at its best. Reminded me of the time of 苏秦，张仪.