Daniel > Recent Status Updates

In Fuyuko’s line of work (proofreader), no matter what you do, no matter how hard you look, some mistakes always make it through.

Her work is emblematic of life itself. It echoes it. There will be missteps, oversights, and falterings.

Sometimes your best isn’t enough and we must live with that.

We must not be burdened by them.

Keep on swimming eh?

Life is a game to which you won’t be invited a second time. You must play it to the very end, either as actor or as observer.

“My struggle is not as spectacular, but it is my own and I shall see it through.”

Feelings ran so high that it was no longer possible to express conciliatory opinions out loud.

He withdrew himself from the rest of the world.

He began by taking a life in order to be born.

"He profoundly despised the attitude, common throughout the Near East, tries to soothe sensitivities and cares for appearances; the attitude that makes one whisper to ones guests."

In Lebanon, and especially in my town, reputation and appearances are everything. Obsession with appearances can make communities shallow and disconnected. Relationships become about status instead of sincerity. Prevents genuine dialogue.

Love is such a powerful and spontaneous feeling, that it must posses you completely, it isn't something one can acquire with time.

Life is not so long that one can grow tired of it.

Interesting book, solid 3.5/5 if it weren't for the last 15 chapters. Felt like an IV drip, lacking substance. Its like my phone at 1% smh. But I do recommend the older version of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the Panama chapters.

It’s sobering to see how nations and people are pushed into self-destructive choices, with little hope for change.

One day we will reach a righteous world. I sincerely believe that.

Democracy is a farce when voters are intentionally deceived.

The majority of formally untied aid contracts from bilateral agencies also go to donor country firms. 2/3 are awarded to firms form OECD countries, and 60% "in country", to firms from the donor country that funds a project.

Oxfam research 2015: There is no public information about where 94% of the IFC's "high risk" intermediary investments have actually ended up.

Research from 2011: of the $69 billion of "tied aid" annually, more than 50% of total official development assistance is spent on procuring goods and services for development projects from external providers. "Tying aid" to the condition that all purchases are made from firms from donor countries is the least effect form of procurement. Turns into a boomerang aid.

The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth: The conditionalities of the IMF are paternalistic. They are meant to alter behaviour and induce changes in economic, political and social structures. They also serve as a sort of collateral; in some cases they are a form of coercion to ensure adoption of otherwise unpalatable reforms.

The evidence (Global Justice Now) suggests that the past 20 years of IMF and World Bank intervention have exacerbated rather than ameliorated Zambia's debt crisis. Ironically, in return for debt relief, Zambia is required to more of the same. A positive feedback loop.

Elliot Associates, a hedge fund, purchased around $20 million of the defaulted Peruvian loans for about $11 million and then sued the country and its central bank for the original amount plus interest, in a New York court. Elliot won a $58 million settlement. This windfall profit came at a huge cost to environmental and social programs in Peru.

The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was intended to block states from requiring the labeling of products containing GMOs. The Grocery Manufacturers Association and Monsanto poured millions of dollars into making this bill happen. Passage of this bill is an attempt by Monsanto to crush the democratic decision making of tens of millions of Americans. The voice of the people has been ignored.

A garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed in 2013, killing more than 1,100 people. The law firm, DLA Piper, of Senate majority leader Daschle fought the implementations of a Bangladesh plan for legally binding safety reforms and aimed at protecting low-income workers.

Those in the middle class who have the material trappings of prosperity, are complacent because they possess the things they were taught to covet, and they don't want to lose them. Those who live in poverty are complacent because they have to devote their energies toward simply surviving.

"Those involved in criminal activities convince people around the world that success is defined by personal assets rather than by contribution to the greater community, That government assistance for the needy is wasteful and counterproductive, and that men and women who live in mansions and travel in private jets and luxury yachts are icons to be emulated. The American Dream."

"Its infuriating when we point out that military spending reduces our benefits, we are told that social programs encourage indolence, whereas programs that support armies, subsidise windfall profits, and encourage corporate barons to speculate with our tax dollars fuel the engines of economic growth - that top-down economics works, despite the overwhelming evidence of the past decade to the contrary."

During early oil exploration, five missionaries were found dead, speared. One sister toured the US portraying the Huaorani as savages. Reminds me of my Year 11 IGCSE History where we were learning about secondary sources. One source showed how Mussolini’s Italy portrayed Abyssinians as savages to garner approval. It shows we haven’t learned from history and constant dehumanisation persists today.

Markov models were used to convinces nations to incur a lot of debt that they can never pay off.

On a side note, Markov models remind me of my advanced econometrics classes smh.

Iran chapter: “We are the desert”.

"I felt a sudden longing for the tranquility that seemed to embrace these five people"

Learning about Panamanian history was very interesting. In 1903, Panama was essentially annexed by the Americans from Colombia when the U.S. sent the USS Nashville to secure control and influence over the canal. It’s easy to forget the extent of U.S. involvement in Latin America, but throughout history, they have repeatedly intervened in the internal affairs of sovereign nations to install far right dictators.

Her takeaway has been that knowledge brings pain and consciousness brings loss, highlighting ones internal struggle. The quiet torment of the human condition.

Her "imperviousness" isn't necessarily resilience but dehumanization (idk how to articulate that point tbh: erasure and numbing?)

I love the confessional and allegorical writing. There's a stillness to it. Haunting, tender and intimate. I love this book.