well-being economics

A revista «The Economist» criou o «Big Mac index» como instrumento de simplificação da teoria monetária cambial. Este instrumento veio a revelar-se como um indicador interessante do valor relativo das moedas em PPPs (Purchasing Power Parities) - neste caso a paridade é o hamburguer Big Mac (a.k.a. «burgernomics»). Porque é que o Big Mac funciona como uma paridade? Porque supõe-se que a MacDonalds, que fixa os preços (mesmo nos franchises), funcione precisamente no ponto de equilíbrio procura/oferta de cada mercado nacional. É uma paridade grosseira, já que "all things [are not] being equal" nos mercados internos. Ora, que melhor maneira de evitar factores que distorcem a comparação paritária referenciando um bem tão querido em todo o lado, independentemente de etnia, cultura ou religião?

Apresento-vos o «The Economist's Whore index»:

putas de todo o mundo, uni-vos!

Brokeback Montijo

...ou como ser apanhado red-handed por uma patrulha da GNR.

mental screen

"yellow post-it script, initial"

LOGGED FILE META INFO START:
file ID meta: NCPD-000087932-4/NDC/2003.
evidence meta: #34 of death scene at New Canaan Community Centre 03032003.
location meta: 3.5 feet southwest of main east door of NCCC; ground.
description meta: written-on yellow post-it block, entitled "yellow post-it script, initial".
officer(s) in charge: Wiley, J. Sarah (senior criminologist); Donaldson, Kurt (junior investigator).
senior officer(s) in charge: Nadriczny, Edward (Senior State Marshall).
authentication of state justice(s): OK-NCSP-01198-CONNOR-OFLANNER; OK-NCSP.
LOGGED FILE META INFO END.

--start of file--

"Hi everyone, I'm Pedro, and I have a condition"

"I can't focus on my work, and I'm starting to depress..."

everybody says "HI PEDRO!"

and the female moderator "Everyone here has past experiences just like yours... let's hear them!"

"I.. uhh.. I .. once saw these post-it notes at the local walmart.. and I.. I.. couldn't stop filling them with things to do. I even have, like.. post-its to prioritize other post-it queues... and, I'm Pedro and, I Want To Change."

moderator on a delicate voice: "Pedro... you are NOT alone. I'm sure everybody here knows EXACTLY how much terror a post-it can cause you. Do you want to tell us more? Don't worry, we're here for you!"

Pedro holds the chair to disguise mild trembling of arms and voice.

"No Pedro, get up so we can see you clearly!"

"I.. have a dream, where all those post-its come back to haunt me.. they.. they.. uh.. [sob] this is difficult.. I'm so sorry [covers eyes and lets go a tear but recovers quicly] .. ok.. you can do it [quiet musing] you can do it.. [returns louder] THEY come and paper cut me! And they won't let go until i'm a bloody mess. But that. THAT's just the beggining. Do you know what it's like to LOSE all your notes even If they attack you! I happen to have FEELINGS for my notes! how COULD they do this to me!!! [loses control and starts sobbing]..."

(moderator tries to mantain professional look....)

"Uh... I'm sorry... err..."

"Yes, Pedro, speak! Share your vision with everyone else."

"Eh... yeah, sure, thanks... Well, I just wanted to tell you I've BEEN there. I KNOW. Only we, true post-it-addicts know the true intensity of this conditon and the obsession that arises from constant post-it use. You, other Pedro, are SO not alone. Trust me, you can overcome this"

Pedro gets up and frantically hugs everyone in the room with conviction and a newfound force.

"I.. NEVER told this to anyone. it was.. SO liberating! Now I can switch to PDA post-its! I'M FREE FREEE FREEEEEEE!"

Pedro runs wildly into the window and jumps the 6th floor while laughing happily. Yellow Post-its, the good paper quality kind, slowly rained, rose and falled upon his smiling face, like a dancing celebration of work liberation emancipated by the very own yellow thingies.

--end of file--

[escrito em dueto com o Pedro]

on the nature of reasonable expectations

As mudanças de paradigma são, geralmente, acompanhadas de convulsões de rejeição das ideias instaladas. Faz parte do ser humano rejeitar o que é diferente, especialmente se esse diferente aparenta-se a priori como irracional, infundado, e básico. A natureza do homem precede a política, o poder e justiça e nem sempre o bem prevalece. A História e a realidade são extremamente complexas, e nem tudo o que parece, é, de facto, o que parece. É necessário cepticismo, MUITO cepticismo ao analisar todas as ideias recebidas e duvidar de tudo, TUDO. Mas não se deve partir com ideias pré-concebidas, e isso aplica-se a toda a gente.

Uma atitude construtiva é necessária num paradigma que se enuncie como necessário, e isso inclui -quase sempre- o compromisso.