Misfortune or Inauspicious?

Whew, finally the basic book repairing kit was assembled, amid much hurry and frustration…

Most of these items were bought from Page One. I guess these items need no introduction.

I was particularly frustrated when I wanted to buy the things below…

The sticks are called the bone folder or simply the “bone”. This is an essential tool in binding books and (more or less) wrapping the covers. However, instead of getting the stuff easily and without fuss, as I anticipated any good bookstore would be, I was met with a blank stare from the staff of the aforementioned bookstore and the one in Ngee Ann City…

So, the only option I have is to place an order from the United States. The best option IMO is (B) which costs US$9.45 (ard. S$14.70). (C) is coated with Teflon, and is the most expensive at US$24.50 (S$38.00) (!). A bone is more expensive than a text book… What do you think?

Well, this is just a start. The tools are there, but the consumables isn’t. The variety of the tapes are virtually numerous, and I should, theoretically, get at least Scotch tape, spine-repairing cloth and acid-free adhesive. I don’t really think I am so well-endowed to buy the more sophisticated things…

3M Scotch C-27 tape applicator, US$66.99 (S$103.80).

Light meter, US$215 (S$330).

Hygrothermograph, US$1,200 (S$1,860).

Mass deacidification chamber… Millions of dollars.

In fact, book-repairing and library is inseparable; at least, it is to me. The last time I operated a library (1997-98), I failed miserably… Over a quarter of my books were, in decent terms, not returned, so I incurred a loss of some RM300.00. It was a huge amount of pocket money for a primary school student! :’(

Hope that the misfortune today (yesterday actually) was not a bad start for the revival of my ‘career’… As there are several books in my home, dating back to 1910s, that are currently awaiting restoration and repair…

Superstition

Having made my new year resolution, I started to wonder whether this phenomenon is a superstition. Indeed, are all the relations to date and time superstitious?

Well, one could say that the lack of discipline, or more generally, a dysfunctional biological clock due to long period of negligence is the main reason that humans assign a disproportionate amount of importance to date and time. Citing myself as an example, I believe that I should finish reading the book The Intelligent Investor before I reach twenty, and this commitment driven me to act as if I am crazy for some time. Well, most people would justify this act by saying “An appropriate amount of stress is good and makes you a responsible person,” but could we say conversely, “The quality of irresponsibility is the source of your stress?”

The overemphasis on date, time, and even numbers is fallacious. What is the difference between 9.99 and 10 (besides the number of significant figures)? And yet, when people see $9.99, most would say “Oh, nine something nia” instead of a plain (and more appropriate) “Ten.” And some people would mourn if the stock market indices drop by one-tenth of one percent simply because the drop in index figures appear large. (Having understand that, you could appreciate why Buffett does not need a calculator, let alone using higher mathematics.)

Even the laws of nature appears fuzzy; there is no clear boundary between disciplines and outcomes. Yet, the overemphasis on assumptions drove people crazy. Some laws are sound; the flaw is that people had given emphasis on the wrong variables. And keeps on digging for the wrong direction just produces more disappointment and disillusionment. For example, does patterns constitute the base of a sound theory? The answer, in my opinion, is a flat “no,” for the underlying reasons and logic, if any, forms the “solid” base. And I still wonder how to build castles in the air that is capable of sustaining itself.

From where did I realize all these? I think the credit goes to Ben Graham… Thanks Ben!

New Year Resolution?

I hope to conceive resolutions that are sensible and achievable in view of all my shortcomings and constraints. Three Cs summarizes it all: Concentration, Conservation and Complete(ness).

Concentration, focus of mind and resources. Last year was marked by a series of events (failures actually) where the lack of concentration is the causing factor. Diversification is good; but not when it comes to the mind. Living parallel lives is agonizing, as the Clinton case shows.

Conservation, protection of valued resources. The resources comprises concrete as well as non-concrete types, e.g. water for the former and time for the latter. As of the moment of typing, I am breaching this commitment as I am practicing bad time management… (Hint: Refer to the time stamp) However, it seems that I was getting (a bit) less impulsive when it comes to book purchases.

Complete(ness), finish something. I should just be less impulsive and get to pursue the long-term goals… But this is easier said than done. Twenty-years lack of persistence implies that the habit is hard to shake off… But it’s better to do so before it does me harm, which, it seems, is already happening.

There goes my resolutions assembled in a hurry. As with all good principles, they should stand the test of time well, and I hope all of them are still alive by the end of the year. Alas, it is of no use that I hope, for I am really the one who should get the things moving…