The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Finally landed myself a copy -- and for 20% off as well. Am about halfway through it, and would like to complete it before the marking starts. It's amazing how much of it brings back memories of History 11 and Jere Daniell's meandering, old-school lectures on the Revolution. Also, Bailyn seems to have read and digested every single pamphlet ever written by those hopelessly verbose colonials. As he himself points out early on, early American pamphleteers weren't exactly Swifts or Defoes (and I find even them hard to bear!).
Posted by kungfuzi at 1:32 am | 0 comments

  The numbers, at last

Thanks MOE! $374,136.20. Divided by 72 months, that's approximately $5196.34 per month. In June 2010, I'll have served 36 months. Add 10 months NS bonus and the number is 46. So the amount to be repaid will be $5196.34 x (72-46) = $135,104.74. By then, I should have enough to cover this amount and ensure that I am not a penurious graduate student. The three months between then and when term starts will have to be spent...studying like crazy.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The earliest applications will be due in early December 2009, which means that preparation has to start at the end of this year, after the A-Levels. Then I need to head back to Hanover in June to let the professors know about my plans. Then I need to actually find time to write the damn applications. And then, I need to get accepted!
Posted by kungfuzi at 1:39 am | 0 comments

  Blaster rifles

I never understood why Blaster Rifles were all the rage until I cast a quadruple-strength Haste, eliminating recovery time between turns and allowing my party to fire continuously so long as "A" was pressed. Then I mowed my way through Dragonsand in minutes. Ah, old-school RPGs. Now if only I had the sequel!
Posted by kungfuzi at 12:53 am | 0 comments