Kaz

2011-08-26T00:18:00.003+08:00

I often drift to the times of the past, usually when I'm about to take a new step in another direction. I noticed this now, the period of progression begins with a return to once was. I don't know if any other people do this or not, but I find that old music, old books, take on new meaning during this time. Luckily, one must then get ready for little time and memories once felt must be put away for the time being. The return to the void when attempting to find the infinite and the also the supreme ultimate which is contained, requires one to forget, just for a time. But one must remember to return or all that was gained must be forgotten, which presents a different, and more difficult, method of retrieval. All this in preparation for the busy time period that is the rest of my life!

2011-08-01T12:02:00.002+08:00

I try to vary the things that I read. No, it doesn't mean I read the latest best seller, but with my focus so much on non-fiction, I try to remind myself that reading good fiction can be fun. However, this hasn't really been my pattern for a while now.

Recently, I've read Naomi Klein's books, No Logo and The Shock Doctrine. Both are quite good, though, there are some aspects of No Logo that are somewhat dated. The fact that Borders went out of business does indicate that major corporations and their constant creation of brands do have limits. Now, their downfall can be argued to either bad business practice or customer dissatisfaction, or both, but that requires a more in-depth examination of the economy. Both books are very good and I would recommend that anyone read them, but there are some things that she writes that just don't make sense. I don't see a mass resistance, let alone an organized one, rising up to challenge corporate power. I don't think Obama is that much different than the Presidents before him. In a two party system, such as practiced in the US, it seems that both parties take turns feeding at the troughs, paid for by the American public. However, I don't always agree with everything that writers such as her put into words. I do agree with many other things in the book and though it may seem that she is preaching to the converted, both books should be read and discussed with as many people as possible. Just remember to remain critical in reaching your own analysis.

The 4th

2011-07-04T10:57:00.001+08:00

Another month has passed. Funny things have happened. I'm officially middle aged, though I still think/feel younger. I keep repeating this, but I know in reality that this is not true. For example, I don't go out and drink with friends anymore. I just don't have the time like I used to. Not only do you need the time to go and drink, but you need the next day to recover. Time is a luxury that I don't have. My son just won't allow it. He is up at 7 no matter what. Also, it takes me longer to recover when tired. So, in reality, I know I'm not 25 or 30 anymore, though I'm told I act like I'm 9!

I have been reading some Kleinian and interpersonal psychoanalysis lately. Its interesting reading psychoanalysts who identify themselves with Klein, at least at some point in their career. The book consisted of different articles that focused on different aspects of Kleinian theory and technique. Papers on projective identification and character organization allow the reader insights into how some psychoanalysts have advanced Klein's theories. I must admit, toward the end of the book, much of the material seems to repeat, with a continued focus on schizoid defenses, the depressive position, etc. Although I find all of the articles worth reading, one aspect I have attempted to incorporate into my own reading style relates to the the identification of what I consider innovative work and strict adherence to ideological positions. There are some papers I interpret as public declaration of allegiance to one group. This is a new aspect I have tried to use when reading psychoanalysis, one that is very helpful with my own learning process. This also places a great focus on reading history to understand why some papers were even published.

I have attempted to branch out and read more interpersonal psychoanalytic writing. Although I have read some authors, my understanding of the relational and interpersonal perspectives remains limited. The book I chose to read Arthur H. Feiner, a psychoanalyst that I have never read before. The book was difficult to understand, partially because of my limited knowledge of the interpersonal paradigm. Jargon free, his writing seems to flow like water, jumping from one subject to another, with little warning. So although the language used allows for a larger audience, I found myself asking what the connection between two subjects were during my reading. The chapter regarding supervision with Erich Fromm started with such promise, but I soon lost interest when the subject changed to the nature of the mistakes the author felt he made regarding a patient of his to what seemed like a stream of conscious though put onto paper. Just like in conversations, when attempting to communicate ideas, concepts, and thoughts, academic writing needs focus. I will have to try again at his writing, but at a later time.

With that, I will try to read another topic, maybe a Naomi Klein book. Its good to mix up reading material. I also have to learn to steal time to read. This makes any type of late night drinking impossible. Until next time.

Forms and More Forms

2011-06-29T16:25:00.000+08:00

Here you go, fill out this form. Its been a week of forms. The process of renewing something or applying for something else seems to happen more often when you get older. Maybe its because you notice these things. Or maybe they seem to happen more often. Anyway, its rather frustrating, because I can't think of anyone who likes to fill out forms. What can you do right? Just fill them out as much as you can before proceed.

Some of these form that I've been filling out relates directly to graduate school. The whole process is about forms! But, the good thing about this relates directly to schooling. One step closer to the thing I wish to study, but most come at a later time.

I wish there was more time in the day. I have things that I want to read. I guess I have to figure out how to steal time.

News

2011-06-27T11:11:00.000+08:00

I'm almost 40. Another year older. Oh, don't get me wrong, its been very good, I have nothing to complain about. I also have no desire to complain, because I like where I am and where I'm going. My son is old enough to keep me fit, my wife is great, I got into graduate school, and I have a better understanding of many things that eluded me in the past. So, for these reasons, my life is very good. How I turned into a middle aged man though is beyond me. Somehow, I always thought I would be young! Maybe we all go through this.

What to do, what to do. I guess just keep doing everything that I have been and see where it takes me.

Old Times Long Remembered

2011-04-06T22:50:00.001+08:00

Its been quite sometime since I had been to southern Thailand. To be honest, its been 25 years since I've been there. I was just a small kid when I lived there. However, big enough to remember things and people. Ironically, I find myself living in Southeast Asia once again. So it wasn't a complete surprise when I got connected once again.

"Hey guy. Is this you in this picture?" I wasn't really sure what to think. Maybe spam, maybe just the wrong picture. However, the name was Thai and then I got curious. The link was dead. Nothing. Oh well, it must have been spam. I just forgot about the whole thing and forgot to delete it. I found it a few days later, the email and clicked on the link again. This time, the picture did come up and it was me in the picture! There I was, with a large number of other kids from my class in Hat Yai. I've never seen the picture before, none of us are in uniform and I don't know where we are exactly. What resulted was a large amount of emails between myself and people I had not seen or heard from in a very long time. There was the red tinge to the picture that I always associated with my parents pictures. Ironic, how we turn into our parents.

Since I'm not far, there is a chance that I will go see them. Hopefully it stops raining and its safe enough to go back. I think it should be, but southern Thailand isn't always the best place to visit since the violence sprang up again. Lets hope it works out. It would be fun to catch up with those in the picture and visit a place I used to live so many years ago.

Series of Events

2011-01-25T14:35:00.000+08:00

I have been taking a break from writing on this. I wanted to catch up on my personal reading, attempt to write something about what I have been reading. So far, its been pretty good and I felt that it was time to write about the things that hold my interest.

Lets start with a book called The Primitive Edge of Experience, by Thomas H Ogden. Dr Ogden's perspective on psychoanalysis and his ability to write beautifully and captivate the reader's imagination means that his books and papers represent quite a bit of theory and clinical experience. The book is not for the faint of heart and one should not expect a textbook introduction to psychoanalytic concepts. I do not know if Dr Ogden designs his writing this way, but one also needs to spend a fair amount of time attempting to find the meaning. The book is designed for you to think about the potential and possibilities he encounters. For me, this makes the material that much more personal and powerful. I have read one critic of this book, which stated that attempting to follow the thought process of the author was difficult. Part of this reason relates to how the book's chapters read more like individual papers, originally published separately. I did not find this arrangement interfered with my ability to understand. A very good book, with plenty of information that will need time to integrate. More than one read at any given time will also help with a better understanding.

I also read Erich Fromm's Escape from Freedom. Also an excellent book. Although Fromm discusses Freud in his book, the psychological and economic forces that define freedom represents the basis of this book. The concept of both positive and negative freedom and the tendency for the abuse of power that leads to totalitarian governments represents a certain amount of truth, even all these years later. I find Fromm very interesting, since it seems that most of his adult life he attempts to merge the writings of Marx and Freud. His writings are powerful and I find that this book's topic and overall presentation much better than other books of this topic. Considering its publication occurred in the 1940s, much of the subject matter also can be applied today. Technology may have changed, but the basis of human behavior has not. For this reason, I would highly recommend this book.

More to come later. I read some other books, but that will be until later.

New Bag

2011-01-09T13:23:00.000+08:00

Yes, the bag comes in its own bag! I thought this was a nice touch, since I have never seen this type of "bag" when living in the Bay Area. All the same, I'm pretty happy with the new bag. Something I picked up in Singapore. The last one I had lasted 10 years, before I had to retire the thing, as it was falling apart!

Anyway, hope everyone had a happy new year! Back the the regular grind right?

Manchester United v Arsenal Promo (13 12 2010)

2010-12-13T22:30:00.000+08:00

Sign of the Times

2010-11-22T04:00:00.000+08:00

I went to a wedding dinner last night. This may not seem like an odd thing. A young, hip, couple, who both work in the entertainment industry here in Malaysia. She is very nice and though I have never really spent time with him, I'm sure he is nice as well.

Since the dinner was filled with entertainment people, I thought it interesting to see what type of phones people were using and what type of watches people were wearing. Don't ask me how I developed this habit, I just think its interesting that people want the latest electronic gadget and a watch that is a classic look. Just as I thought, most people were either using an iphone or a blackberry phone. Again though, a sign of the times. Phones are no longer phones. When I first moved here, people used nokia. Now, its something else. The watch I saw the most, were a combination of Rolex and Tag. I guess a watch will always be something that is jewelry and not necessarily used for time keeping. For me, I like using the watch as a time keeping piece. Go figure huh? Maybe I'm just getting closer to middle age and like the things that I like and dislike the rest!

I can't seem to sleep tonight. I'm going to pay for it later in the day though, that much is for sure. I'll try again to knock out a bit later.

Return to the Void

2010-11-21T17:47:00.000+08:00

A few things on my mind. Arsenal lost to Sp*rs yesterday. The first loss at home in 17 years. The team looked like it would stroll to a 3 or 4 nil win, but instead, came out from the break and looked flat. Arsenal lost 2-3 and that was that. Put to the sword by Sp*rs. I won't go into details about how bad we looked, the mistakes that were made or even the fact that its a derby game. Other sites can tell you that. No. I'm just telling you that it makes you very upset to see your team just come out the blocks thinking the game was over. Spineless. That's the only word I can think of that doesn't resemble cursing. I don't know what to tell you after that, other than there are some serious problems that need to be addressed.

In rather stupid news, Nokia refuses to use Android, which I think is a mistake. In more stupid news, the dollar gained some value it had lost on the world market. See, I told you it was stupid news.

Part of me wonders why I write this thing. Is it for me or is it for you? I don't understand why I do it. One wonders if my life is interesting enough that people want to read about it. In the end, its just me writing about my perspective about things. Today, well, its about a shit football team, but still, its my team. I guess until next time.

Change of Pace

2010-11-19T08:20:00.000+08:00

Lately, I've been reading a lot of fairly intense philosophy. It got to the point where my mood was a bit sour, so I decided to take a break. Sometimes its good to change things up a bit, read things that are fun. They don't have to be stupid, but they can be fun. The Outlaws of the Marsh is providing that for me. Fantastic book, one that has survived through the ages.

I just recently read an article about how architecture can influence psychological functioning. The more natural the shapes, the better people's moods are and stress levels are reduced. I thought it was interesting, because I've never really thought about it before. Ironically, we had to go to immigration the other day to deal with some things. The building was old, not taken care of, and ugly. Add to the fact that it was crowded, hot, and dirty, well, the experience wasn't the best one. To top it off, the workers there were rude, looked tired, and unhappy. It was just what I was reading! The workers mood does influence the people who go there, like myself, moods as well. Makes me think that working for government agencies is not my first choice of a potential career path! Talk about an endless, mindless, job that may drive people to drink if they were allowed to.

I think I may have to pay more attention to how buildings influence my mood. I guess they are more than just empty structures waiting to be filled. They actually contribute to the way in which people form object relations.

The International Break and Other Things

2010-11-16T23:31:00.000+08:00

I guess there was a time when international football meant something. Now, it seems to be filled with stupid friendlies and substandard play. Who would have thought that England v France would be boring. Lets face it, the real football takes place at club level.

An old friend of mine told me that he and his wife are having a son. Pretty cool if you ask me. I guess that means we will never live in Oakland again! Good for them.

I've been reading so much psychoanalysis that I decided that I needed to read something else. The Water Margin: The Outlaws of the Marsh is one book I haven't read. I've read Three Kingdoms, but not this one. The intro was fantastic, and so far, the book hasn't disappointed me. Its good to mix up what you read. It helps develop listening skills. Exposure to different types of language allows for the better process of meaning. Plus, its a damn good story.

Other than that, I spend a good deal of time chasing my son. He is running around, getting his hands into everything. One form of exercise I told my friend about. More to come later.

The Giants Win the Series!

2010-11-02T13:04:00.000+08:00

Although I support the Arsenal and live in Southeast Asia, there are some American things that you just can't remove from me. October baseball is one of them. Baseball, something uniquely American and San Francisco has just witnessed the Giants winning the first title since moving to the West Coast. My parents, my mother's family, and all of the Giants fans who have supported the Giants through the decades must be thrilled. For me, it was great to watch, although the time difference makes it a live event in the morning. Its also 80 F, which gives it a very un-fall feeling. It doesn't matter. The Giants win! For today, I'll be thinking of my family and friends who are in a state of shock about it, back in the city by the bay.

The Irony of Things

2010-10-27T12:17:00.001+08:00

As my son gets older, I find that I have to plan what to do with my free time in more detail. He is at the age where is running around, getting his hands into everything. The need for constant supervision can make anyone tired. Its great fun though, but you really do have to plan things for him and yourself.

One of the challenges of living overseas is adjusting to different things. Driving on the other side of the road for example. For me, the other part of life here is the complete lack of organization of psychological services. Every time I seem to understand what is going on, I get word of a new part that I have missed. Honestly, if these regulations were enforced, there would be more problems. What's better, a complete lack of regulations or the enforcement of regulations that will exclude qualified people? Talk about an ethical dilemma.

I met a so called psychologist the other day here. Arrogant and elitist; I worry for the clients that seek services from this person. This is one of the problems that occur in Asia, the hierarchical structure that governs social relations. That won't end soon though, just a problem that limits the ability to apply psychological knowledge.

One

2010-09-17T18:00:00.000+08:00

My son turned one the other day. I can't believe that the last year went by so fast. He is walking now, not yet running, not yet talking. I think I was sleep deprived for the entire year! All worth it though, its been great fun.

Other than that, there seems to be more of the same happening. I've found myself in a routine where I spend most of my time reading. I think this is ok, since I don't seem to have extra time or energy.

Anyway, more to come later, but I'm off to take care of things.

Debt Repayment

2010-08-20T22:57:00.001+08:00

The topic of debt repayment and the private, for-profits schools has been in the news lately. For those of you that might be following this more closely than the major networks, there is some worry on Capital hill regarding how students from for-profits schools are more likely to default on their loans. However, the same study that cited this information also stated that the elite Ivy League schools have the highest percentage of students who pay back their student loans. Public schools, well, it seems that there are students who default on those loans as well. Seems that once again, much of what is reported in the mainstream press is only reporting a portion of the information. One just wonders how much of the "news" is just entertainment. I think the last thing educators want to have happen is being micro-managed by the feds. I'm for regulation, but it seems that the current demonstration's actions seem to go back and forth between nothing. What happened to getting the economy back or all of the other false promises? Oh, I'm sorry, it seems that the president made a number of contradictory remarks, so that promises could be avoided. Politics and everything that goes with it are disgusting.

Dragon Tattoo

2010-08-12T22:14:00.000+08:00

I hadn't read a pop culture book in a while, so I picked up The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The Swedish title, Men Who Hate Women, is a better title. Who knows why they changed it the way they did. Its difficult to avoid the buzz around the book and the author who died before the publication of three books, not just one. An OK story, but ultimately, a story filled with clichés. As I was reading it, I just kept thinking to myself how this would be a better movie than a book.

I conducted some research, found some interesting information regarding the author. It seems he worked as an investigative reporter at a small magazine, hated corporate greed and ultimately felt under appreciated. The author ultimately died of a heart attack. One doesn't need to be a literary genius to see all aspects in the major characters. The completely incorrect belief that young woman in the book has Aspergers Syndrome really means the author didn't do that thorough of a job doing research. How many serial killers have a religious fascination in modern crime fiction? I felt that was poorly written and overused. Finally, the one paragraph argument regarding free will and determinism felt contrived and hollow.

I guess it doesn't take much to entertain people. Again, the story was good, but forgettable. Nothing great. One wonders if the American remake of the Swedish film will just be more junk to consume. Remakes of films that were based on books are more about making money. I can't say that I'm going to read the other books or even watch the films. In the end, I'll stay with the material that I like, which is not directly related to popular culture.

Katrina's Hidden Race War

2010-08-05T22:27:00.000+08:00

The North Korean Human Rights Crisis

2010-07-30T16:41:00.000+08:00

Institutional Crime

2010-07-21T21:23:00.000+08:00

The world has different types of news. Entertainment news, sports news, business news and the list goes on. Some may question the need to have news, given that much of the money placed into news reporting is geared toward entertainment. I include sports into that, since sports, in its various professions, is basically used as entertaining. However, there other things that take place in the world, much of it deals with how people interact with each other. Given the human propensity for violence, many of these interactions deal with how violence manifested and people became seriously injured or killed as a result of this behavior.

One such example of violence, I'm sure there is more than just a few stories as well, occurred after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans. The hurricane, with its devastating power, literally changed the landscape of New Orleans. However, what occurred after the storm represents how racism and the abuse of institutional power occurs in a free society, such as the US. This particular story, regarding the racially charged shooting of a African American male in New Orleans, represents a fine piece of investigative reporting, ProPublica's by AC Thompson. Listen to this interview to learn more regarding what legal action has transpired. For ongoing new information, look at Frontline's list of relevant articles here.

It is my belief that investigative journalism represents a useful and necessary part of democratic societies. If an abuse of power resides in the very institutions that are designed to protect citizens, then journalism like this gives power to people who feel powerless. News like this exists, but one needs to look for it. Although the federal case continues to be ongoing, my hope is that major changes occur to deter the abuse of institutional power.

From a sociological perspective, this story demonstrates the inequality that is woven into the American structure of societal freedom. The tragic irony of this is freedom exists for some American citizens, not all. New Orleans police have long been viewed as racist, but the institutional structure of the racism exposes the issues that many people face daily. To fear the very people who are designed to serve and protect you presents a paradox worth further examination.

The End and the Beginning

2010-07-14T21:54:00.000+08:00

The World Cup ends with a final that ends with one goal. Spain, world champions, beating out the Dutch. I have to say, the quality of the games was low. The Dutch now have a hat trick of losing, something I'm sure they didn't want. Say goodbye to the glorious football, except maybe the ones England played. Hmmm, maybe glorious isn't the right word at all to describe this World Cup. Although I agree that the World Cup transcends football, this year's competition didn't get me up in the middle of the night. Lets face it, the quality football takes place at the club levels. I can't wait until the Arsenal season begins.

However, enough of the football news. I'm sure if you really want to read about football, you can go to sites that only write about football. At least now I can sleep through the night and not wonder if the score was one goal to the good or not.

I recently read a book by Donald Kalsched. For those who may not know, he is a Jungian analyst who wrote a very interesting book regarding trauma. An in-depth review is not possible, but I will say that I found it interesting the direction he is taking analytical psychology. He references different psychoanalysts, which I found to be very interesting. The book is in two parts, the first being his presentation and application of his theory regarding trauma. The second part deals more about the role of fairy tales and the collective aspect of why these stories exist. The twist is in the relation to how trauma influences psychological functioning. Highly recommended, but the book is best understood if one has read Jung.

I often sit and look at my desk area. Stacks of books, few pens, papers here and there. Its not exactly messy and its not dirty. One could say that its controlled, the way things are placed. It may be better to figure out some method to make things more organized. My new goal for the next few weeks. Lets see if that happens or not.

Sent Home

2010-06-29T10:41:00.000+08:00

Team USA and England get sent home, in very different circumstances. Team USA played well, but made mistakes that resulted in the team losing to a better team. Lets face it, you can't chase every game and expect to win. England, well, they just played badly and ultimately, its the players who disgraced themselves. Germany were the better team and the English back home are upset. Oh well, lets face it, when was the last time England made it to a semi-final of a major tournament? 1990. That's a long time. In the end, they are just not good enough.

I just finished reading Donald Kalsched's book regarding trauma. Very interesting Jungian perspective with a heavy dose of object relations in the book. The second part of the book is often associated with Jungian theory. The breaking down of fairy tales is not new to analytical psychology, but how they related to trauma and the analytic dyad seems to new. Well, meaning in the past twenty years. More on that book in the next post.

Another year went by and I find myself closer to middle age. Interesting to know how time goes by so quickly. My son will be one year old very soon. It seems like yesterday that he was born. I guess time will go by even faster.

World Cup Break

2010-06-22T22:55:00.001+08:00

Lately, I've been busy with things. I can't seem to keep up my reading, for various reasons. One, being the World Cup, and a variety of other things. My son caught his first cold, ironically from me, and it just seems like things will be busy for a while. At least until July, when the World Cup ends. So, fear not, more posts regarding reading and writing to come, but for now, its football, childcare and tropical weather.

Addendum To Debt

2010-06-02T09:14:00.001+08:00

It seems that a student with large debt has made the news once again. A student from New York University, a private, nonprofit school seems to have contributed to a undergrad student having 100K in debt. Ironic that Frontline doens't do a story about that.

Inclined for the Old Ways in Education

2010-06-01T12:10:00.000+08:00

Hello, its been a while since my last substantial post. I have been busy, with my parents visiting Malaysia. With that and other things going on in my life, writing my thoughts down just had to wait.

However, this hasn't stopped me from watching an interesting documentary regarding for profit schools in the US. Although an interesting piece of film, from a respected news organization, I ultimately found the program to be biased and somewhat outdated. Check out the link, here.

A number of different things about the piece struck me as odd. First, while there has been horror stories of for profit schools promising potential students with success and instead just leaving people with large debt, the idea that a traditional school is the better option, one might consider that an undergrad degree in social work is the worst paying undergrad degree one can obtain. This degree cannot be obtained at a for profit school. For a complete list, of the worst paying bachelor's degrees, see here. The possibility of obtaining large debt and not receiving a high paying job to reduce loans takes place at any school. Even if one attends New York University, or even attending law school. The possibility of debt hangs over any student, regardless of the institution one studied.

So, why the big piece on for profit school? It could be a number of different reasons, but one thing for certain, the traditional methods of obtaining university degrees is changing. The lack of change during this time period indicates that the traditional university system has failed to adapt with the times and technology. Anyone who actually looks at how any school is financed will realize that money, regardless if it comes from endowments or the selling of stock, comes first before the "learning" process. I believe that the shifting perception will ultimately change how education will be taught in the future. The alternative is calling a university a think tank and just pay the staff to conduct research and not call it an institution of higher learning.

Busy

2010-05-05T08:58:00.000+08:00

I have been busy with things lately, so the posts have not come as quickly as I would like. My reading pace has slowed somewhat, but I do intend to keep posting about writing material or things related to writing. Currently, I'm doing a bit of research to write about issues within American education. However, that will have to wait until later. Fear not, more to come!

Wonderland and Math

2010-04-19T20:53:00.000+08:00

When I first read Alice in Wonderland, I didn't understand it. The story was so fantastic that I had difficulty following the story. Since then, like many old stories, I understood the story from the perspective of popular culture. There are many movies and TV shows which reference the story of Alice. However, it wasn't until the most recent movie that I decided to read the book again and also do some background information about what the story was really about.

What I found out was shocking. Alice in Wonderland is not only a children's story, but a satirical critic of a change in math! The strange story of time, animals and the journey down the rabbit hole is more to do with equations, non-real numbers and the changing of the times of when the story was written. The book took a new direction and had new meaning when I read it this time. The book and story make sense! I was impressed. It just proves that some of the most fantastic stories have to do with a potentially mundane subject. From this perspective, math becomes interesting again, as you manage your way through Wonderland!

Wrapped Up in This Book

2010-04-14T12:56:00.002+08:00

I've been reading this great book by Greenberg and Mitchell. A book that needs to take a bit of time to read as well as focus, but rewarding all the same. Once I found myself past the first paragraph, it is difficult to put down. I love reading, but even more, I love reading and understanding.

The book represents an outline of object relations theory in psychoanalysis, it was originally written in 1983, but still is required reading for many psychoanalytic institutes. The authors are obviously well versed in psychoanalysis, but they do a very good job of explaining the different perspectives with the branch. Freud, is different from Winnicott, who is different from Fromm. There has been a steady progression since Freud's death, as with all branches of science, which assimilates new data and research. With anything a person studies, mastery requires the ability to explain and teach. So often, I find it difficult to explain things that I have read, especially when it comes to psychoanalysis. I think many people feel this. Its one thing to read it and understand it yourself, its another to try to explain it to someone else.

In one passage, the authors describe the difference between Freud and Winnicott. "Whereas Freud's major emphasis in discussing the liberating value of psychoanalysis is on the freedom from illusion, Winnicott emphasizes the increasing freedom to create illusion." The interesting aspect in all of this is the ability for a person to find and then express themselves. The debate regarding drives and interpersonal relations is a major topic in this book, but when language like this is used, I feel I need to review the aspects of my own knowledge. I find myself wanting to go back and read, again, the material that I thought I understood. Reading this stuff is a lifelong task, with each reading providing a new piece of information that was not assimilated previously. In this case, this is the best type of reading, which then influences your own work. Absolutely fascinating and to think, some people say Freud is to simple.

Evidence Based

2010-04-04T20:24:00.001+08:00

I had a discussion once with someone regarding if my desire to formally study psychoanalysis and if its a good idea. "Don't you think it might be hard to find work when the rest of the world is doing more evidence based therapies? All of the research tends to be formed away from psychoanalysis." At the time, though I didn't tell anyone, I thought this to be an odd comment. I felt like I was being persuaded away from something, but again, at the time I just brushed it aside. Besides, its good to make decisions based on different perspectives, so I just considered what this person said, but ultimately, didn't think much of it until much later. Sometimes, its better to follow a hunch and when you feel something, I would say pay attention to it. Often, people don't have your best interest at heart, for a variety of different reasons.

Well, back to the so called evidence based therapies that are so common today. The perspective held is that psychoanalysis and other psychodynamic methods of therapy are outdated, not supported by scientific research and well, a relic from a different time. Today, things like thought restructuring, behavioral chain analysis and other methods are the "proven" method to reduce symptoms of mental suffering. Like my "friend" stated, I should focus on the real stuff.

As it turns out the concept of the ineffective nature of psychoanalysis is incorrect. Psychodynamic therapies have been proven to be effective when treating psychological disorders. Even more interesting, a very good study by Westen and Morrison provide insight into how the "evidence" in the newer models has been skewed to make the results seem more effective. One example is to exclude people from research who have co-existing disorders. An obvious disconnect between research and actual clinical practice. Has anyone out there treated someone with just one disorder? I also randomly selected a research article, supporting the newer therapies, and used statistics to see if the numbers made sense. What I found was that the research didn't include the control group, thus making the parameters of the document somewhat dubious.

Digging more into the history, at least in the US, its interesting to know that all of this posturing is a power struggle between different paradigms. Psychiatry, which has historically been the sole practitioners of psychoanalysis in the US, had lost its influence. The newer generation had different ideas about things. The competition within the clinical world represents a long history, one that can't be explained in a blog post, but one should be more aware of the background information to understand the current context.

I have several points to make. The first, one should always research to see if advice is based in reality. The second, do research into what you want and seek out people who are from that profession. One doesn't consider going to law school without speaking to a lawyer. One doesn't consider going to medical school without speaking to a medical doctor. If you want to study psychoanalysis, then speak to an analyst. Its best to be independent. Also, its best to listen to those hunches. If you feel like someone is being untruthful with you, most likely they are being just that.

Do I Need That?

2010-03-16T18:39:00.002+08:00

I came across this topic, regarding for profit, private universities, and found an interesting interview with a so called expert. I love how people call themselves experts in something, when in reality they are not. Anyway, one of the things that the "expert" mentioned was how the new, for profit universities don't have some of the traditional aspects of public universities, like a school newspaper, or a sports team, or fraternities and sororities. Well, considering that I believe non of these "aspects" of higher education important, I began to wonder why a non traditional student would want to be a part of something so trivial. If I follow sports, then it would be a professional sports team, not a college team. Besides, I can fool myself with a connection with a pro sports team rather than a college team. Those "students" are just potential projects for a pro team anyway. Which, then brings up the point, what do people want from an education? An accredited degree or the entire stupid process of a "connection" to a sports team and its players or student newspaper? I don't really know, but I for one hated the social aspect of school. So for me, the newspaper, the sports team, the frats, all of the stupid stuff can burn for all I care.

On Becoming

2010-03-09T16:58:00.000+08:00

I came upon some writing in which the author spoke about how books seem to collect around the desk. I thought to myself about my own books, the ones that sit on the shelf or the ones I am currently reading. For me, books represent something nice, something soothing, something which does more than provide a message. Though I have always enjoyed reading, in recent times my reading has become much more focused, more determined. So, as I look at my books, I feel like there has been a change within myself which allows me to enjoy the books so much more.

Right now, the books that I can see from where I sit, stir some emotions. A book written by Greenberg and Mitchell, a book by Freud and the final book on my desk is a collection of work by Camus. I enjoy this type of reading now, where as before, I might not have so much. My thoughts on the books will come later, I just felt like I needed to write about the processing of collecting. Not a bad thing to collect, things which provide insight and knowledge. There are worse things to collect, this much for sure.

Open

2010-02-15T22:43:00.000+08:00

Often times, especially when the writing is very good, books about sports figures are the best read. Growing up with sports in my life, many of the memories regarding sports were with my dad and often with my mother. For example, I remember the match between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg at Wimbledon, though the match in which McEnroe won. I played tennis as a kid and I also remember when Agassi started to be shown on the TV. He certainly wasn't the type of player that usually played tennis, I thought to myself. He looks so different. Many of the matches Agassi describes in the book I watched. However, this book is about more than tennis. The ongoing search for self, feeling uncertain even when playing and the pressures one can feel associated with professional sports are themes that run through the book. How one deals with such pressure, well, that can be compared to a tennis match.

At times the book is very funny, the story of Andre's father and Steffi Graf's father meeting will have you laughing out loud, and is one example of the absurdity of life. Other parts of the book are filled with stories of depression, drug use and emptiness. Highly recommended, especially if you are a tennis fan. With that stated, this is a highly recommended book for anyone interested, the writing alone is worth it.

In Search of Memory - Official trailer

2010-02-03T21:10:00.001+08:00

I think this guys work is fantastic. I would highly recommend reading his books.

The Americanization of Mental Illness

2010-02-02T16:59:00.002+08:00

A friend of mine, who has been working in mental health longer than me and also in the USA, sent me an article from the New York Times the other week. The topic regards how the classification of mental illness represents an unseen, Western export. While an interesting article, I find that certain, liberal, Western institutions encourage cross cultural examination and actually know very little about what they are reporting.

I live in a country where there are less than 200 psychiatrists and less than 100 psychologists. The population of Malaysia is roughly 26 million people. This sad fact does not change the fact that people have mental health issues, but reduces the likelihood of receiving any type of treatment. If America really is exporting the knowledge, then it is doing a very bad job of it.

The references to "amok" and how certain cultures welcome differences in behavioral patterns strikes me as someone who knows nothing of the culture they are writing on. Amok, a Malay word, is not something with a positive connotation. The fact that the belief in magic and old traditions is still strong here in Malaysia and used to explain "abnormal" behavior is the only way people have explain psychotic behavior. The bottom line: there is not enough trained professionals in the country to influence a cultural shift.

The disturbing part about this article is the complete lack of mention of how the drug companies can do just about anything they want in developing countries. A certain drug company in Malaysia are the representatives from the Malaysian Psychiatric Association. Doctors, who sell medicine to the public directly, have an invested interest in keeping the public ignorant. Material from the drug companies are designed to give the example that only medicines work in the treatment of mental illness and the psychiatrists are the glorified salespeople who push this information. This is not mentioned in the article in any significant details. Surely, a multinational company abuse would be news worthy correct?

In the end, there needs to be more education and more knowledge regarding the scientific views of mental illness. However, this needs to be more than the biochemical model and only with education can people seek appropriate treatment. In the end, one should not be worried about the export of such knowledge, but how everyone can have the opportunity to gain access to information which is not directly influenced by the drug companies.

The Second Part to My Taxi Dream

2010-01-25T21:08:00.000+08:00

The other day I was in KL with my wife. We were driving back to PJ after she had some work things to attend to. I had told her about my dream, written about in the earlier post, about the yellow cabs. As we were driving, I turned to look out the window and I saw a company called Yellow Cab Pizza. Their delivery cars were all yellow cabs!

I thought this to be ironic, since there is indeed yellow cabs in Malaysia. OK, its for pizza, but the meaning of dreams are not exactly what is depicted in the dream. I thought of Jung and his take on dreams, considering I had a dream and then I saw something from the dream in a conscious state. Interesting how these things work.

I won't go into explaining what I think is going on with the dream and the actual follow of seeing a yellow cab. That can be for me, but I thought it would be an interesting thing to write down.

The Gift of Therapy

2010-01-21T22:28:00.000+08:00

I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that there was a serial killer running amok, slaying people in yellow cabs. I was the third person, one that could see and hear everything, but not interact. Just to be clear, cabs are yellow in the US, not in Malaysia. The feel of the setting reminded me of San Francisco, but it was unclear where the city was located.

Irvin Yalom, a very famous psychiatrist and therapist, writes a book of tips for a new generation of therapists. Written in simple and concise language, the book is very useful for people who are either therapists or mental health workers. While many psychodynamic based theory is filled with very complex concepts, this book is how to remain a human being when providing therapy.

With that said, there were a few things I noticed when reading the book that made me feel good, but might upset some. It is clear, just from the authors Dr Yalom lists, that he has a preference for dynamic based therapy and an clear interest in existentialism. The section where he lists the types of therapy he has received at different parts of his life, do not include CBT or DBT. I somehow doubt that he would recommend those types of brief therapy. I agree with this, since I am more interested in psychoanalysis, analytical psychology and existentialism than a 15 sessions where the focus is to "restructure thoughts." How exactly would CBT explain my dream?

The Land of Green Plums

2010-01-19T21:31:00.003+08:00

I do not think I need to put the author's name in the title anymore. Titles create a tone which does not always need to be signed. The author who wrote this book did not write this post, but inspired it. One must realize and ponder this part of creating.

The book, written by Herta Muller, is a dark, bleak account of a life filled with nothing but limits and pressure. Often referred as somewhat autobiographical, the author's life inspired the writing, to what degree I do not know. There is a poetic method of the writing and I found myself wondering if the prose is the same in its native language written. Regardless, the book reminds me of authors who write in richly textured language, who often unravel stories with a deep sense of poetic tragedy. Happy endings are difficult to come by when the state constantly has a knife to your throat, limiting behavior and attempting to control thought. This is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read in a while and though not for the faint of heart, there exists a certain beauty in the description of state pressure. Highly recommended, in any language.

The Group

2010-01-13T16:25:00.002+08:00

The beginning of a new year and decade brings excitement. What will change and what will remain the same is at somewhere in thought. Very few of us brace for the ugly side of humanity.

Recent events here in Malaysia have seen an increase in racial tension, banning of words by certain groups of the population and religious intolerance. All the ingredients for a series of terrible events. While the burning of churches remains a topic that everyone is discussing, one must wonder what will take place next.

As an American who has been living here for a number of years, Malaysia represents many good things. There is a long history of multi culturalism, inter racial marriages and the existence of multiple religions being practiced by various people, with Islam being practiced by the majority. Many people speak more than one language and there is relative stability in comparison to other countries in Southeast Asia. This does not mean problems do not exist, but no society claims perfection.

Unfortunately, news of this type finds its way into the international press. The burning of churches is serious, no matter if the group responsible are unorganized and borderline incompetent. Let us hope for a change in the direction of non racial tension, or there will be many who will need to re-evaluate Malaysia's status of being a tolerant state.

The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 1) by CG Jung

2010-01-05T18:51:00.001+08:00

The first time I read this book, I didn't understand it. The second time I read this book, I also didn't understand it. I have read this book a few times and I still do not fully understand it. Reading Jung is practice for the next time, but a person improves with each reading and eventual understanding. While I do like the Jungian perspective, there are a few things that struck me this most recent time reading this collection of papers.

First, Jung's writings seem to be based on themes. The papers seem to build on each other and also seem to meant to be read more than once. Besides, who reads Jung only once and claims understanding?

While Jung's ideas and concepts are interesting, it is the clinical application that I am more interested in rather than myth. While the archetypes are interesting, I am struck by just how much the explanation of them reminds me of the ba gua from the Book of Changes or I Ching. Jung even wrote an introduction to the I Ching. There were times when reading the material, I went to the I Ching to read and found the structure very similar.

I must say, while Jung's writings and ideas interests me, it is easy to see why so much of modern science dismisses Jung and his thoughts. Much of his ideas would be difficult to prove by using empirical methods. As psychotherapy moves more and more towards the exclusive use of evidence based methods, the analytical schools must modernize in order to survive. It seems this debate happens with psychoanalysis, but not so much in the Jungian schools. Also, some of the topics, such as the last paper, failed to hold my attention like other writers can. I find Freud's writing, or at least the translation of his writing, to be much easier to read than Jung's writing.

I know I will read this book again in the future. I do think there is something to learn within the writing of this man. However, I believe that one should be clear about why Jung's writing is important. Some are interested in his ideas about myth. Some are interested in his psychology. Some are interested in both. If one is clear about why they are reading it, then they will ultimately get more out of the material.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T00:39:00.002+08:00

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year. More to come in the coming months.

The Experience of Duration

2009-12-23T22:15:00.003+08:00

Another year has gone by, but this year saw changes to my world perspective. This is the year in which my immersion into psychoanalysis crystallized by the birth of my son. Fatherhood has come with all of its responsibilities as well as rewards. It has been very good and I have no doubt that it will be better in the future. As my family grows older together, how all of us grow together will be one of the more rewarding aspects of the experience of duration.

Other changes occurred, including my attitude regarding the nature of rebellion, the energy required for sustained education and the nature of the self. The use of transitional space, where experience meets cultural identity, where reality is confronted with phantasy and the paradox of the extremes is found in the middle. Ironically, to know requires a display of knowledge and yet the more one displays, the less is actually known.

During this holiday season, remember the times of this year in which one made an impression on another. One must believe that influence to be positive. With that, another year will come, with its own sets of challenges. The challenge will be to face those challenges with dignity, courage and at times and flexibility that is not to be confused with compromise.

Reading of a Different Type

2009-12-15T13:39:00.000+08:00

I saw this and had to take a photo. Not often I come across signs with my name on it.

Studies in Hysteria

2009-12-02T18:51:00.001+08:00

I had only read a few of Freud's famous case studies. The Dora case being the most famous, but I felt the need to read some of the others. What better place to start than the cases involving hysteria? This would be the foundation of psychoanalysis, when Freud worked with Breuer. Before the invention of the famous couch.

I must say, I read the Penguin Classics translation and not the Standard Edition. I find the Standard Editions of Freud's writing somewhat tiring. The Penguin translations are much easier to just read. Again though, this is my preference.

The case histories presented are interesting. One could argue that art of writing a case history has been lost in an age of managed care and insurance claims. One can tell the difference between Freud's writing and Breuer's as well. I prefer Freud, but that's what happens when you prefer psychoanalysis.

Reading the material, one can see that the patients they present are far more disturbed than just neurotic tendencies. Using modern diagnostic criteria, these women would probably have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, one that psychiatry would medicate quickly. I find it amazing that Freud and Breuer had any success at all, given they were figuring things out as they went along.

Reading the material, one can see where Freud began to shift away from Breuer and the development of psychoanalysis. I find myself reading the material attempting to use psychoanalytical interpretations, but alas, at the time of the writing, it had not been invented yet. This material, written over 100 years ago, would be the foundation for psychoanalysis. With that development, there would be debate, arguments and accusations of misrepresentations. All this, because Freud and Breuer wanted to talk to their patients.

Update the Browser!

2009-11-20T13:36:00.000+08:00

Recently, I had to fill out some forms for federal (US) aid for students. The process didn't take very long, once I actually could access the site. See, the US federal government doesn't recognize the newer internet browsers! Can you believe that!? One can't simply download an older version of IE, since Microsoft makes things so damn difficult. One wonders, the sites that are responsible for giving out money they make more difficult to access. Stupid if you ask me, smart on their end. A ten minute process took me a total of 36 hours with a massive headache at the end of it. Lame, I could have been preoccupied with other things. Stupid feds.

The Universe

2009-11-09T21:53:00.000+08:00

Recently, I read that the brain about 1 billion neurons. The method in that neurons communicate with each other is through neurotransmitters and these electric signals travel across the synapse. A neuron has 10 thousand synapses. That means that there is about 100 trillion synapse connections. The numbers are so intense, to give you some perspective, it would take 30 thousand years counting all 1 billion neurons if you were counting one per second. That is a large number.

Maybe the universe is within ourselves. Since most of our action is implicit, the universe is the unconscious. Someone once told me that and I did not understand it at the time. Now, it does not sound like a drunken statement, but it sounds plausible. Ironic, the unconscious is the universe.

Do University Rankings Mean Anything?

2009-10-12T16:46:00.003+08:00

There is a great blog regarding education in Malaysia. The blog is about both private and public institutions in Malaysia and the problems that the educational system faces. Regardless of Malaysia economic status, the country does face some problems within the educational system, but read the blog for a more in depth analysis.

Recently, Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings came out with their top universities in the world. Here is a "Malaysian" spin on the whole thing. It should be of no surprise that the top schools are found in the west, but the fact that a Malaysia university re-entered the top 200 is surprising. The whole ranking system seems flawed to me. No mention of the fact that this particular university in Malaysia was claiming that non Malay students were actually foreign students, which got the university ranking quite high a few years ago. Again, the whole ranking system seems flawed to me. It all seems to me that this is just a way to get research money and less about education. Don't get me wrong, graduating from Harvard or Oxford does come with prestige.

Regardless of the universities public or private status, schools are designed to make money. PhD holders in the West publish articles to get funding. Private schools charge higher tuition and also have staff that publish to get more funding. This is not surprising. While education is a necessary requirement to participate in the global market, people must realize that school is more than just learning.

Narcissism: A New Theory by Neville Symington

2009-10-11T16:36:00.001+08:00

At the time of my reading, Symington's new theory on narcissism is, well, older. It has been a number of years since the book was published. However, what I believe to be the important message behind his writing is still valid. Narcissism is a disorder that is makes treatment tiring for the therapist, but the problem is within the psychotherapeutic community's inability to provide appropriate treatment, regardless of theoretical positions. What should be happening is the look within ourselves, rather than projecting all of our feelings onto the other.

Someone once told me that part of psychoanalysis is to interpret thoughts and words to make a picture which can be examined. I tend to agree with this outlook and also feel that this can be applied to words. This book does just that. To be able to write so that the reader can form a picture based on the thoughts of someone else is key to building an understanding, between anyone.

What I find interesting about psychoanalysts is the type of personality which is displayed in the writing. This book makes reference to Tolstoy, Symington clearly likes his writing. He also references Jung, which is interesting considering his psychoanalytical background, but welcome. In many ways, he reminds me of my own supervisor, who reads Russian literature, Jungian thought and attempts to take often complex psychoanalytical views and make them understandable.

While there might exists perspectives that the theory stated is not new, the struggle to treat people with this disorder needs to be addressed by the therapists. While it is one of the more difficult aspects of therapy, a failure to treat people is not the client's fault, but the fault of the provider.

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

2009-10-01T16:29:00.004+08:00

Reading history is interesting, but the question of whether history is worth reading or studying is often asked by everyone. Some, like Henry Ford state that history is "more or less bunk." Abraham Lincoln stated that "we cannot escape history." The argument that history is there to be studied so mistakes can be avoided is often spoken. Understanding the mistakes of the past will save our future is what people will say.

While a passionate argument, I believe the mistake theory is false. If an examination of events and behavior is completed, often a reader of history will see that history is often ignored. A historical understanding does not predict the future and this knowledge does not change the past. What this knowledge does is gives an understanding of the present. The explanation of the current context cannot take place without knowing our arrival to right now.

This is one such case in history. A pandemic that killed up to 100 million people, the foundation of modern science in the US and the policies placed by Wilson will make you want to read the book. Presently, there is a new pandemic, which is also a H1N1 virus. How the virus is dealt with will eventually become history as well. Let's hope that this pandemic can be dealt with effectively.

For an in depth interview regarding the book, please see my previous post. You will sit up and take notice.

The Great Influenza: Interview with John M. Barry

2009-09-29T20:53:00.002+08:00

I'm currently reading this book, which is gripping to say the least. Here is a great interview that took place before the recent outbreak of the current Influenza A H1N1 virus pandemic.

Influenza A H1N1, Malaysian Style

2009-09-26T20:42:00.003+08:00

Once again, I was reading some articles about what certain governing bodies are doing to educate people regarding influenza A, H1N1 and I came across this article. Unbelievable! Now I know why the situation in Malaysia is so chaotic regarding this virus, because the powers that be also don't know what they are saying or doing! Here, let me quote some lines from the president of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society Datuk Nancy Ho.

She said some home remedies recommended by health experts and practitioners of complementary and traditional medicine are garlic, tumeric, ginger, sage, thyme, anise seed and honey. Then, Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said he welcomed suggestions that might help in the fight against the H1N1 virus, although they might not be scientific or supported by clinical evidence.

I'm currently reading a book about the influenza pandemic of 1918 and the science of that time period is better than what some of these officials seem to be saying. That was almost 100 years ago as well! How do these people here get into such positions of power and also seem to not have any clue what is going on? Do they even have medical degrees or did they simply buy the degree? Given that the EU does not recognize medical degrees from Malaysia, it means that advice from some doctors who are trained here in Malaysia is more than just suspect, it could be dangerous. Just look at this advice regarding H1N1.

Education, Malaysia Mentioned

2009-09-23T17:46:00.008+08:00

I was reading some articles in the New York times and I came across this particular article regarding how certain countries in Asia are seeking foreign students. Students from China, students from West Asia who couldn't get into schools in the west for a variety of reasons are now looking elsewhere, specifically Malaysia. On face value, Malaysia makes sense. Private institutions are taught in English, Malaysia is relatively cheap in comparison to living in the United States, Europe or Australia. I even met a psychology student from HELP who was from China, so the article isn't that off as far as who is coming to Malaysia to study.

The article does mention, but does not go into detail, how education in Malaysia is considered sub-par. In this context, you get what you pay for. For example, HELP's school of psychology is, self reported, the largest psychology department in Southeast Asia. If one were to look at their master's program in "clinical" psychology, one will see drama therapy listed as an intervention method. Drama therapy. Its disgraceful. At a time where psychology is merging with biology and nueroscience, where evidence based practices are demanded by practitioners in the west, the self reported, largest psychology department in the region has people studying drama therapy. If someone actually knows anything about psychology, one would realize that there is a lot to be desired. There is no psycho dynamic training, no option for other methods, and few on the PhD holders are trained in clinical psychology. Most universities here have few PhD holders, HELP,while they have more, do not have enough knowledge to exclude drama therapy from their "clinical" program.

HELP has a tendency to use undergrad students to present research findings at local conferences. I know someone, trained in psychology the UK, who recently attended such a conference and her report was disappointing. The students from HELP had wide, overgeneralized, poorly organized projects that would not even be considered by an adviser in the West. Some, who were presenting, could not demonstrate the basic knowledge to differentiate between qualitative and quantitative methods in research. So, while people from other parts of the Asia might look to Malaysia to receive an education, they might be disappointed if the degree is not recognized by other countries.

The Boy

2009-09-15T02:32:00.005+08:00

I know I've been writing about things that I read, but here is a picture of my son, who was just born.

Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough

2009-09-05T10:24:00.002+08:00

Public Enemies is a worthy attempt to use FBI files to write a history of the "War on Crime." However, while each story is compelling, the problem is that there are too many stories. There are so many characters that it is difficult to keep track of each particular group and what they were doing. The style of writing is to break up each story and skip to another one after a few pages. This becomes rather annoying after the first few chapters. Ultimately, the book would have been better if broken down into different books. The journalistic style of the book also does not help keep the reader interested as one might assume.

I will say that the information is interesting. To read about the FBI as a group of inexperienced lawyers attempt to arrest and stop some of America's most famous criminals is entertaining. Reading about how the FBI would learn to eventually abuse people's rights is rather scary, considering the problems that agencies like this one face today.

A decent attempt at writing, but ultimately, the focus is not narrow enough. Some people will spend there time watching the movie, which is based on this book. Like most things Hollywood, key facts were changed and time lines were change. Why this happens, I have no idea.

Fake Degrees

2009-08-24T06:47:00.002+08:00

Here is a good article about fake degrees that was written in The Star. Funny, this is a decent form of journalism for The Star. Again though, I don't think it will make a huge impact here.

Real World by Natsuno Kirino

2009-08-23T10:28:00.001+08:00

A book which makes reference to Freud, Dostoevsky and Nietzsche and yet the constant discussion is about how the book is a window into Japanese culture. The English translation reads easy and fast, and any of the Japanese names could be substituted with Western ones, thus making the book universal. Identity, rage, impulsive actions with terrible consequences seem to be the major themes in stories from the past as well as this one. The three writers mentioned in the book aren't American, yet we are familiar with their work, at least in the context of non academic, Western popular culture. We read about the lives of five young people who make certain decisions which will change their lives. There interconnection can be interpreted as synchronicity. At the end, we are reminded about how we are condemned to our freedom, and we are ultimately responsible for our actions, regardless of our motivations.

The Matrix of the Mind by Thomas Ogden

2009-08-18T21:48:00.002+08:00

"History differs from the past in that the past is simply a collection of events, while history is a creation reflecting our conscious and unconscious memory of, our interpretations of, the past."

This is how Dr Ogden's book regarding British Object Relations begins. For me to attempt to give an in depth analysis of the book would be very difficult, but I will give you my impressions. While Freud is rightly considered the founder of psychoanalysis, outside of the United States, Klein has an influence on how psychoanalysis is taught and practiced. A review of Klein's theory as well as others is presented. Dr Ogden points out some of the short comings in Kleinian theory, but also presents how Klein's theory contributed to psychoanalytic theory in ways not done before. Object relations has become a major school of thought within psychoanalysis and has now presented itself as different from the classical theory of Freud. From the explanation of projective identification to the maternal preoccupation presented by Winnicott, this book is an excellent read for psycho dynamic orientated clinicians as well as psychoanalysts.

One aspect of Dr Ogden's books is his ability to write well and not be weighed down by terminology. However, object relations can be confusing for people who are not familiar with psychoanalytic terms, specifically object relations theory. The material can be difficult and should be discussed with others, preferably a supervisor, regarding the meaning and potential application of the information. If done so, the potential for a better understanding of yourself as well as patients and clients is worth the focus and energy spent understanding the material.

Aung San Suu Kyi

2009-08-13T14:31:00.002+08:00

I know I have made it point to write about books and articles that I read, but I feel compelled to write something in regards to the situation regarding Aung San Suu Kyi. Considering I just read a good book about her, I feel that there are time when one can write about a figure who and also make reference to the material written about her. I find her to be inspiring, but again, still under house arrest.

I will not go over the details of why she is under house arrest and what prompted this most recent sham called justice. I do not believe the world was expecting anything less and with "elections" approaching next year in Burma, the military was not going to allow the daughter of the one of Burma's patriots out of her house. Call me cynical, but the actions of the military government did not surprise me at all.

What has surprised me is the complete lack of any critical news coverage in Malaysia. I recently saw a television show in which the hosts both stated that it means something positive that China said the international community must respect the sovereignty of Myanmar and the decision of the Myanmar justice system! These two should have just said that they support the decision of the military! The inability to actually digest political meaning by the action of a totalitarian dictatorship is frightening. Malaysia is a member of ASEAN and there a number of multi-national companies with investments in Burma with direct ties to the members of ASEAN. If the west was serious about enforcing sanctions, they would be dealing with ASEAN, not Burma.

I find this type of political discourse to be disappointing. I should rephrase that. I find that the complete lack of an informed discussion to be disappointing. I thought Americans were disconnected and ambivalent. Turns out that anyone can be like this, in any country.

Does a Psychologist Perform Last Rites?

2009-08-07T13:09:00.002+08:00

Recently, I read an academic article that was in favor of blending religious and spiritual practices into psychotherapy. The argument is that in Southeast Asia, this will allow people to become more open to the western concept of psychology and the treatment of mental illness. I asked myself, does a psychologist give last rites?

Regardless of the theoretical model used by any therapist, the provider should be open to discuss any topic as long as credible threats, toward self or others, are not made. Religion should be discussed, but ultimately, they should be kept separate. The fusion of the two into a unified mode of thinking has potential conflict and in Malaysia where religion is synonymous with race, I believe the people who wrote the article are not planning for the potential problems.

The first problem is, in Malaysia, there is not enough trained people in the discipline of clinical psychology. There is no governing body which regulates who can call themselves a psychologist. Anyone can use this title. There is no training, outside of poorly organized programs in some universities, no supervision no licensing exam and no continuing education. The few people who are actually have the academic qualifications probably do not want the religious authorities dictating to them what they can and cannot do in a clinical setting. Would they then need to attend some sort of religious training after the completion of a psychology degree?

The second problem is the governments reluctance to implement a governing body. Currently, on 70 people meet the academic requirements, a master's degree, to call themselves a psychologist. From a government perspective, why would the bureaucracy of a governing body be needed for such few people? That would almost seem to be a waste of government resources.

The final problem is the method in which the argument was made. No empirical evidence was used to support their premise. The use of clinical case studies was used and the sample was small and biased. For people who claim that psychology should be viewed as a scientific discipline, the basis for proving a hypothesis was not used. I found this to be disappointing. Either a complete lack of training in how to conduct research or the lacking of funds to conduct the research resulted in a poorly articulated argument. Lets hope, for the sake of psychology in Malaysia, that it was a lack of funds which contributed to this outcome.

Do I sound harsh? Some might say so. I do not think so. If one is going to give any premise that has the potential to impact a large number of people, the study should be scientific in its methods, not in aspiration. Leave religion to the religious organizations. Let the psychologists scientifically explain human behavior.

Psychopathology of Everyday Life by Sigmund Freud

2009-07-29T00:53:00.003+08:00

As the title of the book suggests, Freud is attempting to explain why slips of the tongue, forgetting of facts, and certain errors, regardless of intention, mean far more than some would assume. While the book is very interesting, Freud wrote the book so that the public could have a better understanding of psychoanalytical concepts. One did not have to be a psychiatrist or psychologist to grasp the concept of unconscious processes and how they have an affect on behavior. The topics and the way Freud wrote the book intended for anyone, including those who have no knowledge of psychoanalysis.

More than a century has passed since Freud had this book first published. Now, western culture is greatly impacted by Freud and his ideas. Slips of the tongue are now known as Freudian slips. One could argue that the publics acceptance of Freud's concepts would bring a smile to his face if he were alive. One could also argue this might be one reason why psychoanalysis is often labeled as unscientific by many in the psychological community. Some say the power of Freud legacy is about how people are aware of his concepts. I believe that the clinical application of psychoanalysis has suffered because of this general knowledge. Regardless if people in the West are familiar with Freudian terminology, studying psychoanalysis so it can be applied as therapy is not the purpose of this book.

I cannot give the Standard Edition translation high marks though, no matter how much I enjoyed the book. I find that Standard Edition, which were translated by James Strachey, to be difficult to read at times. So much of the language used is not found in common parlance. My impression is that Mr Strachey and others wanted psychoanalysis medicalized, like what happened in the USA. I find that the Penguin translations to Freud's work to be much easier to read. While reading the Standard Editions are useful, the process can be tedious, but if one can get through the material, one will be rewarded with Freud attempting to reach out to anyone who is interested.

Perfect Hostage by Justin Wintle

2009-07-23T14:37:00.002+08:00

Justin Wintle wrote in this book, "Aung San Suu Kyi's revolution of spirit seems to take the very concept of revolution to a higher level- one reason why she is widely admired in the actual democracies where secularist materialism may create a vacum of spirit."

The book is not just about Burma's most famous citizen, but a history of the which dates back to the Mongols. I found that this approach accomplishes many things. By explaining a concise history of Burma one can view the current political situation within the context of the ongoing struggle the Burmese have faced over the generations.

While it is clear that the military junta has been responsible for widespread human rights abuses since the 1960's, they still hold power, in spite ongoing sanctions from the West. The link between China and ASEAN clearly is the reason why sanctions have not and will not have any impact. As long as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and other nations continue to trade with the Burma, the situation will not change.

While the life of Aung San Suu Kyi is one of tragic loss, she holds to her beliefs that freedom and democracy will come to Burma. While I believe this is inspiring, unless there is widespread change with Southeast Asia, I cannot see this happening.

As for Mr Wintle's writing, the book reads like a novel. The chapter called Danubyu, where Suu Kyi walks right toward armed soldiers, who were one breath away from opening fire on her, is gripping. While there are parts of the book which is annoying, such as Mr Wintle's mention of Suu Kyi's 3rd class degree from Oxford, which I feel is irrelevant, and the complete omission of a bibliography, the book is worth reading. Let us hope that books such as this one can contribute to a positive change in Burma.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

2009-07-21T17:41:00.006+08:00

I once heard a friend of mine say to me, jokingly, that he was reading Dostoevsky to feel better. He looked at me and laughed. I thought it was funny. I find it funny still. How can one read him and feel better? Life must be pretty tough if that is the case.

Someone once told me once that the origins of modern psychology are written in his work. While that could be debated, his books do have a psychological element to them. I could attempt to write a review, but ultimately, the review would not give the book justice. Considering each part of the book can be broken down and analyzed in detail, a review for the purpose of blogging does not do the book justice. The chapter The Grand Inquisitor is one example of just how detailed the concepts can get. The following is just my impressions. How does one come to terms with faith, or the lack of faith is a question addressed by the interactions of the characters. Should people be punished for their crimes and is their redemption through suffering? Is redemption something that peers administer or can it only be obtained through faith? One will be surprised about just how engrossing the book can be even though it was written in a Russia that has long since past. Universal themes of conflict, family, despair, faith and the application of logic come off the pages.

On Jung by Anthony Stevens

2009-07-15T06:38:00.003+08:00

As readers can guess, I have an interest in psychology, specifically the analytical schools. Fear not though, I read other topics. Discussions on those books will come! Just not in this post.

Anthony Stevens, himself a Jungian analyst, writes a compact introduction, or review, regarding Jung's theory as well as his life. The segments of the book which focus on Jung's theory is very concise and will be relatively easy for anyone to understand the structure of Jung's theory on the "mind" and what motivates human beings. This is a good start, for those who are not familiar with Jung's theory. However, the book is very short and I found some of Dr Stevens views to be clouded with subjective idolization. I found too many references to how Jung's theory proves science. One example is of this Dr Steven's statement that Chomsky's "deep structures" of language are really archetypal. Chomsky's book called Syntactic Structures spoke about transformational grammar. To state that one of the most influential people within the realm of cognitive psychology would support an analytic theory is wishful thinking. There is always a danger of becoming too engrossed in the sociological and anthropological meaning of symbols and myth and not be focused on the clinical aspect of psychotherapy. This is not to imply that Dr Stevens clinical practice is insufficient, but for people who are not trained as psychological/psychiatric clinicians, to lose oneself in the archetypes and assume this translates to analytical therapy would be incorrect. Jung had many interests, as the book documents, but we must remember people who study analytical psychology do so with the intent of becoming psychotherapists.

The other complaint I have of this book is the omission of the controversies that surround Jung. There is no mention of Jung's anti Semitic statements as well as no mention of Jung's alleged, but not substantiated, accusations of supporting Nazi ideology. The lack of any mention appears that the author, and maybe the Jungian community, wish to avoid any type of discussion. I found this to be disappointing. One example is from Ann Casement's concise book regarding some of the more painful statements Jung made. One example is in 1945 Jung wrote a letter to his friend Mary Mellon and stated, "you probably have heard the absurd rumor that I am a Nazi. This rumor has been started by Freudian Jews in America...I found a falsified photo of mine in the Psychological Seminar of Calcutta University." Jung goes on to say the photo was "touched up to make me appear as an ugly Jew." Not really the the memory that people want to have of someone who has made contributions to understanding psychological functioning. This type of information needs to be known and it also needs to be discussed. People should, at the very least, know this information before making the decision to study Jungian psychology.

Rediscovering Psychoanalysis: Thinking and Dreaming, Learning and Forgetting by Thomas H. Ogden

2009-07-11T18:33:00.003+08:00

People often associate psychoanalysis with the founder and creator of the meta-psychology and therapy, Sigmund Freud. However, while Freud's writings and teachings are still debated today, few people outside of analytic and therapeutic circles realize the evolution of psychoanalysis. The theory has been restructured, re-defined and written about by people who consider themselves psychoanalysts, but the general population might not. The author is from San Francisco and is an example of the evolution of psychoanalytic thought. His writing is clear, deceptively simple but rich in content. His ideas of learning psychoanalysis, understanding it, teaching it and then ultimately forgetting it with every new patient is pragmatic method to remain open to the possibility of not knowing or understanding anything, let alone the analytic process. Highly recommend to anyone who would like to know how the therapy, art and theory has developed.

I find Dr Ogden's writing to be inspiring. Psychoanalytic literature can be over saturated with technical terminology which can confuse anyone. While an understanding of psychoanalysis will help the reader understand some of the concepts in the book, it is possible to grasp the core message written just by paying attention to the message. For me, how we use language and the ability to listen and use a framework in which behavior can be explained is the key to success within any type of psychotherapy. Why would this process be different for this particular art?

The Psychology of Love by Sigmund Freud

2009-07-08T18:23:00.005+08:00

As I was reading this book, a woman came to me and said, "I don't like romance novels. Why you read that is beyond me." She has never heard of Freud, which I think is OK, but the comment is memorable to say the least.

What can be said here about this book that hasn't been reviewed by psychoanalysts and historians in the past? The book is composed of various papers over Freud's life which speak to the drive of sexuality as one of the primary forces of human motivation and how proper analysis can solve certain neurotic problems caused by the repression of the libido. While it is clear that not all psychopathology is the result of sexual energy, I must also mention the impact of cognitive neuroscience on the explanation of human behavior,have resulted in the move away from some of Freud's ideas. While this might be the case, we are all aware of just how much sex and power contribute to our lives and the potential problems abuse can bring to our daily functioning. We are all aware of just how powerful sex can be, even when we are not labeled as neurotic.

The Penguin Classic translation I found to be very good. While the Standard Editions are also very good, some of the language used in the earlier translations is not found in common parlance, and can be difficult to read at times. I thought this was a very good translation to a series of papers which Freud is so famous for, even though he did not write romance novels like the woman I mentioned earlier assumed. For people who have read this book who have a psychoanalytic background, the understanding of the importance of Dora's case and the other papers is discussed among analysts in great detail. The fact that Freud published a case that was ultimately a failure speaks volume to the development of the therapeutic process. Often times, people who do not have a background in psychoanalysis have difficulty understanding just what Freud is attempting to do with this publication. How often would modern science, regardless if it is natural or social, would be willing to publish an account of failure?

Here is a link to an evaluation of the Dora Case, written by Michael Billig for further analysis.

New Focus

2009-07-07T13:49:00.001+08:00

Hello everyone. I'm changing my focus to write about the articles or books I read. There will be more to come later, but I want to be more focused with my writing. Thanks for coming by. Kaz

Explain This

2009-07-05T18:03:00.000+08:00

There is quite a few things which have happened which make me wonder about the state of things. This time, they all take place in Malaysia. One is more serious than the other, but lets start with the silly mundane stuff first shall we?

I was watching an early morning show and one of the topics discussed, in an informal fashion, between the two hosts was the new movie Transformers. For whatever reason, the man says to the woman, and then to the viewers, that the movie requires the viewer to suspend their belief! He continues to say that the reason for the suspension of belief is that, some of the story line does not line up well from the first one. What part of alien robots which have the ability to change into mechanical objects on earth is a valid from any perspective? Why is this guy attempting to intellectualize a summer action movie, in the genre of science fiction? My god, where did the producers of this TV program find such a gem of journalistic ability? Sorry to break it to you, but its just a movie, nothing else.

A recent article in a local newspaper here is about the mistreatment of people with severe mental illness at a government run nursing home. There are a series of articles, one which interviews two psychiatrists about their views regarding the abuse. According to the article those "who carried out such malpractice could be charged in court because they were not equipped with the knowledge to take care of the patients." In the article another psychiatrist states, "there is still room for improvement" in regards to how people are treated.

The assumption that improvement is needed is an accurate one. Again, there are no rights for the mentally ill. The fact that the home has connections to the government gives you an idea of just how much people are interested in making any type of social change. The fact that one view held is that a person can be charged because they do not know or have training is rather ironic. The psychiatric model practiced here states that only psychiatrists have the knowledge and if this is true, the homes should only be run by psychiatrists. This does not mean the people who are responsible should not be held responsible for the actions. The people responsible for running the home should be charged for abusing other people.

While not all nursing homes are operated to this level of abuse, people are often taken advantage of and neglected. There is no social system which people can be placed in that will provide support with properly trained professionals. Will there be any type of change? That depends on the level of outrage the public feels. We will just have to wait.

Recent Developments

2009-07-03T11:23:00.000+08:00

Recently, it seems the whole world is preoccupied with the death of certain celebrities. There is much discussion about what it was like growing up with these people. What type of impact they had on you, what you were doing as a teenager, things of this nature. Death of celebrities can have that impact. While it is sad, the world will continue, just like it always.

This is not really a write up about particular famous people though. We can read the news on this topic from other sources. This is more about the impact of popular culture. We often idolize people for their fame, no matter how troubled their lives are or were. My question is regarding can people who are not in the popular culture have an impact on people's lives when the very nature of their work is complex? Can cognitive science have the same type of impact on the larger world so that the person who knows nothing about the topic feels connected and interested? This seems unlikely. The fact that this type of information needs to be studied for many years is one such reason why the average citizen does not want to read the material. My hope is that someday, the academic community attempts to reach out to convey the passion of these scholars. We will have to wait to see how it goes.

Another year has gone by for me. A year older, a year wiser maybe. Let's hope so!

A Taste of The East Bay

2009-06-25T22:15:00.000+08:00

If I write about sports, I usually write about football, which is called soccer where I am from. Yeah, I'm a strange one, I support a team from London with great passion. However, this next story has got to be one of the strangest, yet pleasantly surprising piece of news in a long while.

While I tell people I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area out here, because nobody will know where Oakland actually is except my wife, I lived in the East Bay. That's the 510 area code. Oakland. Home of the A's and the Raiders. Oakland is the less glamorous city in comparison to San Francisco. The city is known for it's crime, its violence and it's poverty. One would ask why anyone would want to live there really. Well, it is cheaper, but there is great character to the city. I did live there for most of my adult life. Being away, I think about Oakland now and again. When I heard Air Asia sponsoring the Raiders, part of me is very happy that a small piece of home is going to be in KL. KL is now part of the Raider Nation, with at least one fool living here from Oakland. Does anyone follow American football in Malaysia? No, not really. I do look at the pictures and smile though.

The S Factor

2009-06-21T11:13:00.000+08:00

Some clips of girls from Singapore for a show. Proves that you don't have to have much underneath the hood in any country, and want to get on TV.

The Interpretation of Truth

2009-06-17T18:02:00.000+08:00

We are often driven to seek certain facts in the world we interact in. How we go about obtaining the knowledge we seek is a combination of internal and external factors. One wonders why people go to seek information with the knowledge that the potential consequences of these actions can result in intense personal suffering. Does one need to go to a secluded area, where the rule of law is constantly moving from form to another? Does one ask the question if seeking truth is folly? Will it change the collective outlook, or change what is in you? Will you be sent to the darkness, both internally and externally is the next question we seldom ask.

Can we escape from ourselves has long been a question we have attempted to answer. The more relevant question is what to do if that ever happens? Are we prepared to face the darkness of our inner turmoil? This seems unlikely. We have our faults and they often surface when faced with the uncomfortable notion of acting in a way which we do not like. How we choose to interact, based on our internal fears, can often explain why something as simple as a greeting can be so difficult.

The Road

2009-06-11T02:47:00.000+08:00

I loved this book. Lets hope the movie does the book justice.

Twenty Years

2009-06-08T11:56:00.000+08:00

The 20th anniversary of June 4, 1989 just passed. In the west, this day is associated with the events of the Chinese government's actions to suppress student demonstrations with tanks, guns and violence. While the anniversary did make the news here in Malaysia, I will assume that there was more attention to the events in the west than in Asia. Things in China have changed dramatically since 1989. To find people who say to get rich is glorious is far more widespread than those who wish to speak about political history. One of the most iconic pictures of what happened is a lone man stepping into the way of a row of tanks, stopping them briefly. The picture is open to interpretation with the Chinese government stating that the army demonstrated restraint. The rest of the world views the picture as one man's protest to state power. I believe it is far more complicated than that and when people stand up to power of any type, they bring to the encounter the lessons that power has taught them and the harm the power has caused. Does simply standing up free us from this power? It does not. Behind every gesture of "courage" or "treason" the lessons of history, culture and societal perspective must be considered. Only when these aspects to actions are considered and analyzed can the mechanism of power be changed. Again, the students screamed for democracy and "freedom." Now, people desire wealth and material. Progress, or the lack of it, has different methods of measurement.

Huh?

2009-06-06T18:32:00.000+08:00

There seems to have been some technical difficulties. I attempted to post something, and either there was too many of the same post or none at all. Will have to try again at a later time.

Dreams

2009-06-04T18:05:00.000+08:00

"In a morbid condition of the brain, dreams often have a singular actuality, vividness and extraordinary semblance of reality. At times monstrous images are created, but the setting and the whole picture are so truthlike and filled with details so delicate, so unexpected, but so artistically consistent, that the dreamer, were he an artists like Pushkin or Turgenev even, could never have invented them in the waking state. Such sick dreams always remain long in the memory and make a powerful impression on the overwrought and deranged nervous system." Fyodor Dostoevsky

I love the language used by Dostoevsky to describe dreams. People often wonder why dreams are viewed as deceivers the conscious mind. I think that this passage from the book Crime and Punishment is a good explanation. Why are we so afraid of ourselves has been asked many times before. The answer is buried in the "deranged nervous system" of the unconscious, but the images of darkness we attempt to escape, and the fear caused by them, are part of the self. We stand a better chance of turning gold into water than escaping ourselves.

Haze

2009-06-03T18:23:00.000+08:00

Its that time of year again. I have heard some of my friends say that one season in Malaysia that is not mentioned in the travel books is the haze season. There has not been any mention of fires in Sumatra, which cause this, but everyone knows that this is the case. While there are many things to hate about haze like this, like the acidic taste when you breath, the pollution makes temperatures feel more hot. Think of a blanket being used in 34 C heat which taste of acid. Not too pleasant. I hope for rain but as of today, the rain has not appeared.

Sorry, I Was Caught in My Head

2009-05-27T10:19:00.000+08:00

The end of another football season. Tonight is the Champions League Final, the weekend is the FA Cup Final and then its a summer full of rumors. Arsene Wenger looks to stay at Arsenal, which is good. Phil Brown, the lying sack of rocks who accused one of our key players of spitting at one of his staff after a match, is coming to Singapore in the next few days to do some TV work. One wonders what type of lies he will have when he turns up. His team gets put to the sword by a Man U youth team and the celebrate like they've won the league. I cannot even remember the last time his side won a match. What a fool.

In news of a different type, in California, the courts have stated that marriage should be between a man and a woman. I find this to be ironic really. The divorce rate is more than 50% in the USA. The argument that somehow gay marriage devalues the commitment and the institution of marriage is flawed. I just do not see the logic, other than flat out discrimination. Since it is California, this will be tied up in the courts for a long time to come. This is not the last chapter the state defining who has the right to marry and who does not. A sad reflection on a society that proclaims tolerance and acceptance for anyone. The views of the USA from others is always mixed, most often wrong. Either idolized or vilified, the perception is most often incorrect. This is a good example of just how intolerant people can be.

Going Ons

2009-05-20T09:11:00.000+08:00

In news of the world and of my life, there are different objects in motion. One can make the argument that motion never stops, but the recent happenings I have noticed because of their direct affect on me.

Rumors are abound that Arsene Wenger might leave Arsenal to manage Real Madrid. I would hate to see that happen for a number of reasons. One, he is the most successful manager in Arsenal history. I cannot really see who would replace him, which is a problem. Lastly, Real Madrid were the football club that Francisco Franco supported. I am not a fan of fascists. Lets hope they are just rumors.

I recently contacted a psychoanalytical institute in the USA, and inquired about their certificate and PsyD program. Psychoanalysis in the USA is an interesting history, filled with conflict, lawsuits, elitism and bureaucracy. This particular institute has a good reputation, and is considered to be very progressive in comparison to the classical schools. They very clearly informed me that they require all candidates to have five years of post license experience before they can apply. One must be a MFT, LCSW, psychologist or psychiatrist. I am not surprised, given my country's obsession with paperwork. The information confirms what I already new, that I will not be studying psychoanalysis in the USA. Sad, but true. Makes me wonder if any non US citizens can study it.

Fiasco Two

2009-05-14T23:20:00.000+08:00

A few months ago I wrote about how the new president, Obama, in the end would not be that much different than the previous president. Yes, there would be slight differences. He is the first African-American president, he definitely can speak English better than the previous president, and seems to be a better politician. I myself was caught up with the historic nature of his new term. However, just a few months later, Obama is attempting to block pictures of US military personnel abusing Afghans. The Obama administration also supported the Bush policy of wiretaps, without a warrant, on American citizens. There was tremendous hope for Obama to change things, especially here in Malaysia. There would be change, democracy works in America, Bush was aberration. This was the feeling. Actually, the Democrats and the Republicans screw you over the same way, they explain it to you differently. One good example is, currently, the US government says it does not want to contribute to anti-American feelings and have US troops be put in danger by releasing the pictures. I hate to be the messenger of bad news, but invading another country means that there will be people who want to kill you. The local population already knows about the abuse. We Americans should be made aware of just how widespread this behavior is as well. It does not matter if you are in Iraq or Afghanistan. The release of pictures of US abuse means the support to have troops kept there will erode, from the very people who elected people like Obama, the American public. So, in the end, its not about what is good for the troops, it is a slight of hand method to keep their jobs, and nothing else. The Bush administration would say something about fighting terrorism has its dark side, but only a few low level people are responsible, but this should not distract us from freedom. Expect this type of behavior to be a one of many things that will be very similar to the Bush administration's policies. We might even read about the commitment to freedom. All very disgusting if you ask me.

Fiasco

2009-05-13T12:13:00.000+08:00

I recently finished reading a book, called Fiasco, written by Thomas E. Ricks. The book covers the plan of attack, invasion and occupation of Iraq until 2006. As you can tell by the title, Mr Ricks is not a supporter of the Iraq war.

I have mixed feelings about this book. For those of us who did not support the reasons for the war from the beginning, much of the pre-war information does not come as a surprise. The fact that the Bush administration carefully constructed, or lied, about the reasons to go to war is painfully obvious at this point in time. What I did find amazing is just how much pressure was put on military leadership to plan and execute the invasion by the civilian government. The level of disrespect shown toward the military is shocking. If the military is there to perform actions which requires specific training, and the generals are then trained to plan such action, the argument can be made that it was a failure of the civilian government that led us into quagmire that we find ourselves in.

The book draws information from large sources within the military and some within the government of the Bush administration. While it does mention the issues of torture, it is clear that the author does not discuss the number of Iraqi citizens killed as a result of the US led military action. There is little focus on Iraqi infrastructure, or lack of it. Again, the book's focus is on how the leadership failed, not so much the ground forces once they were there. While US military forces are in a terribly difficult situation, I honestly believe that the problems that have surfaced because of the invasion and occupation of Iraq need to be placed on all participating members of American society. A civilian leadership who lied to obtain their political objective. Military leadership that could not convince the government of the potential, and eventual, problems. The military itself for the encouragement of mistreatment, or torture, and lastly the American public who just sat back at watched, all in the name of safety. This is a shameful period of our history, which has yet to be concluded, and we collectively share the burden of responsibility for the death caused.

Disturbing Trends

2009-05-09T04:09:00.000+08:00

The other night saw Chelsea lose ugly to Barcelona. Down to ten men, Barca got the equalizer, and in the Champions League, the away goals counts for two, which means the team from Spain advances to the Final, held in Rome. Looking at the match and the distasteful events that took place immediately afterwards, there is now talk about how Chelsea were unable to control their players. No, Chelsea weren't beaten by a team that was better than them, they were the victims of a conspiracy which saw them robbed by a "thief" in the night. To have been victim of a crime of this nature, one has to have own the subject in question. I find that Chelsea's view that they were robbed is narcissistic in nature. I remember they didn't win the Champions League last year, they don't deserve to go through, and when spoiled, rich little shits don't get what they want, they cry, moan and throw a tantrum. What's even worse is their manager and owner of the team don't fine them in punishment. Disgusting, honestly. If UEFA is smart, they throw the book at them. However, UEFA don't have the teeth that they used to have. English teams were banned from playing in the European Cup for years in the late 80s. I doubt they will do that, because everyone watches English teams, and they would lose money from less people watching the matches of TV. Actually, the situation has brought up what is wrong in football today. I'll be surprised if Chelsea and their offending players get anything more than a simple fine. Remember, if Chelsea would have scored, I'm sure we would not have even remembered the calls for penalties.

Popular Depiction of Psychoanalysis in Late 1940s

2009-05-04T23:07:00.000+08:00

I found this I thought it was pretty funny.

Foot In Mouth

2009-05-02T07:21:00.000+08:00

Just to prove that W is not the the only politician that has difficulty communicating, the current VP put his foot in his mouth. Just to show you that there really is not much difference between the two parties in America, like many people believe..

The VP's comments in regards to the virus sweeping across the world reminds me of The Plague by Albert Camus. Only time will determine how we handled such problems. Will it be a positive outlook or a negative one? While the virus has not made its way to Malaysia yet, the rapid spread means it is only a matter of time before it comes here.

In news from the UK, I guess the government section which is responsible for managing health professionals is on a quest to regulate counseling and psychotherapy. Here is a link to arguments against such an intervention by an Jungian analyst Andrew Samuels. While he makes a good argument, I find it surprising that the British took so long to try and implement such regulations. In the USA, everything in regulated. A clinical psychologist must have a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology and pass a licensing exam, which is only valid in the state they take the test. If you are a licensed psychologist in California, you cannot practice in Oregon, which is the state just north of California. Psychoanalysis was something only psychiatrists could study until 1989. While I understand his frustration, this type of regulating is standard operating procedure in the USA. Does it mean that regulations will ultimately protect the potential clients and raise the standard of skills for clinical practitioners? Maybe. Maybe not. I currently live in a country where there are no regulations, and the public gets taken advantage of constantly by frauds claiming to be something they are not. Regulations are needed, but should not be used to limit what people can do with their skills. We will have to see how things develop with this.

Coil

2009-04-28T18:22:00.000+08:00

Another great band that I like from Sweden, called Opeth.

Eye Candy

2009-04-25T21:22:00.000+08:00

Ever Wonder?

2009-04-24T23:09:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder about things? No, not topics like the meaning of life or why we are motivated to behave the way we do, just things. Ever wonder about things that could be considered silly? Such as what brand of cigarette is better? Ever hear that one? As far as I know, they kill you the same way. All brands seem to have the same health consequences, but people still want to choose one brand over another. The process is interesting huh? I guess that has to do with why we do things, or just good marketing. The fact that some people think about which brand of carcinogens people will pay for shows you the state of things in general. Is it better to think or just to go through life pretending not to know? I do not have the answer, but I'll tell you something, I am not sure if the answer can be found. Maybe the process of searching for the answer is better than actually finding it.

Oh, that explains a lot!

2009-04-16T00:47:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and things are going along nicely, and then you call them the wrong name? Not because you are being mean spirited, but simply because you remembered the wrong name. Embarrassing is one feeling you can describe. Foolish and stupid are others. I did something similar, and I felt pretty stupid after the whole thing. Oh, I apologized quickly. While it wasn't as bad as forgetting someone's name, it was in that realm of mistakes. I still feel stupid. I'll have to be better about it in the future.

Changed the Look

2009-04-14T23:33:00.000+08:00

Changed the look. I got a bit bored, so I made the thing look a bit more interesting to me.

Neurosis Live

2009-04-13T23:00:00.000+08:00

People wonder how I got into Freud and psychoanalysis. Maybe, all those years ago, I was introduced to a band called neurosis. I just didn't know the Freudian underpinnings at the time. I think I was 15 or 16 years old. That was turning into a long time ago. Still one of my favorite bands.

Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel

2009-04-07T16:53:00.000+08:00

Clarity, Through the Absurd

2009-04-06T23:02:00.000+08:00

Once in a while, we all feel the need for extra energy. We need to inspiration, the extra clarity to tip the balance. I felt I needed the inspiration and found it in the below text from the acceptance speech given by Albert Camus for the Nobel Prize for Literature on December 10, 1957.

"By the same token, the writer's role is not free from difficult duties. By definition he cannot put himself today in the service of those who make history; he is at the service of those who suffer it. Otherwise, he will be alone and deprived of his art. Not all the armies of tyranny with their millions of men will free him from his isolation, even and particularly if he falls into step with them. But the silence of an unknown prisoner, abandoned to humiliations at the other end of the world, is enough to draw the writer out of his exile, at least whenever, in the midst of the privileges of freedom, he manages not to forget that silence, and to transmit it in order to make it resound by means of his art."

For those of you who have not read his work, I highly recommend it. His writings will not disappoint you.

In or Out?

2009-04-04T11:34:00.000+08:00

I was reading some of Chomsky's psychological writings and felt the need to put up a link to something he wrote in 1971. The Case Against B.F. Skinner. While I have read quite a bit of Chomsky's political writing, I have not read that much of his contributions to psychology. While he is famous for his writing criticizing U.S. foreign policy, his contributions to cognitive science, specifically linguistics, is a bit more difficult to understand, but worth reading if people are interested. This particular article regarding Skinner is one worth reading a few times.

Pomegranate NS08

2009-04-01T17:18:00.000+08:00

What can you say about this mobile phone. The thing does everything you could ask for and more.

Addressing the Need

2009-03-29T04:41:00.000+08:00

Recently, I read a letter to a newspaper hear in Malaysia about the need for new mental health measures because of the economic downturn. While the letter shows that there are some people who are thinking about how mental health issues, the topic does need to be addressed, the letter indicates a lack of awareness regarding mental health issues within the Malaysian context. Lets look at some of the key points.

"In view of the current economic downturn leading possibly to recession, there is an increasing number of Malaysians likely to suffer from anxiety, severe mental stress and even depression in relation to their jobs and working lives."

"The Health Ministry should also look into training more psychiatrists and psychologists to deal with mental disorders, while NGOs should be assisted to do more to promote mental health."

In 2005, the World Health Organization lead a massive study to determine health services for multiple countries throughout the world, Malaysia being one of them. There is a mental health policy in place since 1998. The policy consists of promotion, advocacy, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. More than ten years later, is the policy working?

Since 1998, a mental health act was written. The Mental Health Act of 2001 has not been gazetted, which means it is not a law. This means the most recent legislation was drafted in 1952, called the Mental Health Ordinance. With only one law written, it would seem that the topic of mental health is not something people want to confront.

As far as trained professionals, the outlook is even more grim. In 2005, the number of social workers per 100,000 population was 0.2. The number of psychologists per 100,000 was 0.05. The number of psychiatric nurses per 100,000 population was 0.5. The number of psychiatrists per 100,000 population was 0.6. The number of psychiatric beds per 10,000 population was 2.7.

As you can see by just reviewing the numbers, there is not enough qualified people to address the problems of mental illness in the country. Since the rate of occurrence for clinical depression can be anywhere from 15 to 20%, in a country of roughly 25 million, the need is far greater than what is out there to support people. The problem is too big for NGOs like the Malaysian Mental Health Association, which has limited funds and staff. Given that MMHA is an NGO with one location in Petaling Jaya, it seems unlikely that they would be able to provide support to people in other locations.

There needs to be more targeted education for the public, government services and general practitioners, but it needs to be from the government. The government is the only body that can implement any structure or standards as well as enforce these standards. Currently, there is no governing body for psychologists, which means that there is no license. Anyone can call themselves of psychologist, regardless of their education, or lack of it.

The public views regarding people with mental health issues reinforces the idea of negative stereotypes. While it is great to say people should seek treatment, the fact that you might wait six months to see a psychologist who is not in private practice, can be depressing in its own right. With the biological model the main source of focus for psychiatrists here, a it also seems unlikely that the necessary psychosocial support can be given to people who suffer from depression or anxiety from a loss of job. Psychiatrists are not trained to be talking doctors. They are trained to tell you that depression is more about faulty neurotransmitters, rather than the loss of a job. To an insult to injury, they see you for five minutes, charge you and then are responsible for selling the medicine to yo!. The practice of selling medicine directly to you after diagnosing you is so established that nobody is aware of the massive conflict of interest.

The sentiment of the letter is nice, even refreshing. However, positive feelings alone cannot solve the massive problems that the country faces. The problem of mental illness was happening before the economic downturn. While we can assume that there is a correlation between an economic depression and a psychological depression, evidence should be studied to address the issues. Since there is only one mental health law, and it was written in 1952, it seems unlikely that data was kept on the previous economic recession and and increase of psychological depression. Given the lack of qualified professionals and a general lack of interest, the social problems will deteriorate before it gets better.

Discontent

2009-03-27T18:29:00.000+08:00

The other day, I was speaking with a friend in the US about the state of nation. A few days before the new president went before the nation to address certain behavior by people who received bonuses, paid for by the American taxpayer. Ironic is it not? I thought the US was against socialism. Free market capitalism, that's the American way. Unless you are the elite, who just manipulate situations, like always.

Anyway, that was not my point really. My friend and I spoke about a great many things, starting with object relations. While that stuff is very interesting, and quite often I am immersed in psychoanalytical thought, we spent more time discussing just how unhappy people seem to be in the US. Given he is doing analysis, he has a waiting list of people who wish to speak to him regarding their unhappiness.

I miss aspects of the US. Family, friends, the fog rolling over the bridges, the salt in the air, and way the sky looks when spring roles around. The sky in California can be quite beautiful actually. I do not miss the hostility, the collective paranoia, the search for meaning in the wrong places. One wonders how long this type of feelings can linger before the eventual spread and transformation into something more sinister.

Deliberately Made or Altered to Appear Better

2009-03-24T08:48:00.000+08:00

One of the social phenomenon which takes place in every country is the altering of oneself to appear better. Fake is what it is called. While there is no cultural monopoly on this type of behavior, I notice some people practice the art of self deception daily.

How can that be, you might ask? Well, there are lots of people who decide they want a different accent when they speak. I'm Malaysian, with family from Australia, but I attempt this ridicules British accent. I am Malay, but I want to speak like I'm a black woman from Atlanta. I'm Chinese and I try this American accent. I find it annoying. My accent has not changed since coming here, though my vernacular has changed. I can understand the Malaysian accent better, the inter use of British English and local language. Do I sound Malaysian? No.

The motivation to make yourself appear to be something different must be tiring. Maybe the entire process is rooted in the narcissistic need to be seen. I would like to see these people when everything falls apart, and they are left with themselves and nothing else.

Up Late

2009-03-21T00:48:00.000+08:00

Once in a while, I'll read stuff on the internet. Well, that is an understatement really, I read stuff on the internet all of the time. The topics vary. I read about Arsenal. This week we have seen that idiot manager from Hull lie about everything related to spitting and handshakes. I must admit, I think I would be more satisfied about seeing Hull and manager go down than Blackburn going down. Why, I hope they both go down, since both of their managers cannot seem to produce football from their teams. That would make me feel pretty good this year. Instead, we get to watch dreadful teams try to hurt the opposition or hear their managers lie weekly. Deal with all you Hull supporters. There are laws that state that blind people should not drive. There should be a law that states that teams like Hull and their management shut their stupid holes and deal with the fact that their team is better off learning to drive with a blindfold than staying up.

I find it entertaining how people complain about things. The ref was influenced and got my keeper booked. That university is not good for this or that, because I did not do the work and got a bad grade. I cannot actually think because, well, nobody ever taught me, which would mean they are incapable of thinking critically. When asked to clarify anything that is stated, one often gets the reply of integrity and why is that quality being questioned. Actually, the question is about your integrity you fool. Why do you think you are being asked? Did you learn that in all of the years you have lived? My god, provide the evidence, or, the contra evidence. Its like that with everything, not just football, or school, or poor driving skills.

This whole post is ironic. I am complaining about people complaining. Well, life is full of irony. Deal with it.

Watches, Funny Signs and What?

2009-03-17T21:35:00.000+08:00

I went to a book launching today with the Mrs today. Very fun, very entertaining. It helps that there was free coffee, because I need the caffeine, but I really did have a good time. I did some walking around, because it was in a mall, and I did not have to talk to anyone. A great thing about being the husband.

For those of you that do not know me, I have a intense fascination with watches. Not just having them, or super expensive branded stuff, but how they are made, and why Rolex is really just hype. Someone once said it was my desire to understand how things work. I would agree with that statement. I have been looking for a Seiko Spring Drive, just to look, not to buy. The last time I was in San Francisco, which was a year ago, I asked about the Spring Drive collection at a high end watch place. The response was shocking. The watches are so expensive that you have to special order it! So, I figured I would have to wait. Today, I saw the range at a high end watch place. The guy in San Francisco was right, the watch was RM21,0000! That is almost $6,000 USD! A nice watch, I did like the look of it, but for that much money, it better make coffee and drive for me!

When you drink coffee, one must answer the call of nature. I thought the above picture is a funny way of saying that the flush action will happen automatically. Camera phones, one either loves them or hates them.

So I really do not know how they got this bike up on the roof of this shed. Not only do I not know how they did it, I have no idea why anyone would want to do that. Why would you put a bike up on top of anything? Makes the process of using it seem more difficult and less convenient.

Zhong guo Wushu

2009-03-09T23:05:00.000+08:00

When I was younger, I studied Chinese martial arts. My first teacher was Hao Zhi Hua, though, she is of the modern, mainland Chinese version. I then studied at Adam Hsu's school. He claims an impressive lineage, but he and most of his students lied about what exactly they knew. I then was exposed to Xie Peiqi and He Jinbao, who are very good. Why do I bring this up? Well, Chinese martial arts is not regulated by anyone. There is no way to tell who knows anything and who does not. You get lucky, or you waste your time. While there is varying degrees of competence, more often than not, people are taken advantage of, both by their money and their time. I believe time is far more precious.

The reason I write this is anyone can call themselves a master in Chinese martial arts, take your money and your time and there is no real method to determine what the teach is real. The concept is like psychology and psychologists here in Malaysia. Anyone can call themselves a psychologist. Some might know things, some might have the educational requirements, some do not. People, can be fooled in any country.

Americans are often viewed as vain, self absorbed and soulless. We will buy anything, if it is packaged right. The ironic thing is, that these values, or lack of values, are everywhere. People feel isolated everywhere and can be fooled by slick packaging and nice words. We Americans do not have a copyright to foolishness.

Random Signs

2009-03-07T20:58:00.000+08:00

Here are some signs for you. Can you believe that at IMH in Singapore the psychology department is right next to the ECT room? Now that is madness! I wonder if the guy with the fighting specialist sign is getting any business?