Arduous Research Process

This paragraph from an article on the chronicle.com pretty much sums it up.

 Jeff the economist spends a lot of time manipulating data, telling his computer to look at certain variables, and then at others. You can go down a lot of false trails that way, he says. You can spend all day in front of a screen (or two) and have nothing to say about what you’ve seen. You’re just inching closer, trying to get an idea to take root, trying to find the pearl in an ocean full of clams.

Obama v. Clinton Youtube video

I can’t vote (not a citizen) so I don’t follow the political debates as closely as I probably should.  Consequently, I’m not sure who I would’ve voted for in the Democratic primaries (or if I’d go for McCain for that matter) so this post isn’t an analysis of the Obama v. Clinton policies.  However, this video is just funny so I had to post it.

Wedding Planning - Blech

 

Wedding planning gets on my nerves.  I enjoy almost none of it.  There. I said it.  I know it’s not the socially acceptable view but it had to be said.  I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this either.  I’m thinking of starting a grooms’ support group.  The fiancé and I are extremely fortunate in that her parents are paying for our reception and some other incidentals, and my dad and brother are paying for our honeymoon (Hawaii).  However, the fiancé still thinks that she and I should shell out $10K for the rest.  I don’t understand how we can possibly do that when I’m in grad school, she’s going back to school, and we’re already living paycheck to paycheck.  Even if we can come up with the money we should be spending them more sensibly (according to me) on tuition, rent, food, transportation, and other practicalities.  Truthfully, though, unless we were among the very rich I still don’t see why we should spend that kind of money on a party.  And that’s really all it is - a party to celebrate something.  Would we have less of a marriage if we had a $5,000 wedding - backyard BBQ, casual wear, etc.?  Of course not.  But because she and her network has been conditioned by the marketing machine into thinking that a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime-event where you have to go all out, that’s the prevailing thought.  What bothers me the most is that the fiancé is normally extremely practical and responsible.  That’s part of why I love her so much.  But when it comes to this wedding all else gets pushed aside.  I don’t understand it. 

 

The end.

Bush’s Approval Rating

Contrary to what many people believe, I don’t actually follow politics that closely.  I know this is old news but to this graph from pollster.com I can just say wow.  If I had that performance on my job I’d be fired long ago.