The Attendance Issue - or productivity issue???

As I applied to different schools it was apparent that being on campus was important to many of the programs. As I was not moving, commuting distance entered into my decision. I am at my desk on average three times a week and expect that I will continue to be there at least twice a week as I write my dissertation. I think there is value in being around my colleagues and it will lead to collaborative work and a great forum for testing ideas. I also think it is good to interact with my supervisor and a number of other faculty members. AND its fun to go for beers to argue about just about anything with Indian in the Crosshairs and Sir T.

Its not always easy to get to school. Many of us commute. I have a family and am involved in a community away from school. I can also use the 2.25 hours of commuting time more productively than sitting in a car.

I think that compulsory attendance is not necessary. I do believe there are students who are not productive enough and need to be kept on a shorter leash. A professor who I once worked for as a research associate once told me that "I measure output, not input," when I asked if it was okay that I took a long lunch to play hockey. Universities are supposed to be progressive in terms of management (its not about attendance its about output - we are tight on space and are requiring people to be here) and other issues. Telecommuting is now considered a way to reduce the GHG emissions but academia is missing that opportunity. Perhaps we should consider what we're trying to accomplish rather than making blanket one size fits all requirements.

A note on telecommuting.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070428.RCAREERCOACH28/TPStory/Environment

More Indian Mysticism

A man in Britain pulled a 7 ton jet with his ears....that’s right, ears and no he did not morph them into elephant ears like most Indians pulling airplanes. He did it with human ears and now wants to raise money for kids in India using his new found fame.

But more importantly, since its in vogue to talk about cutting emissions of green house gases to reduce global warming, I was wondering if Mr. Singh can be somehow duplicated and installed inside every jet engine, where he can flap his ears and create thrust for airplanes. Supersonic ear flapping flight anyone????

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/6592323.stm

Calculus and Beer

I am finding too many ways not to study for my upcoming comprehensive exams. I am working on a mathematical review and have found a reason to bear down and make progress. Two mathematicians have developed a formula that explains the growth of those tiny bubbles that make up the head on a glass of beer. By applying this formula, they can optimize the pouring of a glass of beer (they can apply it to a wide variety of much less important but commercially viable situtions too). NOw that's a reason to study math.

Why is there no sex in supply chain research?

I'm feeling hard done by. I have to do pricing, promotion and inventory and there are researchers doing much more interesting work.

1) a student at Concorida University found that male rats (interesting choice of animal to try to make conclusions on human relationships) were more attracted to femalerats playing hard to get than those offering up favours all the time. (I do wonder about the researcher's objectivity given that she is in fact a woman) Who thinks these projects up? Are there any inventory or supply chain possibilities here? I'm good at the mathematics of probabilities but really that won't do much except shed a disappointing light on my chances.

2) Researchers in Austalia examined the behaviour of swans - previously thought to be monogamous. Swans mate for life but these researchers discovered that female swans stepped out at night and screw around under the cover of darkness. The thought was that they do it clandestinely so that their long term partner doesn't slack off on things like babysitting and sitting on eggs. Oh those scheming pens (that's the right word for a female swan - I looked it up). Can we model it? Interarrival times???

Oh well, back to the supply chain.

On Ducks and Dinosaurs

An interesting piece of research (but well out of my area) recently suggested that some long extinct dinosaurs were genetically very similar to contemporary duck species. This on the heels of research that said generally many bird species of today had genetic similarities to dinosaurs.

Given the age and temperament of many professors in different departments around the world, it would hardly be surprising to hear grad students wandering the halls quacking in an attempt to improve communications????

Mumbai Ranger?????

Can our very own Indian in the crosshairs have been usurped as the Mumbai Ranger? Say it ain't so! He may have to fight for the title of Mumbai Ranger. I'm not talking Ninja kickin, Karate chopping, cobra venom spittin fighting. I'm talking lawyer hirin' trademark infringement injunction seeking ass kicking. We've got to get on it soon or this guy will morph from lone ranger into Mumbai Ranger before you can say Mystic Man.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2003/february/45300.htm

Why a PhD?

I found these notes on a PhD interesting.

http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.phd.html

I am likely a third string on the A team but better than the minors from my perspective.

PhD Comics

Check out these comics. If they weren't so close to the truth they wouldn't be so painfully funny.

http://www.phdcomics.com/

More Research I Wish I'd Done OR How The Abstinence Program Got Screwed

I'm not sure why I found this story unbelievable but I did. First, the US government and many states combined have spent almost $1 billion since 1996 on abstinence advocacy programs for school aged kids. Secondly they they paid someone to find out if it worked. Third and least surprising of all is that it didn't work at all. I'm frankly surprised it didn't actually increase sexual activity amongst teens but we'll call it even.

Apparently, a survey of 2,000 youths found exactly NO difference between those who had been exposed to the abstinence program and those who had not.

Once again, I'd like to apply for a grant to study the correlation between taxpayer cynicism and the amount of money spent by well meaning bureaucrats on social engineering. Instead of spending money on pamphlets, workshops and Mom and apple pie advertising maybe we should be paying kids not to have sex and buying them condoms if they decide to forego the financial incentives.

Unfortunately one more potential topic to cross of my dissertation list.

A Summary
http://www.mathematica.org/abstinencereport.asp

The report
http://www.mathematica.org/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf

A winter of Liberal discontent

Here is something Rantman will like since he LOVES the Liberals and the CBC:::

http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9047267

Know your French Prez Election

Here is a quiz from economist.com.

http://www.economist.com/diversions/quiz.cfm?quizname=frenchelectionquiz

Its tough. I scored six out of ten and anyone who does better wins a baguette.

This Week's Research Contribution

A federal study by Statistics Canada found that poor Canadians are more likely to take out payday loans than other Canadians. WOW !!! Let me see. Poor people who work from paycheck to paycheck are more likely to take short term loans until their next paycheck. I wonder why someone with savings wouldn't borrow money at high interest rates for a couple of days. Who would have guessed. Its this sort of out there research that made me want to do a PhD and ask meaningful questions.

I wonder if they're looking into whether people who live in apartments tend to live further from the ground than those who live in houses?

I wonder if their follow up research will look at whether chronic gamblers and drug users are more likely to borrow from the Guido the loan shark.

Our tax dollars at work. Where can I get a research grant. I'd like to study the correlation between taxpayer cynicism and Stats Canada research.

A Thought on Gun Control

Thought I might add this to the discussion.

http://currant.blogspot.com/

Professor in France?

Headline on CNN International - French seek Mystic clues in Presidential Elections.

Mystics are giving insight into the "to close to call" race for French President. They have tarot cards and an African guy who does something different but no Indian mystic. We know there's no mystic like a good Indian mystic so off he goes (he's done his pentagon pitch) to Paris to help them with politics.

Travel safe Professor and see you when you get back.

Just Testing to see how it looks

MY FIRST POST. YAY!!!

Hulk Hogan or wikipedia

I was enjoying an adult beverage with a couple of friends the other day. I don't know how we got on the subject - we tend frequently to tangents - but he noted that it was interesting that Rabbis (I don't recall if they were orthodox or not) could not touch any woman who is not their wife. That's all well and good (and apparently true) but I was more interested in the source of his knowledge.

He picked up this tidbit not from wikipedia, or any other credible (he said with a wink) information source, but from Hogan Knows Best - apparently a Hulk Hogan reality show.

I would have thought that this sort of show wouldn't be a source of particular insight - especially as it relates to the religous beliefs of Orthodox Jews - but my bias clearly got the better of me. Clearly reality tv generally, and wrestling reality tv specifically, can be the educational and a source of meaningful insight.

I stuggled with an optimization final today - perhaps if the Undertaker had a reality show I'd have been better at the duel functions. Oh crap that was dual functions - probably not.

Here We Are

and so it begins. the random musings of a couple of friends. enter early and often.