A while back the Unknown Wife came back from volunteering in our Daughter's kindergarten class. They were working on their letter sounds, and they try to come up with animals that represent various sounds. the sound of the day was "U", so they had the "Uggy" Duckling.
The teacher said that the story was based on the Ugly Duckling, but that "she didn't like the idea of calling someone 'Ugly' " (after all, we should NEVER call something ugly), so she changed it to "Uggy".
U.W. knew I'd get a kick out of it -- she smiled and said "That's why it's probably better that you don't volunteer, dear."
But living with me for the last 16 years or so has had an effect. When we first got married, she wouldn't have even noticed the PC-ness of the idea. Now she makes fun of it. We try not to make too big a deal of PC nonsense with our kids, but Unknown Daughter caught it right away. She said, "Doesn't Miss Cindy know it's supposed to be the UGLY Duckling?".
And on another note, the Unknown Son seems to have learned the fine art of talking smack (or at least how to respond to it). I've told my kids that the best way to get under someone's skin when they rag on you is to smile, laugh at them a bit, and keep their cool. One of his friends called him an idiot at the bus stop this morning (Unknown Wife was in earshot). U.S. just laughed at him and said, "Man, you must have hit your head and rattled your brains if you think I'm and idiot. Or Maybe you need more sleep." Hey - it's not Bugs Bunny Level, but he's got the attitude, and for a second grader, that's what's important. We can work on specifics for his smack talking later.
A Few Memorial Day Links
There's nothing like a holiday. The Unknown Family took in a great Memorial Day parade this morning (classic small-town Americana, complete with VFW, marching bands and firetrucks), and Unknown Son and Unknown Daughter are follwing that up with a play date at one of U.D.'s classmates. This means that Unknown Wife and I get to have a few hours off - time for a quiet lunch.
But before I go, here are a few Memorial Day links:
But before I go, here are a few Memorial Day links:
- Chris Day has postd a Memorial Day cartoon at Day By Day. If you're not checking in at his site every day, you're missing a lot of funny stuff.
- I posted this last Memorial Day, but it bears repeating - here's an audio file (and the text) of Ronald Reagan's "The Boys of Pointe du Hoc" speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of D-Day (compliments of American Rhetoric).
- Regardless what you think of the war in Iraq, if you're looking for a good way to support the troops, check out Valour IT. The providevoice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations. With these voice operated laptops, they can send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse.
It's Almost Like Being Single (redux)
Like I mentioned earlier, I just got another rejection. But now there's potential good news -- the recent conference I went to had a special issue. And the article is being considered for it. So, it looks like the rejection wasn't the end of the story.
It still might end up being rejected, but you never know.
And to complete the analogy to my single days, when my wife went out with me the first time, she was dating another guy at the time. After our 2nd date, she told me that she preferred him to me (at least she didn't say "Go away or I will taunt you again" in a French Accent).
To make a long story short, four months later, they broke up and we started dating again. We coming up on our 17th anniversary in about 3 months.
So, it ain't over till it's over.
It still might end up being rejected, but you never know.
And to complete the analogy to my single days, when my wife went out with me the first time, she was dating another guy at the time. After our 2nd date, she told me that she preferred him to me (at least she didn't say "Go away or I will taunt you again" in a French Accent).
To make a long story short, four months later, they broke up and we started dating again. We coming up on our 17th anniversary in about 3 months.
So, it ain't over till it's over.
Confessions of A Scam Artist
Here's a pretty interesting interview of convicted investment con man Eric Stein. It makes for a pretty good story, and also contains a lot of helpful tips on how to avoid being taken advantage of by these crooks.
HT: Michael Covel
HT: Michael Covel
It's Almost Like Being Single Again
I just got another article rejected from a journal editor. That makes two in the last month. I haven't had this much rejection in a short time since I was single (and let's NOT go there...)
This last semester I've been pretty productive in terms of finishing research and submitting it to academic journals. Unfortunately, more submissions means more rejections. I realize that it'll eventually mean more acceptances too, and that it's all part of the game. But it still stinks.
Time to patch the piece up and send it off to another journal. But that's for tomorrow. For tonightI guess I'll have to console myself with a Strongbow's and the season finale of Heroes.
update: Strongbow's good. Heroes better.
This last semester I've been pretty productive in terms of finishing research and submitting it to academic journals. Unfortunately, more submissions means more rejections. I realize that it'll eventually mean more acceptances too, and that it's all part of the game. But it still stinks.
Time to patch the piece up and send it off to another journal. But that's for tomorrow. For tonightI guess I'll have to console myself with a Strongbow's and the season finale of Heroes.
update: Strongbow's good. Heroes better.
A Day With The Unknown Kids
Unknown Wife had her birthday yesterday (and no, I won't tell which one - I'm not stupid). So, her sister came down Friday, stayed overnight, spent the day helping Unknown Wife do some decorating and organizing on Saturday (she's a whiz at both), and then whisked her away to a bed and breakfast in a nearby town for the night, followed by a day of sightseeing.
My job was to take the kids off her hands while she played with her sister and to buy the usual birthday tribute/swag. I gave the kids the challenge of figuring out something for each sense, and here's what they came up with:
As for me, when it's my turn I'm hoping for a new flat panel monitor and some slack...
My job was to take the kids off her hands while she played with her sister and to buy the usual birthday tribute/swag. I gave the kids the challenge of figuring out something for each sense, and here's what they came up with:
- Flowers (sight)
- Perfume (smell)
- A card (hearing - they read it)
- Chocolate (nuff said)
- A hug (touch).
As for me, when it's my turn I'm hoping for a new flat panel monitor and some slack...
More Resources For Those Considering a Ph.D. in Business or Economics
A lot of visitors find this site when they're searching for information on Ph.D. programs in business (there doesn't seem to be all that much easily findable and usable information out here on the topic). So, I try to post resources on the topic whenever I find them.
While web-surfing the other day, I came across another one - Testmagic.com. While their bread and butter seems to be test preparation for standardized tests like the SAT, GMAT, and GRE, they also have a couple of forums that might be of interest if you're considering a Ph.D. in business or econ.
Here's a link to the forum for those considering a Ph.D in Business and here's one for those looking at a Ph.D. in Economics.
A lot of the posters on the Business forum have GMAT scores north of 740 or so, so the discussions seem to be geared towards candidates trying for admission to "top-tier" programs. But even if your aspirations are more modest, there's still a lot of information that's useful.
update: Welcome to all the folks who stopped over from TestMagic - I'm glad you stopped by, and I hope you find it useful. You can find the Financial Rounds FAQ here, and a couple pieces I've written about the teaching and research sides of a finance professor's life here and here.
While web-surfing the other day, I came across another one - Testmagic.com. While their bread and butter seems to be test preparation for standardized tests like the SAT, GMAT, and GRE, they also have a couple of forums that might be of interest if you're considering a Ph.D. in business or econ.
Here's a link to the forum for those considering a Ph.D in Business and here's one for those looking at a Ph.D. in Economics.
A lot of the posters on the Business forum have GMAT scores north of 740 or so, so the discussions seem to be geared towards candidates trying for admission to "top-tier" programs. But even if your aspirations are more modest, there's still a lot of information that's useful.
update: Welcome to all the folks who stopped over from TestMagic - I'm glad you stopped by, and I hope you find it useful. You can find the Financial Rounds FAQ here, and a couple pieces I've written about the teaching and research sides of a finance professor's life here and here.
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