While daily hiking at a mall I made the acquaintance of an old Asian guy who hiked there, too. After hiking a lap or two he’d get a coffee and a cookie at Subway and sit in the food court. I felt DRAWN to the guy, so I joined him. Eventually, he shared that he’d arrived from S. Korea many years before with $9 in his pocket. I noticed a big fancy ring on his hand. Upon my asking about it, he said it was his PhD ring from Stanford. When I asked about the subject he ducked his head, and with a sheepish half-smile said, “Statistics”.
Further talks revealed that his father-in-law was a 3rd cousin of my Mother. While a professor at an east coast university he married one of his students. So this was why I’d felt drawn to him. He was, by marriage, a long lost “cousin” several times removed.
He was a Christian who loved Jesus dearly. He was also a staunch Republican of the caliber of which most Pubs today wouldn’t be worthy to carry his ipad! He died several years ago after a severe fall. I loved the fact that he “owned” the stigma that his chosen field, Statistics, carries with it. There are lies, damned lies; and statistics!
While daily hiking at a mall I made the acquaintance of an old Asian guy who hiked there, too. After hiking a lap or two he’d get a coffee and a cookie at Subway and sit in the food court. I felt DRAWN to the guy, so I joined him. Eventually, he shared that he’d arrived from S. Korea many years before with $9 in his pocket. I noticed a big fancy ring on his hand. Upon my asking about it, he said it was his PhD ring from Stanford. When I asked about the subject he ducked his head, and with a sheepish half-smile said, “Statistics”.
Further talks revealed that his father-in-law was a 3rd cousin of my Mother. While a professor at an east coast university he married one of his students. So this was why I’d felt drawn to him. He was, by marriage, a long lost “cousin” several times removed.
He was a Christian who loved Jesus dearly. He was also a staunch Republican of the caliber of which most Pubs today wouldn’t be worthy to carry his ipad! He died several years ago after a severe fall. I loved the fact that he “owned” the stigma that his chosen field, Statistics, carries with it. There are lies, damned lies; and statistics!
...
Good story...at a previous career, I managed a PhD stats student as an intern...he was so pompous, but as a veneer, I made him cry after raising my voice at him...quite uncomfortable...anyway, stats are useful at PhD level -maybe - if you are an actuary...me, I like them only to call out BS polls and surveys and sampling methods...heck, I’ll even say I don’t think the pollsters even make phone calls anymore...what would be the point since they want to drive opinion anyway?