Methodology and sex

Another painful meeting with my supervisor finished today after two hours of... pain in my back. That is what you get after going to the gym twice the day before in an effort to unload stress. So the result was more doubts about my theory, methodology, operationalisations, results, analysis... my intelectual abilities in a nutshell... But what the hell, that is part of being a PhD student, it is written in the contract.

So I got home, playing my part.. half in tears (because the only two passionate relationships of a Phd student I can think of are with the supervisor and the PhD Director!) but... this did not last long. Me being a little devil had pinned on the wall the following quote that just forced a strong laughter out of me... and reminded me that in the struggle for good methods I am not the only one who fails hundred times before I succeed. Maybe it is useful to the rest of the world too:

"Methodology is like sex. It is better demonstrated than discussed, though often better anticipated than experienced"

Wise man the guy who wrote it. Ed Leamer (1983) Let's take the con out of Econometrics, American Economic Review, 23, 1, 31-43.

If you are wondering what love is...

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Wisdom from a five-year-old boy.

PhD sayings

When you get your BA you know a little bit about everything, when you get your PhD you know a lot about nothing.

Or as I would put it you know a lot about the fact you know nothing.

The first saying came from my collegue, a PhD in Pysics. Second one by Socrates... but I adjusted it to fit the PhD reality. Just keeping in mind that I share the office with a PhD in physics, a PhD in criminology, a PhD-in-waiting in American politics and a PhD-in-waiting in Sociology, one can only hope that someone will know what he is doing in this office. (I can't say I am convinced...)

Day by day, working so hard on it, I feel I am losing knowledge instead of gaining more, let alone creating some as a PhD is suppose to do.

First draft almost done and yet... no new knowledge for the world. What a tragedy.

Race for Life

Last Sunday it was. 2500 women running jogging or walking the 5k that make the difference.

But what difference did it make to me?

When I started training for the run after the first five minutes I had to stop to catch my breath and... my legs that were leting me down. Three months later after the help and support of my "personal coach" Jane I could do the whole 5k non-stop in 30 minutes under extreme conditions (english summer heat!).

So I am proud of myself. It is not only the physical stamina I gained. I gained the belief that I can do things that I never thought possible, and more than that... to like them.

One more thing. I have to admit that up to now I did not believe in active forms of charity. I signed up more as a result of group pressure (come on girl... you know you can do it!). I did not try to raise any money apart from the sum I donated myself. It might be because of the charity culture of Greece, where asking for money for any organization is similar to asking for a cigarette from a stranger on the street. Rude if nothing else.

Now I am actually thinking to go for the 10k and do it for real! Raising money and feeling that I am helping for a good cause.

It took some running for my participation in civil society to kick in ;)

Not being Olga

This entry is dedicated to al the critics of the internet that condemn it for isolating people, keeping them away from life, from meeting other people, from having deep emotions.

It just took one wrong email. A long wrong email, I have to admit. I read it and I became a part of the life of two people I never knew and I would have never known if it wasn't for the internet.

James, very intelligent and successful man, still in love with Olga. And Olga far away from him and the life they had together, already deciding to share her life with another man. It is a common story, has happen to almost everyone. Myself included.

Out of pure coincidence I received it and I became part of James' feelings. I knew what it was to be him for a moment. I thought I knew exactly how he felt, all the frustration, all the pain, all the anticipation. And then I remembered... Olga was my part, I have been somebody else's Olga and it is very possible that I still am.

And now that I know how it feels to be James, what should I do not to cause all the pain that an Olga can provoke? Up to now I thought that Olgas were the victims... but James opened my eyes…

But these questions, being so big and torturing, only led me to email James back and adding to his embracement to inform him I was not Olga....

Olgas not always know what they cause. Olgas sometimes leave to protect themselves and lose the bigger picture.

I am sorry James.

The day Greece entered the West

Today is one of these days that people will remember with a bitter smile pinned on their faces. While having my morning coffee the Sunday newspapers brought me the news that Greece finally became a true country of the Western civilazation. There would have been nothing wrong with this of course had it been due to economic development, infrastructure, great cultural achivements, important inventions.

The day that Greece became a true member of the Western Civilazation is the day four teenagers, children really aged 11 to 14, were accused for the murder of their class mate.

Greek always felt shocked when such a murder was in the news. But it has always been somewhere far, somewhere where the greek family values and the religious faith were not dominating. Greeks felt safe that although they were enjoying all the good aspects of the "west" they did not suffer any of its consequenses. The reason for that as they thought was their balanced view of the world and the strong family bonds. The traditional greek values.

So as USA had Superman to save them from evil Greece had its values. But as superman never appeared to save any of the victims of teenage violence, Greek values have proven to be insufficient if not just fictionary. So now that Greeks don't feel safe anymore not even from their own children maybe they will start wondering why only the shiny cover of the greek values stayed with them and the essential core has left them long ago.

Greek Easter

Easter in every other country is considered to be a holiday for the most religious of Christians. All the rest of the people send their day relaxing and eating chocolate eggs, not successfully hidden by the easter bunny in the garden. In Greece though Easter is a whole different story. For most the 95% of the population that proclaims itself "Christian Orthodox", Easter is the only occation the enter a church (unless they have played the lottery and want the Allmighty on their side).

Of course for the vast majority church going is just one part of their entertainment during these holidays, which involves dressing up, eating delicious food, singing and dancing. The first three thigs are actually satisfied in the church in some proportion. City-greeks go to church wearing their Sunday clothing, or in some cases their Saturday-night-out-at-the-club clothing showing their respect to dead Jeasus and their fashion choices to their fellow believers. Country-side greeks prepare the lamb for sacrifice to contribute to the Sunday feast and celebration of the biggest holiday of the year.

And they all show up Saturday night in the church where come midnight they sing a hymn (more popular than any song around these days of the year) play the red egg game and then eat the loser egg before the priest finishes singing his part. Then ten minutes later they are all around the table at their cosy homes eating the poor lamb cooked in elaborate ways..

So much for religion in the country of philosophy.