Shirley!

There was a commercial this evening for classic Shirley Temple movies. She was an adorable gal, puffy cheeks, tap dancing, and all. Wondering what happened to adorable Shirley T (did she marry a Tilghman?), I wiki’d her. Turns out, not only did she enjoy success on the silver screen, but she’s also been rather involved in other domains:

Shirley Temple Black became involved in Republican Party politics, unsuccessfully entering a Congressional race in 1967 on a platform that supported the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War; she had run against Pete McCloskey, who was famous for his opposition to the war, rare in a Republican and rarer in a retired Marine. She went on to hold several diplomatic posts, serving as the U.S. delegate to many international conferences and summits. She was appointed a delegate to the United Nations by President Richard M. Nixon in 1969. She was appointed United States Ambassador to Ghana (1974–76). In 1976, she became the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States which put in her charge of all State Department ceremonies, visits, gifts to foreign leaders and co-ordination of protocol issues with all U.S. embassies and consulates. She was United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1968 and 1989–92) and witnessed the Velvet Revolution. She commented, about her Ambassadorship, “That was the best job I ever had.” In 1987 she was designated the first Honorary Foreign Service Officer in U.S. history by then U.S. Secretary of State, George Shultz.

Black served on the board of directors of some large enterprises including The Walt Disney Company (1974–75), Del Monte, Bancal Tri-State, and Fireman’s Fund Insurance. Her non-profit board appointments included the Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council of American Ambassadors, the World Affairs Council, the United States Commission for UNESCO, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the United Nations Association, and the U.S. Citizen’s Space TaskForce.

And to think that, for some reason, I was under the impression she’d committed suicide!

 

Phuck Filosophy

Eight lectures down, fifteen to go! Woo.

So it appears that after this PHI 202 exam tomorrow, a bit of packing, and a quick precept, I’ll be heading home tomorrow afternoon. Since this is pretty early, and since even I hadn’t counted on leaving on Monday, chances are I won’t be able to go around and say my goodbye’s. So in case I don’t see you within the next 16-odd hours, a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Jolly Hanukkah, Festive Kwanza, Cheery Easter, and Mirthful St. Patrick’s Day to you all.

On a side note, given my post [in]consistency to date, aren’t you guys happy I don’t have pets?

See you next year!

 

Go, Economists, Go!

What do medicine, physics, chemisty, and literature all have in common?

They’re all Nobel Prize categories in which the 2007 winner was not a Princeton son, daughter, professor, janitor, squirrel, or anything else affiliated with orange, black, or the crisp air of societal elite.

But don’t fling yourself out the window just yet. We still have two categories – peace and economics – yet to go, and my working theory is that the only reason we’ve been denied a Nobel so far is because we’ll sweep the floor in these remaining two. I’m talking 9 Nobels, minimum. By the time the Princeton Extreme-Nobel Phenomenon of 2007 comes to a conclusion, even T.I. will have a Nobel laureate alum to it’s name. It’s going to be THAT big.

Happy as we are, we should not delude ourselves into thinking we really have a shot at winning one in peace. I have a lot of respect for our glorious alumni base, but come, who’s good enough to actually clinch a Nobel? Wendy Kopp? Our not-to-be-named uncle? If we’re going to be completely honest here (as this post has been so far), we have to admit that peace is too soft a category for the vicious Tiger. Nay, if we’re going to be in the nation’s service or in the service of all nations, we’ll have to do it with the part of our brains that dismisses altruism and says hello to good old economics and self interest.

So since we have to rack up a solid 9 Nobels in Economics by Monday, I say we hold the department under house arrest and force the professors to churn out papers on anything and everything within the next four days (we should also consider hiring lots and lots of monkeys). As a final measure, we should fatten up Avinash Dixit and threaten that he will be eaten alive if the Nobel committee doesn’t finally give him one. Since about 5 Nobels are pretty much a given as it is, such measures ought to put us within fighting range of our modest goal.

I should note, by the way, that my interest in Princetonians winning the Nobel is scarcely selfish. My hope is that this episode will inspire a little something in us – the zeal to do Nobel quality work (though only 35% of those Nobels will get A’s). I, for one, have already decided that my senior thesis will earn me at least one Nobel. Shouldn’t you do the same?

Best of luck.

P.S. If anyone wants to have a Nobel-Announcement-Wakeup-Party, I’d be totally up for it.

 

Global Warming: A Solution

I’m studying at Cafe Viv with Chris. He came over to my booth a minute ago and handed me a piece of paper on which he’s scribbled a quick note. In entirety, it reads:

“The solution to global warming? It will solve itself. How? Well, the hotter the world gets, the higher its seas will rise. The higher its seas will rise, the smaller the overall land mass of the planet Earth. Soon enough, there’ll be too little land to sustain enough humans to affect global temperatures, and global warming will eventually cease. The planet might even re-cool afterwards!”

He pauses before a footnote.

“Sure, billions upon billions might have to perish, but that’ll just make it better for us survivors!”

Chris, you might want to consider joining the Republican Party. I hear they have a similar solution in mind.

 

Appreciation and Depreciation

ORIGINAL INQUIRY

THIS APPEARED ON CRAIG’S LIST
What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I’m tired of beating around the bush. I’m a beautiful
(spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I’m articulate and classy.
I’m not from New York . I’m looking to get married to a guy who makes at
least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind
that a million a year is middle class in New York City , so I don’t think
I’m overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could
you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around
200 – 250. But that’s where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won’t get
me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married
to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she’s not as pretty as
I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I
get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars,
restaurants, gyms

-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won’t hurt my
feelings

-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I’m 25)?

- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east
side so plain? I’ve seen really ‘plain jane’ boring types who have
nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I’ve seen drop dead
gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What’s the story
there?

- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows – lawyer, investment
banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they
hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?

- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for
MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults – I’m putting myself out there in an honest
way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I’m being up front
about it. I wouldn’t be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn’t
able to match them – in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a
nice home and hearth.

* it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or
other commercial interests

PostingID: 432279810
THE ANSWER

She gets a response…

PostingID: 432279810
THE ANSWER
Dear Pers-431649184:
I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully
about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament.
Firstly, I’m not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your
bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here’s how I
see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a
cr@ppy business deal. Here’s why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you
suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring
my money. Fine, simple. But here’s the rub, your looks will fade and my
money will likely continue into perpetuity…in fact, it is very likely
that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won’t
be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning
asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation
accelerates! Let me explain, you’re 25 now and will likely stay pretty
hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in
earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy
and hold…hence the rub…marriage. It doesn’t make good business sense
to “buy you” (which is what you’re asking) so I’d rather lease. In case
you think I’m being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were
to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It’s
as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So,
I wonder why a girl as “articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful”
as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to
believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K
hasn’t found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then
we wouldn’t need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you’re going about it the right way.
Classic “pump and dump.”
I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of
lease, let me know.

***

Courtesy of WSO: http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/node/9398

 

Bizarre Sleep Cycles in Spoon 203

John’s the most normal. He typically does a 2 – 9 thing.

Chris typically deprives himself of sleep for a night or two and then tries to catch up in quick two hour bursts.

Danny went to sleep at 4 PM, woke up at 10 PM, finished his problem sets due tomorrow, went back to sleep at 1, and rewoke at 3:30ish.

After last night’s hardc0r3Z p-setting, I turned in at 8:30, only to end up waking up at 2:00. I think I’ll go back to sleep and see if I can wake up at 8.

Goodnigorning.