The "Right" Path?

There is no such thing as a "right" path when it comes to a field of study. But you can definitely say you prefer one over the other when the differences between them are great enough.

With more exposure to my major, industrial and labor relations, as well as mathematics in preparation for econ grad school, I'm beginning to see the divergence between the "soft" and "hard" sciences. The more "hard" sciences are more related to finding out the absolute Truths while the "soft" sciences are more concerned with the relative truths. I am not concerned with the relative truths because they are constantly changing and are of no consequence to anyone. Sure, union negotiations are important to the rest of us, but the results are not based off of any absolute truths and are not the least bit predictable because people do stupid things.

Onto studying people who do stupid things, economics appeals to me because although people do stupid things, the same people do the same stupid things. However, all rules can be broken down into exceptions and generalities. These rules are the absolute truths. Finding these rules are always subject to scrutiny on the basis of evaluation and analysis (econometrics, anyone?). But in the purely "hard" sciences, there are just absolute truths.

That is why I have always considered being an engineer. And I get to make stuff to test out. It's like making an econometric model to test on data. Some people combine engineering with soft studies like management and act as a middleman between engineering and management. Because management probably doesn't know how to do any calculations outside of excel - which they probably haven't done since they were lower-level management. But I've always liked to build and design things. Right now, I am daydreaming about a design for the "hidden blade" from the video game Assassin's Creed.

But seriously, I have thought about the mathematics behind engineering and I can't help but find it very exciting. The equations that represent the absolute truths in the world. It's too late to completely change my academic path towards engineering, but maybe I can do a lot of math...

Smart Phones: the Smarter Option?

I saw someone rocking a Droid, and well, first of all, I really want to post a picture of it so...

there. Okay, and then I started to think about why I don't have a smart phone. I certainly have the option, but it helps to list some pros and cons. While they are expensive, they are damn cool and are integrated with an mp3 player which would be a huge convenience. Right now I've had a Sansa e280 for more than four years, and it's a model Sandisk no longer makes since they started a new production line.You can also do all sorts of things with a smart phone like make your schedules, download apps to play around with, and surf the Internet.
Which brings me to my one big con when it comes to smart phones. Internet access. I already do not bring my laptop around with me to classes because I know I will stop paying attention to class, and the idea of being attached to my email everywhere I go seems like a huge inconvenience. Or is it? I have become more addicted to my email as of late because I am always waiting to hear back from people on things. Maybe I will get a smart phone next time. But they are always improving and a new models come out all the time. I feel like I am in a stopped car waiting to merge into a 80mph freeway: the moment I get in (buy a smart phone), I will be left behind. But it's better to go than not go.
Now if only they were cheaper....

Oh and here's the new Droid incredible. Incredible.

Motivation...

Here I am, writing a post about how I want to be more motivated. So I'm going to keep it simple this time with a very brusque message I found from a very cursory Google image search.

Enough said. Peace out!

Is this it?

I just registered for Fall 2010 courses this morning, and a little while later I realized I just signed up for my last year of college. Real college. Graduate school, no matter how it may seem, is not college version 2. This freedom I have now, that I've had these past three years, will only last one more year.

On a related note, I just got a dabbling about "projection bias" in my behavioral econ class. It says although people can see how their preferences will change in the future, they will underestimate the magnitude of that change. Maybe right now I am underestimating how I will miss college after it's over. So have fun now!

In related terms, I am taking Intertemporal Econ next semester, and I found the textbook for the class in the mathematics library. Its a pretty tough read, and I think the professor already thinks I leaning towards wimping out and not rising to the challenge. Well, I can work through that book, so I accept your challenge! concede and now I am taking Causual Reasoning and Policy Evaluation instead.

Sunshine, Sunlight

The weather is amazing today. There were so many people lounging around on campus doing various sunshine-related activities such as throwing frisbees around, lounging around, reading books, and (a lot of) rocking the sunglasses.So here I am writing a blog post...?

Well, despite there being people outside enjoying the sun, there are a lot of us who are too busy with classes and other commitments. I also did not have a book to enjoy by myself.

Excuses, excuses?