It actually made me smile to see the following, an attempt by a British psychologist to quantify depression and to declare today as the worst day of the year:
The model is: [W + (D-d)] x TQ / M x NAThe equation is broken down into seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.
My favorite part of the story?
“I’m sure it's right,” said Dr. Alan Cohen, spokesperson for the Royal College of General Practitioners, referring to Arnall's equation.However, “it is postulated that there are a number of different causes of depression,” he said.
I can't tell from the little that's provided whether Cohen is having a spot of fun with us or not. I'm pretty sure he's doing that dry understatement thing in the second line. If so, he just made my day a little brighter, although I'm not sure which of the seven variables that corresponds to. (Probably not the one that implies that only celebrants of a particular religion suffer from depression.)
Check ya later.
simon evans at flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=simon%20evans&w=all
forget that link to simon evans, those flickr photos were just lifted, not good quality.
Some of them weren't bad, Mark. Thanks.
I ordered In the Country of Uncles, and got it right before Christmas, but it's frustrating to me that more of his stuff isn't available online...
Also, sorry about the delay in posting your comments. You should sail through now--I've been keeping my redlist pretty strict, and greenlisting folks as they comment...
I think it is no coincidence at all that I had my Big Wreck on January 24, 2005. Okay, it was a day after the worse day of the year. But still.