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.
