December 7, 1941

[PornoDoggy]

I know a little about academia ... my first father in law (PhD in chemistry from Michigan) ended up working for Monsanto because he had the silly idea that football players were subject to the same academic standards as normal everyday students. My second father in law also had a PhD, although his was in English. I also have several friends who teach advanced level courses in a different disciplines at both Washington and St. Louis Universities in St. Louis.

As far as officers go, just like with surgeons, lawyers, and pilots, if you are going to lead a bunch of people "into the face of death" you want them confident. They can be insufferable - but they need to be that way.

What I've found is that it doesn't make a difference if you are the "rising star" upper level associate/junior partner at the law firm, the "fair-haired boy" (or girl) of the department chair, the hotshot MBA in finance, or the "top gun" pilot in a military squadron. Most of them burn out - some of them spectacularly, others slowly and gradually. Some of them get beaten down, as often by people with more political skills as by people with more talent. And of the ones who survive, a great many don't live up to the hype.

And to quote my favorite Navy Chief Petty Officer ... "in 20 years 3 billion red fucking Chinese will not give a shit."



Last edited by PornoDoggy at Dec 8 2003, 01:34 AM