[null, {"document_url": "http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.com/2009/11/nighty-news-hickman-math.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/SwlUJh_c1uI/AAAAAAAAAv0/RLuW9RxzkXw/s800/Hickman_Math.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/SwlUJh_c1uI/AAAAAAAAAv0/RLuW9RxzkXw/s800/Hickman_Math.jpg", "formatted_filename": "Hickman Math"}, null, {"document_url": "http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.com/2009/11/nighty-news-hickman-math.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/SwlWO7Q44HI/AAAAAAAAAv8/EDrOHT1W24Y/s400/100_4633.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/SwlWO7Q44HI/AAAAAAAAAv8/EDrOHT1W24Y/s400/100_4633.jpg"}, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.com/2009/11/nighty-news-hickman-math.html", "unformatted_src": "//lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tRLbhcD8g2E/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAEYA/Ii7hdjbCv6U/s80-c/photo.jpg", "src": "http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tRLbhcD8g2E/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAEYA/Ii7hdjbCv6U/s80-c/photo.jpg", "formatted_filename": "photo", "alt_text": "My photo", "rendered_width": 80, "rendered_height": 80}, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.com/2009/11/nighty-news-hickman-math.html", "unformatted_src": "http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/S-v96A-GPaI/AAAAAAAAB-0/U6jIhL_iRSk/s800/FreeROM.jpg", "src": "http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/S-v96A-GPaI/AAAAAAAAB-0/U6jIhL_iRSk/s800/FreeROM.jpg", "formatted_filename": "FreeROM"}, {"document_url": "http://calamity-coyote.blogspot.com/2009/11/nighty-news-hickman-math.html", "unformatted_src": "http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/S_ZsHiPIwDI/AAAAAAAACCw/TIyodIlICsk/s144/http___www_doktorandy_co.png", "src": "http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e3gkG95Rg-k/S_ZsHiPIwDI/AAAAAAAACCw/TIyodIlICsk/s144/http___www_doktorandy_co.png", "formatted_filename": "http www doktorandy co"}]

The Nighty News: Hickman Math

I finally picked up a copy of Jonathan Hickman's The Nightly News a few weeks ago, and actually got around to reading it yesterday. I became a Hickman fan when Pax Romana came out, and that is still my favorite work of his, but The Nightly News was excellent.

Anyway, in issue 3 there is a bit where Hickman presents this formula for calculating if you're college degree was worth it or not. I was intrigued. I set down the book and busted out my calculator to see if his equation matched my own feelings. Here is the excerpt from issue 3 (click to enlarge): I put in numbers that are fairly pessimistic, meaning they would give me the lowest possible EDU. I ended up with EDU=3.06, which I think is pretty damned good. For those that don't know or remember, I have a PhD in Aerospace Science and am very happily employed as a research physicist for the Army.

Post your number in the comments if you dare!

Bonus pic: Me reading The Nightly News with two of my babies. Extruded carelessly from Andrew Porwitzky at 10:04 AM Labels: comic books, life, mathematics, neat stuff
 Talia said...

Mine was about 3.5. Apparently I don't hate my job enough to make my degree worthless. I'll have to try harder.

November 22, 2009 at 11:52 AM 

-John Hodgman Andrew Porwitzky

Ain't no thing like me but me.
 Follow via RSS Feed Fan this Blog on FaceBook

Doktor Andy's Mutterings Get 2000AD Digitally! 
Shop My Recommendations How to Stalk Me