What better than just showing what it cannot be described so well with words and definitions? not really "Doctor in Philosophy"... but "Piled Higher and Deeper" (PhD). This is a comic strip about life (or the lack thereof) in academia that i got into thanks to Pame (Gandalf's). The 1st comic strip i read was hilarious... but u need to be at least 50% geek to understand... and to enjoy this (yeah, something like The Big Bang Theory but in comic and without the great Sheldon). Few art works can explain so well what many people can't understand... and they even make graphs to show us the wisdom :D
Who are these guys (who write and draw the comic)? on its website they mention "The Matrix" to define who they are: "we are everyone, and we are no one". Piled Higher and Deeper is kept alive and growing by the fans: the legions of grad students who believe there is more to life than research--the vast underground of unsung heroes who support PhD by spreading the word, buying the books, wearing the merchandise. Our hats off to you, dear reader. They are proud to procrastinate with you.
From About Piled Higher and Deeper, but edited.
Procrastination refers to the counterproductive deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite such behavior as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision. Schraw, Wadkins, and Olafson have proposed three criteria for a behavior to be classified as procrastination: it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying. Procrastination may result in stress, a sense of guilt and crisis, severe loss of personal productivity, as well as social disapproval for not meeting responsibilities or commitments. These feelings combined may promote further procrastination. (...)
Wikipedia - Procrastination
yeah, i know... i'm a nerd haha... or a geek, at least... but come on, u can't deny this is funny. (u understood the humor among the lines and in the psychological background of the guy in the strip, right?). do u think u are geek yourself?? The definition of geek has changed considerably over time, and there is no longer a definitive meaning. The terms nerd, gimp, dweeb, dork, and spod have similar meanings as geek, but many choose to identify different connotations amongst these terms, although the differences are disputed... but being a geek rules, not so as the others :P
About the author: Jorge Cham. He got his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, specializing in Robotics. His research at Stanford focused on dynamic legged "biomimetic" robots that incorporate novel manufacturing technologies and design lessons from biology. The resulting prototypes are among the fastest recorded running robots ever created (for their size), and achieve robust locomotion with no sensory feedback. Have i mentioned he is from Panamá?? Check his website.
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