Tuesday, February 25, 2003

An excellent article in today's Morning News has finally spurred me to get off my lazy butt and add that site to my Daily Reading list over on your left.

"What Lies Beneath" deftly illustrates the differences between the subway systems of New York City and Washington DC, and both accurately and succinctly summarizes what those differences say about those towns.

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Sociologist Robert Merton, coiner of the terms "role model" and "self-fulfilling prophecy", passed away on Sunday at the age of 92 (NYT link). It's odd to think that such ubiquitous phrases were invented by someone who was still drawing breath until this weekend. I'm always a bit astonished when I realize how many practitioners of the younger sciences like sociology, psychology and astrophysics are alive and, in many cases, active to this day.

Merton was also the disappointed father of the focus group. Knowing that Merton thought of his creation-gone-wrong the same way Billy Joel thinks of "Just The Way You Are" absolves him of any sin in its constant, consistent misuse by politicians and conglomerates.

Godspeed, Mr. Merton.

Posted @ 10:57 AM

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