1:6.5 billion or 1:2500

The subject of this post is slightly out of date I guess, but as I just listened to the This American Life Valentine's Day episode it fits what I was thinking about today on my walk to campus this morning.  Anyway the show was all about "finding love" in some capacity "somewhere out there", including a story about children finding friendship in the midst of a really difficult situation, a love story across language barriers, and a really funny selection from one of Mike Birbiglia's comedy acts.  My favorite bit was the very first story about a bunch of Harvard mathematicians who work out the formula for the possibility of finding girlfriends.  I, a romantic at heart, felt such a serge of contradiction while listening to their highly rational process and seeing the reason in their approach.  And my heart went out to the poor woman who with all her added qualifications for her possible mate was reduced to 1:0.  It made me think of this article I read in some newspaper supplement here that advised the reader to write out all the qualities she might expect in a mate and all the qualities that really would turn her off.  Then it said look at each list and set out with the goal in mind of finding someone that will most likely possess at least one of the annoying bits and lack at least one of the crucial bits.  It does seem like a pretty realistic plan and would probably open up the woman's possibilities who was mentioned in the piece.  Maybe she could then at least hope for 1:50.  [smile]  This American Life is always thought-provoking and this episode was great.  If you missed listening to the show, make sure to follow the above link or download it from iTunes. 

On another note, the English spring seems to be emerging over the last few days.  Warmer weather, sun, and lots of flowers beginning to appear through the earth so recently covered in snow.  It almost feels like I'm in Georgia.

Just, Margaret