Draw the Curve, Then Plot the Data

This week we look at something which has far more potential to hurt the economy than subprime loans - the US Congress. We muse on inflation data and why the economy may do better than I think.

But first, and quickly, my young assistant Micah Davis is leaving soon to go full time in an entrepreneurial venture (and I wish him the best), which means I will be in need of an assistant. The duties are varied. You get to be the one to read my emails from readers first (and we get a lot, which I do try and read as many as possible), help me with formatting various letters, research and some writing (writing skills are very helpful). Micah has been working a little more than half a day recently as he has been starting his new enterprise, but there are other things that could be added to the list of duties depending on the talent of the person. This is not an analyst position, although we do some. This could be a person just graduating from college. If you know of someone, have them drop me a resume.

Draw the Curve, Then Plot the Data

Let's start with a question from reader Dr. Rick Simon Associate Professor of Mathematics of the University of La Verne. After some very nice comments, he threw in the zinger:

"That said, however, you've gone far into the 'draw the curve, then plot the data' mentality this time. It wasn't enough to 'spin' the data the way you want it; for example, by…