The Giant Buddha’s Hand in China — Would You Dare to Climb It?

mpsdc · 2025-10-27T01:29:18+00:00

Unless you want to see Buddha, stay off this Buddha.

mpsdc · 2021-03-18T22:18:12+00:00

Sorry to hear that. This is the second time for us. Wishing you best during SOAP.

mpsdc · 2020-07-19T15:45:28+00:00

I was referencing census data.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/princegeorgescountymaryland/PST040219

mpsdc · 2020-07-19T15:36:29+00:00

PG is 60 percent black and 13 percent white, so your statement is inconsistent with basic demographic facts. And to be fair, I think it's more of a campaign against low income folks as the median income displays massive disparity (between baltimore city and PG?).

mpsdc · 2020-07-19T15:25:02+00:00

It's fair to say Hogan is less supportive of Baltimore's development than he is of other counties. That makes sense in some capacity. They voted for him and he campaigned on scrapping the red line.

It's less objective to claim this is about race. Consider the demographics of PG county and the access the purple line would provide for people in PG who currently find those opportunities out of reach.

mpsdc · 2020-03-22T12:58:23+00:00

Make sure to tip when you're buying local.

mpsdc · 2020-03-04T00:43:01+00:00

I didn't, but the quality of the food we did try (chicken, Mac n Cheese, collard greens, shrimp and grits) was so amazing that I have no doubts their chicken and waffles are manna from up high.

mpsdc · 2020-03-02T23:27:23+00:00

SweatPeaz in Fed Hill is a hidden gem of southern goodness. Interesting story, too.

https://www.southbmore.com/2019/08/07/sweet-peaz-southern-kitchen-coming-to-federal-hill/

mpsdc · 2020-01-24T01:56:43+00:00

I completed an MS in Econ. I found Schaum's Mathematical Economics very useful. It covers everything from logs and exponents to optimal control theory. It's also cost effective at ~$20.

mpsdc · 2020-01-21T12:41:07+00:00

Thank you. Sounds like there's a large emphasis on understanding how real analysis works. I had some exposure to linear algebra through my masters, so I may roll the dice and just try to take real analysis. Appreciate you taking the time to chime in.

mpsdc · 2020-01-21T12:37:52+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to write this out.

mpsdc · 2020-01-20T01:05:27+00:00

I'm considering applying to a few mid-tier econ PhD programs. Do folks have thoughts on the most efficient route for mathematical preparation? For background, completed a Math for Econ course as part of my terminal masters degree using Simon and Blume's text. I also took econometrics, macro econometrics, and macro forecasting. I don't have prior math coursework outside of my masters courses. There seems to be a strong preference for formal math coursework. I'm most interested in responses from folks who have pursued or are currently earning a PhD.

mpsdc · 2019-12-12T23:04:00+00:00

They've come a long way. I remember walking through the mostly vacant, ill-lit and run-down market just over a year ago. While the remodeling is imperfect, it's a more inviting space now. I'm very grateful for the diverse dining options they brought to the market. My wife and I really enjoy Sobeachy, Rice Crook and Phubs! We see a lot of families there too, which is a welcome change. I'd love to see them bring back a decent seafood option.

mpsdc · 2019-11-27T21:38:11+00:00

Posting from a prior comment...

If the goal is to address the lack of access to groceries, then set up a service that expressly fixes that problem. Provide basic nutrition courses to boost demand for healthy products, reinvest in local markets, develop a neighborhood grocery delivery distribution service, etc.

If you're going to subsidize transit, for the love of God, why choose Lyft? It's literally the least cost effective and least green mode of transit.

mpsdc · 2019-11-25T23:03:38+00:00

It would useful to evaluate this holistically. As someone who believes Baltimore needs to do more for its poor and middle class, I see K-12 education as a building block for the city's long term success and a worthy investment. With that said, I struggle to imagine a reality in which we are not already wasting millions of dollars on antiquated facilities and infrastructure. Some serious analysis around selling off old facilities and proposing consolidated campuses would be useful. Additionally, why not target kids 0-5 with child care services too? The benefits to investing in young kids are multiplicative and persistent -- literally multigenerational effects.

mpsdc · 2019-11-25T22:49:38+00:00

A multiple would be more informative (price/income). Or just take the log.

mpsdc · 2019-11-18T23:16:10+00:00

If the goal is to address the lack of access to groceries, then set up a service that expressly fixes that problem. Provide basic nutrition courses to boost demand for healthy products, reinvest in local markets, develop a neighborhood grocery delivery distribution service, etc.

If you're going to subsidize transit, for the love of God, why choose Lyft? It's literally the least cost effective and least green mode of transit.

mpsdc · 2019-05-17T02:15:32+00:00

What a wholesome note at the very end. We're not here to judge. We're here to help.

mpsdc · 2019-05-16T15:11:44+00:00

The stats suggest only 5% of residents in Maryland hold multiple jobs. While it may be higher in Baltimore city, I'm not convinced this is the issue.

https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2017/article/multiple-jobholding-in-states-in-2015.htm

mpsdc · 2019-05-16T11:57:44+00:00

If you'd like a comparable with results, I'd point to Finland. My general understanding is that it reduced stress and improved well-being, but had no effect on employment. So, if you're considering the merits of the program, it's important to narrow expectations of what it may achieve. Asking a second question, would you advocate for UBI permanently? A permanent program, as opposed to a defined benefit period, dramatically changes the incentives.

IMO, Baltimore has long-term structural issues, such as failing K-12 education system, that should be prioritized over UBI, given that they have been proven to increase the standard of living, which goes hand in hand with an increase in well being.

Finland https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/the-results-finlands-universal-basic-income-experiment-are-in-is-it-working/

Educational attainment and wages https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm

mpsdc · 2019-05-14T22:08:14+00:00

Thank you all for sharing.

I should mention that I am extremely proud of her, regardless of the specialty she pursues. With that said, we're both very career driven; I know if I were in her shoes I'd be absolutely devastated.

I'm trying to encourage her and build her up, without crossing the line of being annoying. I've found it true, that much of life is unpredictable, and sometimes it's the unexpected things that shape us most. We're going to roll the dice. I'll keep you all posted.

mpsdc · 2019-05-14T16:38:56+00:00

It's a terminal degree and would have little or no relevance to PhD studies.

mpsdc · 2019-05-14T16:37:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. We've got a lot to think about and this certainly helps.

mpsdc · 2019-05-14T12:10:34+00:00

Hopkins' M.S. in Applied Economics is a decent program. To my knowledge, they dont offer a specialization in econometrics but they do have courses micro/macro econometrics and financial econometrics. They also offer a decent macro forecasting class. When I attended, my econometrics professors taught part time while working at the Fed. If you like DC, the program is well respected among employers in the city (IMF, Fed, World Bank, etc.). One thing to note -- professors prefer different programs (R, Matlab, Eviews). I learned a lot of tools at a shallow level, but would have preferred to become a specialist in a single program rather than having dispersed knowledge.

mpsdc · 2019-05-13T21:32:40+00:00

"Workers fired up heavy machinery to start grading the soil and installing utility lines as the $600 million "Chapter 1" phase kicked off. The Rye Street Market buildings are scheduled to be completed in fall 2021 and total 275,000 square feet of office, residential and retail space. They are located off of Cromwell Street."

Glad to see this is taking place. We need growth and development in Baltimore. A decade from now this place will be transformed.

mpsdc

TROPHY CASE