I'm looking over the CRFs for a trial we're about to initiate, and...we are collecting some odd demography data.

For instance, there is an Ethnicity question for which there are two options: "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino." I don't know; maybe we're being funded by the Census.

But then there are the Race options:

White. Okay, that one's simple.

Asian. Fine, that one works.

Black or African American. Sure.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. Huh! Usually the Pacific Islanders get lumped in with the Asians. I've never seen Native Hawaiians get their own box before.

American Indian or Alaska Native. I...what?? How do these two get lumped together? Aren't they very different genealogically? Or do they share similar racial characteristics?

There is no "Other" option. You must fit in one of these boxes!

Signed, bitter that I am working tomorrow.

Hey now, it's not like I get it as a holiday. I still have to use those precious vacation/personal days.

My weekend plans are Easter-iffic. Laying low tomorrow night, due to Saturday morning choir practice, then Saturday evening Mass (a friend is getting baptised), Sunday morning church, mid-day family dinner.

Oh, my cats don't like that one.

My cats are now fighting each other over which of them is making that noise.

P-C, those sound a lot like census categories. (Edit: yep, Census 2000: [link]

The history of how ethnicity and race have been defined in the census is really interesting. I was helping someone last night who wanted to tract the growth of the Hispanic population in my county. That ethnic category was added in 1970, though whether it's been termed Hispanic, Latino, or both has varied, and the relationship to race has varied. There's nothing in 1960 or 1950. Then in 1940 there was a category for "white persons having a Spanish mother tongue." Okay. 1930, 1920, 1910, there is a category for "persons of Mexican ancestry" or something like that. (In 1910 in Georgia there were 16 persons of Mexican ancestry. Hispanic immigration to the south is a very recent phenomenon.)

Well, tomorrow I have THE SCOLA. Then, brunch on Saturday with Buffista peeps (oops, must set that up), theatre Saturday night, and Easter church and brunch with the fam. The closing night of Sweeney Todd and opening night of [title of show]. Yes, the title of the show IS "title of show". Poor box office staff.

Ooooh, I know [title of show]!!! The 2008 run was directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse, a high school classmate of mine!

I'm off to Maine on Saturday (though I have tomorrow off for a free day around the area), and Sunday my brother, his wife and myself are taking Mom to dinner; an annual Easter ritual at Robin Hood Free Meetinghouse: [link]

That web site is woefully out of date.

P-C, those sound a lot like census categories. (Edit: yep, Census 2000: [link])

Ha, that explains it! Thanks.

opening night of [title of show]. Yes, the title of the show IS "title of show".

I may have heard of that. I would probably like it.

I do not have Friday off, but am considering Alice In Wonderland in the evening. I may even work from home on Friday to give myself the illusion of it being a day off.

Saturday I have karate in the am, then I'm taking K-Bug into Denver for her weekend birthday fun. We are seeing Mary Poppins, going out to dinner, going to a comedy club, spending the night at the Shereton, then shopping and brunching on Sunday.