by Alison Miller I grew up surrounded by Academics--people with PhDs, big brains, and more that their fair share of self-absorption. Back in the 60's, fellow Academics would invite my parents to their "cocktail parties" and have conversations that ranged from the mundane to the incomprehensible. On the surface, the goal of these gatherings appeared to be social. But there was always an undercurrent of professional competitiveness and jealousy that made these occasions stre