I can remember when the side of his car said Pizza Delivery. That was when he was working his way through school toward a Ph.D. He also toiled as a roofer, which hereabouts is often considered a more productive profession than Ph.D., assuming that doesn't stand for Post Hole Digger. He grew up in Lufkin. If I had to guess, I'd say he is most likely the only Visiting Scientist at M.I.T. with a portrait of Robert E. Lee hanging in his den. Too, if my daughter would allow it, he'd fly the Confederate battle flag from the front of the house just to shake up the neighborhood.
Geophysicists are that way.
As a compromise, I suggested he display the proud flag of the Lone Star State of Texas. After all, we won our war. People in Massachusetts will tell you the same about their set-to with the Redcoats. The Revolutionary War seems much on their mind, the Shot Heard 'Round the World still ringing in their ears. We visited Lexington and Concord, beautiful towns in a wondrous countryside.