Next things next. The school year is gearing up to start next week, but my research has already begun. As a result, I have a bone to pick with academic writing. Just because an author can write with big words about a complicated subject, it does not follow that the writing is good. I understand the purpose of writing to be for expression and communication, but the nature of academics tends towards limited spheres of understanding. Perhaps it is a superiority/inferiority complex... brainy people who weren't always popular achieving some sort of satisfaction because only three or four people in the world understand them. Although to be fair, it is more likely that academics get stuck in their ivory towers and forget that there are other ways to communicate. So my advice to academic types is this, make friends outside your field and play in ways that get you out of your head and into your body.

My personal tonic for too much headiness is beer. I have been known, on occasion, to have a glass of beer before some classes to take the edge off. Very irresponsible of me, but we all must do what we need to survive. The occasional beer with classmates also acts as a social lubrication, allowing me to move beyond toleration to actual affection in some cases and in others, well, I was exceedingly fond of them to begin with, so it's just fun. Unfortunately, as I write this, it is too early in the morning to think about having a beer, but then there's coffee. So many beverages, so little time.