Food for Thought

Well, I'm finding that the 'real world' as opposed to school) doesn't leave alot of time for introspective blogging. Nor does it leave much weekday flexibility, or provide as much intellectual interest as school did. The pay, however, is markedly better.

Work has been a big adjustment from school (the understatement of the week) and I'm still getting my groove, but it's much better than the first few months. I'm on vacation this week (unpaid leave no less, bah humbug) and up north enjoying the brisk weather and snow. Now if only I could bring a little winter back to Greenville.

There are a few new picture up on mindlabprime, and more forthcoming when time permits.

I couldn't help but report on an excellent book I've recently purchased. Wing to Wing, Oar to Oar by A and L. Kass (named from a line in R. Frost's The Master Speed) is a compilation of readings on courtship and marriage. From Socrates (Plato's Symposium), Shakespeare (several sonnets and theatrical excepts) through Rousseau (The Courtship of Emile and Sophie, twisted but insightful), C. S. Lewis (the chapter on Eros from The Four Loves), and the ever depressing R. L. Rilke, this is a fascinating collection. I always suspected that thinkers had been thinking about this topic for a long time, but I've never been able to find a large body of thoughtful commentary; now I've found it.

For a more thorough review, have a look at boundless. The only disagreement I have with Sean McMeekin's review is his dislike of Rousseau's writing on love and marriage based on his abject failure as a lover and husband; a marriage counselor Rousseau is not, but as an insightful observer of human nature, he's worth putting up with.

You'll probably have to InterLibrary Loan this one (unless you're blessed with a massive local library) but if you're like me, you'll end up with your own copy before too long.