I admit that I would be extremely disappointed with myself if I in any way contribute to the euphonic symphony. I'll admit that I like to toss out the snazzy terminology, but it's often tinged with an intentional smartypants pretentiousness. It's one way I that I manage to keep linguistics from being such a pain-in-the-tongue (adjective movement transformations anyone?). However, the last thing I want to become is some sort of intellectual guru who badly applies, lets say, the quantum theory to a 10-step philosophy of enlightenment.

I am, indeed, interested in presenting my ideas to others, even if that means they get ripped to bits. I don't want my own private intellect, where all my thoughts and truths are as good as anything else. If presenting my intellect entails that I'll have to face statements such as someone telling me to "quit acting so smart" (I've faced that before), well, I'll have to face those statements; yet, it does not mean that I'll have to accept them as truths of my own ability. It does, however, tell me that I am doing something wrong, because knowledge is not being communicated. You see, I want to reach a point where I can communicate a concept or idea clearly, so that the "receiver" of this knowledge has an "aha!" moment. I am clearly aware that I am not even close to that level. (I can't wait until I'm 50!) I admire the super-thinker who reveals the essence of something (science, philosophy, psychology) in a way that the average person will feel the urge to know more (the theoretical physicist Michio Kaku springs to mind, as does Bertrand Russell).

In brief, I don't want to flash my education and credentials like it's spring break (intellect gone wild!). I see too many snobs who seem to present their arguments in that manner: e.g. "I have a degree in English", "I've taken a philosophy course", "My biology course says this". I have no problems with anyone studying and gaining knowledge; I despise just that usual trick that some use when a serious question comes up. They make an appeal to their degrees, studies, or courses -- and that's it! The question and it's possible answer goes no further than that. "The answer has been solved because I have studied this!" (Is that what a higher education is for? Silencing one with a display of one's excellence? Really?) If some want to handle knowledge like it's a shiv, I'll handle it like a sharp object too. Except, I want to carefully cut away those cancers which conceal knowledge.

I've thought about whether or not I want to go to grad school... but if I need to think about it, I probably don't want it enough to make going worthwhile. We'll see.

I haven't been watching much of anything lately, I've been too busy with school. I'm already in the doctoral program as I started that last fall, but yeah, job prospects can be pretty pathetic. If not for actually needing it for certain aspects of what I already do, I probably wouldn't bother. But my end goal is different as I will not be teaching when I finish.

~Crystia

@Fasteriskhead:

Indeed, Aya voicing Chiko was about half the reason I picked up the series in the first place. I saw that, read up a bit on the story, and knew I was going to love it.

Kanokon and Amatsuki are both hanging on the edge of being dropped for me. (Of course, Kanokon has been there since ep1 and only stays around because I have too much time on my hands to watch anime.) Amatsuki started out looking interesting but that's only declined through ep4. =/

I'm also really liking Nijuu Mensou no Musume. I still need to watch ep4 but, yeah, it's only gotten better so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing where it goes.

You might try picking up Kyouran Kazoku Nikki if you want something to replace Kanokon. It's a nice little ball of chaos that's fun to laugh at.