i got bored during linguistics this week... heh.

to consonants, a sonnet

a plethora of consonants abide
yet select few we boldly aspirate
the liquids, semi-vowels, a few glide
distinguished as we coarticulate

and then we come to basic allophones
which fill the classes of english phonemes
these unit sounds more frequently are known
in floods of sleeping modern linguist dreams

yet more to us the english language gives
this rhythmic noise, linguistically expressed
in affricates, the plosives, fricatives
oh, bursting air pulmonically egressed

i rest myself in consonantal bliss
as sounds pour out my facial orifice

An Excerpt from "Sense and Sensibility"

As I was reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, I came across a passage that would have made me laugh out loud were it not for the fact that I was in the crowded hall laundry room. Although I did not write it myself, I thought that you, my intellectual friends, would greatly appreciate it.

"I think, Edward," said Mrs. Dashwood, as they were at breakfast the last morning, "you would be a happier man if you had any profession to engage your time and give an interest to your plans and actions. Some inconvenience to your friends, indeed, might result from it-you would not be able to give them as much of your time. But (with a smile) you would be materially benefitted in one particular at least-you would know where to go when you left them."

"I do assure you," he replied, "that I have long thought on this point as you think now. It has been, and is, and probably will always be, a heavy misfortune to me, that I have had no necessary business to engage me, no profession to give me employment, or afford me any thing like independence. But unfortunately my own nicety, and the nicety of my friends, have made me what I am, an idle, helpless being. We never could agree in our choice of a profession. I always preferred the church, as I still do. But that was not smart ehough for my family. They recommended the army. That was a great deal too smart for me. The law was allowed to be genteel enough: many young men, who had chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first circles, and drove about town in very knowing gigs [chic carriages]. But I had no inclination for the law, even in this less abstruse study of it, which my family approved. As for the navy, it had fashion on its side, but I was too old when the subject was first started to enter it; and, at length, as there was not necessity for my having any profession at all, as I might be as dashing and expensive without a red coat on my back as with one, idleness was pronounced on the whole to be the most advantageous and honourable, and a young man of eighteen is not in general so earnestly bent on being busy as to resist the solicitations of his friends to do nothing. I was therefore entered at Oxford, and have been properly idle ever since."

Seemingly Off-topic

I really like Jane's question and I would like to address it sometime. However, right now I am posting to ask you guys a question. It isn't for discussion per se, but it very well could be discussed anyhow. I am doing research for my work-study position (with College Ministries) on life groups in dormitories geared toward spiritual formation (like small groups). What are your campuses doing and is it effective? We currently have Life Groups which are formed according to dorms based largely on student leadership. We're trying to get ideas to spurr on the effectiveness of these groups, since they often peter out. Anyway, what does your college (or college ministry if you attend a non-Christian college as many of you do) have in place to facilitate spiritual growth? Any ideas would be fantastic. For intellectual discussion, what is the value of such ministries? Should they be mandatory or voluntary? How should they be encouraged?

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.

so friends,

what is wisdom, and why are we to seek it?