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Okay, I have a question, because I ran across this book about "Being Twentysomething" or something like that and it set off a rather impudent and annoyed train of thought. The premise of the book is that lots of twentysomethings feel as though they've made a wrong choice, they chose a career and now they hate it, or they feel like they haven't done anything (or like they've done it all). The author of the book says that there is a Twentysomething Triangle composed of three questions: What do I want, how do I get it, and who am I?

So, I sort of understand the first two, to some degree -- I know what I want, it's the How Do I Get It that has always, ALWAYS perplexed me. But it's the third one that omg, makes me want to bust out the definition of wankery and smack people with it.

Am I the only one in my generation who really doesn't care who I am? I mean, in a general sense. I've never asked myself "omg who am I" or bothered with defining myself or tried to put a description to who I am. Is that something that can be quantified? What the hell does that even mean? And why am I stereotypically supposed to be trying to find out?

I am very Vimesian today. *crankys at the whole world* it's the back pain, which woke me at four am and had to be beaten back with Ultracet. Mmm, the good stuff.

Anyway. I also want to share this since I think it's awesome and if I had small children I would totally buy it for them. Who doesn't want a cuddly plush allegory for a bloodthirsty tyrannical ancient government?

http://www.givemetoys.com/product/TV08007MINOTAUR/?meta=GMIN

I am still at work on the Invisible Book Drabbles; if you haven't had yours yet, don't fear, it's coming at some point this week. It's slower going now because I have to look up a bit of context for the ones in unfamiliar fandoms, but I'm having a lot of fun. I'll post them all in a single drabbles-post when I finish.

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I have reluctantly concluded that the rifts between me and segments of the Arts and Sciences faculty make it infeasible for me to advance the agenda of renewal that I see as crucial to Harvard's future.

http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2006/0221_summers.html

Jesus, no wonder he's stepping down as Harvard's president. Could he possible be less concise or coherent? Did he seriously use the word infeasible when the word "difficult" would do? And has nobody taught his speechwriter that "agenda" these days carries some incredibly negative connotations?

I know there was a flap over his remarks about women and the sciences a while back -- women (rightfully) were incredibly offended that he actually appeared to believe that females can't do math, while free-speech advocates were antsy that he wasn't being allowed to express an opinion. I personally thought that he could express his opinions all he damn well wanted but it was ridiculously unwise to keep him on as President if he actually believed something so stupid and backwards.

I mean that's a prime display of a really remarkable lack of critical thinking ability. A University president believing that women are genetically disadvantaged in the sciences is a little bit like the head of the NAACP believing that the poor are "really just lazy". There's a fundamental conflict of interest there.

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Sam's Three Things About House

1. What is it with the writers and manipulative underage women? I mean, normally I'd be more or less okay because it's fiction, but first the hypermanipulative nine year old cancer patient who kisses Chase and now the supermodel who sleeps with her dad so that he'll let her do anything...it's enough to make me wonder a bit.

2. I think the waking-up sequence in the teaser was possibly one of the most expressive scenes this season. There were a couple of really interesting House moments in this episode, actually -- like, for instance, he actually looks directly at the camera twice* which is pretty rare in television. I'm just waiting for him to break the fourth wall completely, and personally I might even cheer when it happens.

* Once during his talk in the hallway with Wilson, right before he says "I need your help"; once near the end, just after Cuddy says "I gave you a placebo".

3. Wilson, whether you slash him with House or not, rules. He just does. He was AWESOME in this episode, particularly in the MRI scene. Which I will now transcribe, because I can.

Wilson: [over the intercom] House. This is God.
House: Look, I'm a little busy right now. Not supposed to talk during these things. Got time Thursday?
Wilson: Let me check...awww, I got a plague. What about Friday?
House: You'll have to check with Cameron.
Wilson: Augh, dammit. She always wants to know why bad things happen. Like I'm gonna come up with a new answer this time.
[Cuddy storms in]
House: Quick, God, smite the evil witch!

3a. What was up with everyone getting naked in this episode? Seriously.

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