… Or “Teaching your friends how to administer a ‘verbal ass-kicking'”. Now, the last post wasn’t particularly intended to be an ass-kicking. More of a boundary-setting. But it was the firmness of my intent that mattered, I think. As it is when I snap at J. for failing to deliver a story on time. As it was with the e-mail I sent to the new president of Rose-Hulman and his secretary when he slowed down production of the newspaper by not having his Freshman Orientation Letter and signature to us. But both Bob and Luke (affectionately known as “Bluke Starlein”) have asked me how I remain respectful while being firm.…

…because some things need to be set straight. I write for me. I’ll even say it again, in a different way: This blog, its posts, and this entire site are written for me. Yes, I do make inside jokes that particular groups of friends will appreciate. Yes, I do write in a style that indicates feedback is acceptable and awesome. I enjoy getting feedback, and I don’t mind having conversation about things I post, because I enjoy evoking laughter and thought. I even avoid writing certain things when I’m fairly sure that friends would be offended by them. But I write for me. I write in a style that reflects…

… but funny nonetheless. I stole a meme from Karsh. I speculated on some of the questions using my profound knowledge of self (hmph), because, well, I’ve never been in a long-term relationship. eXpressive: 4/10Practical: 5/10Physical: 3/10Giver: 6/10 You are a RSIG–Reserved Sentimental Intellectual Giver. This makes you a People-Pleaser. Oh, RSIG! You are the most complicated and dynamic of any type. You are brilliant, tender, romantic and a joy to be with. You’re the favorite of many of your friends. It’s just not a party until you get there. You are bursting with feeling and sentiment and insight but you very rarely express it — it’s not how you…

I seem to have acquired some GMail invites. Does anyone or their grandmothers not have one of these damn accounts? I have four five remaining. Drop me an IM or e-mail, and I’ll send you one. No contests, no hoops.

But after all, the very best thing in good talk, and the thing that helps it most, is friendship. How it dissolves the barriers that divides us and loosens all constraint and diffuse itself like some fine old cordial through all the veins of life — this feeling that we understand and trust each other and wish each other heartily well! Everything into which it really comes is good. It transforms letter-writing from a task into a pleasure. It makes music a thousand times more sweet. The people who play and sing not at us, but to us — how delightful it is so listen to them! Yes, there is…