MA, MS, BA, Ph. D, all it boils down to is BS.

Or so said our chapel speaker the other day.

Since I'm on a roll with posting poetry and things, here's what I got in the writer's almanac e-mail (from NPR, in case you don't know) for today. I find it somewhat apropos, and also somewhat ironic. I feel like saying "love to all," although maybe people I don't know read this blog (OK, unlikely, I admit. And anyway, Christ said love everyone anyway.). So yes, love to all.

by John Pomfret.

The Choice

That life may be more comfortable yet,
And all my joys refined, sincere and great,
I'd choose two friends, whose company would be
A great advance to my felicity:
Well-born, of humours suited to my own;
Discreet, and men, as well as books, have known.
Brave, generous, witty, and exactly free
From loose behavior or formality.
Airy and prudent, merry, but not light;
Quick in discerning, and in judging right.
Secret they should be, faithful to their trust;
In reasoning cool, strong, temperate and just;
Obliging, open, without huffing, brave,
Brisk in gay talking, and in sober, grave;
Close in dispute, but not tenacious, tried
By solid reason, and let that decide;
Not prone to lust, revenge, or envious hate,
Nor busy meddlers with intrigues of state;
Strangers to slander, and sworn foes to spite:
Not quarrelsome, but stout enough to fight
Loyal and pious, friends to Caesar, true
As dying martyrs to their Maker too.
In their society, I could not miss
A permanent, sincere, substantial bliss.