No, you didn't bore me, if not us. In fact, was effitiently powerful enough to force me to read it several times. Of course, I'm standing in neutral. :-) The balance of "aesthetically pleasing" concept of love and "solid facts" of "ugly reality." I know, I know ... I'm acting like Jo-jo in _Sam-guk-ji_. What Mr. Kristwald wanted to show is, I think, the concern on (against) the fact that all those so-called "love guiding books" are published and become best sellers; words in " " were all titles of books, if you noticed. And, also, the fact that what they preach in "guiding" are mostly mechanistic. Worrisome notion of Mr. K. is that if "they" are right, only sound love we think of is self-love; meaning, I think, he's saying "they" are misguiding readers on love (perhaps, too much one-sided?). Yes, I had "pathological obsession" to her; everyone said I had no idea what I was doing. Sure, I had "bestial" desire; I think I'm an animal (a naked ape?). I worshiped my love in the name of "love." Then found tons of "solid facts." If I do love, I would do same thing, again. However, I still believe in the power of love which, easily (if not often), can move the mountain. Correct me here; honestly, I "want" to believe in, and wish/dream the "power." I was once burned by life. I am a pessimist; but yes, a cheerful one. Hope you were an optimist. If so, from your posting I'm sure you are a melancholy one. Was a "good" self-evaluation guide. -------------------------------------------- 혹시라도 어쩌다가 아픔같은 것이 저며올 때는 그럴 땐 바다를 생각해 바다 ... ----- 김민기의 <봉우리> 중에서 ----------- J jhan@ucsd.edu