Ode to the Nice Guys
This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl's every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.
This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they're at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don't end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn't worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you'd ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn't have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing "serious" between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: "oh, but we're just friends!" And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you're nice like that.
The nice guys don't often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don't seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can't. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as "oh, he's too nice to date" or "he would be a good boyfriend but he's not for me" or "he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn't possibly ask him out!" or the most frustrating of all: "no, it would ruin our friendship." Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single. So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you're sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.....
P.S:
Couldnt resist posting this...want to know ur feedback...surprisingly, the gals to whom i sent ,where vociferous in support for the nice guys..many of them commenting to the extent tht , they agreed most gals are stupid in choosing bad guys over nice guys et al....heheehe...etho nammalaala mudinja ubagarama inga koluthi potruken...ini nadapavai narayanan seyal :D :D
This is for the guys who escort their drunk, bewildered female friends back from parties and never take advantage once they're at her door, for the guys who accompany girls to bars as buffers against the rest of the creepy male population, for the guys who know a girl is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the guys who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the guys who are accredited as boyfriend material but somehow don't end up being boyfriends, for all the nice guys who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.
This is for that time she left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone, and when you called her back, she spent three hours painstakingly dissecting two sentences her boyfriend said to her over dinner. And even though you thought her boyfriend was a chump and a jerk, you assured her that it was all ok and she shouldn't worry about it. This is for that time she interrupted the best killing spree you'd ever orchestrated in GTA3 to rant about a rumor that romantically linked her and the guy she thinks is the most repulsive person in the world. And even though you thought it was immature and you had nothing against the guy, you paused the game for two hours and helped her concoct a counter-rumor to spread around the floor. This is also for that time she didn't have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing "serious" between the two of you, she dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, the beer was awful, and she flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: "oh, but we're just friends!" And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for her ego, you went anyways. Because you're nice like that.
The nice guys don't often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice guys don't seem to get laid as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can't. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many girls are just illogical, manipulative bitches. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice guy, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as "oh, he's too nice to date" or "he would be a good boyfriend but he's not for me" or "he already puts up with so much from me, I couldn't possibly ask him out!" or the most frustrating of all: "no, it would ruin our friendship." Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable men in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date male friends to sympathize and apologize for the men that are jerks. Sorry, guys, girls like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever. There are definitely many girls who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice guys, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those girls, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single. So, until those girls are found, I propose a toast to all the nice guys. You know who you are, and I know you're sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the department store, your holding open of doors, your party escorting services, your propensity to be a sucker for a pretty smile. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.....
P.S:
Couldnt resist posting this...want to know ur feedback...surprisingly, the gals to whom i sent ,where vociferous in support for the nice guys..many of them commenting to the extent tht , they agreed most gals are stupid in choosing bad guys over nice guys et al....heheehe...etho nammalaala mudinja ubagarama inga koluthi potruken...ini nadapavai narayanan seyal :D :D
Comments
i wud love to have a guy like that.. am yet to find one tho.. trust me... that there r a few girls like me who are looking for those "nice" guys u mentioned.... :)
OMG!!! i dunno how to tell u how much i loved this post!! Superrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!
Complan gal??? LOL!! cute! :D
I cant stop sayin it.. but it was SPLENDID!!! (i am not exaggerating, trust me!)
I just came to put attendence seeing the size of the post... but later when I saw prithz comment, could'nt resist from reading... Nice post...
Namma maathiri nalla pasangalukku kaaga ivaluv periya post poturukeenga.... awwwwwwwwwwwwww :)
:D relax..relax...nice to see u back to ur hyperactive self :)...i somehow felt more related to the theme...so decided to post it
@kk:
:D namma katchi makkala ellamay rommmmmmmmmmmbbaaaaaaa nice makkalaaachay..pona porathu..edir katchium sethukalaam :D
now me off to sleep.... gud nite!! tata! :D
enga tribea naanga support pannama vera yaar panrathu...hehehe
appovay kekanumnu ninachen...ivlo overa pheel panni post padikara..enna matter...wats cooking girlie :D
@prithz: entha postku evaluvu excitement?? something something..
engendhu thaan ippadi thonutho...
innum ennenamo solluven...venam
velgum..velgumm...mount roadnadula silalaam vekak venaam....anavasiyama traffic jam aagum hehehe
@sat:
ekkoi...itha itha thaan edirpaathen...cmon tiger cmon tiger
silai vaithu per vaangubavar ullargal...kutram kandupidithey per vaangubavargalum undu..idhil neenga entha ragamnu ungalukey theriyumm
Namakku edhula therama irukko adhula dhaana munnera mudiyum.. :)
Theriyaadha vishayathula mooka nozhachu aappu vaangaradha vida idhu thevala illa :D
Ravusuparty Ramanath
thoda....ithu veraya...hmmm...irunga unga comment maila post panren
just friends??movie name correcta solungalen..i like desi movies based on US :) have u seen flavors...it had some funny moments...
@htbm:
hehehe....enakoru doubtu..atha thani commenta podren
@ram:
adai...naan rules mana ila removanu theiryathu.maganay unakku anniyan thaanda...kabeemkubaam muraila una poatu thalla poren paaru
makkalay the very intention of posting ths fwd was to kilarify ur thots n know how hard u feel abt these things...i was expecting semma strong opposition frm magalir ani...but many folks actually liked it!!! my thots goes something like this...a nice person (i said person..not guy nor gal...just to make it unisex :) no contros pls) for me is one whos HONEST...given watever the situation is..if u can approach tht person believing he/she wud be someone who can be TRUSTed...well...tht wud be THE nice quality..guess with honesty nd truth everything else mentioned comes automatically...if these two lack...however hard we try to cover it up by puttin fake maska chaska...nothing will work out..i make it a point tt even if it makes me unpopular at times..i stick to truth..always..not even most of the times....thanks for all ur comments...it made really interesting reading..and in the end..everyone is entitled to his/her views right :)
as always :D
@pri:
western impacta??!!etha solreenga?
But I hope you would agree that there is an other side to every coin...
correkitaa sonnenga! I second this thought!!!
enan sola vara???onum purila...ithila western influence enga vanthuchi
Indha meratalukkulaan naanga asaramaattom :P (Chey.. neenga ippadi solluveengannu therinjirundha andha posta mattum thittaama ungalaiyum thitttiyirupanae mailla... :( No problem.. next time gavanichikkaren :P)
//i stick to truth..always//
Naanum idhey katchi dhaan.. Poi solli maatradha vida unmaiya solli thittu vaangaradhu evlavo mel.. Naan eppavumae unmaiya pesaren pervazhinnu mathavangala maati vittuttu okkandhuduven.. :P [appuram dharma adi vaanginadha pathilaan inga pesapudaadhu :D]
hehe.. Unga pechu theramaiya pathi dhaan engalukku nallavae theriyumae.. Super escapism partynnu :P
And how many Indian guys did you find escorting their gal frndz home late nite?
It doesnt suit the Indian scenario. May be found in the metros and cosmos... but that is jus 5% of the whole lot i guess...
Your point would only be applicable to a western country...
ippo puriyudha?!?!?!?!?
@stavris:
ennada same side goala :0
Indha maadiri kenainga nerayavae irukkudhunga.. En gangliyae 2 per irukkaanunga.. and en officelayum indha maadiri makkalsa paathirukken.. sema comedya irukkum.. Oruthan veedu nungambakamla. ponnu veedu chrompetla. Office mudinjadhum paiyan daily poruppa avala kondu poi chrompetla vittuttu adhukkappuram nungambakkam povaan.. Athana naal office thaniya vandhavalukku ivan friendship kedachapuram mattum thaniya poga mudiyaadhu pola.. :D [Andha friendship lovea maary marriagela mudinjadhu vera kadha :)]
G3, love marrige la mudichiruchu illa....andha ponnu US maapilaya kalyaanam pannitu poirundha avan kenainu sollalaam :-)
gud guys are easy to find...gud gals are like UFO's....everyone has heard of them but no concrete proof of existence...ithaana solla vantheenga...neenga sonna correcta thaan irukum
@notaamai:
yeah yeah...nolla kannu onrai kannu...dori kannu...ella kanum patrum...ithoda G3 kanniayum sethukalama venamanu seyarkuzhula decide panikalam :D
Unanimously selected...G3 kannum double ok... :)
G3 thalaye adamanam vechachu kannu yenna :)
Natamai shoka sonneenga... US mappilai vanthathum nammala maathiri nice guys'ku yellam dimiki than :(
Priya/G3/uthraa, Westernised outlook that gils has shown is just a sample to convey the idea... the same exists in different levels...Naan Gils solra ultra mordern gals paarthuiruken :)
//Naan Gils solra ultra mordern gals paarthuiruken :) //
innoru sub post onnu uruvaagara mathri theriyuthey... ;)
@prithz:
oi....relax...no tension..
@notaamai:
g3 thala adamaaanam vachathu meetacha ila moozhgi poacha..ethana naala thaaan avangalaum thala illama..hehehee...alaivaanga :D :D
@kk:
setttu veetuku poi..arey settuji me kkji bol raha hoon..thuddu kudungojinu sona kuduthurra maataru? ;))
i wonder if it ever released here...had its funny moments though...adhuvum openning shot-la oru gundu payyan andha 'boy band' paatu paduvaa....close up vera...aiyo...i couldn't stop laughing!!!
sari for ur benefit; imdb link
http://imdb.com/title/tt0433400/
tho many mite differ..there is bound to be one such person in everyones life..whom we take for granted :)..painful truth...
@sat:
kalkiteenga ponga...danku
athaan comment potrukenay..my views on thisnu...athaan...
(I dont know, whether it is only happening to me or others too face similar problem.. have already mentioned before.. everytime i try post a comment your page hangs and never allow me to do that.. anyway i regularly read yours..this time after trying many times, succeeded)
okay, I do remember some one's saying.. I read it some 11 years before..(i think I read it in one of the Issac Asimov's novel introduction- not sure).
since I liked those, I wrote in my diary and reproducing those here..
"A PERSON(male or female)WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF GOOD QUALITIES, WHO HAPPENED TO BE DISTINCTLY PLAIN MIGHT NOT BE LIKELY TO ENTANGLE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE UNLESS YOU WERE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO SEE THOSE GOOD QUALITIES SO THAT YOU MIGHT SETTLE DOWN TO A LIFETIME OF HAPPINESS"
This is one of my favourite thing i read.. just came to my mind when i read your post.
Thanks for reminding me of this quote.(I dont know whether I will be able to see this comment in your page.. hope some day your page will allow me again to see this comment page)
Thanks for your comment in தாரிணி
Andha Nice Guys = Kenai, Ena Vana, Maakansnellam commentla pottirukkadha padichappuramnum neenga unga katchi makkala pathina unmaiya ippadi publicla othukkareengalae.. U r simply grt naatamai :P
@KK : //US mappilai vanthathum nammala maathiri nice guys'ku yellam dimiki than//
KK ippo andha US maapillai listla neenga add aayiruppeengandradhu Nyaabagam irukka? Ethana nice guysoda saabatha vaanga poreengalo :P
enna oru kandupudipu...USku auto pogathunu kandupudicha G3ku intha varusha Nopal price...naalnaku vaangi kuduthurungapa...antha naalanava namma kathchi nidhilenthay kuduhuralam..paavam pona pogatum :D
sarakadichitu venteengala..semma formla irukeenga :D...as for kk...avar enga irunthalaum nice guy thaan...so no kostin of saabam :D (kk--- Hi Fi..)
@thaarini:
varuga varuga..thangal varavu nalvaravaaguga...enthula comment podrathu avlo kashtama iruka...!!! yaarumay solaliye...may be because G3 is hyperactive..athunala kooda irukalam :D
wow...asimov fana...i luv his foundation series...got soft copies of tht too...en motha postayum naalu linela mudichiteenga..too gud...
"A PERSON(male or female)WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF GOOD QUALITIES, WHO HAPPENED TO BE DISTINCTLY PLAIN MIGHT NOT BE LIKELY TO ENTANGLE YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE UNLESS YOU WERE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO SEE THOSE GOOD QUALITIES SO THAT YOU MIGHT SETTLE DOWN TO A LIFETIME OF HAPPINESS"
Aama aama.. Rommmmmmmmba nice guy dhaan.. Neenga dhaan sollikanum :P
//because G3 is hyperactive//
Yov gils, idhu ungalukkae aniyaayama therila.. unga postla yaaraavadhu comment poda mudilanaalum adhukku naan dhaan kaaranama? too bad.. :-/
//tharini= semaan seaman right//
right right.. :D
Hmm.. Week startingla irundha moodukku total opposite moodla irukken nethularndhu.. enjoying like anything.. :D
Namma character'aya purinchika matengreengale... :)
Gils, Saetu veetukku poi nayagan style'a "dai Saetu Kamnaati..." appadinu than arambikanum :)
@G3, Neenga auto'la vanthu than thattuveenga... naanga auto'viye thattiduvom :)
//KK ippo andha US maapillai listla neenga add aayiruppeengandradhu Nyaabagam irukka? //
US maapillai'nrathu ingaye settle aanavangalukku nammala maathiri naadodi'ku kidayathu...
Gils super ida'va irukku, US'ku auto'la poga mudiyathunu kandupudicha G3'ku No Pal parizu kudupom... auto'va thattum bothu avanga pal'a yum serthu thatta sollidunga :)
//Naanga Hero illai Villain//
Adha thaan naanum soldren.. Indha gils dhaan ungala pathi thappu thappa purinjikittu nice guynnellaam sollittu thiriyaraaru.. Paavam andha appaviya overa thaan neenga emaathi vechirukkeenga :P
Pothuvaga yen manasu thangam oru poti unu vanthuvitta singam.... Ungalukku than naanga villain... nallavangalukku nallavan kettavangulukku kettavan... yenga characteraye purinchika maatengreengale....
//nallavangalukku nallavan//
//Ungalukku than naanga villain//
2-dumae contradictory stmtsa irukkae.. Nallavangalukku nallavanna neenga enakkum nallavana thaan irundhiruppeenga.. Enakku neenga villana irukkaradhaala u r not nallavan.. :P
Athu varaikum unga kitta nallavana irunthen... athuku appuram than ungalukku villain maarinen... kooti kazhichu paarunga kanakku correct'a varum... :)
//I can't figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice guy!) and what they do (I'm going to sleep with this complete ass now!). //
LOL... supero super :)
//
But one thing I can do, is say that the nice-guy-finishes-last phenomenon doesn't last forever.//
hope so :P
@g3,
75th ku wait panni comment ellam podreenga , unga thalai/kanna poi... saetu kamnaati kitta... cha cha, paavama irukku unga nelamaya nenacha :(
irundaalum enna maathiri nice guys kk,syam,gils kitta neenga periya levella vambu pannirpinga-nu thonudu.. adaan avanga saetu varaikum poirkaanga !!!
neenga ketta maathiri kuchi rotti/kuruvi mittai (read chocolate) ellam anuppi vaikren, inime nalla pullaya nadandukkanum.. sariya?
@nice guys,
LOL with that auto/no-pal jokes
-Arun
Hi Fi!! :)
//yetho local'a auto vechu thookanum'nu lam solraanga... namma tanker lorry vechu antha auto'va slight'a oru thattu thatta sollunga... :)//
adhuuuuuuuuu....engayooooooo poiteenga...top gerala thaakareenga...soooerpapu :)
@g3:
//auto anupparennu dhaan sonnaenae thavira autola naan varennu sollala.. //
intha statement uttathukaga..intha varusha "mazhuppal maami" pattathai unopposedaga G3 perugirar enbathai...ingay announce seigiren...
//Paavam andha appaviya overa thaan neenga emaathi vechirukkeenga :P//
karisal boomiyil virisal undakka muyalum ithu edirkathiyin sadhi enbathu engaluku nanraga purigirathu...
//Gils, Saetu veetukku poi nayagan style'a "dai Saetu Kamnaati..." appadinu than arambikanum :)
//
hehehe...anniyan stylela kooda kekkalaam :D :D
//kooti kazhichu paarunga kanakku correct'a varum//
G3kku ...pulli vachu kolam podavum...darboosa paathiya saapdlaa ila fulla saapdlamanu kanaku podavum thaan varum...kootal perukallam peria mater..so discounted...
velgum velgum...mudha comemntay pattaya kilapureenga :D
//
irundaalum enna maathiri nice guys kk,syam,gils kitta neenga periya levella vambu pannirpinga-nu thonudu.. adaan avanga saetu varaikum poirkaanga !!!
//
nama katchiku one more urupinar :D
//
neenga ketta maathiri kuchi rotti/kuruvi mittai (read chocolate) ellam anuppi vaikren, inime nalla pullaya nadandukkanum.. sariya?
//
ROTFL... :D :D
//@niceguys://
idhu toppu :D
First time here! A great post! I really liked your discrption and I should say Its really a great tribute indeed!
Btw by any chance did u write about me?? LOL...:P
Velgum..velgum...if i say no...u mite feel discontented? :D :D jus kidding..its an ode to all nice guys....so u r also there :D
Enna naan illaatha nerama paathu intha post pooteengala...
athu enna "the nice guys don't seem to get laid as often as they should"...
If even the nice guyz are expecting to get laid as often as the not so nice guyz ... then whatz the difference??
i agree, not all women are sensible enuf... the fact is not all men are nice either..
it is as difficult to find a nice guy as it is difficult for u to find the good onces amongst us...
ivlo thappaana atkala paatha apparam sariyaana aala paatha kooda santhegam varuthe... athe thaan ungalukkum... paakurathu ellam thappave paatha.. ellarume senseless illogical women'a thaane theriyuvom!!
aana onnu mattum unmai.. ungalukku thappu panna kooda thairiyam illaingurathu... athu nice guyz'kum ... not so nice guyz'kum serum... nice guyz panna mayapadura thappu... ponna namburathu... not so nice guyz panna mayapadura thappu.. sariyaana ponnu kitta maaturathu!!! :P
but atleast we have the gutz to make that mistake... ungala maathiri thappa'na choice pannitu apparam thadi valathikitu loosu maathiri ellam thiriya maatom'la..
anywayz... the bottom line is... kathal kathirikai ellam thooki poottutu ellarum ellarudaiya space'a respect panni vazha kathukitta ellarum nice thaan!!!
cheers
Kanya
Note:
ithuku thaan 83 commentanulam kekapdaathu..mer kooriyavai ennoda pershonal kommentaakum :D
aaman indha ponnungale ippadi dhan! :)
First time here!! And yeah sooper post dhaan.... Yenna oru AVALAM!!
ALo boss,, enn orediya many girlsnu pottu thittiteenga?? X-(
Thappu boss thappu... Shall i say something here on this note....
1) WHy do nice guys always easily fall for the BAD GIRLS??? Adhu unga thappu dhaaney... Say 20/21 years old...and can't u(i mean the guys u hav refrd to in this post) differentiate GOOD from the BAD!?
2) And yeah, i do accept ipadiyum ponnunga irukaanga.... Enna panradhu... in this era- i would say the percentage of these girls are outnumbering the percentag eof good girls.... Idhu enga poi mudiya pogudho?!! But ipdi ivangala keduthu kuttichevara vechrukradhukku kaaram not just them... U KNOW WHO :)
And it is sad of the nice guys who are easily //nice guys who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, // by their own friends sometimes.... :) appo yaarum kapatha mudiyadhey-- unless for himself...
:) Be carefull NICE guys...and annaar en ivlo feel agi ezhudhi irukeenga?? ;)
HE HE HE// theekuchi endha kadaila vanguneenga??? ;) Sem afire ponga...
Nice post & a sensible blog too...
Regards,
Marutham. :)
en ivlo Urugi ezhudhi irukeenga??? ;) Yaaru pa andha ponnu?? :P
ippothaan ithey paathen...vaanga vaanga :)
@marutham:
aaha...kanyaku poatti readyaa :D idhu fwdunga..naan ezhudala..disci paakaliya :)adhoda ennoda commentsnu poatu rendu moonu thadava en standa clear pani iruken :D
http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/%7Ejenf/writing/rant04.html