Can't I just pretend you are tall, handsome and bookish? You can pretend I look distinctly like Jennifer Hawkins if you like!

Ahhh you've found out, I am extremely handsome and bookish. I just normally try to be modest too

Who's Jennifer Hawkins?

LOL @ 'I would spend the remaining time contemplating human absurdity'!!!

I do that often already, Yamato! In which part of the world are you currently contemplating human absurdity? Are humanseverywhere 'absurd' do you think?

Jennifer Hawkins was the 2004 Miss Universe and she is Australian. All the guys I work with, who range in age from 23 to 45, are unanimously agreed that she is as close to perfection as any woman can get. Just Google image search 'jennifer hawkins' to make your own mind up.

Ooh, handsome, bookish and modest - I like the sound of that!

Wo, those guys weren't kidding

That was supposed to be 'wow'. Stupid fingers, not pressing the right stupid keys...

Very beautiful, but poor thing endured an embarrassing incident involving her skirt falling off on a catwalk in a shopping mall!

An embarrassing incident, or a cynical publicity stunt?

"All the guys I work with, who range in age from 23 to 45, are unanimously agreed that she is as close to perfection as any woman can get"

Really? She seems nice enough, but there are many young women that are attractive in the same way. I wouldn't say she was stunning, but then again I like 'different' - and blonde doesn't really work for me. Hard to judge someone on appearances alone though - I just don't 'get' beauty competitions!

Coastman: Surely you are too young to really be that cynical?

I have enough grey hair to be cynical.

This is the Postgraduate Forum, isn't it? For a minute there I thought I was on the Postretirement Forum.

Grey hair and cynicism do not follow a linear relationship, Coastman. Nor do age and grey hair. So, you can't use that line of arguement.

OK, I'm just cynical and grumpy. (But remember I'm handsome and bookish, doesn't that make up for it?)

You are in your 20s, right? How can you let yourself become cynical in your 20s? Imagine how bitter and twisted you will be in your 50s if you are cynical in your 20s. That will counteract any good that handsome, bookish and successful career in academia will do.

As for grumpy, well I am the current national champion in that at the moment! I challenge you to a grumpy competition any day.

I must admit I'm more cynical than usual today. Maybe it's because I'm cynical that the computer guys in the department will actually fix the software I need any time soon...