Mark D. White

Yes, I turned 40 yesterday; I had a nice day in Manhattan with one of my best friends, walking and talking, drinking espresso and eating Ukrainian goulash, pierogi, and blintzes. And life goes on…

I wrote a couple things to commemorate the occasion: a light-hearted post at Psychology Today, "What's in a Number? Pondering the 'Big' Birthdays," and a more serious, comtemplative piece at the Good Men Project, "After 40 Years, What Now?" The latter explains why I haven't had much to post about here, though I hope for more in the next year. I have lots of ideas which have common threads which need teasing out; I think that once I get my mind around the connections, writing the pieces will come much easier. Also looking forward to meeting with editors at the ASSA meetings in Chicago to discuss book ideas; outside encouragement is always nice, though it doesn't get the books written.

The last month was consumed, in part, by end-of-semester goings on at school and (of course) the holidays, as well as the "existential angst" detailed in the Good Men Project piece (with help from Leo Tolstoy). I did, however, get two (other) new pieces up at Psychology Today last week, "Is Being 'Half a Partner' to Somebody Enough?" and "If, When—and How—to End an 'OK-But-Not-Great' Relationship." I also completed the review of proofs for The Avengers and Philosophy: Earth's Mightiest Thinkers, and I may have found a home for the book project arguing against "libertarian paternalism" that I had shopped around earlier this year–more on that if and when it comes to fruition.