Smooth shapes are very rare in the wild but extremely important in the ivory tower and the factory.

A cloud is made of billows upon billows upon billows that look like clouds. As you come closer to a cloud you don't get something smooth, but irregularities at a smaller scale.

Until a few years ago, the topics in my Ph.D. were unfashionable, but they are very popular today.

Many are the scholars who make it their professional occupation to occupy themselves in this towering edifice of culture, exploring its nook and crannies, developing their responses, making their contributions here and there, and helping to hand it on to succeeding generations. For some the temptation proves irresistible to go yet farther and make this the concern of their lives, letting society go its own sorry way while they lock themselves away in this abiding, socially transcendent cultural stronghold, acquiescing in society while pursuing Bildung. As Rotterdam burns, they study Sanskrit verb forms.

I don't see myself in an ivory tower.

I hate that phrase "the real world." Why is an aircraft factory more real than a university? Is it?