it will be because of the topic, not because of any intellectual shortcomings of mine. I mean, yes, I *chose* the topic, so in a way, it *is* my 'fault'... but I just had a prof confirm to me today that yes, it happens to the best of us: you *can* misjudge a topic, and yes, sometimes it *may* be best to call it quits when you can see you're not getting anywhere, and start something new.

Well, I'm giving it a few more weeks... because dammit, I *am* interested in the topic I chose. Grrr, arrgh.

(I can see myself writing a very short - 20 pages or so - essay about it, *or* a full-blown Ph.D. Nothing in between. That's the problem.)