Robert took Leo to the vet this morning, and they came home with all kinds of stuff - antibiotics for his infected eye, something for his immune system, and a painkiller for his arthritis (it's hell getting old, isn't it).
The most surprising thing was hearing about Leo's weight. In December 2007 (17 months ago), Leo weighed 4 lb, 9 oz. In December 2008 (5 months ago), at the time of his head-tilt problem, Leo weighed 4 lb, 4 oz. Today, Leo weighed 4 lb, 0 oz. That's a loss of 9 oz., or over 12%, of his body weight. Robert had noticed that Leo was skinnier a while back, and I agreed but didn't think it was very much. Wrong. We're supposed to try feeding him more and see if he gains any of it back. It feels quite strange to be saying all this about Leo, who historically has acted like a stomach with legs in the way of all Rex rabbits.
He is also shedding at an even more insane rate than usual right now. I just vacuumed his room this morning (which given the heaviness of the vacuum cleaner and the nap of the rugs in there is really hard and my wrist is sore right now from doing it), and with one very short pet / shed session a few minutes ago, huge drifts of white fur are already piling up.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Marketing Professor in the News
Of course, the story about the University of Georgia marketing professor who shot his ex-wife and two other people at a theater reunion this weekend was a popular topic of conversation at school today. I was in a meeting with three of our marketing professors, two of which knew him. Apparently another one of the profs at our school currently has an article in submission to a journal on which Zinkhan was a co-author (emphasis on was; the others have asked to have his name removed).
On Saturday, UGA still had his profile on their web site, which showed him to be the Coca-Cola Company Professor of Marketing. I'm sure the people at Coca-Cola are hoping that aspect of the case gets played up a lot. All publicity is good publicity...um? But it looks like he got fired over the weekend. I guess this gives one answer to the question: What does it take to lose tenure? I'm sure the dean of the business school is loving his job right now. I noticed that the UGA web site is quick to point out that this was an off-campus shooting; no Virginia Tech sort of stuff here, folks.
This all sounds really hard-hearted of me, but it's just too awful to imagine what the people who really care personally for Zinkhan, his ex-wife, their kids, or either of the other two murdered people are going through. I imagine it as a kind of implosion that seems like it should annihilate you, but instead, you keep living and experiencing and enduring it in an impossible-feeling way. I hope I never have to learn first-hand how short of the truth this description comes.
I had been wondering what they would do about his classes since we are quickly approaching finals, and one of the professors said she had heard that he had already told his students that they would not be taking the final. I have no idea whether this is accurate or not, so I pass it on as gossip that can be used to interpret his actions as perhaps a bit premeditated. Consider this my way of helping you be disqualified for sitting on the jury in the event he is found, taken into custody alive, and survives to be tried in court.
It's interesting that he at least had the presence of mind, or whatever, to drop his kids off at a neighbor's house before taking off, but it is pretty creepy that they were sitting in the car while he was inside shooting their mom. (Better than bringing them inside, of course, but still not a great thing.) And if the detail I've heard is true, that he afterwards explained the gunshot sounds to the kids as "firecrackers" - that's going to basically make every Fourth of July for the rest of their lives an extra-special reminder of this horrible experience. I wonder where those poor kids are right now.
On Saturday, UGA still had his profile on their web site, which showed him to be the Coca-Cola Company Professor of Marketing. I'm sure the people at Coca-Cola are hoping that aspect of the case gets played up a lot. All publicity is good publicity...um? But it looks like he got fired over the weekend. I guess this gives one answer to the question: What does it take to lose tenure? I'm sure the dean of the business school is loving his job right now. I noticed that the UGA web site is quick to point out that this was an off-campus shooting; no Virginia Tech sort of stuff here, folks.
This all sounds really hard-hearted of me, but it's just too awful to imagine what the people who really care personally for Zinkhan, his ex-wife, their kids, or either of the other two murdered people are going through. I imagine it as a kind of implosion that seems like it should annihilate you, but instead, you keep living and experiencing and enduring it in an impossible-feeling way. I hope I never have to learn first-hand how short of the truth this description comes.
I had been wondering what they would do about his classes since we are quickly approaching finals, and one of the professors said she had heard that he had already told his students that they would not be taking the final. I have no idea whether this is accurate or not, so I pass it on as gossip that can be used to interpret his actions as perhaps a bit premeditated. Consider this my way of helping you be disqualified for sitting on the jury in the event he is found, taken into custody alive, and survives to be tried in court.
It's interesting that he at least had the presence of mind, or whatever, to drop his kids off at a neighbor's house before taking off, but it is pretty creepy that they were sitting in the car while he was inside shooting their mom. (Better than bringing them inside, of course, but still not a great thing.) And if the detail I've heard is true, that he afterwards explained the gunshot sounds to the kids as "firecrackers" - that's going to basically make every Fourth of July for the rest of their lives an extra-special reminder of this horrible experience. I wonder where those poor kids are right now.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Begging For Inclusion
While watching a movie this morning, I paused the video for a moment to take in the silent plea from the face frozen on the screen.
It can't be easy for him. He was Stephen Fry's sketch comedy sidekick. He was George on "Black Adder." He was Bertie on "Jeeves and Wooster." But approximately 47.8 gazillion Americans would see his visage on Stuart Little and, if they recognized him at all, say, "Hey, it's House!"
Look at those eyes. I know a cry for help when I see it.
Hugh Laurie, despite your ability to do such a convincing American accent and your super-stardom on US television, to me you will always be officially one of the 50 British Actors.
It can't be easy for him. He was Stephen Fry's sketch comedy sidekick. He was George on "Black Adder." He was Bertie on "Jeeves and Wooster." But approximately 47.8 gazillion Americans would see his visage on Stuart Little and, if they recognized him at all, say, "Hey, it's House!"
Look at those eyes. I know a cry for help when I see it.
Hugh Laurie, despite your ability to do such a convincing American accent and your super-stardom on US television, to me you will always be officially one of the 50 British Actors.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
It's Called "Analytical" Writing For a Reason
One favorite past-time of grad studies applicants and students everywhere (or at least online) is griping about why their GRE scores do not reflect their overwhelming brainpower. Yep, I do it, too. But one thing I do not ever complain about (no doubt at least in part because I got a perfect score) is the analytical writing (AW) section. However, I may be the only one who doesn't.
Many people rightly note that the GRE writing section does not give them the opportunity to show what a good writer they really are. This is especially important in humanities programs that actually care about writing ability. (Based on published work, it appears that economics programs, for instance, actively recruit for low verbal skill, ahem.) But of course, these departments don't use your GRE AW as a measure of your academic writing ability; that is what the writing sample is for. (The writing sample is from what I have read usually a 10-20 page paper or excerpt from a paper, preferably written on a topic relevant to the course of study you are applying for.)
People complain that the grading of the AW rewards "simple grammar," adhering to a "dull format," "dumbing yourself down," etc. (real quotes). Well, I've only taken the test once, but I did not find it necessary to write in some kind of Super Basic English For Communicating With Morons or use a Fill in the Blank Automatic Essay Generator in order to get a 6.
I suspect that a big part of the problem is that many people are simply not successful at writing a cogent, well-organized essay on a topic outside of their area of expertise (e.g. an English lit major facing the topic of analyzing a mayor's proposal to increase tax revenue in the town) under strict timed conditions and with no resources (factual or writing-related). This is a different thing from writing a thoroughly researched and massaged 30-page paper on Jane Austen. The AW section is the new "analytical" section of the exam. While it does grade you for your ability to write with good grammar, spelling, etc., it is also looking for an ability to write a brief persuasive essay or analyze an argument. I think some of these people might freak out less if they put more emphasis on the "analytical" than the "writing" in the name of the test. Though clearly, nobody wants to believe that they have poor analytical ability, this may be less of an identity threat to a humanities student.
Of course, there's no better way to deal with the problem than to say that the test is utterly bogus, so maybe I don't have anything to add after all.
Many people rightly note that the GRE writing section does not give them the opportunity to show what a good writer they really are. This is especially important in humanities programs that actually care about writing ability. (Based on published work, it appears that economics programs, for instance, actively recruit for low verbal skill, ahem.) But of course, these departments don't use your GRE AW as a measure of your academic writing ability; that is what the writing sample is for. (The writing sample is from what I have read usually a 10-20 page paper or excerpt from a paper, preferably written on a topic relevant to the course of study you are applying for.)
People complain that the grading of the AW rewards "simple grammar," adhering to a "dull format," "dumbing yourself down," etc. (real quotes). Well, I've only taken the test once, but I did not find it necessary to write in some kind of Super Basic English For Communicating With Morons or use a Fill in the Blank Automatic Essay Generator in order to get a 6.
I suspect that a big part of the problem is that many people are simply not successful at writing a cogent, well-organized essay on a topic outside of their area of expertise (e.g. an English lit major facing the topic of analyzing a mayor's proposal to increase tax revenue in the town) under strict timed conditions and with no resources (factual or writing-related). This is a different thing from writing a thoroughly researched and massaged 30-page paper on Jane Austen. The AW section is the new "analytical" section of the exam. While it does grade you for your ability to write with good grammar, spelling, etc., it is also looking for an ability to write a brief persuasive essay or analyze an argument. I think some of these people might freak out less if they put more emphasis on the "analytical" than the "writing" in the name of the test. Though clearly, nobody wants to believe that they have poor analytical ability, this may be less of an identity threat to a humanities student.
Of course, there's no better way to deal with the problem than to say that the test is utterly bogus, so maybe I don't have anything to add after all.
Maybe Not Even 50 British Actors
After finishing watching Longitude last night, and the "Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King" episode tonight, I was so overwhelmed with the all the familiar actors that I compiled a list of the ones I recognized.
Longitude (2000)
* A random dude in a wig = Brutus from "Rome"
* The astronomer Dr Bliss = the newsreader from "Rome" / a doctor from "Midsomer Murders" / Harkonnen from Dune / a monk from "Cadfael" / an officer from "Horatio Hornblower"
* The Reverend Maskelyne = an officer from "Horatio Hornblower" / a character (don't remember which) from "Inspector Lynley" / St. John from Jane Eyre
* Lord Sandwich = Bill Nighy (from e.g. Hot Fuzz)
* Irwin = Lord Percy from "Black Adder"
* Obviously Jeremy Irons was in this movie, but I don't quite think that actors so easily recognizable from Hollywood careers count
"Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King" (2004)
* Gareth Heldman = Desmond from "Lost" / a character from "Sherlock Holmes"
* Dr Lavery = the head monk from "Cadfael" / the French guy who was murdered in the locked room mystery on "Jonathan Creek" / a police officer from "Prime Suspect"
* David = the King from Longitude [YES! Back-to-back programs]
No doubt these actors were in yet other programs that I have seen, but didn't recognize them at the time.
Stay tuned for more 50 British Actor updates. Who will show up next? Any bets? My money is on Julius Caesar from "Rome" - I've seen him already in "Sherlock Holmes" and a film in the last couple of months; perhaps he will grace an episode of "Midsomer Murders" with his presence.
You know, apparently, I watch a good deal of British television.
Longitude (2000)
* A random dude in a wig = Brutus from "Rome"
* The astronomer Dr Bliss = the newsreader from "Rome" / a doctor from "Midsomer Murders" / Harkonnen from Dune / a monk from "Cadfael" / an officer from "Horatio Hornblower"
* The Reverend Maskelyne = an officer from "Horatio Hornblower" / a character (don't remember which) from "Inspector Lynley" / St. John from Jane Eyre
* Lord Sandwich = Bill Nighy (from e.g. Hot Fuzz)
* Irwin = Lord Percy from "Black Adder"
* Obviously Jeremy Irons was in this movie, but I don't quite think that actors so easily recognizable from Hollywood careers count
"Midsomer Murders: The Fisher King" (2004)
* Gareth Heldman = Desmond from "Lost" / a character from "Sherlock Holmes"
* Dr Lavery = the head monk from "Cadfael" / the French guy who was murdered in the locked room mystery on "Jonathan Creek" / a police officer from "Prime Suspect"
* David = the King from Longitude [YES! Back-to-back programs]
No doubt these actors were in yet other programs that I have seen, but didn't recognize them at the time.
Stay tuned for more 50 British Actor updates. Who will show up next? Any bets? My money is on Julius Caesar from "Rome" - I've seen him already in "Sherlock Holmes" and a film in the last couple of months; perhaps he will grace an episode of "Midsomer Murders" with his presence.
You know, apparently, I watch a good deal of British television.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Evil Spam
I got what I have to assume is a fake email, supposedly from my bank, warning me that due to repeated attempts of someone to sign into my account, they believe that my account is not secure and that it has been suspended pending my clicking on a link in the email to get it straightened out. The ostensible url on the email looks like my bank, but when I hovered my mouse over it, of course it was a completely different, unfamiliar one.
I went to a new browser window, attempted to log into my account as normal, and encountered no difficulties. I logged out and closed the window.
So this is just a general purpose friendly reminder: Don't ever trust any kind of email like this, ever. Never click on the link given in such an email. I know you know this. I know this, too. All the same, these emails can look pretty legit on the surface, and it's easy to let the potential of rising freak-out from the content overwhelm good judgment. Don't let yourself screw up in that moment between "WTF?" and "Oh, it's spam. Bastards."
I really hope my grandfather didn't get this bogus email, too, and if he did, he had the sense to do nothing until he asked my mom about it.
I went to a new browser window, attempted to log into my account as normal, and encountered no difficulties. I logged out and closed the window.
So this is just a general purpose friendly reminder: Don't ever trust any kind of email like this, ever. Never click on the link given in such an email. I know you know this. I know this, too. All the same, these emails can look pretty legit on the surface, and it's easy to let the potential of rising freak-out from the content overwhelm good judgment. Don't let yourself screw up in that moment between "WTF?" and "Oh, it's spam. Bastards."
I really hope my grandfather didn't get this bogus email, too, and if he did, he had the sense to do nothing until he asked my mom about it.
Friday, April 17, 2009
2 Things I Enjoyed
(1) The movie The Third Man, an English film noir written by Graham Greene.
My favorite parts:
* Several wonderful images - a huge balloon-man's shadow on the wall, fingers grasping up desperately through a sewer grate, a cat cuddling up to a large man's shoe.
* Orson Welles. The man is on. Apparently, he wrote the little Italy/Switzerland speech for himself.
* All the German that doesn't get translated for us unless somebody translates it for our non-German-speaking American protagonist. I had fun trying to make sense of it.
(2) The book Timbuktu by Paul Auster. I have liked several of his books - Book of Illusions and Leviathan (according to my BookBag software) - but this one was different. The book seems more felt than thought. It is about a dog. (Well, actually, it's about loneliness.) Now I didn't realize this would be the case when I checked it out of the college library. Typically, centering a story around a dog's-eye-view of the world does not grab me as a great premise. I'm not much of a dog person in general, though I suspect that's more due to that certain kind of self-flattery many people have in believing themselves to be akin personally to a cat (a creature of mystery, independence, and disdain) than my not liking dogs. Well, that and the drool factor. But using the dog allowed the writer to develop his themes with a tone of sadness, not melodrama.
Best part: Mr. Bones demonstrates the depths of his confusion about the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
Honorable (or dishonorable) mention: The author himself makes an appearance with a name that the dog doesn't quite get right, "Omster or Amster" he thinks.
Worst part: It really is kind of bleak. Definitely no Max the Dog That Refused to Die triumph against all odds stuff going on here.
My favorite parts:
* Several wonderful images - a huge balloon-man's shadow on the wall, fingers grasping up desperately through a sewer grate, a cat cuddling up to a large man's shoe.
* Orson Welles. The man is on. Apparently, he wrote the little Italy/Switzerland speech for himself.
* All the German that doesn't get translated for us unless somebody translates it for our non-German-speaking American protagonist. I had fun trying to make sense of it.
(2) The book Timbuktu by Paul Auster. I have liked several of his books - Book of Illusions and Leviathan (according to my BookBag software) - but this one was different. The book seems more felt than thought. It is about a dog. (Well, actually, it's about loneliness.) Now I didn't realize this would be the case when I checked it out of the college library. Typically, centering a story around a dog's-eye-view of the world does not grab me as a great premise. I'm not much of a dog person in general, though I suspect that's more due to that certain kind of self-flattery many people have in believing themselves to be akin personally to a cat (a creature of mystery, independence, and disdain) than my not liking dogs. Well, that and the drool factor. But using the dog allowed the writer to develop his themes with a tone of sadness, not melodrama.
Best part: Mr. Bones demonstrates the depths of his confusion about the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
Honorable (or dishonorable) mention: The author himself makes an appearance with a name that the dog doesn't quite get right, "Omster or Amster" he thinks.
Worst part: It really is kind of bleak. Definitely no Max the Dog That Refused to Die triumph against all odds stuff going on here.
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