Corny exam answers

Some of the answers to a question on my final exam this semester were rather corny. But then again, maybe I shouldn't be talking since I had written a question on the diffusion of hybrid corn among U.S. farmers.

By the way, it would make it so much easier if only students could finish their exams in alphabetical order. ;)

Extreme niche Christmas gift suggestion

Today, a letter arrived from the Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education offering me the option of giving two subscriptions as Christmas gifts for $20.00. That is a very nice value--and a very tempting proposition--but I wonder how many people on my list would find this a good match.

Stamping out intellectual sloth

For some time, I have been fighting a passionate battle to stamp out the term "etc." from student papers. Frankly, when I see the term, I have very serious doubts as to whether the writer really has any idea at all of what kind of substance is being replaced by the term. I have gone so far--quite far by the standards of a prude--to say that I consider the term fouler than the F-word. At best, its use represents intellectual sloth. More likely, it reflects incompentence and an attempt--conscious or not--to deceive the reader.

Even if a slothful "etc." does not ruin your day, it may significantly reduce one's confidence in personkind.

Bringing back delight

Many of my more recent entries have been a bit negative, perhaps reflecting some of the injustices of the world. Now, let me move on to a more delightful subject.

This is finals week. The sad implication of this, of course, is that many students may be somewhat bored from next week until early January. On the positive side, however, I get to give an extremely beautiful final examination on Friday. This time in the semester, I am a firm believer in the idea that it is better to give than to receive. I really hope that the students will appreciate the tremendous treat they will receive. As I have always said, a beautiful exam can be almost as beautiful as a beautiful woman!

For many years, it has been tradition to feature the marketing needs of rap musicians--often named after the school mascott--on my exams. This year, Trojanexcellence has released a new album entitled My Marketing Professor is a Genius.

Disgusting psychopaths

It is getting very tiring that disgusting psychopaths continue to attempt to post spam messages to my guest book. I clearly state that the book is moderated and that spam messages will not be posted, but it appears that someone of them either do not bother to read, think that I may just be bluffing, or are under the illusion that I will be so impressed with their message that I will make an exception.

Ironically, even if the spam had actually been posted, the effort would have been wasted anyway. People who read my web sites and sign my guest book tend to be decent and respectable folks who have no interest in obtaining male performance enhancing substances anyway.

What a waste!

She had a dream

Standing in line today, I overheard a conversation between two women. One reported that she had dreamed about French fries the night before. This obviously gets the attention of a marketing professor. Interestingly, from what I could understand, there were differences between the fries offered at Del Taco and at Baskin Robbins.

Could it be that it is actually dreams that are stranger than fiction?