At the heart of any class project evaluation...

...are two questions.  When I was in high school, an English literature instructor divided the students into groups of two and assigned each pair a literary topic to discuss in class.  He told us that his evaluation sheet for each presentation would be very simple and consist of just two questions:

 1.  Did they understand the topic?

 2.  How effectively did they get their ideas across?

Those two questions are ones to keep in mind before and during any presentation, in or out of school. 

For solo presentations, there's a more direct way of phrasing that first question.  On a presentation checklist my world history teacher passed out to everyone, the first question read, "Do I know what I'm talking about?"  Presentation preparation doesn't get more basic than that.

Bowing to a cat's agenda

In my previous post, "Keeping one's cat hydrated," I mentioned my cat's penchant for drinking water from the kitchen faucet.  Recently, while having my groceries scanned, the checker mentioned, "Nothing for your cat?  I notice you've been neglecting her lately."  I countered that I'd been catering to her whims, including letting her drink water frequently from the kitchen tap.  I also said that all of my family's cats are treated well.  "Thanks to my dad, my parents' cat, Sammy, is spoon-fed part of the time."  The checker asked, "Is it a silver spoon?"  I paused and responded, "Actually, yes.  Interesting symbolism there, now that I think about it.  It proves my point about cats being treated well, though."

You know you're a regular customer when a checker knows your family's cat buying and feeding habits.

Finishing the sentence XXVII

Here's an unfinished sentence I wrote and some responses it received in August 1992:

The term "blind faith" is best illustrated by...

...a panting, tail-wagging dog eagerly yet patiently watching with a tilted head, his master's hand--because a treat is soon to pop up, right? (Michelle T.)

...diving in a pool of orange Jell-O and not caring if the rain might have melted it. (Greg Y.)

...the apex of musical supergroups, which proves that a dash of power egos in any scenario may create brilliance for a short period of time but will eventually result in destructive properties. (Jeff B.)

Finishing the sentence XXVI

During my senior year of college, my unfinished sentences elicited a lot of amusing answers.  Among them:

One bizarre yet effective commercial slogan would read...

..."Volvo--They're boxy but good." (Cathy N.)

..."The Pro Bowl.  Touch football with the NFL's finest." (Andy R.)

..."Free live baby to be given away at midnight." (Per Chris S., this was "an actual ad for Ron's Roller World's All-Night Skate.  I have a flyer.") (Chris S.)

..."Catholicism...Why the Hell not?" (Jen H.)

..."You are so @$&*ing gorgeous.  Eat a Snickers." (Michael M.)

Finishing the sentence XXV

Tonight, I return to the '90s once again, for another one of my unfinished sentences and responses:

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."  This is true...

...(when) I buy a toaster. (Dan L.)

...concerning the progress of literature and music.  All stemmin' from the same root...but you know... (Paul I.)

...(considering that) God is all figured out by some.  I look at it all through Michelangelo's eyes in "Creation Of Man."  All that happens and goes 'round in faith an in failures is still a finger touch away from what some claim to know. (Jennifer O.)

...(concerning) jobs, classes, girlfriends, and vices.  All these come and go, but this remains constant; they rarely go away before you're totally bored with them--and they with you, probably. (Michael M.)

...(when) I realize that, overall, I have pretty much the same thoughts running through my head now as I did when I was a toddler.  Where's the animal crackers? (Liz F.)

It's church, not a pizza place.

Instead of attending Easter Mass today, I watched video on YouTube of Easter Mass from last year. It was rather off-putting to see thumbs up and thumbs down ratings attached to it.  I wonder about the viewer who gave the video a thumbs down.  At least, (s)he wasn't tactless enough to leave a comment such as, "The priest's sermon could have been condensed," "The organ sounded slightly flat," or "Was it really necessary to sing three verses of 'Christ The Lord Is Risen Today?'"

I'm still not sure it's a good idea to include thumbs up/down options on such videos.  After all, it's Mass, not a movie.

A linguistic irritant VIII

Consider these two sentences:

• I haven't eaten anything today save an apple.
• I haven't eaten anything today except an apple.

Although save and except have identical meanings in that context, the usage of save is archaic.  The second sentence is better, as it's clearer and not pretentious.

There.  That was satisfying.  I'll continue to seek out irksome language usage for my ongoing litany of trivial offenses.