1. As an adult, at work or home, when was the last time you used algebra?
I honestly don’t think I have at work. I am sure that in some measurements for building or fixing something around the house, I have used some version of algebra, but I can’t be sure. I am good at basic arithmetic, but I am not very well-versed in any form of mathematics, such as algebra, calculus, trigonometry, or geometry.
2. Did you learn to use the “Oxford” comma in school? Do you use it as an adult?
I wasn’t taught to use that, and after a time in J-school and working as a reporter, well, editors broke me of that habit as well as two spaces after a period, which I was taught in typing class, both in high school and in the army. That is also a no-no in the editorial style of journalism.
3. As a kid, there were always jokes about carrying extra underwear in case of an accident. Do you still follow this advice?
I am quite clumsy and perhaps sharing too much, but I tend to get bloated guts due to some medications I take. As a result, I have a full set of backup clothes at my desk at the office.
4. When you read, do you move your lips?
I don’t think so, but the question reminds me of this odd bird that I had in an English class in high school. His name was John Pogline, and our last names were close enough that we sat next to each other in classrooms where the seating chart was alphabetical. Anyway, sitting next to him, I would notice that whenever he read, he would almost violently move his head back and forth as he gazed at the page, almost as if his eyes didn’t move and instead he moved his head to read across a page. (He is also now in prison for murdering his landlord, but that is a whole different story.
5. I am a couple of weeks late on this, but what was your favorite Oscar™ nominated movie?
“On Battle After Another.” When I finished that movie, I looked up and said, “Well, that one is going to win all the Oscars.” It would have been great if Thomas Pynchon (who wrote the source novel “Vineland”, which the movie was based on) had come up to the stage to claim an award. Pynchon is this really mysterious writer who no one has seen in person since the late 1950s or something like that. Too bad that didn’t happen.
1. I rarely need algebra. Sadly, the few times I sketch out algebraic equations are when solving certain logic puzzles.
2. I was taught the Oxford comma, and still use them. In this day and age, it’s an act of defiance.
3. Never. Not even in my peak sleeping around days.
4. No. I don’t think I ever did.
5. None of them really stuck with me. One Battle After Another was the clear favorite since last summer, so it wasn’t really much of a race.
1) I use it daily to calculate drug dosages and weight based administration of said drugs.
2) I just randomly, throw commas in , wherever the, fancy hits me, so there.
3) underwear? You still wear that stuff?
4) nope. That would be strange.
5) I liked Sinners
1) With all 3 of my kids taking algebra in high school and college, I have had to stay somewhat attached to algebra on the daily.
2) The Oxford comma meant nothing to me for a lot of my life, until the past 20 years. And use of it it dictated by which style guide my clients choose to use as standard. Proctor and Gamble for instance adhere to the Chicago style guide and is an Oxford comma user, so is Miller and Coors beers. But now all my clients are in the healthcare world and use the AP style guide which does not use the Oxford comma or serial comma.
3) I don’t, but I should. The rare instance of a shart is a possibility after 50 and definitely into my 60s.
4) I do not. And don’t have any funny or interesting addon story about it.
5) I liked Sinners, but had to have smarter people explain the deep and symbolic aspects and meaning of much of it. Initially I thought it was a solid vampire movie, but then I was shown it was so much more.