A Story Worth Repeating, AND an inane marketing message

I believe I told some of you via Facebook about this.  But anyway, it's worth repeating.  If you were a former student of mine, you know how much attention I pay to punctuation marks.  Well, a man in Australia was sued for defamation (and will likely lose) for exactly that -- for want of an apostrophe, the guy could be $180,000 poorer.

Here's the story: https://globalhappenings.com/technology/22954.html

The difference in question was the word employees versus employee's.  Sometimes, it really pays to be careful.

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Today I received a marketing email from a certain credit card company.  Great, just the kind of shit I need.  As a former marketing prof, I LOVE getting marketing junk so I can criticize other people's stupidity.  Here's one from good old A#*&$, of all people.

They told me that I now "QUALIFY TO APPLY FOR THE  XYZ CARD!"

Wait, what?  I fucking QUALIFY to apply?  How does one qualify (or not) to apply for something?  You either approve it (because I qualify for the card) or not (because I don't qualify for it).  What the fuck is this qualifying to apply?  Anyone can apply for anything.  I can fucking apply to be an astronaut for NASA.  Not that they will let me be, but I can apply.

This is the kind of shit that give marketers a bad name.  Fucking morons can't write to save their lives.  Reminds me of Alpha Hall. 

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The US is opening its land border with Canada on November 8.  You just need to be double dosed vaccinated and cross.  No more tests needed.  But to get back to Canada, you need a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival.  That hasn't changed.  And I'd rather it didn't.  Better safe than sorry is my motto.  But at least things are looking better now...till the next Covid wave, I guess.

Continuing Saga of the Research Design class and the MA

You may recall I put in a request to have the research design class waived.  Well, finally today I spoke (via Zoom) with the program director who agreed to waive this one class, but I'd have to take another class in its place.

That's fine by me, although the way things are, I am not entirely sure I will even bother taking any of the other research classes even though they are mandatory.  First, the program is flexible as to timing, so I do NOT need to have it completed in three semesters.  Second, since I am doing it for fun, maybe there is NO point taking any class I am not really interested in.  After all, it's not like I need an MA, and the whole reason for being in the program, for me at least, is just to learn more about sociology.  Not to learn about doing research.  I mean, really, I think I have done enough of that in my previous life anyway.  There is no intention on my part to do more research to publish etc.

Also, another update.  I have now been accepted into both the undergrad social science program AND the certificate in law program for next fall.  I have until April 1 to decide, but I think I am likely not to do a degree but to do the certificate instead.  The Faculty of Law confirmed to me that being in that program still allows me to take non-law classes, just not to fulfill the certificate requirements.  I'm cool with that.

So that's the latest as far as school goes.

Signs are that the fourth wave is waning in Ontario.  Lately in Ottawa, population 1 million, we average 40-50 new cases a day, which is not too bad (unless you're one of the 40-50).  It helps, I guess, that about 85% of Ottawa people have received both doses, and here masking laws are in place and enforced.  Let's hope things continue to calm down.  Maybe there is hope for Christmas yet.

Meanwhile, please take care of yourselves.  Stay healthy.  And thanks for reading!