Dear Uncle Ezra - Questions for Thursday, January 31, 2002

DUE,

I hope that you get this and have a chance to respond to it before friday...

I have a little question about Cornell/Harvard hockey and -the fish tradition-.  I've been a hockey fan for years, and have been to enough NHL & ECAC games to know that throwing things onto the ice usually isn't taken lightly (and it shouldn't be under normal circumstances.. it can be dangerous).  Most arenas/rinks have a policy of tossing out anyone caught throwing something onto the ice. This doesn't apply to the fish-ing tradition of Harvard games, does it?  I understand that it's a very old tradition and I think its a fun way to show support for our team during -the big game-, but before I head to Wegmans I want to make sure that i won't get kicked out of the most important game of the year.  I know that its generally permitted for people to throw hats onto the ice when a player gets a hat trick, as that's a tradition older than my grandparents; Can i feel safe that there's a similar exemption for the fish?

Thank a lot and GO RED!

                                                                Sincerely,

                                                Hopeful Ichthyballisticist

Dear Hopeful Ichthyballisticist and Lynah Faithful,

The Harvard Game always proves to be exciting, as a packed house of Lynah Faithful watch and cheer as these two hockey rivals battle it on the ice, and in between periods, a few fish have been known to be thrown and a chicken or two have been tied to the Harvard goals.

While the urge to throw a trout, hurl a halibut, fling a flounder, pitch a perch, or chuck a carp may be overwhelming, and "steeped" in tradition, it's NOT a good idea, most importantly for the players on the ice. Anything that is not picked up, can be tripped on, sending a skater flying into another or head first into the boards. Fish bones are particularly evil because they can't easily be seen against the ice. Tossing things, such as fish, onto the ice can also mean penalties for our hockey team, which has happened in past years when fish were thrown. Finally, by throwing fish, you are definitely running the risk of getting thrown out of the game; students have been thrown out for throwing fish in the past. So please, think twice while doing your Wegmans shopping, or you may become the "catch of the day!"

Go Big Red!

Uncle Ezra

Hello from a homesick niece.  :
-)  I graduated last summer and am now in a teacher ed program at Stanford.  Nice place, but I guess after 4 years of coming to love Cornell it's a bit of an adjustment.  On the bright side, my fiance and I are planning to get married in Ithaca this coming summer, so I'll have a chance to revisit.  Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and that I'm very grateful that I can continue to read your column even though I'm across the continent.

As to the question on wisdom teeth--in Korean, "wisdom" teeth are known as "sarang-i" (not sure of the transliteration), or "love teeth," the idea being that by the time they appear you're old enough to, er, love.  Whether this is a better term than "wisdom" teeth I leave to the reader to decide.

                                                              Best wishes,

                                                          a homesick niece

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,

I have 2 money questions that I wonder if you could help me with:

1. I have many many nickles, dimes and pennies that I have collected over about two years in a very large jar. How and where can I convert these into bills? I know that some banks will do it, but do they require the coins to be in rolls? (I tried one of those automatic rolling machines once but it would get stuck so often that it was taking a very long time to do the rolls).

2. I have some Irish Pounds and Deutsche Marks left over from travelling around Europe. Now that the euro is in force I would like to change these back in to US$. Can I do that at Banks in Ithaca?

Thanks!

Unsigned

Dear Uncle Ezra,

How can I find a good dermatologist in the New York City area who specializes in hair loss. Thanks a lot.

Unsigned

Dear Uncle Ezra:

I asked you a question a while ago, and you gave me a really great response. I looked up some of the books you told me about, and they were really helpful. I just wanted to say thanks. I've been reading your work for a long time (I have a special interest in this, as a psych major), and your responses to people are really well thought out and informative - I don't know how you find the time to go through all this stuff! Once again, thanks. Keep up the great work!

Unsigned

Dear Uncle,

I want to know why Cornell is so pro-Microsoft. I understand why Windows is used on most administrator's desk, but why is it the required operating system for almost every computer-based service? For example, why do the Computer Science courses all focus on Windows computers? It seems to me that UNIX (i.e. Linux) would be a more natural choice for training computer scientist. Also, why isn't there a working version bear access for UNIX? (I have seen some attempts at it put out unofficially by CIT employees, but the University doesn't seem to have its weight behind it.) Is Microsoft a major donor to Cornell or something?

Unsigned

Dear want-to-know,

Both Windows and Macintosh systems are used in the Cornell environment. Both enjoy full support from Cornell Information Technologies (CIT). The products and services delivered through the Bear Access package are offered to users of both platforms, and do not require Windows.

UNIX, and various related operating systems such as Linux, AIX, and Solaris are also present on campus and supported by some departments and colleges. CIT is currently testing Bear Access implementations that are compatible with these systems and it's already possible for users of these systems to access several central services (like COLTS, and Just the Facts).

Across the university, some colleges and departments have selected applications and operating systems that do require a specific platform. These are individual decisions related to programmatic concerns, and do not represent a university-wide requirement. For more information about why a specific college or program has selected a given platform, please speak with a representative from that department.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,

How many people have the name Ezra?

                                                                     From,

                                                                      Ezra

Dear Ezra,

EZRA!  What a terrific name, and one you share with some renowned people, including Ezra Pound (the poet), Ezra, the scribe and writer of the Book of Ezra from the Old Testament, and of course, the University's founder, Ezra Cornell (myself!) We have a very old name, dating back to biblical times, from the Hebrew word meaning "help."

As for how many of us there are...we are many and proud!  According to the Social Security Administration's list of the top 1000 male and female names, based on the Social Security Card applications in a given year, our name ranked 446th in 1900.  By the 1950's our name had slumped to 955th, but by 2000 we gained popularity, ranking 439th with 546 Ezra's.

Names tend to come in and out of vogue, based on trends, famous personalities, or events --perhaps the popularity of the modern rock group "Better than Ezra" has given our name some increased visibility? These trends become obvious when you think of the names of your peers, and then the names of your parents and their friends. Chances are there are certain names that seem more prevalent in one generation than another.  According to the Social Security Administration, the top three male and female names for 1900 were: John, William, James,

Dear Uncle Ezra,

why is the bear the mascot of cornell?

Unsigned

Dear Fan,

The first live Cornell bear mascot by the name of "Touchdown" appeared in 1915 during Cornell's undefeated and national championship season. According to Tom LaFalce, advisor for the bears for the past 6 years in the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, he heard that a professor owned the bear and brought him to a game once, and from there the tradition emerged. Former University Archivist (now emeritus), Gould Colman, theorized that in 1915, bears were relatively popular (i.e. circuses, vaudeville), and it had not yet been selected by other schools, hence the bear was probably arbitrarily picked. Bears are occasionally seen in Tompkins County, and I suspect that 86 years ago they were even more common, which may have made them a more obvious consideration

According to Bobby Kane's "Good Sports," the first Touchdown and his three successors were, believe it or not, real bears, and were often shipped in a dog cage to away games. Each of the bears managed to break loose repeatedly and get into trouble -- like wreaking havoc in a local bar -- and they smelled bad. Finally, the Animal Protective League had the practice halted and the bears wound up in zoos or let loose in the wilds of Western Pennsylvania.

In 1939, Cornell switched to a person in a bear suit. The national debut of Ms. Big Red Bear, the first co-ed mascot, appears to have been the 1988 Cornell-Yale Homecoming football game which was televised on ESPN. Initially she wore a big red ribbon (not an apron as rumored), and today she wears a skirt as she accompanies (and meddles with) Mr. Bear. These mascots are represented by Cornell undergraduates and can be seen at the football and hockey games. Here's another secret -- Ithaca Times Sports writer Steve Lawrence was once the Cornell Bear. How's that to spice up a resume?

Uncle Ezra

Hi Uncle Ezra,

I live in the dorms on West Campus, one of the class halls to be more clear and I am often faced with a problem that I was hoping you could tell me with. Why are most of the doors around here designed to slam? My room offers minimal soundproofing and I get woken up by people letting their doors slam really loudly. Why don't doors close more quietly? The bathroom doors, even though they have this slowing thingy are all loud too. I am so sleep-deprived.

Unsigned

Dear Sleep-Deprived,

Maintenance assures you that the doors are not designed to slam. However, some doors are part of a fire/smoke separation system and therefore must close and latch in the event of a fire. Some doors are designed to close for security so they lock when they close to help prevent thefts. Usually doors that open into an exit corridor have closure devices on them which are adjustable. This allows the same device to be used on doors that close hard as well as light doors that don't need as much power to close and latch. There are also door silencers that are "little rubber bumper things" that the door slides past to help keep it quiet. So, you can check to see if there are such rubber things or if you can adjust the closure device. Look at other doors and see if such things are present and functional. I contacted the Housing Office and they tell me that they have not heard this complaint from others. Housing says there is really nothing that can be done, but they do have spaces in other buildings if you want to move. (You would see your RHD to fill out the request form.) Since the perception of sound or noise is different for different people, it may be that you need a quieter place, or that at this particular point in your life, because of other stresses, you are especially sensitive to the sounds you hear when you are trying to sleep. I wonder if it would help to post a sign by the door or to ask others to try to close the door softly after a certain time at night. You could also try a "white-noise generator" that would make that sound less intrusive. Another thought is to use ear plugs or cotton in your ears. It can't be worse than a snoring roommate. I do hope you find a workable solution.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra,

This is kinda complicated and might sound weird.  Here it goes...

I have been dating this girl for 8 months now.  And I am very unhappy with the relationship right now, but honestly I don't know why.  It seems that everytime I am with her, I get feelings of anxiety, and tensness, and it is almost imposible to enjoy myself.  We have had a rough history, after 2 months she cheated on me, but I forgave her because I really wanted us to work, so we moved on.  Over this summer however all the feelings I had for her disappeared, but in the process of one week.  She lives in a different state than me and we only saw eachother 3 times over the summer.  But we talked almost every day.  I had a rough summer, I worked in a summer camp and because of the stress(i hated it there) and outside factors, I almost had a nervous breakdown.  And that, not so coincidencially was the week where my feelings vanished.  It was like everything about her that ever made me smile, did nothing for me, and almost had an opposite effect.

We went back to college, and basically saw eachother every day, but it was weird.  It was different.  I wasn't happy with the relationship, but I didnt know why.  She was the same person she was the year before, and I thought I was too...yet I wasn't happy.  But I stuck with the relationship because I really cared about her and refused to beleive that feelings for another person could magically disappear in a week.  But things didn't get better, and I began to basically get weird feelings around her...I would get extremely tense, and found that I couldn't even crack a smile around her...I try to be happy, but I can't for some reason.

I'm sure this sounds like a simple end it, because you arent happy situation, but I can't figure it out.  I want to be with her, but when I am there, I can't be happy, regardless of how I try.  And it is horrible because she is basically my best friend, and I want to be happy with her.  Would my feelings of constant tenseness, and extreme anxiety disappear if I ended our relationship?  We have a long history and were close friends before we dated, and it is hard for me to picture her not in my life...yet I can't be happy with her for some reason...and I really want to be.  Is it possible to develop anxiety towards a person?  If we break up, I want to be her friend again, but with these feelings and problems I have with her, it seems hopeless...any opinions?  Thanks.

                                                                  Unsigned

Dear Anxious,

It is very hard to be straddling that "should I stay? Should I leave?" line. As long as you're jumping back and forth, you can't get any headway in either direction. Getting headway can feel good, but feeling stuck is not very happy-making. Having a good friend, someone with whom you have some history, can be so comfortable. What is the alternative? Do you have other friends? Unless you do have others to turn to, you are drawn back into something that can at least partly work. Perhaps you forget or deny how difficult or bad things really are with her. Or your need for connection overrides your aversion. Meanwhile, every time you feel tense and anxious around this woman, the experience strengthens the visceral associations and response -- the anxiety and tension you speak of. In order to counteract these, you need to have some positive experiences with her to bring back those old smiles. Is there anything you like about her? Anything she does that is funny, interesting, beautiful, or positive? Do you enjoy activities like a walk or certain music, ethnic food or a group of friends? Sharing these positive experiences could help start building positive feelings with her again.

I wonder if you are still stinging from the cheating episode? Forgiveness is easier said than done, and you may still have work to do in letting that hurt and anger go. And, this unfinished business could be keeping you strangely bound to this woman. It is possible that completion of the work of dealing with the cheating could help you let go of her and move on to something more harmonious. It is very difficult for some people who have been romantically involved to continue a friendship after breaking up. But if you don't want to not have her in your life, find ways to continue connection with her that are good for you. Pay attention to your own internal barometer telling you that a storm is brewing, and seek emotional shelter. Manage your anxiety by not putting yourself in a vulnerable position, one where even you are not listening to your needs. Somewhere inside of you is a healthy voice guiding you to what will make you happy. If you can tune down the noise from tension and anxiety, you will be able to hear what you want and need to do.

Uncle Ezra

Dear Uncle Ezra-

I am a graduate student who has maintained student loans in deferrment. However, I am not always living in Ithaca, so when there is a hangup with the deferrment of my loan, the registrar's rules limiting fax and phone requests by the for deferrment make it difficult for me to get the paperwork moving. In addition, the once-per-year update that Cornell does with its student loan information clearing house is not frequent enough for my student loan lenders who want fresh info every semester.

Does the registrar know that it makes things difficult for students?

Unsigned

Dear Student,

I asked Assistant University Registrar Tracey Thompson to help me with your question.  He responded, "the Office of the University Registrar now handles almost 100% of certification of enrollment requests through the National Student Clearing House.  We submit a minimum of four files to the Clearinghouse each semester to verify enrollment of our students.  These files are sent: just prior to registration (expected to register), at the end of the 3rd week of classes, approximately mid-term (October, April) and at the end of each term.

"If your lending institution would like an official certification of enrollment, requests can be submitted directly through the National Student Clearinghouse by calling 703-742-7791.  In most cases the Clearinghouse transmits the data electronically to the lender, in those cases where they can't send it electronically a paper certification is created and mailed.

"I hope that this alleviates your problem.  If you have additional questions, please visit our website at http://www.SAS.cornell.edu/OUR/ or email us directly at univreg-mailbox@cornell.edu."

Uncle Ezra