Dear Friend,

Congratulations to your friend and welcome to the independent-spirited baby!  They may go to the polls on Tuesday and discard the Absentee Ballot. Call the Tompkins County Board of Elections with further questions at 274-5522.

The New York State Board of Elections lists information on registration, absentee Ballots, candidate lists and election results at http://www.elections.state.ny.us/.  Similar information is on the Tompkins County Elections Board website at http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/boe/index.html.

And check these websites for information to help you make your choices:  the League of Women Voters' site at  http://www.dnet.org/ (lists candidates, their party affiliation and a summary of their platform by issue), http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm, http://www.greens.org/elections/ .  

To locate your voting booth in the City Ithaca wards:
http://www.ithacamaps.org/mapfiles/wards.html
TC election districts:
http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/gis/maps/townelectiondistricts.html
TC polling places: http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/boe/Polcity.html.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Alum Volunteer,

First, I would like to thank you for your service to Cornell University, helping us deliver a more personal service at the farther reaches of our world. And thank you for sharing your problem so others may learn from it, too. I asked Laurie Koehler, the Coordinator of your Alumni Volunteer Program (LMK49@cornell.edu) who suggests that, if the student was aware of the confusion,  you contact the student immediately and have her/him contact Cornell's Undergraduate Admissions Office (UAO) to confirm that UAO has the correct college and information about early decision.  If the student was not aware, contact your CAAAN Committee Chair, or the UAO recruitment staff member who is responsible for your area. The CAAAN office at UAO is at (607) 255-5020.

Early decision deadline is the end of this week, and everyone is getting excited.  Even I get excited each year thinking about next year's incoming class and how they will add to our Cornell community. Thanks for continuing to be a part of it.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear AP,

Best wishes as you prepare your application and anticipate hearing from us.  The directions on the form indicate a 250-word maximum.  Of course, you can't cover everything, or not even as much as possible, but you want to show the Admissions committee how well you can express your thoughts.  This means sometimes being concise, sometimes being thorough.  The question asks you to describe your interests, their evolution and what makes them exciting to you.  You want to convey a strong sense of you and what motivates you or fires you up.  Have someone else read your essay and give you some feedback to see if this comes through.

The questions asking about how you will use the college academic programs is again a way for you to express yourself clearly and concisely.  You don't need to anticipate your years here in detail.  How will you explore your interests with what you know is here?  You are embarking on a great voyage -- do you have a compass and a roadmap? Tell us your plans!

Good luck!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear concerned nephew,

According to the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York section 1220. Throwing refuse on the highways and adjacent lands prohibited: (a) No person shall throw , dump, deposit or place, or cause to be thrown, dumped, deposited or placed upon any highway, or within the limits of the right of way of such highway, or upon private lands adjacent thereto, any refuse, trash, garbage, rubbish, litter or any nauseous or offensive matter.

A violation  of this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 and/or a requirement to perform community service not to exceed eight hours. The fine can double for a second offense.

Even biodegradable items can contribute to water pollution by causing toxic algal outbreaks and sucking the oxygen out of rivers as they decay.  If possible, you should try and compost these items.  If not, they need to go in the trash can, not on the sidewalk

The item most often littered--and ignored or dismissed as inconsequential--is the cigarette butt.  Earlier this year, Maine state Rep. Joseph Brooks proposed a "Returnable Butt Bill" (officially LD258) that would have required a 5-cent deposit on every cigarette sold in the state.  The bill gained momentum and had a chance of passing, until the tobacco companies pumped millions into a propaganda campaign that included making a presentation to the legislature.

As I passed a North campus residence hall I saw a banana peel on the ground yesterday.  The temperature went below 30 degrees last night.  What happens if you step on a frosted banana peel?

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Bewitched,

The bells were playing haunted songs from 10 pm-midnight on October 31st for the Chimesmasters’ annual Halloween concert. McGraw Tower is decorated with cobwebs and other spooky items (in addition to the pumpkin clock faces), and the Chimesmasters play all of their spooky tunes in costume! Part of this annual tradition is for the Big Red Marching Band tubas to play some well-known songs in minor keys from the belfry of the tower, just after the clock strikes 13! Visitors are encouraged at all concerts, including the Halloween concert, so consider pencilling this ghoulish experience into your calendar for next year!

I hope your Halloween was spooktacular!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Aggie niece,

I commend your dedication and commitment to solving your lab’s funding/space problem! Creative solutions are what we all need to be considering. The good news is that there are many creative and worthy endeavors, as there are smart and devoted workers; the bad news is that they often get squeezed out due to funding limitations.  Imagine being responsible for allocating what limited money you have,
knowing that is never enough, whether you are part of the Student Assembly Finance Commission (SAFC), Cornell Office of the Budget, or at the state or federal level.

If your experiments are in jeopardy due to the inadequacies of your facilities,
have you discussed the issue with your department head or supervisor?  As people get crunched for time, or resources, they often get trapped in a fire-fighting mode where they are forced to fight the biggest fires, rather than take the time and money to invest in fire prevention. It may be the same situation for your lab; funding is short for all of the labs and departments around you, and it is those that are in the most serious situation that get the immediate remedy. It may help to write up a brief description of why and how this space is important for your work - almost like a grant proposal. This may help those making decisions give you fair consideration.

Ideas such as bake sales or benefits can initiate a grassroots effort to solve the problem, but they may not be viable long-term solutions. Their success also requires the support of many people, so involving your supervisor or other department head will be important for maximizing participation. Your supervisor or others may also be aware of grant monies or other alternatives to solve your funding/ space problem that would be more stable than a bake sale or raffle. I wish you the best of luck in your financial/space endeavors!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Coworker,

I would hope that the student's supervisor and she have worked out an agreement about how she clocks her time.  Many grad students work late into the night, and are not short-shrifting their duties.  She may be doing work at home, or away from her office, that you do not see. Such flex-time arrangements make it possible for one to pursue personal goals thereby making a happier and more productive employee. It is not easy for most people, so there are few people who can manage their time, energy and home-life responsibilities in order to work, teach and go to school .  More power to her!

If you feel you are taking on more of a burden in the office because someone else is slacking, please discuss the issue with your supervisor before resentments and stress build.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Gogo,
Your best bet is to ask at the nursery or store where you purchase your plant. They should be able to give you some selection guidance. Plants such as Spathiphyllum sp.White flag, Aglaonema Chinese evergreen, cast iron plant, philodendrons, Nephrolepsis exaltata Boston fern, Chamaedorea elegans or Neanthe Bella Palm, Parlor Palm,and Sansevieria Mother-In-Law's Tongue, or Snake Plant tolerate very low light intensities. See them at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/houseplants/types_low.html. With very low light you should also keep the temperature low. Pay attention to humidity, container and ventilation variables. When you've had the plant for a few months, follow leaching procedures to keep soluble salts from building up. Happy gardening!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear F/,

The Division of Financial Affairs maintains a surplus list for all types of equipment --  more like a university-wide garage sale -- but computers are often on the list. It's fun, actually, to read what's available. The list of available equipment is here:
http://www.univco.cornell.edu/accounting/CASL.html.

You can check bulletin boards on campus or read the classifieds in Pawprint, the employee newspaper.  In town, there is Babbage's Basement http://www.lightlink.com/babbages/ calling themselves the $1 store of computers.  Good luck in your search.

Uncle Ezra   

Cher Mork,

For good book recommendations, I asked some experts to help me out. First the English grammar books, I asked my editorial friends for suggestions, and they highly recommended one book that might meet the needs of both you and your girlfriend: Words into Type (3rd ed., 1974), which is excellent and detailed on grammar issues as well as being an editing style book. On occasion, they also refer to The Elements of Grammar, by Margaret Shertzer (1986), so you may want to look at both to see which you prefer.

As for a book that covers the first four years of Francais, finding something that comprehensive is quite a feat! Christine Sparfel, who teaches a number of introductory French courses in the Romance Studies department, suggests Grammaire Francaise, by Jacqueline Ollivier (Holt-Rhinehart-Winston Ed.). She also recommends picking up the ancillary "Answer key with supplementary activities," which is frequently used in the fourth (210-level) and fifth (300-level) semester French language courses here at Cornell.

How about a trip to Montreal?  Don't forget tapes and videos from the library. Bon Chance!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Scheduler,

Good question! The "randomness" of the start and end time of certain breaks is partly driven by the class schedule. That schedule is determined by the University Faculty and is published in the Courses of Study book. The intent is to achieve an even break in the weekly or daily schedule, which is why Fall Break officially begins Saturday at 1:10 pm. There are Saturday classes at Cornell for some students, and it means that students, or those who have a late Friday afternoon lab, are expected to be in attendance, although many students have already left town by then. There is less of a definitive answer for Thanksgiving break (which officially begins at 1:10 pm on Wednesday, November 27 this year). Perhaps it falls under the latter part of your reasoning, that "it’s just one of those things that we've always done;" it also gives students an opportunity to travel on Wednesday afternoon, which was probably part of the original intent. I have heard that the Educational Policy Committee, which is a part of the Faculty Senate, will be surveying students shortly about class attendance on days such as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, so periodically we do ask why "we’ve always done things that way"!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Greek,

It depends.  If a chapter closes for low membership, it would be considered.  But we are not considering expansion at this time.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Sympathizing,

Dutch comes from "Deutsch", meaning German. Holland is the name commonly used abroad to refer to the country that is officially named The Netherlands. Strictly speaking, Holland comprises only the two western provinces of North and South Holland - a region that encompasses Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and other well-known Dutch cities such as Delft, Leiden and Haarlem.  Netherlands comes from "Nieder-lands" or lowlands.  If you've ever traveled in Holland you'll know why  - the flat lands are excellent for easy cycling trips!

Uncle Ezra   

Dear no tears,

Getting caught in a storm is a horrifying experience -- something like http://perfectstorm.warnerbros.com/.  It is commendable to do all you can under the most adverse circumstances to try to keep the boat afloat and hope for calm before you go under.  With the storm in full force, you need all hands on deck working in the same direction.  If someone has an axe, you're definitely at cross-purposes.

As you say, your friend is not willing to discuss the relationship with you.  Perhaps she has explained her reasons to you.  Your goal, to speak with her, cannot coexist with her goal to maintain silent distance.  Certainly being able to be at peace and hold positive memories is a noble goal.  In fact, it is likely that your x-girlfriend has the same goal.  Can you both be at peace? 

You may need to brainstorm some creative solutions to help you each get there on your own.  For you, if speaking to her is not possible, then have that conversation with yourself, be honest about what led up to the differences, and give yourself the peace you seek from her.  If you are not lying to yourself, you will find the peace you seek.  You may need to talk with friends, family members, a good counselor or a therapist. These are people on your support team who will help you get through the storm to the peaceful waters beyond.  Unlike a storm, over which we have no control, we do have control over ourselves, our thoughts and our behavior.  

T.S. Eliot --

If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent
If the unheard, unspoken
Word is unspoken, unheard;
Still is the unspoken word, the Word unheard,
The Word without a word, the Word within
The world and for the world;
And the light shone in darkness and
Against the Word the unstilled world still whirled
About the centre of the silent Word.

O my people, what have I done unto thee.

Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence
Not on the sea or on the islands, not
On the mainland, in the desert or the rain land,
For those who walk in darkness
Both in the day time and in the night time
The right time and the right place are not here
No place of grace for those who avoid the face
No time to rejoice for those who walk among noise and deny the voice

Will the veiled sister pray for
Those who walk in darkness, who chose thee and oppose thee,
Those who are torn on the horn between season and season, time and time, between
Hour and hour, word and word, power and power, those who wait
In darkness? Will the veiled sister pray
For children at the gate
Who will not go away and cannot pray:
Pray for those who chose and oppose

O my people, what have I done unto thee.

Will the veiled sister between the slender
Yew trees pray for those who offend her
And are terrified and cannot surrender
And affirm before the world and deny between the rocks
In the last desert before the last blue rocks
The desert in the garden the garden in the desert
Of drouth, spitting from the mouth the withered apple-seed.

O my people.

VI

Although I do not hope to turn again
Although I do not hope
Although I do not hope to turn

Wavering between the profit and the loss
In this brief transit where the dreams cross
The dreamcrossed twilight between birth and dying
(Bless me father) though I do not wish to wish these things
From the wide window towards the granite shore
The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying
Unbroken wings

And the lost heart stiffens and rejoices
In the lost lilac and the lost sea voices
And the weak spirit quickens to rebel
For the bent golden-rod and the lost sea smell
Quickens to recover
The cry of quail and the whirling plover
And the blind eye creates
The empty forms between the ivory gates
And smell renews the salt savour of the sandy earth

This is the time of tension between dying and birth
The place of solitude where three dreams cross
Between blue rocks
But when the voices shaken from the yew-tree drift away
Let the other yew be shaken and reply.

Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

Uncle Ezra   

Dear Montgomery County Friend,

Your point is one we all should take to heart -- that those of us who hear from afar, even if we have loved ones in the midst of the strife, cannot viscerally imagine how deeply affected lives are when terrorism runs rampant.  Your report is poignant, as it is terrible. Fears are not only natural, they are healthy as they help us be more vigilant. Fortunately, your period of high stress was short. We are all greatly relieved by the news of your terrorists' capture. We hope the fall colors are ever more brighter for you. 

Now we must all consider those in other towns, in other countries, or in other families, and realize that, without being there, we can't know half the fear that people live under.  Anything we can do to make the world a safer place is more greatly appreciated than we can know.  After all, it was a concerned citizen who led to the capture in Maryland. Thanks for writing.  I hope life is good for you and your family in Maryland now.

Uncle Ezra