This week I thought I would share some interesting tidbits that may draw a smile, a confused frown, or wacky combination of both.

Soon, most of us will be having advising appointments. Now, we are not allowed to register without the John Hancock of our advisor on the little slip we bring in. Supposedly, this is to make sure we listen to our advisors. However, it is possible to totally change that schedule via Knightline once our advisors have ok’d us. In fact, the slips being signed are not even necessary if one registers on-line. So what’s up with the signatures? Are they important or not?

Why we don’t get all of Good Friday off at Calvin? The argument was obvious: doesn’t Christ dying on the cross for our sins warrant at least a day off for remembering? The response from the Administration was both practical and academic. If Good Friday was off, most students would not use it for contemplating, but rather for going home for Easter. Besides, they pointed out, in the original reformed tradition, there are no “holy” days. We are supposed to remember God on all days, not just specific ones. Two questions here: First, why is going home for Easter a bad thing? Second, why the emphasis on other “holy” days, such as keeping the Sabbath, etc.?

Here’s one for those folks who live in Knollcrest East. Apparently there is a rule concerning open-house which says that while the outer door to the apartment can be closed while a guy and a gal are inside, the inner door (to a bedroom) must remain open. So you are not allowed to be in a closed room with a person of the opposite sex, but you are allowed to make it impossible to be checked on. We’re really talking responsible freedom here, folks.

Isn’t it interesting that in a major church, if a speaker said: “Today alone, thousands of children are going to starve to death. Damn, do you realize how horrible that is?” more people would be bothered by his saying “damn” than the fact that thousands of kids were dying (Borrowed from Tony Compolo).

Last, (and probably least) is this final problem: would someone please tell me why abbreviation is such a long word?