However, 616 is the real evil deal, right?

And here I was thinking you were talking about the area code.

my parents skipped my Masters as my brothers was the same day

That's so unfair! How was this decision reached?

I think graduation announcements are key for the not-that-close (geographically and familially) people. They'd never actually come to the graduation, but you want to remind them to send you stuff.

There's that, and at some graduations (namely mine and my cousin's) You only get a few invites because someone famous is speaking. Mr. H was the only one who got to come to mine out of the 4 invites I was allotted.

I just got back from a smoke break- my second- which means it's the Arts & Leisure section that goes out with me. For a long time I've really liked the tv blurbs that go alongside the schedule. Today, I finally looked at who was writing them and realized why. They're written by David Bianculli. Today's was full of snarky references to last week's presidential preemption, and one on the Apprentice that referenced the AI/Paula Abdul thing.

Ooh, will I get presents for getting a master's?? I wonder if my parents will even come to graduation

I got presents from my parents. Well, present, really, but that present was a car, so I'm not complaining. They came to the ceremony, too. In fact, they insisted because I didn't walk for undergrad. At that point, my mom said it felt like I had been in college 7 years without ever graduating. She needed the ceremony for closure more than I did.

the decision was reached in that I had graduated undergrad the year before (which they attended with grandmothers in tow) and they hate NYC.

My mom came to my graduation (undergrad) and my gift from her was my grandmother's diamond earrings. My dad couldn't attend but he sent a gift too, my car payment book and insurance bill (they had been paying them while I was in college). He thought he was so very funny. My brother's master's graduation was ignored by even my brother as he didn't even take a break before beginning his PhD studies. We threw him a big party when he finished that though.

Yeah, I think we only get 3 or 4 tickets.

I mean, someone needs to stand in the audience holding the video camera, and that's what parents are for.

No video camera. I have yet to see a videotaped ceremony that I actually wanted to watch.

Kansas Board of Education's Scopes Trial II

What a farce.

Our main ceremony is outside, so there is no limit to how many people can come see Neil Armstrong speak. Well, no limit outside of parking, and the crazy early hour. Then it breaks up into satellite ceremonies, where names are read, and some of those require tickets, when they are held inside, and there are a limited number of seats. However, mine is outside, so there isn't a problem. And the main ceremony will be on TV on some station, and will be broadcast live on the internet. So there's not really a problem seeing the main part at all. Which is nice.

No video camera. I have yet to see a videotaped ceremony that I actually wanted to watch.

Who said you actually had to watch it? Why would you? It's probably boring. Standing with a camera and waving is just the parent's job, that's all.