I just looked at my student evaluations from last semester. Overall, pretty good. I'm somewhat puzzled at the one student who says that I need to be more friendly, because it's intimidating to approach me. I don't think I've ever gotten that one before.

Have I mentioned how much I love seeing you around, Shir?

I know from "My Cat From Hell" that sometimes pets end up being proxies for their owners' problems. Also, that guy is the opposite of sensitive.

I love Jackson Galaxy. As happy as my cats generally are, I have learned from him, and I think, made them even happier. And a lot of times on many of the animal behavior shows, that is a theme, that the pets themselves are behaving quite naturally, but the owners are not applying logic to their own behavior to bring out better socialized behavior in their pets. I sometimes goggle at people who are dog people enough to go out and get a dog, but not enough to what I as a cat person (I say this as someone who likes dogs but feels she understands cats much better and therefore am best suited to have cats in my life) know about maintaining happy, well-behaved dogs. First rule is, aggression that is terrifying in a 70 lb dog is NOT cute in a 7 lb dog. Second rule is, dogs from working breeds or high energy breeds must be kept busy doing SOMEthing remotely resembling the work they were bred to do.

Awww, Andi. Love being around here again too.

I've started watching him, because my male cat can be moody and aggressive(biter)...haven't really found It, yet, but playing with him helps. And that show is just entertaining.

It isn't the dog that needs fixing, it's the owner.

I'm somewhat puzzled at the one student who says that I need to be more friendly, because it's intimidating to approach me.

I got something similar on a review once, Hil, and it baffled me. Knowing how naturally antisocial I am, I make a real effort at work to maintain a baseline level of friendliness. Apparently the complainer's bar was set higher than my baseline. Some people are intimidated by smart people who don't have a permanent happy-face plastered on.

I like My Cat From Hell, but the yowling freaks my own cat out. So I don't watch it much. Entertainment value aside, it seems counter productive to watch a show for tips on making your cat happier when the show itself's stressing him out.

Don't worry Hil, everyone who has ever taught in the history of ever has heard that one. That doesn't mean you somehow mutated into Severus Snape. I hear that one a lot, as well as "much more friendly and approachable than my other professors."

For those who wondered about the stink bombs in Pride Jerusalem: it's a thing, as well as spitting and folks who point and laugh and harass. Not many of these, but enough to notice each year. Two years ago it was plastic bags filled with urine, targeted at us from the third floor balcony of a certain street (as usual. It's a street where lots of ultra orthodox live, after rigorous careful planing on how to march in center of Western Jerusalem without going through streets/neighborhoods with ultra orthodox population). The people involved were arrested. And hi, that's why we march. Until it'll be safe for my friends to march in the streets of my city, holding hands or kissing or just looking queer, I'll be there.

4000 marched. I was identified as "authority figure" by another volunteer who recognized me from sci-fi cons (and that was awesome. Not the part where she knew me from cons, but the part where she said "yeah, I'm looking at you and thinking "authority figure""). Met lots of friends, of course. Also have bruises and scratches on me, but that's not from oppressors to the march. That's coming from me and my own stupidity and walking directly into a stop sign (yes. a stop sign) without noticing. Age, I'm afraid, does not make me wiser.

Good on you, Shir, and screw the haters.

Shir,

I am pretty floored to hear about people throwing crap at protestors who aren't protesting for hate. People are terrible.