What's the latest in people's lives?

[Mikey]

So, I just found out that my nephew - who will be attending law school at BC in the fall - will be graduating F&M next month magna cum laude with a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Congrats! I have no idea what most of that means, but it sounds really impressive!

OK, F&M = his current school, Franklin and Marshall (the level to which you would refer as "college" or "uni," I believe.)
BC = Boston College, at which he will be attending law school
"magna cum laude" = most American colleges and universities cite Latin honors to graduating students who have earned academic recognition in three levels -
cum laude ("with praise,") magna cum laude ("with great praise,") and summa cum laude ("with highest praise.") While the exact criterion for each is up to the individual institution, a generic rule of thumb is that cum laude students are in the top 25% of their class or so, with the others being more exclusive from that baseline.
"Phi Beta Kappa" = the oldest and most prestigious honor society for liberal arts and sciences students in the country. Entry (by invitation) is tangibly represented by a token called a "key," though it physically bears more resemblance to my eye to a fancy key fob.
"nephew" = my sister's son.

[IanKennedy]

magna cum laude

I can only guess that means he needs to be quieter during sex?

Phi Beta Kappa key

Woosh... no idea sorry.

Either congratulations or commiserations, which ever is appropriate. Really really well done, or what a terrible shame, either way.

[IanKennedy]

"nephew" = my sister's son.

Here it can mean your sister's son or brother's son, so you can understand how we could be confused.

[IanKennedy]

So, I just found out that my nephew - who will be attending law school at BC in the fall - will be graduating F&M next month magna cum laude with a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Congrats! I have no idea what most of that means, but it sounds really impressive!

OK, F&M = his current school, Franklin and Marshall (the level to which you would refer as "college" or "uni," I believe.)
BC = Boston College, at which he will be attending law school
"magna cum laude" = most American colleges and universities cite Latin honors to graduating students who have earned academic recognition in three levels -
cum laude ("with praise,") magna cum laude ("with great praise,") and summa cum laude ("with highest praise.") While the exact criterion for each is up to the individual institution, a generic rule of thumb is that cum laude students are in the top 25% of their class or so, with the others being more exclusive from that baseline.
"Phi Beta Kappa" = the oldest and most prestigious honor society for liberal arts and sciences students in the country. Entry (by invitation) is tangibly represented by a token called a "key," though it physically bears more resemblance to my eye to a fancy key fob.
"nephew" = my sister's son.

Then congratulations to him.

[Mikey]

I can only guess that means he needs to be quieter during sex?

I cannot overstate how much that is not my concern.

[Sonic Glitch]

I punched into work, walked to my area out back... and there were about thirty assembled bikes just there. I had to move them all before I could start to do anything. The first hour of my day, fucking GONE.

I remember those days. When I worked in the back for Wally World my work area was right next to the assemblers'. Like the assemblers well enough but sorting one-touch next to 25 bikes and pieces of bikes is annoying to say the least.

[Sonic Glitch]

So, I just found out that my nephew - who will be attending law school at BC in the fall - will be graduating F&M next month magna cum laude with a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Congratulations indeed to him!

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I punched into work, walked to my area out back... and there were about thirty assembled bikes just there. I had to move them all before I could start to do anything. The first hour of my day, fucking GONE.

I remember those days. When I worked in the back for Wally World my work area was right next to the assemblers'. Like the assemblers well enough but sorting one-touch next to 25 bikes and pieces of bikes is annoying to say the least.

If it was the assemblers where I work, they wouldn't have been in my area. They're actually quite courteous.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

I woke up with three cats but will go to sleep with two. Oliver was 17, which is a pretty good lifetime for a cat. In the last week he got sick and by today was declining badly. The vet indicated he came in with hypothermia (92 degrees Fahrenheit where a cat is usually a bit warmer than a human, 101 or so) with very low blood sugar and blood pressure. Further tests indicated high white blood cells (suggesting infection) and high liver related enzymes. It seemed he didn't have much time left on earth so we had him put to eternal sleep. RIP.

[Graham Kennedy]

I woke up with three cats but will go to sleep with two. Oliver was 17, which is a pretty good lifetime for a cat. In the last week he got sick and by today was declining badly. The vet indicated he came in with hypothermia (92 degrees Fahrenheit where a cat is usually a bit warmer than a human, 101 or so) with very low blood sugar and blood pressure. Further tests indicated high white blood cells (suggesting infection) and high liver related enzymes. It seemed he didn't have much time left on earth so we had him put to eternal sleep. RIP.

Poor little thing. But he had a good long life, and was loved. That's a good life for any cat. RIP.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I woke up with three cats but will go to sleep with two. Oliver was 17, which is a pretty good lifetime for a cat. In the last week he got sick and by today was declining badly. The vet indicated he came in with hypothermia (92 degrees Fahrenheit where a cat is usually a bit warmer than a human, 101 or so) with very low blood sugar and blood pressure. Further tests indicated high white blood cells (suggesting infection) and high liver related enzymes. It seemed he didn't have much time left on earth so we had him put to eternal sleep. RIP.

Sorry to read, CPH. Sounds like he was a good kitty, there.

[Bryan Moore]

Sorry about the cat

Headed to NYC on Tuesday to see my favorite band - sadly, it's not often I get to the city these days, and I can't stick around as I work Wednesday night.

[Mikey]

Sorry, CPH. I know firsthand that having had a good run with a pet doesn't make it any easier.

[IanKennedy]

Indeed, sorry CPH. My first cat lived until she was 18 and was very happy, as I'm sure yours was too.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

Thanks all. Each of ours seems (or seemed) quite happy; they've been well cared for. Having had him around for so long, I grew accustomed to him and it's certainly strange not having him here. We've got another who's even older too. Knowing that nothing is eternal doesn't ever quite make one prepared to lose something. In this case, though he was old, his ultimate demise happened pretty quickly - little over a week from a healthy cat to a dead one.