Category Archives: Opinion/Editorial

I’m sure many of you noticed the signs around the hotel in Orlando warning about the presence of alligators. This led to a discussion I overheard regarding how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. This quest for knowledge led one of our colleagues to forward me the following Science Tip: “You can distinguish an alligator from a crocodile by paying attention to whether the animal sees you later or in a while.”

Well, we just wrapped up the 50th anniversary of the AASV at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Orlando. I always look forward to the annual meeting for the educational presentations, camaraderie, networking and opportunity to catch up with old friends. But, mostly, it’s a rich source of material for Doc Tales. As an example, I was walking past the registration desk during a break, when I heard someone say, “You know, I don’t think I’d do well in prison.” To which, someone replied, “Oh, I can assure you, you wouldn’t!” I plan to share some additional tidbits over the next few weeks. If you overheard anything particularly insightful or amusing, email it to me (snelson@aasv.org) and I just might use it in a future edition.

As an extension to last week’s Doc Tales, a colleague offered the following extrapolation: “…And when someone offers you a breath mint, take it!” That’s the true life lesson, I imagine.

I was recently at a meeting with one of the leaders of our association who is renowned for his wisdom and continuous mentoring. Upon hearing me complain that I was hungry because I passed up a doughnut earlier that morning, he exclaimed: “Harry, life is too short. When someone offers you a doughnut, eat it!” I’m pretty sure there’s a life lesson in there.

I was recently at a meeting with one of the leaders of our association who is renowned for his wisdom and continuous mentoring. Upon hearing me complain that I was hungry because I passed up a doughnut earlier that morning, he exclaimed: “Harry, life is too short. When someone offers you a doughnut, eat it!” I’m pretty sure there’s a life lesson in there.

Some words of wisdom this week. Here’s a couple provided by Dr. Paul Armbrecht. The first from his 99 year young father: “It’s but little good you’ll do a-waterin’ last year’s crop.” And, the second his father attributed to Confucius (I’m not sure if that was a personal conversation or not): “Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.” The final one this week comes from a colleague of ours during a recent discussion about the threats posed by Chihuahuas. I was informed that, “teeth are highly overrated in small dogs.” Oddly, that’s not been my experience.

Following Dr. Harry Snelson’s 1,500 plus weekly AASV e-Letters, I want to take a spot in my first e-Letter to thank him for his many years of service as Director of Communications, and his years to come as the Executive Director.

The following story was recently relayed to me. “Some time ago, I attended a meeting of university researchers. They were having a fairly spirited “discussion” of proper scientific methodology, each exhibiting a bias towards their particular specialty. At one point, a gentleman in the back blurted out, “I’m an epidemiologist, not a damn statistician, Harold!” In response, another gentleman, who I assume was Harold, stood up and said, “Daniel, all that means is that you can describe the distribution of doors in this room. As a statistician, I can estimate the probability that a particular door will hit you on the butt on your way out!” This resulted in an audible gasp from the audience. In the midst of the rising clamor, another researcher stood up and said, “Gentlemen, I think I can help you figure out the most likely outcome of this discussion. You see, I’m a modeler….” To which the entire room groaned. The exchange was actually all in good fun and some friendly bantering, but I thought it was funny.”

Following my confession last week regarding my hotel key incident, a number of you relayed similar tales such as this one. “Some 25 years ago I was travelling around the USA seeing pig farms. My travels involved a lot of rental cars and I remember once renting a white Ford Taurus. While out and about, I stopped at a shopping mall somewhere to buy something. It was one of those malls with a huge outdoor parking lot making it easy to forget where you parked. I walked out of the mall and spotted my rental car right away. I unlocked the door with the key and climbed into the driver’s seat. “I immediately noticed that the seat’s not adjusted right and the car smells like smoke. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts and ashes and I don’t smoke. My first reaction was, “Who’s been smoking in my car?” And then it dawned on me, “Yikes! This is not my car! I’m in someone else’s car!” I jumped out, grabbed my package, and got away from there, fast! “My rental car key had opened someone else’s very similar Ford Taurus! I soon found my rental car parked nearby — same color, same model, no smoke. I got the heck out of Dodge and went to the hotel to take a shower!”

After 13 years of compiling the e-Letter every week, this will be my last byline as Director of Communications. I have the distinct pleasure to turn that duty over to AASV’s new Director of Communications, Dr. Abbey Canon. Abbey officially joined our staff on Monday and this is her first edition of e-Letter! Can you smell the new article scent?? I have enjoyed the opportunity to use this forum to provide our members with information about our association, education about our profession and occasionally a little humor along the way. Thanks for your support and your feedback. You’ve taught me over the years that I’m not good at geography, math, grammar, punctuation, html code or spelling. All evidence as to why I chose veterinary medicine and you put up with me as a communicator. It looks like I won’t be going away entirely, however. Abbey has informed me that I am still responsible for a weekly Doc Tales. So, join me in welcoming Abbey to this new role, and you’ll continue to find me at the bottom of the page — beneath the fold as they say in the newspaper biz.