This morning New Kitty seemed to be trying to get into my bottle of Decadron.
I take 2 4 MG the day of chemo. They make me kind of buzzy and spazzy.
Imagine if New Kitty -- who is big for a kitty but small for a person -- got the bottle open and ate them...
of course, the sad thing would be that they'd probably kill her...
but, the image of her going nuts is funny.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Friday, October 03, 2008
Chemo round ? I've lost count...
Just as I'd hoped, chemo is becoming less of an event.
It has all the charm of a really long doctor's appointment -- today was 8:30 - 1:30.
It doesn't have the icky effects on me, at least so far.
In an odd way, I kind of like being at the chemo clinic. I don't have to explain my bald head or anything to do with breast cancer. The doctor and nurses are very nice -- and quite professional at the same time.
I ran into a chemo pal today. She's had trouble with this drug for a while -- she's a bit ahead of me, as she only has two more left. She's having more side-effects and significant trouble sleeping. She's a special-ed teacher and so far hasn't returned to work. IMHO, I think that if she could manage some degree of work -- she'd feel better. She admitted today that sitting around feeling sick is probably part of her overall problem.
So -- while I can use the good vibes, she needs some for the side-effects.
It has all the charm of a really long doctor's appointment -- today was 8:30 - 1:30.
It doesn't have the icky effects on me, at least so far.
In an odd way, I kind of like being at the chemo clinic. I don't have to explain my bald head or anything to do with breast cancer. The doctor and nurses are very nice -- and quite professional at the same time.
I ran into a chemo pal today. She's had trouble with this drug for a while -- she's a bit ahead of me, as she only has two more left. She's having more side-effects and significant trouble sleeping. She's a special-ed teacher and so far hasn't returned to work. IMHO, I think that if she could manage some degree of work -- she'd feel better. She admitted today that sitting around feeling sick is probably part of her overall problem.
So -- while I can use the good vibes, she needs some for the side-effects.
The best thing about last night...
... was that Hubby found someone to proctor his exam, so he came home two hours early!!!
He didn't tell me either -- instead he called me, like he usually does while he drives -- and asked me to come down to help him with his stuff.
Wonderful surprise!
He didn't tell me either -- instead he called me, like he usually does while he drives -- and asked me to come down to help him with his stuff.
Wonderful surprise!
Debate Analysis...
As more than a few of you may remember, I coached college debate for about ten years. You could say I've seen a few actual debates in my time. Of course, this wasn't one -- but there hasn't been an actual Presidential debate in modern TV history... sigh. One of these days some former debaters will be Presidential candidates, and then there will be a throw down the public just can't understand... until then, this sort of thing will have to suffice.
Palin was doing the main thing we tell new debaters to do -- If you get lost, go back to one of your key talking points. I've had debaters in competition with about 5 weeks experience (last week was the first tournament we used to have on the schedule... Palin was nominated about the time we'd have our first set of practice). They only needed to fill 8 minutes, not part of two hours.
What her prep people did with her is more like the 'individual events' (interpretation of lit, informative speaking etc..) coaching for an event called 'impromptu speaking' -- in which the person is supposed to respond to a quotation. Those folks have the students prepare and memorize (although she looked like she was reading note cards -- was she?) blocks of speech on a variety of topics. They'd then put those blocks into a speech and call it 'impromptu'.
Palin and most of the 'impromptu' speakers had the same problem -- they weren't ACTUALLY responding to the prompts they were given. This is akin to students not answering the essay question they are asked. I find both annoying -- although when I judged 'impromptu' I couldn't yell at the TV while folding laundry like last night -- so, in some ways last night was more satisfying than a bad impromptu round.
Of course, the Republicans asked for this -- they nominated someone without the experience needed to have answers to these questions. None of the quesitons were out of line for someone who could easily become President. Debate prep for tonight should have consisted in refining the candidates OWN answers to the questions -- not in TEACHING the candidate the answers.
That isn't to say that Palin didn't have her strengths. She was a lot like the debater who was a 'pretty speaker' -- who can look at the judge and sell whatever they were saying. She has a knack for looking at the camera and making you listen to her -- which is a good qualify for a candidate to have in the age of TV.
I don't think Palin is stupid, in fact - exactly the opposite. I do think she's wrong on a lot of stuff, but not stupid. I think she can develop positions on world and domestic events, she just hasn't yet. Until 5 weeks ago she was like many Americans, who are lucky enough to be able to ignore world events and live in their own little world. Being the PTA president, skinning a moose and being a hockey mom don't demand knowledge of US foreign and domsestic policy. Being mayor and govenor requires a particular set of skills that can prepare you to be VP, but those skills aren't necessary to be mayor or govenor.
On the other hand, Biden smacked her around so hard that she probably doesn't see how badly she lost. He sounded smart -- and Presidential. Even when he was dodging questions, he did it with more skill -- so it was much more difficult to see the dodge. He too used his talking points, but he had many more of them -- so it looked as if he were prepared instead of unable to answer the question asked.
In the end, it was like the novice got taken to school by the up and coming national champion. It happens to all novices, even the most promising of them -- so Palin doesn't have anything to be ashamed of... but, to my eyes, she just isn't ready.
Palin was doing the main thing we tell new debaters to do -- If you get lost, go back to one of your key talking points. I've had debaters in competition with about 5 weeks experience (last week was the first tournament we used to have on the schedule... Palin was nominated about the time we'd have our first set of practice). They only needed to fill 8 minutes, not part of two hours.
What her prep people did with her is more like the 'individual events' (interpretation of lit, informative speaking etc..) coaching for an event called 'impromptu speaking' -- in which the person is supposed to respond to a quotation. Those folks have the students prepare and memorize (although she looked like she was reading note cards -- was she?) blocks of speech on a variety of topics. They'd then put those blocks into a speech and call it 'impromptu'.
Palin and most of the 'impromptu' speakers had the same problem -- they weren't ACTUALLY responding to the prompts they were given. This is akin to students not answering the essay question they are asked. I find both annoying -- although when I judged 'impromptu' I couldn't yell at the TV while folding laundry like last night -- so, in some ways last night was more satisfying than a bad impromptu round.
Of course, the Republicans asked for this -- they nominated someone without the experience needed to have answers to these questions. None of the quesitons were out of line for someone who could easily become President. Debate prep for tonight should have consisted in refining the candidates OWN answers to the questions -- not in TEACHING the candidate the answers.
That isn't to say that Palin didn't have her strengths. She was a lot like the debater who was a 'pretty speaker' -- who can look at the judge and sell whatever they were saying. She has a knack for looking at the camera and making you listen to her -- which is a good qualify for a candidate to have in the age of TV.
I don't think Palin is stupid, in fact - exactly the opposite. I do think she's wrong on a lot of stuff, but not stupid. I think she can develop positions on world and domestic events, she just hasn't yet. Until 5 weeks ago she was like many Americans, who are lucky enough to be able to ignore world events and live in their own little world. Being the PTA president, skinning a moose and being a hockey mom don't demand knowledge of US foreign and domsestic policy. Being mayor and govenor requires a particular set of skills that can prepare you to be VP, but those skills aren't necessary to be mayor or govenor.
On the other hand, Biden smacked her around so hard that she probably doesn't see how badly she lost. He sounded smart -- and Presidential. Even when he was dodging questions, he did it with more skill -- so it was much more difficult to see the dodge. He too used his talking points, but he had many more of them -- so it looked as if he were prepared instead of unable to answer the question asked.
In the end, it was like the novice got taken to school by the up and coming national champion. It happens to all novices, even the most promising of them -- so Palin doesn't have anything to be ashamed of... but, to my eyes, she just isn't ready.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Dear Sara Palin,
Please answer the question.
It isn't hard to do. Listen to what was asked and respond.
I know you are probably pretty smart. I'm sure that you could do this debate, and do it well. I admire you for living by your principles.
But if you don't answer the question, you look like a moron.
I wouldn't give my students credit for these answers. You went to something like 6 colleges, right? If any of them let you answer an essay prompt with an un-related answer, you should go back and demand your beauty pageant money back.
Sincerely,
A feminist and a philosopher
and someone who can spot the fact that your answers aren't answers to the questions asked.
ps -- stop sending me e-mails. I'm not voting for you, I'm not giving you money -- especially since you won't answer the question asked -- how can I know you won't blow it on naughty librarian clothes and Tina Fey glasses?
It isn't hard to do. Listen to what was asked and respond.
I know you are probably pretty smart. I'm sure that you could do this debate, and do it well. I admire you for living by your principles.
But if you don't answer the question, you look like a moron.
I wouldn't give my students credit for these answers. You went to something like 6 colleges, right? If any of them let you answer an essay prompt with an un-related answer, you should go back and demand your beauty pageant money back.
Sincerely,
A feminist and a philosopher
and someone who can spot the fact that your answers aren't answers to the questions asked.
ps -- stop sending me e-mails. I'm not voting for you, I'm not giving you money -- especially since you won't answer the question asked -- how can I know you won't blow it on naughty librarian clothes and Tina Fey glasses?
"but I was sick"
I pretty much said "so what"? To a kid who claims to have had a burning desire to write about feminism -- which happened to be the last paper, but who was too sick to turn it in.
When I explained that students manage to be sick AND turn in papers, either before class or via friends, relatives etc, the kid didn't seem to comprehend.
When s/he said that s/he "couldn't control his absences" -- I laughed at her/him.
I was glad to have a chance to call her/him on sleeping in class. When s/he bothers to show up, s/he sleeps. I told her/him that if her/his class participation was good from now on and if her/his attendance is good, that I'd let her/him write a paper to replace the one s/he didn't get to turn in.
We'll see how that works. S/He may drop the class -- it isn't like s/he was participating anyway.
Is cancer making me mean? Am I just badly in need of a sabbatical? Are they really getting worse?
Perhaps all of the above... sigh. I'm glad it is the weekend... and hubby is in "I don't know math" state.
When I explained that students manage to be sick AND turn in papers, either before class or via friends, relatives etc, the kid didn't seem to comprehend.
When s/he said that s/he "couldn't control his absences" -- I laughed at her/him.
I was glad to have a chance to call her/him on sleeping in class. When s/he bothers to show up, s/he sleeps. I told her/him that if her/his class participation was good from now on and if her/his attendance is good, that I'd let her/him write a paper to replace the one s/he didn't get to turn in.
We'll see how that works. S/He may drop the class -- it isn't like s/he was participating anyway.
Is cancer making me mean? Am I just badly in need of a sabbatical? Are they really getting worse?
Perhaps all of the above... sigh. I'm glad it is the weekend... and hubby is in "I don't know math" state.
Perceptions of 'a lot of students'
I had an interesting discussion in the work room today.
A colleague from another department commented that she'd like to do writing assignments, but she "has so many students".
Many of you know right where this is going. Rest assured, she was new and I was tired and had my hands full -- I didn't spell out in excruciating detail the systematic inequities and outright bullshit logic that is our course cap policy. I spared her the shame of knowing that the bald one-boobed woman down the hall has a course release and still has almost twice the number of students she does. She's new, she doesn't know what she stepped in -- so I let her off easy.
I know about how many sections she has and how many students are in each one. Instead of the rant I just looked at her and said, "yea -- I know, I have ethics classes with 50 students".
Folks, she has 3 sections, 32 students each ( I know, I just internet-stalked/researched the number). I have about that, after drops, in two of my ethics classes. Plus I have 80 logic students and am department chair. Without the department chair course release I'd probably have another 50ish ethics or intro students.
I assign writing. I don't think I can assess philosophy courses without writing.
Each ethics student will do at least 12 pages of paper writing and about 10 pages of typed take-home exam writing. About 1/3 will do at least 22 pages of paper writing, the other 2/3 will be part of a presentation. Don't do the math - it will make you ill.
Logic students don't do writing, but I grade a heck of a lot of logic quizzes. All of them by hand. They can't be done by machine, at least not with the tools / software I have.
Last week I discussed class size with my dean. She's now taking the position that it's all about money. I think it is really unfair to our students that the educational sacrifices have to come out of their hides.
To be honest -- if they'd add two students to the large department's significantly smaller courses, we wouldn't have to have 50 per class so that the college can make ends meet. We could actually help teach writing across the curriculum. As it is, I make minimal comments about form and focus on their demonstration of understanding the content.
But -- back when these things were decided, someone who is no longer at BNCC -- and hasn't been for 6+ years -- didn't have the political clout (or guts, perhaps?) to object to having such large classes. As a result, philosophy students at BNCC will continue to get the short end of the pedagogical stick -- at least in Ethics, Intro to Phil and World Religions.
A colleague from another department commented that she'd like to do writing assignments, but she "has so many students".
Many of you know right where this is going. Rest assured, she was new and I was tired and had my hands full -- I didn't spell out in excruciating detail the systematic inequities and outright bullshit logic that is our course cap policy. I spared her the shame of knowing that the bald one-boobed woman down the hall has a course release and still has almost twice the number of students she does. She's new, she doesn't know what she stepped in -- so I let her off easy.
I know about how many sections she has and how many students are in each one. Instead of the rant I just looked at her and said, "yea -- I know, I have ethics classes with 50 students".
Folks, she has 3 sections, 32 students each ( I know, I just internet-stalked/researched the number). I have about that, after drops, in two of my ethics classes. Plus I have 80 logic students and am department chair. Without the department chair course release I'd probably have another 50ish ethics or intro students.
I assign writing. I don't think I can assess philosophy courses without writing.
Each ethics student will do at least 12 pages of paper writing and about 10 pages of typed take-home exam writing. About 1/3 will do at least 22 pages of paper writing, the other 2/3 will be part of a presentation. Don't do the math - it will make you ill.
Logic students don't do writing, but I grade a heck of a lot of logic quizzes. All of them by hand. They can't be done by machine, at least not with the tools / software I have.
Last week I discussed class size with my dean. She's now taking the position that it's all about money. I think it is really unfair to our students that the educational sacrifices have to come out of their hides.
To be honest -- if they'd add two students to the large department's significantly smaller courses, we wouldn't have to have 50 per class so that the college can make ends meet. We could actually help teach writing across the curriculum. As it is, I make minimal comments about form and focus on their demonstration of understanding the content.
But -- back when these things were decided, someone who is no longer at BNCC -- and hasn't been for 6+ years -- didn't have the political clout (or guts, perhaps?) to object to having such large classes. As a result, philosophy students at BNCC will continue to get the short end of the pedagogical stick -- at least in Ethics, Intro to Phil and World Religions.
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