On his show rigt now he's singing a f-ing song about some old woman whose sister died and she's going to Colorado to take care of her affairs.
What kind of song is that?? It isn't even a particularly sad song... he makes it sound like, even at 91, this isn't a sad time for the woman... her younger sister dies and she's all business. Like she won't miss someone who knew her when she was young. Like it isn't a tragedy to bury a sibling, no matter how old they are.
Bullshit.
Garrison hasn't lost a sister. I have . Almost 5 years later it still sucks. a lot. Mom is getting older and it is going to be up to me to take care of her when she needs it... not that I mind, but it shouldn't have been this way.
Pam's birthday is at the end of the month. She would have been 35.
She died a month after her 30th birthday.
Besides, who told Garrison he could sing? I'd like to kick the tune-deaf ass-hat in the balls (it must have been a man... ).
Saturday, September 30, 2006
A secret note to my logic classes
Warning -- if you want to stay positive about students -- skip this post :)....
One simple thing -- getting the letters in the right places on the venn diagrams.
You couldn't do it, not even to earn doughnuts for the whole class. The deal was simple, if everyone in the class did it right I would buy y'all doughnuts.
I told you several times that you need to put the subject of the conclusion on the left circle and the predicate of the conclusion on the right circle and the middle term on the top circle.
I promised you doughnuts from the yummy independent doughnut place in my neighborhood... they are so good, and would have been a great treat for you the day you got your exams back...
but you had to go screwing it up. You couldn't follow one simple set of directions about how to do things.
Not even when yummy sugar treats were on the line.
You are pathetic... and I'm not at all sure how you are going to pass this class at this rate. What is really sad is that both classes lost their treat within the first few papers I graded.
If you can't pay attention to the simple details, the small ones that I stress in class -- how in the f-ck are you going to do complex deductions? No wonder a bunch of you failed this class before, you really can't follow directions -- and, that other teacher (wise woman) gives very good and precise directions and expects you to follow them.
goodness, I weep for the future -- please, keep your retail jobs and your jobs as rent-a-cops... please don't become nurses and real cops -- because you can't follow directions and I don't want your intellectual failures to come back to haunt me when I need you to save my life or the lives of someone I love.
sigh...
One simple thing -- getting the letters in the right places on the venn diagrams.
You couldn't do it, not even to earn doughnuts for the whole class. The deal was simple, if everyone in the class did it right I would buy y'all doughnuts.
I told you several times that you need to put the subject of the conclusion on the left circle and the predicate of the conclusion on the right circle and the middle term on the top circle.
I promised you doughnuts from the yummy independent doughnut place in my neighborhood... they are so good, and would have been a great treat for you the day you got your exams back...
but you had to go screwing it up. You couldn't follow one simple set of directions about how to do things.
Not even when yummy sugar treats were on the line.
You are pathetic... and I'm not at all sure how you are going to pass this class at this rate. What is really sad is that both classes lost their treat within the first few papers I graded.
If you can't pay attention to the simple details, the small ones that I stress in class -- how in the f-ck are you going to do complex deductions? No wonder a bunch of you failed this class before, you really can't follow directions -- and, that other teacher (wise woman) gives very good and precise directions and expects you to follow them.
goodness, I weep for the future -- please, keep your retail jobs and your jobs as rent-a-cops... please don't become nurses and real cops -- because you can't follow directions and I don't want your intellectual failures to come back to haunt me when I need you to save my life or the lives of someone I love.
sigh...
Grading Jail vent, logic...
How in the world can someone sit in my class for weeks and not get it and not say anything -- at all. Don't these bozos know the exam is coming? Can't they see that they are not getting the same answers in their homework that I'm putting on the board? Can't they look at their notes from when we did these f-ing problems in class and sort them out in practice?
For goodness sakes, there is no reason for some of this crap--- I gave them a reference sheet so they don't have to memorize the procedures and they still can't hack it.
If they withdraw, fine -- I want them to go, as it only gets worse.
Monday should be fun... if you hear an agonized scream about 2:15, it is because I've handed back their exams and they are freaking out. It is their own fault -- they didn't choose to come in during their optional days and none of them came to my 7:45 class's open sessions -- they could have come in to ask questions in office hours or before or after class -- I'm around and available, especially after class because I teach my next section in the same room 30 minutes later -- but they run out of class like there is free pot in the hallway.
Oh well, in the end, they'll all only be eligible for a C, so the final exam should be easy (I have a graduated exam system for logic, so if they can only get a C, they only have to do easier proofs...).
For goodness sakes, there is no reason for some of this crap--- I gave them a reference sheet so they don't have to memorize the procedures and they still can't hack it.
If they withdraw, fine -- I want them to go, as it only gets worse.
Monday should be fun... if you hear an agonized scream about 2:15, it is because I've handed back their exams and they are freaking out. It is their own fault -- they didn't choose to come in during their optional days and none of them came to my 7:45 class's open sessions -- they could have come in to ask questions in office hours or before or after class -- I'm around and available, especially after class because I teach my next section in the same room 30 minutes later -- but they run out of class like there is free pot in the hallway.
Oh well, in the end, they'll all only be eligible for a C, so the final exam should be easy (I have a graduated exam system for logic, so if they can only get a C, they only have to do easier proofs...).
Friday, September 29, 2006
Another reason to love BN state...
The best grocery store chain in the world.. or, at least the best of any of place I've lived... has a new on-line grocery delivery service. You place the order on their amazingly good website, choose a delivery time and presto, groceries at your home.
Since I hate to go to the grocery store, this is really amazingly good.
It is worth the 9.95 delivery fee.... especially since I impulse shop at this store all the time and I know that I spend more than $10.00 when I do so. Now I can order from work and have it come when I'm home --
I love the internet.
Since I hate to go to the grocery store, this is really amazingly good.
It is worth the 9.95 delivery fee.... especially since I impulse shop at this store all the time and I know that I spend more than $10.00 when I do so. Now I can order from work and have it come when I'm home --
I love the internet.
Hubby's home...
A few days ago the evil airline's automated voice called me to tell me hubby's flight had been cancelled and he was re-booked on a 5 AM Friday flight. After I finished rudely telling the automated voice that this wouldn't due, I called a real person and asked her nicely if she could take care of this for me. It turns out that while we were talking the evil airline reinstated the flight and all was well.
So, Hubby made it home from Red State.
All is well in the household, I have someone else to give affection to my affection-hungry cats. By the way, aren't cats supposed to be aloof?... someone needs to tell my cats about that part of being a cat...
We'll do some errands today and do some work, I'll make homemade mac and cheese tonight for dinner and chicken parmesan tomorrow night -- hubby wanted some comfort foods and we both feel like hibernating. Last night we went out to dinner -
It is nice to have my Google home.
Next weekend is a debate tournament in Illinois, the next weekend hubby will be home for a whole week!!!
So, Hubby made it home from Red State.
All is well in the household, I have someone else to give affection to my affection-hungry cats. By the way, aren't cats supposed to be aloof?... someone needs to tell my cats about that part of being a cat...
We'll do some errands today and do some work, I'll make homemade mac and cheese tonight for dinner and chicken parmesan tomorrow night -- hubby wanted some comfort foods and we both feel like hibernating. Last night we went out to dinner -
It is nice to have my Google home.
Next weekend is a debate tournament in Illinois, the next weekend hubby will be home for a whole week!!!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Brain the coach
My pal Brain came to watch a round last night. I love having him there, because -- without prompting -- he tells them stuff I've already told them -- but they didn't listen to. A second voice is helpful that way.
Sunshine and LG make a good team. They'll win some rounds at our next tournament.... I'm sure Dude and Swear Jar will do wel as well, as long as Swear Jar can keep the attitude under control.
Next week we'll work on the attitude -- funny thing is that Brain and one of his old debate partners actually got ballots that said, in effect, 'you make me mad but I have to vote for you' -- I don't recall him being as bad as Swear Jar and Swear Jar doesn't have the debate background to get a ballot from a judge who hates his guts --- so things have got to change.
I told Swear Jar yesterday that he was alienating himself from his team and that Dude was his last partner, so he'd better make it work. I hope it does, because he's a good debater -- I'm just kind of afraid we have a Voldemort situation developing on the team... where there is one kid who is a good debater but can't work and play well with others. At least Swear Jar showers and isn't as obnoxious as Voldemort....
In a way, I feel bad for Swear Jar --- he developed this debate persona in the context of another team... then they all went elsewhere and he's left as the snarky cynical one without the others who get him. He played a function on the team last year, but this year he's more like the cranky uncle who nobody wants to sit next to at Christmas dinner...
I also feel bad for Golfer, as his partner Herbie is busy with things that take priority over debate. Herbie did this last year too, so it is no surprise.... it is just sad, because Golfer is much improved after camp and has to rely on random partners for the next two tournaments....
Sunshine and LG make a good team. They'll win some rounds at our next tournament.... I'm sure Dude and Swear Jar will do wel as well, as long as Swear Jar can keep the attitude under control.
Next week we'll work on the attitude -- funny thing is that Brain and one of his old debate partners actually got ballots that said, in effect, 'you make me mad but I have to vote for you' -- I don't recall him being as bad as Swear Jar and Swear Jar doesn't have the debate background to get a ballot from a judge who hates his guts --- so things have got to change.
I told Swear Jar yesterday that he was alienating himself from his team and that Dude was his last partner, so he'd better make it work. I hope it does, because he's a good debater -- I'm just kind of afraid we have a Voldemort situation developing on the team... where there is one kid who is a good debater but can't work and play well with others. At least Swear Jar showers and isn't as obnoxious as Voldemort....
In a way, I feel bad for Swear Jar --- he developed this debate persona in the context of another team... then they all went elsewhere and he's left as the snarky cynical one without the others who get him. He played a function on the team last year, but this year he's more like the cranky uncle who nobody wants to sit next to at Christmas dinner...
I also feel bad for Golfer, as his partner Herbie is busy with things that take priority over debate. Herbie did this last year too, so it is no surprise.... it is just sad, because Golfer is much improved after camp and has to rely on random partners for the next two tournaments....
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Big Block of Cheese Day, #7
One of my favorite TV shows, ever, is the West Wing.
They did a couple of shows about, "big block of cheese day" -- the day where the West Wing opens it's appointment calendar to people who wouldn't otherwise get an appointment.
My first day at BNCC, I described this weird new thing I'll call Super Student Day to hubby, who dubbed it Big Block of Cheese Day -- SSD is a day when all day classes are cancelled and the faculty gives presentations about ways students can develop successful habits, opportunities for success etc.. at the college. Some students call it "Students Sleep in Day", and sleep in, but the parking lot was actually fairly full today.
Usually I pass an appointment sheet around in class and about 20 students make appointments to come see me, about 20 show up, only 10 of whom have appointments :). It is kind of like a whole day of office hours. The faculty are relaxed and we spend some time chatting in the hall. Generally, it is a nice day for us ---
I spent this SSD doing debate stuff. Super Dean (i.e. my Dean) organizes SSD and a while back she asked me to have a demonstration debate on a topic of interest to students. This time she asked me if I'd like to have a table to do some recruitment. In a moment of weakness I said I'd do it. I don't think I'll do it again.
The thing about debate at these kinds of events is that I'm not going to attract the kind of debater I want on the team with casual contact. Debate requires a lot of dedication, effort and time. Someone dropping by my table to snag some candy or a certificate to use for extra-credit... so, it was a waste of my time.
In the afternoon my four least experienced debaters, Sunshine, LG, Dude and Golfer, did a public debate on legalizing prostitution. They did a wonderful job. They were smart, funny, articulate, compassionate and persuasive. They spoke well and represented the debate program well.
It was different from other SSDs, but it was good.
They did a couple of shows about, "big block of cheese day" -- the day where the West Wing opens it's appointment calendar to people who wouldn't otherwise get an appointment.
My first day at BNCC, I described this weird new thing I'll call Super Student Day to hubby, who dubbed it Big Block of Cheese Day -- SSD is a day when all day classes are cancelled and the faculty gives presentations about ways students can develop successful habits, opportunities for success etc.. at the college. Some students call it "Students Sleep in Day", and sleep in, but the parking lot was actually fairly full today.
Usually I pass an appointment sheet around in class and about 20 students make appointments to come see me, about 20 show up, only 10 of whom have appointments :). It is kind of like a whole day of office hours. The faculty are relaxed and we spend some time chatting in the hall. Generally, it is a nice day for us ---
I spent this SSD doing debate stuff. Super Dean (i.e. my Dean) organizes SSD and a while back she asked me to have a demonstration debate on a topic of interest to students. This time she asked me if I'd like to have a table to do some recruitment. In a moment of weakness I said I'd do it. I don't think I'll do it again.
The thing about debate at these kinds of events is that I'm not going to attract the kind of debater I want on the team with casual contact. Debate requires a lot of dedication, effort and time. Someone dropping by my table to snag some candy or a certificate to use for extra-credit... so, it was a waste of my time.
In the afternoon my four least experienced debaters, Sunshine, LG, Dude and Golfer, did a public debate on legalizing prostitution. They did a wonderful job. They were smart, funny, articulate, compassionate and persuasive. They spoke well and represented the debate program well.
It was different from other SSDs, but it was good.
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