Adventures of Teacherman

What the frick?

2009-05-20T00:37:56Z

http://blog.dagoosh.com/post/2009/05/14/one-or-two-spaces-after-period.aspx

Apparently, after all this time, two spaces after a period is wrong? Since when did this happen? Since when did one space become the norm? Two spaces now! Two spaces forever!

Almost Thanksgiving

2007-11-10T16:20:54Z

So when I restarted this journal, I was hoping to be able to update it fairly frequently, talking about what's going on in the school, my life, the world, etc. What I didn't anticipate, and I mentioned this in my previous post, was how much goddamned work being a teacher really is.

It's gotten a little easier, I think, but the workload has all but increased. Last weekend, I spent almost the entire weekend catching up on grading. That's what irritates me the most about this job (aside from students who don't pay attention in class, don't do the homework, and then wonder why they're doing so crappy in class): I have to bring so much of my work home with me every day. I can't be done when I leave the school. In fact, I'm never done. There's always something more to do.

I guess the key, then, is to find that balance where I have enough done to get by and leave myself time for, say, sleeping. I'm not getting enough of that. And I think my attitude during a day is directly related to the amount of sleep I've been getting. So I need to get more. But that's the thing; I've been forced to make the decision between getting more sleep and getting more work done.

It's a balance.

I few other things...

--Sometimes I'm surprised by how well my girlfriend and I jive with each other. Aside from having almost exactly the same interests (how many of you can spend quality time with your SO playing World of Warcraft) and occasionally completing each other's sentences, we also think alike. We were going to eat in downtown Ithaca and as I was pulling into a parking garage we saw a squirrel scampering along a cement wall right next to us. Both of us, completely independently, decided its name should be Jimmy. Add this to us both independently naming a guy who used to frequently represent a local cider brewery at the farmer's market "Steve" and it's a little scary :P

--There have actually been a lot of crazy things happening at the high school. It pretty much all hearkens back to an incident a few years ago when a girl was racially harassed a few times on a school bus. The mother asked the district to do something, but I guess the district dragged their feet. So the mother sued. I'm a little unclear on the details, but I guess what's upsetting most people is that the district asked the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that the woman didn't follow "proper channels" which everyone interpreted to mean that the district didn't want to deal with the situation. There have been protests in front of the school board building (which is actually right next to the school) and then a few days later a bunch of students in the school protested through the halls, locking things down for about half an hour.

There have since been several forums for students to get together and talk about some of these issues, so I hope they're making progress.

--This won't matter or make sense to anybody who doesn't play World of Warcraft, but the guild I'm in finally managed to take down Prince Malchezaar in Karazhan. I got a kickass healing cloak.

That's all for now, I guess!

It's been more than a year.

2007-08-11T07:16:28Z

How are you all doing? It's been awhile since I've talked to most of you. Needless to say, a lot of things have happened.

I'm finished with school. I got a job as a math teacher at Ithaca High School and will be starting in about a month. I've been thinking it might be nice to have a place to jot down thoughts and ideas and get suggestions on. I thought about doing a video blog on YouTube, or something silly like that, but this is probably better. I'll likely redesign the journal a bit before that, though.

More than that, though, I think I've missed a lot of you. For many of you, o people for whom I appear on friend's lists, this was one of the few places I could communicate. I don't even really remember now what happened to make me stop.

I think it's because I associated this journal with a bit of a dark period in my life; one which I didn't really want to revisit when I got through. But now, now that so much time has passed, I think it's not as big a deal. I'm an adult now, after all. I should be able to handle it. Plus, it helps, y'know, to not go back and look at past entries. Maybe I will someday, I might surprise myself. But not now.

On the other hand, maybe it was just laziness, or maybe I didn't feel like I needed this any more.

Whatever the case, I'm making this post now, if only to illustrate to people that I have not died. I suppose I can't promise that I'll continue to update, but I guess I just wanted to pop in and say "Hi."

So Hi! :)

(oh and sorry for the odd disjointment of thoughts. It *is* 3:15am at the moment...)

Real update coming soon.

2006-02-17T14:42:25Z

Desktop weather has a "wind advisory" going. No kidding. I can hear it outside and every so often I feel my building physically sway.

GREs

2005-12-14T02:06:56Z

So today I took my GREs. For those of you who don't know, the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is basically the SAT for college grads. If you want to apply to graduate school, most schools require that you take the GRE.

Anyway, the day does not get off to a good start when I get all the way to my car and realize that I'd left my keys in the apartment. Fortunately, one of my roommates was there so the door wasn't locked, and somebody was going through the front door so I didn't need my proximity chip. No big deal, didn't even make me late, though I just thought it was funny.

I find the place (after having to drive an hour to get to) and go in. They make me put my cellphone, and other electronics into a locker. They're not allowed into the testing center. They give me a form to fill out and I have to copy an affidavit in cursive. They won't let me print. This takes several minutes longer than it should because I haven't actually written anything in cursive since I was in 5th grade.

I'm taking a computer version of the test, so they sit me down and take my picture, then send me into a room with lots of cubicles and video cameras overhead, taping everyone. It's a little creepy, but since this is a standardized test that's used for things as important as graduate and medical school tests, I can understand it. After a brief tutorial, where I learn how to use a mouse and scroll using scroll buttons, the test finally starts.

Writing section first. I write an opinion piece based on some quotation that I choose, then I analyze an argument assigned to me. Verbal section next. I suck at the Antonyms and Analogies, but I think I do well at the fill in the blanks and reading comprehensions. Math section last. It's the only one that I really take my full time on because I want to do well. 45 minutes, 28 questions, there's about 2 minutes when I'm done. Then there's a nifty test section where they test new forms of questions, including questions where they want you to select more than one answer. The 100 people who do the best on each round get $250!

The coolest part, though, of the computerized version is instant return on the score. Writing has to be looked at by real people, so they don't give you that. But verbal and math are given right then and there. I'll put them behind an LJ cut if something like this bothers you to know :P

Scores (out of 800)
Writing: TBD
Verbal: 590
Math: 800!!!!

Boo-yah, pefect math score. I think I don't have to worry about the GRE portion of my grad school application now :)

Only at Cornell

2005-11-22T05:58:44Z

So I get back to my room and hear music coming from somewhere. This is not unusual. Then I realize that it's singing, specifically a capella. I open out my window and peer out, to discover that the Cayuga's Waiters are having an impromptu concert on the roof of the building next to mine. Awesome.

ouch

2005-11-08T16:41:06Z

So I replied to a post on the Ithaca Craigslist some time ago and got to talking to the person. We decided to meet up, but that was several weeks ago. The first time we missed each other, unfortunately, and the subsequent weeks we weren't able to for one reason or another. A bit of time went by and we didn't e-mail each other at all, then I suggest we try again.

This was the response:
"I am sorry, but I am no longer interested in meeting you."

...ouch. This would be one of those times where I don't want to feel hurt or upset, because really this is so insignificant. I never knew the person. But still. Was there something I did? Or didn't do? I can't help but feel irritated.

EDIT: Follow up. I asked why.
"I broke up with my boyfriend about a week ago. I am not a person with a lot of free time and much of my time is actually now spent responding to the ad responses of people who I would actually be interested in possibly dating. I am sorry."

[sigh] Fair enough, I guess. Disappointing, but fair...

Yell at me

2005-10-31T17:12:57Z

Okay, I'm skipping too many classes. I'm either sleeping or too lazy or just don't want to go, but I've been missing more classes than I've been going to lately. So I need everyone to yell at me and tell me to stop that.

bkred @ 2005-10-27T20:37:00

2005-10-28T00:38:59Z

My advisor is either really awesome or really stupid

"Ben

I will replace 311 with 507. I will judge that you have done analysis as part of 471 and 408 (I won't have) and thus statisfied the major -- I think you should still take 311 next year because its content can be important for teaching

As for the "elective with calculus requirement" it is actually "course from outside mathematics with serious mathematical content". I will judge that Phil 231 counts (serious mathematical content? Are you KIDDING me??)-- but then it can not count as an elective -- but as far as I can tell you have 15 other elective credits so there should be no problem.

Does this seem to all work? I will await your response before I actually change the form.

David"

Me:
"David-

So long as you know for sure (and I mean for sure) that I can get away with all that, then I'm all for it. Thanks for helping me out like this!!

Ben"

This better bloody work if we're actually doing this. I don't want to get fucked over.

That movie meme

2005-10-23T18:10:40Z

are you a movie whore? if you have seen more than 100 of these films you just might be...

(X) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Boondock Saints
( ) The Mexican
(X) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) Garden State
( ) The Princess Bride
( ) Young Frankenstien
(X) Anchorman
(X) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Saw
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management

total here: 5

( ) 50 First Dates
( ) Jason
( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
(X) American Pie
(X) American Pie 2
(X) American Wedding
(x) Harry Potter
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
( ) Resident Evil 1
(x) Resident Evil 2
( ) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book

total here: 8

( ) The Village
(x) Donnie Darko
(x) Lilo & Stitch
(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) 13 Ghosts
(X) Signs
(X) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 going on 30
(x) I,Robot
(X) Dodgeball
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came A Spider
(x) Deep impact

total here: 8

( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
(X) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(X) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumb & Dumberer
(X) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
( ) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
(X) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
(X) Seven (SE7EN)
(x) Oceans Eleven
( ) Oceans Twelve
( ) Identity

total here: 7

( ) Lone Star
(x) Predator I
( ) Predator II
(x) Independence day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My boss' daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) Frailty
( ) Best bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(X) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks

total here: 4

( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) X-men 1
(x) X-men 2
(X) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Others
( ) Freaky Friday (made for tv movie)
( ) Freaky Friday (w/ Lindsay Lohan)
( ) Ring of Fire
( ) The Hot Chick
( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle
(x) Old School
( ) Ray
( ) The Notebook
(X) K-Pax

total here: 8

(X) Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Boogeyman
( ) Hitch
( ) Back Door Sluts 9
( ) Anal Acres 1
( ) Anal Acres 2
( ) B-Cup Divas
(x) The Fifth Element
(x) Star Wars episode I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars episode II Attack of The Clones
(x) Star Wars episode III Revenge of The Sith
(x) Star Wars episode IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars episode V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars episode VI Return of The Jedi...
( ) Troop Beverly Hills
( ) Swimming with Sharks
(X) Air Force One
( ) For Richer or Poorer
( ) Trainspotting
( ) People under the stairs
( ) Blue Velvet
( ) Sound of Music
( ) Parent Trap (original)
( ) The Parent Trap (w/ Lindsay Lohan)
(X) The Burbs
( ) The Terminator
(x) Empire Records
( ) SLC Punk
( ) Meet Joe Black
( ) Wild girls
( ) A Clockwork Orange
( ) the Order
(x) Spiderman
(X) Spiderman 2
( ) Amelie

total here: 15

( ) Mean Girls
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(X) The Incredibles
(x) Collateral
(x) The Fast & The Furious
(X) 2 Fast 2 Furious
( ) Sky Captain Of The World Of Tomorrow
( ) Closer

total here: 6

(X) Titanic
( ) Saved!
(X) Bowling For Columbine
(X) Farenheit 9/11
(X) The Sixth Sense
( ) Artificial intelligence (AI)
( ) Love actually
( ) Shutter
( ) Ella Enchanted
( ) Princess diaries 1
( ) Princess diaries 2
( ) Constantine
( ) Million Dollar Baby
( ) Envy
( ) Eurotrip
( ) Malibu's Most wanted
(x) Big Daddy
(x) Black Sheep
( ) The Breakfast Club
( ) Pretty in Pink
( ) West side story

total here: 6

(x) A Christmas Story
( ) Spanglish
(x) Pulp Fiction
( ) Sleepover
( ) The Evil Dead
( ) Killer Klowns From Outer Space
( ) The Seed of chucky
( ) Vanilla Sky
(x) Nightmare Before Christmas
(X) Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
( ) Interview With The Vampire
( ) The Crow
( ) Purple Rain
( ) Reservoir Dogs
( ) Wayne's World

total here: 4

( ) Wayne's World 2
( ) 21 Grams
( ) Blow
( ) Edward Scissorhands
(X) Clerks
(x) Beauty and the Beast
( ) Guess who
( ) monster in-law
( ) elf
(x) stuart little
( ) stuart little 2
( ) Mall Rats
(X) Chasing Amy
(x) Dogma
(x) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

total here: 6

(x) Beetlejuice
( ) The Last Samurai
( ) The Amityville Horror (old or new)
(X) The Aviator
( ) Romeo + Juliet (The Baz Luhrman Version)
( ) Barbershop
( ) Barbershop 2
( ) Beauty Shop
(X) legally blonde
( ) legally blonde 2
( ) the forgotten
( ) confessions of a teenage drama queen
( ) the grudge

total here: 3

( ) Oldboy
( ) Hedwig and the Angry Inch
( ) The Road to El Dorado
( ) Spun
( ) Quills
( ) Home for the Holidays

total here: 0

my score: 80. I don't think this list is significant in any way, and I also don't really get the groups. But whatever. It was something to waste my time with.

Blimey!

2005-10-21T04:19:34Z

Should I be concerned that it's becoming a regular occurance that I leave my apartment at around 8:30 most mornings and don't come back until after 10, and sometimes even midnight?

Whew.

2005-10-09T20:18:24Z

So some of you know about my recent car troubles, resulting in a repair bill of over 800 dollars. Well, among other things, I had to pretty much max out my recently obtained credit card to pay for it. So I was all worried when the first payment for it would show up and whether or not I'd have enough money to pay it.

Well I'm less worried now:
Cash or Credit Available: $2.41
Total Minimum Payment: $15.00 due 11/02/2005

Fark contest is up.

2005-10-09T02:16:35Z

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1693466&ok=true

My favorite would be IYY's way down towards the bottom.

Holy crap

2005-10-02T03:06:02Z

Okay, I don't know how much of you go to www.fark.com at all, but one thing they frequently do is hold photshop contests. They always go in one of two directions: either there is a source image that people modify or use in another situation, or there is some theme that everyone plays to.

Well anyway, on a whim, I decided to submit that picture of me and a kid during camp as a photoshop idea. AND IT WAS ACCEPTED! I'm going to "co-star" in a fark.com photoshop contest! Wheeee!!!

So then.

2005-09-23T22:02:21Z

I have a leak in my brake fluid system. Any recommendations? Beyond "take it in somewhere." I plan on that, but I can't right away. I need it tomorrow.

Well whaddayaknow?

2005-09-19T21:32:16Z

http://ithaca.craigslist.org/

Odd...

2005-09-19T12:16:24Z

So I get up this morning, around 8 as is normal for a Monday, and take a shower and all, no problem. Afterwards, I happen to check my phone and notice there's a voicemail. "Odd," I think, wondering who would call me at close to 1:30 in the morning. So I listen to it.

Some guy, I have NO idea who, has called me up asking me who did "Jenny - 867-5309" and pleading with me to call him back tonight (as in, during the night that he called, so I guess I'm too late). He says he has 50 bucks riding on it, which he doesn't have, so he's calling me for his lifeline. I have no idea who this guy is or how he got my number. I do happen to know the answer (Tommy Tutone, later redone by Everclear, I believe), so I wish I'd gotten the call, but what the hell? It's too early to call him back, but I'm definitely going to to find out what the hell is going on.

Don't you hate it when... Episode 2

2005-09-12T17:32:01Z

Don't you hate it when you spend a solid 2 hours reading and writing a 3 page paper on the readings, only to find out that you weren't actually supposed to do that paper, and was supposed to do a 5-7 page paper about a completely different topic, due tomorrow?

I sure do.

Dang

2005-08-30T20:44:12Z

Hello,

We have notified the winners of the AMTNYS Scholarships. Unfortunately,
you were not selected. This year there were close to 40 applicants, making this
one of the harder years to make a selection.

Our AMTNYS Scholarship is presented each year, so I can invite you to
re-submit your application next year, if you would still be qualified. You may submit
an application if you are an undergraduate student. This also applies if you were to
apply in the spring of your senior year. If you are planning to enter graduate school,
a scholarship would still come in handy, if you were to be selected next year.

Best Wishes to you for your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Prof. Fred Roberts, Chair
AMTNYS Professional Services Committee

That and it looks like this analysis class is going to be a royal PITA. Unfortunately, I can't drop it. I just need to remind myself that I'll still get credit for it with a grade as low as a C-... Of course, that would wreck my hopes to graduate with a 3.5. I guess we'll see how things go.

argh

2005-08-29T21:10:31Z

Don't you hate it when you spend an inordinate amount of time trying to solve a homework problem only to discover, just after having solved it, that you didn't have to do it in the first place?

I sure do.

Oh man, another one?

2005-08-26T21:44:37Z

I told you I was back. Anyway, this is a picture that was taken during the Sciencenter camp. The kid is Daniel and he's 8. ...I think. I can't remember for sure now.

Anyway, he was in my group once and in someone else's the next week. The day this was taken we had just had a big water fight and we were both absolutely soaked. That's why my shirt is a bit darker.

quizzes

2005-08-26T18:10:27Z

The True You

You want your girlfriend or boyfriend to be together with you always, no matter when or where.

With respect to money, you spend as little as possible.

You think good luck doesn't exist - reality is built on practicalities.

The hidden side of your personality tends to be satisfied to care for things with a minimal amount of effort.

You are tend to think about others' feelings a lot, perhaps because you are so eager to be liked.

When it comes to finding a romantic partner, you don't have any particular type in mind, but you are inclined to look for someone who will say yes when you ask him / her out.

Who's the True You?

Wow. That's kind of scary accurate.

How You Life Your Life

You seem to be straight forward, but you keep a lot inside.

You are always tactful and diplomatic. You let people down gently.

You tend to have one best friend you hang with, as opposed to many aquaintences.

You have one big dream in your life, and you never lose sight of it.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Check, check, sorta check, maybe check?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was insecure and in constant need of reassurance.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something that will confine you. You are afraid of marriage.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

How can I want commitment and be afraid of marriage? This test = teh suck

Slow and Steady

Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy.

They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder.

It'd really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment.

They expect you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then usually decide against it.

How Do People See You?

Heh, I think the last one is particularly true...

Your Geek Profile:

Fashion Geekiness: High

Academic Geekiness: Moderate

Gamer Geekiness: Moderate

Geekiness in Love: Moderate

Music Geekiness: Moderate

General Geekiness: Low

Movie Geekiness: Low

Internet Geekiness: None

SciFi Geekiness: None

How Geeky Are You?

Fashion geekiness? What the heck does that mean?

Yay me

2005-08-26T04:03:30Z

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 9 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

Who's the jerk?

2005-08-06T14:12:07Z

Ok, who's the jerk in this situation? My roommate for about a day longer (seeing as I'm leaving soon) has a friend-with-benefits named Lisa (names changed for anonymity). Their relationship has been the most puzzling thing I've ever seen because the last I knew she had slapped him a few times and they weren't ever talking to each other again. And then one day I come home and find all her stuff in our living room. Apparently there's a dead period between her leases. That, and she and my roommate seem to be "back together" for all that means.

Then we get to last night. I come back from home, having gotten a few bins to move crap in, and find that they're having a rather heated argument. I won't go into details, but let's just say my roommate had apparently said some things that were very stupid. At any rate, they both went out for a little while, even though he actually tried to get me to go with her because 1) his foot was sprained and 2) she's psychotic. All the while I'm packing up my things to move today (Saturday).

Eventually, she comes back with some random guy and they proceed to cuddle, kiss, etc. All while I'm still walking around through the apartment getting my things together. They actually started dry humping when I sat at my computer for a bit (her thong was pink). And here's my question: Who's the jerk? Lisa for attempting to hook up with someone on my couch in my living room while I was still packing, or me for not giving the two of them some clearly needed privacy?

bkred @ 2005-08-04T22:42:00

2005-08-05T02:42:19Z

the Prankster
(30% dark, 34% spontaneous, 16% vulgar)

your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | LIGHT

Your humor has an intellectual, even conceptual slant to it. You're not
pretentious, but neither are you into what some would call 'low humor'.
You'll laugh at a good dirty joke, but you definitely prefer something
clever to something moist.

You
probably like well-thought-out pranks and/or spoofs and it's highly
likely you've tried one of these things yourself. In a lot of ways,
yours is the most entertaining type of humor.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Conan O'Brian - Ashton Kutcher

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 9% on dark
You scored higher than 18% on spontaneous
You scored higher than 10% on vulgar

Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid