FF Student Lounge [Archive] - Freethought Forum

curses

10-06-2009, 01:28 PM

OK, there's a bunch of us now who are in school/back in school/teach. So welcome to the FF student lounge. Pull up a comfy chair (this is one lounge that has enough of those!) and chat about school stuff! How are your professors this semester? What do you think about your current workload? Need help on assignments? :ff: is here for all of your scholarly needs.

Unfortunately there's no Pizza Hut, Subway, or small coffee shops in this lounge. We don't even have vending machines.

curses

10-06-2009, 01:30 PM

I'll start off by saying that I'm loving my principles of photography class after one day. I have a great teacher and there's several students in the class that are as interested as I am* in participating. It's going to be tough but worth it. The hardest thing for me is honestly going to be juggling a full time job and school too, but it'll be worth it in the end.

*read:loud

Waluigi

10-06-2009, 01:35 PM

I applied for grad school to start in the spring of next year. Haven't heard back yet, though. If I don't get in, I guess I'll delete my post from this thread. :)

ChuckF

10-06-2009, 01:37 PM

My initial anxiety has devolved into a kind of automatonic tedium. Practice exams next week so we'll see how that goes.

Still no real job offers to justify a gtfo :brooding:

Demimonde

10-06-2009, 01:44 PM

Five English classes. I will repeat FIVE ENGLISH CLASSES. Oh and did I mention that they are all, save one, upper level? My advice to any new students is to find out all potential prereq's ASAP, and register early. It took me two semesters to get a seat in Textual Analysis, which they never make enough classes for because really, who wants to teach that? So now all I have left is English. :workload:

Some really great profs this semester and all great classes, with the exception of my Creative Writing prof who I want to hit upside the head. Ooo! OOOooo! or get a hobo clown with a big hook to walk in the door of the class and drag her ass out. Then Hobo Clown can teach and I might learn something. :clownlaugh:

ETA: Oh, and good luck to Naruto. I hope you kick that test's ass today.

jujufactory

10-06-2009, 03:40 PM

I applied for grad school to start in the spring of next year. Haven't heard back yet, though. If I don't get in, I guess I'll delete my post from this thread. :)

Good Luck! I'm prepping for the GRE's right now, scary stuff!!

Waluigi

10-06-2009, 03:57 PM

Thanks. I actually took the GRE two years ago, which was the last time I entertained applying for graduate school. My scores were decent considering I was out of practice with the whole school/testing thing, but still just average for people applying to engineering programs.

Download their prep software and do every practice exercise they give you. I didn't buy a book or do any other type of preparation; registering for the damn test cost enough money.

curses

10-06-2009, 04:09 PM

OMG 5 english classes! Poor Demi!

Chuck, I'd hire you. That's it. No mom joke.

Good luck Waluigi!

Kael

10-06-2009, 04:17 PM

My classes are early in the morning and I keep staying up too late and sleeping through my alarm. Other than that, no complaints. I'm enjoying myself pretty well, though I still have to figure out what the fuck I'm doing and settle on a Major.

viscousmemories

10-06-2009, 09:23 PM

My current classes are "Analysis & Design of Computer Information Systems" and "Computer Networking". The most annoying part so far is the ambiguous expectations of the instructor in the former class, but I'm hanging in there.

This block of classes is supposed to be the last for my Associates degree, but it turns out the program they designed for me brings me in a credit short. So now I have to find a single credit course at a local community college or pay another grand for another 3 credit class at UoP. :brooding:

As a student I'm probably biased, but I wonder if we shouldn't have a whole separate forum for discussions around academia. Does that strike anyone as a useful concept?

Demimonde

10-06-2009, 09:28 PM

Oh! That's an idea! Me Likey.

Ari

10-06-2009, 09:31 PM

It does indeed.

Deadlokd

10-06-2009, 09:40 PM

Excellent idea oh wise and illustrious leader.

My exams start this morning. In about two hours. I wish I had studied. But on the upside I'm nearly finished second year. Assuming I pass.

Ensign Steve

10-06-2009, 09:55 PM

As a student I'm probably biased, but I wonder if we shouldn't have a whole separate forum for discussions around academia. Does that strike anyone as a useful concept?

OMG, that would be fun!

fragment

10-06-2009, 10:13 PM

Good thread idea!

Nearly finished second year of my ecology degree... and exams for this semester start in 2 weeks. I've got all the big internal assessments out of the way, and so obviously it's time for me to come down with a cold. :mutter:

Good luck with exams, Deadlokd!

Ari

10-06-2009, 10:32 PM

Curses: Glad you and some others are loud. While people have often been outspoken in my classes it has taken some people 5 years to get to a comfortable level of outspoken.

Plant Woman

10-06-2009, 11:29 PM

Whelp, here I am. Good idea for a thread!

I'm taking the last class for a certificate, but will continue next quarter with Java, Flash Intermediate and Photoshop intermediate.

I'm also being considered for an internship next quarter at a local paper, so I am wondering if that will be something I will want to do, but think the contacts and how it will look on my resume will be worth me doing slave labor. (Actually I get paid for 5 credits at the college the following quarter.) My instructor is looking at me because she thinks I have a great talent for doing ad design. I would be using flash. I've done apprenticeships in photography years ago and it was a good leg up the ladder for me. It may depend on my financial situation next quarter. Anyone else doing this and if so what do you think of it? Anyone else want to weigh in on this?

erimir

10-07-2009, 12:23 AM

Grad school for linguistics...

Just had a test today in Discourse Analysis. Supposedly an hour 15 for two essay questions and one open-ended analysis of a short sample of conversation. But the essay questions are those kind where there are so many parts to the question that unless you write like, one over-simplified sentence for each part, you don't have time, but you don't want to write something too simple because you're not sure whether you'll demonstrate understanding... yada yada. Also I can be bad at rationing time, and I'm out of practice (it's my first essay exam in 2 years) and my hand hurts. But long story short, when it was time to leave, like half the class hadn't written almost anything for the last part, and only one person left close to on time... so we got 15 extra minutes. Hopefully I did ok with that extra time... ugh.

Two more tests tomorrow! Spanish phonology... I probably shouldn't even be in this course, I didn't realize how much time was going to be spent on acquainting students with basic phonological terminology and symbols... I'm not even going to study for the test, I'm so completely unconcerned.

And World English(es)... I need to do some reading that I hadn't done already, but the class is generally easier than the Discourse Analysis, it's open book and not as linguistically oriented (but the material is very linguistically oriented, so that means he's not going that hard on it). So I'm not as worried about this one, but I do need to do some reading for it.

The other class I have, Variety in Language, is basically a sociolinguistics survey course, and I've already taken a graduate level sociolinguistics survey course (in undergrad) so I'm pretty confident in that class too.

I did a bad job of picking classes this semester, I think. But then again, if they were all as hard and as much reading/homework as that Discourse Analysis class, I would be in a bad situation, I think... haha.

But I'm reading some interesting stuff, so I am enjoying a lot of stuff.

inland wave

10-07-2009, 12:32 AM

The next ten weeks will be macro and microeconomics....fun stuff.....

Shake

10-07-2009, 02:00 AM

5 English classes? I'm on the way to BS degree #2 without having taken any English classes!

To explain: 1st 4-year school offered a writing exam during orientation. Pass that and you were not required to take any English to graduate. CCAF (Comm. College of the Air Force) however, did require English credits, but again allowed testing to qualify. I easily passed the test and was awarded 6 credits for English. The next CC I attended accepted the military credits, and RIT took all of the transfer credits from the CC.

godfry n. glad

10-07-2009, 03:47 AM

The next ten weeks will be macro and microeconomics....fun stuff.....

An intro to economics class?

When I did it, I was required to take eleven weeks of macro, eleven weeks of micro, and eleven weeks of public finance.

But it was my major.

Just keep asking about that assumption that economic actors make rational decisions. Yeah, riiiiiiiight.....

Qingdai

10-07-2009, 04:12 AM

I'm interested in what Ermir is reading for his World English(es) class.

I'm on the other side of the fence, except I need a few continuing education credits for my certification.

livius drusus

10-07-2009, 05:32 AM

As a student I'm probably biased, but I wonder if we shouldn't have a whole separate forum for discussions around academia. Does that strike anyone as a useful concept?
Sure. It'll be nice to have a new forum that isn't about heinous crap. I started a Forum Admin thread (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=762705#post762705) so this one can stay on track.

erimir

10-07-2009, 05:46 AM

I'm interested in what Ermir is reading for his World English(es) class.Ermir?

Well, we started by reading information about English varieties and usage around the world... i.e. British and Irish, US, Australian & NZ English, South African, Indian English, Singapore, Malaysia, the Caribbean etc. all around the former Anglophone colonies. So, basically the spread of English worldwide over the past few centuries. Then the rapid expansion of English over the past several decades, as it not only supplanted French as the language of international communication, but has horned in on basically every territory. All that kind of stuff. We've discussed the issue of whether the varieties in "non-core" countries (i.e. English speaking countries other than the UK, US, Australia, etc. where English is spoken natively by a large majority of the population) should be institutionalized, so that say, in Singapore or India, students are taught to speak Singapore or Indian English specifically, rather than teaching student to model their speech after that of England (specifically, RP English) or American English, because for most students they will be using English mainly to communicate with other people from their own country who speak different languages, and people from other countries that don't speak English natively (e.g. Chinese or German businessmen), so is it really necessary to emulate speakers they're not even going to interact with?

We've been discussing the past week the usage of English in literature written by non-native speakers, and the implications of the choice to write in English vs. the writer's native language.

Qingdai

10-07-2009, 05:53 AM

I suffer from a "i" problem.

I was wondering if you were reading literature or theory. Also I talk a lot to people in English, who are speaking it as a second language.
Just last term I figured out that cursive isn't used in teaching English in the rest of the world, so they can't read my handwriting (which is a mix of cursive and print).

So what was there a conclusion about teaching a certain type of English? I also has colleagues who thought that British phrases the Chinese learned were poor English, highlighting their poor educations or the differences between American and Brit speak.

erimir

10-07-2009, 06:00 AM

Hmmm, weird. I guess that's mostly an issue for people who come from backgrounds where the language isn't written in the Latin alphabet, since they still have cursive in European languages, right? Cursive styles vary, but not so much you can't read them at all, right...?

Well, we're doing more linguistically oriented stuff, and there's some theory in there. But the class is intended to be accessible to English majors as well as linguists, so we're also discussing literature and things. But we're not going to get into literary theory, or read any literature for the course.

There are projects also, and for that students can concentrate on linguistic, sociological or literary issues, and we'll be spending the last month mostly on that and discussing our projects amongst ourselves. I'm doing my project on the history and use of English in Hawai'i, and its relation with Hawai'ian Creole English (usually called Pidgin). So I'll be looking at more linguistic stuff like how Pidgin arose and its structure and then sociolinguistic issues like attitudes towards it and how it's used in Hawai'i, etc. But other people are doing theirs on literary issues.

Qingdai

10-07-2009, 06:04 AM

Dingfod

10-07-2009, 06:45 AM

Great. Another forum in which I'll be unable to make any meaningful contribution. Oh, well.

Qingdai

10-07-2009, 06:53 AM

You should see my philosophy!

Don't worry about it, Dingfod. There's always the school of hard knocks.

livius drusus

10-07-2009, 07:02 AM

You don't have to be in school to have something to say about it. I haven't been in school for almost 15 years, but that doesn't stop me from shooting my mouth off, now does it?

Dingfod

10-07-2009, 07:07 AM

I said meaningful contribution, that doesn't mean I don't have anything to post.

viscousmemories

10-07-2009, 07:08 AM

Thank god we don't have any "meaningful contribution" standard here generally, or I'd be thrown out on my ass.

BrotherMan

10-07-2009, 07:12 AM

Meaningful contribution was the old morality.

:patrub:

Watser?

10-07-2009, 12:06 PM

inland wave

10-07-2009, 05:11 PM

inland wave

10-07-2009, 05:12 PM

Great. Another forum in which I'll be unable to make any meaningful contribution. Oh, well.

Get off your ass and go to SCHOOL!!!!!!!:glare:

ImGod

10-07-2009, 06:51 PM

I had a dream the other day that I hadn't studied for a final and was totally unprepared. Then I went to work and remembered the document review I was supposed to have done the day before.

SharonDee

10-07-2009, 07:20 PM

I have school tonight in a class we call "Advanced Java". At this point--four weeks in--it is neither advanced nor Java. I'm glad my employer will be reimbursing me for this shit.

Shake

10-08-2009, 05:23 AM

You don't have to be in school to have something to say about it. I haven't been in school for almost 15 years, but that doesn't stop me from shooting my mouth off, now does it?

Well, you don't get to over XL by being quiet, that's for sure.

Plant Woman

10-09-2009, 09:51 PM

Chinese and Israeli were the two students who couldn't read the cursive. (Lard, I'm speaking like Yoda here).

May I recommend Rap Reiplinger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_Reiplinger) for the Hawai'ian Creole English?

OMG, I haven't thought about him in awhile, but his stuff used to make me howl with laughter when I lived in Hawaii.

Tur-ists! :giggle: Thanks for the memories. (Room Service and Mahalo Airlines are my favorites on Poi Dog with Crabs).

Eh def ear, they call it pidgin.

You can get a sampling. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B000008NTT/ref=pd_krex_dp_001_003?ie=UTF8&track=003&disc=001)

fragment

10-15-2009, 02:05 AM

Just had last lecture for the year. Exams start in a week, better hit the books. Now where did I put my motivation?

Deadlokd

10-15-2009, 02:47 AM

Good luck fragment. I have my last exam tomorrow afternoon. Which is why I am procrastinating on the interwebs. I can't find my motivation either.

fragment

10-15-2009, 03:07 AM

Luckily I don't need it right now. I'm off to band practice instead.

inland wave

10-15-2009, 02:22 PM

Good luck fragment. I have my last exam tomorrow afternoon. Which is why I am procrastinating on the interwebs. I can't find my motivation either.

I totally get the procrastination and lack of motivation. One more year.

ChuckF

10-16-2009, 09:46 PM

I took two out of my three practice exams today. Practice because they don't count for anything at all, but we get feedback on them, so that's nice. I think I did purty good on Torts and rocked the balls off of Civil Procedure even though I hate it so much. I gotta do Property sometime this weekend.

curses

10-16-2009, 11:54 PM

I got to exempt one of my classes this week and move on to a higher level one. I could have exempted out of this one too but I ran out of time and now add/drop is over.

Kael

10-17-2009, 02:47 AM

I've missed a deadline for the second time in my fiction writing class. I've really gotta put a sticky note on my monitor or something...

fragment

10-18-2009, 09:35 PM

:study:

curses

10-19-2009, 03:29 AM

I quickly uploaded 4 new pics at invisikitty on deviantART (http://invisikitty.deviantart.com/). Just a quick go through. My favorite one seems a tad dark but I'm not sure if it's my monitor or not. The histogram was good on it. The other three I love because the temple looks like a toy because of the blurred trees framing it. They're bracketed so I put all 3 up to see what they looked like.

curses

10-19-2009, 03:33 AM

Oh, and just for fun here is my week one project piece. The only constraint was the shooting time as we were just getting to know our cameras. LOL boiled peanuts.

Ymir's blood

10-20-2009, 04:18 AM

HAT!

ChuckF

10-21-2009, 03:41 AM

Heh so today we got our torts practice exams back.

I fought the law and GUESS HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

viscousmemories

10-21-2009, 03:50 AM

:chin: :thinkup: :nojustno:

Demimonde

10-21-2009, 04:14 AM

I don't know how, but I negotiated an extension from a prof who has a zero tolerance policy on late work. I was kinda a mess but told no lies and gave zero excuses. Just told him I didn't have it but that I really wanted to do the work. He didn't even press me on the embarassing specifics. He gave me an extra chance and said he looked forward to reading it.

I turned it in yesterday, discreetly as he was breaking his own policy for me. I apologized that the work wasn't my best. He responded that even my worst work is better than most and then gave me some very kind comments and even thanks for my in class contributions. What a great teacher.

Shake

10-21-2009, 04:35 AM

Very cool, Demimonde!

Watser?

10-21-2009, 11:31 AM

Heh so today we got our torts practice exams back.

I fought the law and GUESS HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

:torta:?

curses

10-22-2009, 02:11 AM

Cool, Demi! It's always nice to know that your efforts are noticed and appreciated :)

Dingfod

10-22-2009, 08:09 PM

Where are the vending machines?

Shake

10-23-2009, 04:20 AM

Duh, in the lounge, of course. Where else?

Angakuk

10-23-2009, 04:25 AM

fragment

10-23-2009, 05:45 AM

Two exams down. 20 days before the next one then that's it until February!

Dingfod

10-23-2009, 01:07 PM

Where are the vending machines?

Duh, in the lounge, of course. Where else?Then I'm in the right place.

curses

10-23-2009, 02:11 PM

I have an 84 in Algebra! I made a B on both quizzes. Now we're working on sets. Yikes. I must have slept through this in high school because I don't remember these at all.

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 09:18 PM

What's a sets?

Dingfod

10-23-2009, 09:21 PM

What's a sets?In the above sentence, there are sets: [a, a], [t, t] and [a, a, e] not to mention others. Note the intersect between the first and third sets?

Ensign Steve

10-23-2009, 09:29 PM

That's like the new algebra. Boring!

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 09:36 PM

What's a sets?In the above sentence, there are sets: [a, a], [t, t] and [a, a, e] not to mention others. Note the intersect between the first and third sets?
They both are encased in brackets? :scratch:

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 09:37 PM

Oh, lol. They're vowels. :duh:

The brackets are in all three.

Dingfod

10-23-2009, 09:39 PM

No, silly, [a, a] appears in both sets.

Ensign Steve

10-23-2009, 09:40 PM

You're overthinking it, Ymir's blood. The intersect between the first and third sets is just [a,a]. Makes no difference if they're vowels, letters, or cupcakes. Just that they're both in both sets.

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 09:43 PM

Not buying it. :nope:

There isn't an '[a, a]' in the third set. It's '[a, a' so that would be the common bit.

Ensign Steve

10-23-2009, 09:44 PM

Touche, my good man. Except that the [ and the ] and the , are part of the standard notation of sets.

So if you had sets of brackets and commas, you'd be pretty much fucked.

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 09:51 PM

So is the ' ' (space) part of the set too? I think you're just making up crap to be confusing.

Dingfod

10-23-2009, 09:52 PM

Yeah, that's it.

Ensign Steve

10-23-2009, 09:53 PM

I think you're just making up crap to be confusing.

You have officially passed set theory.

Crumb

10-23-2009, 09:59 PM

Actually, you wouldn't find a set like [a, a] because in a set all elements are unique, right?

Ensign Steve

10-23-2009, 09:59 PM

Not necessarily. You can put anything in a set you want.

Dingfod

10-23-2009, 09:59 PM

Actually, I think you are right. It would just be [a].

Crumb

10-23-2009, 10:00 PM

Oh, I guess I failed.

ETA: ... or not :giggles:

Ymir's blood

10-23-2009, 10:00 PM

Not necessarily. You can put anything in a set you want.
Fish Squirrel?

Crumb

10-23-2009, 10:03 PM

Unlike a multiset, every element of a set must be unique; no two members may be identical. All set operations preserve the property that each element of the set is unique. The order in which the elements of a set are listed is irrelevant, unlike a sequence or tuple.

:whistles:

But

10-24-2009, 09:44 PM

What's a sets?

A collection of distinct objects, whatever the hell that means. Apart from philosophical sentences like that, a set doesn't really have a definition, because everything else is defined in terms of it.

Touche, my good man. Except that the [ and the ] and the , are part of the standard notation of sets.

I have never seen square brackets in that context. Pretty much everyone on the planet uses curly { brackets } for sets. However, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on notation; just make sure everyone knows what you're talking about.

So if you had sets of brackets and commas, you'd be pretty much fucked.You just draw a big circle, call it whatever you want to call the set (Herbert comes to mind), and put the brackets and commas in there. See above.

Not necessarily. You can put anything in a set you want.

Sure, you can do that. You just cannot find out if you put a certain object in there more than once.

Unlike a multiset, every element of a set must be unique; no two members may be identical. All set operations preserve the property that each element of the set is unique. The order in which the elements of a set are listed is irrelevant, unlike a sequence or tuple.

:whistles:

Let A = {a,b} and B = {a, b, b, a, b}. A = B if and only if every element of A is also an element of B and vice versa. a is an element of A, and a is also an element of B. b is an element of B, b is an element of B, and b is an element of B. Heck, you could even say that b is an element of B, or b is an element of B. b is also an element of A. Those two sets are the same set. You can write the elements down a gazillion times if it makes you happy, but the way the axioms of set theory are written down, it just doesn't make any difference.

Naru

10-25-2009, 02:37 AM

I spent eight hours in the lab today :bed:

Shake

10-27-2009, 05:13 AM

Not necessarily. You can put anything in a set you want.
Fish Squirrel?

Yes, even that. It might be a null set, though. You can go on and talk about sets of sets, even. That's where things get even more confusing. Lots of more good stuff on sets here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_%27mathematics%28).

Ymir's blood

10-28-2009, 11:02 PM

Wait, what does Null have to do with this?

Shake

10-29-2009, 03:55 AM

Null, as in 'empty', not our own Nullifidian.

wildernesse

10-31-2009, 11:59 PM

Heh so today we got our torts practice exams back.

I fought the law and GUESS HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

If it makes you feel any better, I never found that practice exams were any measure of my ability to pass the real exam. In fact, I think the main purpose of practice exams is to freak the takers out and make them study more.

Demimonde

11-02-2009, 07:20 AM

Taking a break. I hate Sundays now. It seems the weekends I procrastinate - I spend all Sunday night staying up working for my Monday deadlines. Weekends like this one - in which I worked diligently through my readings and writings everyday - I spend all Sunday night staying up working for my Monday deadlines.

Part of me can't wait till finals are here and I can get this damn semester over with. Part of me wants to have a couple three weeks more time to get all the work done. Suckage.

viscousmemories

11-02-2009, 01:06 PM

I hear ya Demi. :hug:

Shake

11-05-2009, 02:43 AM

Word.

fragment

11-05-2009, 03:25 AM

Shake

11-05-2009, 03:34 AM

I've got a test this Friday, one final next Wednesday, then another final the following Friday. Then I'll have 9 of my ~20 classes at this school done.

Shake

11-11-2009, 05:36 AM

Well, tomorrow is the big day. My final exam in DSP. I've not been able to study as much as I would have liked, but things have been coming together in the last week or two for me, so I'm hoping to do pretty well.

fragment

11-11-2009, 06:34 AM

Good luck, Shake. Last exam for me tomorrow too, for this year at least.

The Lone Ranger

11-11-2009, 05:06 PM

Got given a book (http://www.kewbooks.com/asps/ShowDetails.asp?id=596) as thanks for the volunteer hours in the herbarium. I'm stoked, I've wanted this since the start of the year.

Need to start studying for my last exam, which is a week away.

Niiiice! I've been thinking about getting that one myself. After all, there's a reason why everyone who's anyone in botany constantly refers to the Index Kewensis.

Cheers,

Michael

Demimonde

11-18-2009, 02:16 AM

So you know that anxiety dream where suddenly it's the end of the semester and there is a class that you are totally unprepared for / have forgotten about and it is a major :freakout: ?

I lived that this morning.

A paper from a month ago was missing. I remember writing it, and it was pretty darn brilliant if I say so. I emailed to to the professor. Well I found out he never recieved it, so went looking for it. IT WAS NOWHERE. Not in my gmail, not on my hard drive, not on my thumbdrive. I even checked my student folder on Uni network. Nada.

So I was a wreck this morning. Especially since this course grade is based on only three papers and right now I have absolutely no time to do it over. I have three term papers due before Thanksgiving. My schedule gets uglier from there. So I was beside myself and certain I was going to get a C in the course despite my A average. I wanted to crawl under the bed and not come out until next spring, possibly ever. I was terrified to face my prof.

I go to class and talk to him. Just tell him the truth and how sorry I am but aliens ate my homework. (Well I didn't really say that last bit.) Absolutely the most unbelievable response. He was very disapointed ... because he looked forward to reading my papers. :jawdrop:

My head was on the chopping block and he gave me his verdict. He decided since my other work was so above average that he would let my A average stand untouched so I can focus on the final term paper. :faint:

I am so lucky! Whatever Gods look out for children, puppies, and sleep deprived students, I priase them. And, of course, my professor who was an absolute saint. I have backed up all my files now, and learned from this ordeal to save save save my work. Thank goodness I didn't have to learn it a harder way.

viscousmemories

11-18-2009, 02:14 PM

You're like really hot, aren't you? This doesn't happen to homely people.

inland wave

11-18-2009, 03:50 PM

Really, never never do I get this lucky, ever.....That is so cool!

Demimonde

11-18-2009, 04:25 PM

I would say that I am not altogether unfortunate looking, but I hope he was being honest about the brilliance of my work rather than the brilliance of my smile being the determining factor.

Plus, yesterday I looked like hell. Scruddy hoodie, dirty jeans and greasy hair with no makeup. Plus I'd been crying before I left the house so I had the puffy red eye thing rocking too and had to wear my scratched up coke bottle glasses rather than contacts. I prolly looked stoned. If my looks that day was the deciding factor, he has spectacularly low standards.

I will add that my first essay was the only A in the class, everyone else got reamed and had to do rewrites. So, I am that smart. But I had no expectation of that level of mercy. I am typically the unluckiest person in the world. Lots of times profs hold me to higher standards I find. I am still in disbelief.

Shake

11-19-2009, 05:36 AM

fragment

11-19-2009, 06:05 AM

98% final grade for multivariate stats. :yahoo:

inland wave

11-19-2009, 03:07 PM

98% final grade for multivariate stats. :yahoo:

That is so cool, I hate stats...

fragment

11-25-2009, 01:33 AM

And great grades for the 2nd & 3rd year ecology papers, too!

Hell of a year, though. So glad it's over. :phew:

Shake

11-25-2009, 04:16 AM

Hmm ... so ... EM Fields: C. Digital Signal Processing: B.

Not too bad, esp. when earlier I thought I was getting two C's. In fact, I was pretty certain that DSP was going to be a C.

viscousmemories

11-30-2009, 03:29 AM

inland wave

11-30-2009, 07:08 PM

I just turned in the final projects for the last two classes I'm taking at the University of Phoenix. Due to a planning error I am still one credit short of earning their Associates Degree in IT, but I have a number of options for getting that. Otherwise I'm done with school for the time being and I really could not be any happier.

The nice part of me says --Good for you!:D
The mean part of me says---Shut up! :glare:

VM,
Best of luck to you, get back to school ASAP!!!
:wave:

Shake

12-01-2009, 06:12 AM

Just started the new quarter today. Am taking Digital Electronics, and Computer Architecture. Both classes have a lab. Oh boy.

fragment

12-03-2009, 07:45 AM

Just got back from my first few days of real field work. We've been out in the forest surveying and sampling vegetation. This is the stuff I used to daydream about doing when I was stuck in an office too many hours a day staring at a monitor.

So, yeah, pretty good. When we're not lost in a swamp, anyway.

Ensign Steve

12-03-2009, 02:04 PM

Oh wow that is so awesome!

Demimonde

12-04-2009, 07:15 PM

I survived the semester!

:workload:
:workload: :twilightzone::workload:
:workload:

:overwork: :library: :study: :student:
:library: :study: :student: :overwork:
:study: :student: :overwork: :library:
:student: :overwork: :library: :study:
:overwork: :library: :study: :student:
:library: :study: :student: :overwork:
:study: :student: :overwork: :library:
:student: :overwork: :library: :study:
:overwork: :library: :study: :student:
:library: :study: :student: :overwork:
:study: :student: :overwork: :library:
:student: :overwork: :library: :study:

:workload:
:workload: :twilightzone::workload:
:workload:

A big thanks to all you guys who listened to me bitch and moan and hung around to give me encouragement.

I appreciate you guys! :heart:

Ensign Steve

12-04-2009, 07:16 PM

:cheer: That's awesome.

Ari

12-04-2009, 07:23 PM

I am hastily finishing my senior portfolio project that is due in two weeks. I've pretty much checked out this semester and am finished with school. Luckily degrees don't matter much in photography so I can check out with only my AA degree (although I have managed to speed along through a large part of the BA program).

curses

12-04-2009, 08:49 PM

OMG final projects are nigh! I will be spending the next two weeks putting together two projects and working full time.

beyelzu

12-04-2009, 08:54 PM

well, it is finals season, I am poised for the dean's list again, I think.

we shall see, I feel like I have solid As locked up in 3 classes, but the fourth is more elusive.

I can't wait for my finals, im going to start studying for them this weekend, Im lucky cuz the finals are pretty spaced out.

Angakuk

12-05-2009, 04:04 AM

Im lucky cuz the finals are pretty spaced out.

How appropriate!

inland wave

12-05-2009, 05:41 PM

Capstone class and testing...got to love it!

inland wave

12-05-2009, 05:42 PM

If I can keep travel to a minimum and everything goes well, I will graduate December 2010!

Shake

12-08-2009, 04:21 AM

Y'all are in finals and I'm starting week #2 of a new quarter. Guess that's what I get for being at school with 10 week (plus 1 for finals) quarters. Got a whole 10 days off between fall and winter quarters.

ChuckF

12-09-2009, 04:44 PM

Property final in 2 hours...rule against perpetuities...easements, covenants, and servitudes...I'm so in the zone right now you guys :peace1:

Ensign Steve

12-09-2009, 04:46 PM

Don't screw the pooch!

Crumb

12-09-2009, 05:17 PM

Or buy the farm! :cheesywink:

ChuckF

12-09-2009, 10:30 PM

So that is done and I'm pretty sure I kicked ass. Of course in law skewl objective ass-kicking isn't very useful in terms of predicting your grade since everybody else may also kick ass, but I'm thinking I'm in the B+ range at a minimum.

Ymir's blood

12-10-2009, 04:00 AM

YouTube- Phoenix Wright - Boot to the Head

Demimonde

12-11-2009, 05:45 PM

My finalest of finals is finally finished!

Whew! This semester nearly killed me. My final was half arcane literary terms that would make Ken Jennings weep for their triviality, the second was written analysis in seven parts. It took the whole two and a half hours. :faint:

I also got back two assignments that had me shaking and quaking in my boobkicking boots. This prof had ripped me to shreds on some other work, so I really needed a good grade to pull a B in the course. I got aces! :cheer: So hopefully I will end up with two A's, two B's, and a C for this longest semester of my life. GPA is dinged but not destroyed. Never again will I take such a courseload of crapola. I swears.

SharonDee

12-11-2009, 07:31 PM

The so-called Advanced Java class went so poorly this semester that I haven't participated in any of the student threads. I don't feel like much of a stoo-dent, you know?

We were supposed to be learning how to use Oracle's JDeveloper but I swear, the instructor knows less about using this product than we do. And he's been so-called teaching it for three years!

I hate that my company's education fund was so cheated but at least it ain't my money, yanno?

So yeah. The semester is over and the students in the class (three of us) will get A's. No testing required.

I don't know whether to feel like a big ol' cheat or like a big ol' patsy.

Naru

12-11-2009, 11:53 PM

I got home at 4:50 and realized I hadn't done an extra credit assignment due at 5:00 ffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuu

But I did it in like twenty minutes and my teacher was nice and accepted it.

ChuckF

12-14-2009, 01:18 PM

Four-hour ball-shattering torts exam starts in 40 minutes :freakout:

livius drusus

12-14-2009, 01:40 PM

:uncupandball:

But

12-14-2009, 01:45 PM

ouch

ChuckF

12-14-2009, 06:44 PM

weeeeellp...that was p. much the most humblingly ass-kicking graded exam I've ever sat through. I've got a bad feeling about that one. But no time for sorrow, civil procedure on Friday, onward and upward :sisyphus:

Demimonde

12-14-2009, 06:45 PM

:darn: Ah well, kick back for this next one.

Shake

12-15-2009, 05:12 AM

CMOS inverters in lab tomorrow.

erimir

12-16-2009, 07:59 PM

Well, I'm done for the semester.

And all it took was three all-nighters to finish my three papers on their respective due dates.

And I was surprised to receive an A and A- on the two papers I've gotten back... Looks like I might be getting all A's this semester, amazingly.

Naru

12-16-2009, 09:55 PM

A/A for my bullshit classes, A/A- for my real classes.

ChuckF

12-18-2009, 05:10 AM

One more to go. Civil procedure tomorrow afternoon. I am not too worried about this one, and I just finished re-re-tooling my outline and now I am pretty much a badass personal jurisdiction machine. International Shoe? Shit yeah. Asahi? Fuck. Yes. Burger King? Bet your asshole. Worldwide Volkswagen? Like a motherfucker.

Pennoyer? No.

Shake

12-18-2009, 06:38 AM

Yikes ... took 4 hours to do my 2 hour lab today and still couldn't quite get it working. Oh well, at least during times I was waiting for the TA to be available, I was able to work on the homework which was due during my afternoon class.

Also, week 3 (of 10) is now done, and I'm off school for the Xmas break. Classes resume on Jan 4th.

meeps

12-18-2009, 05:09 PM

I finished this quarter earlier in the week, and even though one of my final papers was two days late, he gave me a good grade on it anyway. And I passed one of my MA exams and got a high pass on the French reading exam, so it's only one more exam next quarter, and I get my MA. :woohoo:

Demimonde

12-18-2009, 05:18 PM

Final scores, BABAA! That is to say ABABA! So I still have a 3.75 GPA :w00t:

livius drusus

12-18-2009, 05:25 PM

Congrats, meep! And go git 'er, Dancing Queen!

ChuckF

12-18-2009, 11:02 PM

:woohoo:

livius drusus

12-19-2009, 12:56 AM

I take it your retooled outline did the trick, then?

Ari

12-19-2009, 01:17 AM

I is done with school. :yup:

Kael

12-19-2009, 03:56 AM

Sat down with an adviser and talked about just what in the hell I'm doing up here. Nothing specific set out yet, 'cause I'm just going part-time right now which really slows things down, but it looks like I'll be changing my major to Physics or the more general physical sciences program, still aiming at teaching when all is said and done. I'll probably keep an English minor. It seems that science teachers are in high demand these days, and I'm pretty sure at this point that I'll enjoy it more than teaching English.

I survived this semester, brought my GPA back up a bit from the debacle I had last year. Things are looking up.

Ari

12-20-2009, 08:55 PM

http://www.photographerari.com/site/portfolio_project/thumb/EricLitton_portfolio_01.jpg
The Project (http://www.photographerari.com/site/portfolio_project/) that I did for my senior portfolio class.

Sauron

12-24-2009, 06:34 AM

I was really sweating my corporate finance class this quarter - I got the homework OK, but on the midterm I scored exactly the mean. :deepsigh: So I reluctantly resigned myself to just passing and getting through.

The class still had the project and final to go, though. Project was to evaluate a recent IPO, arrive at a proper stock valuation, and make a buy / no buy recommendation to a board of investors. The final exam was three pages of questions, all about the role of debt in valuation, M&A (mergers and acquisitions), and warrants/convertibles. No calculations, more of a defend/attack/defend exercise where you had to pick a position and articulate it against a rising tide of objections and new conditions.

So while I was home in Virginia with family last week, I got an unexpected email from the professor. "Way to go!"

"What?" I asked. "Final exam and project? How did I do?"

"98/100 & 43/43. Highest scores on each."

So only two classes to go before graduation; International Business Ethics and Capstone / Business Strategy. Current GPA is 3.955.

Today I received an email from my academic advisor. I've been invited to apply to Alpha Sigma Nu (http://www.alphasigmanu.org/) - the Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. :woohoo:

Deadlokd

12-26-2009, 03:45 AM

Nice work Sauron. I don't understand US GPAs. Ours go up to seven and yours go up to...?

I'm sitting here with 4000 words to write about different aspects of haemotology by Monday. And my brain is frozen. I just can't do it. I have so many terms floating around my head I can't keep them straight.

Qingdai

12-26-2009, 03:51 AM

Ours go up to 4?

It's been a while since I've had to worry about GPAs.

Ymir's blood

12-26-2009, 04:04 AM

I never worried about them. :nope:

Demimonde

12-26-2009, 09:45 PM

A (90-100%) = 4
B (80-90%) = 3
C (70-80%) = 2
D (60-70%) = 1
F (<60%) = 0

For each course grade a number is assigned, and the average of the courses yields the GPA.

Unless you are on the plus/minus system, then all hell breaks loose (http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/student_services/academic_policies/plus_minus.html)and the A students become handicapped.

Angakuk

01-09-2010, 01:05 AM

Advice for students pursuing graduate degrees in the humanities. Just Don't Go (http://chronicle.com/article/Graduate-School-in-the-Huma/44846/)

Most undergraduates don't realize that there is a shrinking percentage of positions in the humanities that offer job security, benefits, and a livable salary (though it is generally much lower than salaries in other fields requiring as many years of training). They don't know that you probably will have to accept living almost anywhere, and that you must also go through a six-year probationary period at the end of which you may be fired for any number of reasons and find yourself exiled from the profession. They seem to think becoming a humanities professor is a reliable prospect — a more responsible and secure choice than, say, attempting to make it as a freelance writer, or an actor, or a professional athlete — and, as a result, they don't make any fallback plans until it is too late.

<snip>

What almost no prospective graduate students can understand is the extent to which doctoral education in the humanities socializes idealistic, naïve, and psychologically vulnerable people into a profession with a very clear set of values. It teaches them that life outside of academe means failure, which explains the large numbers of graduates who labor for decades as adjuncts, just so they can stay on the periphery of academe.

<snip>

It's hard to tell young people that universities recognize that their idealism and energy — and lack of information — are an exploitable resource. For universities, the impact of graduate programs on the lives of those students is an acceptable externality, like dumping toxins into a river. If you cannot find a tenure-track position, your university will no longer court you; it will pretend you do not exist and will act as if your unemployability is entirely your fault. It will make you feel ashamed, and you will probably just disappear, convinced it's right rather than that the game was rigged from the beginning.

ChuckF

01-09-2010, 01:31 AM

That is an excellent article, Ang. I started out in grad school expecting to head into a History or Poli Sci PhD program, and very nearly did so before some of my faculty explained hard truths to me. I resented them for it at the time but now I appreciate it. That is pretty much the reason that I am in law school now. It's not a very good reason, but it's a reason nonetheless.

Oh yeah, I finally got a grade back. I got a B in torts. :meh: I pretty much shit the bed on the exam, but I got a B, which I didn't deserve. I'm not bothered that it's a B and not an A, I'm more bothered that it's a B and not a C, because I definitely felt like my exam was a C exam. But whatever. Thanks grade inflation! :inflate:

Angakuk

01-09-2010, 03:07 AM

You should read some of his other articles on the same subject. I particularly liked the following bit from his article Is Graduate School a Cult? (http://chronicle.com/article/Is-Graduate-School-a-Cult-/44676/) The emphasis is mine.

And hey, maybe treating graduate school as a kind of cult from which one needs help to escape might give rise to some unconventional new positions for all the unemployed Ph.D.'s.

Let's say a mother finds an application to Duke University's Ph.D. program in English under her daughter's mattress. Obviously the mother is devastated. If she does nothing, in a year her daughter will be dressed in black and sneering in obscure jargon at the Thanksgiving turkey and Aunt Sally's cranberry Jell-O mold. Where can a concerned parent turn for help?

To serve this need, former academics could reinvent themselves as counselors; they could coordinate interventions with the friends and loved ones of people who are flirting with graduate school, or who have been enrolled for several years but lack the will to leave, or who are trapped in dead-end adjunct positions. These "academic exit counselors" could foster the kind of loving, supportive environments that "academic captives" need to return to a normal life.

Of course, in some cases, tough love may be the only solution. And former graduate students and adjuncts could put together a traveling program for kids who still have time to turn themselves around. They could even make a documentary. It could be a nerdy version of Scared Straight: "You fancy-ass punks think you're so smart? You think you know something about hegemony? I got a Ph.D., 50 grand in student loans, and I clocked 20 years as an adjunct. Now I'm here to tell the truth to suckers like you."

curses

01-10-2010, 04:11 PM

OK, gearing up for second quarter that starts tomorrow! :excited:
I am taking:
View Camera (medium format) :picture:
Drawing :sketch:
History and Survey of Photography :blah:

And hooray for grade inflation (not). I'm glad that I have a 3.3 but I don't feel like I've earned it. I know Chuckles mentioned it earlier, but I have to agree. Looks good on paper but it's just churning out students instead of grading on merit :/

inland wave

01-10-2010, 05:39 PM

Gearing up to take that three hour long test on line early afternoon. 1.8 minutes per question, multiple choice. 100 questions on all core subjects for a business degree. We were told not to study, wouldn't do any good. I did review a few things, will see how it works out. I Fear Not....(at least that is what I keep telling myself). Nerves I get them when testing. UGH!!!

Ymir's blood

01-10-2010, 06:00 PM

Not really a 'student' thing but in a similar vein. IIRC there are a batch of recertification tests tomorrow. I've been out on vacation, holiday and sick leave since before Christmas and the online review stuff was supposed to be made available in the interim. I need to run by the office today and see if my recollection of the date is correct and if so, see if I can dig up my old manuals and/or get the URL to do the online review at home.

viscousmemories

01-10-2010, 07:50 PM

Gearing up to take that three hour long test on line early afternoon.
:crossed:

Ari

01-10-2010, 10:57 PM

View Camera (medium format) :picture:
Good luck with the heavy equipment.
The bonus is that if you are using a large format or full watch the birdy view camera you can get great shots of people in public, cause no one knows what the hell you are doing with that large box.

Drawing :sketch:
I've thought about going back to school just for a few drawing classes.

History and Survey of Photography :blah:
This is either going to be really awesome or really damn boring. I got lucky and had a teacher who shoots using the old processes and so the early bits of photography were more interesting.

Sounds like a good load, nothing too hard but not all breeze classes.

curses

01-11-2010, 12:46 AM

Good luck with the heavy equipment.
The bonus is that if you are using a large format or full watch the birdy view camera you can get great shots of people in public, cause no one knows what the hell you are doing with that large box.

I helped a fellow student with her rig last quarter. It was heavy. And it's full watch the birdy view camera :excited:

Ari

01-11-2010, 01:01 AM

Nice. At a lot of San Frans parties or parades I see a few people shooting with Medium format and I wish them luck!

:)

Ensign Steve

01-11-2010, 05:45 PM

I applied for Fall term at University of Georgia today. That is all.

beyelzu

01-11-2010, 06:01 PM

Looks like I will need a restraining order, that is all.

:tmgrin:

ChuckF

01-11-2010, 07:22 PM

Party's over bey I mean wewt, ES!

Shake

01-13-2010, 04:18 AM

I was worried about the test I took last Thursday. It seemed too easy. I thought I'd either done really well, or really poorly. Got an 88, so that was pretty good. I'm pleased with that.

viscousmemories

01-13-2010, 02:47 PM

If you followed the VM Show last season, you know that as I was finishing up the coursework for my AA degree at University of Phoenix Online I attempted to make a smooth transition into the BA program at Texas State. You also know that almost none of the classes I took at UP count toward fulfilling the state's core curriculum requirements, and thus that I have to essentially start over if I want to get a BA from a state school. So I have a $20k AA in IT that is effectively non-transferable.

As a result of all this I figured I'd take a break (maybe permanently) from school. However it was brought to my attention that as soon as I stop going to school I have to start paying back the $20k I borrowed to go to UP. :shudder: So, guess who's going back to school? (Hint: Not Rodney Dangerfield)

Anyway the last couple of days have been hectic as I realized that the spring term at Austin Community College starts next week and I hadn't even enrolled, so in the last 24 hours I applied, enrolled, went through advising, and registered for a class. Only one class because my address puts me in the "out of district" category and that means I have to pay $500 cash for the class today - the upper limit of my available credit. Besides most of the classes I want/need are full at this juncture, so the pickings were slim.

The class? Government. Shoot me now... (Not because I'm not interested but because I'm pig-ignorant).

Ensign Steve

01-13-2010, 02:53 PM

US Government, or Governments in general, or Texas, or other?

:popcorn:

viscousmemories

01-14-2010, 02:15 AM

The book is "We The People", so I expect it's US government.

I discovered they have an installment plan for tuition so I registered for a basic Geology class too.

Demimonde

01-14-2010, 03:37 AM

I hated that book. It was part of the list for US GOV at Tarrant County College, but that was like six years ago. They must have put out a new edition.

Deadlokd

01-14-2010, 05:38 AM

US Government, or Governments in general, or Texas, or other?

:popcorn:

If it was Texas the course would be called Gub-mint.

Ensign Steve

01-14-2010, 12:09 PM

HAHAHAHA! Texas is stupid! :rofl:

Nullifidian

01-14-2010, 04:36 PM

The book is "We The People", so I expect it's US government.

That's the same text I studied out of when I took Poli Sci 101 through the local community college. My high school had a program where they'd seen a real live community college professor to my high school to teach courses in American Government and California Government. The best thing about that was the difference in scheduling between my high school ("block days") and that of a college (three 50-minute hours a week) meant that I got to go home early two days a week. If I were in one of my high school's plays (or directing one, as I did that in high school too), then I usually drove to a nearby strip mall and browsed through its bookstore.

viscousmemories

01-18-2010, 03:06 AM

beyelzu

01-18-2010, 03:17 AM

Well, I have my first grade of the semester. I made a 91 on my homework for chemistry. but for the most part I know what I did wrong and think that I will do better in the future.

oh and I made all As and A-s last semester.

that is all

BrotherMan

01-18-2010, 06:52 PM

You're one clever cock!

Plant Woman

02-01-2010, 11:23 PM

I'm on my 4th assignment in php programming and so far perfect scores on both the lab and critical analysis. This week, I'm not sure I am going to make the perfect score. My brain is frizzled and I'm scared I'm going to write a file that never ends to my computer so everytime I hit the let's see it button and it doesn't do anything I shut everything down. When it printed to the screen it wasn't so scarey. Now that it's writing to a file :yikes: Don't want no fried hard drive.

I'm so lame with this stuff. Sheesh.

fragment

02-02-2010, 12:22 AM

PHP has a maximum execution time for scripts (IIRC you can set this in the php.ini file). So you should be limited to writing a file that's as long as what can be written in that length of time. Although it sounds like you're using some kind of IDE or educational thing, on which that may not be true.

ceptimus

02-02-2010, 12:40 AM

My classes don't start until next week, but we were already asked to submit a specific policy question we would like to discuss in my Government class. Always the withering lily, I suggested we discuss posting the 10 Commandments in public spaces.I read somewhere that there aren't ten commandments in THB - there are, like, thirteen or so, depending on which section you read. I've not bothered to check this myself, so it may be bullshit.

Angakuk

02-02-2010, 02:10 AM

Well, if there are 13 (or even more) there at least 10.

Plant Woman

02-02-2010, 02:41 AM

fragment

02-02-2010, 02:50 AM

Dunno. I've only ever coded PHP with a text editor and executed it by running Apache with the PHP module and hitting the script with a browser.

viscousmemories

02-02-2010, 02:55 AM

I wish my school had a php class. :(

Plant Woman

02-02-2010, 02:59 AM

I just emailed the question to my prof, see what he says. I tried to get it to work on my thumbnail drive but I can't seem to figure out what is wrong there so back to using my computer, which is scawey. :shudder:

I feel your pain vm.

Plant Woman

02-02-2010, 03:00 AM

Dunno. I've only ever coded PHP with a text editor and executed it by running Apache with the PHP module and hitting the script with a browser.

Oh wait. I am using a text editor. Doh :doh:

But we are supposed to process our data to a file, and if we don't have the code right, it can just keep reading and writing in an endless loop until the hard drive is full. One student already did that to her thumbnail drive.

fragment

02-02-2010, 04:18 AM

Yeah, I get that it's writing to a file. I just would have expected the script to hit the max time before filling a drive. I've had to wait out infinite loops like that, but they weren't writing to file. I guess it is possible if it's already been done! You might be able to add some kind of file size check to your loop, breaking if it gets too big. Or just have a maximum number of iterations. You can remove it for your final code, but it might make you feel better while you're testing.

Plant Woman

02-02-2010, 05:20 AM

Well this class is making me feel stupid, I can't even formulate a question sometimes to get it answered, although some of the concepts are sinking in. See I don't even know enough to know that you know what I don't know enough to know that you know. Sorry it's late and my mind has turned to mush. I just sent the question to the prof to myself instead of him.

:crazy:

fragment

02-02-2010, 05:49 AM

I don't know what you don't know.

Don't listen to me.

That make it easier? :D

beyelzu

02-02-2010, 06:24 AM

I made a 96 on my first test of the semester in mi clase de espanol.

Friday I have a test in quimica, I am looking forward to it. I just finished looking over the practice test again and wednseday I am studying with my lab partner.

Plant Woman

02-02-2010, 07:19 AM

I don't know what you don't know.

Don't listen to me.

That make it easier? :D

:lol: Ummmm, nope, you need to know what I don't know, so I can ask convoluted questions that you can translate into making sense, and then you can answer. Oh hell I'm going to bed, before my brains squirt out of my ears!

fragment

02-02-2010, 11:04 AM

Nah, see you're assuming that I can give convoluted answers that can be translated back into some kind of sense. There are reasons why I'm not a teacher!

Good luck with it, you'll get there!

Crumb

02-02-2010, 05:31 PM

You can add a counter to your loop to break it if it goes to far.

So if you have a loop like (sorry I don't know what php looks like so I hope this makes sense):

While (Still have stuff to do) {
Write stuff to file
}

If you are afraid this may go on forever pick a number of times that the loop should not run and add to the condition:

loopcounter = 0
While (Still have stuff to do AND loopcounter < 100) {
Write stuff to file

loopcounter = loopcounter + 1
}

This way you can force the loop to quit after a certain number of iterations regardless of the data, then take it out when you are sure you have it working. Hope that helps.

ceptimus

02-02-2010, 06:06 PM

PHP loop constructs are the same as C, Java, etc.

The variables are different - they have dollar signs - so you'd have $loopcounter in your example.

In the PHP and Apache config files you can set the maximum file sizes that can be transferred - but I don't know how this would affect you if you're working in some kind of IDE.

Plant Woman

02-03-2010, 03:56 AM

So this would go in my while statement at the bottom of all the stuff I have to do?
Purple is where I think Crumb's suggestion would go. Please be kind I am really befuddled by this and hopefully you won't laugh at my notes to self, so I can keep clear what each step is as I write it out.

Since this has nothing to do with my homework assignment just something I want as insurance that I don't mess up my computer, I think this is ok to ask for help with that part of the code.

So something like this?

//Adding this to all my other variables.
$loopcounter = 0;

while (!feof($fin) and $loopcounter < 100 )
{
//Process area
$salesDifference = $salesCurrentYear - $salesLastYear ;

/*Spacing between strings and integers put character numbers between percent sign and s or d.
Minus sign left justifies the column.
*/
fprintf($fout,"\n%4s%8s%4d", $itemId, $itemName, $salesDifference);
$count = $count + 1;

//This needs to be here, to keep it from corrupting hard drive. Read:
fscanf($fin, "%s%s%d%d", $itemId, $itemName, $salesCurrentYear, $salesLastYear);

$loopcounter = $loopcounter + 1;
}

Or would the bottom line be outside the while statement?

fragment

02-03-2010, 04:52 AM

The bottom line is in the right place. You want it within the while statement so that it adds 1 each time the loop goes round.

For a bit of code short hand you can use the increment operator (http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.operators.increment.php)

$loopcounter++;

instead of

$loopcounter = $loopcounter + 1;

Actually you can even put the increment in the while loop comparison!

while (!feof($fin) and $loopcounter++ < 100 )

IMO in your while statement you should get used to using "&&" rather than "and" - they are evaluated the same way but they are at different positions in the operator precedence (http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.operators.precedence.php) order. It won't matter for that bit of code, but you can get messed up if you are mixing logical operators and assignments in the same statement.

$aa = $bb && $cc;

will do something different to

$aa = $bb and $cc;

IMO the first is more intuitive and useful, so it's good to use as the default logical operation.

Plant Woman

02-03-2010, 05:23 AM

That's cool and thanks for those links, those will come in handy. I like the using &&, but wonder if the prof would like these things showing up in my code?

I shouldn't have started this in the student lounge, hijackinxs 'r us! What started out as a whine turned into help.

Thanks Crumb, Cept and Fragment. I hope it starts making more sense to me soon and I can start applying this to stuff I am doing.

fragment

02-03-2010, 06:42 AM

IMO a student lounge is precisely the place to turn whines into help. And for drinking coffee, lots of coffee.

The PHP manual is one of your best friends, I've picked up plenty of useful tips from the comments. You can download it as help files (http://www.php.net/download-docs.php) as well as view it online.

If your prof specifically wants you to use "and", it's probably good to do it. At some point it's worth getting your head around operator precedence and the differences between the two types of logical operators, if for no other reason than being able to write code like:

$r = fopen($filename) or die;

ceptimus

02-03-2010, 05:13 PM

By the way, the symbol in PHP for a logical-OR is ||

In tests it's normal (and correct in my opinon) to use && for AND and || for OR.

In C (and I guess in PHP too, depending on how well optimised the interpreter/compiler is) the computer is sometimes able to skip part of the test once it knows that the answer is bound to be true or false no matter what follows - this can result in programs running faster.

I know it's not necessary (because the operator precedence does it for you) but I generally add parentheses within logic tests to make it crystal-clear what gets evaluated first. Sometimes I also put in unnecessary spaces to make it clearer which pairs of brackets belong to each other.

Example:

if ( (($a == 2) && ($b == 3)) || (($a == 4) && ($b == 5)) )
32echo "a plus b is either five or nine (a = 2, b = 3 OR a = 4, b = 5)";

Ensign Steve

02-03-2010, 05:23 PM

That's cool and thanks for those links, those will come in handy. I like the using &&, but wonder if the prof would like these things showing up in my code?

Why is that? Because s/he hasn't taught it yet? Most programming classes I've taken, several of the students have previous experience and will tend to use the operators/functions/what-have-you they are already most comfortable with, if they apply to the given assignment. Also some operators (like && and ||) are common across many languages much older than php, so even people learning that specific language for the first time will sometimes slip into their practiced conventions. I really couldn't imagine a prof that would discourage that.

fragment

02-03-2010, 09:41 PM

In C (and I guess in PHP too, depending on how well optimised the interpreter/compiler is) the computer is sometimes able to skip part of the test once it knows that the answer is bound to be true or false no matter what follows - this can result in programs running faster.
Yup, PHP does that, which is why the code I posted above works. If the left side of an "or" comparison is true, it won't bother checking the the right side. The die statement only gets executed if the left side is false - IOW you can use the "or" operator as an alternative for "if".

I wouldn't normally recommend that for production code, where clarity is important, but it's great for quick one-off scripts or testing stuff.

viscousmemories

02-05-2010, 03:57 AM

I'm having a blast in my US Govt class. The teacher is funny and engaging, the subject matter is very interesting to me and there are a number of fine looking young women in the class. I really couldn't ask for anything more.

Plant Woman

02-06-2010, 09:37 AM

Plant Woman

02-12-2010, 01:29 AM

I'm feeling more competent in coding php. Last week I wrote code with no fear and for the first time I felt like I was really understanding. In fact this week as I watched the prof code I was able to see his typos and if he forgot something in the code before he ran it and found them himself with the checker. Of course it's always easier to find other's errors than it is our own.

This week we waded into arrays and I got it. I GOT IT! I understood his lecture completely for the first time. :bliss:

Having said all the above, I still have a perfect score on all my assignments, so I'm doing the material right. Now my brain has caught up to it. Mid term final next week so hopefully I'm on a roll and not too confident.

Crumb

02-12-2010, 02:42 AM

:clap:

Demimonde

02-22-2010, 05:49 PM

:cryout: I am such a simp. Freaking just blew my first history test. He even gave us ID's, but I misread the instructions. I thought we picked five of the ten to identify. He didn't specify, but that is usually how I've seen it done. But noooooo. I will assume wrong everytime. I was rocking the five I focused on, but EVERY FREAKING ONE OF MY WEAK ONES, INCLUDING THE REDUNDANT ONES were listed. Dammit!

At least I think I rocked the essay, so I should be able to sqeak out a B. Maybe. A stupid student trick for sure.

Bad Demi, Bad!

Ensign Steve

02-22-2010, 05:52 PM

Oh that fucking sucks. I've done that before, only I was so stupid I didn't even catch on to my mistake during the exam, so I wrote for the five wrong things. :doh:

Plant Woman

02-22-2010, 10:28 PM

I hate it when that happens. A "b" is good though!

viscousmemories

02-23-2010, 12:51 PM

I had my first test at the community college last Thursday (US Govt) and got a C. I admittedly only did about a C's-worth of studying, but that would've gotten me an A in most of my University of Phoenix classes. :hmph:

curses

02-23-2010, 03:34 PM

soo..sleeeepy. Didn't study for my test tonight, have to go reshoot an assignment in a minute. I wish I didn't have to work full time. My life would be so much easier if people would just hand me money for my bills.

viscousmemories

02-24-2010, 02:11 AM

Although I should've done better on my first test, it wasn't too bad by comparison.

The highest grade is 97; the lowest, 28.

4.6% of the tests earned an A.
10.8% earned a B.
26.1% earned a C.
28.5% earned less than 70 points.

Sauron

02-25-2010, 08:16 AM

Today I received an email from my academic advisor. I've been invited to apply to Alpha Sigma Nu (http://www.alphasigmanu.org/) - the Honor Society of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. :woohoo:

It's done.

I was notified today that I have been nominated by the Dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics, and accepted into Alpha Sigma Nu.

Next: two honorary dinners, a commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matteo_Ricci) (the Jesuit who opened up China to the Roman Catholic Church), and some contact time with the Jesuit order on campus.

Followed by formal induction into Alpha Sigma Nu, to be held on April 13, 2010. :yup:

curses

02-25-2010, 02:23 PM

I was the only one in view camera that passed my midterm :pleased: It was a pass/fail assignment so it was not graded.

livius drusus

02-25-2010, 02:37 PM

Wow, congrats, curses. And congrats, Sauron. I read up on Matteo Ricci recently because of his phenomenal world map (http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/4418).

Angakuk

02-28-2010, 01:43 AM

Congratulations Sauron. Will we be invited to your ordination?

fragment

02-28-2010, 03:05 AM

Classes start tomorrow. I just got back from field work last night. Looks like I might be adding an extra paper, I think I've scored a job as demonstrator. Plus the band's recording and planning a short tour. All great stuff, but I think I need a holiday already...

irukandji

02-28-2010, 04:46 AM

just got my text for pathophysiology

holy caca, 800 pages... it weighs a ton

yay

it has a CD and a study guide

yay

Shake

03-09-2010, 05:57 AM

Finished last quarter with one B and one C.

New quarter started today. 3 classes, each with a lab. Joy.

erimir

03-09-2010, 06:07 AM

Shake

03-10-2010, 02:14 AM

This quarter we have:

Electromagnetic Fields II
Microcomputer Systems
Control Systems Design

Should be a fun quarter!

Sauron

03-10-2010, 08:30 AM

Ensign Steve

03-15-2010, 02:18 PM

Spoke with admissions. They have received all five (FIVE!) of my transcripts, they just hadn't updated the web page, so I've been giving myself panic attacks for the last month for no good reason. I mean, unless you count the part of the budget proposal where they proposed rejecting ALL transfer applications.

:hyperventilate:

curses

03-17-2010, 05:57 PM

Oh thank fuck I passed my view camera class. That was the hardest class and the hardest teacher I've ever endured.

Ensign Steve

03-17-2010, 06:03 PM

Congrats, curses! :cheer:

:unpic:

Ymir's blood

03-17-2010, 11:47 PM

:flashpic:

Deadlokd

03-19-2010, 08:58 AM

I have the GAMSAT tomorrow. I'm vacillating between supremely confident that I'll get the mark I need and shitting myself that I'll FUBAR it.

Deadlokd

03-20-2010, 11:32 AM

Finished. I'm drained.

Ensign Steve

03-20-2010, 03:06 PM

Congrats. Take a nap.

Angakuk

03-20-2010, 07:35 PM

Don't take mine. I'm going to need it.

viscousmemories

04-02-2010, 03:16 AM

Between hurting my back, going to Michigan, Spring Break and general laziness I had to learn the last four weeks of my classes in the past few days for a test last night (Geology) and tonight (US. Govt.). I'm so relieved both tests are behind me now - I even think I did pretty well on both. Actually I think I did about a B- on the Geology test and A on Govt.

I'll be back next week to see how good I am at predictions.

Now I just have to write two Govt. papers by April 9th. No pressure!

Shake

04-02-2010, 04:25 AM

This was today's schedule:
8-9am: Electromagnetic Fields exam
9-10am: Microcomputers class
10-11am: Control System Design exam
11am-2pm: Microcomputers lab
2:30pm-1am: work

I hate Thursdays ... but only 6 more of them like this.

viscousmemories

04-06-2010, 02:38 PM

Actually I think I did about a B- on the Geology test and A on Govt.

I'll be back next week to see how good I am at predictions.
1 for 2 so far; got a 90 on the Govt. test. :rockon:

I'll get the results from Geo tomorrow.

Deadlokd

04-06-2010, 02:40 PM

Nice work vm. :thumbsup:

viscousmemories

04-08-2010, 05:36 PM

88 on the Geology test akshully, so more lik a B+. :cool:

livius drusus

04-08-2010, 05:49 PM

:clap:

Angakuk

04-09-2010, 05:59 AM

That totally rocks, vm.

beyelzu

04-09-2010, 07:51 AM

Deadlokd

04-09-2010, 08:01 AM

That's not too shitty at all. I would have liked a B in chem.

beyelzu

04-09-2010, 03:07 PM

It just bothers me, because I spend the time, and I feel like I should always be able to make an a. I know the material well especially the concepts. I hate the testing system, which is called Jexam, but by the third test I should be used to it.

viscousmemories

04-09-2010, 03:36 PM

I'm happy with B's because I don't commit a fraction of the time I should to studying.

beyelzu

04-09-2010, 03:40 PM

I just don't have the time to really commit to memorizing all the minutia that too much of tests are over. It's funny to me, cuz our teacher talks about in the real world, when he worked in industry.

I always think, in the real world I would have the net or even a handy fucking chart with a list of which compounds with carbonate aren't water soluble.

Sauron

04-10-2010, 03:55 AM

in other news, I have a 98 or so average in spanish and a low a in statistics,

Oooh. Are you a census worker? :innocent:

Sauron

04-10-2010, 04:34 AM

And today I was informed that I have also been nominated to the Seattle University Chapter (http://students.seattleu.edu/clubs/bgs/) of Beta Gamma Sigma (http://www.betagammasigma.org/), the International Business Honor Society.

Induction ceremony on May 14th.

Apparently this is a bigger deal than the earlier nomination to Alpha Sigma Nu, especially since I can get special discounts on all kinds of business-related things: suits and business clothes, rental cars and hotels, subscriptions to various magazines (Economist, Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal).

:woohoo:

Deadlokd

04-10-2010, 04:36 AM

Ooh, Sauron is on the fast track to the Illuminati.

My biggest problem with chemistry was that I'm studying externally and learing chemistry out of a book is hard. I learnt more in four days of residential school than I did in four weeks at home.

viscousmemories

04-10-2010, 05:42 AM

I just turned in my US Govt. term paper with 15 minutes to spare. :D

Shake

04-14-2010, 02:29 AM

I made a low b on my chem test today. so thats 2 bs and an a so far on chem tests. looks like I am headed for a b in the class. :sigh:

in other news, I have a 98 or so average in spanish and a low a in statistics, and a b in chem lab.

not too shitty.

That's not too shitty at all. I would have liked a B in chem.

I agree. If I'd made B's in chem the first time around, I wouldn't have had to repeat it. Of course, I got an A when I repeated it, so maybe that wasn't so bad.

viscousmemories

04-17-2010, 03:26 PM

I've decided not to take any classes this summer. I need to spend more time on work.

beyelzu

04-17-2010, 03:52 PM

I have decided to not take any classes this summer so I can spend more time with my wife.

Crumb

04-17-2010, 06:55 PM

:nudge:

Ari

04-17-2010, 07:02 PM

Got an e-mail that they will be sending out diplomas so eventually I might have the piece of paper in my hand which says I can circle the "college degree" bubble on forms, because damn it an AA still counts.
:graduate:

I also have decided to not take any classes this summer so I can spend more time with Bey's wife.

Ensign Steve

04-18-2010, 12:35 AM

Ooh la la!

I'm waiting to be accepted into UGA. I am disappointed every day that I check the mail and it's not there. If I get it, I won't start until fall, so I guess I'll spend the summer with bey's wife's husband.

Kael

04-18-2010, 02:06 AM

I'm on track to change majors. Provided I don't completely screw up fall semester I'll be Officially Applying to my new college and department program in the spring.

Nullifidian

04-18-2010, 02:20 AM

You may have mentioned this, but I'm too lazy to try to look it up, so....

What will your new major be?

Kael

04-18-2010, 05:19 PM

BS in Composite Teaching - Physical Science. They also offer a BS Degree in Physics Teaching with a Teaching Minor. The composite degree emphasizes less in-depth math and physics and adds in courses in chemistry and some overview-style geology and astronomy courses. The composite is the one I'm aiming for right now, but since I'm essentially just starting the program my first courses will be the same either way, so I've got a semester or two to change my mind.