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  #1  
Old 08-26-2008, 08:30 PM
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Default Classes are Back in Session ...

Yesterday was the first day of classes.

As it happens, Andy and I are teaching different sections of the same Introductory class. My class starts 10 minutes after his ends, and is taught in the same room. So, yesterday morning, a few minutes before the class was due to start, I strolled upstairs and to the classroom. As I was approaching, a bunch of students were entering. They didn't know I was behind them, and as they walked into the room, they saw Andy at the lectern, tidying up his notes before leaving.

One of the girls turned to her friend and whispered, "Oh no! That isn't him; that's the mean one!" Then she turned a bit further and saw me right behind her; she turned an interesting shade of red.

Later, after Andy had left, she explained: "He's the mean one; you're the good one!" That was pretty funny, and somewhat flattering, but I suspect they were a bit confused. Andy's a sweetheart.

***

Later in the day, I dropped by the bookstore. There were lots of students there making last-minute purchases. Many of them were there with their parents. (And by the way, every time I assign a textbook, I feel so guilty about it. The prices the publishers charge for those things are tantamount to highway robbery, if you ask me.)

Seeing a student from last semester, I said "Hi." She introduced me to her mother. Mom, upon hearing my name, immediately replied, "So you're the one I've heard so much about!"


So I guess the semester's off to a good start, eh?

If only I hadn't stupidly agreed to teach 8:00 a.m. classes each day of the week. What was I thinking?

Cheers,

Michael
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Old 08-26-2008, 08:41 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

8:00 a.m. eh? When I was in college, 8 a.m. was impossibly early. Now I've been humbled by real world and all that, 8 a.m. seems late to me and 5 a.m. a perfectly normal wake-up time.
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  #3  
Old 08-26-2008, 08:57 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

8:00 AM classes were the ruin of my try at college, never could drag myself out of bed in time. I had no discipline. I'm sure working at the gas station from 1:30 PM until 10:30 PM had something to do with it though.
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Old 08-26-2008, 09:36 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

I have an 8 a.m. history class. I really wanted to take biology, but it just wasn't in the cards for me this semester. TLR you going to have time to keep schooling us along with your "real" students? :praying:
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Old 08-26-2008, 09:41 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

I won't be putting 'em out as quickly as I was during the Summer, alas, but I'm going to revise and continue the "Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology" articles (finally!), and I'm going to continue to add more "Introduction to Zoology" articles as I can.

Actually, I have the next Zoology chapter mostly written now. I'll hopefully find time to finish it this week.

Cheers,

Michael
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  #6  
Old 08-26-2008, 09:56 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

It's obvious I'm going to have to start insulting you in order to bring balance to your universe.

Nerd.

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Old 08-26-2008, 10:23 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Ranger View Post
(And by the way, every time I assign a textbook, I feel so guilty about it. The prices the publishers charge for those things are tantamount to highway robbery, if you ask me.)
I agree. Except for mine. Worth every penny; oughtta charge double, in fact.

Quote:
If only I hadn't stupidly agreed to teach 8:00 a.m. classes each day of the week. What was I thinking?l
I loved teaching early. You filter out some of the crappy students, plus it gets you going quickly. After you lecture all the cylinders are firing, you put in some writing or course prep, and suddenly it's lunch and you've put in a pretty good day by normal standards. (Of course, if there's an afternoon colloquium you get a serious case of Narcoleptic Whiplash around 4 pm, but otherwise it's all good.)
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Old 08-26-2008, 10:28 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

That's a good point.

Last year, these classes were taught at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Going by the limited data I have so far, these kids seem like a sharper or at least more enthusiastic bunch. I had 40 sign up for the 9:00 class last year; only 25 signed up for the 8:00 a.m., but they're already more responsive than were those from last year. Takes a bit of gumption to sign up for an 8:00 a.m. class, I reckon.

And it is rather nice to be finished with the last of my classes while the sun's still shining.

Speaking of which, a trip to a nearby park for a nice walk in the woods doesn't sound like a bad idea at all right about now ...

Cheers,

Michael
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Old 08-27-2008, 03:12 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Yep. Tomorrow starts the ball rolling for me. No kids until after Labor Day though.

Phoooey! Summer went by way too fast again! :runaway:
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Old 08-27-2008, 06:49 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

I've got another week before a new term begins and my son is going to pre-school!
:happy:
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Old 08-27-2008, 07:39 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Great news, Michael ... up to the "8 am" bit.

You aren't adopting the Michel Foucault technique by any chance? He moved lectures to 9:30 to try to cope with overcrowding (but that was France, and 30 years ago).
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Old 08-30-2008, 10:57 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

That is definitely a good way to start things off.

And 8 am wasn't so bad for me..it was the 7:30am Quantitative Analysis Chem that almost killed me. :shudder:
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Old 08-30-2008, 12:38 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Ah, but I'll bet there were no lines at the coffee counter, and it was easy to find a parking spot. Silver lining, half-full, and all that.
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Old 08-30-2008, 12:54 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

One thing I like about taking classes online is that I can set my own class times. (Un?)fortunately, that means I've had a crash course in overcoming procrastination over the past 10 weeks, which is something I didn't really want but definitely needed.
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Old 09-03-2008, 01:48 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Apparently they sold over 9000 times as many parking passes as they have actual parking spaces at the university. :fuming: I paid a fortune for mine, and I absolutely hate having to shark for spaces. I showed up 40 minutes early and spent an hour trying to park. Way to be late on my first day.
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:04 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

What time was that ES? 7:30?
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:45 AM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign Steve View Post
Apparently they sold over 9000 times as many parking passes as they have actual parking spaces at the university. :fuming: I paid a fortune for mine, and I absolutely hate having to shark for spaces. I showed up 40 minutes early and spent an hour trying to park. Way to be late on my first day.
:fuming: indeed. So far as I can tell, the Parking Nazis at practically every university are outside the academic stream of command, and hence get very little oversight. That they work under the President (or Regent, or whatever your highest officer is) tends to be purely notional. At any place I've studied or worked, it seems that Parking is just given a mandate: make money.
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Old 09-03-2008, 01:45 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Damn, I shouldn't have opened this thread. It just awakened all of my repressed memories of parking traumas at Berkeley. :mutter:
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  #19  
Old 09-03-2008, 04:58 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeP View Post
What time was that ES? 7:30?
My class started at 8. I got to school at 7:20, and entered the classroom at 8:20. :sadcheer: I think I can get around it on those days by showing up even earlier (maybe run around the track for an hour before class), but on M,W,F I don't have classes until afternoon, so I have no choice but to shark. Or take the train. But then why did I buy the parking pass?
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Old 09-03-2008, 05:03 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

What is "Sharking" ES?

You got a side buisness of cutting loans on the fly to hardpressed college students at 1000% interest rate?

Need an enforcer...aka...knee cap buster? I's cans swings a means baseballs bat!:whup:
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Old 09-03-2008, 05:06 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Sharking is when you circle the lot waiting for someone to leave. There are usually several sharks who have to scramble over each bit of prey as it becomes available.
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Old 09-03-2008, 05:10 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

ahhhh....classic Walmart parking lot strategy........


Now about the loan sharking thing....I need a new career.... :lol:
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Old 09-03-2008, 08:58 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

I start classes tomorrow (taking, not teaching :D ) My gf started last week, after discovering she would have to arrive 2 hours early for a possible parking spot, it's the bus for her.
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Old 09-03-2008, 11:31 PM
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

What are you taking, Ari?

This is pretty cool. There's wifi access all over the campus. I'm on break between classes, posting from my laptop.

Now I really need an iPod Touch.

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Old 09-04-2008, 12:23 AM
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I read some of your foolish scree, then just skimmed the rest.
 
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Default Re: Classes are Back in Session ...

Quote:
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What are you taking, Ari?
I'm a photography student, so fluffy art classes. Ok, so they aren't that fluffy.
20th Century art history, a Studio shooting class, a people shooting class and a concepts go crazy class.
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