Imponderables- Jump right in , there's room for everyone!!!

POSTED BY: MsA
UPDATED: Friday, February 24, 2012 18:31
VIEWED: 23024
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MSA

Thursday, December 1, 2011 4:28 PM

Hey all new thread here

Old thread here
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=2&t=49749

Today's ponder is: What is your favorite cold weather activity???

Mine is snuggling on the couch with my husband ( NVGhostrider ) and son and drinking cocoa:)and watching Firefly!!

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

BUP

Thursday, December 1, 2011 5:48 PM

The soft glow of battery operated candles, a good book, a blanket, a warm beverage and a snuggle from my kitty.

ZEEK

Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:13 PM

Taking a hot shower. Next best thing to having a jacuzzi around. Once the hot water runs out and I have to open the bathroom door to the cold blast of air it's all sadness though.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, December 1, 2011 6:59 PM

Sledding with the little ones in my life and my mom and her husband, we like sledding altogether. This year we went up to the mountain early, Nov. 20 but there was plenty of snow. The babies didn't like it much though, too different from what they're used to and the baby nephew was pissed off about having to wear snow pants. But sledding is such fun!

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Thursday, December 1, 2011 7:47 PM

Kids always hate snowsuits and snow pants...

Why a battery operated lamp Bup??

See this is why you need the giant bathtub Zeek.. more heat lasts longer:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Friday, December 2, 2011 4:23 PM

BTW Bup- totally with you on the curled up and good book part. ( Sadly at the moment " good book" is likely to be Llama Llama Red Pajama due to toddler)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

TRAVELER

Monday, December 5, 2011 1:52 AM

I bring out my holiday video collection and sit in front of the TV and let its warm glow fill the room as I watch "The Lemon Drop Kid", staring Bob Hope trying to raise 10,000 dollars before Christmas so the gangster he swindled doesn't kill him. There's not much about Christmas in it, but it is one of my favorite Bob Hope's films.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

MSA

Monday, December 5, 2011 5:14 PM

Ok interesting choice Traveler... I've never seen that and now may have to. How exactly does her chose to try and raise the money???

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

TRAVELER

Monday, December 5, 2011 9:28 PM

Being a conman, Bob sees all the these Santas ringing bells to raise money for charity and begins his own charity.
There are musical numbers in it, Silver Bells is well done.
It is also fun to hear all the fifties slang.

I wish I had a copy of the "Seven Little Foys", but the "Lemon Drop Kid" is great to watch.

MSA

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 4:20 PM

AHEM!!!!

Ok so it's all quiet again

So my students in Sophomore English are reading Code Talkers...
discuss

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 8:34 PM

My favorite cold-weather activity is probably reading. Really, things that don't involve going outside, in general.

So I've been thinking some reflective-type thoughts as I approach my thirtieth birthday, so here is my question for everyone:
If you could go back to being, say, twelve years old, knowing everything you know now and being allowed to make use of all that knowledge to change the course of your life, would you do it?

Facts are stubborn things.

ZEEK

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 10:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by LiLi:
My favorite cold-weather activity is probably reading. Really, things that don't involve going outside, in general.

So I've been thinking some reflective-type thoughts as I approach my thirtieth birthday, so here is my question for everyone:
If you could go back to being, say, twelve years old, knowing everything you know now and being allowed to make use of all that knowledge to change the course of your life, would you do it?

Heck yeah. I'd make facebook.

Also I'd be really friendly with this one girl in gradeschool who grew up to be a hottie at the same college I went to. When we meet up again in freshman english I'll have a much better shot. Awwww yeah.

Code Talkers? Is that about teenagers who use txting speak?

LILI

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 11:23 PM

...Code Talkers is about Navajo translators in the military. The Navajo code was unbreakable to anyone who did not speak the language, and important to American security and success during WWII.
(I'm almost tempted to make a comment about "kids today.")

Facts are stubborn things.

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 1:02 AM

MSA, you teach an ordinary classroom right now right?

Lili, I think Zeke was being sarcastic. I hope so anyways, that is the impression I got.

If I could go back and change things I don't reckon I would. The things that I wish were different weren't my fault so I wouldn't be able to change them anyways. But that's a good question to consider and my opinion about it has changed over the years, I used to think that if I hadn't gone to whereever and had whatever thought as a result of being there that things wouldn't have happened the way they did, but I know better now given the particulars of my situation.

Code Talkers rock my world!!!!!!! I've not read the specific book but, duh yay!!

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ZEEK

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 5:25 PM

Haha yeah I was coming up with some crazy idea for what the book might be. I've never read it and didn't know what it was about. Sounds kinda cool.

HIMYM spoilers:

Select to view spoiler:

Did you watch that episode yet, MSA? I don't buy it! Robin missed her period and actually got nauseous. I say that doctor is a quack. She told Lily she could drink and do whatever she wanted during pregnancy. I think it's a red herring and she really is pregnant.

MSA

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 5:54 PM

Lili- hmm I don't know because I'd be afraid if I changed something I wouldn't end up where I am and I LOVE where I am ( I might go back and refuse the steroid treatment I got right before I got pregnant because it put a ton of weight on me that I'm still struggling to get off)

Riona- I teach special ed resource but I treat it as a normal English class.

Zeek- I have to see HIMYM tonight and then I'll read and comment

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 6:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
HIMYM spoilers:
Select to view spoiler:
Did you watch that episode yet, MSA? I don't buy it! Robin missed her period and actually got nauseous. I say that doctor is a quack. She told Lily she could drink and do whatever she wanted during pregnancy. I think it's a red herring and she really is pregnant.

Select to view spoiler:

I hope so! Poor Robin. I about screamed when she said, "I'm glad you kids aren't real." The whole ship tease between Robin and Barney is really starting to grind my nerves. I'm sure it's their wedding that we keep seeing flashes of, and I wish they'd stop drawing it out.

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Lili- hmm I don't know because I'd be afraid if I changed something I wouldn't end up where I am and I LOVE where I am

I know what you mean, but sometimes I wish I could have gotten where I am sooner. There are a couple mistakes I would like avoid (like an aborted arts degree and a bad relationship that still comes back to cause turmoil every once in awhile) and a few things I wish I'd done sooner. Also some small changes I'd like to make in high school, because I did a few dumb things that aren't really deep regrets, but give me a little twinge when I think of them. I'd also like to take better care of my teeth when I had braces, because the difficulty flossing and such eventually caused several cavities that have needed repairs twice, now. Kind of painful and expensive. So, just things like that, kind of like your steroid treatment. I just want to be in better health and looking at a home stretch of a PhD instead of the beginning of one. Things like that.

Facts are stubborn things.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, December 8, 2011 1:22 AM

Best wishes with that PhD Lili, what are you getting it in?

Yeah, from what I know of resource classrooms you can do it like an ordinary English class in many ways.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

LILI

Thursday, December 8, 2011 6:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RionaEire:
Best wishes with that PhD Lili, what are you getting it in?

Thanks. I'm doing an English Literature program. I'd like to be a professor and write a book or two.

Facts are stubborn things.

NVGHOSTRIDER

Thursday, December 8, 2011 4:40 PM

Meh...

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn

MSA

Thursday, December 8, 2011 4:54 PM

Zeek and Lili ( and anyone else who cares)

Select to view spoiler:

ok loved the side plot of Marshall being taken advantage of by the neighborhood kid and everything.. Well Ted's mentioned in several previous episodes that Aunt Robin never had kids except them so I'm betting a no on the plot device unless Ted adopts them. I'd like to see a bit more Lily/ Marshall stuff as that is always hilarious and I REALLY disapprove of Lily's doctor being ok with her drinking. This is not some sort of give it a try and see thing. This is a child who is literally building a brain. What you're such a lush you can't go 9 months without a drink to make sure your unborn child has the best possible environment to develop in??? WTF?

:kiss NV

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

NVGHOSTRIDER

Sunday, December 11, 2011 10:04 AM

Oh geez, late night and a lack of pondering. Might be time for bed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn

MSA

Monday, December 12, 2011 4:36 PM

Oh sleep... seriously at what point does no sleep make you truly insane??
Johnny's going through a growth spurt...hence no sleep for 2 weeks.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

TRAVELER

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 2:57 AM

You need to dream. Any more then 72 hours without sleep and your mind revolts.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

RIONAEIRE

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:47 AM

Most people's minds start revolting before that, little hallucinations etc. its normal to have that happen if you're going more than say 36 hours without sleep. My brain starts going there at about 24 hours without sleep, but their just the kind that you get when you're almost asleep, which plenty of neurotypical folk get too, so no biggie.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:35 PM

Finally I got sleep.. not a lot, but hey better than the 2 miserly hours I've been getting. I hate toddler growth spurts

Ok so what is everyone planning for holidays???

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 8:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RionaEire:
Most people's minds start revolting before that, little hallucinations etc.

I start seeing things moving in the corner of my eye after about 20 hours. I start seeing things moving in the front of my eye at about 30.

Facts are stubborn things.

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:22 AM

On Christmas proper we'll open presents in the morning my mom, her husband, the lil bro and I. Then my dad and I will go to my grandma's an hour south to have lunch. Then I['ll come back here and have dinner with the morning people plus my older brother, SIL and their daughter. I'll see my brother's sons a few nights before Christmas when they and their mom come over for the evening. What about you MSA?

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 5:38 PM

Riona that is a tremendously busy Christmas

We're having my husband's(NVGhostrider)family over for dinner on Christmas eve and then Christmas day we'll open gifts and enjoy watching my son play

Lili I'm with you... about 20 hours in I get very silly
Sleep deprivation over... boy that feels good:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Thursday, December 15, 2011 5:08 PM

One week... one week until freedom!!!!!!

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Monday, December 19, 2011 5:04 PM

Almost there... 3 1/2 days to go

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 1:17 AM

Having a clueless moment here, what are you free from, school for a week over Christmas? I guess the kids get two weeks but the teachers don't?

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

TRAVELER

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 1:20 AM

Watched another of my Christmastime movies, "Bell, Book and Candle", with Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart. My favorite quote is. "You just never learned to spell".

Edit:
Now I am watching "World of Suzie Wong". Same director, but is a more serious film. Can't help seeing the simiarities with the other film, a woman manipulating her man. Oh to be manipulated be either Ms. Novak or Ms. Kwan.

MSA

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 7:08 PM

3 more days ( during which we will all be enjoying final exams) and then it's break for 18 days:)
Can't wait to be home:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Thursday, December 22, 2011 4:31 PM

BOUNCIE

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ASORTAFAIRYTALE

Saturday, December 24, 2011 3:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:

Today's ponder is: What is your favorite cold weather activity???

Mine is snuggling on the couch with my husband ( NVGhostrider ) and son and drinking cocoa:)and watching Firefly!!

Aw man have you tried peppermint mochas? They are the best for this cold weather and coffee places only sell them around this time of year.

Anyways. That's my new favorite thing for cold weather.

Incidentally hello you all! I haven't been on this site in ages. And I'm afraid I can't exactly remember how frequently I posted when I used to come here all the dang time. I remember reading the things here a lot though.

RIONAEIRE

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 3:21 AM

Welcome back! I'm newish, came at the start of Feb. There's still lots of people to talk to on this site.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ZEEK

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 10:53 PM

Happy New Year ponderers!

Hope everyone had some time off to recharge.

To kick us off with a discussion, here's an idea I'm bouncing around in my head. So, there's a really cute girl at church that I'm interested in asking out. However, church seems like a next to impossible place to strike up a conversation. For weeks now I've made zero progress. So, here's the idea I came up with. After church I would walk up to her and go "Excuse me. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to help me out with something. For a few weeks no I've been trying to think of a way to strike up a conversation with a girl at church. I'm really at a loss. I thought maybe I could use a woman's point of view. Do you have any ideas for me?" I figure if she doesn't completely shoot me down the easy follow up is "Maybe we could go discuss it over coffee or something".

So, too corny?

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 12:05 AM

Do you see her in regular church or in a class? If you see her in a class then it would be easier. Try sitting next to her and trying to talk about normal stuff, like how was her New Year's, tell her how yours was, introduce yourself. Keep sitting near her, that should be a hint that you like her, mixed with saying hi each time and making small talk, then ask her in a few weeks if she'd like to have coffee. I would advise against that tactic you mentioned because as a woman it seems odd. If she got it right away, got what you were trying to do then it would actually be kind of cute, but if she didn't get it and actually thought you were looking for her advice then it would get weird and she'd feel weird that the girl was _her. Just my opinion as a woman.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ZEEK

Wednesday, January 4, 2012 3:28 PM

It's actual church. So, there's not much opportunity to talk. There's a brief window before mass where it's still kinda rude to be talking and then after mass. People pretty much don't talk to anybody they don't know. So, it would kinda be weird to just walk up to her and try to start a casual conversation of any kind.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 5, 2012 2:23 AM

That's inconvenient. Maybe before mass you could sit down by her and say hello, maybe if you do this a couple of times you can start talking and invite her out for coffee? Or if you know she'll see through your idea and know you're talking about her you could use it, its only weird if she doesn't get the hint.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Monday, January 9, 2012 5:16 PM

Zeek- were I you, I'd just try to find a way to be walking out near her after Mass and start up a conversation. Honesty works though. Just go over and say "Hi" and introduce yourself. See what happens

Hey Asorta!! HUGS

Sigh back to work

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 3:50 PM

psssh she claimed to be in a 5 year relationship. Lies!

In other news I closed on a house yesterday. Yay I'm in massive debt! I went over to the place last night. It was kinda creepy walking into an empty, dark house. I had no idea where the light switches were. I got the lights on though and checked everything out. Wanted to make sure nothing was chewing up electricity while I wasn't there. Also the previous owners had tons and tons of mail waiting for them. I don't know how that much mail got crammed in one mailbox.

MSA

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 4:42 PM

Zeek!!! YAY YAY YAY
( we closed 3 months ago)
It's so nice:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

STEGASAURUS

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 5:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Zeek!!! YAY YAY YAY
( we closed 3 months ago)
It's so nice:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

Whereabouts didja find your new digs? Fallonish?

-Steg

STEGASAURUS

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 5:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Zeek!!! YAY YAY YAY
( we closed 3 months ago)
It's so nice:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

Whereabouts didja find your new digs? Fallonish?

-Steg

RIVERTAM1

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 6:17 AM

Going shooting. Nothing warms a person like the feel of a warm gun barrel

The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds, given adequate vacuuming systems.

MSA

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 5:29 PM

River - do you go to a traditional shooting range or just out into the desert/country??

Stego- yup same great town, much better living space. It's been a long road( fighting the IRS, hiring a lawyer, forcing the IRS to admit they are wrong thus removing the blockage to home ownership, finding house, biding, getting house,moving, unpacking... mostly unpacking) but it's nice now:)

Ponder- Do you like where you live, and if not, where would you like to live???

I love where I live, but I'd also love to live in a small town in Georgia.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 6:04 PM

I like it well enough. I'm fairly easy to please though. It's got internet access, major stores, restaurants with hot waitresses in skimpy outfits, and decently warm weather. I'm good.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:27 AM

I love where I live! Portland is where its at. I like visiting other places but wouldn't want to move.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Thursday, January 12, 2012 5:10 PM

Zeek I truly love your list of important features. It's so Zeek:)

Riona- sounds nice

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Thursday, January 12, 2012 10:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Zeek I truly love your list of important features. It's so Zeek:)

What's on your list, MSA? You just said you love where you live. As a teacher I'm sure you expect your students to be more verbose in their answers

MSA

Friday, January 13, 2012 5:30 PM

OK my list of what I love about here
- my husband is happiest here
-small town where people are very friendly
- safe environment to raise my son
- access to locally grown organic produce and locally raised/butchered beef
- lots of parks and fun recreation areas for us to play in
- a lovely house in a nice neighborhood
- a good school district that shows decent respect for special ed and decent pay
- excellent library

Things I wish it had
- closer to east coast
- loads more greenery
- more humidity
- better variety of restaurants
- a shopping mall

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Friday, January 13, 2012 7:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
- better variety of restaurants

read: no restaurants with hot waitresses in skimpy outfits.

You have my pity.

STEGASAURUS

Saturday, January 14, 2012 4:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Things I wish it had
- closer to east coast
- loads more greenery
- more humidity

I'm right there with you on these items. I grew up in Michigan, and there's just no GREEN out here like there is back east. But the mountains make for nice scenery. And to that I'm allergic to sagebrush. But, I really don't mind the difference in the amount of snowfall as compared to Michigan. Not having family close by doesn't help either.

-Steg

RIONAEIRE

Monday, January 16, 2012 7:47 AM

The only thing I'd change about where I live is that I wish we had a couple of one to two day snowfalls a year, so we could sled. We get a good enough snowfall to sled in the city once every couple of years, last year we didn't get one so hopefully this year we will.

Oh and I live in a city that isn't very moral in certain ways, so I wish that were a little toned down. But other than those things its great here, big, lots to do, close to the ocean and the mountains, well close enough, closer than most people are. Green all year, lots of water to play in, geeky activities for me to do.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 5:19 PM

Yes Zeek...daily I mourn the lack of hot waitresses

Stego- hmm I'm allergic to sagebrush too:)I wonder if it's a thing when you're new here

Riona- I envy you your seafood and lovely rain

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 6:18 PM

Zeek is excited. I can't believe the previous owner of my place didn't know it is wired for ethernet. I thought all these wall jacks were phone jacks until I looked closer at them. Then I opened up this panel in the master bedroom and there's a hub in there. So, awesome. Assuming it works that is.

MSA

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 4:53 PM

Well Zeek is a lucky man... now go celebrate with scantily clad waitresses.

Ponder- what was the best assignment/lesson you ever did in school?
( yes I'm hoping to get ideas)
The one I remember most was our English teacher had us do a round robin memorization of Canterbury tales.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 5:31 PM

Programming a game in computer science. :-)

I made an ASCII monopoly game in pascal. It was pretty cool IMO.

Best assignment in English was to read the Hobbit. I read the Lord of the Rings all on my own after that. Also the first Hobbit movie comes out this year IIRC.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 19, 2012 4:10 AM

I never liked doing school work. But if I had to pick good things I did it would be memorizing the Preamble (good for kids), building a decomposition column out of plastic bottles and having a goldfish in the water at the bottom, the water that was filtered through the column. I made a killer poster about pandas in fifth grade. Playing a pretends-with-dice about colonization of Jamestown/the Pilgrims, Invent a new law and give a persuasive speech about why the class should vote for it. All of these were in middle school.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Thursday, January 19, 2012 4:54 PM

WOW inventive teachers

I'm afraid the programming is a bit beyond my reach, but that dice game sounds fun.

Right now my students are doing a comparative literature essay using A Study in Scarlet ( Arthur Conan Doyle) and A Study in Pink ( new BBC series Sherlock)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 19, 2012 6:56 PM

I liked a Study in Scarlet.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Thursday, January 19, 2012 9:21 PM

You really should watch the new Sherlock on PBS

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 19, 2012 11:58 PM

A lot of people have told me that, but I do a lot better with mysteries when reading them in novels. I don't really enjoy mysteries on TV because I always miss little things, whereas if I read them then I get the same info as everyone else. I have friends who are really enjoying it though.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

MSA

Friday, January 20, 2012 6:09 PM

This one has a feature you might like. As Sherlock is examining the room, pop up windows appear showing you all the clues he's getting.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Right now my students are doing a comparative literature essay using A Study in Scarlet ( Arthur Conan Doyle) and A Study in Pink ( new BBC series Sherlock)

Oooh, fun! I really enjoyed the first run of Sherlock.

Facts are stubborn things.

MSA

Monday, January 23, 2012 4:54 PM

So far it's going fairly well... they seem to like it. I was trying to come up with some ways to make the comparative literature unit more fun

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 6:50 PM

bump

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Thursday, January 26, 2012 5:37 PM

PONDER>>>>
So do you think that schools should require above average writing skills to graduate or just the bare minimum?

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Thursday, January 26, 2012 6:14 PM

Well, statistically speaking, requiring "above average" anything to graduate would mean that about half the students could not graduate. While it can be a little appalling to encounter college students who literally don't know what basic punctuation is, I'm not sure what policies would fix the problem, because I remember going through grammar rules several times in elementary, middle, and high school.

Facts are stubborn things.

ZEEK

Thursday, January 26, 2012 10:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
PONDER>>>>
So do you think that schools should require above average writing skills to graduate or just the bare minimum?

Not really. Sadly in this day and age it's not really as big of a deal as it used to be IMO. I have a friend who's a software engineer and a darn good one. She can't spell or punctuate worth a damn though. I really have to sound things out and squint a lot when I read anything she wrote. It really hasn't slowed down her career as far as I can tell.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:36 PM

I like Lili's point, it wouldn't be above average if everyone has to do it.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

GORRAMGROUPIE

Monday, January 30, 2012 4:07 PM

Favorite school assignment: one was where we wrote more at the end of The Cask of Amontillado. I did it from the viewpoint of Fortunato.

Winter activity: not slipping on ice and killing myself.

Love where we are, it's a smallish town with a major university, lots of diverse stores, a great arts community (even an opera company! not that I'm into opera that much), and only a short highway drive to a major city. The only drawback is a lack of larger, cheap housing, so much is split up for student rentals.

'Who are you and how did you get in here?' 'I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.'
Police Squad

MSA

Monday, January 30, 2012 5:52 PM

Ok I shouldn't have used above average..

How about more than adequate??
Here's what our state requires on the proficiency to pass high school. Each student must write 2 essays on 2 prompts. Each essay can only be a page long.Here is a sample of a passing essay with the prompt( spelling and other errors included
" Television has made Americans a nation of watchers rather than doers. Agree or Disagree"

Tv makes people lazy and fat. My mom and dad have got fatter because they sit around all day and watch tv and don't go out or do anything at all.
I think that Americans got lazier because of tv and that is just wrong. People should go outside and do things instead of just sitting inside and not doing anything.
Tv was invented a long time ago and before tv people were not fat like they are now. People used to go out and do things and get what they needed to done.
Nowadays everyone stays inside and does nothing except watch tv. It makes me sick to see how people have turned themselves into useless do nothings. They are like the wallrus on the beach except the wallrus has an excuse because it is an animal.
That is why I think that tv has made us watchers instead of doers. We don't DO anything or go anywhere or get anything done. We just sit around getting fatter like my mom and dad.

Would you say this is an acceptable essay to be considered proficient ?

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Monday, January 30, 2012 8:27 PM

I would say that essay shouldn't be adequate. When I was a young girl we were taught to write five paragraph essays, usually atwo pages long or so, maybe a tad shorter. The format can be expanded to be longer, an opening paragraph, three paragraphs in the middle, or maybe more, with a point in each paragraph with evidence to back it up and a concluding paragraph. this never steered me wrong.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ZEEK

Monday, January 30, 2012 11:17 PM

I'm not as concerned with their writing as I am with their argument. They're basically saying that the only influence on people's weight is the amount of TV they watch. Really? Nothing else has changed in people's diets or any other factors in their lives that could effect weight? Please. Think a little deeper and find some facts to back up all those statements.

MSA

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 4:35 PM

That was my issue with it as well. The mechanics aren't perfect, but I don't think that's essential. If writing is communicating, this is an epic fail. It's not well thought out, has few points, and doesn't make a compelling, logical, coherent statement.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

MSA

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 4:33 PM

Bump

New ponder- what's your favorite sitcom?

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5:15 PM

The Big Bang Theory, hands down. Its the only grown up sitcom I watch. The only other sitcoms I've liked in life have been the ones I grew up with and one that came on when I was 17, they all had kids in them. Big Bang is the only grown up one I've ever really enjoyed. It always makes me laugh hard and I can relate to it and I've never found adult sitcoms particularly relatable.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ZEEK

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 7:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Bump

New ponder- what's your favorite sitcom?

All time I'd probably say Seinfeld. That show really didn't have bad episodes.

Currently I'll go with The New Girl. Their delivery of lines is really well done. The main character and the character named Schmidt are really funny. The other main characters are mainly there just to set those two up for jokes IMO.

LILI

Thursday, February 2, 2012 8:28 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Would you say this is an acceptable essay to be considered proficient ?

Ugh. No.

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
New ponder- what's your favorite sitcom?

I'll ditto Riona, I love Big Bang. Every episode makes me laugh. How I Met Your Mother is probably the runner-up, but it's been annoying me lately. I think they've stretched it way too thin and need to stop teasing it out. (I care more about Barney and Robin at this point than Ted and the titular Mother, but the dance of both storylines is getting old.)

Facts are stubborn things.

MSA

Thursday, February 2, 2012 4:43 PM

I agree on HIMYM LiLi... it's getting old.
I do love the Big Bang ( and so does my 2 year old... who strangely thinks Sheldon is nice and funny)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Thursday, February 2, 2012 11:41 PM

Sheldon is indeed funny, but he's a total ass, you couldnt' pay me to hang out with him in real life. He's funny to watch on the show though because assery is great on TV when someone else has to put up with it. He does look kind of tall and funny though and he speaks with an interesting cadence to his words, maybe your little one notices these things and finds them humorous, the rest of us do.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

ASORTAFAIRYTALE

Friday, February 3, 2012 4:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Currently I'll go with The New Girl. Their delivery of lines is really well done. The main character and the character named Schmidt are really funny. The other main characters are mainly there just to set those two up for jokes IMO.

Aw that show is great. I haven't seen much of it, but what I have seen is hilarious. And the dynamic between the characters is so sweet. I guess I like when characters actually seem to care that much about each other.

I don't really like Big Bang Theory, because of the girl character (Penny, right?). For one thing, it seems as though the guys are only friends with her because she is pretty. Plus she is always trying to get them to be less nerdy, or making fun of them for being who they are. A lot of times the impression I get from that show is just like "hahah look at how weird nerds are!"

MSA

Friday, February 3, 2012 5:03 PM

I think my son finds Sheldon visually funny and he like the reactionary things he says

Last night's episode was great

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Friday, February 3, 2012 6:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by asortafairytale:
Plus she is always trying to get them to be less nerdy, or making fun of them for being who they are. A lot of times the impression I get from that show is just like "hahah look at how weird nerds are!"

Penny is meant to appeal to the vast "non-nerd" television audience; her entire purpose is to ask what the hell they're talking about so they can explain the nerd jokes without doing an "as you know" sort of setup.
I disagree that she's always trying to get them to be less nerdy. She doesn't want to watch Doctor Who with them, but she never says anything like, "You shouldn't watch this show." And there have been episodes where it's shown that she has gained certain amounts of nerdy knowledge, and she agrees to dress up as Wonder Woman for a costume contest at the local comic shop. In the most recent episode, she even grins when he pulls out a lightsaber to function as a light source. (And, to be fair, she gets made fun of for being who she is several times, giving the geeky audience their own "hahah, look how ridiculous non-nerds are!" moments. Sheldon does it the most, but Leonard has taken a few shots himself.)
Clearly, Leonard does like her because she's pretty and not because they have a whole lot in common, but that's a dynamic based in reality for plenty of people, and it provides conflict and tension that is also based in the same reality. The relationships between geeks on the show are a bit more stable while Leonard and Penny ride a roller coaster, something I've personally seen in college; geeks do well with geeks, and have a certain amount of tension with non-geeks, even when the relationships are successful. These relationships are also pretty common because geeks make up a small percentage of the population and can't always find a geeky partner, though the internet has made it easier.
Anyway, I understand your issues with it, but it's possible that watching a few more episodes would soften those issues somewhat.

Facts are stubborn things.

MSA

Monday, February 6, 2012 4:36 PM

I love the episode in which she's arguing with Leonard and then says she should get points for making a Star Wars analogy
Also the one where they are having sex and she quotes Yoda ( Do or Do not there is no try)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Monday, February 6, 2012 5:39 PM

I watch the big bang theory from time to time now, but I still don't really like the extreme that the nerds are taken to. I mean the guy that can't even say anything around women without drinking is just ridiculous. Sheldon is clearly over the top on how literally he takes everything. It can be somewhat funny but none of the characters ring true to me really. That always takes a lot out of shows for me.

MSA

Monday, February 6, 2012 8:52 PM

Apparently Raj ( guy who can't talk without drinking ) is based on a write who used to work with Chuck Lorre.
Sheldon is pretty accurate for Asperger's. They are incredibly literal and have absolutely no sense of humor or social skills.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

LILI

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 3:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Also the one where they are having sex and she quotes Yoda ( Do or Do not there is no try)

That's what led to him saying he loved her so she freaked out and dumped him, right?
That's another thing I like about the show, it doesn't follow a lot of gender role stereotypes common in sitcoms. Like Penny being afraid of commitment and Bernadette not wanting to have children or be a housewife. (Her line a few weeks ago about how Howard was welcome to stay home with the children while she had conversations with adults her own age and enjoyed her life was absolutely priceless in her squeaky little voice.)

Facts are stubborn things.

RIONAEIRE

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 3:37 AM

I've always wondered if the actress who plays Bernadette really sounds like that or if she exaggerates it for the show.

I used to have a problem with people diagnosing sitcom charactors, he says he's not crazy his mom had him tested so lets just go with that. But I've gotten to the place where I don't really care anymore if people diagnose them.

Yeah Thurs.'s episode was funny, my dad fell asleep while we were watching it though so he missed it, woke up at the end and said he recalled none of it. Oh well he can see it again on rerun.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

LILI

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 8:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RionaEire:
I've always wondered if the actress who plays Bernadette really sounds like that or if she exaggerates it for the show.

She does not sound like that. I listened to a Nerdist podcast that was a Big Bang panel at Comic Con, and I would never have guessed it was the same woman if they hadn't said she played Bernadette.

Quote:
...he says he's not crazy his mom had him tested so lets just go with that.

Sheldon's mom may have had him tested (though we should all remember that she's a stereotypical woman of God from Texas who probably took him to a preacher shrink or something) and it's entirely likely that he isn't crazy, but that doesn't mean he can't have Asperger's. "Crazy" has very specific connotations, and if I understand Asperger's correctly it's a condition characterized by a degree of social ineptitude (such as not recognizing sarcasm, facial expressions, or body language) and is often accompanied by high levels of intellect (such as, for example, being a theoretical physicist who receives a doctorate at the age of 16) or skill. Sheldon fits this criteria fairly well. As I said, this wouldn't make him "crazy" because it isn't some form of psychosis or personality disorder. I'm also unsure how long Asperger's has been a well-known diagnosis, so it may not have been recognized by whoever it was that "tested" Sheldon when he was a bullied nerd-child. Since there's been no talk about follow-up tests (and I'm sure Sheldon disdains psychology and all those who study it) I have no trouble believing that he has Asperger's or a similar disorder that older "tests" may have missed or been unaware of, and current tests might diagnose.

Facts are stubborn things.

MSA

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 5:16 PM

Riona- I'm just basing it on the interviews the actor has done stating the character is described as having Aspergers and the episode where Sheldon's mom mentions he has Aspergers but she thinks it should just be call Asshats... but in all fairness I would have said that anyway. A significant number of the students I work with have Aspergers. They've really enjoyed Sheldon because he shows a person with Aspergers having a social life, friends, and being funny. It makes them feel less freakish.

I did love Bernadette's discussion and I think it's nice someone put it out there that lots of women don't want to have or raise kids and that's ok.
I do think Howard would be kind of a cute stay at home dad with Raj for support...giggle
Mind you that would go a long way to supporting Leonard's mother's assertion that they have an ersatz homosexual marriage

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

RIONAEIRE

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 12:40 AM

Well "crazy" in the context of the show would include Sheldon, since they all call him crazy or a "whackadoodle", to which he responds he's not crazy his mom had him tested, I doubt she had him tested for psychosis since he doesn't have that at all. And the charactors give each other significant glances after he says it.

I don't think your students should aspire to be like Sheldon, he's a total ass and in real life if someone acts like that they wouldn't have any friends because no one wants to hang out with _that. You couldn't pay me to be friends with Sheldon, or anyone who behaves like that. He obviously has no empathy skills and doesn't feel love.

I do like when shows approach gender rolls differently, everyone is different and there are lots of women who aren't interested in having and raising children, and lots of men who would make amazing primary child rearers.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

LILI

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 7:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RionaEire:
Well "crazy" in the context of the show would include Sheldon, since they all call him crazy or a "whackadoodle", to which he responds he's not crazy his mom had him tested, I doubt she had him tested for psychosis since he doesn't have that at all.

But any official test which declared him "not crazy" would essentially be saying "not psychotic/borderline personality disorder/severe bipolar/anything that would make him non-functioning outside a mental ward." Sheldon being as literal as he is, I doubt he's talking about anything else. I've always seen part of the joke being that he doesn't get what is meant by "crazy" because he thinks only of strict definitions.
I didn't say his mom had him tested for psychosis, she probably had him tested to make sure he could function or if he would need someone looking after him at all times. Of course, he does need someone, since he panics when driving, but in most aspects of his life he does fine. He can cook without burning the place down, he can take care of himself, and he can hold a job so long as he has a way to get there. Someone classified as "crazy" would probably be challenged by such things. So no, Sheldon isn't crazy. He clearly has a disorder (or two) but he isn't crazy. A lot of people have some form of disorder they live with, without being classified as crazy, Sheldon's is just more prominent than most.

Facts are stubborn things.

ZEEK

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:01 PM

There is no classification for "crazy". People are diagnosed with disorders. No psychologist would classify someone as "crazy". They likely wouldn't even call someone "not crazy". It has no clinical definition.

MSA

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:06 PM

Sadly in a social sense most kids with Aspergers are " asses" The main function of their disability is a complete lack of social skills. Sheldon does fairly well with asking for clarification of what is acceptable and when corrected by Penny, Bernadette or Amy seems fairly responsive. I think the big problem with Sheldon is that the guys put up with him. He isn't nearly as selfish or rude with the girls because every time he is, they tell him to stop and tell him what to do.

I have to say, my favorite character is definitely Amy... she cracks me up!

Zeek- so what'd you think of HIMYM????

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

ZEEK

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Zeek- so what'd you think of HIMYM????

Haven't seen it yet. I've been spending every night this week working on painting my new bedroom. Took almost all of monday night just prepping the room. Last night I did all the roller work until a little after 11pm. Poor Kaylee only gets to see me when I get back to my apartment to sleep. I'm hoping I can finish up tonight though. I want to get carpet cleaners out there on Friday if I can. Previous owners had a dog and there's tons of fur in the carpet. Then maybe I can move in over the weekend. That's probably a pipe dream though.

MSA

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 5:57 PM

Ah the joys of home ownership... so what color are you painting your bedroom.
You need to get Kaylee a cattery in the garage. My friend has an awesome one with a cat door from her laundry room into the garage. It's elevated and open ( with wire fronting obviously) and there's a litter box with a covered bottom with a grate. All she has to do is pull a lever and the litter just drops right into the garbage.

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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