Octopus Overlords

Cortilian wrote:

coopasonic wrote:

Cortilian wrote:Just found out my son's choice of college is going to run 35K a year. OMGGGGG!!!!!!!

Is that just tuition? DOn't forget about books, fees, food, housing. Hmmm... I'm probably not making it better, am I?

That includes almost all fees. I'm sure misc stuff will creep up but we are looking at 70K for the 1st 2 years. I graduated from the University of Florida in 1996 and my 4 year degree cost me a grand total of $9,000.00 and change. my son is an excellent student with great grades and very good test scores which means, in Florida, he qualifies for 75% of his tuition to be covered by the state. However, this does not include fees. Tuition is approximately $3200 of that $70,000 figure for 2 years. I am absolutely floored.

Off to search for scholarships.

Live at home? That's what I did. If I could do it all over, I'd live at home until I could afford to pay cash up front for a house. That's what my parents recommended I do. You only learn how wise your parents are after it's too late to take their advice.

LordMortis wrote:I hear those stories and they terrify me. EMU cost me $700 a semester when I started. When I graduated it was $2500 a semester and I was fuming piss about that.

I'd be fuming about paying to go to EMU too.

stessier wrote:

LordMortis wrote:I hear those stories and they terrify me. EMU cost me $700 a semester when I started. When I graduated it was $2500 a semester and I was fuming piss about that.

I'd be fuming about paying to go to EMU too.

Meh, it was degree and the commute at the time was less than 10 minutes from my house. I lived two towns over and I could get on campus quicker than students who lived there. I could say the same of the U of M but without tuition help I couldn't afford to go there, working on a 7-11 salary. I blew my opportunities for better pay early in life because I schooling taught me that schooling was more important than getting a job out of high school.

I had a kid show up in my 1st block class today that has literally missed every day for the last 7 school weeks. Then she asked me what she needs to do to pass the course.
I doubt she would understand any Doctor Who references I drop.

Remus West wrote:I had a kid show up in my 1st block class today that has literally missed every day for the last 7 school weeks. Then she asked me what she needs to do to pass the course.
I doubt she would understand any Doctor Who references I drop.

Do you clearly make an attendance policy with these kids? Is there a way to make the attendance policy clear to the parents of these kids? You seem to get that sort of thing a lot. I know it's different where you're at but when I was in high school 10 days meant an automatic failure/incomplete unless you made arrangements to do alternate work before you came back to class so you were essentially caught up with the class.

I lost out on my first go of Algerbra II in high school when I had mono because I was ready to return to school and there was no way I was going to do a month's work before returning and had to retake the class the next year.

Even our drop out prevention school "Growth Works" had attendance requirements.

Have things changed that much, where attendance isn't even perceived an automatic failure anymore?

Crap. Just found out that the Mayans weren't all that accurate. Armageddon is next week.

I get the same question every semester and students frequently comment that I should be giving them credit for showing up to class (as part of their grades). Somehow sitting in a chair and sleeping or checking Facebook means something just because you're present. I'm sure every generation before ours has said the same thing, but good grief.

I am frequently asked half way through a course what can be done to make up work, exams, etc... that were missed during the first six weeks. Students that cannot be bothered to do what is required are also quick to ask for "extra credit". If you couldn't do the minimum, why on Earth are you asking for extra? It boggles the mind.

LordMortis wrote:

Remus West wrote:I had a kid show up in my 1st block class today that has literally missed every day for the last 7 school weeks. Then she asked me what she needs to do to pass the course.
I doubt she would understand any Doctor Who references I drop.

Do you clearly make an attendance policy with these kids? Is there a way to make the attendance policy clear to the parents of these kids? You seem to get that sort of thing a lot. I know it's different where you're at but when I was in high school 10 days meant an automatic failure/incomplete unless you made arrangements to do alternate work before you came back to class so you were essentially caught up with the class.

I lost out on my first go of Algerbra II in high school when I had mono because I was ready to return to school and there was no way I was going to do a month's work before returning and had to retake the class the next year.

Even our drop out prevention school "Growth Works" had attendance requirements.

Have things changed that much, where attendance isn't even perceived an automatic failure anymore?

State laws changed my third year teaching and we were no longer allowed to do the 10 day thing (which we had done until then). Grading for the class is clearly laid out as is late work policy (two weeks from date assigned). Our quarters are 10 weeks long. We have this week and two more left. I think you can do the math to figure what her grade in every class is for this quarter right now considering that she has missed the last 7 weeks.

Honestly, I thought she had dropped out. She may have been locked up but I usually hear about it when that happens.

Smoove_B wrote:I get the same question every semester and students frequently comment that I should be giving them credit for showing up to class (as part of their grades). Somehow sitting in a chair and sleeping or checking Facebook means something just because you're present. I'm sure every generation before ours has said the same thing, but good grief.

You were a civil servant once.

LordMortis wrote:Live at home? That's what I did. If I could do it all over, I'd live at home until I could afford to pay cash up front for a house. That's what my parents recommended I do. You only learn how wise your parents are after it's too late to take their advice.

God yes...this. I used to laugh/scoff/frown at so much stuff my father said. 25 years later, I realize how wise he really was.

I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

WarPig wrote:I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

Seeing as everyone on this board is just your alt, I'd say now is a good time.

You know how when someone goes postal everyone says, "He's the last person I expected. He was so quiet."

When I finally snap I want my coworkers to tell the press, "It was only a matter of time. We knew he was going to blow and honestly... we expected it to be worse."

stessier wrote:

WarPig wrote:I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

Seeing as everyone on this board is just your alt, I'd say now is a good time.

Shut up, me!

Attendance means squat. I can't count the number of perfect attendance awards I got but I still sucked at school

LordMortis wrote:

MHS wrote:Ughhhhh. Why are people such downers? Try to do something just random and fun and get lectured. Thanks! I love feeling judged.

-not aimed at anyone here

That's a damned good question. Was this about your FB chain post? If so, that's a shame.

Yes, it was. I got lectured on how it wasn't nice to put conditions on gifts. I replied as nicely as I could but it steamed me so much I ended up just deleting the entire thing.

WarPig wrote:I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

That's me! I think I got worried at around 22 or 23. Sometime over the last 20 years, I think we had a talk and I don't worry about it any more... Except in the bathroom... When we're talking in the bathroom, I'm always worried someone else will will hear. Probably because we never talk about work stuff in the bathroom. I'm distracted and thinking of something else and I don't want my coworkers eavesdropping about whether or not I paid my mortgage and how much additional principal I can afford without eating into my "Oh my God, What the hell happened? I'm out of work!" savings. Or hear me pondering the difference in shading of the tiles on the bathroom floors.

MHS wrote:Yes, it was. I got lectured on how it wasn't nice to put conditions on gifts. I replied as nicely as I could but it steamed me so much I ended up just deleting the entire thing.

If only I had talent and tools I'd send you something hand made when you least expect it to make you feel better. I even know what I'd make for you and it would make you smile about conditional gift giving, if it at least for a moment.

BTW, how do you size a Sneetch?

LordMortis wrote:

MHS wrote:Yes, it was. I got lectured on how it wasn't nice to put conditions on gifts. I replied as nicely as I could but it steamed me so much I ended up just deleting the entire thing.

If only I had talent and tools I'd send you something hand made when you least expect it to make you feel better. I even know what I'd make for you and it would make you smile about conditional gift giving, if it at least for a moment.

Thanks. You made me smile anyway.

And I'm going to go the mature route about the whole by waiting a week or two and then unfriending that person.

MHS wrote:

LordMortis wrote:

MHS wrote:Ughhhhh. Why are people such downers? Try to do something just random and fun and get lectured. Thanks! I love feeling judged.

-not aimed at anyone here

That's a damned good question. Was this about your FB chain post? If so, that's a shame.

Yes, it was. I got lectured on how it wasn't nice to put conditions on gifts. I replied as nicely as I could but it steamed me so much I ended up just deleting the entire thing.

Seriously? I thought it was a way cool idea...what is wrong with people?

Was actually going to add my name to the list, but figured it would be better reserved for IRL friends.

LordMortis wrote:

Isgrimnur wrote:Phillip Phillips may be the first American Idol that I actually like. It's certainly the first album I've bought from any contestant attached to it. He goes from sounding like Mark Mumford to Dave Matthews to his own voice in his debut album.

I thought his radio song, "blah blah Home" was another Mumford & Sons songs off the new M&S album. That actually doesn't speak well for him IMO as that what I've heard off that album feels like they've taken their sound and turned it into a schtick (for lack of a better concept).

After listening to the Deluxe album, he has more tracks on there that I would have mistaken for Dave Matthews than Mumford. He's got some stuff on there that doesn't peg in either direction, but the Dave thing kinda threw me the first time.

I've never unfriended anyone because for some reason that seems too rude as if somehow the lack of gracing them with the validation of constant knowledge of my existence is unjustly damning them to some sort Sartreian hell (As opposed to Sartorian hell, which I suppose would be denying them my timeless fashion sense of Dockers in khaki and Black with a black, sky blue, or brick oxford style shirts)... But I have [plonk]ed more than a couple of people into a obscurity.

Was reading through an old thread and read a comment that made me laugh. I looked to see who posted it and it was me.

So year and a half ago me just made present day me laugh.

Nice to know I get that guy's jokes.

Brian wrote:Nice to know I get that guy's jokes.

It would suck if you didn't.

Skinypupy wrote:

Brian wrote:Nice to know I get that guy's jokes.

It would suck if you didn't.

It would suck if you thought the guy was a jerk.

Actually, I've done that too.

WarPig wrote:I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

Not until you start getting into arguments with yourself...and losing.

Kraken wrote:

WarPig wrote:I work, most of the time, in a room by myself with no windows. I've always mumbled to myself, but it's turned (over the last 5 years) into full-on talking. I've gotten to where I find myself doing it in the car, the bathroom, wandering the halls, etc.

At what point should I be worried?

Not until you start getting into arguments with yourself...and losing.

Well that sucks. I always try and talk to my feminine side.

Brian wrote:Was reading through an old thread and read a comment that made me laugh. I looked to see who posted it and it was me.

I tend to f*** with myself more than make myself laugh. Sometimes I'll put things in places that I know will make me wonder why I did that, and I know I'll forget having done it deliberately by the time I find it.

Keeps things interesting.

Daehawk wrote:Attendance means squat. I can't count the number of perfect attendance awards I got but I still sucked at school

I was going to go with a witty and lewd comment about hoping you confined such things to the gym locker room, but then my better nature prevailed.

I walked past an Alexandria K-9 cop car on the way to work this morning.

The dog's name? G'Kar.

pr0ner wrote:
The dog's name? G'Kar.

Awesome.

RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.GotoCleanup

Worst variable ever?

Fretmute wrote:RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.GotoCleanup
Worst variable ever?

It would be close, yes. Why is 'Runstate.Caller' repeated so many times? Programmers are an odd bunch at times.

MindToyGames wrote:

Fretmute wrote:RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.Caller.RunState.GotoCleanup
Worst variable ever?

It would be close, yes. Why is 'Runstate.Caller' repeated so many times? Programmers are an odd bunch at times.

It's a TestStand Context structure. Each time you execute a subsequence, RunState.Caller becomes the Context of the calling sequence, and the old context gets placed in Runstate.Caller.Runstate.Caller. This recurses as many times as you have layers of sequences.

Do banana ripen differently under fluorescent lighting than they do under natural lighting?

pr0ner wrote:I walked past an Alexandria K-9 cop car on the way to work this morning.

The dog's name? G'Kar.

Our local police force had a dog named D'Argo until a few months ago. After several instances of losing control over the dogs, the canine squad was closed down and the dogs were...um..."let go."

It's like being a beachball, except there aren't any bikini-clad cuties to throw me around. I should do something about that.

What is it about bat shit that makes it less psychologically stable than other types of shit?

When it's aerosolized there's potential to spread rabies?