tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350115752009-12-02T12:16:24.211-08:00"Come for the rants; stay for the grammar!"fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.comBlogger1085125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-73361003288450208812009-12-01T14:22:00.000-08:002009-12-01T14:28:39.696-08:00

Obama's speech tonight is pre-empting A Charlie Brown Christmas. (Has there been a president who's been on TV more?)SRSLY, Mr. President? SRSLY? It makes me sad that we live in a world where war talk has to bump what I consider the most perfect Christmas special ever off the television.I HOPE the special is on at another time. This is one thing I watch every year and I would be angry if the

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-5140159847550636042009-12-01T05:28:00.000-08:002009-12-01T05:37:01.079-08:00

I don't know. I'm wondering if maybe being tougher than I was in the past is a good way to be. Two separate incidents:Guy comes into my office. Guy is a decent student but is partying a wee bit hard this fall (I teach an early Friday class and many weeks he's come in looking really painfully hung over). Guy asks, "Are we doing anything in class tomorrow?" (I wish the students know how much the

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-32140425177543122762009-11-30T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-30T12:22:49.184-08:00

Listening to Christmas music while grading, I realize that Carol of the Bells has pretty much been ruined for me.Most recently, by Wal-mart, and their inane "flip the lights on the checkout stands" ad (Yeah, like the wal-mart near me EVER has enough checkers. Though I could see them playing with their lights rather than checking people out)Then, previously (and still, I see they have a new

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-45814830548877745072009-11-24T05:20:00.000-08:002009-11-24T05:23:07.176-08:00

A moratorium on "I'm dieting and I LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT and I'm going to make my family eat raw vegetables and plain turkey breast for Thanksgiving because I don't want to sabotage my diet" stories. And "I find turkey boring, therefore I decree NO ONE IN AMERICA SHOULD FIX TURKEY THIS THANKSGIVING" stories. And "When did Thanksgiving become an excuse for gluttony" stories (Um, the original

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-24383209493138873932009-11-24T03:37:00.000-08:002009-11-24T03:41:06.789-08:00

...it kind of sneaked up on me again (But don't worry, I have plans. I did make plans. I won't be sitting at home alone crying in front of the Macy's parade because I waited too long to try to get tickets to travel). I'm grateful for this break. I really, really need it.And I'm grateful Congress is on break. For two reasons:1. They can't do anything to us this week2. Maybe they'll get an earful

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-1278244411895394982009-11-23T17:00:00.000-08:002009-11-23T17:05:38.819-08:00

By this point in the semester, I can almost predict what grade someone will earn before I look at their paper.Super-competitive tightly-wound guy will get 100% or damn close to it (and if he doesn't, he'll try arguing for points).Speshul Snowflake woman will talk a big deal about how good her project is, but it'll be a half-assed B at best.Compulsive Man will go way beyond what the assignment

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-28553256095032646942009-11-22T17:21:00.000-08:002009-11-22T17:23:04.927-08:00

"Is 'Bridezillas' the stupidest thing ever to have been on television?"Go. (In the comments). (I saw part of an episode today. Couldn't look away for about 10 minutes. Wanted to smack every person involved. And then wanted to take them and drop them in a middle of a starving village in Africa or some-damn-where in the hopes they'd develop a wee bit of perspective.)

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-45283504912387584812009-11-19T18:16:00.000-08:002009-11-19T18:21:02.973-08:00

I've occasionally watched episodes of "Community," a sitcom set at a community college.I'm not sure how I feel about it - some of the humor borders on mean-spiritedness (like the other NBC comedies on Thursday night) and I'm not really one for that type of humor. But usually the episodes have at least one thing that makes me laugh out loud.Tonight, it was this: Senor Chang, the dispirited Spanish

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-21766492575724283122009-11-19T09:03:00.000-08:002009-11-19T09:13:00.261-08:00

Everything's hitting the fan right now. I have students in full-on freak-out mode because they just figured out that they won't pass. There's other stuff going on that I can't talk about here that isn't pleasant.And I'm feeling my frequent sense of "no one cares, all I get is work heaped on my head, I do crap that's above and beyond what's expected and I never hear one word of thanks. Everyone

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-4487292768702922452009-11-17T13:37:00.000-08:002009-11-17T13:52:03.550-08:00

One of my colleagues is complaining about a new push here on campus, to get students involved in "mandatory volunteerism." About how apparently there is a new stealth program to eventually make "volunteer hours" a requirement for graduation.And he talks about how it could take away from classroom instruction (I agree). And he talks about how it affects "academic freedom" (I agree). And he even

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-52600302224861788662009-11-13T08:07:00.000-08:002009-11-13T08:13:17.120-08:00

A long time ago, I posted a list of rules, including several for students.I have a new one:If you miss class on a day when I explain a BIG IMPORTANT TOPIC and work an example of it, you are not allowed to come bitching to me that you don't know it because you missed class. What's more, you're not allowed to expect me to re-teach an entire 50 minute class for you and you alone. You are not allowed

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-80640571156458118622009-11-13T05:29:00.000-08:002009-11-13T05:31:54.514-08:00

My head may explode anyway even if I learn to tolerate childishness from 20 year olds (and nearly 50 year olds):Pfizer, winner in the Kelo "eminent domain" case, pulls out, leaving empty fields.Stupidest Supreme Court decision I can remember. Pfizer should be made to give all the people they eminent-domained back their lots, PLUS rebuild their houses as close to what they were (or better) if

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-3689460853078856692009-11-13T05:24:00.000-08:002009-11-13T05:25:15.725-08:00

This week, I have had two students - in two separate classes - come very near to throwing a tantrum.One of these students, I happen to know, is older than I am. (She mentioned her age one day).My goal in life now has changed to, "Make it to the end of the semester before my head explodes."

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-82964986781437648962009-11-11T06:23:00.000-08:002009-11-11T06:32:49.914-08:00

I think I've figured out some of my distress with some of my students. It is that they get defeated very easily, like they've given up.I hand back homeworks and instead of students paying attention to my discussion of what folks did wrong, they flip through their dayplanners or talk with their neighbors. And they toss the graded homework in the trash on their way out. And when I hand back the

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-15615038151364866582009-11-10T14:17:00.000-08:002009-11-10T14:18:56.247-08:00

The feel-better package I ordered for myself? That I was wondering when it would come?turns out I never actually completed the order. Sigh. Ricki FAIL. (I did now but no idea if any of the items are now out of stock). I guess I got distracted. I hate that.And I need "feel better" stuff right now, the combination of semester-suckage, news-suckage, and being around snarly snappy people is really

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-60578308437962625682009-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:002009-11-10T12:28:43.725-08:00

I can't watch the news, or listen to commentary. It makes me despair too much. We are a nation divided. Neither side listens to the other any more, neither side is willing to admit that the other might have useful ideas. And it seems sometimes the side in power is interested mainly in hanging on as tightly as possible to that power and getting even more. Things are changing, fast, and not in a

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-14777356789044472842009-11-08T13:01:00.000-08:002009-11-08T13:11:50.162-08:00

About the Fort Hood killings. I have known people who were (formerly) stationed there. I know how bases often become a pretty tight community for people who live there. I think that's maybe the theme of the 20th-21st centuries: a group of people build a community that is working, that is doing good, and then someone comes in and tries to destroy it. (Actually, maybe this is the theme of civilized

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-79687952884588022202009-11-03T05:04:00.000-08:002009-11-03T05:37:28.447-08:00

I've noticed something recently. It's really come to a head this semester, when I have several students with chronically ill family members, or with major health issues being diagnosed, or with other problems. A lot of the stuff is stuff that I would have dropped out for a semester to attend to (a lot of the stuff, while "big," is "short-lived" - a parent having major abdominal surgery but who

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-87355606499371602172009-11-02T06:38:00.000-08:002009-11-02T06:40:57.914-08:00

Check it: these guys used permanent marker to "disguise" themselves before committing robbery. PERMANENT marker.AH hahahahahahahahaahhaha!

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-54846130380946632002009-10-31T18:56:00.000-07:002009-10-31T19:05:35.012-07:00

I had LOTS of trick or treaters this year. LOTS. More than previous years. I gave out almost all the candy I bought.This makes me happy. I see trick or treating as one of the simple pleasures of childhood. (I realize some may disagree with me for religious reasons, and that's fine for you. I grew up in a fairly observant family and there never seemed to be "evil" or satanic overtones to Halloween

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-9059120548533276112009-10-30T12:05:00.000-07:002009-10-30T12:08:07.039-07:00

Something came up that reminded me of my cousin who committed suicide. It's been five years now but it still hurts when I'm reminded of it.I realize people in that frame of mind aren't really thinking, but really, it is the ultimate selfish act. I'm just kind of melancholy right now. It's rained all week long, I'm trying to grade some absolutely terrible papers (I think I'm going to have to go

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-64113201405188526382009-10-29T09:15:00.000-07:002009-10-29T09:16:39.800-07:00

"Sweden focuses on cutting food emissions."I guess I'm still kind of 12; my first thought was, "So, they're going to ban beans then?"(Apparently it has to do with "greening farming." So it will soon come here and we will be nannied at for wanting to drink orange juice when we do not live in Florida or California, or for wanting chocolate, or coffee.)

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-26701863955342466862009-10-29T06:31:00.000-07:002009-10-29T06:38:33.240-07:00

I do agree with both HH and the Swillers. I think our future is a mix of 1984 (only Big Brother is also looking for wrong-eating and wrong-energy-use as well as wrong-thinking) and BNW, with some "Some pigs are more equal than others" thrown in for good measure.(I have a strong suspicion that the "some pigs are more equal than others" concept is what keeps certain individuals in favor of

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-69262045281034340122009-10-29T06:05:00.000-07:002009-10-29T06:07:49.682-07:00

see more Epic Fails

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35011575.post-25699299079604709572009-10-28T16:37:00.000-07:002009-10-28T16:38:47.127-07:00

When I was a teenager, I read both "1984" and "Brave New World." My friends always thought "1984" was going to be the scenario that happened in the future. I thought it would be "Brave New World."Sadly, I think I was right. And it seems to be coming more every day. How long before they put soma in the drinking water?

fillyjonkecorbett@netcommander.com3