Thursday, November 12, 2015

[bearshorty]

TV

Supernatural S11E6

Another good episode. This season is doing well so far to develop its mythology without getting lost in it or it getting boring - looking at you Season 6 (and 9 to some extent). Even Cas came in well this episode and was relevant here. Loved his TV viewing habits. And I'm liking all the actresses playing Amara (except the 7 year old). I can't stand Metatron - that character needs to just go away, but he was ok here in a small dose. And I did enjoy the reveal, although I spoiled myself just before I watched the episode by foolishly clicking on a recap, thinking I would only read the beginning. Yeah. They led with the big reveal. Argh. But it worked anyway. I'm very excited about the Cage and the potential that can bring.

Supergirl S1E3

I am enjoying this show. I don't mind that it's wholesome and a bit pat and that it hammers its theme in every episode. I find it sweet. I love the scenes between Kara and her sister, just hanging out, about to watch TV. And a girl who likes to eat (although as an alien she can eat anything). And I liked the idea that she wanted to prove herself without Superman's help - it is a good message that she's not just Superman's cousin, not a lesser superhero. It was necessary too since that is how most of us see Supergirl too. I wish they waited a bit to introduces any romance 'obstacles.' I really don't care as much about shipping on this show; I don't want it to get boggled down by it. But certainly, nice light entertainment with fun actors.




Collected the 4th paper to grade this week. One more paper to go. This semester is surely going fast. I got my schedule for next semester - it's the same time slots. Just nice to get it officially. Plus some of my current students want to know since they want to keep me on as their instructor next semester (I'm teaching the next level up class).

More drama from my "special" student. This is an email she sent me Wednesday, about 22 hours before final paper 4 was due. Keep in mind that she got a C on her last paper - her highest grade. We do count paper 4 and 5 for the grade - the first three are practice - but if one doesn't work hard on those, one can't do well later. And her effort was distinctly lacking.

"Hello,

I was wondering if you could look over assignment 4 for me. I am really
hoping to get in A in all of my classes this semester and I know these last
two papers count the most so I am really trying to do well. I have put in a
lot of effort into this paper especially. I really worked to focus on the
two things you wrote on my last paper which were...

1. Transition words and paragraph order
2. Connection

I was wondering if you could skim over this if you had a chance and let me
know how I can further improve on those two things along with anything else
I can improve upon to get the best grade possible on this paper.

I have just spent the past three hours revising it and reading it over and
over again so I hope that there is improvement from the last one.

Thanks,
Name Reducted"

Wow, whole three hours revising. That's so long. And I can't actually read her whole draft, I can answer something specific like one connection or check two quotes or check thesis. They are supposed to rely on peer review, comments from previous papers and class exercises. I emailed her back to tell her to pick one thing for me to focus on. She chose transitions. She didn't have any when she went from one paragraph to the next and her thesis was in the opposite order of her paragraph points. But she, you know, worked on it for three hours. In her second email she also showed she doesn't understand what we mean by the term 'connection' - it's like the primary lesson of the class, a very specific terminology and I gave her an example on her last paper. But she wants an A and stuff. Well, I want many things too.

Oh, and today she forgot to submit and electronic copy of her essay. She did bring a paper copy. But the electronic submission is mandatory (to check for plagiarism) and this is the 4th paper - one might remember by now. I emailed her to remind her to do it and I got this gem "Sorry about that. Hard to keep track of so many things for every class. It's done." She will have lots of fun when she gets a real job. Anyway, I just had to vent a bit.

Most of my kids are good and work hard. We had a fun discussion about technology today in class since we are reading Sherry Turkle next. I mention having dial-up when I was in high school, and one student didn't know what dial-up was. Getting old. Well, these kids were born when I was a senior in high school.



I made butternut squash on Monday and turkey meatloaf on Tuesday. I really like butternut squash. It smells so good and is very autumn appropriate. Usually I made butternut squash soup with it but this time I just did a stir fry thing with onion, carrot and squash. I really don't like peeling it, though. Such a hassle. But at least it came out delicious.

This was the second time I made this turkey meatloaf. Last time, I scouted the internet, chose several recipes, combined them/mixed them and came up with my own recipe. It came out well and I wrote it in my recipe book. Tried it again this Tuesday and it definitely held up. Frying the onion before hand, putting green pepper in it and having ketchup/Worcester sauce/brown sugar topping on top really makes it work. Even Tanya ate a little yesterday, so yay.