Yup, still here ( Read more... )

Yes I still exist even if I haven't posted anything for months ( Read more... )

It looks like someone finally found a case where they could do some randomized studies of teacher impact on learning in particular with math classes. They found that teaching to maximize scores on the initial course led to weaker scores in the followup courses. Or in other words, evidence for the "teaching to the test is bad in the long run" ( Read more... )

Strangest WisCon experience so far: having my name recognized from 20 year old Usenet posts.

Last night I was watching one of the old Doctor Who episodes that had just been released on DVD. This one was The Deadly Assassin which is set on the Doctor's home planet. After watching it, I put together the following:

• There is no female character in the entire story. I'm pretty certain that even all the extras are male.
• The main McGuffin turns out ( Read more... )

Major item: We're now accredited.

Almost as major item: What was most likely the biggest obstacle to the math major, approval by the Board of Regents, has been cleared.

Minor item in comparison, but good for me: I'm now done with everything in terms of being hiring committee chair.

We were supposed to have three big construction projections going on on campus starting in the fall. The library, the student center, and the first dorms were all supposed to start going up within a very short period of time. Once we got the financing. Oops ( Read more... )

Found in a blog post entitled "World's Most Inappropriate Looking Candy" and well, that about sums it up. I have no idea how the folks at Disney let this one get out. The color and shape should have been enough to veto it immediately, but then you add in the picture on the packaging and wow...

The other possibility of course is that it's a photoshop ( Read more... )

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Consider it commentary on the coverage, if not necessarily the candidates.