Man, I kept WONDERING why I recognized that kid!

This is why I post. Really, it's a public service.

Just had the conversation with my mother that I wish I had had with my advisor last week, so am feeling better about my final grad school project.

Huh. I think I just helped my dad come up with a new idea on how to teach his 101 astronomy class. He's looking for new ways to teach it and was thinking about having them turn in their notes for portion of the grade. I suggested having them turn in a copy each week, which they'd get back at the end to use in the final. Of course, this could lead to manic brainless notetaking if they knew ahead of time. OTOH, in most of my classes, we did operate similarly (exams were open note, open book but they were a BITCH) so this might mean a hellish exam for him to write.

Anyway, it was fun brainstorming with him. He's rather depressed about the state of higher education right now and really looking for ways to really engage even his worst students. I get to hear about how he feels he's failed every exam period, and yet, having been his student, I know it is not him alone. He's got some shitty students too.

I think I got addicted to Project Runway this afternoon. Damn Bravo and their marathons.

This is why I post. Really, it's a public service.

I meant to say -- no way! I totally didn't recognize him! I'm watching via Netflix for the first time. Amazing damn show. Now I have to re-rent that disc to see baby Jake.

Project Runway is my ultimate reality TV addiction right now. Thinking about the new season was the only thing that got me through the horror that was TAR:FE.

Buy my chicle!

I'm totally into Project Runway -- good times.

Apparently I don't know how to watch TV alone anymore. Are you done with dinner yet??? No, no. I'll manage. But again, I say re: 24 ---

NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

ETA:

Oh! So they're going after everyone who knows Jack's alive. Damn .

I so totally didn't need another new show though.

But Project Runway has THE Tim Gunn, who so needs to be my very own style guru/life coach.

I remember when I was still living in NJ and doing the reverse J-lo On the 6 to get up to the Bronx for work, I used to pass by Parsons almost every day. I saw the scads of folks outside Parsons for what, in retrospect, I think must've been a Project Runway casting for season 1. Who knew the fabulosity to come?

The Steeler/Colt game almost killed me during the second half. My heart probably stopped three times. FUN!

That was the best game I've seen all season. FUN.

I suggested having them turn in a copy each week, which they'd get back at the end to use in the final.

Huh. For me, that would definitely have me taking notes in class specifically for the consumption of the prof.

A variation: I had an English class where we were supposed to keep a notbeook like you suggest. Instead of class notes, in conjunction with the lectures, she gave us ideas for related things - shows at the art musuem, film versions of things we were reading - and we were supposed to look into these on our own time and record our reactions. The notebooks were turned in about every month, rather than weekly. Honestly, it was really valuable, in part because she wanted honest reactions - we'd read some Rita Dove poems that related to political events in Haiti. I went to an exhibit of Haitian art and basically wrote an essay on the relationship between the two. On the other hand, I watched a film of a Sam Shepard play we'd read - and turned it off after fifteen minutes. Unwatchable, which is what I said in my notebook. Which see was totally cool with.

Anyway, my point. Astronomy obviously is different than lit. But somehthing similar, that required students to think and apply things from class, would probably be excellent.