She essentially said in her introduction that if we think we might have a family or medical emergency that will keep us from doing an assignment, we should just drop the class now.

Yes, because you should expect an emergency. Dumb.

I'm not sure if 7 chapters is excessive, because I'm the jackass who would have to read 1-3 even if I wasn't told. I don't like starting in the middle.

I'm not sure if 7 chapters is excessive, because I'm the jackass who would have to read 1-3 even if I wasn't told. I don't like starting in the middle.

Average for these classes have been 2-3 chapters a week, with the occassional four chapter week. I probably would have looked over the first three chapters anyway, although I am probably already familar with what is in them. But if we are going to be "required to use the terminology in chapters 1-3 throughout the course" than why be coy about it? Just assign chapters 1-7 since that is what she is essentially doing anyway.

Sounds like the prof wants to scare people into dropping the class. That might mean she'll be more reasonable as the course continues, it might mean she's a hardass who assigns a lot of work and will give people grief over legitimate problems. Hard to say.

She essentially said in her introduction that if we think we might have a family or medical emergency that will keep us from doing an assignment, we should just drop the class now.

??????????????????

Spoken like someone who has never had any kind of emergency in her life.

Or who even knows what that word actually means.

Spoken like someone who has never had any kind of emergency in her life.

Or who even knows what that word actually means.

Yup. It must be nice. Sadly, in a five week period, I might not be able to predict what will go wrong with me, but it is highly likely that something will.

And, you know what? Screw her. People with disablilities shouldn't get an education? That's discrimination plain and simple. I understand wanting people to take the class seriously, that's important to her. But, those people have stuff in their lives that are equally important, like their families or their health.

Rule #1: Don't be an asshole!

She essentially said in her introduction that if we think we might have a family or medical emergency that will keep us from doing an assignment, we should just drop the class now.

You have professor Maggie Walsh?

You have professor Maggie Walsh?

Bwah! I'm smiling now for the first time all day. Thanks.

Dear Professor Asschapeau:

From the online Miriam-Webster Dictionary, emergency is defined as:

1 : an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action 2 : an urgent need for assistance or relief

As for the first, if these little events were things we could schedule, they wouldn't be called emergencies. As for the second, as a professor, there are certain forms of assistance that pretty much come with the job title. Your students are mortgaging their futures in order to pay your salary. You are their employee in a manner of speaking. Best you give them their money's worth.

No love, me

I'm x-posting this with music, because of our earlier discussion of Crystals and Angels from other planets....

I'm digging this trippy 1977 video of The Carpenters, with a full orchestra, covering Klaatu's amazing "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft." From the Official Klaatu Homepage:

The idea for this track was suggested by an actual event that is described in The Flying Saucer Reader, a book by Jay David published in 1967. In March 1953 an organization known as the "International Flying Saucer Bureau" sent a bulletin to all its members urging them to participate in an experiment termed "World Contact Day" whereby, at a predetermined date and time, they would attempt to collectively send out a telepathic message to visitors from outer space. The message began with the words..."Calling occupants of interplanetary craft!"

blog thingie: [link]

video: [link]

eta: The video starts out with this cheesy, corny bit of comedy (I think) of aliens calling a radio station's request line.

Is this the most awesome video ever, or what?