TENSing my shoulder now. It's helping some. The pads aren't in quite the right places, but I can't twist my other arm to get them right without popping out my shoulder.

Ow! I hope you get some relief soon, Hil.

Thanks. I took some Vicodin, and I'm watching Mulan for some distraction.

I have dropped off the face of the planet getting this show up and running. At this point I'm so tired I can't think straight, but I need to finish up some work in the studio. Night A of Sci-Fest opened tonight. Now we just need to finish tech for night B before next Tuesday and then I think I get to find out what sleep is again. At the moment there are almost 700 cues in the main project running the show, and we have 5 more shows to go.

I'm feeling a lot better this morning. Definitely glad I don't need to teach, but well enough to walk a few blocks to drop off some stuff at the food bank downtown. Now, to deal with more emails from students who don't like their grades.

Now I feel bad for making Bobby write to his instructor when he has had issues with his test results. On SEVERAL occasions the teacher has ended up changing it after responding that he was right and that was also a correct answer. And then fixing the rest of the class grades too. This is likely the result of the effort that goes into preparation of your level of tests and the testing prepared by teachers at the state college that are working on maybe getting a teaching certificate someday. The range of quality in his instructors has been significant.

I have also responding to his bitching on scores by responding 'I told you that wasn't what he was looking for' when that is appropriate. That happens a bunch too!

A student wants me to add four points to his grade for "participation" because he showed up at class almost every day. That's not extra credit -- that's bare minimum expectation.

Now I feel bad for making Bobby write to his instructor when he has had issues with his test results. On SEVERAL occasions the teacher has ended up changing it after responding that he was right and that was also a correct answer.

That's different. What I'm getting isn't "I think the answer I put down was actually correct, and you marked it wrong." I'm getting, "I need a higher grade. Can you give me a higher grade?"

Oh yeah, I'll lose my scholarship, I'll get in trouble at home, I am such a good person I deserve it. Showing up is something that isn't worth extra points unless it is part of the syllabus as being worth something.

Some teachers do sort of add that in, but not at student's request, I'm sure.