Now on ScienceBlogs: "Investigative science journalism" and books I like to read [All of My Faults Are Stress Related]

Seed Media Group

The Week In ScienceBlogs: Sign up for our newsletter.

Uncertain Principles

Physics, Politics, Pop Culture

Search

Profile

"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.

You've read the blog, now try the book: How to Teach Physics to Your Dog will be published December 22nd by Scribner.

Chad Orzel "Prof. Orzel gives the impression of an everyday guy who just happens to have a vast but hidden knowledge of physics." (anonymous student evaluation comment)

Emmy, the Queen of Niskayuna Emmy is a German Shepherd mix, and the Queen of Niskayuna. She likes treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and quantum physics.

Donors Choose challenge link

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Greatest Hits

Chateau Steelypips

Blogroll

Scientists

Academics

Interesting People

Books

Punditry

Categories

Archives

« Review: Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness | Main | Career Options for Theorists »

Important Note for My Students

Category: Academia
Posted on: August 9, 2006 9:29 PM, by Chad Orzel

A while back, I noted that one student wrote on the all-important course evaluation form "He should wear more pink." I'm still not sure what that meant.

Given that the second most ridiculous comment in that class was "[student name] is the worst Warcraft player ever," I should probably point our majors to this interview with an addiction doctor (via Jake):

Having treated all types of addictions for more than 15 years, Orzack says there's little difference between drug use, excessive gambling and heavy game playing. And with millions of gamers hooked on mega-popular massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs), she believes the problem is growing rapidly. In fact, Orzack says as much as 40 percent of World of Warcraft players are addicted to the game.

Got that? Computer games are evil.

(Not that I really have a claim on the moral high ground, what with Super Tecmo Bowl having eaten a good chunk of my junior year... But, ummm... Warcraft is qualitatively different. Or something.)

Comments

Well if you were at the University of Waterloo (Ontario Canada), I'd wadger that the student was in Math. Pink is (and more importantly pink ties) kind of a big deal around
here.

Posted by: Robert | August 9, 2006 11:43 PM

SimCity, man. SimCity. Gotta get me some of that SimCity. SimCity, man.

And there went a large chunk of my freshman year. The ONLY saving grace was that I did not have a computer in my own room, and I had to go next door to play on one of my mates'. And he could boot me from the room, like a responsible computer owner should.

Whereupon I went down the hall to the room with the Nintendo to join in the Mike Tyson PunchOut! brigade.

In retrospect, I marvel that I was even able to keep a 3.0.

Posted by: Dr Chuck Pearson | August 10, 2006 5:45 AM

My best two (from when I was at UMD) were:

"He's great to do bong hits with."

and

"He provides good fantasy material."

I have no idea what either of these two were talking about. Fortunately those will never be seen by a tenure committee...

Posted by: Brian Postow | August 10, 2006 11:04 AM

I have no idea what either of these two were talking about. Fortunately those will never be seen by a tenure committee...

Unless they Google up this blog post, that is...

Posted by: Chad Orzel | August 10, 2006 11:27 AM

D'OH!

Posted by: Brian Postow | August 10, 2006 4:35 PM

Post a Comment

(Email is required for authentication purposes only. On some blogs, comments are moderated for spam, so your comment may not appear immediately.)





ScienceBlogs

Search ScienceBlogs:

Go to:

Advertisement
Advertisement

© 2006-2009 Seed Media Group LLC. ScienceBlogs is a registered trademark of Seed Media Group. All rights reserved.

Sites by Seed Media Group: Seed Media Group | ScienceBlogs | SEEDMAGAZINE.COM