Monday grab bag (with important question to readers)

Yeah, I'm grading. (Maybe you would be too if you weren't reading the blogs, hmm?) But I wanted to check in.

  • I pulled my back loading the car for the last soccer game of the season. What's the proper inference to draw from that (besides the obvious: that I'm getting old and all this grading is doing nothing for my muscle tone)?
  • How is it that if I make assignments at school they often are left undone, whereas if I make assignments on my blog, people do the work and turn it in? (Are we now awarding ScienceBlogs course credit?)
  • As much as I hate feeding capitalism (seriously, ask these guys) and consumerism, I do like nurturing the interests of the young in positive directions. So, to balance the bad stuff out there on the market, I'm putting together a round up of brain-friendly gift ideas for the youngsters. My question to you: What games, toys, or other giftables would you recommend for a kid who may or may not have an interest in math and science? Tell me by email (and expound on why your suggestion rocks), and I'll compile a list of the favorites to go up in the neighborhood of Buy Nothing Day. (You can research on Buy Nothing Day, I think).

More when I emerge, victorious, from the stack of papers.

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Yeah, I'm grading. (Maybe you would be too if you weren't reading the blogs, hmm?)

Yes. I would. SOMEONE has verbose students...

I needed the break. :)

Sorry! I'll let you off grading it. In fact, I was experimenting to see if I could be bothered to do it, as part of a decision about whether to sign up to start a philosophy MA in January despite being in the middle of chemotherapy. (On re-reading, I think I've actually done it about three-quarters).

By potentilla (not verified) on 13 Nov 2006 #permalink

To clarify: JM is complaining about the verbosity of my officially enrolled students, whose words she is employed (for a pittance, sad to say) to grade.

Honestly, potentilla, if I could find a way to harness the enthusiasm of commenters for matters of epistemology to whip up similar enthusiasm amongst my "official" students, I'd be pleased as punch. (Also, I hope the chemotherapy goes as well as it can, if not better!)