Minnesotans! This week is your last chance to name a snowplow!
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
I’ve been telling everyone for a long time to be nice to the spiders in your home. I wish to assure you that it’s not because my spider horde has taken control and telling me what to say. Promise.
I’m no longer crushed under the weight of classwork, so I made a video about a creationist who tried to suggest that Eric Davidson’s work on gene regulatory networks somehow conflicted with evolution. Oops. I had to deal with that.
Text below the fold for those of you who hate watching videos.
It’s cute, but sorry grandchildren, this isn’t what you’re getting from us this year.
Classes over! All grading to date completed! Freedom is in sight!
OK, I have to compose two final exams by Monday, and grade them next weekend. This won’t be too intimidating, though — my plan is to make the final machine-gradeable, mostly multiple choice and math problems, so with a little preparation I can just log in next Saturday, see all the scores waiting for me, and then I plug them into a spreadsheet that spits out letter grades.
So, next weekend…margaritas and tacos and lounging about, playing with spiders and data. Until then, one last push.
My wife was tidying up old papers, and found this letter. My daughter had written it to her grandparents to thank them for some Christmas presents (and also to share the family excitement, that her older brother had gotten a ball python). Grandma had put the date on it, and we got it back after they died.
Written when my daughter was about the same age as my granddaughter is now, 26 years ago. Jebus, but time flies by, and leaves me all old and sentimental. I may need to mope for a bit.
Almost there.
I have to finish grading this stack of lab finals this morning, then compose an exam for intro biology, and finally stagger into bed.
To celebrate the end of classes, we have two big events this weekend at UMM.
First up, park your butt in an auditorium (haven’t they had enough of that?), and watch a Marvel Movie Marathon. I’m not sufficiently interested in the Marvel universe to do that, but sure, soak in it for the weekend.
And then, top off Saturday night with the Yule Ball. This is a photo of a decorative pile of tchotchkes that were on a table. I like the sentiment on the button.
Party hard, young’uns! For the professoriate will deliver unto you a week of pain immediately afterwards!
Brittney Griner is free! The American basketball player had been sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison for being caught with one gram of cannabis oil, and has now been swapped for a Russian arms dealer.
Now we just have to release all the prisoners held in American prisons for contrived cannabis-related offenses. It’s not just Russia that has unjust policies!
The last week of classes is winding down.
+ I’m all caught up on grading!
– I gave a few students permission to turn in late assignments, due today, so I’m not all caught up.
– I’m giving a lab final in cell biology this morning. so I’m not all caught up.
– I’m giving a unit exam to my intro students tomorrow, so I’m not all caught up.
– I’m giving two final exams next week, so I’m not all caught up.
It’s like you can make a few strokes towards shore, but the current is unending and fierce, and I’m already worn out. Grades are due on 21 December, so that’s my goal, I just have to keep paddling and hope I don’t drown before I get there.
Hey! Maybe there’s a beautiful mermaid waiting for me at the bottom, with a golden pirate’s treasure, so drowning won’t be so bad.
My fate?
