h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today is the day my graduate education officially starts. I thought I would be nervous, but really, I'm mostly too tired.

I am convinced that my daughter's school does *not* like parents who are students. Today most departments are having their annual new grad student orientation at 3 p.m., followed by a BBQ. Now, knowing full well that this was happening, Daarte's school is having it's back to school night....tonight. At 6 p.m. Which is when the BBQ starts. So, who do I short, me or the kid? (Knowing me, which one do *you* think?) So, while everyone else is having beer and brats, I will be sitting in a little tiny chair listening to a 25 year old woman go on about how the kids are going to learn math, etc.


Oh, well.

I guess that taking a hibachi and a cooler full of suds to the Back to School Night would be less than appreciated (though you might make some new friends that way <grin&gt.

I remember those nights from when I were a lad. I am glad that I never have to go to once of those as a student again, and i do not look forward to going to them when I am a parent.

MR - wishing you a successful term.

MR, the back-to-school meeting has probably been planned around the needs of some gilt-edged diaries, not yours...

Luna, welcome back, and do pitch into the discussion! As regards exams, maybe you went to a better college than I did in the US... which would not have been difficult.

Special dispensation to salonistas: you may use "Dragon Temple" as wallpaper or a print. If you resell copies, I get 75% of profits.

Sol, you mentioned the new AS-Levels. As many will know, I have taken these, and as some may remember, I obtained a B for my computing course, despite the simplicity of the subject (generally agreed upon by all who took it). The coursework module, you see, was marked as a very low D, and - without meaning to seem egotistical - that simply isn't the sort of grade I get.

The problem was that the examiners marked the coursework thinking along the lines of a database structure, while we, the students, actually did the coursework thinking about /files/. The two things are very different, and a number of technical terms had meanings for both ideas; so we were marked down for using the 'wrong' ones. The problem was that the exam board had not clearly defined the task - they had not stated that we should have used databases instead of files. It wasn't the teachers' fault.

Lil, I have indeed been lucky enough to go to some good schools, so naturally I cannot take the same perspective as many people. However, I don't think it should have tainted what I said earlier about how far the education system reaches into society.

Like the picture, by the way.

Oh, and the universities I have applied to are Oxford, Durham, Bath, Bristol, Southampton and Royal Holoway, in no particular order. All to study physics (or theoretical physics, if that is available). I had to apply so early (most people can wait until November the 11th or something) because Oxford have earlier deadlines, and I can't just send them a seperate form.

Thank you.

I don't think "tainted" is the right word, at least in so far as I agree with what you said. The educational system does drive British Society, especially the Civil Service! And I wish you best of luck with your university applications: I can see you mutating into an Oxonian before our eyes.

Lil - great picture, how did you get the sun soooooooo bright?

Luna - great to see you.

Courtesy

So, WM, are you going to vote for Torricelli, with his ethics violatons, or The Other Guy? Just curious...

No, I didn't think tainted was the right word either. I couldn't be bothered to reach for the thesaurus, however.
Thank you for the good luck wishes.

wow, lil! love the picture!

*crossing fingers that there will be a computer @ job #2 today*

FG, at least we *know* Torricelli is a crook! The Other Guy is an enigma.

Lil, it's more that the elementary school is almost purposely trying to make life hard for student parents. Parent teacher conferences are during undergrad finals week, spring break is the week before UCI's, and when the university parents brought this up, they were told that it wasn't going to happen. Not that it wasn't feasible, or that there were good reasons, it was just "no."

I thought Missoula had a bad townies/student relationship until I came here. Considering UCI is the biggest thing *in* Irvine, and something like the 4th biggest employer in the county, you'd think the school district would get the picture, that we aren't the enemy.


Very strange.

Chris, here's hoping you get in where you want to...

Chris, which colleges at Oxford have you applied to?

My phone is finally once again working and I can log on!

Hullo, all.

I would just like to say that crop circles - sorry, corn mazes - are wonderful things indeed.

*sips and wanders off to read the backlog*

Had a fantastic day out in London yesterday visiting the Bodyworlds exhibition:

http://www.bodyworlds.com

This does relate to the education debate in a tenuous way, since it is a very educational and informative exhibition (very popular with school groups and lay individuals alike). I thought it was excellent.

It consists of a display of real human bodies preserved using a new technique called plastination in which the tissues are impregnated with a plastic substance allowing them to retain their structure and appearance so they can be displayed in upright lifelike positions and various body systems can be displayed in situ very effectively.

This controversial exhibition has had a lot of criticism in the press of the "immoral and gruesome" and "is it art" variety. In my opinion, it is not at all immoral (all body donors donated their bodies in full knowledge of what they would be used for) or gruesome, and the organisers never claimed it was art.

Have any of you seen the exhibition? If so what did you think?

If not - I highly recommend it - it continues in London until December 1st 2002 and (I think) it will be touring other countries afterwards - the website has the details.

There's another exhibit...some man in the 19th(?!) century did something similar with humans and horses. Very strange. I think his stuff was more about the macabre than what I've heard about bodyworld.

Just back from the dentist. I'm pampering myself with and feeling very happy to be finished with formal schooling for myself and the kids. Oooh. My jaw is starting to thaw. I may need to add something to the tea. H

I recommend scotch...

*anyone happening to look outside the window will see Lil down in the garden, waving up at them, while Amy hovers nearby on the dragonFLYbot*

*just as she tries to wave back at Lil, she remembers that she still isn't here*

{[caer csd]*waves to Lil and Amy before heading for bed*}