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Basically, got the grades for the class last Sat. (as in two weeks ago). But first, the director of the program felt the need to come in and rip our asses for 10 min for 1/4 of the class failing (below an 80%). That was fun. Then had to sit through the alphabetical return of our grades. This was extremely stressful since I KNEW I was one of the 1/4. Well, I better get started on some animal sacrifices or something to appease whoever, but I managed to pull out a passing grade. Actually, I was one ever-loving point away from an A-. Tough. But you have no idea how very relieved I was when I saw that lovely 89 staring me in the face. Also, got a 93% on the final I was so very concerned about (that's curved by 4 points, so I really, truly got an 89 on that too). So, whew!
Already started on the next class which is "psychological, social and legal aspects of forensic science." Yeah, I know. That's a serious mouthful. Whoever came up with that name needs to be diagnosed with diarrhea of verbiage. So, more fun times ahead. Learning about dipolar disorder, serial offenders, etc. Also, they somehow managed to pile on even more work. Amazing. I'm completely convinced that the entire purpose of graduate school is to convince students that they don't know shit, will never know shit and shouldn't even attempt to know shit. Luckily, I already have a knack for convincing myself of this, so they can't break me!!! They WON'T break me, haha.
As far as work goes for anyone who might be interested in protein structure. We're pretty much done with the structure of the TB antigen we've been working on. We've already gotten it to "publishable" quality, but we're still holding off since we're plucking off new noes right now. Did I say WE? I meant ME. Damn. I'm freakin' special. And we're doing some really cool stuff with new experiments with it and gearing up to write a grant. Our hands are out and we're desperately hoping someone, somewhere will put some money there.
Just to throw this out there-fur is evil and if any of you buy fur, you're evil. Okay, that's pretty harsh, but dammit. The neato thing the fur industry is doing is they get sneaky with the labeling and you may not even know that you've just bought 100% real fur from some poor animal who is now naked (and dead). So, be careful in what you buy kids!! Here's the "official" poster from the Humane Society and if any of you want this for whatever, email me and it's yours. Also, there's a pledge to sign to lead a "fur-free" life so here's the link to that too at the bottom. Down with fur!!
Love,
B
http://www.hsus.org/
2 comments:
another point of view.
having both been to grad school and taught it, i'd say the reasons for what they're doing aren't what's in your nightmares.
consider this: my first and worst task as a professor was to find a way to get students to think. repeat. think. repeat.
95% of students think "if it's in a book, it's true"
so you first have to break them of that habit. as honestly every time i'd disagree w/ the book i'd get these looks!
giggle, another story. my dad wrote an article about something he was a specialist in when in the military, army artillery. anyway later on in life he was taking advanced classes they need to go above major, and the teacher said blah blah. dad raised his hand and said you're wrong, it's xyz. the instructor picked up the book and read out tersely, it says this... "mister" [military insult].
dad says, well yes, but i changed my mind since i wrote that book.
....
so anyway.
a student can get straight a's as an undergraduate and in some cases never THINK but rather spend most of the time telling the teacher what he/she said. "if i have to say the moon is blue to get an a i will".
in grad school they are building your ability to argue, to find out on your own, to realize that the written word isn't the last refuge for the student, and to see where and when the facts are contradictory. you are supposed to really learn to think.
case in point. murder mystery, junior dectective goes to house - car is there w/ mud on license plate. car shouldn't be there. he sees mud but doesn't act. DUH. should scrape off mud and get tag # !...
you have to learn how to think like advanced so and so.[ps that name of new course, while long, is actually good description of the course content, it's just not SEXY. so that tells you already that the instructor may have little or no sense of humor... and use a lot of big words when a smaller one would do, and may even have ego issues. giggle.
seriously, i found out from my advisor's father that when i got to the point of arguing w/ my advisor, AND i was right, that i was about ready to be done with grad school.
ps
got a digital camera?
put in pics of anything - you, house, garden, cars
dogs. book you're reading
to make blog more fun. scan in your textbook cover!
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