The sun had come up, the sky was blue with a few light fluffy clouds floating across that open sea. The temperature was close to 60 degrees and rising. In other-words, it was a good morning so to correct that I opened my University e-mail account and found this message:
Mr. Jacks,
I have a few questions about the way that my paper was graded.
-I lost X points for having no citations, but no citations were required so how can I lose points for something that I was not required to have?
-I lost X points for not having a reference page, again not a requirement?
-I lost X points for my intro and conclusion. I am wrong that this is a computer/technology course should my paper be graded more on content than it is on style, grammar, and punctuation?
I am not saying that I deserve a 100 for this paper but does it really only deserve a XX?
I sat there looking at the e-mail wondering, “This student submitted a paper that had a one sentence introduction, no conclusion, and no references.” It had been up to this point that I had assumed that assigning a “Research Paper” would let the students know they were suppose to do research to complete the paper and provide citations and a resource page to these sources.
Maybe it is just me, but every paper I turned in during my college years required that I quote my sources. It was just common sense, you use someone else’s data then you cite that source.
So, I was wrong. Students apparently do not just assume that the paper should have sources and cite them and even worse, some students do not believe they have to write a correctly formed paper. Maybe I am just a bit of a stickler for a paper that reads like a paper and not something that reads like randomly pulling words out of a bag.
This student’s paper would have been scored much high had he simply included an introduction and a conclusion and had spent the time to include his sources. But the good news for him is I am planning to make sure that future students fully understand exactly what is expected… His legacy will live on!
Way to go big guy!
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
I know I'm glad this has been decided...
According to many medical professionals drinking alcohol increases the risk of alcoholism. The same doctors have decided that there are no klingons around Uranus, but they will not make any official statement about Your anus.
Naughty America - Let's get ready to screw!
I am the happiest man in the world today since discovering “Naughty America: The Game” at http://www.naughtyamericathegame.com/.
This game allows you to meet people in a virtual world and have sex (either in an apartment or in a public sex zone such as the “cowboy room.”
You can watch the person’s web cam while your cartoons are having intercourse and as an added bonus you are able to smack the girl’s ass.
Soon to a be a classic around the world, although I see the players as not being the married men and women that populate today’s gaming world because it has divorce proceedings written all over it!
But the trailer had me rolling!
This game allows you to meet people in a virtual world and have sex (either in an apartment or in a public sex zone such as the “cowboy room.”
You can watch the person’s web cam while your cartoons are having intercourse and as an added bonus you are able to smack the girl’s ass.
Soon to a be a classic around the world, although I see the players as not being the married men and women that populate today’s gaming world because it has divorce proceedings written all over it!
But the trailer had me rolling!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Pants... bah!
I think pants are overrated. Every day people all over the world get up and toss on a pair of pants to go to work, play, or just to sit around on their fat ass and watch TV. But why do we always wear pants? Personally I would be a lot happier if I could just walk around naked. Imagine the benefits of being naked. People would exercise and stay in shape because they would be embarrassed to be too overweight so people would be healthier. People would be less ashamed of their bodies and less fascinated with the bodies of the opposite sex. We could save the money we spend on pants (or clothes in general) and boost our savings accounts. Children would be able to learn about their bodies without the shame that their parents put upon them. Crime could go down because we would carry less.
Plus it is just fun to be naked!
Plus it is just fun to be naked!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
God is Love... Christians miss the memo
God = Love
Christians have demonstrated this through the Crusades, Inqusition, the Catholic Church assisting the Nazi’s, and of course slavery, sweatshops, and child labor.
That kind of love can kill ya!
Christians have demonstrated this through the Crusades, Inqusition, the Catholic Church assisting the Nazi’s, and of course slavery, sweatshops, and child labor.
That kind of love can kill ya!
No worries mon!
A Dubai-based company is looking to take over management of six US seaports. President Bush stated that Americans should not be worried about security and safety from this deal.
"People don't need to worry about security," Bush said., “Hell, most American’s don’t even live near the ports, so what is the problem?”
"People don't need to worry about security," Bush said., “Hell, most American’s don’t even live near the ports, so what is the problem?”
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Chaney gets tired of hunting birds, goes for something bigger!
After eight years of driving liberals and most sane Americans crazy, everyone can finally find something to love in Vice President Dick Chaney.
The “Big Dick”, as many people call him (except his wife who cannot stop laughing when she hears the nickname) shot up a Texas lawyer.
Chaney claims this was an accident, but it proves a few things to the American public:
1 – Chaney’s aim sucks
2 – Chaney hates lawyers as much as any normal American, he just has enough power to get away with shooting one!
I think this is decisive action, and finally an act by the “Conservative” Bush party that I can get behind. I think everyone should start taking lawyers “hunting.”
I just hope that the rest of us have better aim.
Besides, February is lawyer season in Texas is it not?
The “Big Dick”, as many people call him (except his wife who cannot stop laughing when she hears the nickname) shot up a Texas lawyer.
Chaney claims this was an accident, but it proves a few things to the American public:
1 – Chaney’s aim sucks
2 – Chaney hates lawyers as much as any normal American, he just has enough power to get away with shooting one!
I think this is decisive action, and finally an act by the “Conservative” Bush party that I can get behind. I think everyone should start taking lawyers “hunting.”
I just hope that the rest of us have better aim.
Besides, February is lawyer season in Texas is it not?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Why I do not live in Turkey:
"What appears to be an explosive material has exploded at a Bayrampasa internet cafe," Istanbul police chief Celalettin Cerrah told reporters after visiting the scene.
Thanks Chief!
Thanks Chief!
Friday, February 03, 2006
World of Warcraft Looting Rules
I have played with a few groups in World of Warcraft now (being new to the game and enjoying the time I play in 2 people groups or solo) and I have noted some differences in the way groups loot. To that I wanted to establish my own set of rules to use when I am in a group as the leader or to recommend to a group I am joining.
Here Goes:
When an item of use (or value) drops the person looting should ask the group if anyone NEEDS it. At that point the people who need it should roll for it (or if it is one person they should loot it).
If no one NEEDS the item it should be rolled on by everyone interested in the item.
Everyone should get one item before anyone gets a second item (the exception being, if a caster rolls on a low level piece of leather armor with everyone else and a really good wand or staff comes up later they should be allowed to roll or loot here if the rest of the group does not NEED the item).
Common sense should be the guide to looting. Warriors should not roll on wands when the mage in their group could really use it and that mage should not roll on that bright shiny new armor when the warrior could use it as well.
Passing on good items that you cannot use and only want to sell means that people are more likely to pass on the items you can use and everyone goes home happy.
The Lightning Troopers have a good guide to looting here: http://www.lightningtroopers.com/ltlootrules.htm
Here Goes:
When an item of use (or value) drops the person looting should ask the group if anyone NEEDS it. At that point the people who need it should roll for it (or if it is one person they should loot it).
If no one NEEDS the item it should be rolled on by everyone interested in the item.
Everyone should get one item before anyone gets a second item (the exception being, if a caster rolls on a low level piece of leather armor with everyone else and a really good wand or staff comes up later they should be allowed to roll or loot here if the rest of the group does not NEED the item).
Common sense should be the guide to looting. Warriors should not roll on wands when the mage in their group could really use it and that mage should not roll on that bright shiny new armor when the warrior could use it as well.
Passing on good items that you cannot use and only want to sell means that people are more likely to pass on the items you can use and everyone goes home happy.
The Lightning Troopers have a good guide to looting here: http://www.lightningtroopers.com/ltlootrules.htm
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Resolving the “terror” problems
Here, today, I am inviting Osama Bin Laden to an iron cage match with the President of the United States, George W. Bush. There seems to be a lot of disagreement between these two men, mainly on which one of them should rot in a snake pit while rabid hamsters eat their testicles; but all of this could be resolved in the cage!
The WWE does not get the respect they deserve for coming up with this idea which I feel is caused by wrestling having become such a freak show with sub-plots and storylines that split and change direction mid show. However if the cage match was used to resolve real world issues think about how much more entertaining that would be.
Two men enter
One man leaves
Two men enter
One man leaves
Two men enter
One man leaves
Personally I do not see much of a loss if it is two men enter and no man leaves. As long as someone takes Chaney out at the same time.
The WWE does not get the respect they deserve for coming up with this idea which I feel is caused by wrestling having become such a freak show with sub-plots and storylines that split and change direction mid show. However if the cage match was used to resolve real world issues think about how much more entertaining that would be.
Two men enter
One man leaves
Two men enter
One man leaves
Two men enter
One man leaves
Personally I do not see much of a loss if it is two men enter and no man leaves. As long as someone takes Chaney out at the same time.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
The lost art of online gaming...
My fun in World of Warcraft continues, although I am still boggled by some of the things that go on in the game.
People will run up to me and just launch the window that prompts to group instead of first asking if I want to group or even saying “Hi”
People who type everything in CAPITAL letters and cannot type out a sentence or carry on a conversation. That drives me crazy. If you are going to group, why not have a conversation and chat a little?!?
My favorite though is the number of people that ask if I would like to join their guild. Now some people take the time to at least play the game with me for a few minutes (like the couple I met – Wifey and Husband). They were the closest I came to accepting. Although I find myself being drawn to the people I meet who do not ask if I have any interest in joining their guild.
Much of the time I enjoy just playing the game solo and in small groups but I just don’t have the urge to join a guild at this time.
It is not that I want to be anti-social, nor do I not want to help people out. There are times I spend hours helping people with their quests, which is always fun for me to help people along (and gain some exp along the way ;)
I guess that social interaction is hurt by the age ranges in the game, I believe the guy I played with was very young as the most he ever said is “WHAT NOW?” while we were exploring.
The game is not as much fun when the interaction is not there or when your playing with someone who runs away before you can heal them and they die; but that is a rant for another day!
Maybe I am the last of me breed, a player who just wants to play and stand his own ground.
As a side note, there are not many people online at 6:45 AM!
People will run up to me and just launch the window that prompts to group instead of first asking if I want to group or even saying “Hi”
People who type everything in CAPITAL letters and cannot type out a sentence or carry on a conversation. That drives me crazy. If you are going to group, why not have a conversation and chat a little?!?
My favorite though is the number of people that ask if I would like to join their guild. Now some people take the time to at least play the game with me for a few minutes (like the couple I met – Wifey and Husband). They were the closest I came to accepting. Although I find myself being drawn to the people I meet who do not ask if I have any interest in joining their guild.
Much of the time I enjoy just playing the game solo and in small groups but I just don’t have the urge to join a guild at this time.
It is not that I want to be anti-social, nor do I not want to help people out. There are times I spend hours helping people with their quests, which is always fun for me to help people along (and gain some exp along the way ;)
I guess that social interaction is hurt by the age ranges in the game, I believe the guy I played with was very young as the most he ever said is “WHAT NOW?” while we were exploring.
The game is not as much fun when the interaction is not there or when your playing with someone who runs away before you can heal them and they die; but that is a rant for another day!
Maybe I am the last of me breed, a player who just wants to play and stand his own ground.
As a side note, there are not many people online at 6:45 AM!
Do as I say, not as I do!
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said any group that participates in a democratic process should "ultimately disarm." Otherwise, he said, there was a "fundamental contradiction."
This was said about Hamas winning power in Palestine, of course my question is how has democracy survived so long under the strength of arms in the US, France, Germany, wherever…
How many times has the US government used military strength to shut down their “enemy” or even protesters within the country?
Why is it that we expect Hamas to disarm from their goal of protecting themselves from Israel when we are “enforcing peace” in Iraq, a country that never really posed a threat to us.
Considering the number of casualties on the innocent Palestinian side far outweighs the number of casualties on the Israel side.
This was said about Hamas winning power in Palestine, of course my question is how has democracy survived so long under the strength of arms in the US, France, Germany, wherever…
How many times has the US government used military strength to shut down their “enemy” or even protesters within the country?
Why is it that we expect Hamas to disarm from their goal of protecting themselves from Israel when we are “enforcing peace” in Iraq, a country that never really posed a threat to us.
Considering the number of casualties on the innocent Palestinian side far outweighs the number of casualties on the Israel side.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
I heard a news article on the radio today about a young man who decided to sell crack on the Internet. Personally I find this to be very enterprising of him. He was only trying to expand his market and increase sales!
The police however disagree with me. They contacted him via the phone number he provided and arranged to meet with him to "purchase some product"
At least he will be getting a few free meals out of the deal.
The police however disagree with me. They contacted him via the phone number he provided and arranged to meet with him to "purchase some product"
At least he will be getting a few free meals out of the deal.
Quick Thought
Something a man should never say: I’m sorry it is kinda small!
(This was heard in a meeting today)
Monday, January 23, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Playing Online...
I have, again, gotten sucked into a online game… I don’t know what it is about these games that just make me want to sit around and play, but man they are addictive for a while.
While I played EQ for a year or so, I have switched to World of Warcraft (being a Blizzard fan from days gone by). So far it has been as much fun as EQ, although it seems that the prey in the game is easier in Warcraft than it ever was in EQ.
Soloing in Warcraft (as a Druid) I am easily able to take down creatures that are 2 or 3 levels above me, there are times when I die, but I have had some good luck so far… until last night.
I was working on a quest where you have to get a bottle of water filled, so I head out to the river and go to where the quest requires you to go and attempted to collect my water. I was quickly attacked by the baddies located there and had to run away (Killer rabbits get you every time).
Two other people were working on the same quest, so I got us all together and we killed off the two bad guys that attacked when you tried to get the water. Then as I am standing there waiting for them to get their water they go charging into the bad guy cave and bring out extra enemies… I die.
I died, of course, because I was not really paying attention to my own life bar, so I cannot entirely blame my teammates, I would say it was their fault we got attacked and my fault for keeping my head in my ass.
I got back to my body, came back to life, etc etc, and my partners repeated the same trick… I died again.
I didn’t have time to protect myself, although again I probably had my head up my ass…
So, the point here is, keep your head out of your ass and your group-mates out of the dammed cave!
While I played EQ for a year or so, I have switched to World of Warcraft (being a Blizzard fan from days gone by). So far it has been as much fun as EQ, although it seems that the prey in the game is easier in Warcraft than it ever was in EQ.
Soloing in Warcraft (as a Druid) I am easily able to take down creatures that are 2 or 3 levels above me, there are times when I die, but I have had some good luck so far… until last night.
I was working on a quest where you have to get a bottle of water filled, so I head out to the river and go to where the quest requires you to go and attempted to collect my water. I was quickly attacked by the baddies located there and had to run away (Killer rabbits get you every time).
Two other people were working on the same quest, so I got us all together and we killed off the two bad guys that attacked when you tried to get the water. Then as I am standing there waiting for them to get their water they go charging into the bad guy cave and bring out extra enemies… I die.
I died, of course, because I was not really paying attention to my own life bar, so I cannot entirely blame my teammates, I would say it was their fault we got attacked and my fault for keeping my head in my ass.
I got back to my body, came back to life, etc etc, and my partners repeated the same trick… I died again.
I didn’t have time to protect myself, although again I probably had my head up my ass…
So, the point here is, keep your head out of your ass and your group-mates out of the dammed cave!
France just won't talk (from the AP)
France rejected Iran's request for more talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear program, saying Wednesday that Tehran first must suspend its atomic activities.Iran reported that they had trouble hearing France over the sound of rifles dropping.
Where did I leave my “Freedom Fries”?
France rejected Iran's request for more talks on the Islamic republic's nuclear program, saying Wednesday that Tehran first must suspend its atomic activities.Iran reported that they had trouble hearing France over the sound of rifles dropping.
Where did I leave my “Freedom Fries”?
My 2006 Top Ten List:
10. Spend more time with my daughters, less time on other things
9. Finish my model helicopter
8. Finish the basement (Planned Finish Date: Christmas 2005)
7. Finish this list (Planned Finish Date: Half past a monkey's ass)
6. Come up with a funny top 10 list
5. Exercise more -- Cake is just so tasty...
4. Organize all the porn on my computer
3. Stop “Reality TV" -- Give me a gun and we will have a real "survivor" show.
2. Never ever again bet on Indy in January
1. Find the real killer (This is an OJ Joke)
10. Spend more time with my daughters, less time on other things
9. Finish my model helicopter
8. Finish the basement (Planned Finish Date: Christmas 2005)
7. Finish this list (Planned Finish Date: Half past a monkey's ass)
6. Come up with a funny top 10 list
5. Exercise more -- Cake is just so tasty...
4. Organize all the porn on my computer
3. Stop “Reality TV" -- Give me a gun and we will have a real "survivor" show.
2. Never ever again bet on Indy in January
1. Find the real killer (This is an OJ Joke)
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