Comments on Comments - December 18th

Grades are in!  So, today I thought I would respond so some of the comments I have received during the last week before I start working on next semester's syllabi:

AC said:

"It just struck me that what you call grading I always called marking."

I always find it interesting how there are varied terms for things in the SAME LANGUAGE in different regions.  Dialectic differences enrich a language.  While I "marking" could technically be used in place of "grading" here, it more likely would be used as a term similar to "editing" or "critiquing" some body of writing... whether or not it was being "graded" or "scored".  

"I was wondering if Scantrons still existed but can't think that there is anything difficult about them. However, they are supposed to save time, not add to it. Could departments not purchase their own?

The actual process of scanning Scantrons is straight forward.  However, some professors are not a) technologically "savvy" and tend to need to "reinvent the wheel" every time they use the machine.... taking ENORMOUS amounts of time as they "figure it out" or b) many are not particularly nuanced in how to get the rather "finicky" machines to run correctly.  Many professors are are not willing nor comfortable in trying to understand how to get the machines to function without jamming, without mis-feeding multiple test sheets at once, and without an understanding of how to fix test sheets that have been crumpled or wrinkled by students while they took the exam (if not fixed, the crumpled or wrinkled sheets cause a myriad of reading problems).  

When I work to scan my larger classes (with 100-125 students at a time), I have a whole routine of how I fuss and fix the documents PRIOR to my even going to the scantron.  I also have a whole (quick) routine on how I check and reset all the electronic and mechanical trouble spots of the scantron reader.  And, finally, I have a specific, precise fashion in which I FEED the scantrons into the scantron reader.  In this fashion, I can be VERY SPEEDY in my scanning efforts with usually great success!  But, as suggested above... many professors are not cognizant or not willing to "become one with the machine" to get it to do your bidding.  And, you end up getting long lines, and a fair amount of vehement cussing from many as a result.  

And... FINALLY.... there is another WHOLE set of issues/problems a lot of professors have in trying to get either paper or electronic copies of the scanned RESULTS and ANALYSES from the machines as well.  I need not elaborate on those, but they are rife for many.

"I have noted before you have detailed dreams down to scents and things."

I do also have some more "vauge" dreams where I cannot recall detail, but they are often quickly forgotten.  A lot of those are more in the "nightmare" category and all I feel or remember upon awaking is the agitation and stress I feel from the experience.   I do, though, very much prefer when I have a move vivid and detailed dreams. Those are the dreams that tend to stick with me more.  

"Are you thin or fat in your dreams? I am young, thin and have hair."

For me, it runs the gambit.  I am often my former heavyweight self in some dreams, but am my normal BMI weight in others.  I have not had a dream of me being a kid age in a very long time.  But, in my dreams these days I am all sorts of ages from my late 20s through my 60s.  It is very interesting to me that my age, body size, beard size, hair/beard color, pipe smoking proclivities all can be varied and mismatched in my dreams.  These parameters do not always conform to the given period/timeframe of the dream.  I even had a dream a few years ago (I do not think I wrote about it here), where I was my current old self, but I was visiting and talking with my parents who were both in their late 40s.  During the dream it seemed perfectly reasonable, but only at awakening did I find it so odd to have a dream where I was old but that my parents were younger than me.

GaP said:

"Regarding the pipe, I'm with Pat on this one. Going by past entries, you seemed more centered when you were melding flame to leaf"

I would agree with you, that my pipe smoking did help me feel far more "centered" in many ways.  Perhaps it was a very effective tool that helped me to "step back" from things to have a broader perspective?  I do not really know.  

Margaret said:

"I think it should be "are.""

I agree with you.  But, I would normally have never written a sentence in that fashion, because of the ambiguity.  I did so in that post, to highlight the varied opinions I know and have heard about such sentence constructs.  

"I rarely did scantron as a French teacher, but it seemed pretty straightforward. Make a key, set that up, then send the tests through. Do I remember details? No, but I thought it was quite amazing. I was used to hand grading EVERYTHING.

It should be that easy.  But, given the mechanics of the machines (20+ years old) and the tendency for many professors to be challenged by anything outside of their cerebral interests (see further what I wrote in reply to AC).... it is often a place of waiting and chaos.  

"Ears are a sore subject for me these days and ear wax was apparently part of my issue. It's gone for now but was clogging up my right ear and making it snap, crackle and pop. My eustachian tubes are still not 100% but they are lots better. It's been a miserable month or so. That's a shame about the lack of discussion regarding the video."

Did you ever discuss with your doctor the possibility of having tempormandibular joint disorder (TMJ Disorder)?  The symptoms are much like my own when I have a TMJ flair-up, including the inflammation of the Eustachian tubes.  I have scarring of my Eustachian tubes from frequent ear infections as a kid, so that further complicates the situation for me too.   And, yes.... ear wax buildup.... is a surprisingly challenging thing when it occurs!

"I don't think of you as stubborn, but as focused and determined. You know who you want to be and work toward that. It's a shame that we can't convince our children to be their best selves, eh? I'm still working on it but it's an up and down and day to day thing. I hope you can get to the Cigar Group; it sounds like you need relaxing time away from your normal routine." 

Thank you!  I much more like the terms focused and determined.  I DO try to force myself towards being the person I should be.  It is tiring at times, however, when I continually come up short of what I should be. 

But, on those days when I really do not want to try to do what I should, I DO have to be very stubborn with myself.  And, occasionally I think my wife might prefer to use the "stubborn" moniker for me too. :)

Pam said:

"Margaret is correct about "are" being the right verb to use."

I agree with you (and said so also to Margaret above who also said "are".).  But, with the overly complex sentence I had written in that post (purposefully), I know there would be many folks who would argue about the usage.  Normally, I would NOT have written a sentence like that former one, simply to avoid the potential debate. 

"I think your Thursdays with the smokers serves a very important function for you at this point in your life. Male companionship. Relaxed, informal conversation. In reading your earlier blog entries I was struck by how happy you were on those hunting weekends with a group of friends. Not just happy but blissful. My husband is like you. He operates best when he spends at least a little time every week or month with guys — talking, drinking, smoking sometimes, listening to music, at games, in bars. A small dose goes far. Sounds old fashioned. Maybe it is?"

I find the "Retiree's Cigar Group" to be something to look forward to each week.  It has become quite important for me.  It is a time that is so very different from my day-to-day.  It is admittedly an "unimportant" time, meaning that being there does not accomplish anything of merit, nor is it helping me to be the person I should be.  But, its lack of importance is a great deal of why it feels so valuable to me.  I realize that so much of my life is focused on "doing" and not so much on "being".... if that makes sense.  The Retiree's Cigar Group" with it having no real "expectations" from me is a peaceful, enjoyable place.  

Pat M said:

"Professor, as you've spent decades leading seminars and class discussions, I'm sure you could "steer" the Care & Share post-video discussion back in the direction of the video, yes?"

Yes, you are correct that I COULD steer the discussion back to some sort of focus, but..... as I am not the facilitator, I do not feel I should be intrusive if that way.   And, I guess from a bigger picture perspective, perhaps the facilitator is doing this as a way to promote everyone to feel participatory.  I cannot say.  It is just for me that it is not as much of a learning experience as I would hope. 

"As for your TMJ, perhaps you could replace the bite splint during the daytime with one of your pipes, unlit. Clenching down on a pipe might elevate your mood even while preserving your teeth and jaw." 

I do that very trick with one of my beloved pipes quite often!  And, in times of more mild TMJ symptoms, it is quite effective (and it allows me a more intimate way to relish the beautiful memories of previous pipes as well).  But, when my TMJ is at an EXTREME, it is ineffective, and even my bite guard is of minimal help at that point.  There seems little I can do at those times other than wait it out. 

"I have to respect your choices, but I also have to admit that I'm looking forward to the day when you discover that your particular wagon is greatly over-rated. I trust that it is serving you adequately right now, but I know that when you do hop off the wagon you'll find that you are happier and a lot more comfortable"

Sometimes I truly wonder if all this refraining from my pipes is valuable or not.  In theory it should be helping me to be a healthier version of myself.  But, I do not know.  Maybe I am of an age where it not longer makes a damn bit of difference?  Who is to say?  The various thoughts to re-engage with the beloved hobby of my pipes and pipe tobaccos continual swirls in my mind with other thoughts of staying vigilant and keeping up the "good fight" of refraining.  I really do not know.  It seems that nearly every day is a new lesson for me of the same two opposite questions.  Hopping "off the wagon" sure does, very often, have tremendous appeal.  I would also avoid motion sickness from the wagon. :)

"As for your musings about your former obesity, let me remind you that pipe smoking is correlated with lower weight. Perhaps that truth will help to poke through your stubbornness and encourage you to dangle your toes over the edge of the wagon, even if you aren't yet quite ready to hop off."

My weight, as a hefty person in a normal BMI body, is challenging.... that is very true.  I am especially concerned about the chaotic eating that befalls the holidays.  It is always a struggle.  In the holiday season of Thanksgiving 2023 - January 1st, 2024.... I had gained what had been a fairly routine 5 pounds (2.2 kg) (it seems I had done this most years since my weight loss).  Typically, though, the excess weight would come back off during January.  But, this year, it did NOT go back down completely.  I did go down a pound, but have basically stayed ~4 pounds (1.8kg) heavier in 2024 than I was in 2023.  In the greater scheme of things, perhaps meaningless.  But, to a formerly very hefty person, the retaining does worry me.  And, I am not sure what may transpire this season. 

" As for your grade-grubbing students, I assume you gave them a syllabus at the start of the semester... in which case they should be able to see for themselves whether you've made extra credit available." 

Yes, I have a 10 page syllabus that has ample detail about damn near everything I can think of that I distribute on the First day of class.  I also provide students with a document on the SECOND DAY of class that lists each and every single assignment, test, quiz, writing assignment, etc.... and the DAY IT IS DUE.  The student's LMS also electronically provides similar information in a different format.  

The thing is..... there will always be "grade grubbers" no matter what I will do.  And, (fortunately or unfortunately) I am not a "hard-ass" sort of professor..... otherwise I could just have an auto-reply e-mail of "NO!" go out at this time of year.  I (fortunately or unfortunately) feel it is my responsibility to listen to each student's plead, worry, fear, and respond.  But, it can get exhausting.    

PepperLady said:

"Stuggle is name of the game."

Very sad, but also very true.  But, sometimes in 2024, it seems there is ONLY struggle pretty much every damn minute of every day from the moment my feet hits the pavement until the moment my head hits the pillow.  It does not seem like it was always like this.   

* * * * *

• I ran 10 miles (~16km) every morning so far this week.  
• I had a delightful pipe dream Monday night, and focused on virtually exclusively on my smoking a large bowl of Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco.  It was pretty much just me smoking my pipe, sort of a video "head shot" of me doing so, with a hazy, non-detailed bluish-grey background surrounding me.  The primary sensory modalities at the forefront however, were the vivid tastes and smells of the beautiful Sir Walter Raleigh.  The burly-bourbon flavor was such a rich experience in my dream, bringing back delightful memories.  The other interesting sensation I had in the dream was the feeling of the wrinkles of my forehead and brow relaxing as I indulged in the pipe.  I remember that same exact feeling from so many of my real life pipes over the years. 
• I have every intention of going to the "Retiree's Cigar Group" tomorrow.  Let us hope the weather does not turn rough so that I can go.  

PipeTobacco