Mac -- stay safe! I hope you can stay off the roads until things clear up.
Today is the last day of the semester. I don’t offer final exam slots -- finals must be proctored -- on Friday because I know everyone will sign up for the last possible slot. Instead, I leave Friday open for one last chance for those who failed to show up for their final or never signed up. I’ve invited 7 students to take their final at 9am. We’ll see how many show up.
Of the seven, five showed up. At 11am, one of the missing students emailed and said she just woke up and could she take the final. I got her set up in a zoom meeting and she took it. No word on the seventh student.
I don’t think many of them see the value of education. It’s just something to get through. I do think that many think they will be spared the consequences. The seventh student emailed me at 3pm asking me to unlock his final. I said no, it has to be proctored. He said his mom and dad were with him and would make sure he everything was done correctly. Nope. His supervising teacher tried to call his parents, but no one answered. I emailed him that he should tell his parents to answer the phone, because his teacher was trying to contact them. Silence. OK, then email your teacher. He did and asked to take the final on Monday. Nope. You can take it now. Sorry, I just left the house and only have my phone. Then it looks like you’re getting a zero on the final.
Yeah, something didn’t add up right about that situation. He’ll pass the class, but it won’t be a good grade.
Checked on my friend in Houston -- she said they are looking at temps well below freezing and rain coming in. I worked out there for 16 months and can’t recall any temperatures below 70.
We are 37 now and should pass 32 in an hour, at 8. It will continue down through the night and through the day, passing 20 at 5 pm tomorrow. Sunday and Monday should see highs in the 20s and lows of 7 or 8, but the forecasts keep getting colder. It has rained most of today so we will likely see snow.
The lady behind us that I help when I can, had her pipes freeze the last time. I took over a heater for her garage and helped prep her home. I advised her on some things to protect her pipes this time. I hope she will be OK. I have done what I can.
You’re a good gerbil, Mac. This looks to be a nasty storm in your neck of the woods and for a lot of the country. Stay safe. Check in here when you can, OK?
I use a small electric heater but when it gets into the teens or single digits I get concerned, so I set up my propane heater and tested it so it is ready. I may light up one burner on low when the coldest nights are expected. I added wraps to the covers on my outside hose bibbs and propped the hatch to the attic ajar so some heat gets up to protect the water lines. We stocked up before the stores were stripped so I think we are as ready as we can be. Elena moved the garbage and recycling bins into the garage as the area they normally sit is in a wind trap and they get iced in badly. We have food for plenty of time and should not need to go anywhere, barring an emergency. At least we don’t expect to lose power.
Sounds like you got all the basics covered. Wasn’t it a couple of years ago when wind turbines in Texas froze up and power was out for an extended period? Did they rectify that?
I believe they did. There was too much reliance on “renewables” and they have moved to correct it. We do not expect similar problems and did not get them the last cold snap we had last year. That was when the neighbor’s pipes froze. I have my heat gun now in case it happens again.
Our orange stray cat is still getting fed every night, but he won’t socialize at all. No vocalization and no curiosity about anything else in the yard. He won’t come by at his appointed time if I’m outside, but he’s OK if we talk to him and look at him from inside. He does look healthier -- putting on a few pounds -- and seems to have no trouble eating.
Have you ever noticed that no matter how careful you are with wet food, some of it always gets on your fingers?
Thread pic: Cat is woke believing diversity is strength.
Happy Friday, GN. Hope Mac is all set for this winter storm.
Happy Friday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, Sven!
Mac -- stay safe! I hope you can stay off the roads until things clear up.
Today is the last day of the semester. I don’t offer final exam slots -- finals must be proctored -- on Friday because I know everyone will sign up for the last possible slot. Instead, I leave Friday open for one last chance for those who failed to show up for their final or never signed up. I’ve invited 7 students to take their final at 9am. We’ll see how many show up.
Update?
Of the seven, five showed up. At 11am, one of the missing students emailed and said she just woke up and could she take the final. I got her set up in a zoom meeting and she took it. No word on the seventh student.
6/7 ain’t bad.
It’s just hard to conceive of someone -- who isn’t failing -- saying, nah, I’m going to skip the final.
Do you think it because they think someone will spare them the consequences, or because they just don’t see the value of their education?
I don’t think many of them see the value of education. It’s just something to get through. I do think that many think they will be spared the consequences. The seventh student emailed me at 3pm asking me to unlock his final. I said no, it has to be proctored. He said his mom and dad were with him and would make sure he everything was done correctly. Nope. His supervising teacher tried to call his parents, but no one answered. I emailed him that he should tell his parents to answer the phone, because his teacher was trying to contact them. Silence. OK, then email your teacher. He did and asked to take the final on Monday. Nope. You can take it now. Sorry, I just left the house and only have my phone. Then it looks like you’re getting a zero on the final.
Yeah, something didn’t add up right about that situation. He’ll pass the class, but it won’t be a good grade.
Does remote learning/virtual classes contribute to that attitude?
I think so. There is limited day-to-day accountability.
Checked on my friend in Houston -- she said they are looking at temps well below freezing and rain coming in. I worked out there for 16 months and can’t recall any temperatures below 70.
We are 37 now and should pass 32 in an hour, at 8. It will continue down through the night and through the day, passing 20 at 5 pm tomorrow. Sunday and Monday should see highs in the 20s and lows of 7 or 8, but the forecasts keep getting colder. It has rained most of today so we will likely see snow.
The lady behind us that I help when I can, had her pipes freeze the last time. I took over a heater for her garage and helped prep her home. I advised her on some things to protect her pipes this time. I hope she will be OK. I have done what I can.
You’re a Good Gerbil, Mac.
Thank you, Paddy. You set a high bar for people to try and keep in sight.
Nah, if the bar is too high, I can’t reach my drink.
You’re a good gerbil, Mac. This looks to be a nasty storm in your neck of the woods and for a lot of the country. Stay safe. Check in here when you can, OK?
I will, thank you.
Other ares are hit so much worse, we feel lucky.
I use a small electric heater but when it gets into the teens or single digits I get concerned, so I set up my propane heater and tested it so it is ready. I may light up one burner on low when the coldest nights are expected. I added wraps to the covers on my outside hose bibbs and propped the hatch to the attic ajar so some heat gets up to protect the water lines. We stocked up before the stores were stripped so I think we are as ready as we can be. Elena moved the garbage and recycling bins into the garage as the area they normally sit is in a wind trap and they get iced in badly. We have food for plenty of time and should not need to go anywhere, barring an emergency. At least we don’t expect to lose power.
Sounds like you got all the basics covered. Wasn’t it a couple of years ago when wind turbines in Texas froze up and power was out for an extended period? Did they rectify that?
I believe they did. There was too much reliance on “renewables” and they have moved to correct it. We do not expect similar problems and did not get them the last cold snap we had last year. That was when the neighbor’s pipes froze. I have my heat gun now in case it happens again.
Our orange stray cat is still getting fed every night, but he won’t socialize at all. No vocalization and no curiosity about anything else in the yard. He won’t come by at his appointed time if I’m outside, but he’s OK if we talk to him and look at him from inside. He does look healthier -- putting on a few pounds -- and seems to have no trouble eating.
Have you ever noticed that no matter how careful you are with wet food, some of it always gets on your fingers?
Sven, the local cat support group.
That’s Mrs Sven -- I don’t even like cats.
Rigghhhttt.