"I've Got Avogadro's Number"

My brother actually wrote a song with that title. At the time, he and I were the only 2 people who (1) got it, and (b) found it HILARIOUS, for lo, we are humongous dorks.

Heh. My friend Gary has a song which includes Pi, Planck's constant and Avogodro.

I like imagining their inner lives too much.

I'm pretty sure most mathematicians have favorite numbers. I myself, though not a mathematician, assign them personalities. This may be why I'm not a mathematician, but there you are.

He showed up to the mediation with his mother and his lawyer.

heh. when I dealt with student grievances, if someone mentioned the word lawyer, I said "if you want this to rise to legal action, I will call the General Counsel's office right now and get this off my desk. Be aware that the GC' priority for grievance matters is pretty low, so it may take several months to resolve."

Student showed up with a parent to a grievance, told them that they had to wait outside. Mother threw a fit, I just looked at her and told her that our policy was very clear and that I'd told her kid that she couldn't be there. She paused and said "you told him that?" I said yes. She turned to her kid, and he said "yeah, but I didn't think it was a big deal" I think at that point she figured out that she may not have the whole story, so she backed down.

She paused and said "you told him that?" I said yes. She turned to her kid, and he said "yeah, but I didn't think it was a big deal" I think at that point she figured out that she may not have the whole story, so she backed down.

Heh.

In this case, the campus mediator was running the meeting because when she'd turned him in for cheating, that office then runs the show so (supposedly) everyone gets the same treatment. My sister just wanted to be rid of him, thus the offer of a make up exam she was sure he couldn't pass. So he's gone, and the mediator thinks her offer was "exceedingly generous".

The students here start exams today.

All the jobma, Kristin! You will rock that position like a rocking thing.

Aw, I never learned the quadratic equation song. That's cute. I can only ever be sure I've remembered it right by deriving it. Completing the square is fun!

Another finch whacked itself into my front window this morning,right in front of the cats. Fortunately, the felines were too transfixed by the sight of a bird right there o the other side of the glass to figure out that they could go out their usual open window at the other end of the house and go around to the porch, so I had time to move it into the tree before they could stalk and/or pounce.

In happier bird news, my local black-chinned hummingbird came by he front feeder this weekend. I only see the hummers (there's one of the ruby-throated guys, also, an Anna's, maybe?) once or twice a week - they must come by and feed more often than that, but they've got places to be and don't stay long so if I don't happen to be looking at the right time I miss them. Sometimes one will accompany me on a bit of a walk through the wildlife refuge. Any time I see one, the never fail to lift my spirits. Those guys fear nothing but starvation.

Another finch whacked itself into my front window

Time to find some decals or something for that window? [link]

I was thinking maybe I should do that, but I don't want to be looking out through semi-transparent decals, either. That ColliDescape stuff looks interesting, but I'm not sure I believe it'll be transparent from the inside.