What is the logic in this?

Where the poverty numbers are concerned, if poverty rates have increased along WITH the population, then things have really gotten worse, haven't they? After all, 11% of 200 million is a lot less than 15% of 300 Million or whatever it is now (I haven't looked up these numbers, they're just hypothetical). Regardless, whatever they've been doing these last 50 years ain't been working, in my opinion.

I'm starting to think that there is a language issue with my brother. I understand words to be one thing, and he twists them to mean another.

chocolate pudding

Nom. Also, want.

So, IOmeN. Remember the drama about the paper in that class with the lecturer who started the class with 30 minutes of "that's what you did wrong"?

I got 100.

Now, it's 100 with tons of comments, mostly about the way I write and not elaborate enough (so it seems). And he did wrote me that he wanted to give it under 95 so I'll want to make an effort and aim higher next time. But he loved it, along with another paper of mine I got back from him, and using "excellent", "interesting", "bright" and "extremely bright" on both of them (alongside being frustrated, apparently, with the way I write). This is just... neat. And I don't even think some of my conclusions are that interesting, or even great. They're just... there, you know? Maybe that's the part of me who could never grasp introduction to logic in full.

I know the next 100 from him will be twice as hard to get, because he will expect me to articulate myself a whole lot better. And for someone who perfected her obscurity skills enough so others can leave her on her own to go outside and do whatever she wants to do, that's gonna be a hell of a psychological test. It took my years to build my style of writing and talking in a way it'll be both obscure and understandable enough so others would just leave me be. But I have no doubt this gonna make me write better.

Yeah. Neat.

One of my students emailed me with a whole bunch of really specific questions about what topics will be on the final. Another asked for a breakdown of how many questions covered each topic. Seriously? No.

Heh. At our financial management exam review, the professor totally told us pretty much exactly what would be on the test, and broke it down by question (of which there will be 7)

I think hee knows we are a bunch of mathy dunces who are all trying really really hard, so I think he feels sorry for us and wants us to do well. I will take that pity sir!

Very neat, Shir!

Maybe your professor would grade/comment/tear apart some of the logic that vw's brother is using.

In other news, it's my DH's birthday today and he was hoping for a baby. I don't think he's going to get one, and I have reminded him of the fact that I speak from experience that sharing your birthday with someone else in the family isn't all that much fun.

ETA: Backflung, Bev! You da bestest!

Maybe your professor would grade/comment/tear apart some of the logic that vw's brother is using.

No doubt! I just...I try to understand where he's coming from, then he says stuff like that!

vw, I don't really know what your brother is like, but for some people the first year at law school is humbling. Everyone in law school was at the top of their class and has been told they're smart all their lives. But the math dictates that 90% of them will no longer be the top 10%. I actually find it really interesting to see how the dynamics of a class changes after the first set of grades come out. I hope he finds some people there who challenge and engage him intellectually, and don't just exchange a lot of hot air (because there are always those people, too, who think the professors know nothing and don't appreciate their smarts).

I got 100.

Congrats! That's fantastic.

Must... find... more... essay... motivation...

Yeah, I imagine it will be.

I took out what I really wanted to reply to him in that e-mail. He applied to George Washington, Northwestern, Harvard, and one other place other than the state college where he is going. The only place he even heard back from was George Washington.

So, he's going to the state college...has accepted a scholarship and financial aid. The guy talks a nice talk but does not walk the walk...

(because there are always those people, too, who think the professors know nothing and don't appreciate their smarts).

Heh-- replace "professors" with agents and/or editors and you have much of publishing in a nutshell.

I imagine the agents & editors pretty much handle them the same why I do when they end up in my office, "No, I won't change your grade/my decision." Elaborating any more than that isn't generally worth my time, unfortunately.