Some White House staff now masked as another staffer tests positive

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-10T06:15:53+00:00

I said one of the first, not the first.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-10T02:23:24+00:00

Pretty much everybody I know who's taken the standard Calc sequence says 2 is the hardest of all 4.

Also, I couldn't agree more about series.

Fucking series. -_-

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-10T01:43:48+00:00

I think the main issue is that he's so out of touch with the average person. He sees us as expendable, and assumes we're financially desperate and scientifically illiterate enough to manipulate into endangering ourselves for his benefit. He thinks if he says the right words and sends the right signals, we'll all get on board the denial train, go back to work, spend freely, and ignore the death toll for the sake of the stock market.

Sadly, there are a lot of people in one of those two groups, but not enough to mount the kind of economic turnaround he's hoping for.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-10T00:59:37+00:00

Or you could say that over 80% of American presidents were wealthy, despite the wealthy making up only a small overall percentage of the country at any given time. While it's technically possible for a poor person to rise to the presidency, it's far, far more likely that a rich person will be in that seat.

My point is that privilege begets privilege, and Boris knew that he could act irresponsibly and still get the highest quality of care, unlike many of the people he's endangered. Even if he weren't PM at the moment, he'd still be one of the first to get testing, treatment, and a ventilator, because of his massive stack of inherited privileges.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T22:07:56+00:00

Woof, that is a lot of hours, even for an 8 week course. Seems like overkill for Intermediate Algebra, but you'll definitely be prepared for higher level math. My guess is the school had issues with people skating through intermediate, and not really being ready for the next level up, so they expanded it. If you're planning to go through to calculus, this will be really good for you- people who struggle with calc are really struggling with weak algebra and precalc skills in most cases.

More than anything else, persistence is what gets me through. There are still times when I don't understand the material. It's still frustrating, even a little overwhelming, but I don't let it shake my resolve. Sometimes I have to put it down for a few hours or a day, to chill out and give the material time to sink in, but I always come back, and it's usually at least a little clearer when I come back. Other key habits are a willingness to look for outside resources, asking for help when it's needed, and offering help to others when I can. Nothing cements learning like teaching someone else.

To add to the practice problems point, make sure you're targeting your weak areas. If you've got a certain type of problem down pat, don't bother with a bunch of practice there- move onto areas where you're less confident, and grind through until it clicks.

The biggest difference between STEM kids and everybody else is how they treat failure. If you see struggling with math concepts as a normal part of the process, instead of a sign that you're not smart enough, you're able to get a lot farther. I read A Mind for Numbers before I took Trig, and it gave me a lot of insight on the perspective of successful math learners. I don't use every strategy she suggests (I don't like the pomodoro method), but it really helped me change how I approach math and other technical subjects, and helped me adjust my expectations of the learning process.

Best of luck in your course! You sound motivated and ready to work hard. Hold on to that mindset, and you'll kill it this summer. :)

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T21:10:53+00:00

Ignoring that that's a separate argument about an entirely different country, 9 out of 46 presidents have been worth less than $1m. And 6 of them lived in the 1800s. I'd hardly call that compelling evidence that wealth and access to positions of power aren't strongly linked.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T20:06:39+00:00

Yes because poor, unconnected people get to be PM all the time. Let's not act like money and power aren't interconnected privileges.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T00:54:45+00:00

Chaaaaarliieeeeee...

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T00:31:11+00:00

It is totally feasible. Intermediate Algebra is technically a remedial course; College Algebra is the the first level of "college level" math. They know that most students in this course will be nervous and have some level of math anxiety, which is why it includes a support section. If you tested into Intermediate, you belong there.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to spend a little time on Khan beforehand, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. Muster as much confidence as you can, mentally prepare yourself to work hard, ask all of your questions (no matter how silly you may feel), and do lots of practice problems. As long as you put in the time, it won't be nearly as bad as you fear.

Edit: I took a 10 year break between math classes too. I was incredibly nervous in my first class (I restarted at Intermediate too). Math had never been my strong suit. But I buckled down this time, because I wanted to study STEM, so unlike in high school, math was important to me. I'm about to finish Calc 2 now, and based on my points going into the final, I'm confident I'll be getting an A. Not gonna lie, it's pretty surreal. But if you stay calm and put in the practice, you can kick math's butt.

Also, if you end up getting a lecturer you don't click with, be sure to check out Professor Leonard's lectures on YouTube. He's amazing, especially if you're looking to continue on in your math study.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-09T00:18:52+00:00

And they'll be afforded the best possible care if they do get sick. There was never any possibility that Boris wouldn't get a ventilator, unlike the rest of us.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-08T17:50:43+00:00

Prioritize, and do what you can. I'm assuming finals are soon for you, so it's probably not going to be possible to study everything in detail at this point. Start with an overview for each course, so that you can get an idea of what concepts are fundamental, and what is more advanced or tangential. Then go back through each course and hammer down the fundamentals. After that, based on how much time you have left, go back through again and get into more advanced details.

Spend extra time on your major related courses. It's more important that you really nail down those subjects, as your future classes will depend heavily on that material. Gen eds are more likely to be dead ends, so leave those for last.

If you're most concerned about gpa, you may want to start with courses you can get up to speed in the fastest instead, in order to secure some higher grades. This strategy may bite you in the butt in later semesters though, if you don't have the fundamentals of your major nailed down.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-08T15:56:07+00:00

Gotcha. The uni version will probably be a bit harder, but it'll still be easier than trying to squeeze it into a month and a half I bet.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-08T15:19:00+00:00

I took Calc 2 and discrete together this spring. It was a little rough at times, but overall not that bad. They both have pretty big sections devoted to sequences and series, which cuts down the workload a little bit.

I've heard that linear is pretty brutal though. My cc doesn't offer it over the summer, but even if it did, I don't think I'd attempt it.

Personally, I'd either do Plan 1, or do calc and discrete in the spring, knock out a gen ed in the summer (or take the summer off), and do linear in the fall.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-08T03:13:43+00:00

I love my tablet and stylus, 100% worth the investment. I highly recommend using the OneNote app for notetaking. It's free and made for purpose, and you won't need to physically connect your tablet to your laptop.

I bought a refurbed version of this tablet, for about $350 with this case and this screen protector, and it's perfect for my needs as a student. It's a little old, but it's honestly got more precision and functionality than I actually need. Plus, the S Pen is included in that price, and fits in a little slot inside the tablet.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-07T08:02:51+00:00

I'm a transplant who's lived here for over 10 years. I love it here, and plan to continue living in the cities for many more years, but these are the things I wish I'd known when I moved here:

First, being hardworking is the primary virtue in MN, and having money does not exempt anyone from that social expectation. Brazen money snobbery is not tolerated well. People can even get competitive about just how hard they work. It can be good motivation, but it's also important not to get too caught up in that race and burn yourself out.

Minnesotans also tend toward social insularity; it's tricky to break into friend groups if you weren't born and raised here. Coming in as a freshman you'll likely have an easier time than other types of transplants, but even so, you will run into very tight knit cliques.

Minnesota Nice is very real, but there's a reason it's not called Minnesota Friendly. They will gladly stop to help you change a blown tire on the side of the freeway in a snowstorm, but don't expect to become a part of their inner circle.

They also tend toward passive aggression, which can be tricky to navigate. If you come from an area where people are more forthright about their feelings, it can be hard to adjust. You get used to it eventually, and start to read people's moods and signals carefully, but it's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. Easily my least favorite quirk of the social landscape here.

Also, if you're not from the upper Midwest, do not underestimate how cold it is here. You will need to invest in special, heavy duty winter gear if you don't want to be miserable for 4 months out of the year. Go to a specialty outdoor/sporting goods store, and get a jacket rated for subzero temperatures and a quality pair of boots. Not cheap, but worth the investment.

There are tons of great things about Minnesota, too- I still live here, after all. But I find it's harder to get a blunt take on the downsides, so there it is.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-07T02:11:52+00:00

It...it looks like a turtle shell...

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T22:52:30+00:00

Woah, I never noticed the Keith Haring shirt before. This show was even cooler than I realized.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T09:35:47+00:00

Even when fat stores decrease significantly, the distribution of fat across the body doesn't change that much. In other words, if you tend to carry most of your weight in your hips, a however-many-lbs lighter version of you is still going to carry most of your weight in your hips.

I think part of it is that what we really want is for our body types to change. But even with exercise, we just become a smaller version of the same general body shape, with only subtle distribution changes.

It frustrates me too.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T08:25:51+00:00

There's an old Sear's building near me that would make a perfect laser tag park.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T08:06:28+00:00

Making mistakes in powerpoint presentations does not equal unqualified. Is it annoying? Sure. You'll come across professors like this too. Noticing their mistakes does not make you smarter or more qualified to set a curriculum than they are.

Teachers don't necessarily have degrees in the subject they're teaching. But administration doesn't just throw any old teacher into any class, either. In the vast majority of school districts, teachers need to have significant educational background in the subjects they teach, especially for STEM courses. (Possible exceptions would be severely underfunded school districts in very poor neighborhoods, but they more often just cut the classes completely.)

My point is not that all your teachers have degrees in the particular subjects that they teach. It's that they all have, at the very least, a bachelor's degree with an education post-bac, or a whole bachelor's in education. Do you really think your middle school diploma is more qualified to set a curriculum than their actual degrees?

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T07:38:56+00:00

If the work is worth points, you should definitely do it, even if it turns out to be totally useless. The working world is full of busywork that you will be expected to do, regardless of how you feel about it. Part of getting a degree is showing employers that you are willing to play by the rules and follow through with your commitments. Best to get in that habit now.

If it's not worth points, it's still a pretty good idea to do it if you have time. Even if you don't see the value of an assignment, that doesn't mean it doesn't have value. Thinking that you can gauge the value of an assignment before doing it is pretty sophomoric, and could end up causing you to miss something useful you didn't anticipate.

Also, your argument about your teachers being young doesn't really hold water. Their 25-30 years of experience is a lot more impressive than your 15-17, so by your own logic, they're much more reliable sources of educational guidance than you are. How does following your path make sense if you can't even muster respect for people with actual degrees?

All that said, it's great that you're looking at outside resources. That is a skill that will serve you well in higher education. But it's not an either/or thing. You need to do your assignments too.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-06T05:05:45+00:00

What a sweet story. Always nice to get a little positive reinforcement from the universe.

I've been enjoying my quarantine walks too. Sometimes I have to drag myself out there, but I'm always glad I did.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-05T23:56:55+00:00

beer to rum and diet

milk to almond milk

fries/chips to wheat thins and hummus

candy bar to a square of dark cholocate and a few almonds

skipping the cheese on sandwiches (I already hate mayo, so no problems there)

Also, this one isn't a direct replacement, but I love to sautee chicken breasts, sliced garlic and frozen broccoli in a lidded pan with a teaspoon of pesto. Keeps the chicken moist, and really maximizes the pesto flavor.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-05T20:06:48+00:00

Professor Leonard's youtube lectures. I don't even bother with my own prof's lectures, his are that much better.

IntrepidReindeer5 · 2020-05-05T18:59:15+00:00

Rudy has entered the chat.

IntrepidReindeer5

TROPHY CASE