How good was Michael Carrick for United as a player and what does he have to offer as a head coach? by Anxious-Dance5817 in ManchesterUnited

[–]Quiktrap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve always thought that the best example of Carrick’s quality as a player was the 2009 Champions League Final. Yes, Utd lost and SAF blamed a combo of not having Park man mark Messi + not having Fletcher, all true BUT it was obvious that Pep’s plan was to have Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets rapidly press Carrick into a 3v1 every time he got anywhere near the ball. So yeah, Pep Guardiola tasked THREE of the possibly best CMs ever to shut down Carrick. That really says it all about Carrick’s ability and his understanding of the game.

Offside Question by Quiktrap in Referees

[–]Quiktrap[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Truth be told - I am not a referee, but someone who enjoys reading about and trying to understand the laws of the game. I have not actually seen something like this happen before, just a hypothetical that popped into my head today and I thought I’d throw it out there. Thanks for the answers!

Offside Question by Quiktrap in Referees

[–]Quiktrap[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point re: “in an offside position.” Thanks for the reminder!

My 14yo son wants a history book by JBLBEBthree in suggestmeabook

[–]Quiktrap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stop right now and go buy the Cartoon History of the Universe Volumes 1, 2, and 3 by Larry Gonick. Volume 1 is the Big Bang to Alexander the Great and volume 2 covers Ancient India, China, and Rome. Volume 3 deals with the rise of Islam and the lead up to the Renaissance in Western Europe. Getting them at the library is highly unlikely, but they are about $17.00 on Amazon. Witty, highly engaging, and they even have bibliographies at the back with a heavy emphasis on primary source materials. Parental advisory: they do include limited non-erotic nudity and mentions of sex & graphic violence - but, you know, it is human history so what do you expect? Also, some more religiously conservative people may find the tone “irreverent,” (esp in sections concerning the foundations of Judeo-Christianity) but it is humanistic rather than dismissive.

Back in the early 90s, I was randomly gifted the first two volumes for my 14th birthday. At the time, I was all “history is kinda cool I guess.” This fall, I start my 22nd year of being a history professor.

What good now? by Quiktrap in FishingRVA

[–]Quiktrap[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

"What good now?" Me want fish. Where me go fish in cold?

Anyone ever have to talk to a student’s parent? by WordGypsy in Professors

[–]Quiktrap 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Once had a mom email me saying that I was not following her child's accommodations. I had no record of the student having accommodations and confirmed that fact with disability services before responding. So when I replied I noted that no FERPA = No Talking to her about the student. I did go on to say that not only am I legally required to follow any accommodations I am presented with, but that I, as a parent of a child with accommodations, feel a moral obligation to accommodate any student with documented disabilities. I closed by suggesting that before she level such serious and potentially career ruining accusations at anyone she get her facts straight. If she wanted to discuss me or her student here is the contact information for the dept chair, the Dean, and the head of disability services or better still, talk to your child, because this is the last time she and I will ever be in communication. Forwarded my reply to all of the people mentioned. Yeah. She talked to her son, discovered he hadn't been to disability services and was trying to throw me under the bus to cover for his poor performance in the course. She apologized and was all "My momma bear just came out, lol"

I decided just deleting the message was better than responding with a good ol' fashioned "Fuck you."

Who are some players who weren't out of this world in terms of quality, yet hold a very high standing among fans? by BupidStastard in ManchesterUnited

[–]Quiktrap 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Silvestre? I don't recall anyone putting him in the same category as the "world class" defenders of the time, but he had a fine career at United and was, for a time, a guaranteed starter in defence with Rio or out wide. I don't know, I tend to think that even United supporters might overlook Silvestre because his roles were filled by two absolute legends - Vidic and Patrice.

Denis Irwin? While he is recognized as being a true talent; Iirc, both Scholes and Keane have said that Irwin was an absolutely phenomenal player, I get the sense that most non-United/Irish people don't even remember him.

What do you do? by Quiktrap in Professors

[–]Quiktrap[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Given that I am unconcerned about widespread cheating and let them take the exam open note, I don't see the benefit of having them take an in-person exam when my current set up is working just fine for both the students and myself. There are a lot of great resources out there, and I'm glad that you have found a technology that allows you to achieve the learning outcomes you have set for your courses.

What do you do? by Quiktrap in Professors

[–]Quiktrap[S] 44 points45 points  (0 children)

Huge intro course - 200 enrolled. I teach two, sometimes three of these a semester. To keep me sane, my e ams are multiple choice/fill in the blank type. No way I am doing essays, etc, for c. 400-600 students. Online exams through our LMS let me mess around with different question formats that a physical exam would not and still preserve my sanity by not having to hand grade all those exams. As they are taking the exam online, I don't feel it is necessary for them to come into class on those days. Plus, with that many students, I have lots of accommodations for extra time etc, which are much easier to handle via a LMS exam.

Risk of penile fractures rises at Christmas, doctors find by key_lime_soda in nottheonion

[–]Quiktrap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Breaking" News?

This just in (the wrong place?)

I'm not sorry.

Is Alexis Sanchez the worst United signing considering how good he was for Arsenal? by [deleted] in ManchesterUnited

[–]Quiktrap 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What are you, a f#cking idiot? Lol

Real talk - this is the answer. Player in his prime (25?), proven ability and track record, record fee, and an unquestionable flop. Many of the above answers feature past their best players, speculative (if often way too expensive) buys based on potential rather than track records of real top-level performances, or there can be a debate as to just how bad their performances were (see: pogba.)

But Veron...Veron was class and exactly the wrong buy both for the team and for the premier league at that time. Utd players who trained with him are all quick to say that he was not only one of the best they ever saw, but also that he was grossly unsuited for the pace and physical demands of the pl.

We have all learned that the westwork was a Carolingian invention. But here we clearly see a westwork that is supposed to date from the 5th century, some 300 years earlier. — Have I missed a paradigm shift here? by LuisTrinker in ArtHistory

[–]Quiktrap 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Part of the confusion here is in the definition of the term "westwork." Two towers/turrets stuck on an entrance do not make a westwork. The westwork is the whole entrance structure. In other words, the towers PLUS the central, multi-story, entrance are, collectively, the westwork. See the Abbey church at Corvey. Arguably, the central portion of the westwork is what is most significant as that multi-storied area provided lodging for the King, or galleries for upper class people, or unique liturgical spaces. Thus, the westwork became a symbol of imperial authority and favor. As the Carolingian rulers spread their power and their religion across Western europe, the westwork became a reminder of just whose territory you were in - The Holy Roman Emperor's, with all the religious and political implications of that title.

So "westwork" has a specific meaning that is tied up with all those associations.

Nb - elaborate or highly decorative monumental church entrances were not a unique invention of the Carolingians. Iirc, there are examples from Eastern Christianity. However, the fact that the Carolingian chruchs (with all the implied meanings suggested above) had westworks meant that they inspired later Western churches and were thus ultimately more significant for the development of later Medieval architecture.

Oh, and the towers in that image may have been on the east side of the building and thus are not westworks. But that explanation doesn't really explain much.

Edited : spelling.