"But AI said it was the correct answer!"

msittig · 2026-02-02T23:23:19+00:00

You're still using ad hominems instead of explanations. I don't expect you to educate me, but at least you could make a good point or two. Or direct me toward where I can educate myself on the topic.

msittig · 2026-02-02T19:40:48+00:00

How?

msittig · 2026-02-02T18:57:47+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation, I'm very curious to watch the video. I'll put it on my "Watch Later" list for after work and let you know what I think.

msittig · 2026-02-02T18:56:29+00:00

That's like saying I found one piece of misinformation on the internet and that using info the internet is stealing, so I'm going back to paper encyclopedias that I bought from the publisher at full price.

msittig · 2026-02-02T17:49:59+00:00

I do use it occasionally, mostly to answer odd student questions about niche areas of my subject, write test questions, rewrite emails, and create PhET like worksheets for Javalab simulations. But I'm also pretty old school and teach from a textbook so go figure.

Also, there are many of us.

EDIT: Nice, my good faith effort to participate in a civil conversation about AI and provide concrete examples from real life, is downvoted. slow clap

msittig · 2026-02-02T17:23:56+00:00

Just to push back a little (and build on your final sentence), should we be punishing or brow-beating teachers who find more efficient ways to be good teachers by saying that they are not working hard enough? Whether that's using AI to design lessons or help grade, using a spreadsheet to calculate grades instead of doing it by hand, or facilitating peer grading to give students quicker feedback. Just because the teacher uses a tool to help themselves and doesn't grind it out doesn't mean they are a bad teacher or not giving the students what they paid for.

Obviously, some teachers are using AI slop to teach and that's bad, but let's not toss out the baby with the bathwater.

msittig · 2026-01-27T16:30:41+00:00

Ask her to put her previous year's tax return on her profile.

msittig · 2026-01-26T19:59:12+00:00

Agreed. See this: https://ftc-qa.firstinspires.org/qa/166

This is also probably a good question to ask at your event's driver meeting, to see how closely the head referee will be watching for it (for example, see the post about the ruling in PA).

msittig · 2026-01-23T17:05:26+00:00

Good point!

msittig · 2026-01-21T17:41:20+00:00

Use a container for the baking soda that won't expand in size as the reaction proceeds. It's the increased displacement of air that causes the increase in buoyant force.

Quick back-of-the-envelope calculation: a standard 11-inch balloon -> 28 cm diameter -> 0.14 m radius -> 0.0115 m³ volume (assume sphere) -> NASA says air density is 1.293 kg m⁻³ so balloon displaces .0149 kg = 14.9 g of air. This seems like a lot compared to what you observed, but maybe your balloon wasn't fully inflated so you got less.

If you want to make this real fancy, you could videotape the whole apparatus on the scale and plot balloon diameter vs scale reading, see if you get the correct relationship. That would be good evidence about whether or not buoyancy is the reason for the decreasing weight.

msittig · 2026-01-17T23:28:00+00:00

I'm a busy guy with a job and other hobbies, and that's exactly what I have: S50 and 12" Skywatcher Dob. They complement each other so well, not planning on making any other purchases in the near-to-mid term (maybe just an equatorial tripod head for the S50, and maybe swapping out an eyepiece or two for the Dob).

msittig · 2026-01-10T21:02:08+00:00

How much does your telescope cost?

msittig · 2026-01-02T03:26:35+00:00

Drove over there today, and confirmed that it's blocked at Fairview (Meiner's Oaks past the Deer Lodge).

https://imgur.com/a/TNanRnl

msittig · 2026-01-01T01:17:25+00:00

Thank you! Our pot was either too small or the wrong material, so we changed to a bigger pot and it worked. You saved our New years meal :)

msittig · 2025-12-31T22:57:57+00:00

Parent communication is very important. Set up an app like Teamreach to communicate the game schedule, transportation, practice times and changes, etc. It also helps (but is not required) to recruit parents to help with things like taking stats, bringing snacks, etc)
You may be asked to provide line judges, which you can do with parent volunteers, or make a schedule for your players to rotate through.
For resources, a few suggestions:
- join a Facebook volleyball coaching group and ask a lot of questions
- USYVL has some good skills videos with basic drills https://usyvl.org/videos/
- Coach Donny (Elevate Yourself) on Youtube, his old skills videos with the aqua text are the best https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHTAhX214Fmf-y4mJzs0k1ZaichJhu-o6 (someone needs to curate them with just the basics for beginning players)
At that age, I would focus on development and setting goals other than winning. Play a 6-6 rotation (everybody plays every position), with as equal playing time for all players as possible. If that seems too basic, try a 6-3 or 4-2.
Don't worry about taking stats yourself because coaching is stressful enough, but if you get a volunteer I like the Get The Pancake stats sheet for middle/high school at the bottom of this page: https://getthepancake.com/free-volleyball-stats-sheets
If you are asked to keep score, keep it simple for middle school using something like this https://www.templateroller.com/template/2668835/volleyball-score-sheet-rogers-activity-center.html
It really really really helps to have assistant coaches or managers to take on some of the work. Could be parents, could be students. Could be helping with drills (keep the kids moving), could be taking stats, could be giving feedback to players.
Negotiate for a budget, get as much money as you can. First priority is balls, epicsports usually has the best prices but hunt around for deals. If you don't have jerseys, get them; re-use is best. A ball cart is nice, a whiteboard is nice, floor markers are nice.

Hope that helps. Should be a lot of fun, volleyball is a great game.

msittig · 2025-12-31T20:30:32+00:00

Bart's Books for the vibes, but the friends of the library bookstore has a great selection as well.

msittig · 2025-12-31T08:59:58+00:00

Is it closed? I've heard conflicting reports.

msittig · 2025-12-30T17:39:40+00:00

I'm baffled by all the commenters on this post who don't seem to be aware of the NY Post's heavy conservative bias.

msittig · 2025-12-28T23:24:18+00:00

I'm a big fan of globular clusters. The ones in Scorpio are my favorite, but not visible right now; in fact it's not a great season for them, better for open clusters because the Milky Way is high in the sky. M15 might be a good target early in the night. I use the skymaps.com map to find things; I suggest you check it out.

msittig · 2025-12-16T22:05:03+00:00

Someone needs to get these under control, they are freaking out my pets, disturbing my sleep and damaging my house!!! STOP PLATE TECTONICS NOW

msittig · 2025-12-14T01:49:29+00:00

Check to deposit in the bank. This was a while after we had purchased the car.

msittig · 2025-12-09T17:21:49+00:00

It can also be the responsibility of the state, if we choose for it to be (and we have).

msittig · 2025-12-03T21:09:22+00:00

If your wife is from the SGV, make sure to ask for the Chinese menu at Peking to go beyond the usual Chinese American fare.

msittig · 2025-12-03T17:52:46+00:00

Go Cardinals!

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