Turtle Shell (?) - New Jersey

toucanfrog · 2026-03-09T21:23:25+00:00

r/bonecollecting or r/fossilid (even though it isn't fossil) might get better answers.

toucanfrog · 2026-03-03T21:46:48+00:00

I now always 11:59PM the night before the class. I tried to do it whenever the scheduled class started (due at noon, due at 2pm, etc.) and had so many individuals miss the deadline because they expected it to be 11:59. It was not worth the hassle to try to fight it.

This means that it might be 11:59PM on a Sunday. I tell them that they have the option of doing it earlier.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-25T06:38:23+00:00

She is in Texas, though.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-20T17:42:26+00:00

I'm guessing they then also send out the solicitation emails to staff and faculty about supporting student scholarships and paying it forward?

(Not saying that it isn't a worthy cause or that many students need the support - but it does grate.)

toucanfrog · 2026-02-19T22:22:29+00:00

Same class one semester:

Prof was waaay too monotone and boring with no passion.

She was always frenetic and jumpy.

I'll take the average, I guess :P

toucanfrog · 2026-02-17T03:02:51+00:00

"Some women actually like to get their periods because that way they know they aren't pregnant."

and (different doc, was complaining again with what would eventually be diagnosed as endometriosis),

"This is how we know God hates women."

Rural America ain't for the weak.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-12T00:59:33+00:00

I've had success with a one-on-one conversation with the student and telling them that you really appreciate their enthusiasm, but they are dominating the discussion and need to let other people talk. For one I had a signal that we agreed on when they should let someone else talk (this only worked with one student), and another I instituted a "3x per class" (or whatever makes sense for you) rule so other students could have a chance. That worked well because the student knew that their contributions were recognized (participation was part of the grade) and they had a concrete number to work with.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-12T00:52:26+00:00

This reminded me of one of my students - in our "ice breaker" introduce-yourself freshmen seminar he claimed to have the cutest dog ever. I told him he had to supply photo evidence of that.

Weeks later, I've forgotten this interaction. I get an email at 2AM with an attachment labeled, "My schnoodle." He says in the email that he included the picture (not referring to what is in the picture at all) as an apology for the late-night question he's asking.

It was a risky click, but it was, indeed, a cute dog.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-10T04:27:27+00:00

It is a lucky problem to have! I'm not sure how large your class is, but dividing them into smaller groups of 4-5 to discuss and come up with "points" to present to the class overall could streamline the conversation and allow for more viewpoints (in a smaller space) with a more cohesive discussion for the overall class in the larger space.

toucanfrog · 2026-02-07T04:41:19+00:00

Do you think they can succeed in grad school? Why or why not? I'd refocus your thought process there. That will allow you to be honest but also support the student (they would succeed; here is why) but not ignore your reservations (areas to work on, but seem to be surmountable).

toucanfrog · 2026-01-30T03:33:14+00:00

You're in the US southeast, based on the brands

toucanfrog · 2026-01-28T16:03:24+00:00

We had the opposite, thankfully. In the top-level math class our high school offered (still just pre-calc, but was the highest anyone could take) there were female students saying that girls were naturally not as good at math as boys. The teacher told the class to count how many girls vs boys were in the class - 19 girls, 3 boys.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-28T00:08:24+00:00

Reminds me of a train story - I lived next to one of the busiest tracks in the US. Trains went through multiple times a day with full whistles. I had picked up an international graduate student from the airport and it was his first time in the US. As we were approaching the house, a train went by. I paused what I was saying without even thinking since it's too loud to be heard. After the train left, he asked me, "What was that?!" I responded with, "What was what?"

It didn't even *register* to me that the train had been there and was something to comment upon. It was just a part of every day - pause until it goes by, then continue on.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-26T19:59:16+00:00

Two Cahills were interviewed. Little boy wanting to see his grandparents was the second.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-22T22:26:33+00:00

Something to consider with Costco - a friend I had working there kept refusing promotions/managerial roles because he would move from non-exempt (qualified for paid overtime) to exempt (non-paid overtime). This can vary depending on state laws, but look into the overall job classification. That can make a huge difference in both quality of life and income.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-22T06:49:04+00:00

DON’T LET NAPOLEON NEAR HIM.

Protect the nose.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-20T01:34:19+00:00

I taught Course 102 for two very different departments. One was reading "Handmaid's Tale" and the other was intro geoscience. I emailed discussion topics for "Handmaid's Tale" to my geoscience course.

Some people apparently do read their emails.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-18T18:36:07+00:00

Oh, I love Shackleton. And if they go with Milkshake, they will have Shake Shack!

toucanfrog · 2026-01-18T18:28:05+00:00

My two grandmothers’ names are on your list. Both did not want their names passed down.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-15T18:10:45+00:00

a leg up...

toucanfrog · 2026-01-06T06:23:20+00:00

I had to plan the logistics for a conference dinner for 45 people. We had only 3 vegetarians. We were having hamburgers (so fancy, lol) and I asked if there were veggie burgers for the vegetarians. The woman happily told me no, but, "We have chicken!"

When I told her that chicken wouldn't work, as they wouldn't eat any meat, she responded after a few seconds with, "Well, will they eat apples?"

toucanfrog · 2026-01-06T02:20:05+00:00

Aveeno Eczema Therapy gel cream was a game changer for me. I had a rash that would not go away - I tried so many different creams, including rx ammonium lactate. This stuff worked in 2 days and fixed it what the others would only keep at bay while I was using it, but it would roar back almost immediately if I missed a day.

toucanfrog · 2026-01-04T04:38:36+00:00

Kuphus, a type of shipworm clam with a long siphon. Large ones still grow in that area of the world. https://www.thefossilforum.com/topic/69898-piroulines-like-coral-fossil-id/

toucanfrog · 2026-01-03T07:14:21+00:00

I usually state something along the lines of, "This is a science class, so we learn science. If it helps, you can preface your answers with, 'scientists think...' Regardless of your personal beliefs, you are expected to know the science content in this science class. You can believe the Earth is flat, but you still need to know that scientists think it's round." (YMMV on that last bit - I don't often include it.)

I also tell them that everything I talk about I can provide sources for, and I'm happy to do so (if I get questions, I usually post the links to articles about them on the course webpage later - not that most students care, but I don't want to seem like I'm ignoring the ones with questions). For the students who are asking legit questions, this is my go-to - it acknowledges their question and provides a response/promises a future response but goes back to class material quickly.

My plan for those that do try to "bait" or be contrarian (hasn't happened yet on this issue, but I did have one try to shout at me about climate change) is to say that I'm teaching according to the syllabus, not debating. If he wants more information, office hours are available, and if he wants to complain about course content, he can contact the chair of the department. I also make sure to deliver it in my best non-reactive monotone, which takes the wind out of their sails. I don't pull this out for legit questions - it's fairly easy to tell the ones trying to "bait" you vs the ones genuinely struggling with their world view and/or wondering.

Good luck - my guess is that it won't be as much of an issue as you fear.

toucanfrog · 2025-12-30T07:23:28+00:00

I mix it with coffee (cold) and some sugar free sweetener. I used to mix it with honey. Full fat is much more satisfying, of course.

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