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When the mind wanders...
Thursday, November 30, 2006 7:56 PM

I'm normally pretty good at getting ready for a trip. This time, though, my mind was on other things. Evidence to the fact is that I brought three tubes of conditioner and zero shampoo. Say it with me: DUH???

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posted by Didith with

More on my grandfather
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:27 AM

To Alfred: My grandfather loved being married. He loved my grandmother very much. He was a great romantic--he would write her notes like, "Without you, the stars no longer shine." With regards to his daughters, he pooh-poohed

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posted by Didith with

Grandfatherly advice
Monday, November 27, 2006 7:54 AM

My grandparents had six daughters and one son, my dad. My grandfather was very possessive of his girls. He used to tell them that he saw no reason why a woman should get married. She became a nursemaid, housemaid, and a sex partner

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posted by Didith with

Interpret this for me
Saturday, November 25, 2006 7:23 AM

Girl and Boy are dating. Boy is smitten. Girl is not. In fact, Girl knows there's no future in the relationship. Still, Girl and Boy continue dating. Girl goes to Boy every time she needs something. Boy keeps helping out. Is this

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posted by Didith with

Little boys
Friday, November 24, 2006 10:49 AM

I was in a computer room full of grade school boys yesterday afternoon. The whole room smelled like sweat and sun and soil. I can understand why the regular classrooms aren't airconditions.

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posted by Didith with

Discovering leaders
Thursday, November 23, 2006 8:01 AM

In my years in the Ateneo, I've only heard two people ever say that they liked admin work. Everyone else seems to find their fulfilment in teaching and research. The people who are shunted into administrative positions take up the burden as

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posted by Didith with

Backbiter
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 8:43 AM

She backbites a lot. Whenever I speak to her, she has something vicious to say about someone. Does she share these feelings because she considers me her friend? Does she share them in confidence, knowing I won't tell anyone else?

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posted by Didith with

Astig
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 8:02 AM

One of Paolo Agloro's favorite expressions is "astig." I don't know the etymology of the word, but it's a Filipino expression used to decribe a person who is in-your-face gutsy. We were talking about our students (as we often do when they're

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posted by Didith with

"Here, eat this."
Monday, November 20, 2006 8:06 AM

Aside from the boilerplate checking of programs and proctoring exams, our TAs receive the occasional plum assignment. Bong Olpoc needed four TAs to help him with a workshop he was conducting. Among the materials he needed for the workshop were

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posted by Didith with

The good TA
Sunday, November 19, 2006 7:43 AM

What makes a good TA? Above-average knowledge in the subject matter. A good work ethic. Communication skills. Service-orientation. A willingness to stretch. We in the department were discussing possible TAs. There were several in particular--let's

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posted by Didith with

Not over yet...
Saturday, November 18, 2006 7:09 AM

Today is the last day of a loooonggg week. For the first time in a few years, I'm "teaching" a Saturday class. I put the quotation marks on teaching because it's actually someone from PLDT/SMART who is teaching the class. I'm taking it.

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posted by Didith with

Emotional responses
Thursday, November 16, 2006 7:10 AM

One of the lessons I have to keep learning is that articulating an emotional response to any event (no matter how annoying) is almost always wrong. Unless the emotion is positive or constructive, it's best to stay outwardly neutral and save the

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posted by Didith with

Good media
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 10:10 AM

Although I say I teach computer science, I sometimes think that what I really do teach is communication--between person and computer or between person and person, mediated by the computer. Because my field of specialization is educational technology,

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posted by Didith with

Academic exercise
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 7:58 AM

There's a saying that those who respect the law and love sausages should not watch either one being made. The same can be said of academic exercises. Sometimes I think that what we do in this business is smoke and mirrors. We force students

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posted by Didith with

Shopping advisory
Monday, November 13, 2006 8:03 AM

There's a Naturalizer Warehouse Sale on November 16, 17, and 18 at 2295 Pasong Tamo Extension. Discounts are up to 70%!

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posted by Didith with

Catching up with friends
Sunday, November 12, 2006 2:06 PM

Queena Lee-Chua and I have been friends for nearly 20 years. Unfortunately, we don't get to talk to each other very often because we're so busy with other things. Yesterday, however, we got to sat next to each other during a friend's wedding

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posted by Didith with

Commando unit; Things to learn
Saturday, November 11, 2006 7:18 AM

To Jess: So should I sign you up? :) *** I have to learn stat. I have to learn pattern recognition and data mining. I have to learn about ecological validity. I need to learn more advanced AI. Someone click on Pause, please.

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posted by Didith with

Housekeeping; Commando unit?
Friday, November 10, 2006 7:33 AM

To Punzki: I don't know how other departments keep house. I know of several offices that are as shell-shocked as DISCS. I also know of a few offices that look like they have Martha Stewart on retainer. I think it depends very much

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posted by Didith with

Housekeeper needed
Thursday, November 09, 2006 7:49 AM

One of the difficulties of running a department is quite literally housekeeping. The office is such a mess, especially after the end of the sem. We have mountains of paper--theses, projects, programs, CDs, posters. It's even worse post-ICPC.

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posted by Didith with

Why I write
Wednesday, November 08, 2006 8:12 AM

A children's story I wrote has gone to press and will be available by Christmas. I showed the mockup to John Paul. In all sincerity he asked, "Why do you write that stuff? I mean, I could understand if you were a preschool teacher or

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posted by Didith with

Doing well in school vs. doing well in real life
Tuesday, November 07, 2006 8:32 AM

One of my frustrations with students and with some academicians is that they have mastered the art of academic life but are clueless about how to operate in the real world. Some random complaints-- They operate much too autonomously. They don't

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posted by Didith with

Xbox; Rant
Monday, November 06, 2006 3:08 PM

I've asked our technicians to check the usual suppliers but they haven't gotten back to me. Plus I want all the Microsoft developer support--will that come automatically even if I just buy directly from Virra Mall? And yes, Punzki, teaching and

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posted by Didith with

The elusive Xbox
Sunday, November 05, 2006 1:10 AM

Where in the Philippines can you buy an Xbox 360 Premium? I need to buy a few units for the Department for research and teaching (are those great excuses or what???). Problem is, we can't seem to source any. Ideas, anyone?

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posted by Didith with

Favorite things
Friday, November 03, 2006 7:42 PM

My four favorite things about America: beef, junk food, entertainment (specifically movies and TV), and outlet shopping.

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posted by Didith with

False targets
Friday, November 03, 2006 12:33 AM

One of the unfortunate realities of academic life is that we as teachers have to create what many of us consider to be artificial targets (otherwise known as grades) for students. I say they are artificial because grades

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posted by Didith with

Dressing for cold weather
Wednesday, November 01, 2006 4:57 PM

A friend of mine is spending Christmas with her sister in upstate New York. Never having experienced winter before, she's worried that she'll freeze. I offered to lend her some warm clothes--jackets, coats and so on--so that she wouldn't have

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posted by Didith with

November 2006 - Posts

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