Previously, after having issues with my computer being buggy, slow, or even outright hijacked and infected, I've had to run numerous programs to try to de-infect it, like anti-virus, anti-spybots, anti-hijack, anti-fishing, etc programs. And when you're running AVG, Search and Destroy, Windows Defender, Trojan Hunter and a bunch of other junk, that in itself must be responsible for some of the system slow down. Plus, I could never tell if they were really working. For the most part, they found nothing. And I'd also run HijackThis, which creates logs of system information that you have to interpret, sort through, prepare, and then if you're still stuck upload to a forum, where other people would tell you what to do to clean up the computer before they'd even look at your log, and then after that you'd get advice on what to 'fix' (which is at least a simple final thing to do) from the log.
So after getting sick of that, after spending a decent chunk of my time on the computer 'protecting' it, I switched to the Firefox browser, figuring that most of the problems where from web codes and the like. And then when Google Chrome came out, I figure, well, this is so new and represents such a small percentage of the browser population, its probably not much of a target and might be safer too. But still, after a long while, I think that bugs and malware and the like have just accumulated, and thats why I reinstalled my Operating System recently.
Our college campus loans out laptops to faculty for the semester. In order to protect the laptops, they flash out their memory each time they are shut down, so that when you turn it on, anything you did to it is gone, any files you saved, and preferences you changed, are all gone, its in its original state. This is done by 'freezing' the computer. I thought at first that that was just ridiculous, having to save everything to a thumb drive and not being able to set any preferences. But recently I realized, maybe that is what I need. If my computer just snaps back to its original state each time I shut it off, then I don't have to worry so much about viruses, malware, etc. So thats what I've done, I've frozen my computer, set it so that anything I need to keep is saved somewhere else, and thats it. I still have antivirus, firewall, etc. I am just trying to see if this is a workable solution, I think that it will be.
Friday, May 08, 2009
OS reinstall on my PC
I had to reinstall my OS (Windows XP) over the past few days. I have a new wired external hard drive, but I couldn't get it to connect through my router (Linksys WRT150N), it couldn't even be found. So I tried resetting my router with its reset button. Unfortunately I couldn't then get Windows to find it. Linksys makes a program called "LELA", but it couldn't find it (and thus couldn't set it up) either. I tried setting it up through its webpage, but couldn't really remember how I did it the first time. So I wasn't sure if there was just a lot of garbage on my computer screwing it up or what. I tried doing a Windows system restore. Now I know that the last time I had a similar problem, after fixing everything I made a Restore "Save Point". That was probably in 2006. But when I go to do the restore, all I can choose from is the past week or so. I couldn't go back to earlier points. So thats useless. I did the restore anyway, in case the problem was younger than that. But now Google Chrome wasn't working. I'd clicks its icon, it'd flash on for a split second and then disappear. Plus, when I tried running the command, 'ipconfig' from the windows "run" program, it'd do the same thing, whereas before I had been able to get that information (to configure the router). Plus my computer had been taking forever to start up for a while, yada yada yada, so I decided to reinstall windows. I did that with a CD I got when I first purchased the computer. When I bought the computer, the standard, default option was to not receive an OS cd. Which is nuts. I'm really glad that I noticed this and specifically requested the OS on cd; it wasn't even extra, but it has ended up being worth quite a bit of money. After doing this and still having problems getting the router to work, with both LELA and Windows network setup wizard failing to find the router, I finally got it to work. I remembered something pretty basic, I had to 'clone' my MAC address. Apparently my ISP, Cablevision, is one of many that does something with their system where your computer MAC address is their reference point, or their modem MAC address is the reference in their system, or some such setup where you've got to clone your networking card's MAC address, or "Physical Address" in order to get the router working. I had to get that information through the ipconfig/all command. Which, it turns out, isn't run directly from the 'run' window. First you have to open up a Command line, by typing 'cmd' into the 'run' program, which I had completely forgotten.
Eventually I was able to get things working, but only after being lucky enough to unplug and then replug the router once right in the middle of everything, which appparently did the magic trick.
Actually, after all that, I changed the router password, but must've screwed up typing it it because then I couldn't log into the router anymore, and I had to reset it again! Fortunately everything worked out quickly that time.
So now I have my computer hooked up to the wireless router. An external hard drive wired separately to the router, and an older external hard drive that is connected to my computer. It turns out too that I could actually (and I did this and it worked from my end at least) plug in my older external hard drive to the new external hard drive's usb port, and thus have two shared hard drives that I can access online from any computer. Whether I actually need any or will use any of this crap remains to be seen.
Eventually I was able to get things working, but only after being lucky enough to unplug and then replug the router once right in the middle of everything, which appparently did the magic trick.
Actually, after all that, I changed the router password, but must've screwed up typing it it because then I couldn't log into the router anymore, and I had to reset it again! Fortunately everything worked out quickly that time.
So now I have my computer hooked up to the wireless router. An external hard drive wired separately to the router, and an older external hard drive that is connected to my computer. It turns out too that I could actually (and I did this and it worked from my end at least) plug in my older external hard drive to the new external hard drive's usb port, and thus have two shared hard drives that I can access online from any computer. Whether I actually need any or will use any of this crap remains to be seen.
Hairy Vetch
A while ago I bought 10lbs of Hairy Vetch seed, which is a type of legume, a bean plant. 10 lbs would be a little more than needed for my yard. The vetch, being a bean, can take nitrogen out of the soil, and turn it into a usable chemical form, thus over time adding nitrogen as a nutrient into the soil. That is why I purchased the vetch, I am hoping that it will grow over the yard, both on the lawn and in the gardening plots, and the bare batches, and supply nitrogen to the yard for the other plants to feed off of. This way I won't have to buy fertilizer every season. I don't want to buy fertilizer each season for three reasons. First, it is a cost (of course, if I end up re-seeding the vetch then thats a cost also). Second, a lot of the fertilizer added to lawns and gardens just gets washed away into the groundwater, and can screw with the nutrient balance of the island. Thirdly, I think that by adding fertilizer all the time, what you end up doing is promoting top grown of the lawn and plants, but not root growth; perhaps to the detriment of root growth. The yard around my house isn't as well drained as it should be, and I think that by doing this I will have deeper roots and better drainage. Finally fourthly, there's something attractive about managing the yard this way.
All of that sounds well enough, but, there is some chance, I think, that the vetch will grow out of control. Vetch is an annual, meaning it grows, flowers, and dies each year. So if it gets to be out of control, I will have to mow the lawn pretty close to the ground as the first flowers are appearing, to prevent seeds from forming and fertilizing.
Mowing will be important anyway. If I don't want to destroy the vetch, I'll have to mow before the flowers appear, and hold off when they are present, and then mow once the seeds have dropped, I believe. I'm planning to mow the vetch and grass into mulch and leave it in place. If there is a lot of it, too much to leave in place, then I will bag it and probably compost it. There is a large section of the yard that doesn't have good soil at all, its really just old exposed tree roots, gravel, and dandelions. So even if the vetch does start getting out of control, I think that I can make some good dirt for that area. It would be too much to buy dirt for it, and we might just extend out our deck to cover it all anyway.
Useful online Hairy Vetch Referances:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/AFCM/vetch.html
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/CCrop.exe/show_crop_21
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20090206/nf1
I've also been finding the Cornell Cooperative Extension very informative for yard duties.
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/bjorkman/covercrops/pdfs/hairyvetch.pdf
All of that sounds well enough, but, there is some chance, I think, that the vetch will grow out of control. Vetch is an annual, meaning it grows, flowers, and dies each year. So if it gets to be out of control, I will have to mow the lawn pretty close to the ground as the first flowers are appearing, to prevent seeds from forming and fertilizing.
Mowing will be important anyway. If I don't want to destroy the vetch, I'll have to mow before the flowers appear, and hold off when they are present, and then mow once the seeds have dropped, I believe. I'm planning to mow the vetch and grass into mulch and leave it in place. If there is a lot of it, too much to leave in place, then I will bag it and probably compost it. There is a large section of the yard that doesn't have good soil at all, its really just old exposed tree roots, gravel, and dandelions. So even if the vetch does start getting out of control, I think that I can make some good dirt for that area. It would be too much to buy dirt for it, and we might just extend out our deck to cover it all anyway.
Useful online Hairy Vetch Referances:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/AFCM/vetch.html
http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/cgi-bin/CCrop.exe/show_crop_21
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20090206/nf1
I've also been finding the Cornell Cooperative Extension very informative for yard duties.
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/faculty/bjorkman/covercrops/pdfs/hairyvetch.pdf
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Iceland
Iceland Meltdown
I've been hearing in the news a bit about this breakdown of the Icelandic economy but haven't had any real kind of grip on it. This article seems like it is a good summary.
Apparently, the big story here is basically a small story. The Icelanders had for generations made good livings with fishing and farming. With globalization and free trade credit became widely available to the trustworthy and sturdy Icelanders. They dove headlong into a buying spree, obtained companies throughout the world and made excessive use of their credit. Now its come time to pay the piper, and their banks have been annihilated save one. Fire and gravel all around, the cycle can start anew eh?
The closing line sums it up in a nice way, though I have to wonder about the 'icelandics' term.
I've been hearing in the news a bit about this breakdown of the Icelandic economy but haven't had any real kind of grip on it. This article seems like it is a good summary.
Apparently, the big story here is basically a small story. The Icelanders had for generations made good livings with fishing and farming. With globalization and free trade credit became widely available to the trustworthy and sturdy Icelanders. They dove headlong into a buying spree, obtained companies throughout the world and made excessive use of their credit. Now its come time to pay the piper, and their banks have been annihilated save one. Fire and gravel all around, the cycle can start anew eh?
The closing line sums it up in a nice way, though I have to wonder about the 'icelandics' term.
“The Icelandics had better get their fishing rods out. They’ve got a lot of cod to catch to make up for what we’ve lost”
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Environmental Commitment?
I just found out how committed to the environment I am. Its around 10 feet.
I got out of my car, and I had two styrofoam coffee cups, one was from the day before and it had today's sitting inside of it. It slid off and hit the ground. Today is pretty windy. It sat there for a second as I was thinking, 'crap, this is going to be a hassle'. It starts bouncing away, I chase after it a bit and then just let it go after about ten feet.
So that's how 'committed' to the environment I am. Actually, I suppose if I really cared, I wouldn't be using a styrofoam cup in the first place.
In fact, if I consider this a little more, it wasn't that 10 feet was too far. If the thing had been blown further and just sat there, I like to at least think I'd've gotten it. But it was in part that I don't think I was going to catch the thing, and also because I looked pretty ridiculous, hunched over trying to grab it, trying to step on it, just waiting to slip on the ice. So I guess I will 'help' the environment a little bit, as long as its not pointless and I don't look stupid.
Guess that mean's I won't get a SmartCar anytime soon too.
I got out of my car, and I had two styrofoam coffee cups, one was from the day before and it had today's sitting inside of it. It slid off and hit the ground. Today is pretty windy. It sat there for a second as I was thinking, 'crap, this is going to be a hassle'. It starts bouncing away, I chase after it a bit and then just let it go after about ten feet.
So that's how 'committed' to the environment I am. Actually, I suppose if I really cared, I wouldn't be using a styrofoam cup in the first place.
In fact, if I consider this a little more, it wasn't that 10 feet was too far. If the thing had been blown further and just sat there, I like to at least think I'd've gotten it. But it was in part that I don't think I was going to catch the thing, and also because I looked pretty ridiculous, hunched over trying to grab it, trying to step on it, just waiting to slip on the ice. So I guess I will 'help' the environment a little bit, as long as its not pointless and I don't look stupid.
Guess that mean's I won't get a SmartCar anytime soon too.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
To Shit or Defecate?
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/l.html
and
Very much reminds me of shakespeare using simple couplets when he was trying to appeal to a general audience, and then a fancier rhyme scheme when not.
Also somewhat related is this issue of "U and non-U English"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_and_non-U_English
Looking at the word lists, it almost looks to me like the non-Upper class words are attempting to seem fancy.
"Words of Germanic origin tend to be shorter, more direct, more blunt, while Latinate words tend to be polysyllabic, and are often associated with higher and scientific diction. If you want a memorable example, compare the connotations of shit (from the Germanic scitan) with those of defecate (from the Latin defaecare)."
and
"you'll sound more blunt, more straightforward, even more forthright, if you draw your words from Germanic roots. An extensively Latinate vocabulary, on the contrary, suggests a more elevated level of diction. Choose your words carefully, then, with constant attention to your audience and the effects you want to have on"
Very much reminds me of shakespeare using simple couplets when he was trying to appeal to a general audience, and then a fancier rhyme scheme when not.
Also somewhat related is this issue of "U and non-U English"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U_and_non-U_English
Looking at the word lists, it almost looks to me like the non-Upper class words are attempting to seem fancy.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Bombay attacks fallout
Fallout may end up being a poor choice of words here. Nevertheless, I found some interesting bits in this article:
Bombay attack Dossier
The response from the Pakistani Information Minister really just says it all;
"it is our fond resolve to insure that non-state actors to do not use Pakistan's soil to launch terrorist attack any where in the world"
This is the sort of statement that really reminds us that the position of information minister in most countries used to be the Ministry of Propaganda.
Another curious, though sensible side note is that the information when presented to diplomats was accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation. If nothing else that is something I should include in future discussion with students about the wide range of places that MS PP can be used in.
Apparently the attackers were being directed as the operation proceeded, even by simple means of phone calls to the hotels being attacked. And the fact that a handler told the people holding the jews hostage to 'conclude' the operation, which resulted in the jews being executed, strongly says to me anyway that that aspect was part of the original plan, and not a target of opportunity. I don't know how much debate there is over that point anyway, especially when a handler seemed to hope that the execution of the hostages would "spoil" relations between India and Israel. Why they think Israel will be angry with India over this, who knows.
Something that is often brought up with regards to these attacks is that, its the plan of the attackers to provoke a strong response, and that be counter-attacking you are 'playing into their hands' or giving them what they want. But if they actually thought that the attack would sour relations between india and isreal, when its plainly obvious to the rest of the non-insane world that pakistan has a hand in this, then maybe that whole line of thought is just bogus anyway. I suspect that these guys don't think 'our deaths will lead to an unpopular counter-attack, and through that we will get global sympathy and win'. Rather, they probably think 'this attack will show those bastards'. Its bad to underestimate an enemy, but perhaps that line of thinking is a case of over-estimation gone awry. The article ends with the ominous note that there were actually 13 people selected as attackers, this 13 met up with another 3, and then 6 went into Kashmir. Are we supposed to believe that those 6 have done nothing, are doing nothing, and will do nothing? Everyone was shocked over the Bombay attacks, even though Bombay was bombed recently also, and even though there is constant fighting in Kashmir. I guess that the Kashmir fighting is an 'acceptable' level of international terrorism. My father-in-law also noted that in Kerala a muslim terror camp had been uncovered, and, perhaps not surprisingly, the terrorists were NOT native to Kerala. Looks like the world has found kasmiri-based terrorism fine and dandy, and so now terror groups are simply expanding well into India. AND this is at a time when Hindu chauvanism is rampant and Bangladeshi terror groups are on the move.
Bombay attack Dossier
The response from the Pakistani Information Minister really just says it all;
"it is our fond resolve to insure that non-state actors to do not use Pakistan's soil to launch terrorist attack any where in the world"
This is the sort of statement that really reminds us that the position of information minister in most countries used to be the Ministry of Propaganda.
Another curious, though sensible side note is that the information when presented to diplomats was accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation. If nothing else that is something I should include in future discussion with students about the wide range of places that MS PP can be used in.
Apparently the attackers were being directed as the operation proceeded, even by simple means of phone calls to the hotels being attacked. And the fact that a handler told the people holding the jews hostage to 'conclude' the operation, which resulted in the jews being executed, strongly says to me anyway that that aspect was part of the original plan, and not a target of opportunity. I don't know how much debate there is over that point anyway, especially when a handler seemed to hope that the execution of the hostages would "spoil" relations between India and Israel. Why they think Israel will be angry with India over this, who knows.
Something that is often brought up with regards to these attacks is that, its the plan of the attackers to provoke a strong response, and that be counter-attacking you are 'playing into their hands' or giving them what they want. But if they actually thought that the attack would sour relations between india and isreal, when its plainly obvious to the rest of the non-insane world that pakistan has a hand in this, then maybe that whole line of thought is just bogus anyway. I suspect that these guys don't think 'our deaths will lead to an unpopular counter-attack, and through that we will get global sympathy and win'. Rather, they probably think 'this attack will show those bastards'. Its bad to underestimate an enemy, but perhaps that line of thinking is a case of over-estimation gone awry. The article ends with the ominous note that there were actually 13 people selected as attackers, this 13 met up with another 3, and then 6 went into Kashmir. Are we supposed to believe that those 6 have done nothing, are doing nothing, and will do nothing? Everyone was shocked over the Bombay attacks, even though Bombay was bombed recently also, and even though there is constant fighting in Kashmir. I guess that the Kashmir fighting is an 'acceptable' level of international terrorism. My father-in-law also noted that in Kerala a muslim terror camp had been uncovered, and, perhaps not surprisingly, the terrorists were NOT native to Kerala. Looks like the world has found kasmiri-based terrorism fine and dandy, and so now terror groups are simply expanding well into India. AND this is at a time when Hindu chauvanism is rampant and Bangladeshi terror groups are on the move.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
More news Bits
Hitchen's Article on the Timing of the Gazan War
Bad Timing
Another interesting article from Mr. Hitchens. This one considers the need of Kadima to be hawkish in order to defeat Likud and Nettanyahu in upcomming elections. Hitchen's also considers palestinian elections, and that Hamas needed to do something to prevent any weakening of their own position to Fatah. Hitchen's also laments the fact that this may all have also been timed with the US elections, with Israel recognizing that now is the best time to do anything, when there is a lame duck president. Many people had speculated that Israel would do 'something' in this time, though I'd've thought that if anything it'd be a strike on Iran.
That blog posting pointed me over to this NYT op-ed piece:
Why Israel Feels Threatened
I think that the most interesting thing from this article is the idea that Israel in the past was successful, it could defeat arab armies that were trying to invade it. And for all the fighting, it did seem to result in treaties with Egypt and Jordan. But today, it hasn't find a way to successfully deal with guerilla and irregular groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. I do also notice that the author states that the war started with Hamas 'ending' the ceasefire, and then Israel attacking. This leaves out the fact that Hamas ended the ceasefire by attacking Israel with rockets and killing schoolchildren. I don't know if it was an omission with a good purpose, but I doubt it was 'sloppy reporting' like on the news, where the talking heads are just reading a prompter anyway.
Another interesting article, from Abu Aardvark
Alhurra
The thing that caught my interest about this article, besides being written by the well informed and intelligent Abu Aardvark, is that its about Alhurra, which, after its inception, I really hadn't heard much about at all. Apparently the station has become expensive and irrelevant.
Bad Timing
Another interesting article from Mr. Hitchens. This one considers the need of Kadima to be hawkish in order to defeat Likud and Nettanyahu in upcomming elections. Hitchen's also considers palestinian elections, and that Hamas needed to do something to prevent any weakening of their own position to Fatah. Hitchen's also laments the fact that this may all have also been timed with the US elections, with Israel recognizing that now is the best time to do anything, when there is a lame duck president. Many people had speculated that Israel would do 'something' in this time, though I'd've thought that if anything it'd be a strike on Iran.
That blog posting pointed me over to this NYT op-ed piece:
Why Israel Feels Threatened
I think that the most interesting thing from this article is the idea that Israel in the past was successful, it could defeat arab armies that were trying to invade it. And for all the fighting, it did seem to result in treaties with Egypt and Jordan. But today, it hasn't find a way to successfully deal with guerilla and irregular groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. I do also notice that the author states that the war started with Hamas 'ending' the ceasefire, and then Israel attacking. This leaves out the fact that Hamas ended the ceasefire by attacking Israel with rockets and killing schoolchildren. I don't know if it was an omission with a good purpose, but I doubt it was 'sloppy reporting' like on the news, where the talking heads are just reading a prompter anyway.
Another interesting article, from Abu Aardvark
Alhurra
The thing that caught my interest about this article, besides being written by the well informed and intelligent Abu Aardvark, is that its about Alhurra, which, after its inception, I really hadn't heard much about at all. Apparently the station has become expensive and irrelevant.
Monday, January 05, 2009
News Bits
Intersting article I found through Abu Muqawama (and then through a blogger that posted it there)Fisk's Article
This presents a more interesting report on the Gazan War than other news stories, thats for certain. A particular stand-out is that 80% of the families in Gaza are refugees from the creation of Israel, though I have no idea what data substantiates that. I somehow suspect that neither Hamas nor the old PLO kept good records of movements. Heck, neither org ever bothered to build bomb shelters in Gaza apparently either. The tone of the article is partisan, but sometimes that it what makes for the best reporting, rather than trying to cover it up one way or the other. The bit about how the media tells the story of two grandparents killed in the bombing, but failing to mention that they had been refugees from the very land that now killed them, is interesting.
Though I have to say that a more telling aspect of that story is that IF those grandparents had just stayed in their homes when Israel was created, then no only would they be alive today, but they'd've lived a far better and freer life. Unless of course they died in a Hamas attack.
Looks like the Sri Lankan army has captured Killinochchi over the weekend. I missed that with this Gazan War going on:
Rebel Capital Captured
Fascinating article. Looks like they've split the rebels in two, with some retreating to the northern most parts of the island, and others cut off to the south east. Apparently they emptied Killinochchi of its residents. Seems to be some dispute as to whether they were taken by the rebels or sided with the rebels. It seems just as likely that people fled the town during the bombing and assault, irrespective of who's side they were on. BBC also reports there that one 14 year old girl was forced into fighting by the Tigers too. May be more when if this is all mopped up. Apparently the rebels are holding out around a large lagoon in the north and one city along the eastern coast.
Also another article on the situation in Gaza:
Gazan War
Reports continue to state that around 500 palestinians have been killed, with around a quarter of that being civilians. The death toll from this war rose very rapidly during the aerial bombardment phase, and seems to have dropped off just as dramatically once the ground invasion went into operation, which I suppose is what should be expected. This seems to mean that around 125 civilians have been killed. Which is surprisingly lower than the ~172 civilians killed in the Bombay attack, (which did not inspire a series of worldwide street protests and which followed another attack on Bombday in 2006 that resulted in ~184 deaths).
Clearly, it would be best if no civilians died during this Gazan War, but just as clearly, thats not possible. Its strange too because the newscasters often focus on the numbers of dead, as if the numbers really mean anything. Whats also rather frustrating is that the newscasters on CNN and the like set up the timeline for this event as starting with the Isreali air bombardments. While its perhaps not surprising that Hamas would be firing rockets at Israel and we can maybe take that for granted, surely its noteworthy that this all started right after a ceasefire reached its expiration date and then Hamas started firing rockets again. I'm not sayings bias, just sloppy. Levinson, the author of the above article, I should say, doesn't seem to be biased or sloppy. Levison also notes that after the bombardment, Hamas was ready to negotiate unconditionally with Fatah. One has to wonder if the Yehudis had considered that as part of this also.
Another story of interest from Asia.
Indian Nun Rape
I recall hearing about this event while the anti-christian riots were going on. Maybe there is a translation issue, but the article's opening sentences seem rather biased, at least in saying that she is 'finally' identifying her rapists. Seems like the bigger story is that she was able to identify them out of a suspect 'parade' of 90 people. Those riots were a real shame on India, you'd think that the report would be a little more demure. I get the impression from it that a lot of people don't think or don't care if she was raped.
And meanwhile, this is also being reported.
Two arrested for possession of beef
This just highlights the paradox, a country where a nun is raped and churches openly attacked is also so high minded and specific that cow meat is illegal? Not to say that the US is perfect.
This presents a more interesting report on the Gazan War than other news stories, thats for certain. A particular stand-out is that 80% of the families in Gaza are refugees from the creation of Israel, though I have no idea what data substantiates that. I somehow suspect that neither Hamas nor the old PLO kept good records of movements. Heck, neither org ever bothered to build bomb shelters in Gaza apparently either. The tone of the article is partisan, but sometimes that it what makes for the best reporting, rather than trying to cover it up one way or the other. The bit about how the media tells the story of two grandparents killed in the bombing, but failing to mention that they had been refugees from the very land that now killed them, is interesting.
Though I have to say that a more telling aspect of that story is that IF those grandparents had just stayed in their homes when Israel was created, then no only would they be alive today, but they'd've lived a far better and freer life. Unless of course they died in a Hamas attack.
Looks like the Sri Lankan army has captured Killinochchi over the weekend. I missed that with this Gazan War going on:
Rebel Capital Captured
Fascinating article. Looks like they've split the rebels in two, with some retreating to the northern most parts of the island, and others cut off to the south east. Apparently they emptied Killinochchi of its residents. Seems to be some dispute as to whether they were taken by the rebels or sided with the rebels. It seems just as likely that people fled the town during the bombing and assault, irrespective of who's side they were on. BBC also reports there that one 14 year old girl was forced into fighting by the Tigers too. May be more when if this is all mopped up. Apparently the rebels are holding out around a large lagoon in the north and one city along the eastern coast.
Also another article on the situation in Gaza:
Gazan War
Reports continue to state that around 500 palestinians have been killed, with around a quarter of that being civilians. The death toll from this war rose very rapidly during the aerial bombardment phase, and seems to have dropped off just as dramatically once the ground invasion went into operation, which I suppose is what should be expected. This seems to mean that around 125 civilians have been killed. Which is surprisingly lower than the ~172 civilians killed in the Bombay attack, (which did not inspire a series of worldwide street protests and which followed another attack on Bombday in 2006 that resulted in ~184 deaths).
Clearly, it would be best if no civilians died during this Gazan War, but just as clearly, thats not possible. Its strange too because the newscasters often focus on the numbers of dead, as if the numbers really mean anything. Whats also rather frustrating is that the newscasters on CNN and the like set up the timeline for this event as starting with the Isreali air bombardments. While its perhaps not surprising that Hamas would be firing rockets at Israel and we can maybe take that for granted, surely its noteworthy that this all started right after a ceasefire reached its expiration date and then Hamas started firing rockets again. I'm not sayings bias, just sloppy. Levinson, the author of the above article, I should say, doesn't seem to be biased or sloppy. Levison also notes that after the bombardment, Hamas was ready to negotiate unconditionally with Fatah. One has to wonder if the Yehudis had considered that as part of this also.
Another story of interest from Asia.
Indian Nun Rape
I recall hearing about this event while the anti-christian riots were going on. Maybe there is a translation issue, but the article's opening sentences seem rather biased, at least in saying that she is 'finally' identifying her rapists. Seems like the bigger story is that she was able to identify them out of a suspect 'parade' of 90 people. Those riots were a real shame on India, you'd think that the report would be a little more demure. I get the impression from it that a lot of people don't think or don't care if she was raped.
And meanwhile, this is also being reported.
Two arrested for possession of beef
This just highlights the paradox, a country where a nun is raped and churches openly attacked is also so high minded and specific that cow meat is illegal? Not to say that the US is perfect.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Busy Semester
I've been pretty busy this semester. The campus is getting its Decennial review this year, which is exciting in a way. My Oceanography class has been going well. The students did very poorly on their first test, class average was in the 50s. I know a lot of them studied their butts off and didn't do as well as they'd've liked, but I also know that others haven't been putting much nor enough effort into it. One student (and I am not saying that she is one of the ones that isn't putting in enough effort, I get the impression that she is) is from the accounting program and was looking to fulfill her general education requirements and was told by her advisor that this is an 'easy course'. Thing is, this can be a difficult course. Its got elements of physics, chemistry, meteorology, geology, and even biology all mixed together.
Most of the students are from the Maritime Technology program, they are required to take this course specifically by their program, and this apparently is the only science course that they have to take. Its meant reconsidering what I expect from the students. For many of them this is their first science course in a decade or more.
I have been surprised to see how earnest many of the students are, I had heard much worse about the students here.
Most of the students are from the Maritime Technology program, they are required to take this course specifically by their program, and this apparently is the only science course that they have to take. Its meant reconsidering what I expect from the students. For many of them this is their first science course in a decade or more.
I have been surprised to see how earnest many of the students are, I had heard much worse about the students here.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
C. Hitchens on Vestigial Eyes in Cave Organisms
http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2195683
What's really interesting here is that Hitchens is unfamiliar with the argument that he is making; he doesn't realize that other people have noticed that intelligent design doesn't do a good job of explaining vestigial organs, a statement often made with particular respect to cave organisms, of which there is much recent interest.
Hard to say if that is a good mark or a bad mark for Hitchens, being on the one hand unfamiliar with what I thought was a fairly widespread argument, or, on the other hand, coming up with that very argument independently. I suppose at first it seems like a black mark, being so vehemently anti-creationism and at the same time being unaware of what could be considered a basic argument against it. But then again, why need a particularly detailed argument against a concept when you've, presumably, already rejected it from other angles anyway?
Anyway, I am not so certain that the idea that vestigial organs shouldn't've been designed argument is all that good of an argument contra intelligent design. Design-infatuated creationists will, firstly and probably correctly state that we don't know the intent of a designer, so maybe 'purposely poor design' or 'nonsensical design' makes 'sense'. Of course, the whole argument pro design is that intent can be detected in the first place, so not sure what that would really all have to say.
Secondly, it could be argued that degeneration is permissible in creationism, that parts of a genome can mutate, and that mutation will, and in fact can only, screw things up. So destroying functions probably wouldn't 'refute' so called 'intelligent design theory' (ignoring that its not a theory and can't be refuted anyway).
Considering this further, Hitchens has realized one of the things that vestigialism tells us. But, in particular, the eyeless salamander case that he sites tells us even more. Because this is not an organism that has had some weird mutation in one of the genes 'for' its eyes and now has non-functional eyes. It has no eyes. It has evolved to get rid of eyes.
In an environment where sight is useless, some organisms that have mutations that make them blind can have an advantage. Natural selection will 'select' for this trait, in so far as it works to get rid of the eye organ, to get rid of the apparatus that maintains the genetics of that organ, and to not 'waste' energy on the development and nourishment of that organ. Not being able to see isn't necessarily an advantage, even in pitch darkness. But not having all the investments with no rewards that an eye represents can be an advantage. So natural selection, I think, should actually be an explanation for complete loss of eyes in cave organisms.
Now, of course, if I recall correctly anyway; many blind cave organisms still have non-functional eyes. So this might all just have been gibbering over-arching.
What's really interesting here is that Hitchens is unfamiliar with the argument that he is making; he doesn't realize that other people have noticed that intelligent design doesn't do a good job of explaining vestigial organs, a statement often made with particular respect to cave organisms, of which there is much recent interest.
Hard to say if that is a good mark or a bad mark for Hitchens, being on the one hand unfamiliar with what I thought was a fairly widespread argument, or, on the other hand, coming up with that very argument independently. I suppose at first it seems like a black mark, being so vehemently anti-creationism and at the same time being unaware of what could be considered a basic argument against it. But then again, why need a particularly detailed argument against a concept when you've, presumably, already rejected it from other angles anyway?
Anyway, I am not so certain that the idea that vestigial organs shouldn't've been designed argument is all that good of an argument contra intelligent design. Design-infatuated creationists will, firstly and probably correctly state that we don't know the intent of a designer, so maybe 'purposely poor design' or 'nonsensical design' makes 'sense'. Of course, the whole argument pro design is that intent can be detected in the first place, so not sure what that would really all have to say.
Secondly, it could be argued that degeneration is permissible in creationism, that parts of a genome can mutate, and that mutation will, and in fact can only, screw things up. So destroying functions probably wouldn't 'refute' so called 'intelligent design theory' (ignoring that its not a theory and can't be refuted anyway).
Considering this further, Hitchens has realized one of the things that vestigialism tells us. But, in particular, the eyeless salamander case that he sites tells us even more. Because this is not an organism that has had some weird mutation in one of the genes 'for' its eyes and now has non-functional eyes. It has no eyes. It has evolved to get rid of eyes.
In an environment where sight is useless, some organisms that have mutations that make them blind can have an advantage. Natural selection will 'select' for this trait, in so far as it works to get rid of the eye organ, to get rid of the apparatus that maintains the genetics of that organ, and to not 'waste' energy on the development and nourishment of that organ. Not being able to see isn't necessarily an advantage, even in pitch darkness. But not having all the investments with no rewards that an eye represents can be an advantage. So natural selection, I think, should actually be an explanation for complete loss of eyes in cave organisms.
Now, of course, if I recall correctly anyway; many blind cave organisms still have non-functional eyes. So this might all just have been gibbering over-arching.
Garage Sale
My mother is thinking of having a garage sale in two weekends, so now my wife is going through our stuff. She seems to think that we'll get lots of money for old VHS casettes. Can't imagine who'd actually want these things. We don't even have a VCR at this point, at least not that I know of. In fact if we do have someone somewhere we'd better sell it too.
Maybe it will make a nice 'bundle' along with the tape.
Maybe it will make a nice 'bundle' along with the tape.
Tons of Stuff
I ordered a lot of supplies recently, in particular from Ben Meadows, which is a good supplier. Almost all of them showed up on the same day, and over the next few days the rest showed up. They're all sitting in my office right now, need to start moving them over to a new lab prep-room.
The inlaws also went to India for two weeks recently and just got back the other day. They were visiting their parents. They seemed to have had a good time. Luckily their state seemed to be spared the recent anti-christian riots in Orissa, which is a little far from Kerala, and Karnataka, which actually borders it. Infact, the city of Mangalore, which apparently is right near the border with Kerala, was the site of some of the more recent rioting.
We are all planning on going here in February of 2009. That should be interesting. It will be my first time in the country and the first time meeting the grandparents. I speak no Malayalum, they speak no English. My father-in-law's dad (his only remaining parent) had said that the only thing English he knows is a salute, and he jokes that that's what he'll have to do when he meets me. My mother-in-law says that when he stood to demonstrate this that he seemed to still be effected by chickungunya, of which there was an outbreak in Kerala earlier this summer. He had caught it but generally recovered from it. Apparently it is a mosquito borne sickness that started in Uganda and spread to the rest of the world from there.
The inlaws also went to India for two weeks recently and just got back the other day. They were visiting their parents. They seemed to have had a good time. Luckily their state seemed to be spared the recent anti-christian riots in Orissa, which is a little far from Kerala, and Karnataka, which actually borders it. Infact, the city of Mangalore, which apparently is right near the border with Kerala, was the site of some of the more recent rioting.
We are all planning on going here in February of 2009. That should be interesting. It will be my first time in the country and the first time meeting the grandparents. I speak no Malayalum, they speak no English. My father-in-law's dad (his only remaining parent) had said that the only thing English he knows is a salute, and he jokes that that's what he'll have to do when he meets me. My mother-in-law says that when he stood to demonstrate this that he seemed to still be effected by chickungunya, of which there was an outbreak in Kerala earlier this summer. He had caught it but generally recovered from it. Apparently it is a mosquito borne sickness that started in Uganda and spread to the rest of the world from there.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Ramping up for Summer Program
Recently completed the AMS Online Ocean Studies Diversity Project Implementation Workshop. It was really interesting.
I've been seriously slacking on writing up a research paper. There's so many damned things that keep getting in my way. I need to get focused this week and crank it out.
Because after this week, the KCC Summer Grant will be in swing. Its a 500k$ grant this year. We have "Purchase Cards" or P-cards, which are Visa debit cards attached to the grant (but with pre-set limits). I recently reached my limit and have had to request that the limit be raised. The Principle Investigator (Dr. Mikalopas) approves, now the Grant Administration Officer has to, and then they have to inform the Research Foundation that they approve. Then it should take effect. The RF told me that it could be ready to go this week.
One of the more difficult aspects of this project that I am anticipating is organizing the students. We'd like for them to start each day off with some sort of common experience, and then segway into smaller groups. At the same time they're going to be pulled out, 6 at a time, to sail on the boat and do work there. This will happen two times each day. I think that we're just going to have to pull out 12 kids at a time, have 6 on the boat, and the other 6 on the ground engaged in an activity and waiting for the boat, as the second half of the day. This seems better than pulling out six kids of 24 in the middle of a class. We shall see.
I've been seriously slacking on writing up a research paper. There's so many damned things that keep getting in my way. I need to get focused this week and crank it out.
Because after this week, the KCC Summer Grant will be in swing. Its a 500k$ grant this year. We have "Purchase Cards" or P-cards, which are Visa debit cards attached to the grant (but with pre-set limits). I recently reached my limit and have had to request that the limit be raised. The Principle Investigator (Dr. Mikalopas) approves, now the Grant Administration Officer has to, and then they have to inform the Research Foundation that they approve. Then it should take effect. The RF told me that it could be ready to go this week.
One of the more difficult aspects of this project that I am anticipating is organizing the students. We'd like for them to start each day off with some sort of common experience, and then segway into smaller groups. At the same time they're going to be pulled out, 6 at a time, to sail on the boat and do work there. This will happen two times each day. I think that we're just going to have to pull out 12 kids at a time, have 6 on the boat, and the other 6 on the ground engaged in an activity and waiting for the boat, as the second half of the day. This seems better than pulling out six kids of 24 in the middle of a class. We shall see.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
AMS Ocean Studies Diversity Project
http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/online/oceaninfo/diversity.html
Been at the AMS Ocean Studies Diversity Project all week. Its been absolutely fascinating. The idea of this workshop is to learn how to best implement the AMS "Ocean Studies" course, which is set up to be offered aqs a live course, a hybrid course, or a completely online course. Given that is has a lab function built into it, making it an online course would be fabulous. Our department doesn't have any all online or true hybrid courses right now, but the campus, I believe, has some. If we were to implement this as an all online course, that'd be great. So many of our students work full time and have other beyond-school responsibilities, so I think that not having to come to campus at a specific time to sit in lecture or perform lab activities would really make a difference for them, and be a real attractive option.
Part and parcel of preparing to implement this course includes meeting with researchers and hearing talks from them on their latest efforts. We've also been able to visit the NOAA Pacific Marine Environment Laboratories and Labs at the University of Washington School of Oceanography. Both institutions are heavily involved in the ARGO Float project, an incredible program that currently operates an array of 3,111 ocean going robots. These robots dive to 1,000 m water depth, travel along oceanic currents, and then at a pre-set time dive deeper down to 2,000 m, from which they begin a slow and steady ascent to the surface, collecting CTD data along the way. The newer floats collect optical data, perform wet chemistry on water samples, and do other things. Other researchers at PMEL were responsible for setting up and maintaining the array of oceanographic buoys that allow us to determine if there is going to be an El Nino or a La Nina each particular year, and how intense its going to be, when we're moving out of those conditions, etc. Still other offices at PMEL are charged with responding to ocean emergencies, like oil spills, chemical spills, even derelict ships and other hazards. We also saw some of their fabrication facilities, and their dissolved CO2 lab. One of the wilder pieces of equipment that we saw included self-deploying buoys. A small fishing ship could literally swing one of these small devices into the sea, it will open up, drop its own anchor and a spool of cable allowing it to be moored, and it will start transmitting data.
The talks that we've been getting about the research thats come out of the deployment of this sort of equipment has also been fascinating. Everyone seems to be really interested, we're running out of time at each event because of all the really great questions that everyone's been asking.
Been at the AMS Ocean Studies Diversity Project all week. Its been absolutely fascinating. The idea of this workshop is to learn how to best implement the AMS "Ocean Studies" course, which is set up to be offered aqs a live course, a hybrid course, or a completely online course. Given that is has a lab function built into it, making it an online course would be fabulous. Our department doesn't have any all online or true hybrid courses right now, but the campus, I believe, has some. If we were to implement this as an all online course, that'd be great. So many of our students work full time and have other beyond-school responsibilities, so I think that not having to come to campus at a specific time to sit in lecture or perform lab activities would really make a difference for them, and be a real attractive option.
Part and parcel of preparing to implement this course includes meeting with researchers and hearing talks from them on their latest efforts. We've also been able to visit the NOAA Pacific Marine Environment Laboratories and Labs at the University of Washington School of Oceanography. Both institutions are heavily involved in the ARGO Float project, an incredible program that currently operates an array of 3,111 ocean going robots. These robots dive to 1,000 m water depth, travel along oceanic currents, and then at a pre-set time dive deeper down to 2,000 m, from which they begin a slow and steady ascent to the surface, collecting CTD data along the way. The newer floats collect optical data, perform wet chemistry on water samples, and do other things. Other researchers at PMEL were responsible for setting up and maintaining the array of oceanographic buoys that allow us to determine if there is going to be an El Nino or a La Nina each particular year, and how intense its going to be, when we're moving out of those conditions, etc. Still other offices at PMEL are charged with responding to ocean emergencies, like oil spills, chemical spills, even derelict ships and other hazards. We also saw some of their fabrication facilities, and their dissolved CO2 lab. One of the wilder pieces of equipment that we saw included self-deploying buoys. A small fishing ship could literally swing one of these small devices into the sea, it will open up, drop its own anchor and a spool of cable allowing it to be moored, and it will start transmitting data.
The talks that we've been getting about the research thats come out of the deployment of this sort of equipment has also been fascinating. Everyone seems to be really interested, we're running out of time at each event because of all the really great questions that everyone's been asking.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thoughts for the 2008 Mg/Ca paper
writing up the methods section of my 2008 Mg/Ca Benguela paper.
I'm realizing that it would be a good idea to include some SEM micrographs of both sinistral and dextral N. pachyderma for illustration in the paper. Need to make sure to remember to do that.
I am also thinking that things like calculating pooled standard deviation and such might be best to include in a figure caption, rather than as a whole section in the paper. I will have to write it in for now as part of Methods.
I'm realizing that it would be a good idea to include some SEM micrographs of both sinistral and dextral N. pachyderma for illustration in the paper. Need to make sure to remember to do that.
I am also thinking that things like calculating pooled standard deviation and such might be best to include in a figure caption, rather than as a whole section in the paper. I will have to write it in for now as part of Methods.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Matthew/Thomas Wedding in PA
Went to a wedding for Baby Uncle and Lela Aunty's daughter yesterday. The groom isn't syro-malabar catholic, but the mass and ceremony were extremely similar. THe only difference I noticed anyway was that, at the reception, the boys gathered around the couple when they were introduced and shouted something a few times while all pointing one finger in the air and then swinging their hands down. Not sure what its supposed to mean though.
It was a nice service at a large church, Dad estimated around 500 people at the reception. They had hired a drummer for the reception (along with a dj of course). Overall it was a nice wedding. We had planned the next day to go into Philly, because the whole thing was just outside of it, however we just weren't feeling up to it and wanted to get some shopping done while we were in a relatively lower tax area. Ended up buying, after a good amount of searching, a Nintendo Wii. So that's fun. Now we have something to use the Wii Guitar Hero game we bought with!
It was a nice service at a large church, Dad estimated around 500 people at the reception. They had hired a drummer for the reception (along with a dj of course). Overall it was a nice wedding. We had planned the next day to go into Philly, because the whole thing was just outside of it, however we just weren't feeling up to it and wanted to get some shopping done while we were in a relatively lower tax area. Ended up buying, after a good amount of searching, a Nintendo Wii. So that's fun. Now we have something to use the Wii Guitar Hero game we bought with!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Attempt at coring in the South Shore
Went out with Profs Christensen and Farmer and others as they attempted to get a 10 foot long vibracore sample of the sediments at a south shore estuary. I was worried there would be good weather, but fortunately there was a downpour the entire time that we were there.
A vibracore is run by a small engine, in this case a cement mixer engine, it looks like a typical lawnmower gas engine, it even starts by pulling a cord. Or at least, thats how it is supposed to start. This one, which had apparently been purchased a few years ago, but was never started up before, wouldn't start up now. One of the other people, who had brought it for the coring, tried their best to get the thing working, even running out to get starter fluid to spray onto the machine. All to no avail. The sky poured out cold rain on us all day while we stood around the engine in parking lot for a few hours without it started. Low tide was starting at 1230, we had needed to have trugged out to the coring site, assemble to support for the corer, and get it running into the ground and then pull out the core before high tide came in. So by that time, even if the engine were to start, we probably wouldn't be able to core anyway.
We went back to the Christenen's office and decided to keep most of the coring materials there, everyone else is going to try to figure out what's wrong with the engine and they plan on re-attempting the 28th. I think that I will meet them out there for that also, I have nothing to do with the project, but I can help with the actual coring, and that will allow me to see how its done. I'll make sure to get some waterproof boots and pants before then too, being soaked in the rain in jeans isn't too pleasant.
After putting everything back, Dr.s Christen, Farmer, a grad student, and I went to get lunch at a local indian restaurant that we've been to a few times before. Lunch at least was hot and good and the Kingfisher hit the spot. After that, Dr. Farmer had planned on coming back to the lab so that we could go over our 1085B project. Unfortunately she had to run back to Hofstra first to enter in grades for the semester, and got caught up there and couldn't make it over. Christensen and I got some work done and made some progress on the work.
A vibracore is run by a small engine, in this case a cement mixer engine, it looks like a typical lawnmower gas engine, it even starts by pulling a cord. Or at least, thats how it is supposed to start. This one, which had apparently been purchased a few years ago, but was never started up before, wouldn't start up now. One of the other people, who had brought it for the coring, tried their best to get the thing working, even running out to get starter fluid to spray onto the machine. All to no avail. The sky poured out cold rain on us all day while we stood around the engine in parking lot for a few hours without it started. Low tide was starting at 1230, we had needed to have trugged out to the coring site, assemble to support for the corer, and get it running into the ground and then pull out the core before high tide came in. So by that time, even if the engine were to start, we probably wouldn't be able to core anyway.
We went back to the Christenen's office and decided to keep most of the coring materials there, everyone else is going to try to figure out what's wrong with the engine and they plan on re-attempting the 28th. I think that I will meet them out there for that also, I have nothing to do with the project, but I can help with the actual coring, and that will allow me to see how its done. I'll make sure to get some waterproof boots and pants before then too, being soaked in the rain in jeans isn't too pleasant.
After putting everything back, Dr.s Christen, Farmer, a grad student, and I went to get lunch at a local indian restaurant that we've been to a few times before. Lunch at least was hot and good and the Kingfisher hit the spot. After that, Dr. Farmer had planned on coming back to the lab so that we could go over our 1085B project. Unfortunately she had to run back to Hofstra first to enter in grades for the semester, and got caught up there and couldn't make it over. Christensen and I got some work done and made some progress on the work.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
AMS Ocean Studies Diversity Project, Hotel and Flights
Just got off the phone with Fortune Travel, s/w Nanette to book flight to Seattle for the AMS workshop.
Leaving on a Delta flight DL 0627 leaving from JFK @820 on 2/15 and landing in Seattle at noon.
Returning on a Delta flight DL 0162 at 1240 and arriving at JFK around 915.
I also spoke w/ Mz. Mills at AMS about the hotel. She confirmed that there is a room set aside, the actual room will be assigned on arrival. They just have a block for attendees.Confirmed that the hotel is:
Universtiy Inn
4140 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(800)733-3855
Still going to need to book a hotel for the night of the 21st and 22nd, somewhere in downtown Seattle.
Leaving on a Delta flight DL 0627 leaving from JFK @820 on 2/15 and landing in Seattle at noon.
Returning on a Delta flight DL 0162 at 1240 and arriving at JFK around 915.
I also spoke w/ Mz. Mills at AMS about the hotel. She confirmed that there is a room set aside, the actual room will be assigned on arrival. They just have a block for attendees.Confirmed that the hotel is:
Universtiy Inn
4140 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
(800)733-3855
Still going to need to book a hotel for the night of the 21st and 22nd, somewhere in downtown Seattle.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
CollegeNow Grades
I've been instructing for a collegenow course in Meteorology. I have 30 students from LGHS registered. Around 12-15 tend to show up relatively regularly. We've had two tests. No one got above a 65 on either of them. I've made the tests so that they do what they are supposed to do, test the student's knowledge of the subject matter. I've tried it with a longer test (100 questions) with quick, multiple choice, true/false questions. The students were able to finish on time, even the ones that came in a half hour late to the test. The second test had 24 questions, but they were a combination of question types, and they got at the most basic and fundamental issues that we had been discussing in class and that were also covered in the textbook. And still the students did poorly. They're telling me that having a test on more than one chapter is too much for them. I think that I will infact make the next test on a single chapter. I spoke with Rob Perro from CollegeNow, and he suggested speaking with the HS principle about arranging for tutors for the students, which is a good idea. I had previously spoken with the principle, and he had a lot of students coming to him asking to drop the course, but he said that he insisted that they stay in the course and put more effort into it.