Well... Today went okay... I guess.
I had to do one last thing for my ITS411 class, and that was my presentation. And I wanted to go first, get it done with, and sit back and relax for the rest of the three hours... But that's not exactly what happened....
First, I had to walk to class, like always... Accept it was quite different from walking around Owosso just 24 hours earlier... This time, there was some quite strong winds (10-15 meters/sec), and the temperature was a balmy -2 degrees (C). So, I took the long way around. Hey, I was listening to the iPod anyway, so it wasn't like it was going to be too bad.... Accept for the sinister wind and coldness.
When I got to class (a few minutes early, BTW), I sat down and chatted with some friends while the clock ticked down to 6pm. And then past 6pm... It was nearly 6:15 when my instructor walked in, which I don't have a problem with him being late, but my anxiety was growing with each passing moment.
As soon as he was done unpacking his teacher things for class, he started in on a lecture about how some of the papers were "average" (meaning C grade level) and about how some of the papers were excellent. He then went on to talk about how some of the students didn't do so well on the homework, and he'd actually be handing out Cs for the first time and about how really doesn't like teaching a class where so many of the students are uninterested in the class...
He was really lecturing us on how much he hated our lack of enthusiasm... But it was so true. I was even getting frustrated at times with some of my friends who would wait to the last moment to do their homework, skip assignments, and even just do their paper at the last minute, writing just the crappiest thing. It made me want to just skip a few assignments, or not do my paper/presentation, but I'm one of those students who really wants to get everything done correctly, because -in my mind- every single point counts for something.
At the end of his lecture (on how much all that sucked) he said that some of the students do go all the way, did a great job on their paper, and he can't wait to hear their presentations. But all I could think of was how shitty I thought my paper was. And doing a presentation after a lecture like that was going to be rough... But I went first anyway.
The presentation went okay, but I lost my final slide "Things to Remember" somehow, and I didn't notice that until after the other guy had started his presentation... And I'm not sure if it was in the file anyway, I may have presented my "old version" instead of my newest... I'll have to check that out later. I did seem to get a lot of audience participation, which I'm happy about... and it was throughout the presentation! w00t! I did get one really odd question, and that was from Tim (my instructor) at the end of the presentation. He asked: "How long did you work on this?" "The presentation, probably about an hour or so."
Tim: "How about the paper?"
Me: *scared* --it almost sounds like he's wondering if I just slacked off or something... "Um, probably four to six hours... Mostly reading my articles, and watching those Google Videos on the topic. Writing was the shortest phase."
Tim: *nods* "Okay."
Waaaaaa!!!!!! *screams in head*!!! That was the most uncomfortable question that I've ever got from an instructor! I, now totally scared that my grade has just been flushed down the potty, slowly sat down and vegged out, thinking about how I could have answered the question better.
At the first break (which later turned out to be the only break we got) I asked Tim how the grade for my presentation was. He showed me the paper: A-!!! I couldn't believe it... I was sure with the way he quizzed me, that I was going to get a horrible grade. I was so shocked, that I didn't look through the thing too much, so I'm not sure where I screwed up, but I did okay, so I'm happy.
Some of the presentations were really interesting, like using MSCT (Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit) and IPCop Linux (both from Nick's presentation on doing a free version of DeepFreeze (MSCT) and a free version of Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration server (IPCop Linux). Royce's presentation about Microsoft Security Research Center (MSRC) was pretty damn sweet too, although, he was the last to go, starting his presentation at 10:10pm -- 30 minutes after class was supposed to end, he had to really rush through it to get done... We actually didn't get out of class until almost 10:30... Over an hour later than our average dismissal time.
At the end of the class, as we were all packing up to head home, Tim announced: "Those with dress pants and shirts, get an extra three points." (*w00t* I wore full dressed up-ness, tie, but no jacket - since I don't have one). "And, those who wore a tie too, got five extra points." (*w00t*w00t*!) One of my friends who didn't wear a tie, but wore a jacket said: "What about us who wore a jacket!? Don't we get any more points?" To which Tim responded, "A jacket means nothing to me!" ^_^ Hehehehe, lucked out on that one. Royce and Steve M. were the only guys to come to class with a full suit, and Tim didn't even wear a tie today. ^_^
Blogthing!!
Snagged from cypherangel
A White Bishop
You scored 0 Power-Finesse, 4 Leader-Follower, 3 Unique-Ordinary, and 4 Offense-Defense! Despite your unusual talents, you are often overlooked by your opponent. You are content to stay off to one side, allowing the bloodbath to ensue. Occasionally however, you end up in the scrum yourself, slaughtering the unbelievers. You don't last long when you do that, though. After all, what are the sheep for if not to be shorn? One unfortunate fact: No matter how hard you try, you can only reach half the squares on the board.
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 0% on Power-Finesse
You scored higher than 75% on Leader-Follower
You scored higher than 35% on Unique-Ordinary
You scored higher than 83% on Offense-Defense
Link: The What Chess Piece Are You Test written by Gundark27 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test
Hehehe, sweet picture! ^_^
First, I had to walk to class, like always... Accept it was quite different from walking around Owosso just 24 hours earlier... This time, there was some quite strong winds (10-15 meters/sec), and the temperature was a balmy -2 degrees (C). So, I took the long way around. Hey, I was listening to the iPod anyway, so it wasn't like it was going to be too bad.... Accept for the sinister wind and coldness.
When I got to class (a few minutes early, BTW), I sat down and chatted with some friends while the clock ticked down to 6pm. And then past 6pm... It was nearly 6:15 when my instructor walked in, which I don't have a problem with him being late, but my anxiety was growing with each passing moment.
As soon as he was done unpacking his teacher things for class, he started in on a lecture about how some of the papers were "average" (meaning C grade level) and about how some of the papers were excellent. He then went on to talk about how some of the students didn't do so well on the homework, and he'd actually be handing out Cs for the first time and about how really doesn't like teaching a class where so many of the students are uninterested in the class...
He was really lecturing us on how much he hated our lack of enthusiasm... But it was so true. I was even getting frustrated at times with some of my friends who would wait to the last moment to do their homework, skip assignments, and even just do their paper at the last minute, writing just the crappiest thing. It made me want to just skip a few assignments, or not do my paper/presentation, but I'm one of those students who really wants to get everything done correctly, because -in my mind- every single point counts for something.
At the end of his lecture (on how much all that sucked) he said that some of the students do go all the way, did a great job on their paper, and he can't wait to hear their presentations. But all I could think of was how shitty I thought my paper was. And doing a presentation after a lecture like that was going to be rough... But I went first anyway.
The presentation went okay, but I lost my final slide "Things to Remember" somehow, and I didn't notice that until after the other guy had started his presentation... And I'm not sure if it was in the file anyway, I may have presented my "old version" instead of my newest... I'll have to check that out later. I did seem to get a lot of audience participation, which I'm happy about... and it was throughout the presentation! w00t! I did get one really odd question, and that was from Tim (my instructor) at the end of the presentation. He asked: "How long did you work on this?" "The presentation, probably about an hour or so."
Tim: "How about the paper?"
Me: *scared* --it almost sounds like he's wondering if I just slacked off or something... "Um, probably four to six hours... Mostly reading my articles, and watching those Google Videos on the topic. Writing was the shortest phase."
Tim: *nods* "Okay."
Waaaaaa!!!!!! *screams in head*!!! That was the most uncomfortable question that I've ever got from an instructor! I, now totally scared that my grade has just been flushed down the potty, slowly sat down and vegged out, thinking about how I could have answered the question better.
At the first break (which later turned out to be the only break we got) I asked Tim how the grade for my presentation was. He showed me the paper: A-!!! I couldn't believe it... I was sure with the way he quizzed me, that I was going to get a horrible grade. I was so shocked, that I didn't look through the thing too much, so I'm not sure where I screwed up, but I did okay, so I'm happy.
Some of the presentations were really interesting, like using MSCT (Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit) and IPCop Linux (both from Nick's presentation on doing a free version of DeepFreeze (MSCT) and a free version of Microsoft's Internet Security and Acceleration server (IPCop Linux). Royce's presentation about Microsoft Security Research Center (MSRC) was pretty damn sweet too, although, he was the last to go, starting his presentation at 10:10pm -- 30 minutes after class was supposed to end, he had to really rush through it to get done... We actually didn't get out of class until almost 10:30... Over an hour later than our average dismissal time.
At the end of the class, as we were all packing up to head home, Tim announced: "Those with dress pants and shirts, get an extra three points." (*w00t* I wore full dressed up-ness, tie, but no jacket - since I don't have one). "And, those who wore a tie too, got five extra points." (*w00t*w00t*!) One of my friends who didn't wear a tie, but wore a jacket said: "What about us who wore a jacket!? Don't we get any more points?" To which Tim responded, "A jacket means nothing to me!" ^_^ Hehehehe, lucked out on that one. Royce and Steve M. were the only guys to come to class with a full suit, and Tim didn't even wear a tie today. ^_^
Blogthing!!
Snagged from cypherangel
A White Bishop
You scored 0 Power-Finesse, 4 Leader-Follower, 3 Unique-Ordinary, and 4 Offense-Defense! Despite your unusual talents, you are often overlooked by your opponent. You are content to stay off to one side, allowing the bloodbath to ensue. Occasionally however, you end up in the scrum yourself, slaughtering the unbelievers. You don't last long when you do that, though. After all, what are the sheep for if not to be shorn? One unfortunate fact: No matter how hard you try, you can only reach half the squares on the board.
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
You scored higher than 0% on Power-Finesse
You scored higher than 75% on Leader-Follower
You scored higher than 35% on Unique-Ordinary
You scored higher than 83% on Offense-Defense
Link: The What Chess Piece Are You Test written by Gundark27 on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test
Hehehe, sweet picture! ^_^