Author | Lightnews

precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 1d

The edge needs work.

Screen shot of knife edge under digital magnification. The edge of the knife is rough and wavy.

precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 1d

This is why we're still together.
He was fixing to cut fruit for his lunches this week. I came back into the living room and this is happening.
On the right, apples. On the left, knife sharpening jig. Lower left, digital magnifier.
Of course we nerd out over our tools!

A coffee table with a tray of baby carrots, apples, and some storage containers. Also a Japanese knife in a knife sharpening jig and the white body of a digital magnifier.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 3d

Something I love about living in this era: truck driver Indian food along every major transport route in California and Nevada.

Ate at a restaurant in a Barstow gas station along the 15 recently.

The food was quite good, and the menu is downright florid.

Mixed Paratha - $5.99 Each
A Golden Flaky Flatbread Stuffed With Potatoes, Onions, Green Chilis, Garlic, Ginger, And Chopped Vegetables. Mixed Paratha Is Both Hearty And Delicate, Inviting You To Break Off A Piece And Scoop Up Tangy Pickles or Creamy Curries, Savoring The Soulful Taste Of Punjab In Every Bite. Served With A 8oz Indian Yogurt And Pickles. (Served 9:00am-12:00pm only)

Basmati Rice - 16ox $4.99 32oz $8.99
Each Grain Long, Fluffy, And Flagrant, Steamed To Perfection. Basmati Rice Provides Subtle, Elegant Canvas For Soaking Up The Rich Gravies And Spices Of The Punjab Feast.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 8d

I remind myself that I'm frustrated with the new students in the fall, and by spring I love them.

I remind myself VERY VERY LOUDLY when the 15th of 34 gets the same fecking thing wrong in the exact same way. WHY DO I GIVE YOU LECTURE NOTES?

precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 8d

"red aposematic coloration, aposematic odor, a tough puncture-resistant integument, unpleasant tasting chemicals on the integument, and exceedingly distasteful internal compounds."

😂
The J. of Arachnology, 50(2):175-180 (2022). doi.org/10.1636/JoA-...

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 8d

"Overall, velvet mites appear to have no meaningful predators, likely because of their enormous suite of highly effective defensives:

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 8d

"When sampled by an author, a velvet mite produced an exceedingly bitter, astringent, and spicy taste that endured in the mouth for about an hour.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 19d

Mice?

precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 22d

If only you could have heard the snorting and snuffling the accompanied this change in position.

Gray and white pibble readjusted so she is no longer falling off the chair.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 22d

Aaaand 2 hours later …

Gray and white pibble precariously sleeping in a chair

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 22d

She totally fitz.

A gray and white pibble curled in a chair

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · 24d

Can you feel the snores?

An orange tabby cat in shrimp pose on a bed.

A gray and white pit bull snoring on a bed.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 21

Syllabus says use of AI without disclosing the prompt is academic dishonesty.

I'm real tempted to bring down the hammer.

But maybe I should just give them disappointed teacher face this time.

Because they have no idea that they're even using AI.

Full citations? But I don't wanna read that. Meh.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 21

Every year, someone comes up with a new, oddball response to one of the questions.

This year, I have graded 13/32 and five students have given the *same* new, oddball response. I finally Googled the question and it's the AI summary.

Which is, of course, wrong.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 21

They need to explain the rationale for procedures they learned, and create a stepwise protocol for procedures as we teach them (because dog knows, every fucking clinic and veterinarian has their own One Right Way).

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 21

I am trying to decide how annoyed to be (I'm annoyed already, of course, but that was on my time).

The students have to turn in a lab journal assignment after most labs.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 14

I agree with your first-quarter take. He improved as the game went on, and looked like a passable backup by the end. Huh.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 14

Tom Brady needs to look up Ochocinco's Botox person, because Chad looks beautiful and Tom is smack into Uncanny Valley territory.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 14

Sigh. New plagiarism record: First assignment of the semester.

Good news? I guess they can't do it earlier than the first assignment.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 12

I am mildly embarrassed that it took me so long to buy a 21st century hair dryer. I avoided styling my hair because it took for-fucking-ever and I mostly don't care much. Old one tried to catch fire, so I replaced it.

Y'all, the new one takes 10 minutes to fully dry my hair and keep the curls.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 6

The guidelines for humane treatment of research animals (nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/1155...) says that cats are thermoneutral at 35-38C (95-100F).

So heck yeah she wants her warmy!

Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research Animals

Read online, download a free PDF, or order a copy in print or as an eBook.

nap.nationalacademies.org

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 6

Animals are energetically neutral -- not needing to expend energy to stay warm or cool off -- in a range of temperatures that depends on species and body size.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 5

My sympathies on your newly limited choices.

I just found out I am sensitive to rice. I can have rice bran oil, but whole rice or rice flour puts me in bed for a full day with fatigue, brain fog, weakness.

It started about 3 months after I had COVID. In 2023.

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precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 5

Oops. ALT for this image: An orange tabby cat is lying with his shoulders and front paws inside a shallow cardboard box that is absolutely not big enough to contain a reasonable portion of his body.

precipitate @rvtshea.bsky.social · Sep 5

Meanwhile, right now, the muppet thinks he fitz. He does not. It does seem to be annoying him, but he's come back to this spot three or four times.

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