And it is both more interesting and worth learning than calculus. Really.

• Heading to the pool – http://bkite.com/091eX #
• @Quisp me either, Q. Me either. in reply to Quisp #
• @jbj hm. I got mine running and used it for this response. Try powering down then back up. in reply to jbj #
• Open invite: open swim at the Valley Y at 12:30. Nice pool with warm water. – http://bkite.com/090Vx #
• and I spoke too soon. I've got beautiful company, delicious coffee, a beautiful morning, and interesting reading… – http://bkite.com/090BW #
• the coffee is almost ready…. can't believe i've been up an hour and haven't been joined by a baby or 4 year ol… – http://bkite.com/090yY #
• Is a little creeped out w the accuracy of the iPhones gps stuff – http://bkite.com/090×4 #
• @thewayoftheid well,we diddrive savers to the sum of $2400 but it was worth it. Not sure if they can help… in reply to thewayoftheid #
• @jbj it's great on the iphone in reply to jbj #
• @thewayoftheid dag… Sorry to hear that… Ima back my ish up now… in reply to thewayoftheid #
• Wearing down the iPhone battery for it's first full charge – http://bkite.com/08Ys5 #
• I'm at Spokane – http://bkite.com/08YhU #
• @thewayoftheid do you have another mac around? have you tried starting in safe mode? #
• @thewayoftheid inhale… Exhale… in reply to thewayoftheid #
• bye bye Sprint, hello iPhones! – http://bkite.com/08XoY #
• FirstStep… about to get my advise on. #
• 43 Folders: You eventually learn that true priorities are like arms; if you think tou have more htan a couple, you're either lying or crazy. #
• From 43 Folders: You eventually learn that the true priorities are like arms; if you think you have more than a couple, you're lying or … #
• it's all about perspective. Did I dig MJ? Yeah. Do I got mad criticism for/about him? Yeah. More important stuff going on in the world? Yeah #
• RT @Seahorsemystic RT @rapunzels_tears War? Human rights? Banking fraud? SHUT UP WE HAVE CELEBRITIES DYING OVER HERE. – danielholter #
• Friday? Really? – http://bkite.com/08Vz1 #
• google voice… hook me up… come on… #
• as much as i cracked on MJ, his music was a large part of my childhood and teenage years. #
• @thewayoftheid with amazing skill, however precariously. #
• is enjoying the evening with the fam. – http://bkite.com/08UCn #
• ahh… wife's iPhone has shipped. Unfortunately, won't get it until tomorrow. – http://bkite.com/08TwY #
• .@Quisp No… but by speakaking it… perhaps others may come to understand… I know… hopeful #
• bureaucracies consistently privilege routine practices over constituent needs. – http://bkite.com/08Tqv #
• would have made very good use of about 2 more hours of sleep. – http://bkite.com/08T7d #
• @Janjouni well, simply don't lose things then. #
• @rosettathurman AMEN TO THAT. #
• home again home again… – http://bkite.com/08S9E #
• is at the park with the girls. – http://bkite.com/08RTt #
• Grrr… my iphone has been delivered… but not my wife's. Can't activate one without the other… Grrrrr… – http://bkite.com/08RGv #
• is off to administrate, count, advise, and organize. After stopping to grab a cup of coffee. – http://bkite.com/08RmB #
• says don't be surprised if, when you skip the first week of class, you don't do so well in the class. – http://bkite.com/08Rl6 #
• my iphone has shipped. I may even get my hands on it tonight… but somehow I doubt it, as they've not sent my w… – http://bkite.com/08RkY #
• @rosettathurman true, but that won't help them if they get sued for negligence. esp when the info was readily available… i feel ya tho #
• @rosettathurman and the more important the work, or more risk involved, the less they should rely in lists or heuristics… #
• @rosettathurman that becomes a problem because then they have tidbits of info, but no deep understanding. but i get that – it just scares me #
• @rosettathurman re: boardsource… may be less do they have time and more have motivation. when i was last on a board it was motivation #
• is listening to the new Maxwell EP. Man, I've missed his music. – http://bkite.com/08QUD #
• tiiiiiiiired. and glad i was never kidnapped and forced into a marriage after being starved & locked up. – http://bkite.com/08QnK #
• wants some Longhorn bbq. – http://bkite.com/08Q7D #
• hates gas stations that stop you at $50. Come on… – http://bkite.com/08Q7d #
• HATES house hunting. – http://bkite.com/08Q73 #
• reading org stuff, writing lecture notes, and thinking about fall quarter… – http://bkite.com/08NXm #
• is fighting LES. – http://bkite.com/08NcU #
• @Edking40 they should be a place of knowledge development and propagation, which is dramatically different than innovation and business. in reply to Edking40 #
• @thewayoftheid Aw, comeon girl… she had to tell someone… you were that person… in reply to thewayoftheid #
• http://yfrog.com/3o4qxj
  Only in Spokane. And yes, I took this picture. #
• Only in Spokane. And yes, I took this picture. – Photo: http://bkite.com/08LW5 #
• thinks the idea behind "The Philanthropist" minimizes the work that real activists and nonprofit workers to ever… – http://bkite.com/08LVd #
• is wishing he had another week of vacation. – http://bkite.com/08LOj #
• @pattidigh we did one of these http://www.kz-rv.com/coyote/index.html for a while, but now have a 29ft 5th wheel… much fun! #
• @pattidigh I find Airstreams to be beautiful, but impractical for me. At 6'5", I need a little bigger of a trailer. But they're nice looking in reply to pattidigh #
• @pattidigh that's a pretty trailer Patti… a bit small, but pretty and likely comfortable. in reply to pattidigh #
• I really hate twitter spam. I mean really hate it. Don't add me to sell crap, please. #

Well, not too wild, but this is stupid. Really stupid.

In Portland, Maine, a student has been denied their diploma for bowing and blowing a kiss to their mother.

And the responsible bureaucrat, School Superintendent Suzanne Lukas, decided the kid was breaking the rules. So, as any good bureaucrat would do, she denied the kid his diploma. Apparently, her school board met Monday (6/22) with graduation behavior expectation on their agenda and she continued to justify her arbitrary and capricious decision. And, as a good bureaucratic organization responsive to constituent needs, they convened private meetings to discuss the matter further. Because, you know, they have the answers and need to work out their game plan privately… without input from those who are graduating or the citizens they serve.

There are things I’d certainly argue are disruptive and bad for the graduation environment, but after reviewing video of the incident, come on now. This is more about power and control than about maintaining decorum.

Were I a parent in that district, not only would I be closely examining the decisions of Ms. Lukas, but I’d be insanely angry that they were meeting in closed door sessions to discuss the matter. I don’t know what the public meeting laws in Maine are, but that would be a violation of Washington’s.

At the end of the day, her justification was that students were required to behave in certain ways and were only allowed to wear certain things. From what I can see, this kid’s only rule violation was wearing his athletic cords. Sending him back to his seat sans diploma (or diploma case as would have occurred at my graduation) was a bad decision and a bad attempt to assert herself as the head white lady in charge. One that backfired.

I do understand her, and other bureaucrats, desire to maintain decorum for the students. Perhaps a better way than attempting to coerce expected behavior through fear tactics and having police march up and down the isles of graduates would be to involve students in the planning of their graduation. After all, it is their graduation ceremony. To celebrate them. If they need police to roam the isles to prevent beach balls from being tossed around, something is really wrong. And if they are denying a student their public recognition for wearing track cords, bowing, and blowing a kiss to their mom, something is really wrong. My guess is that something has more to do with bureaucratic power and control than with student behavior, as this wasn’t about drugs, violence, vandalism, or theft. It was a kid wearing bureaucratically inappropriate cords and blowing a kiss to his mom.

Wake up, Bureaucrat Lukas, and remember who you serve.

• is cuddelng my little baby. – http://bkite.com/08L2d #
• I’m at Spokane – http://bkite.com/08L24 #
• breakfast was great… now back to the house to play with my girls & prep for class tomorrow. – http://bkite.com/08KL5 #
• is FINALLY seated at Franks! – http://bkite.com/08KDf #
• is waiting for a seat at Franks Diner in Spokane. Yummy breakfast will be eaten here! – http://bkite.com/08Kxa #
• Happy fathers day to all the other papas out there who have their ish together and are holding it down! – http://bkite.com/08Khz #
• likes the fireworks coming from the baseball field. – http://bkite.com/08JDW #
• all we want in this life is peace, prosperity, and a little paper… #
• @thewayoftheid be warned… it’s not for the easily offended. think combining religion and sex toys and decide 4 yoself. #
• @thewayoftheid try looking at the crap at divine-interventions.com if you want to see some who knew ish… #
• @TatianaHarley and where is this street/avenue mix of which you speak? in reply to TatianaHarley #
• the iphones are ordered. – http://bkite.com/08J7Z #
• Come on Google Voice… hook me up. #
• is done camping. Staying in Bellevue overnight and back to Spokane tomorrow. – http://bkite.com/08GFN #
• I’m at Bellevue – http://bkite.com/08GFh #
• camping at the lake with alll my girls. – http://bkite.com/08zYv #
• with my girls. what could be better? – http://bkite.com/08xa7 #
• Kill 19 cats and charged with animal cruelty and improper disposal of animal? WTF? Better charges, please. Like … – http://bkite.com/08wqC #

In Florida, a kid was charged with 18 counts of animal cruelty and 18 charges of improperly disposing of cat bodies.

Yes, I occasionally make cat jokes. You know… what’s the best thing about a cat? Fur, er, four drumsticks. Cat… the other white meat. But as someone who had their cat killed by a crazy neighbor, I don’t actually advocate the killing or eating of cats. I mean, I’m sure there is some odd circumstance (stranded on a desert island and the only thing you got is fluffy) that may warrant a little… meow mix… but come on.

And while I’m blown away at the possibility of this kid killing 18 cats, I keep laughing at the charges. It would seem that in 2009, we’d just have one charge for some moron who goes on an animal killing spree… something a little heavier than animal cruelty and improperly disposing of animal bodies.

I’m just saying. It’s dumb to kill 19 cats. Or, rather, it makes no sense to me. Personally, I see no point in killing it if I’m not eating it. Well, unless it’s a mosquito or something. But I find how we deal with these things to be equally… dumb. Where is PETA to urge us for better criminal charges? Come on, PETA peeps. Hook it up.

• Grr. The internet is down. Phone posts for me. Thumbs hurt already. – http://bkite.com/08tOh #
• made the bigger pot and most of it is now gone. I suppose I should shower now. – http://bkite.com/08t6N #
• wishes it was the 20th so I could get a new iPhone. I actually think it will help my research… – http://bkite.com/08t6J #
• @erinpoo actually, I use a web application from my phone most of the time. it updates my twitter and facebook simultaneously. #
• @erinpoo get a mac and we can talk… #
• @erinpoo it also constructs college as job training. and while it does discipline kids more, one dont need college to develop job skills… #
• I’m BiggKhalil on fb too, thanks to vanity naming. – http://bkite.com/08t22 #
• @erinpoo I chose biggkhalil. no surprise there. in reply to erinpoo #
• I shoulda made a bigger pot of coffee. – http://bkite.com/08t1I #
• There is a reason business fails us… the business model, exported to other orgs, blows. Schools/non-profs shou… – http://bkite.com/08t06 #
• Went to bed a hour late, but slept in 2 hours later than usual. So I think I gained an hour, despite the odd dre… – http://bkite.com/08sZy #
• @Quisp at least its not raining!!! #
• ok… if Amira has her way, she won’t crawl anywhere. Her wobbly walk is funny, though. – http://bkite.com/08rSU #
• RE: Last message: That was the best email I’ve ever gotten from a student ever. #
• OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!YOU ARE MY HERO FOR NOT LETTING ME QUIT WHEN I WAS DOING SO CRAPY…THANK YOU #
• finals & makeups are graded, now a few corrections and ex cred. – http://bkite.com/08rHi #
• still grading, but one class is most of the way done. some quizzes to grade and late assignments, but the end is… – http://bkite.com/08rcT #
• @Quisp Hahahha. I get that. in reply to Quisp #
• getting my grading on, bumping cuts in the background. – http://bkite.com/08qNo #
• digs it! http://tinyurl.com/5bkvo6 – http://bkite.com/08qyS #
• @Janjouni havin family around will do that to ya. in reply to Janjouni #
• the pile of papers is shrinking. Then there are the other papers. Then grade entering. – http://bkite.com/08qvi #
• is hungry. – http://bkite.com/08oU3 #
• If you fail my class, it is because you chose to fail my class. Now, I need a big a$$ cup of coffee. – http://bkite.com/08oD1 #
• @Quisp Hahaha… ya know, I’m changing culture over here. The guy b4 me let them make up anything… for any reason. I give 2 exc, 1 unexc. in reply to Quisp #
• @Quisp Also, I agree on the email thing. Seems said uni is behind in a few areas. in reply to Quisp #
• @Quisp the make up quizzes were for stats. I allow 1 unexcused makeup and 2 excused. #
• Hm. Better to be silent and perceived a fool than speak up and remove all doubt. Yes? – http://bkite.com/08nMi #
• @Quisp facebook is kinda fun. retarded, yes, but i’ve found some good old friends and reconnected there. folks i been lookin for 10+ years in reply to Quisp #
• @rosettathurman normally i think swagger is wack. not bad, rt. not bad. happy wednesday! in reply to rosettathurman #
• @Janjouni thanks jana. congrats on the new position. in reply to Janjouni #
• @pattidigh that room is amazing. i want it. in reply to pattidigh #
• needs a dentist who works until at least 5pm and takes Friday appts… any ideas? – http://bkite.com/08mXI #
• Coffee, a stack of papers, and a beautiful morning. What a Wednesday! – http://bkite.com/08mqC #
• @penpusher Ok… I see it. I probably wouldn’t articulate it if I didn’t know ya though… in reply to penpusher #
• was glad the Magic gace LA no use for brooms. Down with LA, down with LA. – http://bkite.com/08lXL #
• @thewayoftheid i feel you on effin the game. more like eff the lakers. been hatin’ them wack fools since… 72. aint stopin now. mf kobe 2! in reply to thewayoftheid #
• iPhone dreamin… – http://bkite.com/08lqB #
• Day of joy/sorrow: Saw a student defend thesis very well/memorialized the loss of a great colleague. – http://bkite.com/08lot #
• @penpusher you musta grown your hair back out… in reply to penpusher #
• my uni is mandating students have uni email (good), but i think students should demand a no-spam policy from the… – http://bkite.com/08kEg #
• realized the cream cheese with my bagel is the same consistency as Amira’s diaper rash stuff… ick. Hope it don… – http://bkite.com/08jlc #
• rt jbj: And remember, parents: If I’m judging you, it’s only because you’re doing it wrong. #
• The iPhone 3GS will be available on June 19th. AMEN! – http://bkite.com/08j3h #
• when teaching, every 10 min: tell a relevant story, show a relevant demo, do a relevant activity. – http://bkite.com/08iZE #
• is recommending Brain Rules by John Medina for all that ails you. – http://bkite.com/08iYQ #
• arranging make-up quizzes. joy of joys! – http://bkite.com/08iKV #
• could use about 4 more hours of sleep. – http://bkite.com/08iBl #
• @thewayoftheid HAHAHA #
• and the girls are down for the count! – http://bkite.com/08hUB #
• heading home with tired girls. – http://bkite.com/08hQw #
• is at the S Manito playground with the girls. – http://bkite.com/08hF9 #

I spent much of yesterday compiling grades for my statistics students. Now I have one more class, my research methods course, to grade and extra credit from stats to add in before submitting final grades. I’m hoping to have that done by the end of the weekend, but we’ll see. They need to be done by Tuesday. I think they are due by 11am or noon.

Anyhow, I digress. yesterday, I got the best email ever.

One of my students has struggled this quarter. Well, there were more than one, but this one struggled a lot – between family issues and self-doubt, she didn’t think she was going to pass. She did, and will earn somewhere in the 3.0 range after I get everything calculated.

She emailed me asking about her grade. Specifically, she asked if she’d have at least a .7, the minimum for passing at my institution. See, her grade impacted her financial aid, how much she would have to work over the summer, and if she’d be able to return to classes in the fall.

After rocking the last four or five weeks of my class and her final test, I was happy to tell her she was somewhere in the above 85% range, which is 3.0 land. Her response to my email was short, simple, and made my day.

She simply wrote:

OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!!

YOU ARE MY HERO FOR NOT LETTING ME QUIT WHEN I WAS DOING SO CRAPY…

THANK YOU

It rocked. It made my day. All I could say in response was that she was capable the entire time, she did the work, and asked as a favor that she not sabotage herself with doubt in the future. I do take credit for telling her that quitting was not an option. There was one point where she was going to drop. But all I did was tell her I wasn’t going to accept her quitting. She made the decision to stick with it, complete the course, learn, and grow.

But it made my day either way. I’m just glad I was able to be a part of her success.

• has mixed feelings about Blue Avacado, but recommends it as occasionally interesting. http://www.blueavocado.org... – http://bkite.com/08gYb #
• done writing. Off to shower. – http://bkite.com/08gTU #
• @rosettathurman no worries. i cant recall how i came across your twit, but i do a little teaching of stats, even though i’m not a quanthead. in reply to rosettathurman #
• is writing. #
• is looking forward to a week of grading, bureaucrating, and planning 10 weeks of stats delivered in 8 weeks. It … – http://bkite.com/08gN3 #
• @rosettathurman peep statistics for people who (think) they hate statistics – either the SPSS or EXCEL editions. worth the time and $. in reply to rosettathurman #
• let the new iPhone out now. I wanna scoop one up. – http://bkite.com/08gHM #
• had the best night of sleep in a long time. – http://bkite.com/08gGQ #
• I need a nap. Or something. #
• @thewayoftheid i guessed as much. it made me laugh. #
• @Quisp congrats on getting the conference done! #
• @thewayoftheid what is a poat? #
• is worn out already today. – http://bkite.com/08fLi #
• rolling around with my babies. – http://bkite.com/08eDL #
• has one girl asleep, one to go. – http://bkite.com/08dxA #
• @thewayoftheid and one should lie if they are ever called to explain that… #
• don’t skip class, sleep in class, & generally disengage then ask for extensions or extra credit. – http://bkite.com/08cc4 #
• is having breakfast with Amira and enjoying the day before it gets hot. – http://bkite.com/08bYG #
• ATTN grown men… if your aim is bad, sit your ass down!! Pee on seat = BAD – http://bkite.com/088N3 #
• the takehome is out for one class, about to be out for a second, and there is a light that is not a train. – http://bkite.com/088d8 #
• is getting ready to hand out a take home final & remembering never to leave gel cap vitamins in the hot truck ag… – http://bkite.com/0886v #
• is playing with Amira and wants to just play all day. – http://bkite.com/087Tz #
• .@jsmooth995 the duel thing is the funiest thing i’ve read all day. #
• great idea… trim the muscle before the fat!!! aint it great? – http://bkite.com/086qr #
• brushing girl-teeth – http://bkite.com/0859k #
• is watching Amira explore. – http://bkite.com/083W1 #

• suck it up… 86 is niiiiiiiiiiiice! – http://bkite.com/082NH #
• is enjoying the last cupa from the pot and watching the girls get their play on. – http://bkite.com/082jT #
• great people, great kids, a great 1st bday party for Amira! Pics to follow soon. – http://bkite.com/080Vf #
• Happy birthday Amira! My youngest baby is 1 today! – http://bkite.com/07ZWt #
• is home. – http://bkite.com/07Yo5 #
• read text, read directions, follow directions. – http://bkite.com/07Xy2 #
• @Quisp the one more week is just of daily 8am lectures. #
• @Quisp for methods, we have a large proposal. In stats there is a final. No early outs 4 me… #
• is tired. One more week though, right? – http://bkite.com/07X2I #
• Wow. AMEN. #
• I’m at Spokane – http://bkite.com/07SYr #
• is bummed… the pictures I took with my daughter at the Wild Horses Monument didn’t turn out. – http://bkite.com/07RCC #
• peace is hearing Navi snore & knowing she is having a great time camping. – http://bkite.com/07OzU #

• wow… thats the latest i’ve slept in quite a while. – http://bkite.com/07KYq #
• I am really tired. Bed is calling. Sleep to the soundtrack of crickets and ish. – http://bkite.com/07KeD #
• @culturecat it will happen itself…no teaching needed. he just gotta be hungry enough. #
• @culturecat try boiled baby carrots 4 finger food. bottle… when he is motivated #
• I’m at Grapeview – http://bkite.com/07KcU #
• is stuck in Bremerton ahuge backup in front of the Bremerton Airport… – http://bkite.com/07JGM #
• heading to Shelton (lake Trask) to camp with Navi. – http://bkite.com/07Jkd #
• I’m at Snoqualmie – http://bkite.com/07JjX #
• I’m at Snoqualmie – http://bkite.com/07JjV #
• all that joking about swine flu finally got me. I am all kinda sick. – http://bkite.com/07Dxg #
• is feeling a little sick this morning… – http://bkite.com/07Cui #
• is trying not to let anothers bad decision ruin a lovely day. – http://bkite.com/07AL8 #
• Still have a few inches of papers, but it was a nice weekend. – http://bkite.com/07AgP #
• @doomsdayblaze Republican National Convention? in reply to doomsdayblaze #
• .@Quisp well that’s no fun… I’d still avoid the HP as if you’d end up burning and itching after use. I’d do dot matrix anything first. #
• .@Quisp HP and Mac don’t always work well… splurge… get a brother laser… #