SecDef's Xanga

I wonder if anybody reads this anymore... :D

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:58:20 GMT

Some funny quotes [at least I think so :P] I have gathered over the past year or so from professors. :)

American Military History Professor:

--On California's secession from Mexico: "Why should we be run by incompetence in Mexico City when we can be incompetent by ourselves?"
--"Hello...please don't shout at our people, or we'll come out and argue with you."
--"[1850s] Mexico was well on the cutting edge of pathetically ineffective governments."
--"Marines: Too small to have a lot of problems."
--"Mexican dictator died in 1910 without consulting the US government at all."
--WW1 worst nightmare; newspaper headline: "Archduke found alive; WW1 a mistake."
--"And when people like me are fighting in your army, it's not a good thing."
--"It's hard to stop at an 8th grade education if you want to be a college professor."
--"God only needed 10 points; Wilson needed 14."
--"We're hitting the highlights of the [time when the] military [was] not doing much."
--On naval wargaming needing to include weather: "And all of a sudden, people realize - 'Oh yeah, there's weather out there.'"
--"Never accuse the US government of being consistent."
--"Never underestimate the hypocrisy possible in diplomacy."
--"You don't necessarily want to understand the speech." (probably one given by Hitler :P)
--On Britain: "They're an island, if you haven't noticed."
--On assault on Pacific Island of Tarawa: "If you land the entire 2 Marine Division, the island would tilt."
--After mentioning the size of the Soviet Army in WW2: "Oh yeah; you have to know who the army commanders are. And if you don't spell them right, I'll know."
--End of WW2: "Not to give away the ending, but we do not invade Japan."
--"Bomb Vietnam to the stone age!" "But it is!"

Western Civilization Professor:

--"I do not want plan to talk for 1 hour and 15 minutes, because I do not want to see weapons in this class."
--"People who talk the most tend to have the least amount to say. And I fall right into that category." [Not true...that was pretty much the only class I would pay to retake... :P]
--"...until we have the coming financial crisis and global warming destroys us all."

Communications Professor

--On teacher evaluations: "'Best teacher approval ratings ever!' 'But you only have 2 in your folder!' 'I guess the other guys just didn't want to do it.'"

Chemistry II Professor:

--"People occasionally use goggles [in lab] to protect their forehead...."
--On clothing requirements for Lab: "No sandals? I reserve the right to send them home...or to the shoe store; whichever I decide."
--"Units tend to be something standard and useful."
--During a lecture with powerpoint: "I don't know why I put all those slides in there...I musta really been bored."
--On why finding molecules close to other molecules doesn't equate to them liking each other: "I find a lot of rocks in water, so they must like each other."
--"I was waiting for someone to say it, because the answer to all of todays problems is 'Google it.'"
--"People get so hung up about grades that they forget they are supposed to learn something."
--"I'm always happy to throw complexity into a seemingly simple equation."
--In Lab: "But today let's just mix it together and look at the colors."
--"That was a nice generic answer that I can interpret however I want, so I could extrapolate the right answer from that, but I won't."
--"It's diet Snapple, so there is nothing in it but 1% artificial color...plus 2 molecules of artificial flavor."
--"By the way - even if you're supposed to know it - if you don't, the answer is 'No.'"
--Adding chemicals: "...benzyne, which causes liver cancer...and phenol, which doesn't, but I wouldn't drink it."
--After pre-lab lecture, before we start the actual lab: "Now I know you are all itching to go, and by that I mean go home, not do the lab."
--"Which is the opposite of what I wanted you to do...but hey, that's what RateMyProfessor is for."
--"...broaden your acceptable smallness to a much larger number."
--"...when you were in 9th grade - like, 2 weeks ago...sorry, I'm feeling old."
--Christmas cookies (illustrating a chemical point): "2 cups of flour + 1 cup of water = 3 cookies." Student: "Ew!" Professor: "I didn't say they were good."
--When people are asking him to do example problems just before the test: "I could give my smart-aleck answer, 'Let me see your work and I'll tell you what's wrong with it.'"
--Joking about test: "Wait till you see the test...I said it was on chapters 17-19, but it's really on 20-24!"
--"Never. Capital N, capital E, capital VER."
--"...but, you know, close enough for government work."
--"...kinda like you guys on the test; you'll throw a number there and expect me to know what it means."
--On homework: "That's what the weekends are for...chemistry."
--Student: "How do I know if it doesn't give the right answer?" Professor: "Well, usually I use a red pen to tell you...." Student: "I mean before that!"
--At end of prelab lecture, before we begin the lab: "...unless anyone has any questions, but since nobody read the lab that won't be a problem."
--Explaining why there will be no quiz on Thursday (lecture night): "...because nobody was listening to it but me..which isn't unusual for Tuesday and Thursday [lecture days]."
--"The only way to do that is to..." Student: "Manipulate the numbers!"

:D

Hope that adds some humor to your day...if you got any of it. O

We Interrupt this Silence....Part II

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:06:15 GMT

Attention people interested in politics, especially those from Indiana...this info courtesy of my friend, Brian Sikma, of the Indiana GenJ Network:

*******

Freshman Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN2CD) voted Friday for the The Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq
Accountability Act of 2007, also known as H.R. 1591.
The bill contained a controversial provision to withdraw all U.S.
troops from Iraq by August of 2008.

On March 1st Joe Donnelly sent a letter to a
constituent declaring that he would not support arbitrary troop withdrawals
or a defunding of
combat troops. According to Brian Sikma, who received the letter:
"While I disagree with Rep. Donnelly's vote Friday, I am more concerned about
his failure to keep his promises." To view the letter click here.

Inspite of Democratic Party promises to hold special interests
accountable H.R. 1591 contained $20 billion worth of pork. Some of
that pork included $25 million for Spinach growers and$74 million for for
"peanut storage costs". The AP reported that Democratic House leaders argued
that the inclusion of this funding (which made up 20% of the bill) was necessary
to insure enough votes for their greater objective of securing a mandatory troop
withdrawal.

During the 2006 campaign Joe Donnelly told the voters of the 2nd District that he would
be an independent voice for them in Washington. Playing on voter disgust with
GOP pork-laden bills Donnelly promised to support the people and not
special interests. 2nd District voters should be concerned that their
congressman didn't hold true to his word. Since arriving in Washington
Rep. Donnelly seems to have lost his "indepedent
voice" on this issue.

Press Release

3/24/2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rep. Joe Donnelly violates pledge to oppose arbitrary
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

Contact: Brian Sikma,

WANATAH--Second District Congressman Joe Donnelly (D) violated a
March 1st promise to oppose the arbitrary withdrawal of U.S. troops
from Iraq Friday when he joined a narrow Congressional majority in passing H.R.
1591*. The Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act
of 2007 contained a controversial provision to withdraw all U.S combat troops
from Iraq by August of 2008 and was passed 218-212.

On March 1st Rep. Donnelly and his office sent a letter to a
constituent stating "While I oppose an immediate or arbitrary withdrawal of
American forces from Iraq and I oppose cutting funds for troops in the field, we
also need to be honest with the Iraqis that our commitment to them is not
unconditional or open ended." Rep. Donnelly was explaining to the
constituent his reasons for his February 16th vote in favor of
H.Con.Res. 63, a non-binding resolution expressing Congressional disapproval of
President Bush's decision to deploy more service members to
Iraq. The letter, signed by Donnelly on official
stationary, also expressed the Congressman's respect for the
"...approximately 130,000 brave men and women [who] are serving in Iraq."

Rep. Donnelly apparently reneged on his opposition for "...an
immediate or arbitrary withdrawal of American forces from Iraq..." after coming
under intense pressure by House Democratic leadership. According to Brian
Sikma, the constituent who received the letter: "While I disagree with
Rep. Donnelly's vote Friday I am more concerned with his failure
to keep his promises. Regardless of where one stands on this issue we
should all be able to come together and demand that at the minimum
our elected officials should be honest with us in
regards to their stands on a particular issue."

*Roll Call No. 186, U.S. House of Representatives,
3/23/07.

-30-

********

Information featured on Indiana GenJ Network and FrugalHoosiers.com.

*******

*disappears from xanga again* O:- )

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 18:10:36 GMT

"To your studies, to your studies, sons of Xanga, of blogspot, my brothers. I see within your webpages the kind of distraction that would take my time away. A day may come when schooling fails, when we forsake all attendance of classes and ignore all paper deadlines, but it is not this day. An hour of partying, and shattered pencils, when grades come crashing down, but it is not this day. This day we focus! By all that you hold dear in your good schools, I bid you study, Men of the Web!"

-Speech from "Return of the Professor"

My apologies to those of you who were reading my story, etc. but I need to really guard my time this semester. (That is also why you shouldn't see me on AIM.) If you must get ahold of me, you can always email me. Thanks for understanding (I hope).