Cricket’s Hide-a-Hole

November 18, 2008

Applied Sciences

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Twisted — croakingcricket @ 3:45 pm

We did throat swabs of our throats and grew it on petri ish plates.  We were looking for bacteria in our throat…all I can say is ewww! I guess I have alpha and gamma hemolytic bacteria, a possibility for it would be S. pyrogenes, the causative agent for strep throat.  Oh joy.  The plates were put in jars with candles so that they could grow in a air-less environment.  But the candles they put in there were scented, and when we got our plates out, one of my lab partners started smelling the plate…I didn’t realize at first that the candles put in the jar were scented so I just thought my lab partner was just a little loopy, smelling bacteria!?  Well I guess it smelt like chocolate, which puts me off of chocolate for a while.

November 17, 2008

Scary Bacteria

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Twisted — croakingcricket @ 9:59 pm

For Microbiology, every week, we research a specific bacteria/virus that my teacher assigns us.  We’ve done AIDS, Y. pestis (the plague), E. coli, and the latest one S. pyogenes.  Even though it doesn’t sound immediately familiar, with researching i found out that it is the causative agent for strep, scarlet fever.  But the scary thing is that it is what’s called a normal flora of the body.  Which is basically bacteria that live in/on the human body normally.  Then when the body’s defenses break down or are weakened, then bacteria like S. pyogenes can cause illnesses. That’s my scary thought of the day.

Even though I’m learning about all the things that could go wrong, I’m strangley not becoming a germaphobic or anything, AIDS is the only thing I would do anything to avoid since it’s death rate is 100%…

June 1, 2008

A Sigh With Relief

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Giggles Galore — croakingcricket @ 9:49 pm

My goodness, I finally hit a bright spot in my physiology class! On my last two labs I got 19.5 out of 20 and I got 94/110 on my last test that I was studying for every waking minute. It was one of those times when if everything kept going crappy then I would’ve felt like just sticking out my tongue all through class and glazing over. So yay good news!

Today was also fun, after church a bunch of the kids from the youth group all went out to red robin. The initial reservation was for like 40 but around 53 ended up showing up to take over the dirty bird. I got to meet new people and be my wacky self. Let’s see, I met a Jean, Crystal, Shelly and Candice today. Found out that Shelly goes to Everett CC with me and Shelly is doing pre-reqs for the nursing program at Skagit. I used my voice way too much to try to communicate in the loud place, my throat’s been hurting lately and now I seem to have a cough that I can’t get rid of. Since I JUST learned about respiratory in class, I think I might have something to do with bronchitis, but I think I’ll be in denial for a while…

STILL HAPPY ABOUT MY TEST SCORE!!!

May 21, 2008

The More Stressful the Class, the More Drama

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Random Ramblings, WAH! — croakingcricket @ 8:19 am

I don’t check the blackboard for my class everyday but I heard someone mentioning that they wrote something after the test and the long spiel that my teacher put up. This was titled- To Erin and Brittney….The sucky thing is that I don’t complain that much if at all, in fact I try to calm down some other people in my class from freaking out, but it doesn’t seem like that matters. Yay for the slap in the face that I didn’t even deserve…JOY

I just wanted to let you know that most of our class is aware of the fact that you were the ones making the comments Carie mentioned on our test today. I think it is time for the both of you to stop wasting Caries and our time in lecture with your questions; we didn’t all pay for this class to listen to the two of you try and one up the instructor to prove how smart (or not so smart) you are!!!
If you dislike Carie soo much and can’t stand her teaching style save us the grief and drop the class to take it from the instructor we all know you wanted!
I am working very hard to get an ok grade in this class and was counting on Carie’s generosity in giving us extra credit and bonus points to boost my grade, but now thanks to the both of you, those extra points are not available anymore. This class was hard to begin with and now we ALL get no mercy! Thank You!
From now on, please keep your comments to yourselves and away from the school entirely!! If you feel the need to complain or gripe call or text each other, your comments are rude and disrespectful not only to Carie, but to the class as a whole! We are tired of listening to you complain and waste our lecture time.
Since you didn’t seem to get the hint when we moved our study group in the mornings (all of us were sick and tired of listening to you rant and rave and we didn’t want to be a part of your negative attitude); hopefully this will make our point clearer and this will be the slap in the face you needed to stop this childish behavior for good!

Yay for the slap in the face that I didn’t even deserve…JOY

May 17, 2008

Who Actually Gives 100%?

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Random Ramblings, ~CLICK~ — croakingcricket @ 11:42 am

This lovely message was posted by my teacher after our third test. There was a note at the end of the test about some people talking about her behind her back, or more like in class and that affected our grade. Seriously, this is just one class. Let’s all just take a breath in and finish in style…yeah?

“Good morning. I have posted Test 3 results (high score was 102). A couple of students approached me after the test and mentioned that it wasn’t fair that they were being punished because of other student’s behavior. I understand your frustration and perhaps now you can understand mine. Remember, I spoke directly to the class about unprofessional behavior, goofy talk, and handling problems. I chose to do that because I did not want the behavior of a few individuals (5-6) to affect the entire class. Please note, even at this point, I chose to take away bonus point options (that is not something anyone is entitled too), I did NOT choose to take away study guide questions (test 4 questions were posted last week) or make the test harder. Unfortunately, a few individuals did not learn from that talk and have chosen to up the anti (with the latest talk). No it definitely isn’t fair, but when people stand by and allow others to disrupt their environment, there are often many collateral victims. Please note, I will be happy to bring the bonus questions back if this silliness stops.

This is a difficult class because the material you need to learn is difficult and extensive. If you are not doing well in this class it is not because of me, or because I don’t provide comprehensive notes, or I don’t test in the same manner you were previously tested (in OTHER classes which don’t provide a basis for comparison since they were different classes and they tested different material). I provide you with the necessary tools to do well in the class because I want you to succeed. You have the choice to use the tools I provide; you can choose to do the study guide questions and answer them completely, you can choose to pay attention in class, you can choose to attend class, and you can come talk to me during my office hours if you have questions or you want to make sure your answers to objective questions are correct. Or you can choose not to attend class, ask disruptive questions during class, talk/whisper to each other during class, not use the lecture material provided, or simply complain about my teaching/tests, etc. Once again, it is your choice. However, it seems to me that if you want to do well in the class, your time would be best spent using the tools provided rather than complaining about the class and disrupting the environment for yourself and your peers. This seems especially important if you don’t want to take the class again or you are taking it for the second time. Remember, there are 3 instructors at Everett who teach this class, we all have approximately the same class average at the end of this class. You don’t have to stay in my class if you find my teaching style incompatible with your learning style, you can always drop and take it with a different instructor.

Also note, if anyone feels that they know more than me about the upcoming lecture subjects and they would like to be a guest lecturer for any of those upcoming topics just let me know, I will be happy to share the spotlight, however, first you will need to bring a copy of your transcripts showing me that you have successfully completed at least 2 bachelor degrees in science (one of course, in life science), a doctorate degree in any of the health care fields listed (medical doctor, MD; doctor of chiropratic, DC; or doctor of osteopathy, OD) a copy of your national board certification stating that you have successfully passed the national board exams, and a copy of your state license that showing that you are qualified as a primary care physician in the state of Washington and that your lisence is in good standing.”

May 9, 2008

Pop Quiz

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Random Ramblings — croakingcricket @ 12:29 am

I’ve never had much experience with pop quizzes in high school or time in college through running start.  But my biology teachers seem to be really fond of them.  Dr. Stern had the fear of them beaten into us, which meant that pretty much every day we expected one.  Before class started we were going over material and asking each other questions.  When we didn’t get sprung with it, it was a blessing.  And when we did, it was all clear cut multiple choice answers to choose from.  With my current class, we asked the answer to one of the questions and my teacher said one this off the bat, then paused, looked and the screen and said “Maybe not, just a second”…. It inspires SO much confidence.  Oh and I guess that these pop quizzes are more fun the regular high school one, because it’s not a quiz to see if you’ve been paying attention in class to what you’ve been learning, but more like ‘have you read what we’re going to talk about today?’.  Cause those are basically the types of the quizzes that I get.  Pretty much lame if you ask me, because reading about something you haven’t the foggiest idea about it hard enough, but having to recall all the information can be challenging in the first part of test.  So yeah, pop quiz today; I got 3/5.  All of them were guesses.  My key: not to second guess my self.  Go with the gut the first time, because more than likely with a second guess, you’re worse off than your first one.  Sucky thing for one of the girls in my class is that pretty much two out of the three times we’ve had pop quizzes she’s either had to go to work or been running late with a doctor’s appointment.  So I’ll celebrate the fact that 3/5 is much better than 0/5 :)

April 8, 2008

Wait…I’m Still Confused

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, WAH! — croakingcricket @ 9:50 pm

Today was the second lab of the quarter.  We’re kinda going out of order, but I guess each teacher wants to find their own way to confuse us.  The lab was about nerve impulses, and I did this lab last quarter. AND IT’S STILL CONFUSING.  Mostly not really making sense when it comes to interferring with a nerve impulse.  For example, we use lidocaine and curare on a nerve to see if we can develop an action potential.  Thankfully we’re using laptops in class, simulating the lab so we don’t have to spend hours setting it all up and finding our own ways of screwing it up.  But curare is supposed to anesthetize an organism, like if you were going hunting or something, curare would paralyze the animal with them still able to feel.  However the nerve that we experimented on basically moved.  It developed an action potential, which to me makes no sense if curare is supposed to paralyze something.  So me and my lab partners got to argue about it for two hours.  And I’m pretty sure that we all were wrong and the teacher is looking for something brilliant.  Grrr, with a test next Monday…my weekend is starting to look grim.

April 7, 2008

Taxes: Only Come Around Once a Year…Once Too Many

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Random Ramblings, Sa-WEET — croakingcricket @ 9:38 pm

I did go back and finish my taxes yesterday. After much moaning and complaining about being a grown up…I asked my mom to help me do it. And the scores changed from me owing the government money to them giving me back money. Hooray. But what did my mom say when I told her I was getting a return…How much you paying me? Lol, life’s so much fun that way. Just think though. If I was king/queen, I wouldn’t have to pay taxes at all, I’d be untouchable!!

.

April 1, 2008

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Sa-WEET — croakingcricket @ 10:24 pm

I vaguely remember watching this when I was really little. Like I just remember the phrase and the black lady who tells you a bunch of information. I even wonder how old I was when I watched it…I don’t know if I would be able to get all the counties in the final round. They should bring the show back though! It was amazing, and catchy ;)

This is the third/final part of a show. The first two parts show the competition narrowing down from three people, to two. But this is prolly my favorite part because of the running around and what happens at the end. Enjoy!

February 2, 2006

of membranes and Elodea leaves

Filed under: edg-ama-cated, Guess What!, Random Ramblings — Tags: , — croakingcricket @ 5:27 am
Yeah, that’s basically what we did in lab today; looked at Elodea leaves through mircroscopes and tested what kind of molecules would go through membrane sacs. Two hours, and not the usual boring. Lol, no the lab wasn’t jump and down exciting, but I had a really good lab group, there’s four of us total, and we worked really well together, and even got done early!
Wednesday I still had a lab write up to do and I was up till like 1:30 finishing it and doing a pre-lab for Thursday. Ah! I’m so tired right now, but I’m not yawning up a storm yet. Goal for the night is to get in bed early! So yeah, school was just fine, then work. I played poker and black jack with Willie for pennies. Lol, I think I lost a total of four pennies. Though we weren’t betting just a penny each hand, it was like five each hand from both of us. I rocked on at poker, but I suck at black jack, not afraid to say that. Lol. We had played cards for like an hour (already after I had been there for a while) and he mentioned what time I was going home. haha, so I think he wanted me to leave so I wouldn’t take all his pennies. No big for me. Home early! Boo-yeah.
And guess what! There has been a collision with the van, and although most would think it’s because of me, my brother was actually driving with my mom and little brother. It was all the other cars fault though. They would have what I think is called T-boned the van on the drivers side if not for Brandon’s defensive driving. It was totally a hit and run too. So for a couple of blocks my bro and mom followed them and at least got the license, but the car didn’t stop at all. So my mom called 911 and reported it! Lol, I just laughed when I heard this. So the van is scrapped up but not in too bad of shape. OH and mom’s birthday today. Happy Birthday to her. Can’t believe it…42, and she doesn’t look a day over 29!

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