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Difficulty: Hard Thursday, June 22, 2006

Not Completed Play This Puzzle

CHAT LOG for Thursday, June 22, 2006

12:11 am
Penguin

Hello folks,
I'm back to the midnight game!
12:11 am
raggedyandy3478

thats the only way to do it
12:12 am
Penguin

Hi Raggedy,
Nope, for the last week or so I was playing much later in the day. It works, but I like midnight from my home in Wisconsin.
12:13 am
raggedyandy3478

hey penguin, ya, i have been slacking off a bit too, cuz i have had a class at 8 am thats about a 1/2 hr away. and its 1 am in my time zone, but i should be back to the usual 1 am from here on out
12:14 am
Penguin

So, the class is over? Are you taking more summer courses or is that it?
12:15 am
raggedyandy3478

i have a week until my next summer course starts, but its at 9 AM
12:15 am
raggedyandy3478

but yes, the first one is over, as of this morning
12:16 am
bangping

So, EST insomniacs unite, Penguin? :)
12:16 am
Penguin

Ah, I understand. That hour in the morning is huge!
I'm going in to school tomorrow, but I'm done with "work" until September.
12:16 am
raggedyandy3478

but of course, it never ends does it?
12:17 am
Penguin

Hi Bangping,
I was on the east coast for the last week and a half, but returned to the midwest today.
12:17 am
bangping

Ahh :)
12:18 am
Penguin

I'm too young to be anywhere near wanting things to end, Raggedy. 8-)

Although you are right. I will be in e-mail contact with several of my students later this week. Summer is a pause, not a stop.
12:19 am
bangping

You're a teacher, Penguin?
12:21 am
Penguin

Yes, Bangping, I'm guilty. 8-)
12:21 am
bangping

That's wonderful :) Mind if I ask grade level or subject?
12:21 am
bangping

(I'm in school to be just as guilty) :)
12:22 am
Penguin

I teach high school computer science.
12:22 am
bangping

How cool :) I considered that exactly, before deciding that I like the littler 'uns better :)
12:23 am
Penguin

You are much stronger than I am. I find large groups of small children terrifying!
12:24 am
bangping

*chuckle* They're fun at about age 9 or so... I'm really hoping I can land a 3rd or 4th grade class eventually.
12:24 am
bangping

They're a lot more likely to be excited about what you have to teach at that age
12:24 am
bangping

Without having to spend all your time tying shoes and wiping noses ;)
12:27 am
Penguin

Good luck! Just, please, really teach them. There are far too many schools where students move from grade to grade without learning anything. It is ridiculous to see high school students relying on a calculator to do simple addition and subtraction. It is absurd that some don't know the difference between a noun and a pronoun (not to mention more obscure parts of English, like prepositions).

Sorry for the rant ... there are also some great kids out there. I am spoiled teaching the smartest kids in my high school.
12:27 am
bangping

Heh, I know how it goes.
12:28 am
bangping

Dad's a math teacher, who is very adament about teaching CONCEPT, not MECHANICS.
12:28 am
bangping

It amazes me in some of my math methods classes, how many college students struggle with basic math skills.
12:29 am
bangping

I called him up about a week into that class, and thanked him for the way he taught me.
12:29 am
bangping

I hope I can pass it along, once I'm in the classroom.
12:31 am
Penguin

When I went back to school to become a high school teacher, I was appalled at the low level of knowledge of my fellow pre-teachers. I continue to see others in the classroom who, in my arrogant opinion, have no business being there.

I just do my part of the puzzle, which is offering classes that my students describe as both the hardest in the building and the most fun. (Some mean that as an insult, but I take it as a compliment).
12:32 am
augurus

Why should you take a class where you (assumingly) know everything already? Does that not defy the purpose of education?
12:33 am
ThePrincess

hullo
12:33 am
bangping

Understandably so. The biggest thing I'm trying to figure out how to do, is how to keep the quickest kids in the room challenged, without undermining the slower ones as well. It's the mark of a great teacher, that they can pull that off, IMO.
12:34 am
bangping

Generally when I've done it, Augurus, it's been because I needed a checkmark on a transcript. ;) Although, I will admit, there have been classes that I've taken that've covered topics I'm self-taught in. They're sometimes useful to help fill in the gaps.
12:34 am
Penguin

Hi Augurus,
I'm not sure that I follow. If you are responding to my complaint about those who are seeking to learn to be teachers, it is my opinion that they should already have a high school education. They should be learning how to teach and already be familiar with the topic areas at a high school level.
12:36 am
Penguin

Balancing teaching slower and faster students can be challenging at first. What I do is offer lots of extra credit opportunities. The E.C. is only available after a student has done a good job, on time, on the related assignment.

(In my school, there is no difference between 93, 103, and 153 when it goes on the final transcript ... 93 being the lowest A).
12:38 am
bangping

How do you define a good job on the assignment? Is that based on the grade they received, or some other criteria?
12:39 am
Penguin

Since it is computer programming, a good job is working code with the required documentation (problem specification, templating, and examples that are used to test the code).
12:39 am
bangping

(And, I hope you don't mind me picking your brain here - I rather unashamedly gather tips and tricks anywhere I can get it.)
12:40 am
Penguin

No problem ... this is one of my favorite topics. 8-)
12:40 am
bangping

*nod* True, there is a lot clearer definition of 'good' in comp sci than in, say, an analysis of "Wuthering Heights" :)
12:40 am
chebuctonian

hi all! finally, a "hard" one
12:41 am
bangping

Do you find that there is any resentment among slower students (or their parents), that EC opportunities are generally provided to the folks that, they might argue, least need the help raising their grades?
12:42 am
bangping

(I have to admit, I loathe the focus on grades, to the extent of everything else that seems so common in education today. So many people don't seem to care if their kids learn anything or not, as long as they bring home A's on the report card.)
12:43 am
Penguin

Well, what's important is that I have clearly specified to my students what I expect with a good solution. If analyzing any novel, it is best if there is a clear rubric with several examples so that students know when their goal is achieved.

Yes, some parents complain about the E.C. being out of reach of their children. I teach college-prep classes and make no apology for challenging the kids.
12:43 am
Penguin

I also agree with you regarding grade inflation.
12:44 am
bangping

Some great stuff, though, thank you :)
12:45 am
Penguin

Considering how tired I am right now ... I wonder that anything was useful. Nonetheless, you're welcome.
12:51 am
Penguin

As a hard, that wasn't too bad. Time for me to fall over. Good night.
12:51 am
bangping

Night Penguin :)
1:48 am
lawfully

not too hard...
2:33 am
MaW

Not hard at all!
2:35 am
GingerUK

Hard???? That was easy... sone before I take kids to school!!!
5:49 am
Moozey

jdog what were you saying about gone are the days of hard and mediums??? LOL
5:58 am
jdog

indeed. here's hoping for a nice friday "expert" tomorrow.
6:14 am
sprite

Good afternoon all
6:14 am
Moozey

Yes it has been a looooong while since an expert
6:14 am
Moozey

hi Sprite
6:14 am
sprite

So far this hard one is no hard one...
6:15 am
Moozey

I have only just started and it doesn't seem to bad but I have a way to go
6:25 am
sprite

o-o, I have 2 possible solutions here. Must have made a mistake somewhere :(
6:27 am
peternl

hi all
6:27 am
peternl

another hard?
6:27 am
peternl

I think the random number generator needs work
6:28 am
sprite

Hi peter! Not hard, I think, I am afraid I have been stupid somewhere.
6:28 am
peternl

it happens
6:29 am
sprite

Darn, again, 2 possible solutions. This is weird.
6:32 am
Moozey

All done , byeeeee
6:39 am
Babbler

not hard? I have sinusitis. can't think. :' (
6:40 am
sprite

Hey Babbler :)
6:40 am
Babbler

hi Sprite : ) how are you?
6:41 am
sprite

This grid is frustrating me. I keep coming back to a point where I have a rectangle with 4x the same 2 numbers. That cannot be correct.
6:42 am
Babbler

hmm... haven't got as far as you yet, I think, I have the top and the middle boxes in the centre completed, but the rest is baffling me. : /
6:43 am
sprite

And the 6th column, I think?
6:44 am
babsmgl

exactly! can't figure out what i am missing!
6:45 am
Babbler

yes, the 6th column.
6:45 am
sprite

I have started over 3 times now, and I get the same. All goes well up till the rectangle thing. I must be making a mistake in my logic.
6:48 am
Babbler

: ( here's a fresh cup of tea, to help. *reaches over and puts tea on desk*
6:48 am
sprite

Awwww, how sweet :) That will help!
6:49 am
Babbler

hee hee. want a chocolate biscuit to go with it? ; )
6:49 am
sprite

Yeah! If all else fails, chocolate helps! :)
6:49 am
Babbler

*reaches over, puts super duper triple chocolate chip cookie on desk, next to tea* :D
6:50 am
sprite

You're the best :D
6:51 am
Babbler

awwww, my pleasure. got a fresh cup of tea myself. : )
6:54 am
sprite

babsmgl, you want a cup of tea too?
6:54 am
Babbler

and a chocolate biscuit?
6:55 am
Babbler

*puts kettle on*
7:01 am
sprite

Yeah! Done!
Here's what I did: I used that darn rectangle to reason out one of the 4 corners HAD to be different from the rest, and that did it.
7:02 am
Babbler

congratulations!! what rectangle thing?
7:05 am
sprite

It's this technique:
7:05 am
sprite

http://www.brainbashers.com/sudokuuniquerecta
ngles.asp
7:06 am
peternl

ahh, I haven't been looking for a UR...
7:06 am
Babbler

ooh, thanks! I didn't know about this
7:06 am
sprite

Krys10 taught me.
7:08 am
sprite

There is one such a rectangle in the upper right/middle right boxes. Solving that was the key to the rest for me.
7:08 am
Babbler

that's where I was just looking. right, I'll focus on that... let's see how I do! thanks, Sprite : )
7:08 am
sprite

Good luck! And thanks for the tea and the delicious cookie :)
7:09 am
Babbler

you're very welcome! ; )
7:09 am
sprite

*runs to babble*
7:09 am
Babbler

see you later, Sprite, good luck, looks like a biggie today. : )
7:14 am
peternl

thanks for the tip, the UR solved it
7:14 am
peternl

cya
7:14 am
Babbler

congrats, peternl, see you later : )
7:24 am
EasternBlue

hi Babs!! : )
7:25 am
EasternBlue

how was the Babble convention??? I wish I could have been there!!....
8:03 am
yul

hello all
8:24 am
Bubbles

hi all
8:47 am
Kellie

hi bubbles
8:47 am
Kellie

hi bubbles
8:48 am
Bubbles

hi babes
8:48 am
Kellie

how you doing/
8:48 am
Bubbles

not bad just eating my lunch. You?
8:49 am
Kellie

yeah not too bad. just been sorting some bits out at home and stuff and thought i will have a catch up on this
8:49 am
Bubbles

think it will take me months to catch up
8:51 am
Kellie

clares just came over with Sammy and she has left to get charlie and left me with some kids program on the tele....
8:52 am
Bubbles

why?
8:52 am
Bubbles

sing along now, you know you want to!!!
8:52 am
Kellie

i know ha ha im doing the dancing one
8:53 am
Bubbles

cool
8:53 am
Kellie

now we are making spider webs lol is very inteligent
8:54 am
Bubbles

twit
8:54 am
Kellie

whats daytime tele is great fun
10:38 am
GingerUK

huuuuuhyuhuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uuu
10:38 am
GingerUK



10:38 am
GingerUK


10:38 am
GingerUK




10:38 am
GingerUK





10:38 am
GingerUK






10:38 am
GingerUK







10:38 am
GingerUK








10:38 am
GingerUK









10:38 am
GingerUK










10:38 am
GingerUK


10:38 am
GingerUK


10:42 am
GingerUK

ON NO ... sorry people, I have NO idea what has happened here!!!!!
10:43 am
spazzy

grrr this sudoku is making me mad
10:44 am
GingerUK

keep going Spazzy, you'll get there!
10:47 am
parsec

It's makin me mad too, spazzy. This is twice I've screwed up the bottom row...
10:48 am
spazzy

ugh - yea
10:49 am
spazzy

well - i'm going to do something else less aggravating.... i'll get back to this later. see ya guys!
11:08 am
TP17

ugh, stuck
11:29 am
bangping

Hiya folks :)
11:48 am
yul

back from huge lunch...
11:53 am
yul

can't think straight
12:03 pm
evanadine

*looks around to see if parsec is still here*
12:19 pm
bangping

Yay, got it! Now to plug at the archives a bit more... :P
12:31 pm
sneeu

afternoon
12:52 pm
bigshow

evening JSS
12:52 pm
sneeu

howdo
12:54 pm
yul

starting over :(
1:08 pm
bigshow

hmm tricky tricky
1:09 pm
sneeu

at one point it's singles in rows/columns/squares.
1:09 pm
bigshow

not quite there yet I don't think
1:13 pm
sneeu

n00b
1:13 pm
sneeu

:P
1:14 pm
bigshow

and there she blows
1:18 pm
sneeu

so there was me doing some archives... and 'coaching' you through yesterdays... because today's is not in the archive...
1:19 pm
bigshow

haha, who's the noob now eh?
1:20 pm
sneeu

;)
1:20 pm
bigshow

right, I'm done for now, l9rs
1:20 pm
sneeu

lxr
1:26 pm
yul

done. good bye averybody
1:43 pm
helenkeller

go
3:34 pm
Thomas G

hi all
6:12 pm
spazzy

bye, all
7:49 pm
elara6

Evening, all :)
9:35 pm
eyeman

hi everyone. only letters the last few days. No more numbers?
9:37 pm
elara6

Hiya, eyeman. :) What do you mean by "only letters" ?
9:40 pm
eyeman

Hi elara - after logging on, squares have upper case letters instead of numbers from the original puzzle. Top left square reads "E" instead of "5", etc. Not on yours?
9:41 pm
elara6

Ah ha! You can set that in your profile. Maybe you were in there changing something else and accidentally hit the "Letters" toggle? Click "My Account" up top and you can go back and pick Numbers. :)
9:42 pm
eyeman

Aha! I'll try. Thanks!
9:43 pm
elara6

Welcome :)
9:44 pm
eyeman

Eureka!! You're a genius.
9:44 pm
elara6

Only in profiles ;)
9:45 pm
eyeman

I doubt that very much. But let's see if I can get another number. Middle block filled.
10:36 pm
lorenz_sell

hello
10:36 pm
lorenz_sell

how's everyone doing?