Extra Credit

I don't offer a lot of extra credit in my class. However, toward the end of the year I want to give the kids a chance one last chance to boost their grades. However, I wanted it to be something that was meaningful. So I created a vocational interview assignment. The directions are below:

                                      Interview Extra Credit Essay Assignment

Students are to choose an occupation that they find interesting, and believe would be a desired option for them in the future. They will describe the occupation, their reason for choosing it, and interview someone in that vocation. Papers will be typed, 12pt font, double-spaced, 8 paragraphs, between 600-900 words. Each paragraph must be 5-13 sentences. Students may interview an adult family member, but may not interview someone living in the same household. Students should meet each of the following deadlines:

Sign up for the interview by 5/13/14

Interview must be conducted by 5/19/14

Final Draft by 5/30/14 (100pts)

Conduct an interview with someone in that vocation. Write about what you learned from the interview. You may include, but are not limited to the following questions: What do they do? How did they get into that profession? What training did it require? What does a typical day look like? Is it something they wanted to do since they were in middle school or did they get into the field later? Are they happy with the job, or is it just to pay the bills? What are the best parts about it? What are the worst parts of the job? Plan to spend 10-20 minutes interviewing that person and take notes or record the interview. Ask enough questions that you will be able to write enough for each paragraph. Also, be sure to get their e-mail address so you can contact them if you have any follow-up questions.

Intro Paragraph (1 paragraph)

Begin with a hook. Introduce the career you chose and/or the person you interviewed. Offer enough information here to make the reader interested in reading the rest of your paper. (It was be appropriate but not required to include why you chose this profession)

Paragraph 2: Introduce the person you interviewed and discuss their profession

Paragraph 3: What does a typical day on the job look like?

Paragraph 4: According to the person you interviewed what are the perks or advantages of this job? Money? Hours? Vacations? Coworkers? Fun? Rewarding?

Paragraph 5: What training does the job require? Is a college degree necessary (If yes, what type of degree?) Is a training program required? How long is the training? How did he/she end up in that field? Had they always wanted to be doing it? When he/she was in middle school were they considering it?

Paragraph 6:  How much math does that person use in their profession? How important is math to them? How do they use math in their everyday life? What advice do they have for a middle school student to be successful in the future?

Paragraph 7: Write an interesting story you learned from the interview? Could be best day on the job? Funny story that happened? Worst day? Scariest moment? Success story?

Paragraph 8 Conclusion:

Wrap up the essay. What are your conclusions about this career? Because of the interview or you more or less inclined to purse this career as an adult? Why?

Boss' Approval

So a couple years ago I started using an old overhead projector to shine on the thermostat to artificially inflate the temperature in the room so the AC kicks on. It is part of my classroom culture now. I'll say, "Juan, can you turn on the AC?," and he gets up and turns on the overhead. It is not a secret and the kids have told other teachers and now several other teachers on campus also have their old overheads pointed at the corner of the room. I've always wondered what the administration would say if they walked in on my classroom while I was using inefficient energy to trick the AC so I could cool the room to a lower temperature than allowed.

Then this week I noticed an overhead shining on the thermostat in the office to help keep the office staff cool. The thermostat is literally right outside the principal's door. So I'm guessing if the district's energy police stops by now I'm not going to be the one that has to answer the questions.

NuvaLife: Scam Site

Last night I discovered I have had a reoccurring monthly charge on my credit card of $19.95. This is from an online purchase I made at the end of 2011. Only now did I go online and read reviews about the company. It is a scam company that automatically enrolls you in a membership with the goal that you will pay the monthly fee before you realize it. They must be pretty successful at this because they apparently have 24-hour on-line customer support. Below is my conversation with Nick at 11pm last night. To think I was just trying to get the LaraBars a little cheaper than the $1.65/each they charge me at Trader Joes.

Nick Adams> Hi there. Nick Adams> Greetings. Kevin Burrill> Hi Nick Kevin Burrill> I have a concern Kevin Burrill> I recognize this is my fault for not checking my monthly statements and realizing I was a member with you Kevin Burrill> But I don't understand how I ever became a member in the first place Nick Adams> Please allow me a moment while I pull up your account. Nick Adams> Thanks. Nick Adams> Thanks for holding. Nick Adams>  Burrill Kevin CA Sacramento 95828 ??? Kevin Burrill> that's correct Nick Adams> As per my record, Nick Adams> you joined the membership when you placed your order with us for "LARABAR® - LARABAR, Chocolate Chip Brownie, 1.6 oz (16 Bars)". Kevin Burrill> I didn't know I joined. I was just trying to buy some Larabars Nick Adams> Also, record shows that Nick Adams> you contacted our call support to get this membership canceled and Kevin Burrill> I just did that tonight when I realized I was a member Nick Adams> a refund in the amount of $19.95 was also issued to you. Nick Adams> Please note that joining membership was not automatic nor obligatory Nick Adams> You specifically agreed to the Terms of Offer of membership to join the membership. Kevin Burrill> It wasn't automatic? Then how did I join? Kevin Burrill> Did I check a box with my order? Nick Adams> You agreed to the Terms of Offer of membership on the checkout page to join the membership. Kevin Burrill> I have no recollection of that Kevin Burrill> Do you find it odd in two years as a member I have made zero additional purchases? Nick Adams> No, I do not find it odd because Nick Adams> you yourself joined membership nd it was upto you whether to place any further orders Nick Adams> at the discounted prices or not. Nick Adams> You should have read the terms of offer very clearly before agreeing to them. Nick Adams> As per our checkout procedure, Nick Adams> every customer has to check a box him/herself to confirm that they had read and agreed the terms of offer. Nick Adams> Once any customer does that it is not our responsibility to check whether they have been placing any order in the 2 years or not. Nick Adams> Still as a courtesy $19.95 refund was issued to you. Kevin Burrill> could I have made my purchase without being a member? Nick Adams> Yes, you could have and that is what I am trying to explain to you that Nick Adams> on the checkout page, Nick Adams> you had 2 options: Nick Adams> 1 was to place the order as a member and other was as a non member. Nick Adams> Had you placed that order Kevin Burrill> As a courtesy could you refund me another $370.05? Nick Adams> without joining the membership, Nick Adams> you would not have been charged for the membership fee. Nick Adams> but you would not have availed the discounted price and free shipping offer. Nick Adams> I am sorry but full refund can not be issued to you. Nick Adams> Though, please hold while I check with my manager for any further available refund to you. Nick Adams> Thanks. Kevin Burrill> Let me know what you can do for me Kevin Burrill> Maybe we can meet half way or something Nick Adams> Thanks for holding. Nick Adams> As a courtesy, I have issued you further 2 months refund in the amount of $39.90. Kevin Burrill> Okay. Thanks Nick. I appreciate your help tonight. Nick Adams> Now total refund issued to you is 59.85. Nick Adams> You are welcome. Nick Adams> Is there any thing else I may assist you with? Kevin Burrill> Nope. That was it. Nick Adams> Thank you for chatting with us and have a nice time. Nick Adams> Please rate my support services. Kevin Burrill> This is a very interesting business plan you guys have. Kevin Burrill> Ok. Nick Adams> Good Bye.

The New Vegas

A few years ago I went to Costa Rica and for one week lived with a family there. Although the mother of the house spoke no English her children did. One of the kids worked told me that he worked doing customer support for an on-line casino. I don't have any contact with the family now, but after recently reading some sportbook reviews I'm wondering if he worked for bookmaker.

This review of the site describes how they are the leader in the industry. Apparently now they are the first to come out with the lines. Are they the new Vegas? Does Vegas now wait for bookmaker.eu before they posts lines? Interesting.

Credit Report

Here is the aggregate of information I know about credit cards and how they affect your credit score based both on previous knowledge and new information from Matt's birthday party tonight:

Using credit cards and making regular payments: good.

Using credit cards and not making payments: bad.

Obtaining dozens of credit cards in your name and fictitious names connected to your credit and address and not using those cards: neutral.

Math Question

My principal called me today with a pressing question. He asked:

What is -3² ?

Life

Life is like an even-numbered word problem.
--Rick West

Super Bowl 2013

This year I have some bonus money on my site and I can't cash out until I bet it a bunch, so I made even more bets than usual. If you want to follow along:

Superbowl Bets
	Bet	Pays
Alicia Keys to play piano during National Anthem	$    10.00	$    12.85
National Anthem to be more than 2 minutes 5 seconds	$       6.00	$    11.21
Coin Toss will be HEADS	$    10.00	$    19.52
Crabtree to have first 1st down	$           -	$    50.00
Davis to have first 1st down	-	$    10.00
Colin Kaepernick to score first TD of game	$       5.00	$    55.00
Crabtree to score first TD of game	$       5.00	$    35.00
First score will be Ravens Passing TD	$       5.00	$    30.00
Vernon Davis' first reception will be more than 11.5 yds	$    10.00	$    18.33
Touchdown will be scored before FG	$    10.00	$    16.66
Points will be scored in first 6 minutes of game	$       7.00	$    13.66
LaMichael James to score a TD	$       5.00	$    20.00
Kaepernick to score a rushing TD	$       5.00	$    11.75
Longest TD of the game will be more than 45.5 yards	$       5.00	$       9.34
No Touchdown scored by Defense or Special Teams	$    10.00	$    15.00
Both Teams will NOT have a FG from 37 or more yards	$    10.00	$    16.66
Gore to have more than 17.5 receiving yds	$       7.00	$    14.36
Kaepernick to have more than 55.5 rushing yards	$       6.00	$    12.60
Colin Kaepernik to have more passing TD's than NHL Points by Crosby	$       5.00	$       9.34
Liverpool+Manchester city to have more points than FG in game	$       5.00	$       9.34
Total Score less than 47.5	$    10.00	$    28.63
Baltimore to score exactly 17 points	$       5.00	$    65.00
49ers to score exactly 28 points	$       6.00	$    65.00
Second half will have more points than first half	$    10.00	$    19.09
49ers to win by more than 3.5	$    58.95	$  112.53
49ers will win by 7-10 points	$       5.00	$    27.50
49ers win by 1-3 points	$    10.00	$    60.00
Color of first liquid to be doused on winning coach - RED	$       5.00	$    22.50
Winning Coach to thank FAMILY first	$       5.00	$    30.00
LaMichael James to win MVP	$       5.00	$  255.00

Go Niners.

Alway's

Have you ever met Alway? And How is his perfect doing? 

Picture taken by Stephanie in Fair Oaks, CA.

Who's on First?

Thankful

My six-year-old niece was writing what she was thankful for on one of the leaves to put on the family thanks tree. As her dad walks by she asks, "How do you spell permission? So far I have p-e-r-m-i." He responds, "How do you think it finishes?"

"T-i-o-n?"

"No, but great guess. It is actually s-s-i-o-n." Then her dad (my brother) walks on and let's her continue to work independently. I ask her about it.

Me: Permission? What do you mean by that? Like permission for what?

Whitney: Like to do stuff.

Me: That seems a little vague.

So at that point she picked up her pen and decided to add to her leaf. She finished it and put it on the tree:

World Series

I was looking at the Postseason stats, and this is our pitchers against the Tigers in the World Series.

Another Day at the Office

Throughout the playoffs I've been keeping my students abreast on the Giants' progress. A couple of them have even told me they watched the games just for me. They knew I went to game 2 of the World Series on Thursday. Friday at the beginning of 4th period a couple of them asked me about the game.

I decided to respond to the question. I briefly described our frantic route trying to get to the game on time. Then the missed cutoff throw, but still relayed to get Fielder at home. Suddenly I found myself drawing a picture of baseball diamond on the front white board as I described the Blanco bunt staying fair. I even ran down the rows in my classroom giving high fives simulating me running down the aisle the night before in section 315.

Somehow I ended up standing on a chair in front of my class with the door open yelling about the outside pitches that Hunter Pence took for called strikes. I look out the door and see down the hall one of my students from another class had just stopped and was looking in the class, curious about the commotion. Then I see a parent walk by so I start yelling, "The absolute value of x is five! Yes five!" Now, I'm laughing. My kids are laughing.

We close the door so I can continue my story. Just as Pence delivers a huge sacrifice fly a student aid from the office walks into the classroom to deliver a call slip to me.

With me still standing on the chair at a volume louder than normal it sounded something like this, "Then the runner comes in from, Absolute value of x is five. Algebra. Math. X."

The office aid leaves. The class laughs. I ask, "Where were we?" One my girls in the 2nd row says, "Hold on Mr. Burrill. Let me catch my breath."

Romo closed the door and we won 2-0. The rest of the class we went ahead and worked on math.

Letter from Parent

The mother of one of my students e-mailed me today. I had her son Ryan several years ago. This was her e-mail:

 

I am so glad she has you this year. I totally believe Ryan wouldn’t be the person he is today if it hadn’t been for you. You gave him so much confidence and helped him believe in himself. Ryan’s story is truly a story to tell. Starting off with a learning disability can be hard enough but then to have suffered so much from the car accident when he was a sophomore; a brain injury and back problems; but he never gave up. And now he is so proud to have graduated with a 3.7 and get accepted to Sac State (by the way, he loves it there!) I think we all have one or two teachers that we never forget and I know for Ryan you are definitely one of them. Now for Makayla, Can you help her with her algebra too!J When she returns to school in a few weeks I was thinking about putting her in the after school program so she has help with homework. Do you know anything about it?

Hope to hear from you soon.

 

Tree Frog

My niece e-mailed me a picture of a frog she drew in art class. It looked great so I asked her how she was able to send it to me. This was her e-mail back to me:

"i took a picture of the paper with my phone, texted it to my e-mail, saved it on my computer, and e-mailed it to you as an attachment." 

Duh. Just like we did in middle school. 

Number

Me: I need you to call the phone company, and I memorized the number so I don't even need to look it up.

Her: It probably isn't a lot of numbers.

Me: What are you talking about? It is an entire 800 number.

Her: What is it? 1-800-444-4445?

Me: Wow. That is really close. How did you know?


(Actual number was 1-800-444-4410)

The Odds are Good

Recent conversation with my girlfriend:

Me: I'm not sure I want to say.

Her: Go ahead.

Me: I had us as 6 to 1 favorites.

Her: Not bad, I was thinking 4 to 1.

Me: That's one of the sexiest things a girl has ever said to me.


I think I'm going to marry this one.

Old Cayucos Tavern

I just looked this place up on Yelp because I was curious if they still had poker there. This was the first review I read:

From Patrick W:
liquor in the front, poker in the rear.
great spot to find that middle aged woman in search of a young man.
but everything else is awesome.
pool tables and shuffleboard. a most visit when in Cayucos

Pizza Party

Yesterday I bought pizza for 40 of my students as a reward for their effort in class. I think only 4 said "thank you."

Basic Effort

Here is the caption from under this photo:

Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton is unable to catch a ball hit by San Francisco Giants' Aubrey Huff for a single during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 25, 2012 in Miami. Photo: Wilfredo Lee/ AP

I was in a restaurant so I did not benefit from hearing any commentary from the announcers. Pagan was on first and he went half way. When the ball hit the wall he easily made it to the third. The part I don't get: how did Huff not get to second? I'm still a little upset about it.