271
News:
Max is a Shadowblade, a supernatural--and supernaturally competent--warrior bound to protect her witch Giselle. As a Shadowblade, Max doesn't age. She is better, faster, stronger than any ordinary human being. And she hates it. Giselle betrayed her trust to make Max what she is, and though she is magically compelled to protect Giselle and follow orders, Max works against her witch in every way she can. Continue reading Bitter Night
Review by Silk
Discuss it in our forums.
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
272
Everything Else / Re: Cool Stuff Found on the Internet, again
« on: August 31, 2006, 02:47:57 PM »Quote
Do we have a designated thread for "interesting news stories"?
We probably should. Then instead of having a new topic each time one of us wants to comment on an interesting news story, we'd have a big long conglomerate thread. Which has its pros and cons--but more pros, I think.
273
Everything Else / New SAT Causes Scores to Drop
« on: August 31, 2006, 01:06:56 PM »
I remember we had a topic on here a while back discussing the new SAT. I tried to find it, but no such luck. But I found this article interesting: SAT score drop biggest in 31 years .
Not being a fan of standardized testing, even though it worked to my advantage (I was always good at figuring out "the game" of a test and did quite well on both my ACT and SAT), I still do see the necessity of it. Colleges have to have some sort of standard by which to judge prospective students. Still, it is interesting how these statistics have sparked debate. The College Board insists that the drop in SAT scores is not significant or a result of the test being longer:
There's a rebuttal, of course:
I thought this observation particularly apt:
I think that's sad but true--tests can only do so much in measuring "knowledge." They're like a necessary but inefficient gate-keeper to college education.
Apparently there is some evidence that more students are taking the ACT, since most colleges accept both. I'll have to pass the news on to my younger brother, who's a high school senior this year--especially since while SAT scores dropped, ACT scores went up.
Not being a fan of standardized testing, even though it worked to my advantage (I was always good at figuring out "the game" of a test and did quite well on both my ACT and SAT), I still do see the necessity of it. Colleges have to have some sort of standard by which to judge prospective students. Still, it is interesting how these statistics have sparked debate. The College Board insists that the drop in SAT scores is not significant or a result of the test being longer:
Quote
The College Board, which owns the exam, downplayed the drop, saying it amounts to a fraction of one question per exam. The board's explanation: about 3 percent fewer test-takers, out of 1.5 million, tried the exam a second time. Combined math and reading scores typically rise 30 points when a student retakes the test.
There's a rebuttal, of course:
Quote
Christine Parker, executive director of high school program development at test-prep company Princeton Review, said the College Board has always called even small increases important, so it's surprising to see it downplaying the decline.
"This is just the latest in a long line of bad news," she said. "They're in a very defensive posture."
I thought this observation particularly apt:
Quote
The new scores also stand out because just two weeks ago the rival ACT exam reported its biggest score increase in 20 years.
"It does show how meaningless the test is as a measure of educational quality, that technical changes in the test can significantly alter the (scores)," said Bob Schaeffer, an SAT critic and public education director of the group FairTest. "It's the test, not the education, that's being measured."
I think that's sad but true--tests can only do so much in measuring "knowledge." They're like a necessary but inefficient gate-keeper to college education.
Apparently there is some evidence that more students are taking the ACT, since most colleges accept both. I'll have to pass the news on to my younger brother, who's a high school senior this year--especially since while SAT scores dropped, ACT scores went up.
274
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: August 31, 2006, 12:36:24 PM »
If so, that's a whole lotta apples.
275
Brandon Sanderson / Re: WorldCon 2007
« on: August 31, 2006, 02:49:49 AM »
I *love* Blacker Darkness! It's the only one I've read of yours, Fell, but it still makes me laugh when I think of it. I'm so glad you have someone who is interested--and I sure hope it finds a home. Congrats! 
276
Books / Re: Want to read a good book?
« on: August 31, 2006, 02:45:51 AM »Quote
Perhaps I'm just a purist, but I much prefer a bound library book to a bunch of loose paper I had to pay for myself. If I'm gonna pay for it, it'll be bound and pretty.
I'm the same. But I wonder if this sort of attitude will last past our generation. We grew up with books--they are the norm. But what about kids now? I look at them with their iPods and cellphones and MySpace accounts and laptops and frequent Internet use and online reading, from websites to email to blogs to IMs, and I wonder if the value of a printed, bound, and packaged book will be lost on them.
I think there will always be a demand for books. But still, I wonder what growing up in an increasingly "web" world will do to people like my nephew, who is four and has a leapfrog that looks and acts like a computer and is already preparing him to be tech-savvy. Which is perhaps why I'm always buying him books--to remind him of what's really important
and make sure he grows up loving reading.
277
Movies and TV / Re: Chick Flicks
« on: August 31, 2006, 02:33:54 AM »
Did you ever watch her in that old Nickelodeon show "Clarissa Explains It All" ? I will always think of her that way. Ah, nostalgia. 
278
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2006: Generation X
« on: August 31, 2006, 02:28:15 AM »
Ooh...car looks snazzy. I'm glad you will have a way of getting to school and work.
279
Books / Re: What not to read
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:43:39 PM »
If you pay me $50 I'll start addressing you so.
280
Movies and TV / Re: review: Snakes on a Plane
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:42:03 PM »
I'm definitely not going to see this, so thanks for your review. It provided the entertainment I needed out of this hyped-up film.
Oh, and here's my favorite quote from the review:
Oh, and here's my favorite quote from the review:
Quote
"Snake Cam" mode is perhaps a second poor decision. But recognizing that the film is trying to be bad, it should be recognized that such a camera angle is virtually legislated. I'm entirely unsure why it was green. I wasn't aware that snakes saw everything in green. But such are the production values of the film that I'm sure this is correct.
281
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2006: Generation X
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:32:31 PM »
I was searching for something and came across some fun old threads, including an old Geek Girl (that I hadn't read and made me laugh--both the article and forum comments) and one of my own threads. I was touched by how nice everyone was to me on the "Kidnapped by Hippies" thread.
I have to say that I am happy and grateful for TWG! I'm glad I came back. I have a lot of friends on here and I appreciate all of you. /mushy stuff
(On another note: Man, I need to get back onto a healthy diet. The hippie thread reminded me of that. It's time to recommit myself. Diet really affects my health, and I have to remember that, and actually live it.)
I have to say that I am happy and grateful for TWG! I'm glad I came back. I have a lot of friends on here and I appreciate all of you. /mushy stuff
(On another note: Man, I need to get back onto a healthy diet. The hippie thread reminded me of that. It's time to recommit myself. Diet really affects my health, and I have to remember that, and actually live it.)
282
Rants and Stuff / Re: Superfly on notice!
« on: August 30, 2006, 02:58:37 PM »
Sleep is good. I say if you can get it, do. Don't fight it! Â
283
Rants and Stuff / Re: Superfly on notice!
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:40:47 AM »
You know what, I don't think eating a whole carton of rice pudding late at night was a good idea. Now I'm super hyper--and nobody wants to play with me. 
284
Rants and Stuff / Re: Superfly on notice!
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:26:21 AM »
Hey, MsFish, are you there?
285
Movies and TV / Re: Chick Flicks
« on: August 30, 2006, 03:23:27 AM »
Stand-byes? Ooh, this is difficult. I guess I'll stick with the ones I own. *Chimera quickly scans her horde of DVDs/videos for chick-flicky ones*
-Emma--the Gwenyth Paltrow version, of course (The banter between Emma and Mr. Knightly is some of my favorite movie dialogue ever.)
-Aladdin (He was my first true love. I know he's a cartoon, but man was he HOT. And smart and funny and earnest--yeah, I still like him.)
-While You Were Sleeping (So quirky and funny. What girl doesn't love this movie? 'Nuff said.)
-Room with a View (Please, please will some gorgeous guy make out with me in a field of flowers in Italy?)
-Bend it Like Beckham (It's about people who are East Indian living in London. A mix of two things I think are really cool. And I relate to her dilemma of wanting to follow her dreams, even if her family doesn't agree. Oh, and Scottish boy is cute, too.)
-My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Another funny/romantic one. I seem to require humor with my romance. Go figure.)
-Emma--the Gwenyth Paltrow version, of course (The banter between Emma and Mr. Knightly is some of my favorite movie dialogue ever.)
-Aladdin (He was my first true love. I know he's a cartoon, but man was he HOT. And smart and funny and earnest--yeah, I still like him.)
-While You Were Sleeping (So quirky and funny. What girl doesn't love this movie? 'Nuff said.)
-Room with a View (Please, please will some gorgeous guy make out with me in a field of flowers in Italy?)
-Bend it Like Beckham (It's about people who are East Indian living in London. A mix of two things I think are really cool. And I relate to her dilemma of wanting to follow her dreams, even if her family doesn't agree. Oh, and Scottish boy is cute, too.)
-My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Another funny/romantic one. I seem to require humor with my romance. Go figure.)