Big Stick Physics

Page 68 of 114

Gen Z people are strange.

October 2, 2024 / / 0 Comments

What went wrong with Gen Z?   Why do they talk like this?

This was posted on the Teacher subreddit.   So much about this post baffles me.  We don’t know if the author is a man or a woman, but from posting history, is about 25 years old.

Why is this on a forum for teachers?  This is a “dating a coworker” scenario, not a teaching, school or education topic.  Does the poster have no friends with whom this could be discussed?

YUP! So I’ve found solace in forming connections with my colleagues. Recently, I’ve been bonding with another teacher over after-school work drinks, where we’ve both been able to vent about our experiences, students admin, and support each other through the ups and downs of our jobs. However, as we’ve spent more time together, I’ve started to develop feelings for her.

Many posts from young teachers are fraught and dramatic.  Who says, “found solace in forming connections”?  A normal person might say, “I’m getting to know my colleagues”.  Better yet, leave it out as it isn’t relevant.

That could all be replaced with, “I am developing a crush on a colleague”.

Now, I’m faced with the question: what should I do about it? I understand I could just be trauma bonding with someone and maybe that’s why I’m catching feelings.

“Trauma bonding”?  “Catching feelings”?

How in the hell would a bunch of anonymous online strangers know if this is a rebound crush or something more? 

I’m thinking probably the best move is to wait for one of us to leave the school before we either make a move. But should I wait that long?

This person is a full-time teacher.  I moved around more than most, and was at Normandy for eight years and seventeen years at North Royalton.  Who waits years before dating?  Younger teachers seem so frightened of violating social norms.  Maybe the #MeToo movement shook them up.

The post ends with:

I also know a lot of teachers date/marry other teachers did y’all meet at the same school or what? Just need some advice.

This person doesn’t mention social anxiety or being neuro-divergent, which Gen Z brings up at every opportunity.  The person sounds normal, except we doubt that the person has dated, has good friends to talk with or  was ever in danger of a sexual encounter.

The topic of this post is unusual, but the word choices and writing style is pretty typical.  It’s strange.

Sparky is a dirty mutt.

September 30, 2024 / / 0 Comments

I can’t explain it.  Sparky looked normal when we went out the door.  It was a typical walk through the parking lot, into the woods, then through the orchard toward the house.  Sparky rolled around on the grass on the way back to the house. What the hell was he rolling in? 

I have been calling him piglet, so maybe he wallowed in mud.  It didn’t smell like anything.  He was pretty happy about it. 

To give Sparky a redemption arc, here is slo-mo video of him shaking off after his bath.  The door mat really needs vacuuming.  There is no dialogue because we both wanted to remain civil and just get through it.

Sparky embraces his robot overlords.

September 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This is why I can’t get anything done.  Sparky enjoys novel experiences and I am loaded with dumb ideas.

Before putting the RC cars away after the East Harbor State Park trip, I wanted to try walking the dog with the Land Rover.  Sparky automatically knew what to do.

This is our first attempt.  I had more trouble shooting video while driving, than Sparky had figuring out what he was supposed to do.   Sparky likes RC cars.  He chases the MAXX to get Mr. Moose, and steals treats from the Deadbolt.

He had no problem with the Land Rover taking him for a walk.  He didn’t pull, fight or try to take charge.  I drove across the creek and up the hill.  Trying to turn back down the hill, the Rover rolled.  Sparky wasn’t bothered, he took that as an opportunity to take a dump.

I really don’t mind not getting anything done.

RC Battery burns.

September 25, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Prior to our trip to East Harbor State Park, I charged up the batteries for the RC cars.

As the LiPo battery for the Land Rover was charging, I heard a short, sharp, sound., like a ruler hitting a desk.  It wasn’t very loud, and sounded like the crack from the discharge of a Van Der Graaff generator.

This kind of thing.

I went to check on the charging battery, and found that it looked inflated.  That’s real bad.  I turned off the charger, gingerly took the battery outside, and threw it in the yard where it couldn’t damage anything if it exploded or ignited.  Which, it apparently did at some point during the night.

It appears that since several batteries were going to be charged, the charger was set for a 4S battery, instead of a 3S.  The battery that was being charged had a high enough voltage that the charger didn’t recognized the problem.

Study says you should get a cat if you want.

September 23, 2024 / / 0 Comments

Science Alert: Owning a cat could make you a schizophrenic

Having a cat as a pet could potentially double a person’s risk of schizophrenia-related disorders, according to a recent study.

Full disclosure:  I am biased against cats.  I am convinced that having a cat isn’t nearly as good as having Sparky.  Except for barn cats.  If I had a real barn, I’d have barn cats.

Even with my bias, if a person wants a cat, don’t worry about this study.  The risk of schizophrenia is seven in a thousand.  A fourteen in a thousand chance is very low, and other risk factors are more pertinent.

Habitually smoking a mess of pot increases the risk about as much.

Return to East Harbor State Park

September 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

We returned to East Harbor State Park.  It wasn’t as good as last year.  2023

The big draw was the sand bars and deserted beaches.  This year, I brought three RC cars.  The MAXX, Rustler and TRX-4 Land Rover.  Lake Erie was higher, and there wasn’t many areas to use them.  We thought the lake might get tides, but it wasn’t that.  

Looking at Lake Erie water levels, it appears that the water level maxes out in the summer.  Last year, we went a month later.  Lake Erie water levels are usually down about 10 inches by the third week in October.  That doesn’t sound like much, but on a beach with a gradual grade, it makes all the difference.

The weather was perfect, but it was only a weekend trip.  I did notice that East Harbor has really good water pressure, so I had a better shower than I get at home.  That’s something.

I added two taller jack stands to my load out, and those worked great to turn the camper ramp into an elevated deck.  I really like it.  Sparky does too.  He is reluctant to jump from the ramp deck, but will if there is a compelling reason.  Another dog or small animal is enough reason. 

The new jump seats and foot stools are really comfortable. 

The trip was short, comfortable and unremarkable.

While camping, Pete reminded me of the fire tower, or “Swedish torch”, we had at East Harbor last year.  He sent me the video, so I’ll put it here at half-speed.

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 Big Stick Physics

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑