Rosie Cusswell

ebon_fyre's page

515 posts (546 including aliases). No reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 8 aliases.


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I'm almost in California...

No, I'm not kidding. One of our city streets crosses the border.


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Holy crap. I am NOT reading 11,000+ new FAWTL posts.


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Yikes. And I thought Phoenix's prices were bad.


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Freehold DM wrote:

?

Yeah.

Where is Orthos?

sends noisy new York-based search party

unlurks

Well, I know it's his quarterly overtime hell...


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1995 messages? No. TL; DR.


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So...

FINALLY moved out of my parents place. The "temporary" living arrangement lasted 6+ years, and was ruining relationships.

Kiddo has her own room for the first time ever.

We have our bedroom to ourselves for the first time in 3 years.

Life is good.


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*peeks out of her hiding spot behind the piles of papers waiting to be graded... and goes back to her lurking*


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Heading to the district office soon to complete my new hire paperwork.

Should get my classroom keys tomorrow!

Wheee!


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Freehold DM wrote:
gran rey de los mono wrote:
Treppa wrote:
gran rey de los mono wrote:
Alternatively, you could do as my parents used to do and regift something you had gotten as a white elephant gift on a previous occasion. In fact, in town we lived in while I was growing up, there was a "tradition" amongst the churchfolk that there was one specific item, I forget what it was, that was handed around every year as a white elephant gift. It had changed hands every year for over 20 years at the time we moved away.
I believe those are called "mathoms".
Personally, I just refer to them as "useless crap".
So...math books?

Shush you heathen. :D


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Note to self: arguing with a 2 year old makes you look more insane.


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captain yesterday wrote:
so it snowed Saturday night into yesterday morning, not much just 2 inches, and despite living in a city we have a nice little field behind our house (we're almost downtown too, which makes it even rarer!) so i took our Beagle Peaches out to chase field mice, and the dumb ass dog is sitting there digging into the snow and turf going after this field mouse den while literally 2 feet behind him 15-20 lil mice are popping out of one hole in the snow making a mad dash 10 feet to another hole, the whole time Peaches is completely oblivious to what happening behind him.

Sounds like a certain scene in Cinderella.


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Tired of well-meaning acts by my mom countermanding or undermining decisions I make with the kid.


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After the first 24 hours of an antibiotic, most diseases are no longer contagious.

Sorry to hear about your dad.


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Orthos wrote:
Freehold DM wrote:
Orthos wrote:
Yeah speaking as someone who has lived in a mostly mono-weather state - Arizona has "summer" (hot and dry), "monsoon" (hot and humid), or "winter-ish" (cooler and occasionally rainy but otherwise dry) - Texas has fairly varied and distinct weather patterns for the different months. They're all warmer than further north, but it's pretty clear when spring becomes summer, summer becomes autumn, autumn becomes winter, winter becomes spring. It's about as clear as it is here in Tennessee/Georgia.
if it's warm, it's not winter.
Warm is relative in this context. Yeah, if you were to visit there, or move there, you'd probably consider it warm (at least for the first few yeras, until your body acclimated). But compared to the rest of the year it's noticeably colder and with different weather patterns.

If by warm you mean highs in the 60s, yeah. There were times I had to defrost my windows before driving to work.


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Incoming rant about common core & "new math" approaches

Spoiler:
The biggest issue with the way math is being taught, especially at the younger ages, centers around the student being able to "develop" these skills... a la critical thinking and examining patterns. A CHILD'S BRAIN DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR THIS. The brain is physically unable to do these types of critical thinking/logic skills until later in life. (It usually manifests mid-teen years, which is why Euclidean Geometry was taught at the sophomore/junior level.) By expecting children to "learn" to critical think, they are frustrating them and driving them away from developing an enjoyment of math! Worse, those of us who HAVE to teach these programs are usually as lost as the children since the process no longer teaches in a logical manner. I kid you not, the lesson plans in my student teaching jumped around topic to topic before circling BACK around to finish teaching the first topic weeks later. ARGH!

I hate that children (and parents) are learning to hate something due to improper curriculum.


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It depends on what is meant by geometry. Geometry as the study of shapes, areas, perimeters, and angles in the fifth grade is good.

What most "old timers" like me remember as high school geometry is more appropriately called Euclidean geometry--proofs along with the study of the other stuff. Fifth grade is really too young to make the critical thinking leaps that these require. In fact, most teens don't have the brain capability to do them until between 15-16. (My dad, who taught high school geometry for 10 years or so said you could see in the students' works when they suddenly were able to make those critical thinking leaps.)

As a side note, most common core programs (at least in AZ) have done away with such proofs. Geometry ended up melded into the algebra classes instead. (As though there wasn't enough to cover already!)


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Scintillae wrote:
Freehold DM wrote:
ebon_fyre wrote:
Cr500cricket wrote:
Freehold DM wrote:
Tin Foil Yamakah wrote:
High school teachers, bless their souls that is a job that is severely underpaid.
Both more pay and more options are needed for the job.
My teachers get upwards of $90000 a year

Yeah, I'm starting at about 1/3 of that.

Really, I'm NOT in this for the pay. (Although it's significantly higher than what I was making before going back to school.) I'm one of those odd ducks who enjoys teaching, and loves math.

Sadly, I found out that the bachelor's degree pay scale tops out after 8 years, so I"ll be going BACK to school to get my Masters within a few years.

while I am diametrically opposed to math, I can only sing the praises of one who teaches for the love of the subject. I hope the kids and the administration and politics don't grind that love out of you, I truly truly do.

Love your passion. Still hate math.

Fun fact! Diametrically is derived from diameter, a math term! Still hate math? =D

Scint, I love you and your root words. :D

As my father said, teaching is a fine profession, once the administrators stay out of it.


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I received my official offer of employment from the high school I applied at yesterday.

As of January, I begin my teaching career!


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Our temperatures dropped from 91F to 75F in one night. We'll be back up in the 80s next week, but steadily cooling off for the rest of the year.

In other words, I get to wear shoes instead of sandals.


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Only 4 more until my degree.


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GM Umbral Ultimatum wrote:
Muhuhuhuahahahahahah.

Stop it. You're scare me... I mean the children.


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All the spoiler tags in the Kingmaker journal makes me twitchy. ESPECIALLY when someone mentions evil GM notetaking.


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Freehold DM wrote:

Sorry for the long silence.

** spoiler omitted **

Kill them ALL.

Seriously, though, hope things improve!


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LordSynos wrote:
ebon_fyre wrote:
LordSynos wrote:
Freehold DM wrote:
LordSynos wrote:

@ Orthos - Is this your first time playing FF VI? It's my second favourite FF, after VII, so good to see (hear/read?) someone enjoying it. :) Never knew that about Gau either, played the whole game without using him. Never real took to his character. Also didn't help that I didn't have a guide. :P

Speaking of guides, I find myself using guides a lot more these days than I would have when I was younger. Possibly a reflection of having less time to commit to games, and figuring things out myself.

0.0

Say wha?

Yeah, you know? Final Fantasy VII? The greatest video computer-game of all time?

;)

No. Nononono.

Baldur's Gate and BG2 remain my favorites.

now for the real fun... :P

Nah, Dark Alliance was the pinnacle of the Baldur's Gate series. Truly, none of the others in the series came close.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

I played them way back when they were first released. They were my first introduction into RPGs, and really they were what got me hooked into computer/video games.

I have a long list of favorites, actually. However, nothing beats those two for me.


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LordSynos wrote:
Freehold DM wrote:
LordSynos wrote:

@ Orthos - Is this your first time playing FF VI? It's my second favourite FF, after VII, so good to see (hear/read?) someone enjoying it. :) Never knew that about Gau either, played the whole game without using him. Never real took to his character. Also didn't help that I didn't have a guide. :P

Speaking of guides, I find myself using guides a lot more these days than I would have when I was younger. Possibly a reflection of having less time to commit to games, and figuring things out myself.

0.0

Say wha?

Yeah, you know? Final Fantasy VII? The greatest video computer-game of all time?

;)

No. Nononono.

Baldur's Gate and BG2 remain my favorites.


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Freehold DM wrote:
Orthos wrote:
LordSynos wrote:
Orthos wrote:
I haven't even started on VIII, which I also have on Steam.

And you're better off for it. :P

More seriously, VIII is my least favourite of the pre XI series by a significant margin. It is not a very good FF, and not a very good game at all, in my opinion.

Heh, don't tell Ebon that, it's her favorite.

Quote:
What's Terranigma btw? Never heard of it.
It's an Enix game that's sort of a spiritual successor to Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia. It was never released outside Japan, so you have to make do with (very good, IMO) fan translations. Further info here (but spoilers, obviously).

You mean Ebon is THE ONE PERSON who liked VIII?

Her arrival was foretold.

And FFX, X-2, and XII. I know, I'm a heretic. I have FFVII on Steam but can't seem to get into the story.


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Thanks for the kudos. It was a delay tactic until we realized the troops were essentially in a routed condition, which would force a surrender if we surrounded them. As a fan of Leverage, I appreciate the compliment! Still not sure who the Mastermind is, but pretty sure that Lilith is 10 pounds of crazy in a 5 pound bag.


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Orthos wrote:
The hide thread button and ignore user script are your friends.

Yes, but I naively tend to think "maybe it won't be that bad"...

And then end up in a frustrated ARGH state due to it being worse.


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Someday, I will learn to NOT CLICK on obviously trolling topics.

Ugh.


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He mentioned the M-word and went on and on about a ring! He earned worse than a pen thrown at him and he knows it!


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Sadly, or stupidly, I agreed to a schedule of classes that has no breaks in it until I'm done in February. Considering I start teaching in January, I'm going to be one busy bee.


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Fairly sure her superpower involves puns and sarcasm.


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lynora wrote:
Orthos wrote:
silverhair2008 wrote:
Orthos, you stop having birthdays at 29 and just celebrate the anniversary instead. That way you never get older.

Oh I understand the excuse of it. I just never thought it necessary =) I'll be hitting 30 next June.

Ebon and I had a friend who did that a lot when we were both living in Phoenix, it was always a little silly we thought.

Yeah, I agree with you on this, Orthos. I'm 37 and I have never in my life seen any reason to be ashamed of my age. I mean, geez, it's not like there's something wrong with getting older. I think of it more as an achievement. Hey, look, I made it another year without dying. Woo! ;P

For me, it's silly for multiple reasons (mainly that nobody ever believes I'm over 30). I'm 33 and quite happy. =)


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Tin Foil Yamakah wrote:
I will be starting Mummy's Mask tonight for PFS, nothing like that new AP feeling.

I'm hoping to DM that AP in the future. We have a TON of campaigns planned out for our group already though, so who knows when it will be.


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It's not. Apparently some errors in translation have led to some panic.

They're closing doors while they restructure after Miyazaki's departure. They intend to reopen with new lead artists, etc. (At least, this was what I heard latest.)


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Swarms. Minions are swarms. :D


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As someone who has played every alignment except LE, it 100% depends on the players. Those who want to be jerks will be jerks no matter what alignment they are on paper.


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David M Mallon wrote:
Orthos wrote:

I haven't had any grievously mechanically inept characters but... here's the first character who came to mind when I read the title of this thread:

A summoner|alchemist in a gestalt game who introduced his character by entering the scene with his catgirl eidolon on a leash. And then was surprised and befuddled when the entire party and a few nearby NPCs reacted badly.

Yeah.

So much nope.

Ah, yes. The "catgirl master." What got me was the PLAYER didn't understand why the characters were reacting badly either.


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Orthos wrote:

As a player, I'm playing an LE Zen Archer in Age of Worms. The rest of our party includes a CN Thug Rogue, a LN Druid, and - you guessed it - a Paladin. She and my monk have had many a discussion on differences of morals and opinion on many things. She hasn't smited me yet, but I'm also currently too low-level to detect evil on (only 3rd, might get 4th next session or two). Also we and the druid get along far better with each other than any of us does with the Rogue - our party is very much Lawful-leaning outside of him, so there's that involved as well. (And a bit of guy vs girls, since all the Lawful characters are female and the Rogue's the only guy in the party. ;) )

This isn't the first time we've had a Paladin and an evil character in the same party, either. Our group seems to be able to handle it pretty well.

As the player of the paladin in the group, I find it's an interesting dynamic. It helps that the paladin's oaths are specifically against undead, and that her archetype sacrifices Detect Evil for Detect Undead.


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Good news on the teaching job front. Regardless of the school's stupidity, I have a job in January. I may start as a long-term substitute teacher and transfer to certified teacher later in the semester. The long-term subs make the same as starting teachers, so I'm significantly less worried. The school is hurting for math teachers (only 5 teachers for a 5A sized school). The administration would take me on as a long-term sub this fall, but I know my limits. Teaching full-time and finishing school full-time would be impossible.


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Ack. No. No naked dishwashing. *ahems*


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LordSynos wrote:
Steam: ** spoiler omitted **

Thanks again for your generosity!


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My only complaint is that I want to read more. =)


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Tordek Rumnaheim wrote:
Celestial Healer wrote:
Afternoon, all. What did I miss?
Do you know what I miss? Updates to AZ's soap opera in response to this question.

Me too!


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So, after much deliberation, I've decided to apply for/accept the offer presented to me by one of the high schools here. They're willing to "hire" me now, pending completion of classes, with availability to start in January.

It's not with my first choice. I have little/no respect for the person who will be my direct supervisor. (I know too much about her, since she used to work under my dad. Stunts she pulled, poor teaching practices, etc. I hope she's matured, but we'll see.) BUT, it's a job. Something I haven't had in 6 years. And it's a foot in the door with the district. I can always transfer schools if I feel the need to.


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MagusJanus wrote:

Thank you all for your well-wishes.

I know I need to handle well-wishes better. I'm... not good at it.

You do just fine. =)


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FuelDrop wrote:

Player says: Hi.

Player means: Greetings, fool. There is no turning back now, no escape from this rabbit hole of horror and dread, ending only in the doom of the game and fallout so bad that you'll never want to see your friends again. Then, when you are completely and utterly broken I will feast on your agonized tears.

Alternatively...

Player means: Hello.

Alternatively, this may be the DM in disguise. ;)


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What kind of day is it? Lazy.

Stayed out too late last night.


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Player says: Can we talk?
Player means: I have an issue, but I don't like confrontations. Be gentle!

Player says: We need to talk.
Player means: I'm about to berate you for possibly imagined slights and errors.

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