Flashes of Panic

We’ve reached that stage in the semester where there is a pretty clear accounting of what must be covered in class (not much) and what work must be done (quite a lot) before it is Over. My list is long, but seems manageable; I have two sit-down exams and two projects between three classes, plus a last homework assignment in one of them.

The professors of both sit-down exams have pulled variants on the give-us-more-rope theme; one has given us half the questions for the exam in advance, to prepare at home, (because then he can give us a four-hour exam in a two-hour time slot,) and the other is allowing us to bring “a single sheet of paper” to the final. The composition of this single sheet of paper, of course, will become such an obsession to most students that they will, in fact, study fairly well by composing it. I’m not sure it will work for me; what I put on the sheet will probably end up not helping me much.

I have at least two lengthy posts turning over in my mind, one on women in CS (no deep thoughts, just some observations from what appears to be an anomalous department,) and one about the first arguments in the which-degree-do-I-stop-with case. (I have eighteen months to worry about it.)