I can see a trend...

Should this blog become a repository for all the wacky stuff that I encounter whilst teaching? Perhaps.
Exhibit A: an email I received last night from a student I had about 2 years ago.
I've copied the email below but I've X'd out the student's name...keep in mind everything between the lines is one email.

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Dear.Peter Sprangers

Hello.
This is XXXXX who was your student at 2006, spring.
I think you are still teaching stat 135. Right??
I transfered to another school, far away from OSU.
I want to transfer stat 135 to my current school. But this school require me to bring stat135 syllabus. I checked online, but I can just see the "basic syllabus". But, I need to see detail.

Dear, peter..
I am so sorry for asking this kind of thing to you.
But I need your help. You are only one who can save my life.
Could you send me e-mail with stat 135 syllabus attached??
Please..I do not want to take stat class again. It was so horrible,,difficult..
Please..help me out..
Thank you very much.

Have a good day.
XXXXX

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Awesome. So I send the student a copy of our current syllabus, a feat which takes me approximately 3 and a half minutes. Her response:

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Thank you for kindness.
I appreciate..
Have a good weekend.
God bless you~
XXXXX

---

Me, saving lives since 2005. Sprocketplug out.

Why I'm a bad professor....part 2...

Student writes:

Would you say that the problems that we did on Wednesday are about the same difficulty and type as the ones on the exam?

Thanks,
Jeff



I respond:

The review on Wednesday was a subtle machination to lull you into a false sense of security. The actual exam will cover such topics as: 16th Century French politics, the efficacy of NSAIDs after anthroscopic surgery, and the life and times of Mannie Davis, director of the 1956 cartoon Heckel and Jeckel.

Cheers,

Peter



I'm a dick.

Why I'm a bad professor...

Me: ...so this pdf is defined for values of theta between 0 and positive infinity.

Student: Why can't theta be negative?

Me: Because that would cause a collision between time and anti-time resulting in the obliteration of our universe.

Student: ...

Me: Moving on. The expected value of this pdf....

Told you...

Slashdot.org Article

I'm not mentioned for security reasons.

-SP

Where have I been?

A whole month without posting???? I bet you're dying to know what I've been doing. Three words: human animal hybrids.

Using advanced statistical modeling and lasers I have done the impossible. Stay tuned for more information.

Also, if anyone has been watching Fox news it looks like they're gearing up to support a war with Iran. I, myself, think middle east wars are becoming a bit passé, but what do I know.

Safe journey spacefans, wherever you are.

-SP