pipilo's Journals on Buzznet http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/ en-us <![CDATA[Alcohols, Aldehydes, and Ketones]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/12804/ I like teaching this organic chemistry course.  The students are a little scared at first, but they really get into labs like this where they make things that have familiar and interesting aromas, like the wintergreen minty smell of methyl salicylate.  They don't have to understand all the reactions yet, but they can enjoy the experiences.  The great thing is that they've all had another chemistry course before and they're all good students who know what it takes to pass a tough science course.  Most of them will be going into nursing or another allied health science field.

These two students were pretty proud of the silver mirror they created on their test tube by adding the Tollens reagent to their formaldehyde solution.  It doesn't show up too well in the photo, but it's a shiny coat of silver metal, all around the bottom of one of the tubes.


]]> Buzznet pipilo 2006-02-25T09:39:10Z <![CDATA[Say no to torture.]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/6079/
Didn't George W Bush learn the Golden Rule?! What the heck did Barbara teach him when he was a kid?   What kind of a mother is she anyway? ]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-11-08T12:48:00Z <![CDATA[White Sox - Astros?]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/4923/ The White Sox are in baseball's world series.  They haven't won since 1917.  Astros look like they're headed there too, for the first time since their team was formed in 1962.  It's nice to see these teams still in the hunt, especially after the big Red Sox win last year.  For you non-USA friends out there, yes, we know it's not really a World series, just our US-Canadian championship.  Still it's pretty exciting for us over here.

By the way, I was watching cricket from India on TV yesterday.  I don't know anything about that sport.  It seems a little like baseball.  I hope it's on TV more often, so I can figure out how it works, and how they score so many runs!

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-10-17T20:14:28Z <![CDATA[Teaching]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/4908/ On Friday I had meetings at three different colleges.  Two department meetings at colleges where I now teach, sandwiched around a meeting with a teacher at a different college, where I've never taught.  My two current college employers are asking me to teach again in the spring, and now I've been offered another job teaching at the new college.  Am I crazy?  I love teaching and this will be great.  One of the courses is organic and biochemistry, neither of which I've taught in a while, but I think I'll do okay.  I still have my other job too, but that will have to take a back seat to all these teaching assignments.  It's where I want my life to go.  Teaching gives me energy and satisfaction.  I love to see when students "get it," and that happens pretty often in a chemistry class, if the students let themselves learn the stuff.  Some students have a hard time getting themselves to pay attention and learn, for various reasons. Most of my courses are intro courses, so it's not like they're expected to come in with any knowledge.  They just need to be ready to learn.  The challenge is reaching the students who aren't quite ready.   Next semester, the challenge may also be staying organized enough to remember what I'm doing, and how the students are doing, in each course.  Wish me luck!

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-10-17T13:59:00Z <![CDATA[Visit home]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/4276/ Buzznet pipilo 2005-10-04T11:29:29Z <![CDATA[College]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/3667/ I sure do love the college environment.  My years at Bates were fun, but I think Matt may be in for an even better time.  He's better prepared for college than I was, especially when it comes to friends and relationships, probably academically too.  He's a much better reader.  The great thing about college is the way that you can casually walk to a friends room and visit or just hang out.  I miss that in my adult years.  Everything needs to be carefully arranged: visits, times, places, etc.  You can't just drop in on somebody, and everybody's too busy to just hang out. 

Matt's dining situation is ideal as well.  All he can eat, 14 meals a week.  Who can beat that? The food is excellent too, with several choices each meal, plus a full salad bar, taco bar, pizza, desserts.  What a life. 

This is Welcome Week at UCI and hundreds of opportunities for Matt's time will present themselves.  It's a week of discovery, entertainment, establishing relationships, and fun.  Classes start the following week and I'm hoping he knows enough to hit the ground running in this short quarter system.  I hope he finds some favorite places to study and some good ways to relax and recharge. Ahh, college.

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-09-18T23:15:51Z <![CDATA[At last, a real person from Panera!]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/1700/ Progress?  Seems to be human this time, but no name attached.  Perhaps it's progress, but the site is still blocked, 10 days after my initial inquiry.  I am naturally an optimistic person, perhaps to a fault.  Things seem to be looking up.  If a public apology is owed, I'll post it here, along with an endorsement, perhaps.  But not yet.

Here's the sequence so far...

Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 2:48 PM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: blocked site

Hi,

I post my own photos on http://pipilo.buzznet.com. I have not posted anything in the "Forbidden Category "Intimate Apparel/Swimsuit" that you have stated as the reason for blocking my site. I post mainly family photos. Most recently, I have posted a few photos from a major league baseball game.

Please unblock access to my website.

Thanks,

David

From: support@icoacorp.com [mailto:support@icoacorp.com]

Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 7:34 AM

Subject: Re: blocked site

We appreciate your concern. Due to the public nature of the Panera Wireless Service, Panera Bread reserves the right to filter the internet service. Thank you for your e-mail request. We will be looking into the site you mentioned and, if approved, it will be filtered within 72 hours.

Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 8:16 AM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: RE: blocked site

Dear support,

I have no problem with the idea of filters, as much of the internet is inappropriate to be accidently seen in public places like Panera. My site (http://pipilo.buzznet.com) is a site that I use to post family photos and other photos of my community and everyday life. If you find it inappropriate, I would appreciate knowing the reason.

Thank you,

Dave

From: support@icoacorp.com [mailto:support@icoacorp.com]

Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 9:34 AM

Subject: Re: blocked site

We appreciate your concern. Due to the public nature of the Panera Wireless Service, Panera Bread reserves the right to filter the internet service. Thank you for your e-mail request. We will be looking into the site you mentioned and, if approved, it will be filtered within 72 hours.

Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 2:55 PM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: RE: blocked site

Hello.

I am at Panera Bread and my site is still being censored. Can you tell me the reason for the censorship of http://pipilo.buzznet.com?

Thanks,

David

Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2005 8:45 PM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: RE: blocked site

Hi,

I am hoping to get a response to my previous question as to why my family photo collection site at http://pipilo.buzznet.com has been blocked at Panera Bread restaurants. The page that I get at Panera when I try to access my site says that it was blocked because of intimate apparel/swimsuits. I know that I do not have intimate apparel posted on my site. I also know that I have recently posted some photos of my son surfing at the beach, so I do have photos that include him in his swimsuit. Is this the reason my site is banned? Please let me know.

I would like to continue using the Panera wireless service. In fact, I have scheduled my office hours here for my college chemistry class. I will not, however, return to the restaurant if my site is banned because it includes photos of my 16-yr old son surfing in his swim suit.

Thanks,

David

From: support@icoacorp.com [mailto:support@icoacorp.com]

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 6:33 AM

Subject: Re: blocked site

We apologize for your inconvenience and appreciate your concern. Due to the public nature of the Panera Wireless Service, Panera Bread reserves the right to filter the internet service. Unfortunately this is done so through an automated system that does not distinguish between family sites and other questionable material. Thank you for your e-mail. We will be reviewing the site you mentioned and, if approved, it will be available within 72 hours.

Sincerely,

The PaneraBread Helpdesk

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 7:17 AM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: RE: blocked site

HELLOOOOOOOOO...

I got an email saying this same thing six days ago. Can somebody please answer the question? Are all emails to you answered with this response?

Thanks.

Dave

From: support@icoacorp.com [mailto:support@icoacorp.com]

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 7:56 AM

Subject: Re: blocked site

Dear Sir,

The blocking of your site does not reflect the policies at Panera concerning family pictures and such material. Because it is automated, the firewall used at PaneraBread stores simply uses a general monitor that blocks anything questionable. As a simple family site your request should have resulted in it becoming available within a few hours of you e-mail. I have resubmitted your site for review and our staff will be unblocking those they approve. Thank you for time and we apologize again for your inconvenience at the Panera stores. We appreciate your business and hope you continue to enjoy the free WiFi service.

Sincerely,

The PaneraBread Helpdesk.

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2005 8:10 AM

To: support@icoacorp.com

Subject: RE: blocked site

Hi Helpdesk!

Thanks for the reply. I really do enjoy Panera and am planning to use it to host my chemistry students for office hours next semester. I had previously used Barnes & Noble (in the same mall) but like Panera because of the soup, the bread, the more relaxed atmosphere, and the wireless. This censorship issue has been a thorn in my side for over a week now, so I was dismayed at the previous email, which I had received twice already, both six days earlier. Thanks very much for the actual reply. It really makes a difference to hear from an actual person at last!

Dave

 

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-08-09T08:20:00Z <![CDATA[At Panera, you can't read this.]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/1539/ Okay, so what's this all about?  If you're sitting in a Panera Bread restaurant right now, you can't read this, because they block all access to Buzznet sites!  Supposedly (according to the blocked site screen that popped up last time I tried to access http://pipilo.buzznet.com) because the site contains swimwear.  I checked my site and realized that in fact it does contain swimwear, in the three photos I posted of my son surfing with his friends.  Oh my!

Is anybody else experiencing such censorship?  I notice also that the entire Buzznet site is blocked.  Panera has a great wireless Internet access policy.  It's free and unlimited, which gives me a great place to sit and surf the net a bit between my daytime job and my nighttime job.  I get a bowl of soup and I'm all set for the evening.  Now this.  Ugh.

I asked one of the Panera employees about it and he said that it's a "Christian company" and they don't put up with things like swimsuits on the Internet.  Oh my god.  Are these people crazy?  Are they worshipping the same God I know?  Somehow I doubt it.  Somehow I wonder if the employee really knows what he's talking about.  It can't be true. I know the "Christian Right" sometimes goes a little overboard, but this is ridiculous.

I emailed the Panera censorship company, thee "SonicWALL Content Filter Service" run by ICOACorp.com and they said they'd check into it and, if appropriate, unblock my site within 72 hours.   

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-08-05T12:09:00Z <![CDATA[Buzznet Book]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/1279/ okay, I've done it!  I've ordered a Buzznet Book!  56 pages, to include all 336 of the photos I've uploaded so far, except for those that I've put into "communities" (which I have stopped doing because they seem to get lost like this).  Anyway, I love this idea of making a photo album of my Buzznet photos.  Most of them are among my favorites, or else I wouldn't have uploaded them.  I sent the book directly to my mom and dad in Massachusetts, so I'll have to wait a bit before I see it.  I'll be out there on the 12th of August, so the wait won't be too long. 

The photos are organized in album order, just like on this site, so all of the similar photos are grouped the same.  I kept 12 of them in my top gallery just so I'd have better control over the first two pages.  I'm not sure how the cover photos are selected, but I like the way it has turned out.  I decided to include only the captions, not the more wordy descriptions, because the descriptions seemed to have too large of an effect on the photo sizes.  With only the captions in place, all of the landscape photos seem to be the same size, and the portrait-oriented photos seem to be a bit smaller.  It might be nice to have an option of rotating the portrait-oriented photos just for these albums, so they'd print out the same size.  That's how it would look in a traditional photo album, as I recall.

Well, I'll let you all know how it looks once I see it.  Can't wait!

]]> buzznet books Buzznet pipilo 2005-07-30T13:38:00Z <![CDATA[Beachward]]> http://pipilo.buzznet.com/user/journal/889/ So many things to do, and I'm heading for the beach.  Bringing my camera and hoping to get a few good surfing shots of my son and his friend. Work is overrated.  Play is way underrated. 

Okay, here are three pics from our late afternoon beach visit.  We definitely don't do this enough.

]]> Buzznet pipilo 2005-07-23T15:13:00Z