NY Time High Cost Of Driving Ignites Online Class Boom

On July 2nd I started a poll on number of requests for online classes. I started this poll after noticing the number of emails I was receiving had increased over the number of emails I had received the previous year. I was not sure if the increase in the number of requests was due to my excellent teaching style or due some other factors. This article from the NY Times points to high gas prices, so it was not me (my ego is deflated).

The story talks of how students after getting rid of their gas guzzlers are now turning to online education.

First, Ryan Gibbons bought a Hyundai so he would not have to drive his
gas-guzzling Chevy Blazer to college classes here. When fuel prices kept
rising,
he cut expenses again, eliminating two campus visits a week by
enrolling in an online version of one of his courses

... thousands of students nationwide, including many who were previously
reluctant to study online, have suddenly decided to take one or more college
classes over the Internet."

Also the story points out that the biggest surge in online education is happening at community colleges

"...the greatest surges have been registered at two-year community
colleges, where most students are commuters, many support families and few can
absorb large new expenditures for fuel."

6 Days Till and Driving Around Rio

Today we went out to eat.
Kevin drove and it was much safer than Colin's driving.
We ate at the Crepes and Grapes place with the horrible music.


check the poll for a question regarding the picture!

6

Food Around Rio Bad Direction!

We had Mexican food at lunch. The Faculty Association fed us Enchilada so we were not in the mood to eat Mexican again. We were debating where to go when we saw one of the Auto-tech Instructors. We (I) asked him for where can we find good food. He started telling us about a great Mexican place but we said "oh stop!" as the Enchilada from lunch turned in our stomaches. He said there is a great Italian place past the Swiss place on the right. He estimated about half a mile past the Swiss place on Workman mill.
With that information we drove in search of Italian food. We passed the Swiss place and the first shopping center on our right did not have any Italian food. We thought about going further but there was a traffic jam. Quickly and conveniently we decided that the Auto guy was wrong. Convinced that we are right and the Auto Guy was wrong we made a U-turn and ended up at the Greasy place with great fast food (look at the previous post).

Colin and Kevin had cheeseburgers with no onions. Once Colin got his burger he removed the lettuce and tomatoes too! He said "I do not like fruit!" He was talking about the Tomatoes. I had some burger with an Anaheim Pepper on it. I forget the name of it! I got zucchini with my burger which was greasy and good.
When we got back the parrot (or some kind of bird) in the auto shop was laughing at us.

BTW: Why do they have a bird in the Auto shop? Is it used to monitor CO2 levels in the Auto shop?

Food Around Rio

On Thursday, we the three musketeers or the three stooges (depending on your point of view), went out for dinner again. Our trip began with me suggesting that we drive down Workman Mill to Whittier Blvd. Mr Y. complained on the whole drive (approximately 5 minute). We turned on Whittier and again on Philadelphia. We parked in the free parking lot passed Greenleaf on Philadelphia. We saw a Mexican resturant with the sign "Cheese Enchilada $4.95 special". I took a picture of it but can not figure out how to download it to my computer. We walked in but Mr. Y. complained about the harsh chemical smell. He was correct about the smell but yet the call of enchilada was strong. Kevin or I suggested going to some other Mexican place on Greenleaf.
As we were walking down (or up) Greenleaf Mr. Y. complained about the distance. Kevin and I kept pretending that we could see the Mexican place when in fact we did not. As we were having fun with Mr. Y. we saw an Italian restaurant named Ristorante Barilla. We agreed to eat at this place.
The food was good. Colin ordered Manicotti or as I would spell it Man-in-a-cot-ee. He liked it very much. I looked over to his plate and saw that it was basically an Italian Enchilada.
Kevin ordered Pollo e Panchetta which he liked. I ordered Ravioli but I asked that they cover it with Alfredo sauce instead of meat sauce. The Ravioli was excellent but I felt the Alfredo sauce was too salty.
Kevin paid with his card so he can get miles. I still owe him $10. I hope he will use his miles to fly to Italy and compare his Pollo e Panchetta in Whittier to the Italian version. The atmosphere was nice and there were other customers.
Overall not bad, we may go there again! However, next time we (Mr. Y and I) will pick on Kevin.