Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Oregonian ran an article today titled, "Markets Threaten Oregon University Endowments" (Nov 30, 2008, Metro NW section, B-1). The article profiles Reed College's finances (which are gloomy, but probably no worse than anyone else's) and it features a nice… Continue reading →

Several years ago I came across a Chem 201 exam with the following written in the margin: "Albert is sick and in pain, so I brought clean forks". Afterward I asked the student what that was all about and she… Continue reading →

We won't be using liquid mercury in the o chem lab, but it was widely used in many of the research labs where I worked. I even played with some liquid mercury when I was little. This video shows you… Continue reading →

An idiosyncratic assortment of suggestions and observations based on 23+ years of teaching…. Continue reading →

Once you get used to them, you may find that the problems in your textbook have a game-like quality. If you make the right mental "moves", you will nearly always solve the problem. It's a nice way to get started… Continue reading →

My first genuine taste of organic chemistry came in my sophomore year of college (73-74). I studied from a large (1000 page) textbook not too different from yours. There was a lot to remember, but I was doing alright until… Continue reading →