Oh, for the love of dog

Nobody talks more of free enterprise and competition and of the best man winning than the man who inherited his father’s store or farm.
― C. Wright Mills (via azspot)

3 hours ago

This graph is getting really boring to make. The Fed needs to mix it up (but probably shouldn’t).

3 hours ago

I'm revising some things in my yearly self-assessment .

My 4 year anniversary is coming up (!) so I’ve just got a few responsibilities to remove/add. I think I’m going to take “positive attitude” out of my Strengths section.

I’m no liar.

5 hours ago

Well, we’re all different. Why should a smoker pay more?
― Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), when asked “Why should a woman pay more than a man [for health premiums]?”

5 hours ago

How is it 3:00 already?

Time sure flies when you’re actually doing work.

5 hours ago

From what I hear from graduate students, too many students are arriving in college thoroughly unequipped for it.

vindicatedcommunications:

ohfortheloveofdog:

Or they can be make-up artists or hairdressers, like Sammy suggested. I just think college has become too much of a business and they are letting anyone and everyone in, whether they have two brain cells to rub together or not. A BA/BS is practically meaningless nowadays. All the asshats in my office have one. Almost every stupid person I’ve ever met has had one. It still increases your average salary over a lifetime but I don’t see why.

Sorry Sarah if I go a bit off topic from what you stated.

But what’s the alternative? How should college’s judge on who to let in and not to let in? All they have that is reliable is high school grades and test scores - and we all know that not all schools are made the same.

Everyone has the right to an education, whether it’s worthless or not to them in the long run. Hell, they don’t know that going in - the progress of college may even make them realize what they really want to do.

I don’t know - maybe I’m reading it wrong but it seems like you’re stating that some parents need to just realize that their kid may be nothing more than a hairdresser.

And there’s nothing wrong with that - if that’s what Johnny wants to do, he can do it. But he can also get a BA and still be a hairdresser - people graduating with BAs are in their 20s. That’s still enough time to change their career path many many times! And if Johnny’s parents want to pay for that degree that he may not use, then thats their business too.

I don’t know - I just can’t think of another way to determine who gets into college or not besides the way they have it now. Sure, everyone’s getting it, but if they tighten it, those that already have disavanges may be out of the loop even more than they already are.

So, yea, kids may not be prepared for college, but I’d rather focus on a) who is standing this, because graduate students and teachers have a different perspective and their own biases, b) making high schools more prepared and c) highlighting the benefits of having higher education.

I don’t know. I think what frustrates me is how few college kids actually seem interested in gaining knowledge and sharpening their thinking skills, as opposed to partying their days away, waiting for their 4 years to be up so they can get that piece of paper.

5 hours ago

I was reading something in Washingtonian magazine about private schools in and around the District.

I just cannot believe people pay $30,000/year to send their special snowflakes to private schools. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.

6 hours ago

From what I hear from graduate students, too many students are arriving in college thoroughly unequipped for it.

lenorebeadsman:

ohfortheloveofdog:

Mmmmmm, no; I think students really are unequipped. A lot of college kids should not be in college. They should be doing something else. But everyone is pushed towards college so that’s what everyone does.

If I have kids I’m encouraging them to become plumbers and car mechanics. Seriously.

There are union gigs with great benefits and living wages that you can start earning once you’re 18. You’ll have a good pension, good health coverage, and you can have a job that lets you leave work at work. You can have a job where people care about you. I wish more people would go into these jobs. We need carpenters and steelworkers and welders.

Or they can be make-up artists or hairdressers, like Sammy suggested. I just think college has become too much of a business and they are letting anyone and everyone in, whether they have two brain cells to rub together or not. A BA/BS is practically meaningless nowadays. All the asshats in my office have one. Almost every stupid person I’ve ever met has had one. It still increases your average salary over a lifetime but I don’t see why.

6 hours ago

From what I hear from graduate students, too many students are arriving in college thoroughly unequipped for it.

vindicatedcommunications:

(via stillawannablessedbe)

Or too many students are being forced to take 101 classes that they don’t care about.

Mmmmmm, no; I think students really are unequipped. A lot of college kids should not be in college. They should be doing something else. But everyone is pushed towards college so that’s what everyone does.

If I have kids I’m encouraging them to become plumbers and car mechanics. Seriously.

6 hours ago