[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=walterwhite]Speaking ofjimmy Carter I had an urge to buy a Carter era 1978 honda civic.[/quote]

scaredy, I hope you’re using that for a moped around your property and not letting your kids take it on the road. I saw an entire family of four perish in front of my eyes in one of those after being broadsided by a Ford F-150 pickup when they were making an (unwise) left turn. Those cars were “tin cans” in that era.[/quote]

Right you are, BG. I had a ’79 Civic – it was my first brand-new car, and I loved it. But I hit the right rear bumper of a similar-era full-size Ford Bronco – a real behemoth – with the left front of my car. He was stopped, and I was moving at 10 to 15 mph, and it still crumpled up my quarter panel like an accordion. Not a dent on his.

Didn’t stop him from suing for $100 grand for “grievous injuries” to his head, neck, back, legs, abdomen, blah, blah, plus serious mental distress. In fact, that lawsuit took its place on the docket beside 3 others he had going at the same time, and countless others he had “settled” in the prior five years. Poor guy just had the *worst* luck when he was out driving…..But I digress….

I’m not sure that there are many compact, or even mid-size, sedans or hatchbacks that would fare well after being t-boned by the full-size pickups that are so prevalent in suburbs and cities these days. I am an extremely defensive driver when out in mine. But, also being a motorcyclist, I am well-acquainted with boneheads who make ill-advised left turns in front of me at the last-minute. The ability to perceive depth and distance is one of those handy driving skills that seem to have been swapped for facility at dialing voicemail or texting.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=walterwhite]Speaking ofjimmy Carter I had an urge to buy a Carter era 1978 honda civic.[/quote]

scaredy, I hope you’re using that for a moped around your property and not letting your kids take it on the road. I saw an entire family of four perish in front of my eyes in one of those after being broadsided by a Ford F-150 pickup when they were making an (unwise) left turn. Those cars were “tin cans” in that era.[/quote]

Right you are, BG. I had a ’79 Civic – it was my first brand-new car, and I loved it. But I hit the right rear bumper of a similar-era full-size Ford Bronco – a real behemoth – with the left front of my car. He was stopped, and I was moving at 10 to 15 mph, and it still crumpled up my quarter panel like an accordion. Not a dent on his.

Didn’t stop him from suing for $100 grand for “grievous injuries” to his head, neck, back, legs, abdomen, blah, blah, plus serious mental distress. In fact, that lawsuit took its place on the docket beside 3 others he had going at the same time, and countless others he had “settled” in the prior five years. Poor guy just had the *worst* luck when he was out driving…..But I digress….

I’m not sure that there are many compact, or even mid-size, sedans or hatchbacks that would fare well after being t-boned by the full-size pickups that are so prevalent in suburbs and cities these days. I am an extremely defensive driver when out in mine. But, also being a motorcyclist, I am well-acquainted with boneheads who make ill-advised left turns in front of me at the last-minute. The ability to perceive depth and distance is one of those handy driving skills that seem to have been swapped for facility at dialing voicemail or texting.

[eavesdropper]

Brian, I’ve used this guy’s YouTube lectures personally to help me out in some of my classes. He’s quite knowledgeable (not merely a know-it-all), and, more than that, he seems to have a knack for zeroing in on the areas with which students experience problems. He has a gift for teaching even though he wasn’t trained or educated to do so (as far as I know).

He’s been around for a few years now, and his lecture material has expanded to cover a very wide variety of topics. Like all material available on the internet, you have to be judicious when choosing sources of information. But, so far, he’s proven to be a sound source for my purposes.

[eavesdropper]

Brian, I’ve used this guy’s YouTube lectures personally to help me out in some of my classes. He’s quite knowledgeable (not merely a know-it-all), and, more than that, he seems to have a knack for zeroing in on the areas with which students experience problems. He has a gift for teaching even though he wasn’t trained or educated to do so (as far as I know).

He’s been around for a few years now, and his lecture material has expanded to cover a very wide variety of topics. Like all material available on the internet, you have to be judicious when choosing sources of information. But, so far, he’s proven to be a sound source for my purposes.

[eavesdropper]

Brian, I’ve used this guy’s YouTube lectures personally to help me out in some of my classes. He’s quite knowledgeable (not merely a know-it-all), and, more than that, he seems to have a knack for zeroing in on the areas with which students experience problems. He has a gift for teaching even though he wasn’t trained or educated to do so (as far as I know).

He’s been around for a few years now, and his lecture material has expanded to cover a very wide variety of topics. Like all material available on the internet, you have to be judicious when choosing sources of information. But, so far, he’s proven to be a sound source for my purposes.

[eavesdropper]

Brian, I’ve used this guy’s YouTube lectures personally to help me out in some of my classes. He’s quite knowledgeable (not merely a know-it-all), and, more than that, he seems to have a knack for zeroing in on the areas with which students experience problems. He has a gift for teaching even though he wasn’t trained or educated to do so (as far as I know).

He’s been around for a few years now, and his lecture material has expanded to cover a very wide variety of topics. Like all material available on the internet, you have to be judicious when choosing sources of information. But, so far, he’s proven to be a sound source for my purposes.

[eavesdropper]

Brian, I’ve used this guy’s YouTube lectures personally to help me out in some of my classes. He’s quite knowledgeable (not merely a know-it-all), and, more than that, he seems to have a knack for zeroing in on the areas with which students experience problems. He has a gift for teaching even though he wasn’t trained or educated to do so (as far as I know).

He’s been around for a few years now, and his lecture material has expanded to cover a very wide variety of topics. Like all material available on the internet, you have to be judicious when choosing sources of information. But, so far, he’s proven to be a sound source for my purposes.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=pfflyer]I have several kids approaching HS age so am very concerned about how to get them college educated (if really needed) without becoming overly indebted. It is so lame because I could teach them how to run a business better than some professor. However this country still is in love with the degree even though it has become so devalued. Also we talk regularly about which job categories will be growth oriented in the future and which are dying out. A tough time to be a father…[/quote]

pfflyer, there’s nothing wrong with showing your kids how to run a biz. I’ve seen several local top-producing RE agents and one enrolled agent tax preparer around here put their newly licensed kid to work sitting open houses and acting as their transaction coordinator and/or Spanish translator. The tax preparer has their newly minted HS grad (now CC student) answering phones, copying and setting up appts in their office during tax season and beyond. They don’t even teach these practical skills in the (expensive) Wharton School of Business! It doesn’t hurt for a 19 yo to get up in the am, dress for biz, turn off their texting/twitter/ipod, etc and pretend like they’re in the “real world” for a few hrs a day.[/quote]

pfflyer, I agree with BG’s comments. You have the right idea, and I strongly urge you to “educate” your own children in the practical skills of running one’s own business, and to share the wisdom you’ve accrued in operating your own. However, your children NEED to go to college. Not because of the lucrative job offers they will get when they graduate, but because bachelors-level degrees are used as a basic screening device for many, if not most jobs these days. With more employers moving to online hiring practices, a person without a degree can be electronically prohibited from even applying for a job that specifies that applicants must have a minimum of a 4-year degree. It’s bullshit, and, strictly speaking, illegal, but it’s a common practice by your lazier and less talented human resources “professionals” who don’t want to have to actually read the resumes they receive.

That being said, DO NOT drown yourself in debt to accomplish this. It’s my humble opinion that most state universities are fine institutions, and more than adequate for vast majority of students. In fact, a large number of community colleges have worked diligently to improve their academic profiles over the past 25 years, and I see nothing wrong with sending your children to a good one for two years prior to sending them to a state university for their junior and senior years. If your kids are true high achievers in academics, and want to go to a more elite school, they should be able to qualify for scholarship funds to pay for the difference.

There are huge numbers of people today loudly voicing their distress over not being able to get a job once they graduate with a college degree. When I meet one, I ask them what it was they learned in college that makes them any more qualified for a job than they were when they graduated from high school. Frankly, a college student should be engaging in diverse activities during college, with the goal of ultimately getting that elusive job offer: classes, of course (with As, not Cs and Ds), but also internships, networking opportunities, volunteer positions, and summer jobs. It’s these things that not only add to a job skill set, but also show an individual’s desire to work hard, to learn, and to achieve.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=pfflyer]I have several kids approaching HS age so am very concerned about how to get them college educated (if really needed) without becoming overly indebted. It is so lame because I could teach them how to run a business better than some professor. However this country still is in love with the degree even though it has become so devalued. Also we talk regularly about which job categories will be growth oriented in the future and which are dying out. A tough time to be a father…[/quote]

pfflyer, there’s nothing wrong with showing your kids how to run a biz. I’ve seen several local top-producing RE agents and one enrolled agent tax preparer around here put their newly licensed kid to work sitting open houses and acting as their transaction coordinator and/or Spanish translator. The tax preparer has their newly minted HS grad (now CC student) answering phones, copying and setting up appts in their office during tax season and beyond. They don’t even teach these practical skills in the (expensive) Wharton School of Business! It doesn’t hurt for a 19 yo to get up in the am, dress for biz, turn off their texting/twitter/ipod, etc and pretend like they’re in the “real world” for a few hrs a day.[/quote]

pfflyer, I agree with BG’s comments. You have the right idea, and I strongly urge you to “educate” your own children in the practical skills of running one’s own business, and to share the wisdom you’ve accrued in operating your own. However, your children NEED to go to college. Not because of the lucrative job offers they will get when they graduate, but because bachelors-level degrees are used as a basic screening device for many, if not most jobs these days. With more employers moving to online hiring practices, a person without a degree can be electronically prohibited from even applying for a job that specifies that applicants must have a minimum of a 4-year degree. It’s bullshit, and, strictly speaking, illegal, but it’s a common practice by your lazier and less talented human resources “professionals” who don’t want to have to actually read the resumes they receive.

That being said, DO NOT drown yourself in debt to accomplish this. It’s my humble opinion that most state universities are fine institutions, and more than adequate for vast majority of students. In fact, a large number of community colleges have worked diligently to improve their academic profiles over the past 25 years, and I see nothing wrong with sending your children to a good one for two years prior to sending them to a state university for their junior and senior years. If your kids are true high achievers in academics, and want to go to a more elite school, they should be able to qualify for scholarship funds to pay for the difference.

There are huge numbers of people today loudly voicing their distress over not being able to get a job once they graduate with a college degree. When I meet one, I ask them what it was they learned in college that makes them any more qualified for a job than they were when they graduated from high school. Frankly, a college student should be engaging in diverse activities during college, with the goal of ultimately getting that elusive job offer: classes, of course (with As, not Cs and Ds), but also internships, networking opportunities, volunteer positions, and summer jobs. It’s these things that not only add to a job skill set, but also show an individual’s desire to work hard, to learn, and to achieve.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=pfflyer]I have several kids approaching HS age so am very concerned about how to get them college educated (if really needed) without becoming overly indebted. It is so lame because I could teach them how to run a business better than some professor. However this country still is in love with the degree even though it has become so devalued. Also we talk regularly about which job categories will be growth oriented in the future and which are dying out. A tough time to be a father…[/quote]

pfflyer, there’s nothing wrong with showing your kids how to run a biz. I’ve seen several local top-producing RE agents and one enrolled agent tax preparer around here put their newly licensed kid to work sitting open houses and acting as their transaction coordinator and/or Spanish translator. The tax preparer has their newly minted HS grad (now CC student) answering phones, copying and setting up appts in their office during tax season and beyond. They don’t even teach these practical skills in the (expensive) Wharton School of Business! It doesn’t hurt for a 19 yo to get up in the am, dress for biz, turn off their texting/twitter/ipod, etc and pretend like they’re in the “real world” for a few hrs a day.[/quote]

pfflyer, I agree with BG’s comments. You have the right idea, and I strongly urge you to “educate” your own children in the practical skills of running one’s own business, and to share the wisdom you’ve accrued in operating your own. However, your children NEED to go to college. Not because of the lucrative job offers they will get when they graduate, but because bachelors-level degrees are used as a basic screening device for many, if not most jobs these days. With more employers moving to online hiring practices, a person without a degree can be electronically prohibited from even applying for a job that specifies that applicants must have a minimum of a 4-year degree. It’s bullshit, and, strictly speaking, illegal, but it’s a common practice by your lazier and less talented human resources “professionals” who don’t want to have to actually read the resumes they receive.

That being said, DO NOT drown yourself in debt to accomplish this. It’s my humble opinion that most state universities are fine institutions, and more than adequate for vast majority of students. In fact, a large number of community colleges have worked diligently to improve their academic profiles over the past 25 years, and I see nothing wrong with sending your children to a good one for two years prior to sending them to a state university for their junior and senior years. If your kids are true high achievers in academics, and want to go to a more elite school, they should be able to qualify for scholarship funds to pay for the difference.

There are huge numbers of people today loudly voicing their distress over not being able to get a job once they graduate with a college degree. When I meet one, I ask them what it was they learned in college that makes them any more qualified for a job than they were when they graduated from high school. Frankly, a college student should be engaging in diverse activities during college, with the goal of ultimately getting that elusive job offer: classes, of course (with As, not Cs and Ds), but also internships, networking opportunities, volunteer positions, and summer jobs. It’s these things that not only add to a job skill set, but also show an individual’s desire to work hard, to learn, and to achieve.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=pfflyer]I have several kids approaching HS age so am very concerned about how to get them college educated (if really needed) without becoming overly indebted. It is so lame because I could teach them how to run a business better than some professor. However this country still is in love with the degree even though it has become so devalued. Also we talk regularly about which job categories will be growth oriented in the future and which are dying out. A tough time to be a father…[/quote]

pfflyer, there’s nothing wrong with showing your kids how to run a biz. I’ve seen several local top-producing RE agents and one enrolled agent tax preparer around here put their newly licensed kid to work sitting open houses and acting as their transaction coordinator and/or Spanish translator. The tax preparer has their newly minted HS grad (now CC student) answering phones, copying and setting up appts in their office during tax season and beyond. They don’t even teach these practical skills in the (expensive) Wharton School of Business! It doesn’t hurt for a 19 yo to get up in the am, dress for biz, turn off their texting/twitter/ipod, etc and pretend like they’re in the “real world” for a few hrs a day.[/quote]

pfflyer, I agree with BG’s comments. You have the right idea, and I strongly urge you to “educate” your own children in the practical skills of running one’s own business, and to share the wisdom you’ve accrued in operating your own. However, your children NEED to go to college. Not because of the lucrative job offers they will get when they graduate, but because bachelors-level degrees are used as a basic screening device for many, if not most jobs these days. With more employers moving to online hiring practices, a person without a degree can be electronically prohibited from even applying for a job that specifies that applicants must have a minimum of a 4-year degree. It’s bullshit, and, strictly speaking, illegal, but it’s a common practice by your lazier and less talented human resources “professionals” who don’t want to have to actually read the resumes they receive.

That being said, DO NOT drown yourself in debt to accomplish this. It’s my humble opinion that most state universities are fine institutions, and more than adequate for vast majority of students. In fact, a large number of community colleges have worked diligently to improve their academic profiles over the past 25 years, and I see nothing wrong with sending your children to a good one for two years prior to sending them to a state university for their junior and senior years. If your kids are true high achievers in academics, and want to go to a more elite school, they should be able to qualify for scholarship funds to pay for the difference.

There are huge numbers of people today loudly voicing their distress over not being able to get a job once they graduate with a college degree. When I meet one, I ask them what it was they learned in college that makes them any more qualified for a job than they were when they graduated from high school. Frankly, a college student should be engaging in diverse activities during college, with the goal of ultimately getting that elusive job offer: classes, of course (with As, not Cs and Ds), but also internships, networking opportunities, volunteer positions, and summer jobs. It’s these things that not only add to a job skill set, but also show an individual’s desire to work hard, to learn, and to achieve.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=pfflyer]I have several kids approaching HS age so am very concerned about how to get them college educated (if really needed) without becoming overly indebted. It is so lame because I could teach them how to run a business better than some professor. However this country still is in love with the degree even though it has become so devalued. Also we talk regularly about which job categories will be growth oriented in the future and which are dying out. A tough time to be a father…[/quote]

pfflyer, there’s nothing wrong with showing your kids how to run a biz. I’ve seen several local top-producing RE agents and one enrolled agent tax preparer around here put their newly licensed kid to work sitting open houses and acting as their transaction coordinator and/or Spanish translator. The tax preparer has their newly minted HS grad (now CC student) answering phones, copying and setting up appts in their office during tax season and beyond. They don’t even teach these practical skills in the (expensive) Wharton School of Business! It doesn’t hurt for a 19 yo to get up in the am, dress for biz, turn off their texting/twitter/ipod, etc and pretend like they’re in the “real world” for a few hrs a day.[/quote]

pfflyer, I agree with BG’s comments. You have the right idea, and I strongly urge you to “educate” your own children in the practical skills of running one’s own business, and to share the wisdom you’ve accrued in operating your own. However, your children NEED to go to college. Not because of the lucrative job offers they will get when they graduate, but because bachelors-level degrees are used as a basic screening device for many, if not most jobs these days. With more employers moving to online hiring practices, a person without a degree can be electronically prohibited from even applying for a job that specifies that applicants must have a minimum of a 4-year degree. It’s bullshit, and, strictly speaking, illegal, but it’s a common practice by your lazier and less talented human resources “professionals” who don’t want to have to actually read the resumes they receive.

That being said, DO NOT drown yourself in debt to accomplish this. It’s my humble opinion that most state universities are fine institutions, and more than adequate for vast majority of students. In fact, a large number of community colleges have worked diligently to improve their academic profiles over the past 25 years, and I see nothing wrong with sending your children to a good one for two years prior to sending them to a state university for their junior and senior years. If your kids are true high achievers in academics, and want to go to a more elite school, they should be able to qualify for scholarship funds to pay for the difference.

There are huge numbers of people today loudly voicing their distress over not being able to get a job once they graduate with a college degree. When I meet one, I ask them what it was they learned in college that makes them any more qualified for a job than they were when they graduated from high school. Frankly, a college student should be engaging in diverse activities during college, with the goal of ultimately getting that elusive job offer: classes, of course (with As, not Cs and Ds), but also internships, networking opportunities, volunteer positions, and summer jobs. It’s these things that not only add to a job skill set, but also show an individual’s desire to work hard, to learn, and to achieve.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=davelj] As the Reverend Chris Rock notes:

“A man is only as faithful as his options.”[/quote]

Damn, so true, davelj!! And it sums this mess up perfectly.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=davelj] As the Reverend Chris Rock notes:

“A man is only as faithful as his options.”[/quote]

Damn, so true, davelj!! And it sums this mess up perfectly.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=davelj] As the Reverend Chris Rock notes:

“A man is only as faithful as his options.”[/quote]

Damn, so true, davelj!! And it sums this mess up perfectly.

[Author]

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