78F and just less than saturated. Yesterday was partly cloudy and hot. Openweathermap is showing the same for us, clearing to sunny. No chance of rain. FEMA’s map shows the same. I guess a little rain won’t hurt 🙂
Nothing profound, provocative, or even pithy to say this morning.
I guess I should start my day. I’m sure it won’t stay that way.
n
The crazy is strong…
A billionaire black man pays off the college loans of college students at a predominately black college.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/us/morehouse-robert-smith-student-loans/index.html
Well done to the man that stepped up and used a small portion of his wealth to help the students. I wish more people would do this.
But I have two problems with this action.
First is that it is a predominately black college. Looking at pictures there is not one white person that I can see in the graduating class picture. If the opposite were true, a completely white graduating class, the liberals would be all over this as a racially significant event that needs to be fixed.
Second is that what would have happened if a white billionaire paid of the student loans of a predominately white (as in almost all) college? The media and the liberals would be up in arms screaming racism. The press would be reporting on such an event with a completely negative bias slamming the donor and the school.
Everything should be color blind. This should not be a news event that describes the school as predominately black. The news should not be touting the donor as the richest african-american in the US. Yes, it should be reported but leave the skin color out of the reporting.
Congratulations to the person making the grant available. A big raspberry and middle finger salute to the press for making the event a skin color issue.
64º and cloudy now, will cool off later.
Kinder did a duathlon yesterday afternoon. Biked 1/2 mile (or 3/4 mile for the older kids), then ran 1/4 mile (or 1/2 mile). My kids were older so did the longer distances. They also got more sun than I like, so Daddy fails. They HAVE to go with me to these things and are encouraged to participate if they want. They often choose to help instead. It’s a good thing.
Regarding the transition mentioned the other day – I fail to see why you need to transition at all. You’re in TEXAS for goodness’ sake. I don’t know why you even wear pants. Don’t get me started on sweaters. In Texas.
@ray, it’s a “historically black college” which gives it special cultural status.
“a predominately white (as in almost all) college?”– no such thing anymore, I don’t even think the southern Bible colleges are mostly white*
n
*actually there are some
Trinity College of Florida (Trinity, FL): 100%
West Virginia University Institute of Technology (Beckley, WV): 97.16%
Blessing–Rieman College of Nursing (Quincy, IL): 93.99%
Alice Lloyd College (Pippa Passes, KY): 93.65%
Martin Luther College (New Ulm, MN): 92.99%
Wright State University — Lake Campus (Celina, OH): 92.09%
Grove City College (Grove City, PA): 91.95%
College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, MO): 90.12%
You never hear “historically white college” mentioned in a positive way, do you?
n
you also don’t see whites banging down the doors trying to get into HBCs…
Which of course is not racist. Special consideration, special programs, lowered admissions standards, lower course standards, etc. Got to make certain that black people are given equal opportunity even if that means lowering the standards and requirements for them.
I knew several black professors and high level executives when I worked at my last job. All intelligent, smart and personable people. I would think they would be appalled at what is being done to advance black people as this lowers what they were able to achieve on their own without special consideration.
Everything should be color blind. An individual makes it on their own without special consideration. Only exception should be for physically handicapped that require unique adaptions to attend classes. Their grades should be based on their ability to pass the requirements which should not be tied to physical capabilities.
Obuttwad learned the use of skin color well to advance his career. If he had no been black he would not have been elected. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc. would be nowhere if it were not for their skin color. Those people used racism to advance themselves then scream racism when something doesn’t go their way. A bunch of two faced jerks.
And now certain tests are going to take into account backgrounds when scoring. Everyone knows that means the kids from the “hood” will score the same if not higher when in reality some are as dumb as rocks. Racism is giving an advantage to a certain group based on their skin color and that is exactly what is happening with these tests.
The US should be educating and training the very brightest regardless of any other attribute. To do otherwise is unfair to the brightest and unfair to the dimwits that get the advantage. I would not want a doctor that got by because of an ethnic advantage, I would want the best.
Advancing the second or third best is doing nothing but contributing to the dumbing down of America and real disservice to brightest.
Advancing the second or third best is doing nothing but contributing to the dumbing down of America and real disservice to brightest.
–yep
You’d think that with the attack on “separate but equal” and the forced integration of white schools the HBCs would have been forcibly integrated or broken up. Nope. But again, it’s not like whites where clamoring to get into them.
I’m still waiting for the NBA and NFL to start quota hiring….
n
A billionaire black man pays off the college loans of college students at a predominately black college.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/us/morehouse-robert-smith-student-loans/index.html
Morehouse is also, historically, a college with a proven history of being hostile to the LGBTQ agenda.
60 years ago, NBA was quota hiring. All teams were exactly 50% – 50%.
$150K for a degree in Business Administration, a position which rarely requires even an AA degree…
“Lewis couldn’t help but dance across the stage to accept his degree after learning his $150,000 debt was going to disappear completely ”
Doesn’t look like Lewis is capable of doing math, despite his degree.
n
Added- his classmates aren’t much brighter:
“Smith’s gift has also changed the life of Aaron Mitchom, a 22-year-old finance major who owed $200,000 in student loans.
In the weeks before graduating, Mitchom drew up a spreadsheet and discovered it would take him 25 years to pay off the loans in full. “
“Student loan repayment is problematic for all races, with less than half of indebted students having paid even $1 toward the principal balance of their loans within five years of entering repayment, according to the Department of Education.
But on average, the situation is far worse for black people, who pay their loans down at a rate of four percent each year while white student borrowers tend to pay their loans down at a rate of 10 percent annually.
As a result, it’s estimated that 15 years after graduation, black adults are 185 percent more indebted due to student loans than their white adult counterparts. ”
Sounds like Morehouse found a way to enslave blacks for the next 25 years of their lives, with the fedgov as slavecatcher.
n
Even worse, they didn’t just enslave the student, but his whole family too:
“Eight family members, including Mitchom’s 76-year-old grandmother, took turns over four years co-signing on the loans”
Student loans are not discharged by bankruptcy.
n
I also wonder if these people realize the IRS is going to charge them income on the entire amount. That $150K will result in a tax bill of at least $15,000.00 to $30,000.00. Scholarships are not taxable as the money is paid to the school. Paid off student loans from a grant are taxable and will be done so by the IRS as that money did not go to the school.
These people are in for a rude awakening come tax time. And I would wager rather successfully that most will not have the money to make the payment to the IRS.
Sounds like Morehouse found a way to enslave blacks for the next 25 years of their lives, with the fedgov as slavecatcher.
They have Obama to thank for the nationalization of the slavery -er- student debt program. Student loan payments finance Obamacare. Under the old ways, the plantations were private enterprise.
We had to pass the bill to find out what was in it.
I don’t know why you even wear pants.
Mr. SteveF doesn’t wear pants. And it gets really cold where he lives. Bless you majesty!
Doesn’t look like Lewis is capable of doing math, despite his degree.
When I was an undergrad, the engineering program of last resort in the Florida university system is the joint effort run by Florida State and Florida A&M, the state’s predominantly African American university. Things haven’t changed much in 30 years from what I understand.
I watched an interview of one of the students. An art degree. He has over $70,000 in loans. He showed off one of his best pieces. A drawing of cigarette butts. He could be the next White House artist when Booker is President. lol.
We have an annual Mother’s Day art festival in my neighbor hood:
https://www.sunnews.org/annual-sunset-beach-art-festival-seeking-art-craft-vendors/
He can set up a card table to display his artwork. But cigarette but generation is not advised.
He could be the next White House artist when Booker is President. lol.
“Spartacus” will never be President. And it will be because African American women won’t vote for him.
The problem with student loans, especially for poor students: they have no real concept of money. $20, ok, they know what that means. But add a few zeroes and it’s not real to them anymore.
And WTF is the government doing, handing out that kind of money. It removes any incentive that universities have, to keep costs under control, and to do something useful for their students. They get paid regardless, so why should they care? Hire more administrators, let the students study whatever they want – it’s all a big party!
The end result is basically debt slavery. People like that arts student have no chance of paying back their debts. Since the debts cannot be released through bankruptcy (um, that’s what bankruptcy is for), they will eternally be paying the piper.
It’s a sick, sick system. All put into place with the very best of intentions.
I do, but only under protest.
Those aren’t the butts Bookers is interested in.
And WTF is the government doing, handing out that kind of money. It removes any incentive that universities have, to keep costs under control, and to do something useful for their students. They get paid regardless, so why should they care? Hire more administrators, let the students study whatever they want – it’s all a big party!
Student Loans fund Obamacare. It was one of the key parts of the bill that enabled ACA to pass with reconciliation instead of negotiating with Republicans.
Banks get part of the interest payments as a processing fee, but the Federal Government takes most of the profits.
I think this is a good idea.
https://www.gocomics.com/bc/2019/05/20?ct=v&cti=1696588
I’m going to check for this on Amazon…
Freefall: radiation tolerance
http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff3300/fc03280.htm
I don’t want to know Sam, tentacles and all. One shudders at the view of a being wearing a tentacle cradle to walk.
Over The Hedge: nature is itchy
https://www.gocomics.com/overthehedge/2019/05/20
Yes, it is.
The crazy is strong…
” ‘He’s very handsome, he is strong and sturdy’: Australian woman who married a BRIDGE relives her ‘fairy-tale wedding day’ and the moment she ‘put a ring on it’
An Australian woman has relived her ‘fairy tale’ wedding to her ‘handsome, strong and sturdy husband’ – who happens to be a bridge in France. Jodi Rose, originally from Sydney, married Le Pont du Diable – which translates to ‘The Devil’s Bridge’ – on the Tech River in Ceret, southern France in 2013. She fell in love with the 14th century stone structure while travelling the country, and they became husband and wife during a ceremony attended by 14 guests and blessed by the mayor of neighbouring town Saint-Jean-de-Fos. Ms Rose said marrying the bridge ‘felt beautiful’.
I see a future need for spousal support here. A toll booth.
I’m still waiting for the NBA and NFL to start quota hiring….
Heh.
He could be the next White House artist when Booker is President.
Take that back ! It has been hard enough for me to come to terms with AOC assuming the mantle in 2025. Booker is totally insane. Wait, so is AOC. We are so screwed.
I see a future need for spousal support here. A toll booth.
Don’t joke. Our tech is relatively cheap compared to the revenue stream potential.
“Seeing a twisting road ahead, Ford cuts 7K white-collar jobs”
https://apnews.com/0036437d785c483fb40c8a7dbe5a22d0
Uh oh, 10% of their white collar workforce. I’ve seen this movie before and it was not pretty. And they all show up in Houston looking for jobs.
Hat tip to:
https://drudgereport.com/
Uh oh, 10% of their white collar workforce. I’ve seen this movie before and it was not pretty. And they all show up in Houston looking for jobs.
Relocation real estate silly season started in Austin and will reach the peak Saturday/Sunday.
Commuting into work this morning, I got stuck behind a Subaru with WA plates and LA Dodgers window stickers. Hard to say if they’re here house hunting or already moved — WA is a hard three day drive, but school doesn’t let out there for another month on the typical schedule.
In retrospect, I was wrong. I first hated Obamacare for what it does to healthcare. I completely missed the part about what it would do to education. My kids won’t be going to college. Waste money. They might (might) make it on a scholarship somewhere (Grove City College comes to mind). But they won’t be borrowing money they’ll never be able to pay back.
They might (might) make it on a scholarship somewhere (Grove City College comes to mind). But they won’t be borrowing money they’ll never be able to pay back.
I went through training at GTE with a guy who graduated Grove City. He had much higher expectations for his career than being junior programmer, even fresh out of school.
As soon as he figured out GTE wasn’t enforcing the relocation payback provisions in the offer letter, he was gone. The company had insurance policies on all of us due to the money invested in our training, and collecting the relocation money was at the manager’s discretion.
(From what I understand, my policy was worth $60,000 to my manager when I left after seven years with the company.)
Enslaving the generation was by design. They have managed to ‘financialize’ people, just as they did with so many things. Then comes the bubble, then the crash.
Look at any metric, college is for the admin staff and the investors. Students are sheep to be sheared.
The worst part is the 50% who never finish, who have the debt but not the degree.
The knock on effects are going to kill the economy. Our economy is built on school –> work –> marriage –> baby –> home buying –> all the homeowner spending –> second kid –> new bigger car –> repeat as needed with spending at each of those stages.
The unprecedented cost and number of students with their enormous debt loads (don’t forget, they were encouraged to buy a car and run up their consumer credit cards during college too) is short circuiting the normal spending path. They can’t afford to get married, or buy a car, or purchase a house. The colleges got in line first, end emptied out the money pail. Good for them, disaster for the broader economy.
n
“Adieu, Le Grand K: The kilogram to be redefined for the first time in 130 years”
https://phys.org/news/2019-05-adieu-le-grand-kilogram-redefined.html
Interesting but not very important to us.
Ray: This was exactly my thought when I read the story this morning.
This “savvy” Billionaire has simply exchanged the students long term loans for immediate IRS debt. I remember when Oprah became famous for giving cars to her audience. She was a HERO … till the audience members got the bill from the IRS for the taxes on their unexpected $30,000 income.
My brother went to Fed Prison a decade ago. He maxed out his credit cards paying his defense lawyers. When the card companies demanded payment, he noted he was in prison and unable to repay the debt. He was thrilled when they wrote off 90% of his debt but dismayed to find that teh IRS saw that as income and demanded immediate payment. I’d rather have a long term loan than the IRS threatening to reposes everything I own.
99F in the sun in my driveway, with 55%RH. Sunny and hot!
took the trailer load to the auction. There is so much more…
n
“Trump’s Huawei Ban Could End Android As We Know It and Damage Apple”
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/huawei-ban-impact-android-apple-google,news-30116.html
Huh, I did not think about this action causing the Android operating system to fork. That might not be good.
“House approves Equality Act, sweeping bill to expand gay rights”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/17/equality-act-house-oks-pelosi-priority-bill-expand-gay-rights/3707673002/
This could cause some employers big bucks as someone is fired for a righteous reason and then claims to be gay or other. I doubt that the Senate will pass it though.
99F in the sun in my driveway, with 55%RH. Sunny and hot!
@nick’s driveway is its own micro climate !
yeah, “feels like” is 111F which is NUTS.
n
This could cause some employers big bucks as someone is fired for a righteous reason and then claims to be gay or other. I doubt that the Senate will pass it though.
Even if it passed the Senate and Trump signed it, the Supreme Court would be a problem eventually.
How do you prove a person is “gay”, establishing that necessary truth inside the courtroom?
Race, age, and even gender are immutable to the point that objective tests exist to establish the fact for a jury.
you also don’t see whites banging down the doors trying to get into HBCs…
A number of years ago it was revealed that the graduation rate for the local black state college, Southern University in New Orleans, was 5%. Yes, you read that right: 5%. At the other state school, the University of New Orleans, the graduation rate was 22%. The figures may have changed since, but I doubt by much. 🙁
In retrospect, I was wrong. I first hated Obamacare for what it does to healthcare. I completely missed the part about what it would do to education. My kids won’t be going to college. Waste money.
MrsAtoz and I are big fans of community colleges and AA degrees. That’s where the future is for Millennials. Very few need a four year degree.
“House approves Equality Act, sweeping bill to expand gay rights”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/17/equality-act-house-oks-pelosi-priority-bill-expand-gay-rights/3707673002/
What about L_BTQxyz creatures?! And bridges! What about the right of bridges to marry?
Oh, yeah, and a big “FUUUUUCK YOUUUU” to Tim Cook claiming “our generation failed you..” commencement speech. I didn’t fail anybody. Get off your dead asses Millennials. I see “help wanted” signs everywhere. If you don’t want to work for minimum wage, you shouldn’t have got that liberal arts degree. Apple has billions in cash. Why don’t they pay off student loans. That’s because is Cook is a capitalist hiding behind his Gayness for ProgPoints.
Hi:
I stopped by to look up some of RBT’s old posts. The old posts links come back with 404 errors. Are his posts still available on-line?
Thanks.
Hi:
I stopped by to look up some of RBT’s old posts. The old posts links come back with 404 errors. Are his posts still available on-line?
Thanks.
Got URLs ?
@kelly – regarding old posts broken links.
Send me some URLs via email to rhellewell at gmail dot com . I’ll look into it.
@JimL
My kids won’t be going to college. Waste money.
Traditional College is a rip off designed to churn out right thinking individuals who remain debt slaves their most productive years.
I have a high school degree and have done a lot of self-education since I left high school 25 years ago. Lots of low cost / free options these days for the motivated self starter who wants to continue their education. I’ve been in the IT field since the early 1990’s and love learning.
I’ve been taking classes one and two at a time for the last couple years with University of the People pursuing my AS then BS in Computer Science. At $100 class it is very affordable.
Down side is the school is nationally accredited by DEAC instead of regionally accredited. Im doing it to fill in holes in my computer geek knowledge and so I can tick the box “has BS” for the next time I’m job hunting. And for the pleasure of doing it.
They aren’t a diploma mill. They have an agreement with UC Berkeley to accept you as a transfer student to graduate with a more prestigious degree. They also accept transfer credits at $17 per class. I transferred in several classes, knocking probably a year off my classes, for under $120 total.
They offer Computer Science, Business Administration, and something Health related.
It’s all online and aimed at making college accessible to everyone, worldwide. High population of students from other countries which has been interesting and sometimes frustrating when it comes to weekly peer assessments.
Its not fancy or prestigious but it lets you tick the box, learn something valuable, and stay out of debt.
Huh, I did not think about this action causing the Android operating system to fork. That might not be good.
It depends on how much of Android is under GPL.
I have a corporate-free phone which is the open source portion of Android without Google services. The maps experience leaves a lot to be desired, but I install substitute Google apps through FDroid and Firefox directly from Mozilla.
Its not fancy or prestigious but it lets you tick the box, learn something valuable, and stay out of debt.
I got more out of my three semester online UW C++ certificate than I did from two grad programs. My current job is C++11.
The big downside of UW Professional Development was the cost. $3000, but for two of the three classes, the instruction was first rate. Everybody in the class except me was a Microsoft employee told to go learn C++.
I did the C++ program because my first Masters program involved a thesis about Software Defined Radio. C++ is the only way to get adequate speed for signal processing, and I needed to become an expert fast. The thesis went nowhere, but I learned a lot. I don’t consider the tuition to have been money wasted.
Lately, I do just as much Python as C++. Python was all self taught, but I did a Codecademy course to make the bosses happy at the university. They wanted a credential.
Here is my take:
1. I agree with everything that Jenny says regarding her choices and her experiences.
2. I agree that a BS in Social Studies from a top level school such as USC is virtually worthless regarding a success in a real career.
3. My grandson entered the front USC door and was very successful gradewise in his first year in Civil Engineering. I have no doubt that he will have a great career doing real things. (No, I did not pay Singer $500,000 to get him through the USC side door.)
As a point of reference, I just made delicious cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, from a mix pouch that was 1.5 years past it’s ‘best by’ date. I dont’ think there were a lot of fats in the mix (dry powder) because you add a stick of butter to the mix.
delicious.
n
As a point of reference, I just made delicious cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, from a mix pouch that was 1.5 years past it’s ‘best by’ date. I dont’ think there were a lot of fats in the mix (dry powder) because you add a stick of butter to the mix.
Buc-ee’s in Temple had BaconUp stocked at the entrance for the same price as Amazon when we stopped a couple of weeks ago. Of course it is made in Texas.
http://www.baconup.com
I used bacon grease to cook the sausages tonight. Everything is better with bacon.
I put bacon crumbles in my waffles.
MMMmmmmm.
n
Regarding Kidney Stones:
Takeaways: Staying hydrated is critical. Salt, protein, large doses vitamin C bad. Cranberries good.
I drink lots of water each day, extremely low salt diet, take a multi-vitamin but no vitamin C supplements, don’t drink orange juice or eat many oranges, don’t eat a lot of cranberries, avoid soft drinks if possible, etc. All the good stuff. Doctor says some people just get stones for reasons that are not fully understood.
Stent comes out today. From what I have researched that is a rather uncomfortable procedure that fortunately does not last long. I am ready to get this stent out as it has proven to be uncomfortable.
@Kelly Couch- welcome! All of RBT’s posts should still be available, that’s the idea behind keeping the doors open and the place live. It’s not the same without him, but we try to keep the spirit alive.
What were you looking for? You can email RickH at the address he provided above, or ask a question here and we’ll try to find RBT’s answer or get you one from the hive mind. One of the incentives for keeping this place open was the large and varied pool of expertise among the regular (and even occasional) commenters…. and not wanting to lose access to that incredible resource.
(and we kinda got used to having somewhere to hang around and grumble too)
nick
Grumble!
Grumble, grumble, grumble…
Thanks, Guys!