Gamgee wrote to August Abolins <=-
Agreed. I'm old enough to have learned cursive writing in school. I
will have to say that I have *VERY* rarely ever wanted/needed to use
it, though. Other than signatures of course. I'm kinda on the fence
on whether it's worth taking all that time to teach a kid how to do it. Would that class time be better spent on teaching them how to balance a checkbook/debit account, do basic income tax preparation, basic cooking skills, etc etc...? I never took it as a kid, but I remember some kind
of elective course called "home economics" being offered. Seems like
kids today don't know much about how to actually operate in the real world.
Kurt Weiske wrote to Gamgee <=-
My family's cabin near Donner Summit (elevation 7122, about 180 miles inland) would make nice beachfront property, and quite near the
soon-to-be Nevada free-trade territories, post USA.
Kurt Weiske wrote to Arelor <=-
And they probably cost a fraction of what they cost today. In the USA, college tuitions have increased orders of magnitude greater than the
cost of living has risen, private college endowments can reach the billions of dollars, and instead of re-investing in education, are
making schools more exclusive to justify the tuition increases.
Kurt Weiske wrote to August Abolins <=-
He has a bizarre way of holding the pencil between his thumb, index and ring finger that's very slow, and he's a poor note-taker because of it (and claims that it's too late to change).
I've tried to inform him that he'll be writing all his life and the earlier he's comfortable with it, the better.
I'm left-handed, was taught to orient the paper the way a right-hander does, so I hook my hand over the writing - which has resulted in a lifetime of smeared writing and poor cursive.
I never took typing classes in high school, so I hunt-and-peck, albeit very quickly.
I'd hope the next generation would learn from my mistakes, but no...
:)
Sean Dennis wrote to Gamgee <=-
Agreed. I'm old enough to have learned cursive writing in school. I
will have to say that I have *VERY* rarely ever wanted/needed to use
it, though. Other than signatures of course. I'm kinda on the fence
on whether it's worth taking all that time to teach a kid how to do it. Would that class time be better spent on teaching them how to balance a checkbook/debit account, do basic income tax preparation, basic cooking skills, etc etc...? I never took it as a kid, but I remember some kind
of elective course called "home economics" being offered. Seems like
kids today don't know much about how to actually operate in the real world.
I took both personal finance and home ec in middle and high
school as well as having parents who care enough to teach me at
home. My mother taught me how to cook and bake; read a recipe as
well as how to double, triple, and halve a recipe; sew and mend;
and many other sundry skills. My stepfather taught me about
"shadetree mechanics" as well as keeping a toolkit in your
vehicle to help yourself or others in a tight spot.
Kids these days are absolutely clueless and obtuse through no
fault of their own (well, the desire to learn is not there so
perhaps a smidgen of blame). It's pitiful and frightening to
realize these are the future of civilization in 20-30 years.
I had similar experiences. I guess a key ingredient in getting that
type of education is having family that cares enough to try to get you
that information. Unfortunately some don't have that situation.
Indeed it is. They're also (generally) soft and unable to cope with extreme situations, either physical or mental. Easily manipulated and
easily eliminated if they don't suit their masters' purposes.
Sean Dennis wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
I think that the government's student loan program caused a lot of the price increase. I remember in 1991, a semester of classes at Portland (OR) Community College was $300, not counting books and supplies.
Kurt Weiske wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
Completely agree, while making it more expensive for the students like
me with working parents who came in above the grant limits.
It's a sad situation but Tennessee has a great trade school program ...
and if I had to do it over again, I'd get into HVAC as there's good money there.
The trade schools are where it is at unless you like
getting into major debt before even starting out in life.
I can only think of a few careers that would actually be
worth going to college from a return on investment
perspective - doctors and lawyers.
Even back when I was growing up, I decided to do a 6 month trade
school vs. college. I did't want to waste the time or money on
college - and wanted to get right into the business world. That
worked out for me.
The trade schools are where it is at unless you like
getting into major debt before even starting out in life.
I can only think of a few careers that would actually be
worth going to college from a return on investment
perspective - doctors and lawyers.
I would add engineer to the list.
Even a career in realestate wouldn't be too bad. Apparently
it's just $10K to get started, and that is recouped pretty
quickly after selling a handful of properties.
I went into $40K of debt with school but it has been forgiven since I am now permanently disabled. I wish I'd gone to a trade school instead of
IT. Trades have a much brighter future, especially as you get older if
you haven't worked into upper management in IT with its age bias.
The trade schools are where it is at unless you like
getting into major debt before even starting out in life.
I can only think of a few careers that would actually be
worth going to college from a return on investment
perspective - doctors and lawyers.
Even a career in realestate wouldn't be too bad. Apparently>it's just $10K to get started, and that is recouped pretty
Mark Hofmann wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
The trade schools are where it is at unless you like getting into major debt before even starting out in life. I can only think of a few
careers that would actually be worth going to college from a return on investment perspective - doctors and lawyers.
I'd love to be starting out in IT now; there is so much information on YouTube, Linkedin Learning and other places for free or available inexpensively that you could get a jump start in a technical field
relatively quickly. Not to mention being able to set up a virtualized home lab or a pi and have a sandbox to play with...
I'd agree with that.. plus you usually need a degree in 'something' (Basket weaving?) to get a government job which generally pays better
and has better extras than a 'real' job..
I'd love to be starting out in IT now; there is so much information on
YouTube, Linkedin Learning and other places for free or available
inexpensively that you could get a jump start in a technical field
relatively quickly. Not to mention being able to set up a virtualized home lab or a pi and have a sandbox to play with...
Sean Dennis wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
You know as well as I do that unless you're highly specialized, IT
doesn't pay shit ... though it pays a hell of a lot more than having to live on Social Security.
Admittedly, I'm in one of the most tech-friendly places in the world,
and that world has changed somewhat since I started out.
I'd agree with that.. plus you usually need a degree in 'something'> pay substantially more than other jobs. There are a lot of jobs that requir
(Basket weaving?) to get a government job which generally pays better
and has better extras than a 'real' job..
That's not true. You can get good jobs at the VA and USPS without a degree t
Right now the USPS is hiring 100,000 people for jobs that do not require a>degree and pay between $15-$40 an hour.
I was referring to Canada, where I live regardless of the possible Tag Line. It's dangerous to generalize as I know a few people without
degrees that got government jobs, but I've also seen jobs advertised
where a degree would be of little use, but they stated in the ad that
it is required. I suppose rather than 'education' the requirement helps weed out the total idiots, although it probably discriminated against lower income people that way as well.
Funny (?) story.. I once decided that I wouldn't mind working for
Canada Post since I enjoy outdoor stuff and walking and it was a solid
job with great benefits that paid well. I went in and, with a room of other applicants, filled out a rather long employment test. When the results came back they said they wouldn't hire me because I scored too High on the tests. They said it was likely I'd get bored too easily in
the job and wouldn't stick around.
Actually several times I ran into similar things, applying for jobs and being told that if they were looking for a manager, they might be interested, but not as a regular employee.. I should have started
cheating on the I.Q. tests so that I'd get a lower score.. B)
Since the guy I was applying to was in
the room when I did the test he knew I couldn't have cheated so he
found it amusing.
I tried several times to change careers from IT but no one wanted to hire me for that very reason. So I just gave up and kept going in IT until I lost my last IT job due to my car accident in February 2019 which I believe started the process that lead me to eventually become completely disabled.[...]
My thing was that people were always afraid I was going to leave for another high-paying job (not that there's many of themn around here). I used to make a point of telling the interviewer that I was in the process of changing careers but that always fell on deaf ears. It became rather annoying.
Mike Powell wrote to SEAN DENNIS <=-
Several years ago, I also tried to make a switch from IT to another profession. I ran into similar issues. It only worked when I found a
job that was "something else, with IT knowledge." I liked that while
it lasted (roughly 4 years) but, after a couple of upper management changes, I have found myself shoe-horned back into doing mostly IT work
in an IT division.
Seems like once you get that mark, it is difficult to remove. :) I am planning to retire in a few years. I will be young enough that I will still want to work part-time. I am hoping that I will not run into similar issues as I did when trying to change full-time careers.
Here in the US, it is still quite possible to find a well-paying job that doe>not require a degree. There's a severe shortage of workers to fill all sorts
There's definitely a lack of work ethic in younger people I think, although one can't paint them all with the same brush I know. I think many of them ar handed too much money from their parents and must get quite a shock when the have to go out and work in the real world.
I think I just finally got fed up with the rat race and decided to get out..
> > one can't paint them all with the same brush I know. I think many of themThere's definitely a lack of work ethic in younger people I think, althoug
Often it is not money as much as the fact the family will subtly oppose any>chance of the kids working really hard. A lot of parents seem to think their
When I got my first house, a tiny and very old place, I was glad I'd worked in >a lot of areas because no way could I afford to pay someone else to re-roof >the place or fix plumbing and electrical problems, and I was driving 10 to 14 >year old cars at the time, bought cheap and fixed up by myself as well.
These days it seems kids have no idea how to do any of that stuff.
>>year old cars at the time, bought cheap and fixed up by myself as well.the place or fix plumbing and electrical problems, and I was driving 10 to 1
>what I learned about cars, when I first started driving, is not. I feelThese days it seems kids have no idea how to do any of that stuff.
There are a lot of practical things that are still relevant today. Most of
There are a lot of practical things that are still relevant today. Most of what I learned about cars, when I first started driving, is not. I feel like they try really hard to make it difficult for the owner to do much to them any more beyond very simple things like changing the air filter or (maybe) a bulb.
Not only that but you need special tools for everything. That's if you can find what you're looking for. You know it needs a new starter but where the hell is it! ;-)
Sean Dennis wrote to Steve Wolf <=-
My friend's dad has a 90s model Corvette ZR1 and to change the spark plugs, you have to jack the front of the car up, remove both front
tires and use a special socket on a loooooong 3/8 drive extension to change the plugs.
To contrast, I had a '94 Honda Civic coupe that I
just opened the hood and all four plugs were right there in front, easy
to get to. I once changed the plugs in an Autozone parking lot in Marietta, Georgia, with my then-wife sitting in the car. I think it
took me about 10 minutes total from start to finish.
Another quip: "If we all used cursive and drove stickshifts, we'd lose
an entire generation [or two]". :D
The local shop hadn't bothered changing the back 2 plugs.
My 2014 Prius requires that you take the windshield wipers and tray
off to get to the plugs. I'd lamented that if they turned the block
90 degrees the other way that plugs would be a 10 minute job.
I saw a sticker on a car with an icon of a gear shift pattern with the label "millenial anti-theft device".
I'm looking for a new car, interested in a couple of Subarus. They
still make a stickshift Outback and Impreza, I should try one out to
see if I still have it. I learned how to drive stick on the hills of
San Francisco. :)
I saw a sticker on a car with an icon of a gear shift pattern with the label "millenial anti-th
device".
My friend's dad has a 90s model Corvette ZR1 and to change the spark plugs, y>have to jack the front of the car up, remove both front tires and use a speci
Arelor wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-
I personally like being in control of the gears. It comes handy when
going downhill as not to burn your brakes.
I would love to get an Impreza in a stick. VW also makes a few models wit six-speed sticks as basic options with the Golf Sport Wagon being my favorite. Nissan offers a few vehicles as sticks like my 2016 Versa was . and the 350Z of course. I don't think any of the US manufacturers offer a non-sports cars as stickshift anymore which is sad.
Lux wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
I got the VW Jetta in a stick, not very happy with it. Right after Dieselgate 2019 I guess thier answer was to fit a 3000lb car with a 1.4 liter and turbo it to make up for the lame displacement. anyways long story short the manual transmission model canot start on a steep enough hill. Ended up frying a clutch tring to keep it between stalling and spinning tires in San Fran.
</s
When I have my own place where I can have more than one cark, I'll get a stickshift as I don't need the power scooter constanty
Lux wrote to Sean Dennis <=-
Can't you just put the trailer hitch on almost any car and
park that thing on the fold out platform in the back?
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