How a city works...

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

1) If a student can't afford today's tuitions, he/she won't go to college at all.

In my opinion, the entire reason the tuition market is painfully inflated to begin with is because of the big push over the last 25 years that "everyone" should go to college.

Everyone should not go to college. In my imaginary world, college scholarships would be strictly merit-based, with a secondary discrimination based on need, but not before weeding out the dumb ones who also happen to be poor. "Wanting" to go to college isn't enough, in my book.

[Lamplighter]

But that sort of thinking would put Google Search out of business...

[tw]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

But that sort of thinking would put Google Search out of business...

Problem is not scholarships. Problem is college loans provided in greater numbers. Which therefore financed increased tuitions of many 'for profit but we will not teach you anything useful' colleges. Leading that charge were U of Phoenix and Strayer. However the worst offenders have lesser known names.

It goes right back to a fundamental question. What is the purpose of a business. Scumbags, communists, and even the mafia say it is to make a profit. Only fools recite that business school lie. The purpose of every business is - number one - its product.

Many 'for profit' colleges are profit centers. The product is irrelevant. Leaving students to pay off massive debts decades later.

Unfortunately price of college has increased significantly without any demand for better product. For example, where is the increase in professors and basic research? Instead, most money goes into more administrators and new buildings.

Prices went up because so many more college loans were made available. Supply and demand - economics that is taught in college. This 'free money' has also been especially profitable for religious colleges. Tuition increased. They still teach virtually no math or science.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

In my opinion, the entire reason the tuition market is painfully inflated to begin with is because of the big push over the last 25 years that "everyone" should go to college.

And lets admit it, the big four-year universities have been turning into all-inclusive resorts over the past 25 years as well. They have services for anything you would imagine needing and all of that costs money.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Everyone should not go to college.

We desperately need college graduates. But a serious problem (this side of the pond) is developing. Number (by percentage) of college graduates is diminishing. It would be even worse except that girls are going to college in larger numbers.

As a result we now have more 'dumb ass' boys. A majority never learn how to know something. College is supposed to teach one how to think and therefore know. How not to entertain emotions (like a child). How feeling do not make an informed citizen.

A perfect example demonstrated by a light bulb. A light bulb is observed to fail when switched on. That proves power cycling a light bulb causes bulb failure. A complete scam based in junk science reasoning. Because the observer did not see the many other times bulbs burned out. Even ignored the traffic lights that blink all night long with less failures. Only observation 'proved' that bogus conclusion.

Reality. Bulbs are not damaged by power cycling. Because knowledge from observation is classic junk science. Too many, with insufficient education, would not even know why that conclusion was bogus.

We now have more boys who don't even know how to think. Which means the Tea Party and other extremists have a larger pool to recruit from. So it must be good?

[Happy Monkey]

"Don't try to keep them away".

[xoxoxoBruce]

Or have the thugs make them feel unwelcome. I can see all kinds of unintended consequences, non of them good.

[Lamplighter]

THEY're BACK....

The Vaux Swifts have returned to Chapman Elementary School in PDX.
It's part of their annual migration, as they provide a moving buffet for the hawks.



This is an 2010 video, but it's short and shows the event crowds form to see.
It takes more than 5 minutes of real time to get everybody into the chimney.

[Lamplighter]

Reviving an old thread ... in anger

Oregon Live
Brad Schmidt
1/3/14

Portland Building: Four commissioners, four approaches for dealing with Portland's $95 million 'white elephant'

The Portland Building, the city's administrative headquarters, needs $95 million
to fix structural and water problems, officials say.
The City Council, however, isn't unified about whether such an overhaul makes sense.
(The Oregonian)

This is what you get when you hire an architect to design an "award-winning" public building.
It was home to two of my IT clients when it first opened.
Politicians were jubilant, but the minions who had to work there hated it.
No real windows so every floor seemed to be down in a basement

Now, none of the current Council members wants to set aside $
for maintenance on this building or any other city-owned structure.

WHY ?
Well, when you build a new public building, you get your name of a brass plaque in the lobby.
After all, that's what every politician wants.

ETA: The building cost $41million in 1983
Original design by Los Angeles architect Frank Gehry.
It won an AIA award and also is on lists of "The Uguliest Buildings"
Local architects campaigned against it being built.
It costs 20% more to heat/operate than engineering analysis predicted.