How much greater is your income because you received those loans and could go to a much better school? How much more skilled and productive are your work colleagues because they took similar loans to attend a better school?
My parents had the foresight to scrimp and save for my college education....even for out of state fees!!
I also worked, mostly during summers for my at school spending money. Many of my friends had the same thing with them....some with loans only to supplement, not pay the whole thing.
It used to be that parents saved for their kids education, just like they put back for routine medical expenses, mortgages, etc.
They weren't as busy charging up credit card after credit card for crap they really didn't need and couldn't afford.
However, it seems to me that a lot of people, especially the young and disadvantaged get a raw deal in the US. It also seems to me that the US is hell bent of making the super rich even wealthier whilst spending on insanely expensive military systems with money that could give people educations that didn't bankrupt them, whilst benefiting and transforming society for the better as a whole. Regrettably, I see a lot of injustice.
Don't buy into all the recent hype....it isn't that bad at all over here.
If you work hard, you can succeed over here quite readily. A lot of the gripe, is those of us that do work hard for a good living, don't like being forced to pay the way for those that want to just be supported by 'the system'.
I'm far from rich, but I like my life here, and like most of my friends feel we can do anything we want with a little luck, and some sweat.....
Exactly. Between student loans, car loans, and mortgages, the average American has far more debt than assets. Why do we keep hearing about inflation as if it was a boogieman?
Perhaps if so many Americans didn't spend more than they could afford they wouldn't have this problem. If you can't afford a student loan, or a nice car, or a mortgage....don't go into debt.
Why should "I" have to bail them out due to their bad decision making?
You do have to have a membership. It's $50 for the regular membership, and $100 for the one with the American Express card and rebates on purchases. I got the AmEx card one, and my yearly rebates have been averaging over $200. (I dropped my $55/year original "green card" AmEx after I got the CostCo one, which is included in that $100/year.)
What if you already have an amex gold card? Can you still do that level and get the rebates? Is it less than $100 if you already have an existing amex account?
What about those of us that are nowhere near a Costco?
I'd actually really never heard of them, till I recently saw a MSNBC special about them.....we have Sam's Club as the warehouse store in my area, but I've not seen any thing like a photographic service in those stores.
What would be a good quality printer/ink/paper set up for doing it yourself at home...with quality, and long term storage?
Is it possible to print digital images...to have them last as long and stay as vibrant as the old film photos of old? I have photo albums from long ago that are still fun to thumb through....can you get that type of quality and longevity from printing your own photos? Same quality and longevity from commercial prints of digital photos?
I'm curious, because I'm about to drop the hammer on a quality camera...the Canon 5D Mark III....and I want to be able to print and keep, maybe even frame good images I get off that beast....
Bush was criticized, but not to this level of hatred and outright racism.
You have GOT to be kidding me....right?
I mean, Bush had some of the most hate ridden, vitriol spewed at him throughout his presidency, and still has it aimed at him after he's been gone 3+ years.
And of course, there was no racism aimed at him, couldn't be since he was a white guy.
But much of what you said was aimed at Bush in harsher terms than Obama...traitor, not fit for office, destroying the ecomony (hell, the Obama's are still saying that about Bush and what they inherited from him)...
Trouble is, with Obama being half a black man....almost anything you say critical of him...will get labeled as racist...even if it isn't so.
Not necessary. Bicycles, buses, and carpools exist. In fact, I rode a bike to work today.
I was with you right up until this last one.
In most US cities...this just is not really a viable option. Too far (and dangerous) to ride a bike (not even considering the weather in the area)....and public transportation is just not a realistic way to actually to / from work in an orderly manner.
What's a "cell phone plan"? I thought cell phones were pay-as-you-go
I think that is mostly a EU thing....in the US, most people get a plan. They change to a new phone about every couple years, with that change, they get a discounted phone (sometimes 'free') with a 2 yr cell phone plan contract.
Honestly, until about a year or so ago, I'd never even heard of a pay as you go type set up....and that was here on Slashdot when I had to ask what PAYGO stood for....
So I don't get tracked by the Like button, but I can then share an article I read on ars technica or something at a later time if I so desire?
Well, there's a simple method "I" use...I merely copy the url out of my browser, and email it to my friends I think that would be interested in said article.
Same way I've always done it....still works.
I've never had a FB account, and I don't miss a thing not having one.
Any outside observer will note that Obama is a very cool rational person who speaks in measured tones -- quite the opposite of what you suggest.
Oh, it isn't like I'm saying Obama will lose his shit on TV or whatever...no, he's a refined politician....on camera or in front of the media where you can see him...he stays cool.
It is once he gets out of the public eye, that he and his administration will really go after, even vilify someone that disagrees with him, or ruffles his feathers.
God help you if you are a reporter, even with a major news entity, and really come out and lambast "O"....you'll likely find your credentials pulled if you don't basically just adhere to reprinting the White House press briefings word for word.
For real world examples of Obama losing his cool...and having a thin skin...look at his visits and what he had to say to Gov. Bobby Jindal when he came to LA recently, or when he got off the plane and lit into that Gov. from AZ.
No, Obama does have a very thin skin...and he pretty much seems to get a free ride compared to his predecessor. I'm not a fan of Bush by any stretch of the imagination...but geez, the things that were said and published about him....if you tried going even a fraction that far with Obama...you'd better watch out.
Why haven't you faked your own death and moved to the mountains yet? Or how about that nice forest you saw in the middle of nowhere?
Why not just make an underground fortress like something out of Minecraft and hermit?
I honestly think of some people on this site were to see the lockers of information JUST FOR THEM they would have a heart attack or something.
So, really, guys, what's with the actual paranoia about interacting with other people?
As far as I'm concerned, any politician who gets in a hissy fit over political satire simply doesn't have the balls to be a politician, regardless of any actual policies. Move over and make way for someone who can take a bit of criticism.
I hear ya.....tell that to Obama...I've never seen a guy with such thin skin.
he horrors! Maybe it *is* terrible being a creepy commie energy-efficient European banker IT consultant after all, and my kids hate me too, really.
Not really, but it is two ENTIRELY different standards of living conditions. You're likely in a small country, the size of one of our states, with old cities, with small streets, short distances....and public transportation.
That type of thing just plain doesn't exist at all in the majority of the cities in the US. In most cities, you can't walk down the street for a loaf of bread, you have to get in the car and drive a few miles, to buy your groceries, etc. Public transportation is pretty much non-existant, and what is there, isn't suitable for normal lifestyle.
It is hard for you to go on like that....when you live in Europe somewhere, that is likely 180 degrees different than how we have to live over here....at bare minimum, is the existing infrastructure one lives within....
Does you wife also work? Are the kids old enough to have jobs too (I've been working since I was 16yrs)....?
. At the end of the day, a cell phone can be considered a luxury. Do you really need to make a phone call anywhere at any time? Do you really need to check that email immediately? Maybe you do need those services but do you need the super fast speed of LTE?
I agree with you....
However, I've seen a number of people, even here on Slashdot, espousing, that connecting to the internet, is now considered a basic human right, even a necessity of life right up there with water and food.
I don't get it either...it is nice, I do go into withdrawls when I'm away from it too long, hahaha....but seriously, there's people out there that will say yes, everyone really needs that connectivity, as a basic need.
if you are driving more than 100 miles just to get to and from work every day, then you need to find a new job or a new place to live. no wonder there is gridlock and pollution with idiots like you, you waste 4 hours of time and 6 gallons of gas every day just so you can save $100-$200 a month on rent.
So, you're suggesting, that every time someone changes a job, they pick up, sell their homes and move to be closer to the new job. Hmm...what about people with kids, you want them to uproot them from schools every time jobs change? If a married couple...who's job take priority....likely as not one of them will have to drive further than the other one, rarely do couples work at the same fucking place you know...
I mean, this is no longer the age of having a job for life. The only way to gain higher job position and, more importantly increases in job PAY...is to change jobs with regularity. No one trying to move up in the world stays at one place usually more than 3 years or so.....and in this economy, it is a bit hard to sell your house every few years.....not everyone rents and is single. Even those that are....have enough stuff that moving is a major even in terms of time, effort and money.
That is why there is such a thing as a footbridge. Or are they only known outside where you live?
Those are VERY rarely seen in the US.
I don't recall seeing one ever when I've had to visit Houston....and I've run into the 'restaurant across the hwy' scenario a number of times. Yep...you gotta drive over there and back, unless you want to die trying to walk/run over there.
The man was later tried and sentenced to three hours of hard labor at Burger King, where he will be required to consume six supersized combo meals to atone for his transgression.
Isn't that really a death sentence?
Wow...talk about cruel and inhumane punishment......
What do environmental groups need with fucking GUNS and private cops?!?!
I wonder if there's any way to petition our elected officials, to pass legislation banning agencies from having their own police force and weaponry...? I mean, as far as gun play and all, I'd trust the FBI or Secret Service over these other home brewed forces. IF the EPA needs protection going on a raid...they should maybe have to coordinate with the FBI...keep it simple and separate.
I don't like the idea of these unelected departments making and enforcing all these rules...but at least lets start and be reasonable and take the 'teeth' out of them a little by mandating they can't have their own weaponized goon squads....
About the only people an Iranian invasion would be good for are Blackwater et.al. & the oil companies, by shortstopping oil going to China, they raise the world price again.
Well, that would certainly solve a number of problems in the middle east....as long as it was done correctly, and Iran was turned into a big smoking hole.
But now in the last 5 years I've seen measure after measure which are raw power-grabs by the EU to try an mitigate the sovereignty of individual member states.
Quite analogous to the power grab by the Feds over the States in the US....
Slashdot Mirror
What the hell is an apartment loan?!?!
You get a loan to pay rent on apartment? (I'm guessing this is something outside the US?)
Never heard of such a thing....
My parents had the foresight to scrimp and save for my college education....even for out of state fees!!
I also worked, mostly during summers for my at school spending money. Many of my friends had the same thing with them....some with loans only to supplement, not pay the whole thing.
It used to be that parents saved for their kids education, just like they put back for routine medical expenses, mortgages, etc.
They weren't as busy charging up credit card after credit card for crap they really didn't need and couldn't afford.
What happened to priorities in families?
Don't buy into all the recent hype....it isn't that bad at all over here.
If you work hard, you can succeed over here quite readily. A lot of the gripe, is those of us that do work hard for a good living, don't like being forced to pay the way for those that want to just be supported by 'the system'.
I'm far from rich, but I like my life here, and like most of my friends feel we can do anything we want with a little luck, and some sweat.....
Perhaps if so many Americans didn't spend more than they could afford they wouldn't have this problem. If you can't afford a student loan, or a nice car, or a mortgage....don't go into debt.
Why should "I" have to bail them out due to their bad decision making?
What if you already have an amex gold card? Can you still do that level and get the rebates? Is it less than $100 if you already have an existing amex account?
I'd actually really never heard of them, till I recently saw a MSNBC special about them.....we have Sam's Club as the warehouse store in my area, but I've not seen any thing like a photographic service in those stores.
What would be a good quality printer/ink/paper set up for doing it yourself at home...with quality, and long term storage?
Is it possible to print digital images...to have them last as long and stay as vibrant as the old film photos of old? I have photo albums from long ago that are still fun to thumb through....can you get that type of quality and longevity from printing your own photos? Same quality and longevity from commercial prints of digital photos?
I'm curious, because I'm about to drop the hammer on a quality camera...the Canon 5D Mark III....and I want to be able to print and keep, maybe even frame good images I get off that beast....
You have GOT to be kidding me....right?
I mean, Bush had some of the most hate ridden, vitriol spewed at him throughout his presidency, and still has it aimed at him after he's been gone 3+ years.
And of course, there was no racism aimed at him, couldn't be since he was a white guy.
But much of what you said was aimed at Bush in harsher terms than Obama...traitor, not fit for office, destroying the ecomony (hell, the Obama's are still saying that about Bush and what they inherited from him)...
Trouble is, with Obama being half a black man....almost anything you say critical of him...will get labeled as racist...even if it isn't so.
I was with you right up until this last one.
In most US cities...this just is not really a viable option. Too far (and dangerous) to ride a bike (not even considering the weather in the area)....and public transportation is just not a realistic way to actually to / from work in an orderly manner.
I think that is mostly a EU thing....in the US, most people get a plan. They change to a new phone about every couple years, with that change, they get a discounted phone (sometimes 'free') with a 2 yr cell phone plan contract.
Honestly, until about a year or so ago, I'd never even heard of a pay as you go type set up....and that was here on Slashdot when I had to ask what PAYGO stood for....
Well, there's a simple method "I" use...I merely copy the url out of my browser, and email it to my friends I think that would be interested in said article.
Same way I've always done it....still works.
I've never had a FB account, and I don't miss a thing not having one.
Oh, it isn't like I'm saying Obama will lose his shit on TV or whatever...no, he's a refined politician....on camera or in front of the media where you can see him...he stays cool.
It is once he gets out of the public eye, that he and his administration will really go after, even vilify someone that disagrees with him, or ruffles his feathers.
God help you if you are a reporter, even with a major news entity, and really come out and lambast "O"....you'll likely find your credentials pulled if you don't basically just adhere to reprinting the White House press briefings word for word.
For real world examples of Obama losing his cool...and having a thin skin...look at his visits and what he had to say to Gov. Bobby Jindal when he came to LA recently, or when he got off the plane and lit into that Gov. from AZ.
No, Obama does have a very thin skin...and he pretty much seems to get a free ride compared to his predecessor. I'm not a fan of Bush by any stretch of the imagination...but geez, the things that were said and published about him....if you tried going even a fraction that far with Obama...you'd better watch out.
Says the Anonymous Coward.....
Hmm...well, that might explain current claims about today's climate change issues.....
I hear ya.....tell that to Obama...I've never seen a guy with such thin skin.
That will take care of having a development environment for free....
Not really, but it is two ENTIRELY different standards of living conditions. You're likely in a small country, the size of one of our states, with old cities, with small streets, short distances....and public transportation.
That type of thing just plain doesn't exist at all in the majority of the cities in the US. In most cities, you can't walk down the street for a loaf of bread, you have to get in the car and drive a few miles, to buy your groceries, etc. Public transportation is pretty much non-existant, and what is there, isn't suitable for normal lifestyle.
It is hard for you to go on like that....when you live in Europe somewhere, that is likely 180 degrees different than how we have to live over here....at bare minimum, is the existing infrastructure one lives within....
Does you wife also work? Are the kids old enough to have jobs too (I've been working since I was 16yrs)....?
I agree with you....
However, I've seen a number of people, even here on Slashdot, espousing, that connecting to the internet, is now considered a basic human right, even a necessity of life right up there with water and food.
I don't get it either...it is nice, I do go into withdrawls when I'm away from it too long, hahaha....but seriously, there's people out there that will say yes, everyone really needs that connectivity, as a basic need.
So, you're suggesting, that every time someone changes a job, they pick up, sell their homes and move to be closer to the new job. Hmm...what about people with kids, you want them to uproot them from schools every time jobs change? If a married couple...who's job take priority....likely as not one of them will have to drive further than the other one, rarely do couples work at the same fucking place you know...
I mean, this is no longer the age of having a job for life. The only way to gain higher job position and, more importantly increases in job PAY...is to change jobs with regularity. No one trying to move up in the world stays at one place usually more than 3 years or so.....and in this economy, it is a bit hard to sell your house every few years.....not everyone rents and is single. Even those that are....have enough stuff that moving is a major even in terms of time, effort and money.
Those are VERY rarely seen in the US.
I don't recall seeing one ever when I've had to visit Houston....and I've run into the 'restaurant across the hwy' scenario a number of times. Yep...you gotta drive over there and back, unless you want to die trying to walk/run over there.
Isn't that really a death sentence?
Wow...talk about cruel and inhumane punishment......
What do environmental groups need with fucking GUNS and private cops?!?!
I wonder if there's any way to petition our elected officials, to pass legislation banning agencies from having their own police force and weaponry...? I mean, as far as gun play and all, I'd trust the FBI or Secret Service over these other home brewed forces. IF the EPA needs protection going on a raid...they should maybe have to coordinate with the FBI...keep it simple and separate.
I don't like the idea of these unelected departments making and enforcing all these rules...but at least lets start and be reasonable and take the 'teeth' out of them a little by mandating they can't have their own weaponized goon squads....
Who said anything about an invasion?
Bomb, bomb, bomb.....bomb bomb Iran.....
[Sung to the tune of Barbara Ann]
Well, that would certainly solve a number of problems in the middle east....as long as it was done correctly, and Iran was turned into a big smoking hole.
*BZZT* Wrong answer....but thanks for playing.
For your consolation prize, please report to room 101 down at the end of the hall....and please, try to remember who you love....
Quite analogous to the power grab by the Feds over the States in the US....