Tag Archive for college

So, What’s With Torture?

June is Torture Awareness Month. It happens throughout the world, carried out by many governments, including our own. We can be shocked by it while still condoning it. Even in fraternity houses, where torture is a right of passage into the brotherhood. (Like with the young man who was put into a cold area, sprayed with cold water, and made to drink gallons of water–to the point of hypothermia.)

It’s obviously against U.S. law and morality to torture people we want to get information out of.  Yet the art of torture has been perfected over the decades in places like Guantanamo. Obviously our nation must stop this inhumane practice.

We can still get what we want, though.  Just send prisoners to college and make them rush a fraternity.  The fraternity hazing process will achieve our government’s ends but not really be torture.  After all, unlike torture, hazing is all in good fun.  And if it goes a tad too far, well, we all know that boys will be boys. Or so the thinking goes.

We can still get what we want, though.  Just send prisoners to college and make them rush a fraternity.  The fraternity hazing process will achieve our government’s ends but not really be torture.  After all, unlike torture, hazing is all in good fun.  And if it goes a tad too far, well, we all know that boys will be boys. Or so the thinking goes.

Torture is torture. It’s wrong, immoral, cruel, not a game, and yields no good.

Today’s Salaries for College Grads

Do you have someone in their early 20s graduating or recently graduated from college? Do you wonder how much that diploma will pay off in the job market? I do, which is why I found this chart interesting.

Breach of Contract?

I was thinking about those problematic DACA kids  Yes, they were brought here with no say in the matter when they were very young, but, yes, they are here illegally because their parents came her illegally. Yet, consider this: our government told them that they could stay in this country indefinitely if they admitted to their status, signed up, gave their personal information, and paid a fee.  Thus, they became DACA kids and could continue with their college and employment and life out in the open, without fear of discovery.

Let’s see.  The kids did what they were asked, and the government accepted their money for it. The agreement was completed.  Isn’t that a signed, sealed, and delivered CONTRACT?  It meets the criteria for a contract.

My question is, then, if a DACA kid is deported, can he sue the U.S. Government for breach of contract?

Observation on Communication

The experts already know this, and I suspected it, but now I’m seeing it.  That is, the effect of Twitter and texting on people’s ability to communicate in writing.

I edit everything–resumes, PowerPoint presentations, college application letters, MA/PhD dissertations–you name it.  I’m constantly finding that, often, even highly educated people’s spelling, grammar, and punctuation are on a junior-high level.  Yet prospective employers, colleges, and PhD boards expect far better.

As a retired English teacher, I’m appalled.  As a person, professionally and personally, trying to translate what people sometimes write, I’m frustrated.

Sigh…………………….

 

College Decisions

Here’s a thought: When the members of the Electoral College meet this coming Monday, what if most of the 537 votes are for Evan McMullin?  

Evan who?  You know, that Independent who got the least number of votes after “Other” (even write-ins got more).

Really, there isn’t any Federal law or Constitutional provision against it–so sayeth the Supreme Court.

Hillary and Donald are still irritating people, and some are worried about a government run by the very rich and/or inexperienced and/or people who have made their intentions clear that they hate the departments they’re about to head up.

I guess there would be an uproar.  But any louder uproar than the election of Donald Trump?  If the election is already decided, why do those people need to cast votes on Monday and Congress count those votes on this coming Jan. 6?

President McMullin.  What if?  I was just wondering…………

 

 

Burger Boy

All of us come in daily contact with the “little guys,” a low-paid workers among a sea of low-paid workers.  I’d like to honor those people today, on International Worker’s Day.  Let me introduce you to one of these people.  Let’s call him Sonny.

I wish they wouldn’t treat me like that.  I know I’m just a kid.  And my English ain’t too good.  But I try.  I don’t like how people look at me, like I ain’t worth much.  I don’t wanna be here. Nobody else will hire a kid who don’t know much yet.  I see my parents struggle.  I can’t ask them to give me no money for fun or school or nothin’ and I see how sometimes they don’t eat unless I bring some burgers home that woulda gone into the garbage anyways.  They say don’t take no handouts unless you at death’s door.  We been there twice I remember.  I’m gonna finish school.  Go to college.  Get a real job.  Make it so they don’t have to worry no more.  Then, when I go to Hamburger House, I’ll tip the guy and give him a high-five, ‘cuz I know why he’s there.

 

Next time you meet a “Sonny,” honor the work he does for you and the fellow human being that he is.

 

 

 

 

Boooo…Who?

I can’t believe that colleges have come up with new rules to apply to sporting events, including a ban on boo-ing.  Young adults attend college.  When they were young children, they were taught (I would hope) that boo-ing  their opponent was not only rude but emotionally hurtful to those on the receiving end.  Now that they’re all but grown up, they need a RULE to force them to respect their fellow human beings?  That’s disheartening!

Our Kids are Sinking Financially

 Young adults have lost TWO-THIRDS OF THEIR NET WORTH since 1984.

21- to 35-year-olds: Your median net worth has dropped 68% since 1984. It’s now less than $4,000.

That $4,000 has to pay for student loans that average $27,200 [and are skyrocketing]. Or, if you’re still in school, for $12,700 in credit card debt.

With an unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds of almost 50%, two out of every five recent college graduates are living with their parents. But your favorite company may be hiring. Apple, which makes a profit of $420,000 per employee, can pay you about $12 per hour.

–Paul Buchheit, Common Dreams, 11/19/12

 

 

Immigration Oddities

Immigration is a hot topic right now.  People are determined to stop all those service-sapping Illegals from violating our Southern borders.  May I offer two observations?

1) Most of the immigrants in Santa Clara County have college degrees.  Most immigrants find jobs and pay taxes.  Why can’t we offer services that help the rest of them become self-sufficient, taxpaying workers?  Isn’t that a win-win situation?

2) If we’re closing our Southern borders, why aren’t we doing the same in the North?  Is it more okay for all those immigrants to come in illegally from Canada (or overstay student and work visas)?  Are European Illegals desirable when Hispanics are not?

………I was just wondering…….