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The Morning Rant
Over the next 15 years, the enrollment rates in traditional higher education are set to decline by 15 percent, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education has predicted. Some of that has to do with falling birth rates, as fewer Americans will be turning 18 in the coming years. Some have decided to go into the trades as the costs of higher education have increased more and more over the last several decades.You don't need a college degree to run an excavator, but you do need real skill. Fixing HVAC is a real skill that is in demand, and that demand will never go away! Plumbing a new office park is a non-starter for AI, but not for 20-year-old apprentices with no debt. Making a double espresso with a cute pattern in the foam is a luxury that as labor costs rise will be replaced by automation. Real education can be had with some curiosity and a library card. Indoctrination and huge debt can be had at any number of failing universities across the country, but more and more people are figuring out that it is nothing more than a scam. When graduates leave campus unable to compose a readable email or balance a check book, but are still on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars for their useless degrees, something has to change! If I had a high school senior about to go out into the real world, the last thing on earth I would suggest is college, unless he is dead-set on medicine or engineering or one of the few professions that require higher education. Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school, while his friends are scrambling for entry-level jobs that don't even pay enough for their student loans, that step down might be the smartest thing he ever did! [Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Hey monkey!
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:00 AM (ExV1e)
2
I haz nooded.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:00 AM (ExV1e)
3
Nooded.
Posted by: Nazdar at August 25, 2026 11:00 AM (NcvvS)
4
American students ditch college for trade school as enrollment rises 20% since 2020
======
"Don't you know that not all plumbers end up owning their own businesses and will just end up destroyed physically?! They should have gone to computer science and faced 25% unemployment for recent graduates instead!"
======
"Don't you know that not all plumbers end up owning their own businesses and will just end up destroyed physically?! They should have gone to computer science and faced 25% unemployment for recent graduates instead!"
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:01 AM (btJVX)
5
If I had a high school senior about to go out into the real world, the last thing on earth I would suggest is college, unless he is dead-set on Medicine or engineering or one of the few professions that require higher education. Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school, while his friends are scrambling for entry-level jobs that don't even pay enough for their student loans, that step down might be the smartest thing he ever did!
[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM
Electrician or plumbing. Probably electrician.
[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM
Electrician or plumbing. Probably electrician.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 25, 2026 11:02 AM (Y/06r)
6
Girl F. did a year of credit at City College for free, worked part-time, then used 4 years of money to finish in 3 years debt free.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 25, 2026 11:03 AM (RIvkX)
7
"Don't Go to College: A Case for Revolution" by Michael J Robillard and Timothy J. Gordon" is great.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:04 AM (36x1j)
8
Bit that type of work can get you calloused. It really gives me the ickm
Posted by: tankdemon at August 25, 2026 11:04 AM (3YTFP)
9
TJM, in my opinion part of that unemployed 25% for Computer Science majors is because the programs are graduating a plethora of kids with no business doing anything technical. Not that they couldn't learn if given the right opportunity, but a lot of undergraduate programs can easily be gamed by a halfway-motivated kid with a halfway-decent LLM.
Posted by: Part-time Thinker at August 25, 2026 11:04 AM (I6fQG)
10
Willowed:
255 The Scouring of the Shire marked the advent of Mr Clean, who traveled with Gandalf. He was instrumental in making him Gandalf the White instead of Gandalf the Grey. It’s in the book.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:02 AM (Gqar
Sorry, CBD, but this set off this ad jingle in my head:
https://youtu.be/lBUMw3t6rIQ
255 The Scouring of the Shire marked the advent of Mr Clean, who traveled with Gandalf. He was instrumental in making him Gandalf the White instead of Gandalf the Grey. It’s in the book.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:02 AM (Gqar
Sorry, CBD, but this set off this ad jingle in my head:
https://youtu.be/lBUMw3t6rIQ
Posted by: Aetius451AD at August 25, 2026 11:04 AM (Y/06r)
11
"If I had a high school senior about to go out into the real world, the last thing on earth I would suggest is college, unless he is dead-set on Medicine or engineering or one of the few professions that require higher education. Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school, while his friends are scrambling for entry-level jobs that don't even pay enough for their student loans, that step down might be the smartest thing he ever did!"
Having my 3rd sitting as a senior this year (and successfully launching #1), I disagree with this...the actual advice should be to take on no school debt if you are going to go to college or trade school. That usually means living at home and commuting to the state school.
It's no sexy, it's not partying, but it's smart.
I also encourage all 18 year olds to get out and work or volunteer for the same group for at least 2 years...show a future employer that you were good enough to bring back the following summer/year. It doesn't matter if this is work in the major or not b/c half of the kids won't end up working in their major, but will work where holes are for entry level jobs...
Having my 3rd sitting as a senior this year (and successfully launching #1), I disagree with this...the actual advice should be to take on no school debt if you are going to go to college or trade school. That usually means living at home and commuting to the state school.
It's no sexy, it's not partying, but it's smart.
I also encourage all 18 year olds to get out and work or volunteer for the same group for at least 2 years...show a future employer that you were good enough to bring back the following summer/year. It doesn't matter if this is work in the major or not b/c half of the kids won't end up working in their major, but will work where holes are for entry level jobs...
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:05 AM (tOcjL)
12
Contractors are some of the biggest scumbags I have ever met and not everybody wants to be one. Learning a skillset is a grand thing but let's not glorify the con artists.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at August 25, 2026 11:05 AM (FR9Sb)
13
Girl F. did a year of credit at City College for free, worked part-time, then used 4 years of money to finish in 3 years debt free.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 25, 2026 11:03 AM (RIvkX)
How many of her friends have college debt?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 25, 2026 11:03 AM (RIvkX)
How many of her friends have college debt?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 25, 2026 11:06 AM (k5CNB)
14
Universities should have to disclose the average salary of graduates they produce for each degree program they offer.
That way students can be forewarned that their Aztec Lesbian Poetry BA isn't gonna cover the $80-100K in debt that will accrue.
Also, those students who graduate with degrees that don't support the debt level needed to attain them should be able to sue those colleges, forcing them to use their billion dollar endowments to help pay off the debts.
Lastly, the government should not offer student loans for degree programs that have proven consistently to not generate post-grads a wage that can payoff the debt.
That way students can be forewarned that their Aztec Lesbian Poetry BA isn't gonna cover the $80-100K in debt that will accrue.
Also, those students who graduate with degrees that don't support the debt level needed to attain them should be able to sue those colleges, forcing them to use their billion dollar endowments to help pay off the debts.
Lastly, the government should not offer student loans for degree programs that have proven consistently to not generate post-grads a wage that can payoff the debt.
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at August 25, 2026 11:06 AM (MNCvZ)
15
Pursue higher education! We need more baristas!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Oh yeah? Well, You're Another One! at August 25, 2026 11:07 AM (ndZc7)
16
It isn't just millennials regarding that 401Ks.
My 401K is going to fund about 75% of my retirement. SS is nice, and I'm timing retirement to get max return. But it's not a significant part of the financial calculation.
My 401K is going to fund about 75% of my retirement. SS is nice, and I'm timing retirement to get max return. But it's not a significant part of the financial calculation.
Posted by: Dave_in_Fla at August 25, 2026 11:07 AM (rvnbR)
17
2 More than half (58%) of Generation Z and Millennial participants with 401(k) plans expect their personal retirement accounts to be their main source of income in retirement.
Posted by: SMOD
The joker in the deck is that Medicaid and Medicare expenditures have passed Social Security and are leaving it in the dust as a percent of budget that is rising the fastest besides interest on the debt.
Health Care is 2.1 Trillion in the current budget, Social Security is 1.7 trillion. Yet, Social Security even with demographic changes, due to its high payroll tax kicks in about 70-80 percent revenue per dollar spent.
Medicare tax revenue is far behind at about 50 cents on the dollar spent, and Medicaid is 800 billion as the Fed's 50 percent match plus Obamacare shit.
Posted by: SMOD
The joker in the deck is that Medicaid and Medicare expenditures have passed Social Security and are leaving it in the dust as a percent of budget that is rising the fastest besides interest on the debt.
Health Care is 2.1 Trillion in the current budget, Social Security is 1.7 trillion. Yet, Social Security even with demographic changes, due to its high payroll tax kicks in about 70-80 percent revenue per dollar spent.
Medicare tax revenue is far behind at about 50 cents on the dollar spent, and Medicaid is 800 billion as the Fed's 50 percent match plus Obamacare shit.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:08 AM (E4rtv)
18
How many of her friends have college debt?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 25, 2026 11:06 AM (k5CNB)
100% especially the one who just finished medical school, but she is going to the kind of practice that her debt will be discharged quickly.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 25, 2026 11:06 AM (k5CNB)
100% especially the one who just finished medical school, but she is going to the kind of practice that her debt will be discharged quickly.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (RIvkX)
19
>>Electrician or plumbing. Probably electrician.
Forget where, but saw something once about electricians having above average cardiac health because they spend so much time with their arms up - gives the heart a good workout.
Forget where, but saw something once about electricians having above average cardiac health because they spend so much time with their arms up - gives the heart a good workout.
Posted by: Nazdar at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (NcvvS)
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (2Ez/1)
21
Government public sector jobs give the proles a relative pittance of pay with incredible strings attached to it. The trade off is bullet proof employment where short of mass murder in the workplace the job is guaranteed for as long as one cares to more or less show up. After the employee gets bored in twenty years or so they receive a pension and sweet medical benefits paid for by the non government employees for the course of their lifetimes. There are exceptions as there always are but generally speaking this is the case.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (Gqar8)
22
My buddy waited until age 70 to start collecting SS. He died of cancer before he maid it to 71.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (36x1j)
23
Learning a trade is all well and good but...I dunno if any of y'all have ever spent long stints actually doing trade work but, it's hard. Hard work, and hard on your body.
Sure you can make a good living straight out of HS or trade school but you're busting your ass for 60-70 hours a week and coming home too tired to do anything when it would be nice to have a social life in your early 20's.
Then by the time you're 45-50 years old your body is broken and you spend whatever time you have left nursing all of the aches and pains you now have.
Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
Sure you can make a good living straight out of HS or trade school but you're busting your ass for 60-70 hours a week and coming home too tired to do anything when it would be nice to have a social life in your early 20's.
Then by the time you're 45-50 years old your body is broken and you spend whatever time you have left nursing all of the aches and pains you now have.
Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (oqH4h)
24
Go to school and become an engineer so that you can launder construction money for the democrat party.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (g8Ew8)
25
Dave in Fla sighting. Early thoughts on the Midterms?
Posted by: CoolHandLuke at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (RZlrj)
26
A college degree used to indicate you could be depended on to consistently show up and apply yourself, and have some level of competency in thinking critically and communicating. Nowadays, it's just credentialism.
I'd like to see a requirement for design enginerds to service and maintain their designs for some interval, say 2 years before they do anything else.
I'd like to see a requirement for design enginerds to service and maintain their designs for some interval, say 2 years before they do anything else.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at August 25, 2026 11:11 AM (3Ope8)
27
Good contractors are out there, plenty of them. But they are like good auto mechanics. They aren't sitting at their desk waiting for the phone to ring. They are booked up for weeks or even months. They have to make everything pencil out, it has to pay.
I tried hiring the lone ranger type of contractor, and it's hit or miss at best. Usually you won't have saved any money, takes forever, etc. The experienced contractors cost bucks, but they come out with a crew, they have it down to a science and bam bam bam, they get it done in record time at a high level. Just try not to wince at the invoice too much.
I tried hiring the lone ranger type of contractor, and it's hit or miss at best. Usually you won't have saved any money, takes forever, etc. The experienced contractors cost bucks, but they come out with a crew, they have it down to a science and bam bam bam, they get it done in record time at a high level. Just try not to wince at the invoice too much.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 25, 2026 11:11 AM (as7qH)
28
Go to college or not, as long as you're employed, we will feed off you.
Posted by: HR at August 25, 2026 11:11 AM (wn0/z)
29
MUNKEY
MUNKEY
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (iqcvy)
30
"Fast, cheap, or good. Pick two" applies. If you're lucky
Posted by: Common Tater at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (as7qH)
31
22 My buddy waited until age 70 to start collecting SS. He died of cancer before he maid it to 71.
yep it's a bet we don't want to take. my husband is older and our plan has him starting to draw SS as soon as he can.
yep it's a bet we don't want to take. my husband is older and our plan has him starting to draw SS as soon as he can.
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (j+aD2)
32
I worked railroads, general construction, and coal mining. I made very good money but got tired, dirty and often times hurt. Oh, and the bosses always expected you to, get this, produce.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (Gqar8)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Oh yeah? Well, You're Another One! at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (ndZc7)
34
So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?"
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (cGjQu)
35
23 Learning a trade is all well and good but...I dunno if any of y'all have ever spent long stints actually doing trade work but, it's hard. Hard work, and hard on your body.
Sure you can make a good living straight out of HS or trade school but you're busting your ass for 60-70 hours a week and coming home too tired to do anything when it would be nice to have a social life in your early 20's.
Then by the time you're 45-50 years old your body is broken and you spend whatever time you have left nursing all of the aches and pains you now have.
Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (oqH4h
Oh boo fucking hoo.
Sure you can make a good living straight out of HS or trade school but you're busting your ass for 60-70 hours a week and coming home too tired to do anything when it would be nice to have a social life in your early 20's.
Then by the time you're 45-50 years old your body is broken and you spend whatever time you have left nursing all of the aches and pains you now have.
Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (oqH4h
Oh boo fucking hoo.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew8)
36
we've had some local college closures but more consolidation (of state schools) and paring down of offered majors
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (j+aD2)
37
34 So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?"
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (cGjQu)
State schools are flourishing...small expensive private schools are getting killed...
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (cGjQu)
State schools are flourishing...small expensive private schools are getting killed...
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (tOcjL)
38
5 If I had a high school senior about to go out into the real world, the last thing on earth I would suggest is college, unless he is dead-set on Medicine or engineering or one of the few professions that require higher education. Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school, while his friends are scrambling for entry-level jobs that don't even pay enough for their student loans, that step down might be the smartest thing he ever did!
[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM
Electrician or plumbing. Probably electrician.
Posted by: Aetius451AD
=========
I have seen fads in seeking employment come and go over time. Sort of like real estate hot and cold areas. Next thing you know, what is hot is cold and vice versa.
Advising everyone to go into the trades is as mistaken as telling everyone to get a comp sci degree. Jobs depends on inclination, flexibility, and a willingness to learn with a job network .
Simply put, we cannot return to the 50's and 60'
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!
Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM
Electrician or plumbing. Probably electrician.
Posted by: Aetius451AD
=========
I have seen fads in seeking employment come and go over time. Sort of like real estate hot and cold areas. Next thing you know, what is hot is cold and vice versa.
Advising everyone to go into the trades is as mistaken as telling everyone to get a comp sci degree. Jobs depends on inclination, flexibility, and a willingness to learn with a job network .
Simply put, we cannot return to the 50's and 60'
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (E4rtv)
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:14 AM (cGjQu)
40
Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at August 25, 2026 11:06 AM (MNCvZ)
HS guidance councilors should be beaten with a stick for failing to point out to students that the majors they intend to pursue will neither provide a "living wage" nor allow them to repay school loans.
Anyone who gives a commencement address with the message to "follow your passion" to bunch of 18 year olds should be beaten with a stick for setting people with no fucking idea what their 'passion' is up for failure and misery.
Congress should be beaten with a stick for setting up / permitting a college loan program which doesn't emphasize degrees in areas which benefit the country.
HS guidance councilors should be beaten with a stick for failing to point out to students that the majors they intend to pursue will neither provide a "living wage" nor allow them to repay school loans.
Anyone who gives a commencement address with the message to "follow your passion" to bunch of 18 year olds should be beaten with a stick for setting people with no fucking idea what their 'passion' is up for failure and misery.
Congress should be beaten with a stick for setting up / permitting a college loan program which doesn't emphasize degrees in areas which benefit the country.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:14 AM (ExV1e)
41
State schools are flourishing...small expensive private schools are getting killed...
lol the private schools are all-in for getting athletes in to continue their HS glory days .. let's see how long that lasts.
it works bc the bigger schools import a lot of athletes ...
lol the private schools are all-in for getting athletes in to continue their HS glory days .. let's see how long that lasts.
it works bc the bigger schools import a lot of athletes ...
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:14 AM (j+aD2)
42
It was over 10 years ago but I told daughter that if she wanted to go into the trades I would back her all the way.
Posted by: Captain Ned at August 25, 2026 11:14 AM (q49SZ)
43
High school students should apply for ICE and BP, so that their children will be able to study engineering and medicine.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:14 AM (btJVX)
44
I’m just glad that in the pre-Cambrian era when I went to college it was very worthwhile. Of course I was an engineering major which is probably still worthwhile today….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (geWO5)
45
34 So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?"
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (cGjQu)
The little Liberal Arts colleges without fat endowments and blue state support are going the way of pterodactyls.
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM (cGjQu)
The little Liberal Arts colleges without fat endowments and blue state support are going the way of pterodactyls.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (Gqar8)
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (cGjQu)
47
CBD talkin' sense this morning. Very good editorial.
Posted by: Four Stars **** at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (JM9I6)
48
If I had a high school senior about to go out into the real world, the last thing on earth I would suggest is college, unless he is dead-set on medicine or engineering or one of the few professions that require higher education.
Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school,
I kick myself daily for not having my dad teach me welding. I kick myself daily for not having a plan for after high school.
Learning to weld may sound like a step down, but when he is debt-free and making $75k right out of trade school,
I kick myself daily for not having my dad teach me welding. I kick myself daily for not having a plan for after high school.
Posted by: rickb223 at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (exh+T)
49
So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?
Right?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM
Until the federal government quits subsidizing virtually unlimited student loans nothing is going to change. Get the fed out of the student loan business and there will be a major immediate correction in higher education.
Right?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM
Until the federal government quits subsidizing virtually unlimited student loans nothing is going to change. Get the fed out of the student loan business and there will be a major immediate correction in higher education.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (cpFbA)
50
TJM your Bakshi thing amused me
you are so earnest!
Bakshi films are meant to be watched WHILE HIGH
you are so earnest!
Bakshi films are meant to be watched WHILE HIGH
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (j+aD2)
51
More than half (58%) of Generation Z and Millennial participants with 401(k) plans expect their personal retirement accounts to be their main source of income in retirement.
Posted by: SMOD
I am - technically - a boomer and I didn't retire until I was confident that my personal retirement accounts could be my main source of income in retirement.
Posted by: SMOD
I am - technically - a boomer and I didn't retire until I was confident that my personal retirement accounts could be my main source of income in retirement.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:16 AM (ExV1e)
52
So TJM has resurfaced.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:16 AM (Gqar8)
53
HS guidance councilors should be beaten with a stick for failing to point out to students that the majors they intend to pursue will neither provide a "living wage" nor allow them to repay school loans."
"Work smart, not hard" posters in every HS hallway...
"Work smart, not hard" posters in every HS hallway...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:16 AM (cGjQu)
54
I've been going to the Keys for years to fish and drink rum. Not necessarily in that order. One of my favorite places is Hawks Cay. Don't tell anyone or they will spoil it.
One of the biggest homes in that place is owned by, or at least was last time I was there, by an electrical contractor from Miami. His vacation home is bigger than the White House.
Demonizing the trades was one of the dumbest things we as a country ever did. Franklin knew.
One of the biggest homes in that place is owned by, or at least was last time I was there, by an electrical contractor from Miami. His vacation home is bigger than the White House.
Demonizing the trades was one of the dumbest things we as a country ever did. Franklin knew.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (viF8m)
55
my youngest has a plan for after college
not sure I like it tho
I'll probably share more later if it actually happens
been looking for "what I care about" and switched majors twice, it's been something else! so maybe found "what they are about" I dunno
not sure I like it tho
I'll probably share more later if it actually happens
been looking for "what I care about" and switched majors twice, it's been something else! so maybe found "what they are about" I dunno
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (j+aD2)
56
I tried hiring the lone ranger type of contractor, and it's hit or miss at best.
A show on using home contractors has taken over a weekend slot on my radio station. Listening to it sounds like the same advice you get about entering bad neighborhoods.
A show on using home contractors has taken over a weekend slot on my radio station. Listening to it sounds like the same advice you get about entering bad neighborhoods.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (f4tQo)
57
tubal,
That used to be 'the deal', and maybe still is in some levels/areas of government. Now the pay is better, some areas it surpasses private sector due to H1Bs, but the retirement is a 401k/IRA not a guaranteed pension (which probably makes financial sense but feels like a potential insider trading issue), and you're easier to fire in some cases than you used to be.
That used to be 'the deal', and maybe still is in some levels/areas of government. Now the pay is better, some areas it surpasses private sector due to H1Bs, but the retirement is a 401k/IRA not a guaranteed pension (which probably makes financial sense but feels like a potential insider trading issue), and you're easier to fire in some cases than you used to be.
Posted by: RandomDave (if you can spare a bit, please click) at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (aJQbY)
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (cGjQu)
59
Real education can be had with some curiosity and a library card. Indoctrination and huge debt can be had at any number of failing universities across the country, but more and more people are figuring out that it is nothing more than a scam.
"and two, you dropped 150 grand on a fuckin' education you could have got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library!"
"and two, you dropped 150 grand on a fuckin' education you could have got for a dollar fifty in late charges at the public library!"
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (KRh8R)
60
34 So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?"
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM
Such as?
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM
Such as?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (2Ez/1)
61
State schools are flourishing...small expensive private schools are getting killed...
Posted by: Nova Local
=======
And that is why they need to be deregulated. Small private schools commonly had some sort of tie to religious congregations but decided to become one with the world due to student financing from Uncle Sam. Returning to the past might just reinvigorate old dying religious sects and provide use for those big church campuses that are expensive to maintain for a mere one or two days per week. Using those classrooms as a basis and using the common Masters and even doctoral teachers with credentials in that faith could provide cheaper faculty costs and no fed student financing avoids the whole Fedgov apparatus. Grove City College in PA is an example.
And like removing the ABA from accrediting lawschools, states should be given the power to accredit higher ed rather than the feds deferring to these multi state blobs of administratium.
Posted by: Nova Local
=======
And that is why they need to be deregulated. Small private schools commonly had some sort of tie to religious congregations but decided to become one with the world due to student financing from Uncle Sam. Returning to the past might just reinvigorate old dying religious sects and provide use for those big church campuses that are expensive to maintain for a mere one or two days per week. Using those classrooms as a basis and using the common Masters and even doctoral teachers with credentials in that faith could provide cheaper faculty costs and no fed student financing avoids the whole Fedgov apparatus. Grove City College in PA is an example.
And like removing the ABA from accrediting lawschools, states should be given the power to accredit higher ed rather than the feds deferring to these multi state blobs of administratium.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (E4rtv)
62
Students with LOL-I'M-FCK'ED degrees want their student loans forgiven and abolished.
Colleges and universities want students to take LOL-I'M-FCK'ED degrees. Worthless degrees, with worthless students that haven't even mastered 6th-grade reading, writing, and arithmatic.
Solution:
Go all Che Guevara on the college and uni administrators. Sieze their funds. Student loan forgiveness will be based on money ripped out from the frauds and from the endowments.
Higher education got their nice carve out. You can't even bankrupt out of that debt. The unis get paid up-front - the loans are with the government. And there's no proper controls on price because the market has been distorted so much. Fake courses, fake professors, fake learning, but charging a premium for it. And pushing laws (like not allowing hiring tests) that forced a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement to get hired.
So, make them pay for it. Harvest them like a Chinese eunuch salivating over a caged Uyghar's organs. Rip out every brick of the buildings for resale. Sell tickets to a Salt-The-Earth show.
Burn them to the ground.
Colleges and universities want students to take LOL-I'M-FCK'ED degrees. Worthless degrees, with worthless students that haven't even mastered 6th-grade reading, writing, and arithmatic.
Solution:
Go all Che Guevara on the college and uni administrators. Sieze their funds. Student loan forgiveness will be based on money ripped out from the frauds and from the endowments.
Higher education got their nice carve out. You can't even bankrupt out of that debt. The unis get paid up-front - the loans are with the government. And there's no proper controls on price because the market has been distorted so much. Fake courses, fake professors, fake learning, but charging a premium for it. And pushing laws (like not allowing hiring tests) that forced a bachelor's degree as a minimum requirement to get hired.
So, make them pay for it. Harvest them like a Chinese eunuch salivating over a caged Uyghar's organs. Rip out every brick of the buildings for resale. Sell tickets to a Salt-The-Earth show.
Burn them to the ground.
Posted by: Another Anon at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (4h45B)
63
50 TJM your Bakshi thing amused me
you are so earnest!
Bakshi films are meant to be watched WHILE HIGH
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (j+aD2)
=======
That's one way to describe "intentionally bad films", I suppose.
you are so earnest!
Bakshi films are meant to be watched WHILE HIGH
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:15 AM (j+aD2)
=======
That's one way to describe "intentionally bad films", I suppose.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (btJVX)
64
Add in Artificial Intelligence, which can do some of the basic tasks that new employees are often given, and a college education may be going the way of the dodo.
this is about me, isn't it?
this is about me, isn't it?
Posted by: microsoft basic on paper tape at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (sGtp+)
65
listing colleges:
(I only know local news on this)
- Cabrini - now part of Villanova
- Neumann - barely open fired 80 percent of staff
- Valley Forge - gone
- a bunch of satellite Penn-State-affiliated schools have combined. I think the one in Wilkes-Barre has announced closure after this academic year
(I only know local news on this)
- Cabrini - now part of Villanova
- Neumann - barely open fired 80 percent of staff
- Valley Forge - gone
- a bunch of satellite Penn-State-affiliated schools have combined. I think the one in Wilkes-Barre has announced closure after this academic year
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (j+aD2)
66
State schools are flourishing...small expensive private schools are getting killed...
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (tOcjL)
-------
Not Goucher! It remains the finest institution for the education and advancement of beached manatees in the Great Baltimore area.
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (tOcjL)
-------
Not Goucher! It remains the finest institution for the education and advancement of beached manatees in the Great Baltimore area.
Posted by: Jonah Goldberg at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (BI5O2)
67
The thing most young people never consider is career variability.
Starting as a welder making $75K is good in and of itself, but it isn't necessarily a lifetime commitment, you can do many things over your life. Or you can start a business in your trade and put down good economic roots.
One thing is certain, with a trade a young person can move around, live anywhere, and always be welcome and find work. You can travel pretty much anywhere.
Avoid college, gain a useful trade, and you'll be financially well off and can live a varied life.
Starting as a welder making $75K is good in and of itself, but it isn't necessarily a lifetime commitment, you can do many things over your life. Or you can start a business in your trade and put down good economic roots.
One thing is certain, with a trade a young person can move around, live anywhere, and always be welcome and find work. You can travel pretty much anywhere.
Avoid college, gain a useful trade, and you'll be financially well off and can live a varied life.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (DhlIm)
68
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:10 AM (oqH4h)
I can relate. I started my career in aviation as a mechanic, working OT to make ends meet and I dreaded the weekday the tool truck came by. Then when I got the taco wagon stocked, I transitioned to inspection and after a while, I weaseled my way into engineering (without a degree) by doing the gruntwork the enginerds didn't want to do. By the time I went back to engineering school in my late 40s, I realized I should have done that in my 20s.
I can relate. I started my career in aviation as a mechanic, working OT to make ends meet and I dreaded the weekday the tool truck came by. Then when I got the taco wagon stocked, I transitioned to inspection and after a while, I weaseled my way into engineering (without a degree) by doing the gruntwork the enginerds didn't want to do. By the time I went back to engineering school in my late 40s, I realized I should have done that in my 20s.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (3Ope8)
69
60 34 So there are stories of four year colleges closing up shop every week, right?"
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM
Such as?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (2Ez/1)
Did a quick search.Copilot lists eight. All small private schools.
Well, there's been about a dozen so far this year, depending on one's sources...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:12 AM
Such as?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (2Ez/1)
Did a quick search.Copilot lists eight. All small private schools.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (Gqar8)
70
I start teaching my writing class today. I work for a STEM school.
Not a single one of my students is in liberal arts or social sciences. Not. One.
Every single one of them will be going out into STEM world (at this point--that may change).
So my job is to prepare them for the communication challenges they will face as STEM professionals. I'm not teaching them to become English majors.
Not a single one of my students is in liberal arts or social sciences. Not. One.
Every single one of them will be going out into STEM world (at this point--that may change).
So my job is to prepare them for the communication challenges they will face as STEM professionals. I'm not teaching them to become English majors.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (FZ29D)
71
State schools are flourishing"
A quick googles says that many state skrools have less enrollment today than just a few years ago...
A quick googles says that many state skrools have less enrollment today than just a few years ago...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (cGjQu)
72
62 Solution:
Go all Che Guevara on the college and uni administrators. Sieze their funds. Student loan forgiveness will be based on money ripped out from the frauds and from the endowments.
Posted by: Another Anon at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (4h45B)
=====
Better to go Henry VIII.
Seize the land and endowments. Dole it out to loyal people on our side to create a new elite superstructure in the same place.
Go all Che Guevara on the college and uni administrators. Sieze their funds. Student loan forgiveness will be based on money ripped out from the frauds and from the endowments.
Posted by: Another Anon at August 25, 2026 11:19 AM (4h45B)
=====
Better to go Henry VIII.
Seize the land and endowments. Dole it out to loyal people on our side to create a new elite superstructure in the same place.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:20 AM (btJVX)
73
Colleges Closed or Closing in 2025–2026
Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL) — Announced closure in November 2025 and held its final commencement in May 2026.
Sterling College (Craftsbury Common, VT) — Announced closure in November 2025 and concluded operations in May 2026.
Siena Heights University (Adrian, MI) — Scheduled to close following the conclusion of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Lourdes University (Sylvania, OH) — Announced in February 2026 that it would close at the end of the spring 2026 semester.
Labouré College of Healthcare (Milton, MA) — Ceasing independent operations in August 2026 with programs transitioning to Curry College.
Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA) — Announced the end of academic operations for spring 2026 with a full wind-down by the end of the year.
Providence Christian College (Pasadena, CA) — Scheduled to close at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year following grant losses.
Martin University (Indianapolis, IN) — Paused operations and initiated closure procedures.
PT 1 of 2
Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL) — Announced closure in November 2025 and held its final commencement in May 2026.
Sterling College (Craftsbury Common, VT) — Announced closure in November 2025 and concluded operations in May 2026.
Siena Heights University (Adrian, MI) — Scheduled to close following the conclusion of the 2025–2026 academic year.
Lourdes University (Sylvania, OH) — Announced in February 2026 that it would close at the end of the spring 2026 semester.
Labouré College of Healthcare (Milton, MA) — Ceasing independent operations in August 2026 with programs transitioning to Curry College.
Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA) — Announced the end of academic operations for spring 2026 with a full wind-down by the end of the year.
Providence Christian College (Pasadena, CA) — Scheduled to close at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year following grant losses.
Martin University (Indianapolis, IN) — Paused operations and initiated closure procedures.
PT 1 of 2
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:21 AM (tOcjL)
74
Plumbing a new office park is a non-starter for AI, but not for 20-year-old apprentices with no debt.
this sort of thing might be a more useful sport for robotics olympics than running faster than usain bolt.
this sort of thing might be a more useful sport for robotics olympics than running faster than usain bolt.
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:21 AM (sGtp+)
75
That's one way to describe "intentionally bad films", I suppose.
they're just not "films" in the way you think of them
no one was "thinking"!!!!
I grew up with fanzines and related. and while I'm a bit young for R Crumb I knew of him and met him and loved his work. he was earnest like you
but yeah the films aren't about storytelling or structure or anything like that. and Bakshi isn't alone. loads of 70s and 80s films like this, but I love a lot of them! even when not high
That's one way to describe "intentionally bad films", I suppose.
they're just not "films" in the way you think of them
no one was "thinking"!!!!
I grew up with fanzines and related. and while I'm a bit young for R Crumb I knew of him and met him and loved his work. he was earnest like you
but yeah the films aren't about storytelling or structure or anything like that. and Bakshi isn't alone. loads of 70s and 80s films like this, but I love a lot of them! even when not high
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:21 AM (j+aD2)
76
Recent articles about Syracuse say they are eliminating 20% of their liberal arts courses, right now. It's happening.
Posted by: CoolHandLuke at August 25, 2026 11:21 AM (RZlrj)
77
Pt 2 of Colleges Closed or Closing in 2025-2026
St Andrews University (Laurinburg, NC) — Ceased operations due to long-standing financial deficits.
Limestone University (Gaffney, SC) — Closed following failed emergency fundraising targets.
Fontbonne University (St. Louis, MO) — Closed following summer 2025.
Northland College (Ashland, WI) — Shut down operations due to persistent financial insolvency.
Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, MA) — Announced closure due to enrollment drops and budget deficits.
St Andrews University (Laurinburg, NC) — Ceased operations due to long-standing financial deficits.
Limestone University (Gaffney, SC) — Closed following failed emergency fundraising targets.
Fontbonne University (St. Louis, MO) — Closed following summer 2025.
Northland College (Ashland, WI) — Shut down operations due to persistent financial insolvency.
Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, MA) — Announced closure due to enrollment drops and budget deficits.
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:22 AM (tOcjL)
78
My buddy waited until age 70 to start collecting SS. He died of cancer before he maid it to 71.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (36x1j)
OTOH, Joe took it at 62 and ended up living to 104, falling further and further behind every year. Individual situations are individual.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (36x1j)
OTOH, Joe took it at 62 and ended up living to 104, falling further and further behind every year. Individual situations are individual.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:22 AM (ExV1e)
79
And the schools that shut down can always become Mohammed University./ s. Don't they already have at least one Muslim private high school somewhere in the U.S.?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 25, 2026 11:23 AM (rHgXV)
80
I do have a high school senior this year. He is training to be an aircraft mechanic. Though I have a degree myself, I'm not encouraging the little hobbits to go that way unless they have something specific, and useful, that requires it in mind for their future.
Posted by: She Hobbit (out and about in Middle Earth) at August 25, 2026 11:23 AM (b/Ka5)
81
Who's TJM? Please refresh my memory.
Posted by: A Place For Mom at August 25, 2026 11:24 AM (JM9I6)
82
Using the NIL money in football and basketball metric I infer that big ten universities are tremendously healthy. This has little to do with their academic programs…
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:24 AM (geWO5)
83
FWIW, kidlets school (U Houston) cut something like 130 classes in this year...
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:24 AM (cGjQu)
84
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:22 AM
Not enough MA schools on that list, but it's a start.
Not enough MA schools on that list, but it's a start.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 25, 2026 11:24 AM (KRh8R)
85
63 That's one way to describe "intentionally bad films", I suppose.
i was doing ok with wizards until the fairy hopped in the tank and drove off with the bad guys.
similarly, i was doing ok with star trek: enterprise until they mounted phasers on stukas.
i was doing ok with wizards until the fairy hopped in the tank and drove off with the bad guys.
similarly, i was doing ok with star trek: enterprise until they mounted phasers on stukas.
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:24 AM (sGtp+)
86
78 My buddy waited until age 70 to start collecting SS. He died of cancer before he maid it to 71.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (36x1j)
OTOH, Joe took it at 62 and ended up living to 104, falling further and further behind every year. Individual situations are individual.
it's also hard to make predictions, especially about the future.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at August 25, 2026 11:09 AM (36x1j)
OTOH, Joe took it at 62 and ended up living to 104, falling further and further behind every year. Individual situations are individual.
it's also hard to make predictions, especially about the future.
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (sGtp+)
87
Until the federal government quits subsidizing virtually unlimited student loans nothing is going to change. Get the fed out of the student loan business and there will be a major immediate correction in higher education.
Posted by: Mister Scott
======
Trump has already started as the BBB has quite a few provisions changing student loans and aid. Lifetime caps on student loans of all types, big cuts to graduate education loans with a cap differentiating between a professional degree like medicine or law and a Phd in puppetry which has a far lower cap on loans.
Likewise the scams that a lot of educational visa holders are using to get to the US so they can obtain work permission are being examined and pruned back with restrictions.
Posted by: Mister Scott
======
Trump has already started as the BBB has quite a few provisions changing student loans and aid. Lifetime caps on student loans of all types, big cuts to graduate education loans with a cap differentiating between a professional degree like medicine or law and a Phd in puppetry which has a far lower cap on loans.
Likewise the scams that a lot of educational visa holders are using to get to the US so they can obtain work permission are being examined and pruned back with restrictions.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (E4rtv)
88
I've seen trade programs at the high school level. In my area, we have an HVAC and Plumbing course and jobs are waiting for them after graduation.
Sadly, there will be people arguing that they aren't getting a "living wage" but at least they aren't in debt.
Sadly, there will be people arguing that they aren't getting a "living wage" but at least they aren't in debt.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (RjOoY)
89
>>By the time I went back to engineering school in my late 40s, I realized I should have done that in my 20s.
Things they don't tell you as a kid. School is pretty easy. Thinking for yourself takes a lifetime to figure out.
Things they don't tell you as a kid. School is pretty easy. Thinking for yourself takes a lifetime to figure out.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (viF8m)
90
I just looked… Harvey Mudd is a private school focusing on STEM. It has a very good rep… it costs more than $100K per year to go there. That’s not a typo. Wow… State U has great engineering at a fraction of the cost….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (geWO5)
91
Dexerto
@Dexerto
[In Australia] An outlaw motorcycle gang member was arrested for allegedly breaching his firearm ban by playing a plastic duck shooting game
Timothy Simpson could face up to 15 years in prison for using an air rifle to win his daughter a carnival prize
-
Nip it in the bud. If he gets by with this, next thing you know, he'll be toting an AK-47.
@Dexerto
[In Australia] An outlaw motorcycle gang member was arrested for allegedly breaching his firearm ban by playing a plastic duck shooting game
Timothy Simpson could face up to 15 years in prison for using an air rifle to win his daughter a carnival prize
-
Nip it in the bud. If he gets by with this, next thing you know, he'll be toting an AK-47.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Oh yeah? Well, You're Another One! at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (ndZc7)
92
High school students should apply for ICE and BP, so that their children will be able to study engineering and medicine.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
ICE is pretty much going to require a bachelor's degree.
https://tinyurl.com/3tfpaats
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
ICE is pretty much going to require a bachelor's degree.
https://tinyurl.com/3tfpaats
Posted by: rickb223 at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (exh+T)
93
87 Trump has already started as the BBB has quite a few provisions changing student loans and aid. Lifetime caps on student loans of all types, big cuts to graduate education loans with a cap differentiating between a professional degree like medicine or law and a Phd in puppetry which has a far lower cap on loans.
Likewise the scams that a lot of educational visa holders are using to get to the US so they can obtain work permission are being examined and pruned back with restrictions.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (E4rtv)
=====
Trump didn't fix everything on Day 1 with the snap of his fingers, so nothing is happening.
We have to vote Democrat to teach him a lesson.
Likewise the scams that a lot of educational visa holders are using to get to the US so they can obtain work permission are being examined and pruned back with restrictions.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (E4rtv)
=====
Trump didn't fix everything on Day 1 with the snap of his fingers, so nothing is happening.
We have to vote Democrat to teach him a lesson.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (btJVX)
94
The only possible problem I can see is that sooner or later, some AWFL will step in and say "There are too many boys in the trades! Women can do these kinds of jobs!"
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
95
it's also hard to make predictions, especially about the future.
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (sGtp+)
Is that you, Yogi Berra? :-)
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (sGtp+)
Is that you, Yogi Berra? :-)
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (geWO5)
96
Places like Hartwick College in NY are in danger of shuttering. They historically had good baseball teams, at least.
Posted by: Down To Their Last Strike at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (JM9I6)
97
94 The only possible problem I can see is that sooner or later, some AWFL will step in and say "There are too many boys in the trades! Women can do these kinds of jobs!"
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
=====
That is a line they will never cross.
Women should be in clean board rooms telling dirty men in the field what to do, not be in the field themselves.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
=====
That is a line they will never cross.
Women should be in clean board rooms telling dirty men in the field what to do, not be in the field themselves.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:28 AM (btJVX)
98
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market. Now it is just a ridiculous waste of time, money, and effort for 80% of those going. Unfortunately after Preezy Shit Midas it is a waste of TAXPAYER money.
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at August 25, 2026 11:28 AM (xvV+O)
99
51 I am - technically - a boomer and I didn't retire until I was confident that my personal retirement accounts could be my main source of income in retirement.
yeah, well, my plan was to die of cancer before 50; when i was kid, everything (including drinking water) caused cancer. that didn't work out.
yeah, well, my plan was to die of cancer before 50; when i was kid, everything (including drinking water) caused cancer. that didn't work out.
Posted by: anachronda at August 25, 2026 11:28 AM (sGtp+)
100
The only possible problem I can see is that sooner or later, some AWFL will step in and say "There are too many boys in the trades! Women can do these kinds of jobs!"
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
----
They've been saying that about STEM schools for years.
STEM schools bend over backwards to get more women, yet they find relatively few takers.
Men-to-women ratio where I work is still about 3:1 after several decades.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
----
They've been saying that about STEM schools for years.
STEM schools bend over backwards to get more women, yet they find relatively few takers.
Men-to-women ratio where I work is still about 3:1 after several decades.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 25, 2026 11:29 AM (FZ29D)
101
The Trades covers a vast amount of ground. Not all the same. One common factor is the demand for productivity from the employee.
Posted by: tubal at August 25, 2026 11:29 AM (Gqar8)
102
90 I just looked… Harvey Mudd is a private school focusing on STEM. It has a very good rep… it costs more than $100K per year to go there. That’s not a typo. Wow… State U has great engineering at a fraction of the cost….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (geWO5)
My local state school broke their record for transfers (and new students) this fall...folks are trying not to go broke...
Part of the transfer record was 2+2 folks, who also broke a record...so kids are listening to the debt stuff...
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at August 25, 2026 11:26 AM (geWO5)
My local state school broke their record for transfers (and new students) this fall...folks are trying not to go broke...
Part of the transfer record was 2+2 folks, who also broke a record...so kids are listening to the debt stuff...
Posted by: Nova Local at August 25, 2026 11:29 AM (tOcjL)
103
- a bunch of satellite Penn-State-affiliated schools have combined. I think the one in Wilkes-Barre has announced closure after this academic year
Also: Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven Universities have combined into "Commonweatlh University". California, Clarion, and Edinboro Universities have combined into "Pennsylvania Western University".
Also: Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven Universities have combined into "Commonweatlh University". California, Clarion, and Edinboro Universities have combined into "Pennsylvania Western University".
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:29 AM (f4tQo)
104
If you can cultivate a working relationship with one of the lone wolf guys, it's like hitting the lottery. They are out there. They get to pick and choose what they want to do, and who they want to work with or for.
Everyone of course wants their guy to answer the phone right away and come right out and fix their shit that day.
There's a whole subculture of commercial property owners who have the same problem. Say a bathroom fan needs to be replaced. No big deal, right? Well it is, because they often don't have a dedicated repair guy. They put it out for bids, like Uber for Contractors. It's the dumbest goddamned thing I've ever seen.
They charge ridiculous prices for the most simple things. You might have to wait 3 or 4 months to actually get paid, but you can bank doing simple stupid shit, being on call and getting stuff fixed for them right away.
This is one reason why the poor beleaguered can't get anyone to come out and fix anything. They can make way more money gouging someone else.
Everyone of course wants their guy to answer the phone right away and come right out and fix their shit that day.
There's a whole subculture of commercial property owners who have the same problem. Say a bathroom fan needs to be replaced. No big deal, right? Well it is, because they often don't have a dedicated repair guy. They put it out for bids, like Uber for Contractors. It's the dumbest goddamned thing I've ever seen.
They charge ridiculous prices for the most simple things. You might have to wait 3 or 4 months to actually get paid, but you can bank doing simple stupid shit, being on call and getting stuff fixed for them right away.
This is one reason why the poor beleaguered can't get anyone to come out and fix anything. They can make way more money gouging someone else.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 25, 2026 11:29 AM (as7qH)
105
Oh boo fucking hoo.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
-----
Yep great attitude and real relatable for young people trying to figure life out. I'm sure lots of people listen to your sage advice.
Oh boo fucking hoo.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
-----
Yep great attitude and real relatable for young people trying to figure life out. I'm sure lots of people listen to your sage advice.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:30 AM (oqH4h)
106
as far as getting work done, I think GOD for the Amish!
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:30 AM (j+aD2)
107
Such as?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (2Ez/1)
Did a quick search.Copilot lists eight. All small private schools.
Posted by: tubal
---
Anecdotal evidence from SC. Limestone (small private Christian university) closed last year. We have another small private HBCU (also Christian) that hasn't been meeting payroll. Others that have barely escaped losing accreditation, but are still on shaky financial ground.
Others have record freshman enrollment this fall, such as Furman (private, formerly Christian) and Clemson (public)
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:17 AM (2Ez/1)
Did a quick search.Copilot lists eight. All small private schools.
Posted by: tubal
---
Anecdotal evidence from SC. Limestone (small private Christian university) closed last year. We have another small private HBCU (also Christian) that hasn't been meeting payroll. Others that have barely escaped losing accreditation, but are still on shaky financial ground.
Others have record freshman enrollment this fall, such as Furman (private, formerly Christian) and Clemson (public)
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:30 AM (PcoR0)
108
Fritz the Cat is the highest form of animated cinema, and I was in my highest form when I went to see it.
Posted by: Barry Bong at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (JM9I6)
109
>>So my job is to prepare them for the communication challenges they will face as STEM professionals. I'm not teaching them to become English majors.
Don't underestimate the challenge ahead of you.
Don't underestimate the challenge ahead of you.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (viF8m)
110
Places like Hartwick College in NY are in danger of shuttering"
There's going to be an "SEC" conference of well off schools, a handful of "technical", and a declining number of everyone else...
/kidding. Sort of
There's going to be an "SEC" conference of well off schools, a handful of "technical", and a declining number of everyone else...
/kidding. Sort of
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (cGjQu)
111
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
Posted by: Common Tater at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (as7qH)
112
82 Using the NIL money in football and basketball metric I infer that big ten universities are tremendously healthy. This has little to do with their academic programs…
Posted by: LinusVanPelt
======
Nope, that money is coming from boosters with deep pockets. Sportsball is actually a money loser for almost all US universities, by last account, about ten to fifteen actually make a profit if you used std. accounting.
What is inevitable is the NIL is hollowing and destroying college athletics and with the gambling mania for sportsball betting on everything now, not just point spread, it is highly likely to have multiple massive sportsball betting scandals soon.
A classic example was LSU shelling out (pre NIL days) huge salaries for football coaches who they then fired while their library was deteriorating and had a massive roof leak problem.
Want cheaper education, separate and spin off sportsball athletics (keep the rest at intermural), as semi pro operations and get rid of the student athlete requirement. Let the NIL players pay for their education or not as they want.
Posted by: LinusVanPelt
======
Nope, that money is coming from boosters with deep pockets. Sportsball is actually a money loser for almost all US universities, by last account, about ten to fifteen actually make a profit if you used std. accounting.
What is inevitable is the NIL is hollowing and destroying college athletics and with the gambling mania for sportsball betting on everything now, not just point spread, it is highly likely to have multiple massive sportsball betting scandals soon.
A classic example was LSU shelling out (pre NIL days) huge salaries for football coaches who they then fired while their library was deteriorating and had a massive roof leak problem.
Want cheaper education, separate and spin off sportsball athletics (keep the rest at intermural), as semi pro operations and get rid of the student athlete requirement. Let the NIL players pay for their education or not as they want.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:32 AM (E4rtv)
113
That is a line they will never cross.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
I saw a post on FB from a woman who is a trucker. Her point was "Parents, if you have a son who is not sure what to do with their lives, have them look into the trades."
Pretty cool, I thought. But then I read the first comment.
"But what about girrrrrls? They deserve these opportunities!"
I burnt through two tact filters and had to lock up my keyboard to keep myself from responding.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
I saw a post on FB from a woman who is a trucker. Her point was "Parents, if you have a son who is not sure what to do with their lives, have them look into the trades."
Pretty cool, I thought. But then I read the first comment.
"But what about girrrrrls? They deserve these opportunities!"
I burnt through two tact filters and had to lock up my keyboard to keep myself from responding.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:32 AM (RjOoY)
114
my friend works at Albright
they are barely barely making it
I was in town and ended up at the remnants of the University of the Arts - I knew as PCA - man.
that was depressing
mostly because the campus buildings were SO run down, it had to have been dying for years and years (no maintenance). incredible. that school was savable they have famous alums who would have helped! (that's also where Camille Paglia taught)
they are barely barely making it
I was in town and ended up at the remnants of the University of the Arts - I knew as PCA - man.
that was depressing
mostly because the campus buildings were SO run down, it had to have been dying for years and years (no maintenance). incredible. that school was savable they have famous alums who would have helped! (that's also where Camille Paglia taught)
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM (j+aD2)
115
113 I saw a post on FB from a woman who is a trucker. Her point was "Parents, if you have a son who is not sure what to do with their lives, have them look into the trades."
Pretty cool, I thought. But then I read the first comment.
"But what about girrrrrls? They deserve these opportunities!"
I burnt through two tact filters and had to lock up my keyboard to keep myself from responding.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:32 AM (RjOoY)
=======
Women can become CEOs instead. Rule the world, all 4 billion of 'em.
Pretty cool, I thought. But then I read the first comment.
"But what about girrrrrls? They deserve these opportunities!"
I burnt through two tact filters and had to lock up my keyboard to keep myself from responding.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:32 AM (RjOoY)
=======
Women can become CEOs instead. Rule the world, all 4 billion of 'em.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM (btJVX)
116
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
Posted by: Common Tater
And frolick in mountains of blow!
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
Posted by: Common Tater
And frolick in mountains of blow!
Posted by: Penn State fraternity row at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM (VJ0w/)
117
I've seen trade programs at the high school level.
We call that Vo-Tech. Kids spend half the day at their high school, and then go off to their real school, which will be a center for all the local schools.
We call that Vo-Tech. Kids spend half the day at their high school, and then go off to their real school, which will be a center for all the local schools.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM (f4tQo)
118
Others have record freshman enrollment this fall, such as Furman (private, formerly Christian) and Clemson (public)"
Clemson, IIRC, has been in the news for freezing tuition for what, nearly a decade?
Clemson, IIRC, has been in the news for freezing tuition for what, nearly a decade?
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:34 AM (cGjQu)
119
Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
Posted by: ballistic
Compare that to having six figures of debt with a degree that would have been useful before companies decided that investing in Indians and some damage to the body is an acceptable risk.
Posted by: ballistic
Compare that to having six figures of debt with a degree that would have been useful before companies decided that investing in Indians and some damage to the body is an acceptable risk.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:34 AM (RjOoY)
120
Women can become CEOs instead. Rule the world, all 4 billion of 'em.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
The answer I nearly posted was "You girls are spoiled when it comes to opportunities. You are coddled from nursery school to grad school in ways that boys aren't. Let them have something and stop being selfish."
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
The answer I nearly posted was "You girls are spoiled when it comes to opportunities. You are coddled from nursery school to grad school in ways that boys aren't. Let them have something and stop being selfish."
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:35 AM (RjOoY)
121
Don't underestimate the challenge ahead of you.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (viF8m)
----
The big challenge is incorporating AI-generated writing into the curriculum.
They ARE going to use it, so why not teach them HOW to use it so achieve the desired results?
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (viF8m)
----
The big challenge is incorporating AI-generated writing into the curriculum.
They ARE going to use it, so why not teach them HOW to use it so achieve the desired results?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 25, 2026 11:35 AM (FZ29D)
122
There are tons of national military scholarships out there. My kid got one that paid 4 years of tuition, room and board, books, stipend and 2 years of study in China. He graduated with a nest egg (75k@) from his stipend he didn't touch and the money paid out for each class he got a good grade in. Grad school he still had athletic eligibility left and I taught a class each semester. Zero debt from that too. Money is out there. Debt isn't a given.
Posted by: nckate at August 25, 2026 11:35 AM (enNUy)
123
it is highly likely to have multiple massive sportsball betting scandals soon."
Scandal? Heh. It's all legal.
Scandal? Heh. It's all legal.
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:36 AM (cGjQu)
124
122 There are tons of national military scholarships out there. My kid got one that paid 4 years of tuition, room and board, books, stipend and 2 years of study in China. He graduated with a nest egg (75k@) from his stipend he didn't touch and the money paid out for each class he got a good grade in. Grad school he still had athletic eligibility left and I taught a class each semester. Zero debt from that too. Money is out there. Debt isn't a given.
so I am learning. for grad school too
so I am learning. for grad school too
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:36 AM (j+aD2)
125
120 Women can become CEOs instead. Rule the world, all 4 billion of 'em.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
The answer I nearly posted was "You girls are spoiled when it comes to opportunities. You are coddled from nursery school to grad school in ways that boys aren't. Let them have something and stop being selfish."
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:35 AM (RjOoY)
=======
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
The answer I nearly posted was "You girls are spoiled when it comes to opportunities. You are coddled from nursery school to grad school in ways that boys aren't. Let them have something and stop being selfish."
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:35 AM (RjOoY)
=======
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:36 AM (btJVX)
126
Oh boo fucking hoo.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
No need to be a dick.
Oh, I forgot who I’m talking to. Never mind.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
No need to be a dick.
Oh, I forgot who I’m talking to. Never mind.
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 11:37 AM (w3Mok)
127
sorry nckate clearly I didn't read the entirety of your comment!
yes so.. k this one looked at undergrad ROTC and ended up not doing that but now is thinking of something along these lines
yes so.. k this one looked at undergrad ROTC and ended up not doing that but now is thinking of something along these lines
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:37 AM (j+aD2)
128
" 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score."
Probably?
Probably?
Posted by: man at August 25, 2026 11:37 AM (cGjQu)
129
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:36 AM (btJVX)
“We need girls in STEM!!! Not enough are going into STEM!!!”
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:36 AM (btJVX)
“We need girls in STEM!!! Not enough are going into STEM!!!”
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 11:38 AM (w3Mok)
130
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
MIT has lost its everloving mind
MIT has lost its everloving mind
Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at August 25, 2026 11:38 AM (j+aD2)
131
Can’t go wrong with Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic certification.
Posted by: Dirac_Delta at August 25, 2026 11:38 AM (VeK4w)
132
An 18 year old woman with an average SAT score probably has a better chance of getting into MIT's engineering school than an 18 year old man with an above average SAT score.
And if someone wants to point out scholarships and support networks for males (specifically white ones), I will make my responses on that topic less acidic.
And if someone wants to point out scholarships and support networks for males (specifically white ones), I will make my responses on that topic less acidic.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (RjOoY)
133
1. Trade schools, in general, have higher student loan default rates than regular universities. It's especially bad for cosmetology/hair styling and truck driving but the building trades aren't exempt by any means.
2. In many areas, the competition with illegal aliens in the building trades (and some other trades) is fierce.
Something needs to be done about 2 before making trade school the default recommendation.
2. In many areas, the competition with illegal aliens in the building trades (and some other trades) is fierce.
Something needs to be done about 2 before making trade school the default recommendation.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (IG3/x)
134
Trump didn't fix everything on Day 1 with the snap of his fingers, so nothing is happening.
We have to vote Democrat to teach him a lesson.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
Some are beautiful losers that get fixated on that one solution that will magically transform everything like in a Hallmark movie.
Some are ops--lifelong Republican, as a past Trump voter for the last three elections, and other stupid bragging shit that means nothing other than FUD raising. Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.
And others want the whole system to crash because they figure they can push through radical fixes by seizing power in the inevitable confusion and panic after the crash.
Then you have foreigners on X and other platforms that are out for their country, religion, or ethnic identities that should be driven from US policy debates as useless twats.
We have to vote Democrat to teach him a lesson.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
Some are beautiful losers that get fixated on that one solution that will magically transform everything like in a Hallmark movie.
Some are ops--lifelong Republican, as a past Trump voter for the last three elections, and other stupid bragging shit that means nothing other than FUD raising. Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.
And others want the whole system to crash because they figure they can push through radical fixes by seizing power in the inevitable confusion and panic after the crash.
Then you have foreigners on X and other platforms that are out for their country, religion, or ethnic identities that should be driven from US policy debates as useless twats.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (E4rtv)
135
>>Blue collar work ain't all roses and unicorn farts.
I worked for a construction company and a "tree surgeon" through college among other jobs. Ball breaking work with the added bonus of the opportunity to lose a digit or worse.
Been doing startups for over 30 years. Only in the last few I get to stay in my own bed for more than a couple weeks at a time. For years I had fllght crews greeting me by name, not because they read it off the flight manifest, because they saw me last week. Multiple surgeries to keep me upright. Mostly.
Life comes at you fast no matter what. Do what makes you smile.
I worked for a construction company and a "tree surgeon" through college among other jobs. Ball breaking work with the added bonus of the opportunity to lose a digit or worse.
Been doing startups for over 30 years. Only in the last few I get to stay in my own bed for more than a couple weeks at a time. For years I had fllght crews greeting me by name, not because they read it off the flight manifest, because they saw me last week. Multiple surgeries to keep me upright. Mostly.
Life comes at you fast no matter what. Do what makes you smile.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (viF8m)
136
my friend works at Albright
they are barely barely making it
Heated with steam in the winter, the way things used to be! And then on the other side of town (ok, maybe a mile beyond Reading's grasp) you've got Alvernia. Beautiful.
they are barely barely making it
Heated with steam in the winter, the way things used to be! And then on the other side of town (ok, maybe a mile beyond Reading's grasp) you've got Alvernia. Beautiful.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (f4tQo)
137
Women can become CEOs instead. Rule the world, all 4 billion of 'em.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM
Slay kween!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:33 AM
Slay kween!
Posted by: Laquisha at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (0sNs1)
138
There's another one!
Liberal white women might have new hero after another mom was arrested for slitting the throats of her three kids
. . . .
"Kailey [Erhart, 22] allegedly chased the children's father, Cameron, and grandmother with a knife before the fatal attacks, according to the affidavit. Kailey also allegedly pointed a gun at the children's father and told him, 'Say goodbye to your kids,' in a video recorded on his phone, Valley News Live reported, citing police. He reportedly took the gun away from her after a struggle.
"Kailey then attacked her three young children, according to the affidavit from Mandan police. Once authorities arrived, they discovered the bodies of her three children, all of whom had cuts across their necks, inside the home. Colton was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery, while the 3-year-old and 5-month-old were both pronounced dead."
https://tinyurl.com/ecybe5wm
Liberal white women might have new hero after another mom was arrested for slitting the throats of her three kids
. . . .
"Kailey [Erhart, 22] allegedly chased the children's father, Cameron, and grandmother with a knife before the fatal attacks, according to the affidavit. Kailey also allegedly pointed a gun at the children's father and told him, 'Say goodbye to your kids,' in a video recorded on his phone, Valley News Live reported, citing police. He reportedly took the gun away from her after a struggle.
"Kailey then attacked her three young children, according to the affidavit from Mandan police. Once authorities arrived, they discovered the bodies of her three children, all of whom had cuts across their necks, inside the home. Colton was transported to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery, while the 3-year-old and 5-month-old were both pronounced dead."
https://tinyurl.com/ecybe5wm
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Oh yeah? Well, You're Another One! at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (ndZc7)
139
Simply put, we cannot return to the 50's and 60'
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (E4rtv)
Nonsense. You can pay for your own place, car, gas, groceries, college tuition, clothing and insurance with a part time job at the soda fountain and the occasional weekend night at the sock hop. You kids just don't want to work is all!
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (E4rtv)
Nonsense. You can pay for your own place, car, gas, groceries, college tuition, clothing and insurance with a part time job at the soda fountain and the occasional weekend night at the sock hop. You kids just don't want to work is all!
Posted by: J. Boomer McBoomerface at August 25, 2026 11:41 AM (TbWk/)
140
Went to two years of community college. (Snobs sneer at this, but this was cheaper than going to all four years at a university). Besides, my HS grades sucked. But my college grades were much better.
Once I settled on a university, had to figure out a way to pay for it. ROTC here I come. So there’s the associates and bachelors paid for.
Then later I went to grad school under the GI Bill.
Once I settled on a university, had to figure out a way to pay for it. ROTC here I come. So there’s the associates and bachelors paid for.
Then later I went to grad school under the GI Bill.
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 11:41 AM (w3Mok)
141
I saw the mention of bakshi films upstairs and at the sidebar a TJM's place.
once, I thought about it, I remember going to almost everyone of Bakshi's films.
and even though I wasn't high when I saw them as Black Orchid suggests,
I remember almost nothing about them, which means they were all pretty lousy.
I do remember hating rotoscoping but that's about it.
Speaking of underground comics...Wonder Warthog would've made a pretty great cartoon,
but alas..it was never to be.
I saw the mention of bakshi films upstairs and at the sidebar a TJM's place.
once, I thought about it, I remember going to almost everyone of Bakshi's films.
and even though I wasn't high when I saw them as Black Orchid suggests,
I remember almost nothing about them, which means they were all pretty lousy.
I do remember hating rotoscoping but that's about it.
Speaking of underground comics...Wonder Warthog would've made a pretty great cartoon,
but alas..it was never to be.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 25, 2026 11:41 AM (iJfKG)
142
And there are 2, 3 or 4 year scholarships. All branches I believe. Whatever you have is what you owe back, 2, 3 or 4 years. All while being paid.
Posted by: nckate at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (enNUy)
143
Ralph Bakshi before Horde favorite, as well as the last American auteur, Russ Meyer? Seriously? Sad!
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (0sNs1)
144
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
Posted by: Common Tater
And frolick in mountains of blow!
Posted by: Penn State fraternity row at August 25, 2026 11:3
And postpone becoming actual adults until they're in their early-30s, if not forever.
----
It was a good way to stay out of Viet-Nam for a while, too.
Posted by: Common Tater
And frolick in mountains of blow!
Posted by: Penn State fraternity row at August 25, 2026 11:3
And postpone becoming actual adults until they're in their early-30s, if not forever.
Posted by: LASue at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (lCppi)
145
141
Speaking of underground comics...Wonder Warthog would've made a pretty great cartoon,
but alas..it was never to be.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 25, 2026 11:41 AM (iJfKG)
=======
I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started as an underground comic. It was must bleaker and nastier in comic form than the cartoons and movies.
Speaking of underground comics...Wonder Warthog would've made a pretty great cartoon,
but alas..it was never to be.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 25, 2026 11:41 AM (iJfKG)
=======
I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started as an underground comic. It was must bleaker and nastier in comic form than the cartoons and movies.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (btJVX)
146
Then by the time you're 45-50 years old your body is broken and you spend whatever time you have left nursing all of the aches and pains you now have.
Why are you still doing entry-level work, like some 40-year-old illegal, blocking youngsters from getting in? You've supposed to be moving up or moving on.
Why are you still doing entry-level work, like some 40-year-old illegal, blocking youngsters from getting in? You've supposed to be moving up or moving on.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (f4tQo)
147
121 Don't underestimate the challenge ahead of you.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (viF8m)
----
The big challenge is incorporating AI-generated writing into the curriculum.
They ARE going to use it, so why not teach them HOW to use it so achieve the desired results?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
======
On X, a researcher notes no signs of AI use in legal opinions by JUDGES prior to 2022.
"- A lawyer ran 2,250 opinions through an AI detector called Pangram. Dozens got flagged.
- He tested 300 pre-ChatGPT opinions from 2022 as a control. Zero were flagged."
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:31 AM (viF8m)
----
The big challenge is incorporating AI-generated writing into the curriculum.
They ARE going to use it, so why not teach them HOW to use it so achieve the desired results?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
======
On X, a researcher notes no signs of AI use in legal opinions by JUDGES prior to 2022.
"- A lawyer ran 2,250 opinions through an AI detector called Pangram. Dozens got flagged.
- He tested 300 pre-ChatGPT opinions from 2022 as a control. Zero were flagged."
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (E4rtv)
148
143 Ralph Bakshi before Horde favorite, as well as the last American auteur, Russ Meyer? Seriously? Sad!
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (0sNs1)
=======
When I'm good and ready!
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (0sNs1)
=======
When I'm good and ready!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (btJVX)
149
Simply put, we cannot return to the 50's and 60'
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM
A bourne from which no man can return?
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM
A bourne from which no man can return?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:43 AM (0sNs1)
150
Thx CBD.
Given the declining birth rates you are going to be seeing a lot of colleges going out of business. I'm not upset by that
Given the declining birth rates you are going to be seeing a lot of colleges going out of business. I'm not upset by that
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 11:43 AM (JEgjE)
151
My college did nothing for me ... job wise at least. I switched out of chemistry into horticulture, but I should have switched into computer stuff. Then I got into "Bible study and outreach" for about ten years.
The 20's are when "kids" should get settled on their career choices, and move toward financial stability, and the wife and kids ... I suppose is The American Dream.
Oh well, I had some fun along the way, and my trade (learned while in college) let me work for myself, probably 30 hours a week, most of my life, so that was nice I guess. More time for fishing and sports, but not enough cash flow to feel comfortable for marriage and (expensive) kids.
But people a little more serious about a life plan than I was could do well in The Trades, even working in more of a 9-5 job for an established employer.
The 20's are when "kids" should get settled on their career choices, and move toward financial stability, and the wife and kids ... I suppose is The American Dream.
Oh well, I had some fun along the way, and my trade (learned while in college) let me work for myself, probably 30 hours a week, most of my life, so that was nice I guess. More time for fishing and sports, but not enough cash flow to feel comfortable for marriage and (expensive) kids.
But people a little more serious about a life plan than I was could do well in The Trades, even working in more of a 9-5 job for an established employer.
Posted by: illiniwek at August 25, 2026 11:43 AM (vbXSk)
152
149 Simply put, we cannot return to the 50's and 60'
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM
A bourne from which no man can return?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:43 AM (0sNs1)
========
What's the bourne's identity?
s heyday--the past is a foreign country.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM
A bourne from which no man can return?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:43 AM (0sNs1)
========
What's the bourne's identity?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (btJVX)
153
Something needs to be done about 2 before making trade school the default recommendation.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (IG3/x)
Being worked on as we speak. But we also need to accept as a country, far beyond the confines of AoS, that no, it is NOT OK to just stroll across the border and enter the country that way and then just do as you please.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 11:39 AM (IG3/x)
Being worked on as we speak. But we also need to accept as a country, far beyond the confines of AoS, that no, it is NOT OK to just stroll across the border and enter the country that way and then just do as you please.
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (w3Mok)
154
> Oh boo fucking hoo.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
Something tells me you've never been in a 105 degree wet crawlspace at 55 years old.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at August 25, 2026 11:13 AM (g8Ew
Something tells me you've never been in a 105 degree wet crawlspace at 55 years old.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (IG3/x)
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (RjOoY)
156
Why are you still doing entry-level work, like some 40-year-old illegal, blocking youngsters from getting in? You've supposed to be moving up or moving on.
Posted by: t-bird
======
Average job careers is now up to two to three changes over the years of life and including spells of unemployment--sometimes lasting years. It may be more as I haven't done academic advising since I retired so no need to look it up since then.
The old 1950's and 1960's mode of one career with only brief unemployment stints for a lifetime is effectively dead.
Why are you still doing entry-level work, like some 40-year-old illegal, blocking youngsters from getting in? You've supposed to be moving up or moving on.
Posted by: t-bird
======
Average job careers is now up to two to three changes over the years of life and including spells of unemployment--sometimes lasting years. It may be more as I haven't done academic advising since I retired so no need to look it up since then.
The old 1950's and 1960's mode of one career with only brief unemployment stints for a lifetime is effectively dead.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (E4rtv)
157
Slay kween!
Posted by: Laquisha at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (0sNs1)
I did! Three times! Look at the throng of loving fans I have now, and over a million bucks raised on GoFundMe! If only I'd had a fourth kid...
Posted by: Laquisha at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (0sNs1)
I did! Three times! Look at the throng of loving fans I have now, and over a million bucks raised on GoFundMe! If only I'd had a fourth kid...
Posted by: Lindsay Clancy, mom of the year at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (TbWk/)
158
155 What's the bourne's identity?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
MATT DAMON!
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (RjOoY)
======
At least NASA didn't have to spend $3 trillion to get him home in the Odyssey. He finally got home on his own.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison,
MATT DAMON!
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:44 AM (RjOoY)
======
At least NASA didn't have to spend $3 trillion to get him home in the Odyssey. He finally got home on his own.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (btJVX)
159
Clemson, IIRC, has been in the news for freezing tuition for what, nearly a decade?
Posted by: man
---
Yes, but not just Clemson, USC as well. I had to look it up but I think it's 7 years and for in-state students only.
Years ago Clemson always attracted out-of-state students, especially from the northeast, because it was still a good deal compared to their in-state schools. I dunno if that's still a thing.
I have Unpopular Opinions about Clemson's crazy growth in particular, but mostly because it's a massive PITA even to drive through town nowadays.
Posted by: man
---
Yes, but not just Clemson, USC as well. I had to look it up but I think it's 7 years and for in-state students only.
Years ago Clemson always attracted out-of-state students, especially from the northeast, because it was still a good deal compared to their in-state schools. I dunno if that's still a thing.
I have Unpopular Opinions about Clemson's crazy growth in particular, but mostly because it's a massive PITA even to drive through town nowadays.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (PcoR0)
160
So any four year college that's currently about to close is (forgive me for this, but) one that you've never heard of?
Arizona State, Troy, UCF, Ball State, SUNY, Clemson, Leighton, Smith College, schools that most people are familiar with are all going strong?
Then maybe the degrees aren't so worthless.
Arizona State, Troy, UCF, Ball State, SUNY, Clemson, Leighton, Smith College, schools that most people are familiar with are all going strong?
Then maybe the degrees aren't so worthless.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (2Ez/1)
161
My brother is an electrician. The only time he set foot on a college campus was to drop his kids off and pick them up.
He is now a multi-millionaire because he built his business with 16 hour days and few if any vacations. Once he became established he stepped back a bit.
Both his kids, with college degrees, will never make what he did.
He is now a multi-millionaire because he built his business with 16 hour days and few if any vacations. Once he became established he stepped back a bit.
Both his kids, with college degrees, will never make what he did.
Posted by: Uncle Slayton at August 25, 2026 11:46 AM (eTkTC)
162
Now to repeat my usual phrase: College is a scam. The trick is making it a scam in your favor.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:47 AM (RjOoY)
163
157 Slay kween!
Posted by: Laquisha at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (0sNs1)
I did! Three times! Look at the throng of loving fans I have now, and over a million bucks raised on GoFundMe! If only I'd had a fourth kid...
Posted by: Lindsay Clancy, mom of the year at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (TbWk/)
=======
"But she's not a bad person because people liked her before she brutally strangled her three children in a pre-planned effort that included getting her husband out of the house and calling him in the middle of it to make sure he was gone long enough."
Posted by: Laquisha at August 25, 2026 11:40 AM (0sNs1)
I did! Three times! Look at the throng of loving fans I have now, and over a million bucks raised on GoFundMe! If only I'd had a fourth kid...
Posted by: Lindsay Clancy, mom of the year at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (TbWk/)
=======
"But she's not a bad person because people liked her before she brutally strangled her three children in a pre-planned effort that included getting her husband out of the house and calling him in the middle of it to make sure he was gone long enough."
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:47 AM (btJVX)
164
In the old days, state colleges were cheap, and my plumber, hair stylist, window covering guy, all went to the local State U. Of course none of it mattered to earning a living but it was fun.
College can be fun and interesting, but it's not worth going into debt for. And now you are almost guaranteed to be brainwashed into leftism.
College can be fun and interesting, but it's not worth going into debt for. And now you are almost guaranteed to be brainwashed into leftism.
Posted by: Random PJ at August 25, 2026 11:47 AM (+jscL)
165
Good! Get the fuck out and don't come back!
The Trump administration plans to revoke over 200,000 tourism and business visas for foreigners seeking asylum in the United States, the AP reported Monday.
The State Department will soon announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who previously were or are currently seeking asylum, according to the AP, which cited government documents.
https://tinyurl.com/2u4uhxvm
The Trump administration plans to revoke over 200,000 tourism and business visas for foreigners seeking asylum in the United States, the AP reported Monday.
The State Department will soon announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who previously were or are currently seeking asylum, according to the AP, which cited government documents.
https://tinyurl.com/2u4uhxvm
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 11:48 AM (iFTx/)
166
Universities like Clemson, Arizona St., UCF, Tror are in regions that are rapidly growing. That isn't surprising.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 25, 2026 11:48 AM (VJ0w/)
167
Troy
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 25, 2026 11:49 AM (VJ0w/)
168
165
The Trump administration plans to revoke over 200,000 tourism and business visas for foreigners seeking asylum in the United States, the AP reported Monday.
The State Department will soon announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who previously were or are currently seeking asylum, according to the AP, which cited government documents.
https://tinyurl.com/2u4uhxvm
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 11:48 AM (iFTx/)
======
https://x.com/derzum_/status/
2092066179099607423
"@derzum_
In the 14 years after 9/11, from 2001 to 2015, the U.S. only revoked 122,000 visas.
Since taking office, the Trump admin has revoked more than 175,000 visas. Just 18 months. Targeting 200,000 more foreigners on top of that is a huge, unprecendented escalation."
But, it doesn't do everything by itself, so this is pointless.
The Trump administration plans to revoke over 200,000 tourism and business visas for foreigners seeking asylum in the United States, the AP reported Monday.
The State Department will soon announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who previously were or are currently seeking asylum, according to the AP, which cited government documents.
https://tinyurl.com/2u4uhxvm
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 11:48 AM (iFTx/)
======
https://x.com/derzum_/status/
2092066179099607423
"@derzum_
In the 14 years after 9/11, from 2001 to 2015, the U.S. only revoked 122,000 visas.
Since taking office, the Trump admin has revoked more than 175,000 visas. Just 18 months. Targeting 200,000 more foreigners on top of that is a huge, unprecendented escalation."
But, it doesn't do everything by itself, so this is pointless.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:49 AM (btJVX)
169
Something tells me you've never been in a 105 degree wet crawlspace at 55 years old.
You haven't tried Rugiet Ready!
You haven't tried Rugiet Ready!
Posted by: Ready in 15 minutes or less! at August 25, 2026 11:49 AM (TbWk/)
170
Why are you still doing entry-level work, like some 40-year-old illegal, blocking youngsters from getting in? You've supposed to be moving up or moving on.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (f4tQo)
-------
There is not one owner of any company in any trade that I know, and that's pretty much all of them, that aren't still doing the work themselves. Yeah sure they have crews but none of these dudes are just sitting in the office hammering paychecks and scratching their asses. They're on the trucks, on the site, in the attic, in the crawlspace, you name it.
Unless you work your way up to be an office foreman at a big corp that barely gets his boots dirty, you're still doing the work.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:42 AM (f4tQo)
-------
There is not one owner of any company in any trade that I know, and that's pretty much all of them, that aren't still doing the work themselves. Yeah sure they have crews but none of these dudes are just sitting in the office hammering paychecks and scratching their asses. They're on the trucks, on the site, in the attic, in the crawlspace, you name it.
Unless you work your way up to be an office foreman at a big corp that barely gets his boots dirty, you're still doing the work.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:49 AM (oqH4h)
171
I'm still laughing at the goofball Canadians that are still screaming, "Trump demanded we ban French!"
Even as their own CBC admits that was a lie by Carney.
Only two countries placed retaliatory tariffs on the US in response to Trump:
China and Canada
China, because, China.
Canada, because they've been dumping Chinese goods re-labeled as "made in Canada" on the US.
That was why talks broke down.
We had a deal, that they'd stop doing that.
Then Carney was called in to the boss's office in Beijing.
"Elbows Up!" you retarded losers.
Even as their own CBC admits that was a lie by Carney.
Only two countries placed retaliatory tariffs on the US in response to Trump:
China and Canada
China, because, China.
Canada, because they've been dumping Chinese goods re-labeled as "made in Canada" on the US.
That was why talks broke down.
We had a deal, that they'd stop doing that.
Then Carney was called in to the boss's office in Beijing.
"Elbows Up!" you retarded losers.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:50 AM (3cUTc)
172
Something tells me you've never been in a 105 degree wet crawlspace at 55 years old.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia
---
I think ballistic made an excellent point. I'm a smallish 50ish female who works out regularly, and I have to occasionally get just inside the crawl space door with a shop vac after heavy rain. If I have to make multiple trips to empty the vac, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I don't know how even young guys work in confined spaces (often with critters or the evidence thereof) all day every day for years. I'm really grateful that they do, happy to pay for their work, and I hope they are planning for less demanding physical work when the time comes...
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia
---
I think ballistic made an excellent point. I'm a smallish 50ish female who works out regularly, and I have to occasionally get just inside the crawl space door with a shop vac after heavy rain. If I have to make multiple trips to empty the vac, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I don't know how even young guys work in confined spaces (often with critters or the evidence thereof) all day every day for years. I'm really grateful that they do, happy to pay for their work, and I hope they are planning for less demanding physical work when the time comes...
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:50 AM (PcoR0)
173
I had a fine blue collar career, you might even remember me, but man, was it lonely!
Posted by: Jesse White, Your Maytag Repairman at August 25, 2026 11:50 AM (JM9I6)
174
171 I'm still laughing at the goofball Canadians that are still screaming, "Trump demanded we ban French!"
Even as their own CBC admits that was a lie by Carney.
Only two countries placed retaliatory tariffs on the US in response to Trump:
China and Canada
China, because, China.
Canada, because they've been dumping Chinese goods re-labeled as "made in Canada" on the US.
That was why talks broke down.
We had a deal, that they'd stop doing that.
Then Carney was called in to the boss's office in Beijing.
"Elbows Up!" you retarded losers.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:50 AM (3cUTc)
=======
Why would Canada harm itself by putting tariffs on another country?
I was told that putting tariffs on other counties was only negative with bad effects.
Why does Carney hate Canada as much as Trump hates America?
Even as their own CBC admits that was a lie by Carney.
Only two countries placed retaliatory tariffs on the US in response to Trump:
China and Canada
China, because, China.
Canada, because they've been dumping Chinese goods re-labeled as "made in Canada" on the US.
That was why talks broke down.
We had a deal, that they'd stop doing that.
Then Carney was called in to the boss's office in Beijing.
"Elbows Up!" you retarded losers.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:50 AM (3cUTc)
=======
Why would Canada harm itself by putting tariffs on another country?
I was told that putting tariffs on other counties was only negative with bad effects.
Why does Carney hate Canada as much as Trump hates America?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (btJVX)
175
Still waiting for the Texas Institute of Technology and Science to get started.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (0sNs1)
176
>>The big challenge is incorporating AI-generated writing into the curriculum.
The big challenge is helping young people learn to think for themselves.
Sounds simple. It isn't, particularly these days when they are flooded with "facts" from every direction. But if you can help them realize that the big lump on their shoulders is there for more than memorizing equations and other things wicked smaht people before them already figured out use that big brain to discover the world for themselves you will be the best teacher ever.
Teach them to think and be bold.
The big challenge is helping young people learn to think for themselves.
Sounds simple. It isn't, particularly these days when they are flooded with "facts" from every direction. But if you can help them realize that the big lump on their shoulders is there for more than memorizing equations and other things wicked smaht people before them already figured out use that big brain to discover the world for themselves you will be the best teacher ever.
Teach them to think and be bold.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (viF8m)
177
Nonsense. You can pay for your own place, car, gas, groceries, college tuition, clothing and insurance with a part time job at the soda fountain and the occasional weekend night at the sock hop. You kids just don't want to work is all!
Posted by: J. Boomer McBoomerface
Our ruling class has a lot to be blamed for and treating their fellow countrymen as dirt under their feet is one of them. Somewhere perhaps about 1976 or so, patriotism among a large swath of the ruling class disappeared.
It started in the 30's on the down low, spread in the 40's to elite circles and then spread like wildfire through colleges and universities during the sixties as something to sneer about.
And yes, the Democrats in office during those times were the canary in the coal mine.
Posted by: J. Boomer McBoomerface
Our ruling class has a lot to be blamed for and treating their fellow countrymen as dirt under their feet is one of them. Somewhere perhaps about 1976 or so, patriotism among a large swath of the ruling class disappeared.
It started in the 30's on the down low, spread in the 40's to elite circles and then spread like wildfire through colleges and universities during the sixties as something to sneer about.
And yes, the Democrats in office during those times were the canary in the coal mine.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (E4rtv)
178
175 Still waiting for the Texas Institute of Technology and Science to get started.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (0sNs1)
=========
The satellite office, Texas Institute of Technology and Science Agricultural Sciences Studies has a great reputation.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 11:51 AM (0sNs1)
=========
The satellite office, Texas Institute of Technology and Science Agricultural Sciences Studies has a great reputation.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:52 AM (btJVX)
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:53 AM (f4tQo)
180
Might I suggest briving a duss, I mean dussing a brive, homina-homina, driving a bus for the Gotham Bus Lines? Forty-two dollars a week take-home in 1955. There's a statue of me outside the PA Bus Terminal, even.
Posted by: Ralph Kramden at August 25, 2026 11:53 AM (JM9I6)
181
I have a part-time job where I handle a crew of (mainly) 17–18-year-olds. I actually have some hope for the future, most of the crew are hard workers, take direction well, and are actually interested in my experiences. Of course, they call me "pops", which is fine by me. 3 of the most recent high-school grads are planning to attend a trade program...steamfitters, carpenters, and HVAC. I use myself as an example....if I could turn back time, I'd definitely go that route instead of the soulless corporate track.
Posted by: Kareem of Wheat at August 25, 2026 11:54 AM (Cjger)
182
Years ago Clemson always attracted out-of-state students, especially from the northeast, because it was still a good deal compared to their in-state schools. I dunno if that's still a thing.
I have Unpopular Opinions about Clemson's crazy growth in particular, but mostly because it's a massive PITA even to drive through town nowadays.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (PcoR0)
------
Back when I was there we had 8.5k undergrads, lol.
I have Unpopular Opinions about Clemson's crazy growth in particular, but mostly because it's a massive PITA even to drive through town nowadays.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:45 AM (PcoR0)
------
Back when I was there we had 8.5k undergrads, lol.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:54 AM (oqH4h)
183
Teach your children well
Their father's hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by
Teach your children well
Their father's hell did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they pick's the one you'll know by
Posted by: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (0sNs1)
184
Unless you work your way up to be an office foreman at a big corp that barely gets his boots dirty, you're still doing the work.
Posted by: ballistic
Yep. Owners of small firms that don't work their asses off doing whatever needs to be done regardless of their position don't survive the inevitable downturns. Employees work for a paycheck, small business operators work to sustain a dream and to keep that alive requires them to work as hard if not harder than anyone.
Posted by: ballistic
Yep. Owners of small firms that don't work their asses off doing whatever needs to be done regardless of their position don't survive the inevitable downturns. Employees work for a paycheck, small business operators work to sustain a dream and to keep that alive requires them to work as hard if not harder than anyone.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (E4rtv)
185
Why would Canada harm itself by putting tariffs on another country?
Carney works for London. This is much bigger than Canada.
Carney works for London. This is much bigger than Canada.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (f4tQo)
186
Oh boy. Now Bernie Sanders is yammering on about the cost of youth sports. Blames corporate greed. Surprise, surprise
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (JEgjE)
187
Exactly my point. Thank you.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:53 AM (f4tQo)
-----
Reading not a strong suit for you eh?
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:53 AM (f4tQo)
-----
Reading not a strong suit for you eh?
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (oqH4h)
188
There is no magic bullet to success regardless which industry you go into. I think that is the main problem facing young people today: you have to pay your dues.
Whether it's in a trade or in a law firm, you will be the low man on the totem pole and have to earn your way up. It's often not easy. It often takes years. It usually involves delayed gratification.
This unbending rule of nature seems alien to too many young people.
Whether it's in a trade or in a law firm, you will be the low man on the totem pole and have to earn your way up. It's often not easy. It often takes years. It usually involves delayed gratification.
This unbending rule of nature seems alien to too many young people.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (iFTx/)
189
Unless you work your way up to be an office foreman at a big corp that barely gets his boots dirty, you're still doing the work.
Posted by: ballistic
As a project manager, I'm in the field a lot. No choice.
Posted by: ballistic
As a project manager, I'm in the field a lot. No choice.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (VJ0w/)
190
Art Carney worked in the sewer and wore a tie. Ralph Kramden asked him why and he answered it was so someone could pull him out if he fell in.
Posted by: The Honeymooners at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (2Ez/1)
191
One of the better tweets I saw was someone crowing that Canada had won the trade war 'cause Carney has announced he's going to seek a trade deal with the EU.
Oh?
You mean like he said he would back when Trump first levied the tariffs months and months ago?
How's that going to work? They're going to magically drop their tariffs to 0% just for you 'cause they hate Trump?
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Oh?
You mean like he said he would back when Trump first levied the tariffs months and months ago?
How's that going to work? They're going to magically drop their tariffs to 0% just for you 'cause they hate Trump?
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
192
I broke the trade/gender line more than 50 years ago! Plumbing is for girls, too!
Posted by: Jane Withers at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (JM9I6)
193
Back when I was there we had 8.5k undergrads, lol.
Posted by: ballistic
---
about 13,000 when I was a student. Now about 24,000. On the very rare occasions when I must go on campus, I usually need GPS because everything's been reconfigured.
Posted by: ballistic
---
about 13,000 when I was a student. Now about 24,000. On the very rare occasions when I must go on campus, I usually need GPS because everything's been reconfigured.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (PcoR0)
194
The satellite office, Texas Institute of Technology and Science Agricultural Sciences Studies has a great reputation.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:52 AM
Agriculture Sciences Studies aren't for everyone.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:52 AM
Agriculture Sciences Studies aren't for everyone.
Posted by: Brie Larson at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (0sNs1)
195
186 Oh boy. Now Bernie Sanders is yammering on about the cost of youth sports. Blames corporate greed. Surprise, surprise
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (JEgjE)
------
Broken clock is right twice a day. Youth sports have a big problem with PE firms buying up the "travel ball" organizations and driving costs through the roof. Parents are spending un-fucking-believable amounts of money so their kids can play.
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (JEgjE)
------
Broken clock is right twice a day. Youth sports have a big problem with PE firms buying up the "travel ball" organizations and driving costs through the roof. Parents are spending un-fucking-believable amounts of money so their kids can play.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (oqH4h)
196
191
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
========
Canada is no more than our vassal.
It's kind of what happens when you're a small economy next to the sole world superpower.
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
========
Canada is no more than our vassal.
It's kind of what happens when you're a small economy next to the sole world superpower.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (btJVX)
197
194 The satellite office, Texas Institute of Technology and Science Agricultural Sciences Studies has a great reputation.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:52 AM
Agriculture Sciences Studies aren't for everyone.
Posted by: Brie Larson at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (0sNs1)
========
I don't get it.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:52 AM
Agriculture Sciences Studies aren't for everyone.
Posted by: Brie Larson at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (0sNs1)
========
I don't get it.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (btJVX)
198
Art Carney worked in the sewer and wore a tie. Ralph Kramden asked him why and he answered it was so someone could pull him out if he fell in.
Posted by: The Honeymooners at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (2Ez/1)
I remember the episode where they opened a burger joint, people loved it, then Ralph exclaims to a customer "just yesterday I was driving a city bus!" To which Norton joins "and I was working in the sewer!"
No more burger joint.
Posted by: The Honeymooners at August 25, 2026 11:56 AM (2Ez/1)
I remember the episode where they opened a burger joint, people loved it, then Ralph exclaims to a customer "just yesterday I was driving a city bus!" To which Norton joins "and I was working in the sewer!"
No more burger joint.
Posted by: Not positioned for success at August 25, 2026 11:59 AM (TbWk/)
199
Nonsense. You can pay for your own place, car, gas, groceries, college tuition, clothing and insurance with a part time job at the soda fountain and the occasional weekend night at the sock hop. You kids just don't want to work is all!
Posted by: J. Boomer McBoomerface
Sure, there's some of that, but there are plenty of posts by the chirruns about how they deserve a high paying job based on their studies degree and it's unfair that granny and gramps bought their McMansion at 18 and paid it off in only 2 years and everything was just so easy...
Old folks have no clue what it's like to be young today. But kids today also have no idea what it was like to be young then.
Posted by: J. Boomer McBoomerface
Sure, there's some of that, but there are plenty of posts by the chirruns about how they deserve a high paying job based on their studies degree and it's unfair that granny and gramps bought their McMansion at 18 and paid it off in only 2 years and everything was just so easy...
Old folks have no clue what it's like to be young today. But kids today also have no idea what it was like to be young then.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:59 AM (ExV1e)
200
about 13,000 when I was a student. Now about 24,000. On the very rare occasions when I must go on campus, I usually need GPS because everything's been reconfigured.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (PcoR0)
-----
Heh. I'm old enough to have drank beer on my Tigerstripe account at Edgar's in the Union. Sigh.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (PcoR0)
-----
Heh. I'm old enough to have drank beer on my Tigerstripe account at Edgar's in the Union. Sigh.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 11:59 AM (oqH4h)
201
Oligachy!
Posted by: Old Man Yelling At Clouds at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM (Ucgf4)
202
Carney works for London. This is much bigger than Canada.
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (f4tQo)
PM Carney has three passports.
PM Carney was also vacationing in Italy for much of the time of the negotiating of this latest trade deal. If this were of such vast importance, why didn’t he personally head to DC to take care of it instead of vacationing in Italy?
Posted by: t-bird at August 25, 2026 11:55 AM (f4tQo)
PM Carney has three passports.
PM Carney was also vacationing in Italy for much of the time of the negotiating of this latest trade deal. If this were of such vast importance, why didn’t he personally head to DC to take care of it instead of vacationing in Italy?
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM (w3Mok)
203
175 Still waiting for the Texas Institute of Technology and Science to get started.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
If I had a firm like Tesla and a founder like Musk, I would be creating my own uni for my employees and perhaps future ones as well.
That in part is why accrediting agencies need to be blown up--they don't measure for real outcomes but rather process (and yes, I was on our university's departmental team for accreditation prep and response).
Accreditation metrics are essentially bullshit when the real metric would be does your program turn out people that are qualified for the jobs they seek and get. These agencies focus instead of tedious and stupid internal workings of the universities rather than quality of product.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
If I had a firm like Tesla and a founder like Musk, I would be creating my own uni for my employees and perhaps future ones as well.
That in part is why accrediting agencies need to be blown up--they don't measure for real outcomes but rather process (and yes, I was on our university's departmental team for accreditation prep and response).
Accreditation metrics are essentially bullshit when the real metric would be does your program turn out people that are qualified for the jobs they seek and get. These agencies focus instead of tedious and stupid internal workings of the universities rather than quality of product.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM (E4rtv)
204
College is for weak minded women and sexually confused homosexuals.
Be happy and avoid attending college.
Be happy and avoid attending college.
Posted by: K.I.S.S at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM (+iYtA)
205
Still waiting for the Texas Institute of Technology and Science to get started.
Posted by: Duncanthrax
---
Furman University has lots of "FU" gear. Formerly a Baptist affiliated institution. (I typed "Baptits" before catching it. Have I been hanging out here too long?)
Posted by: Duncanthrax
---
Furman University has lots of "FU" gear. Formerly a Baptist affiliated institution. (I typed "Baptits" before catching it. Have I been hanging out here too long?)
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM (PcoR0)
206
about 13,000 when I was a student. Now about 24,000. On the very rare occasions when I must go on campus, I usually need GPS because everything's been reconfigured.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM
The Dewey Decimal System can't scale?
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM
The Dewey Decimal System can't scale?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 12:01 PM (0sNs1)
207
"Travel ball" shouldn't even be a thing.
Destroying your kid's childhood for the minuscule chance that he will become an Olympian or a pro player...well...
It puts me in mind of the way they used to castrate boy singers so their voices wouldn't change, then boot the ones who didn't make the final cut out in the street.
Destroying your kid's childhood for the minuscule chance that he will become an Olympian or a pro player...well...
It puts me in mind of the way they used to castrate boy singers so their voices wouldn't change, then boot the ones who didn't make the final cut out in the street.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
208
>>Nonsense. You can pay for your own place, car, gas, groceries, college tuition, clothing and insurance with a part time job at the soda fountain and the occasional weekend night at the sock hop. You kids just don't want to work is all!
Amazing how many of us did just that and lived to tell.
Pro-tip, part-time jobs in construction and working behind the bar pay much better.
Amazing how many of us did just that and lived to tell.
Pro-tip, part-time jobs in construction and working behind the bar pay much better.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (viF8m)
209
@195 agreed , but Bernie getting involved will lead to an even bigger cluster**k
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (JEgjE)
210
The trick is making it a scam in your favor.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:47 AM (RjOoY)
I agree. For me, a college degree was simply a prerequisite for pursuing what I really wanted to do.
-Wanted to be an airline pilot ever since grade school.
-Best way to achieve that was flying first in the military.
-Needed a college degree for that.
-Got one (advertising, because it was interesting and easy).
-Got a private pilot license, too.
-Applied to and accepted for both Navy and Air Force flight program.
-Chose Navy.
-Got out of military with the kind of experience airlines are looking for.
Got a B737 type rating paid for under GI Bill.
Got hired, flew a lot, then retired.
Never once worked in the field of my college degree and never planned to. Getting it was simply to check a box to achieve the real objective.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:47 AM (RjOoY)
I agree. For me, a college degree was simply a prerequisite for pursuing what I really wanted to do.
-Wanted to be an airline pilot ever since grade school.
-Best way to achieve that was flying first in the military.
-Needed a college degree for that.
-Got one (advertising, because it was interesting and easy).
-Got a private pilot license, too.
-Applied to and accepted for both Navy and Air Force flight program.
-Chose Navy.
-Got out of military with the kind of experience airlines are looking for.
Got a B737 type rating paid for under GI Bill.
Got hired, flew a lot, then retired.
Never once worked in the field of my college degree and never planned to. Getting it was simply to check a box to achieve the real objective.
Posted by: one hour sober at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (J4Dwc)
211
191 One of the better tweets I saw was someone crowing that Canada had won the trade war 'cause Carney has announced he's going to seek a trade deal with the EU.
Oh?
You mean like he said he would back when Trump first levied the tariffs months and months ago?
How's that going to work? They're going to magically drop their tariffs to 0% just for you 'cause they hate Trump?
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
PM Carney failed geography. There is a reason so much of Canada’s goods and services go to the United States. And why so little of it goes to the PRC. More goes to the EU but not near the amount that goes to the United States.
Someone show that blithering idiot a map.
Oh?
You mean like he said he would back when Trump first levied the tariffs months and months ago?
How's that going to work? They're going to magically drop their tariffs to 0% just for you 'cause they hate Trump?
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
PM Carney failed geography. There is a reason so much of Canada’s goods and services go to the United States. And why so little of it goes to the PRC. More goes to the EU but not near the amount that goes to the United States.
Someone show that blithering idiot a map.
Posted by: Cow Demon at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (w3Mok)
212
The Dewey Fractional System never really caught on.
Posted by: Library Trivia at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (2Ez/1)
213
Noon
CbC- Canada is going full trade war retard.
FoxNews - Outnumbered - Emily - sweet - El-Sayed
CNN - trade war with Canada. Sweet. I hope the US destroys Ontario.
MS Now - Postal Service and mail in ballots. Democracy is dying.
CbC- Canada is going full trade war retard.
FoxNews - Outnumbered - Emily - sweet - El-Sayed
CNN - trade war with Canada. Sweet. I hope the US destroys Ontario.
MS Now - Postal Service and mail in ballots. Democracy is dying.
Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (Sco7b)
214
Because, if you could compete in the EU market, you'd already be in the EU market.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
========
Canada is no more than our vassal.
It's kind of what happens when you're a small economy next to the sole world superpower.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (btJVX)
_____
The thing is, Canada made bank for decades being our vassal. It was a good, easy gig. But then they got too greedy and uppity. So they had to be slapped down. They won't recover from this. But they won't learn either. Fuck them.
Instead, you sell 70% of everything you make to the US.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)
========
Canada is no more than our vassal.
It's kind of what happens when you're a small economy next to the sole world superpower.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 11:58 AM (btJVX)
_____
The thing is, Canada made bank for decades being our vassal. It was a good, easy gig. But then they got too greedy and uppity. So they had to be slapped down. They won't recover from this. But they won't learn either. Fuck them.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (iFTx/)
215
It puts me in mind of the way they used to castrate boy singers so their voices wouldn't change, then boot the ones who didn't make the final cut out in the street.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
These days they just molest them and get them hooked on drugs before booting them into the street.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
These days they just molest them and get them hooked on drugs before booting them into the street.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (ExV1e)
216
(I typed "Baptits" before catching it. Have I been hanging out here too long?)
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM
Yes, because jiggling is dancing-adjacent, you know.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 12:00 PM
Yes, because jiggling is dancing-adjacent, you know.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 25, 2026 12:04 PM (0sNs1)
217
207 "Travel ball" shouldn't even be a thing.
Destroying your kid's childhood for the minuscule chance that he will become an Olympian or a pro player...well...
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
-------
Couldn't possibly agree more.
It used to just be a ridiculous time sink and way to overschedule your kids, but now it's still that but also wildly expensive.
Destroying your kid's childhood for the minuscule chance that he will become an Olympian or a pro player...well...
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
-------
Couldn't possibly agree more.
It used to just be a ridiculous time sink and way to overschedule your kids, but now it's still that but also wildly expensive.
Posted by: ballistic at August 25, 2026 12:04 PM (oqH4h)
218
Never once worked in the field of my college degree and never planned to. Getting it was simply to check a box to achieve the real objective.
Posted by: one hour sober
Not bad. I wish I'd gone the military route first before college but things turned out OK for me as well.
Posted by: one hour sober
Not bad. I wish I'd gone the military route first before college but things turned out OK for me as well.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 12:04 PM (RjOoY)
219
Furman University has lots of "FU" gear. Formerly a Baptist affiliated institution. (I typed "Baptits" before catching it. Have I been hanging out here too long?)
Posted by: screaming in digital
FU bourbon is $90/fifth. A bit steep.
Posted by: screaming in digital
FU bourbon is $90/fifth. A bit steep.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at August 25, 2026 12:04 PM (VJ0w/)
220
Sure, there's some of that, but there are plenty of posts by the chirruns about how they deserve a high paying job based on their studies degree and it's unfair that granny and gramps bought their McMansion at 18 and paid it off in only 2 years and everything was just so easy...
Old folks have no clue what it's like to be young today. But kids today also have no idea what it was like to be young then.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:59 AM (ExV1e)
I don't disagree that there's plenty of cluelessness to go around.
Old folks have no clue what it's like to be young today. But kids today also have no idea what it was like to be young then.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 11:59 AM (ExV1e)
I don't disagree that there's plenty of cluelessness to go around.
Posted by: Critical Studies on Colonization of Baristas at August 25, 2026 12:04 PM (TbWk/)
221
It puts me in mind of the way they used to castrate boy singers so their voices wouldn't change, then boot the ones who didn't make the final cut out in the street.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
Yeah, man did I dodge a bullet on THAT one!
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:02 PM (IG3/x)
Yeah, man did I dodge a bullet on THAT one!
Posted by: Franz Joseph Haydn at August 25, 2026 12:05 PM (SgdqL)
222
214 The thing is, Canada made bank for decades being our vassal. It was a good, easy gig. But then they got too greedy and uppity. So they had to be slapped down. They won't recover from this. But they won't learn either. Fuck them.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (iFTx/)
========
Not every country can play the great game.
And that pisses off a lot of people.
Posted by: Elric The Blade at August 25, 2026 12:03 PM (iFTx/)
========
Not every country can play the great game.
And that pisses off a lot of people.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 12:05 PM (btJVX)
223
But we're your largest National Park!
Posted by: Canadia at August 25, 2026 12:05 PM (2Ez/1)
224
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish ways.
I read that somewhere.
I read that somewhere.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (viF8m)
225
Heh. I'm old enough to have drank beer on my Tigerstripe account at Edgar's in the Union. Sigh.
Posted by: ballistic
---
I remember Edgar's, although I was a goody two shoes and hardly ever went to bars.
I watched parts of Johnstone Hall get demolished while I sat in class in Hardin Hall.
Posted by: ballistic
---
I remember Edgar's, although I was a goody two shoes and hardly ever went to bars.
I watched parts of Johnstone Hall get demolished while I sat in class in Hardin Hall.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (PcoR0)
226
Thank you for not making this a blanket slam of Canadians but instead properly identifying that the problem lies with Carney, and his Liberal Party.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (O7YUW)
227
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market
For the last 30 years, it's been a great way for frat boys, sorority sluts, and stoners to get 4 years of party life paid for by government loans.
College has been since the 1960s a way to delay high school graduates from entering the job market
For the last 30 years, it's been a great way for frat boys, sorority sluts, and stoners to get 4 years of party life paid for by government loans.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (iqcvy)
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (ExV1e)
229
226 Thank you for not making this a blanket slam of Canadians but instead properly identifying that the problem lies with Carney, and his Liberal Party.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (O7YUW)
========
"Canada is stupid."
"This person is obviously saying that every individual in Canada is stupid."
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (O7YUW)
========
"Canada is stupid."
"This person is obviously saying that every individual in Canada is stupid."
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (btJVX)
230
It's all fallout from Griggs v Duke Power. The insanity of 'disparite impact'
Duke Power required a high school diploma or GED for employment (not even a college degree). HOWEVER, they also offered a test that you could take if you didn't have either. Asshole Griggs failed the test and sued, and the insane Supreme Court decided that too many black people failed the test, and that was Duke's fault, EVEN IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE TEST WASN'T RACIST.
So now NO COMPANY will offer any kind of actual test in lieu of a degree. The only way to get any kind of quality was to say, 'nope, this degree is a hard requirement'.
And then universities and idiot leftist women set about trying to give EVERYBODY a diploma.
And now we are at the logical conclusion of 'everybody deserves a degree'. Degrees themselves are worthless, and teachers simply pass failing students.
Duke Power required a high school diploma or GED for employment (not even a college degree). HOWEVER, they also offered a test that you could take if you didn't have either. Asshole Griggs failed the test and sued, and the insane Supreme Court decided that too many black people failed the test, and that was Duke's fault, EVEN IF THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE TEST WASN'T RACIST.
So now NO COMPANY will offer any kind of actual test in lieu of a degree. The only way to get any kind of quality was to say, 'nope, this degree is a hard requirement'.
And then universities and idiot leftist women set about trying to give EVERYBODY a diploma.
And now we are at the logical conclusion of 'everybody deserves a degree'. Degrees themselves are worthless, and teachers simply pass failing students.
Posted by: DudeAbiding at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (setIA)
231
Carney is your typical arrogant internationalist. Doesn't give a crap about the average Canadian or American. Eff him
Posted by: Smell the Glove at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (JEgjE)
232
Whether it's in a trade or in a law firm, you will be the low man on the totem pole and have to earn your way up. It's often not easy. It often takes years. It usually involves delayed gratification.
--
New guy at my place. I've been kinda guiding him on stuff.
New project comes up, not fully in our line of work.
But a good one to exercise mental muscle as working on it will have broader, long term value for him.
He hands it off to a lower rung.
I'm annoyed. And I'm not all "rah, rah, this is the way I done it, you can too!"
Your degree only gets you in the door, it doesn't mean you can do the job.
--
New guy at my place. I've been kinda guiding him on stuff.
New project comes up, not fully in our line of work.
But a good one to exercise mental muscle as working on it will have broader, long term value for him.
He hands it off to a lower rung.
I'm annoyed. And I'm not all "rah, rah, this is the way I done it, you can too!"
Your degree only gets you in the door, it doesn't mean you can do the job.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 12:07 PM (3cUTc)
233
161 My brother is an electrician. The only time he set foot on a college campus was to drop his kids off and pick them up.
He is now a multi-millionaire because he built his business with 16 hour days and few if any vacations. Once he became established he stepped back a bit.
Both his kids, with college degrees, will never make what he did.
Posted by: Uncle Slayton
----
Nothing to do with you teaching him how to sell property for no money down at high interest then repo it and re-sell it. No, not at all.
_Choctaw is OK
He is now a multi-millionaire because he built his business with 16 hour days and few if any vacations. Once he became established he stepped back a bit.
Both his kids, with college degrees, will never make what he did.
Posted by: Uncle Slayton
----
Nothing to do with you teaching him how to sell property for no money down at high interest then repo it and re-sell it. No, not at all.
_Choctaw is OK
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 25, 2026 12:08 PM (6T7Go)
234
The only possible problem I can see is that sooner or later, some AWFL will step in and say "There are too many boys in the trades! Women can do these kinds of jobs!"
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
Well, ya know, the world needs sammich makers too.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
Well, ya know, the world needs sammich makers too.
Posted by: Ty Webb at August 25, 2026 12:08 PM (hmYU4)
235
224 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish ways.
I read that somewhere.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (viF8m)
----------------
Nope, doesn't ring a bell.
I read that somewhere.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (viF8m)
----------------
Nope, doesn't ring a bell.
Posted by: James Talarico at August 25, 2026 12:08 PM (Ucgf4)
236
I’ve made a decent living with these old callused hands.
Posted by: Eromero at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (5/BcT)
237
231 Carney is your typical arrogant internationalist. Doesn't give a crap about the average Canadian or American. Eff him
Posted by: Smell the Glove
---
Didn't the Chinese buy him a few months ago?
Posted by: Smell the Glove
---
Didn't the Chinese buy him a few months ago?
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (6T7Go)
238
And that pisses off a lot of people.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
It pisses off a nation's elites most of all because it means that they too, by consequence, are not as important as they desire. Some emigrate to the great powers and try to ingratiate themselves into the system (you see that in the US and UK in the past). Others stay home and sulk because of 'fairness' and even the emigres are not allowed to ascend the political and power ladder in places like Japan, much of Euroland, etc .
Canada's best and brightest usually emigrated to America or the other Anglo countries. And that means the rest of their ruling class are resentful but would rather reign in hell in their bailiwick than give up their seat of power.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
It pisses off a nation's elites most of all because it means that they too, by consequence, are not as important as they desire. Some emigrate to the great powers and try to ingratiate themselves into the system (you see that in the US and UK in the past). Others stay home and sulk because of 'fairness' and even the emigres are not allowed to ascend the political and power ladder in places like Japan, much of Euroland, etc .
Canada's best and brightest usually emigrated to America or the other Anglo countries. And that means the rest of their ruling class are resentful but would rather reign in hell in their bailiwick than give up their seat of power.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (E4rtv)
239
The only possible problem I can see is that sooner or later, some AWFL will step in and say "There are too many boys in the trades! Women can do these kinds of jobs!"
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
And they can, at least some of the jobs, but mostly they don't want to.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 11:27 AM (RjOoY)
And they can, at least some of the jobs, but mostly they don't want to.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (ExV1e)
240
Well, ya know, the world needs sammich makers too.
Posted by: Ty Webb
And you don't have to pay them as much.
Jokes aside: I'd like to set up scholarships and support groups for white men. If I had Gates level money I would.
Posted by: Ty Webb
And you don't have to pay them as much.
Jokes aside: I'd like to set up scholarships and support groups for white men. If I had Gates level money I would.
Posted by: NR Pax at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (RjOoY)
241
Nood!
Posted by: Nazdar at August 25, 2026 12:10 PM (NcvvS)
242
Nood
Hasan
Hasan
Posted by: Stateless - keeping 15 year Ralphy happy and alive. Puppy at heart at August 25, 2026 12:11 PM (Sco7b)
243
See y'all later, I need to go vote in the Senate runoff.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 25, 2026 12:12 PM (PcoR0)
244
Rush Limbaugh came from a long line of accomplished lawyers.
He attended one semester of Southeast Missouri State and failed out.
At the end of his life his contract paid him $25M a year.
He attended one semester of Southeast Missouri State and failed out.
At the end of his life his contract paid him $25M a year.
Posted by: Oh By The Way at August 25, 2026 12:12 PM (2Ez/1)
245
But we're your largest National Park!
---
Tim Walz thought he had a sick burn, pointing out that Canada had to rescue a bunch of stranded YMCA campers.
But he failed to point out ... they were IN Canada at the time.
Such a nasty, stupid dolt.
---
Tim Walz thought he had a sick burn, pointing out that Canada had to rescue a bunch of stranded YMCA campers.
But he failed to point out ... they were IN Canada at the time.
Such a nasty, stupid dolt.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 25, 2026 12:12 PM (3cUTc)
246
It was simply expected that I'd get a college degree. My AA liberal arts degree was needed for me to fly TWA. A choice that would have ended quickly, but I wanted to do this & see the world. I would have probably been kidnapped by a random Arab prince, but that is beside the point.
I happened to take a microbiology course that I aced and then worked as a phlebotomist one summer, draining patients of their morning blood samples. I looked about 16yrs old, so that was probably alarming for those that were awake. Both made me interested in possibly becoming a MD (I know, go ahead and laugh and get it over with). I took premed classes, did well in chemistry and dropped physics.
This led to nursing and it was the right thing to do vs working in a lab, reading machines for lab tests, and culturing urine, poo and nasty wounds. I needed people.
I did love all of my many jobs and no regrets.
I noted about 15yrs ago random cousin's children all wanting to be video game designers. Thinking they'd make it big in Hollywood or something idiotic vs making a living. None were smart.
Three nieces of my dude's went to an expensive private HS, did not seem stupid, and none have used their degree.
I happened to take a microbiology course that I aced and then worked as a phlebotomist one summer, draining patients of their morning blood samples. I looked about 16yrs old, so that was probably alarming for those that were awake. Both made me interested in possibly becoming a MD (I know, go ahead and laugh and get it over with). I took premed classes, did well in chemistry and dropped physics.
This led to nursing and it was the right thing to do vs working in a lab, reading machines for lab tests, and culturing urine, poo and nasty wounds. I needed people.
I did love all of my many jobs and no regrets.
I noted about 15yrs ago random cousin's children all wanting to be video game designers. Thinking they'd make it big in Hollywood or something idiotic vs making a living. None were smart.
Three nieces of my dude's went to an expensive private HS, did not seem stupid, and none have used their degree.
Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at August 25, 2026 12:13 PM (hzuYO)
247
Thank you for not making this a blanket slam of Canadians but instead properly identifying that the problem lies with Carney, and his Liberal Party.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (O7YUW)
Canuckians deserve condemnation for inflicting the twin abominations of Canadian Bacon and poutine on the world. The tariff thing seems to be in the realm of "Kick 'em when they're down"
Thank you for not making this a blanket slam of Canadians but instead properly identifying that the problem lies with Carney, and his Liberal Party.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 25, 2026 12:06 PM (O7YUW)
Canuckians deserve condemnation for inflicting the twin abominations of Canadian Bacon and poutine on the world. The tariff thing seems to be in the realm of "Kick 'em when they're down"
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at August 25, 2026 12:14 PM (iqcvy)
248
Nothing to do with you teaching him how to sell property for no money down at high interest then repo it and re-sell it. No, not at all.
_Choctaw is OK
Someone is a Ray Willy Hubbard fan.
Love me some Choctaw Bingo.
_Choctaw is OK
Someone is a Ray Willy Hubbard fan.
Love me some Choctaw Bingo.
Posted by: Uncle Slayton at August 25, 2026 12:14 PM (athRo)
249
>>I’ve made a decent living with these old callused hands.
My furnace died a few days before Christmas last year. Temperatures around here were hit the 40s during the day, a bit colder at night.
I didn't call Harvard for a repair.
My furnace died a few days before Christmas last year. Temperatures around here were hit the 40s during the day, a bit colder at night.
I didn't call Harvard for a repair.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 25, 2026 12:14 PM (viF8m)
250
And then universities and idiot leftist women set about trying to give EVERYBODY a diploma.
And now we are at the logical conclusion of 'everybody deserves a degree'. Degrees themselves are worthless, and teachers simply pass failing students.
Posted by: DudeAbiding
I think disparate treatment is likely on the chopping block for Scotus in the near future. The one bright spot of the Roberts court is deracializing the law and returning to the original conception of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, focus on the individual, not the group.
And now we are at the logical conclusion of 'everybody deserves a degree'. Degrees themselves are worthless, and teachers simply pass failing students.
Posted by: DudeAbiding
I think disparate treatment is likely on the chopping block for Scotus in the near future. The one bright spot of the Roberts court is deracializing the law and returning to the original conception of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, focus on the individual, not the group.
Posted by: whig at August 25, 2026 12:15 PM (E4rtv)
251
There's a contingent of Canadians (not really huge, but disproportionately loud-mouthed) who is convinced that the United States is Worse. Than. Hitlerrrrrrr!
This has gotten worse under Trump, but it's not new by any means.
Never mind the typical fate of small (in population), defenseless, resource-rich countries that happen to border a Hitler or a Stalin.
Let's play What Would Hitler Do.
1) Flatten Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and maybe Winnipeg. Offer terms of surrender to Calgary and Edmonton. If they refuse, flatten them too.
2) Drop all bridges on the Trans-Canada Highway and the CN railroad.
3) Bomb all power plants and pipelines.
4) Mine the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Strait of Georgia.
5) Send Marines to occupy the Western Canadian oilfields (don't bomb those... we'll want them later).
6) Wait one winter.
7) Send in troops to shoot the starving, cannibalistic survivors. There won't be very many of them.
This has gotten worse under Trump, but it's not new by any means.
Never mind the typical fate of small (in population), defenseless, resource-rich countries that happen to border a Hitler or a Stalin.
Let's play What Would Hitler Do.
1) Flatten Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, and maybe Winnipeg. Offer terms of surrender to Calgary and Edmonton. If they refuse, flatten them too.
2) Drop all bridges on the Trans-Canada Highway and the CN railroad.
3) Bomb all power plants and pipelines.
4) Mine the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Strait of Georgia.
5) Send Marines to occupy the Western Canadian oilfields (don't bomb those... we'll want them later).
6) Wait one winter.
7) Send in troops to shoot the starving, cannibalistic survivors. There won't be very many of them.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at August 25, 2026 12:19 PM (IG3/x)
252
hobo ass is the best tasting ass
Posted by: Paul at August 25, 2026 12:19 PM (ruZG1)
253
The thing is, Canada made bank for decades being our vassal. It was a good, easy gig. But then they got too greedy and uppity. So they had to be slapped down. They won't recover from this. But they won't learn either. Fuck them.
------
Yeah, Canada is amazingly foolish. It's crazy. They had a once or twice in history good thing going. A friendly relationship with a global hegemon who borders them.
All they had to do was:
1.) Never piss off the hegemon, and;
2.) Be just a *little bit* more business friendly than the hegemon.
That's it. They could have shit in high cotton forever. But starting with Trudeau's cuck father, they did the opposite.
------
Yeah, Canada is amazingly foolish. It's crazy. They had a once or twice in history good thing going. A friendly relationship with a global hegemon who borders them.
All they had to do was:
1.) Never piss off the hegemon, and;
2.) Be just a *little bit* more business friendly than the hegemon.
That's it. They could have shit in high cotton forever. But starting with Trudeau's cuck father, they did the opposite.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at August 25, 2026 12:32 PM (BI5O2)
254
220, 221, whatever it takes.
Posted by: Dodd at August 25, 2026 02:11 PM (xiWk9)
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