Sunday, August 26, 2007
lots of things make very little sense to me
Let's try the parking situation at my workplace.
I have to buy a parking permit. Buy a chance to park in one of the many lots near buildings. This is called a "standard" parking permit and it's sold to staff, faculty and students so that we must compete for the available spaces. It costs $422 a year for a chance to buy the right to hunt for a parking spot near my building.
The parking lot is overcrowded, it's not shaded, and it's forever full.
For $218 however, I can (and did) buy a discount permit. It's discounted because it is not near my building but it is serviced by a shuttle bus which runs very convienent times when I need them most.
The permit allows me to park inside a parking garage which keeps my paint less damaged by 7.5 hours in the direct sun. It keeps the interior of my car cool. It is underutilized so I am not hunting for a space.
For for $200 less I get to take better care of my car and avoid most of the aggravation of the "standard" parking lot.
It's less money, and less stress. Should you have to pay MORE for a less stressful service?
I have to buy a parking permit. Buy a chance to park in one of the many lots near buildings. This is called a "standard" parking permit and it's sold to staff, faculty and students so that we must compete for the available spaces. It costs $422 a year for a chance to buy the right to hunt for a parking spot near my building.
The parking lot is overcrowded, it's not shaded, and it's forever full.
For $218 however, I can (and did) buy a discount permit. It's discounted because it is not near my building but it is serviced by a shuttle bus which runs very convienent times when I need them most.
The permit allows me to park inside a parking garage which keeps my paint less damaged by 7.5 hours in the direct sun. It keeps the interior of my car cool. It is underutilized so I am not hunting for a space.
For for $200 less I get to take better care of my car and avoid most of the aggravation of the "standard" parking lot.
It's less money, and less stress. Should you have to pay MORE for a less stressful service?
Friday, August 24, 2007
a solution?
I was and still am disturbed at how we treat the children of illegals who have over stayed their visas to remain in the US, so I wrote to Senator Mel Martinez today and offered him a solution. He probably won't pay attention, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
The text is here:
I propose a solution to the problem of children of illegals who have overstayed their visas.
We have a critical shortage of teachers in the USA. We also have thousands of children who have attended and graduated from US highschools but are not unable to get a college degree because of their immigration status.
Instead of deporting these potentially talented students, whose parents overstayed their visa and have been caught up in a legal quagmire, to a country they now find foreign to them, can't we initiate legislation that creates teachers? Why import foreign workers when we have a potential supply of American educated workers right here?
Let the students who wish to stay in the USA legally apply to specific private colleges (say Carlos Albizu Univ. in Miami) for a 4 year degree in Elementary Education or Math/Science or Special Education. Give these students a special student visa, renewable based on good college standing to complete their degree and then grant them "special worker status" to teach in the USA. Specify that they must agree to remain in the teaching profession in the state of FL for 2 years for each year they were in University getting their degree. (so we get their talents for a period of 8 years) Finally grant them the ability to apply for permanent resident status once they have graduated with their degree.
This program could also work for nursing degree programs. Why import nurses from foreign countries when we can train and then utilize an American educated group of students who would otherwise be deported?
I think this would be a humanitarian solution to the deportation of college age children whose only crime was that their parents broke the law.
Sincerely,
The text is here:
I propose a solution to the problem of children of illegals who have overstayed their visas.
We have a critical shortage of teachers in the USA. We also have thousands of children who have attended and graduated from US highschools but are not unable to get a college degree because of their immigration status.
Instead of deporting these potentially talented students, whose parents overstayed their visa and have been caught up in a legal quagmire, to a country they now find foreign to them, can't we initiate legislation that creates teachers? Why import foreign workers when we have a potential supply of American educated workers right here?
Let the students who wish to stay in the USA legally apply to specific private colleges (say Carlos Albizu Univ. in Miami) for a 4 year degree in Elementary Education or Math/Science or Special Education. Give these students a special student visa, renewable based on good college standing to complete their degree and then grant them "special worker status" to teach in the USA. Specify that they must agree to remain in the teaching profession in the state of FL for 2 years for each year they were in University getting their degree. (so we get their talents for a period of 8 years) Finally grant them the ability to apply for permanent resident status once they have graduated with their degree.
This program could also work for nursing degree programs. Why import nurses from foreign countries when we can train and then utilize an American educated group of students who would otherwise be deported?
I think this would be a humanitarian solution to the deportation of college age children whose only crime was that their parents broke the law.
Sincerely,
Friday, August 17, 2007
We are all grown ups here?
Ok, the students are all returning to school and the campus is once again buzzing with activity.
Is it just me?
I find it ironic that parents who have decided that their kids are mature enough to attend a university "away from home", have to come to campus and walk their kid through the first few days of orientation, etc. because they don't know what they are doing. It makes little sense to me. How are they ever going to learn to do things on their own if you don't just let them make their own mistakes. Better it be done on a college campus where mistakes are fixable, than in real life.
As I said, it makes no sense to me.
Is it just me?
I find it ironic that parents who have decided that their kids are mature enough to attend a university "away from home", have to come to campus and walk their kid through the first few days of orientation, etc. because they don't know what they are doing. It makes little sense to me. How are they ever going to learn to do things on their own if you don't just let them make their own mistakes. Better it be done on a college campus where mistakes are fixable, than in real life.
As I said, it makes no sense to me.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
annoyed
Why in heaven's name do we have to use stupid non-adverbal or adjectival words when speaking?
People say they are pissed when someone does something. What does pissed really mean. It is supposed to imply that one is annoyed or bothered. It doesn'thave a literal meaning. But I wonder how in years to come when English changes yet again, what researchers will make of our using such words.
People say they are pissed when someone does something. What does pissed really mean. It is supposed to imply that one is annoyed or bothered. It doesn'thave a literal meaning. But I wonder how in years to come when English changes yet again, what researchers will make of our using such words.
