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Everything posted by Mrs Whiggins
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I'm an advocate for the top % rules. Is it great? No, but without it, this uni plus A&M could easily become taxpayer supported SMU type universities if it were eliminated. So many students from wealthy suburbs that have access to quality education, opportunities, academic support outside the classroom (test prep, etc) and honestly, family wealth IS undeniably one of the biggest predictors of success in college. The idea that taxpayer supported state universities were to educate their young citizens who would then go on to be productive leaders and taxpayers was a noble one from the beginning, but looking back at how access to that was restricted, at least the current system attempts to address that. Students from certain backgrounds often have the means and the ability to obtain higher education anywhere, even out of state or private. Less so for other students. As has been mentioned multiple times, the State and citizenry kicked the can down the road for elevating other system schools to alleviate the stresses placed upon the "Flagship" campuses to the tune of 63K+ applieds to UT-Aus in 2023. 19K were admitted and of those, I think around 9K ish were enrolled. Realistically a student from anywhere in the state who qualifies can apply and be admitted via this rule. Is that so bad? Sure it's a numbers game and not all of those students will attend. Some have grand opportunities elsewhere, some flat out cannot afford it, some are tied to their locality and the distance to Austin too far, some know the chasm is too wide for success. For 2023, 64% of enrolled students were top 10% qualifiers. Of the current undergraduate population on campus, over 9,000 students are first generation. May they go forth and change the world.
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Relax. A university education, especially at UT, is designed to provide a student with whatever life presents. I cannot express this enough. I understand your point, but the talk about 'useless' degrees is counterproductive. But enough about that. IIRC, the UT Advertising program is ranked nationally and if you examine the course requirements (degree plan) it requires courses in a wide breadth of areas. It also requires business courses, including some marketing courses I *think*. Again, the skills learned in college (or learned previously and honed in college) are not just about acquiring breadth and depth of knowledge, but how to think and then think some more and assess what exactly one learned throughout that experience. Alas, our underdeveloped brains and maturity often mean we don't appreciate those learning experiences until far after we leave. You know this, but it bears repeating. If he's excited about it, that is a huge hurdle right there. As an aside, I have neighbors from that 'other' school and they also talk about 'useless' degrees. Never mind that a high percentage of students who major and then graduate with degrees in engineering end up in another field (like one of my neighbors). Finding a degree plan that is flexible and well rounded can serve students who think they want to go down one path and suddenly find themselves lost and uninterested. Best of luck to your student!
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*fist bump* During school I had a federal work study gig in a campus library. Later when my children were small, for 5+ years volunteered once a week in the elem library at their school. I loved it. Nothing quite as thrilling as matching children to books that engage their interests and have them coming back for more and more to read. For some students, that library was a refuge from the negativity they faced from peers, from family members, from certain teachers; having a half an hour to sit by themselves w/o interruption to momentarily escape into another world and then be able to place that world in their backpack until their next visit.
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A story about a pathetic man's downfall [34 Felony Convictions]
Mrs Whiggins replied to Francisco 2.0's topic in Cloak Room
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Naw, sometimes at 11, they just derive comfort from that one thing. Our kids didn't get to eat out much but they each had that one treat or place that was just theirs. Since I was usually the one carting them around everywhere, sometimes I'd ask my husband to do those kinds of visits so that they could have a little time together. But there is a definite hierarchy in bagel quality.
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Oh I know it. Reading opens minds and broadens perspectives and that's dangerous. Everyone on this board knows why slave owners didn't want slaves educated or the Taliban to allow girls to attend school past twelve years. If many Indigenous children had been allowed to remain on the reservation and studied in both their own language and English (or Spanish or French depending), those students would've grown up to accomplish all sorts of things.
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A story about a pathetic man's downfall [34 Felony Convictions]
Mrs Whiggins replied to Francisco 2.0's topic in Cloak Room
The sad thing is, the locals keep voting in candidates that are wholly unqualified and batshit crazy in their state legislatures. It's like back when Cawthorne won in NC over Morris Davis. Davis had real qualifications and no Nazi background so of course Cawthorne gets elected. In Michigan, Arizona, et al, it's too much of the above combined with no $$ but they'll still pull it off because....stupid. -
Governor MeeMaw (as @Bama Chick used to call her) saying she wants more parental supervision in libraries is playing coy. She means she and her like-minded pals want more parents telling other parents exactly what anyone can or cannot read. Considering that 41% of Alabama 4th graders read below grade level, I say put any and all kinds of books in the library. Fat chance very many patrons can read well enough to know what they say.
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You. You sir are a good dad.
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I *think* I see where you're coming from. The same roots that considered policy for the 'deserving poor,' instead of does this policy address poverty. It's somewhat been morphed into a modern day 'they deserve to be poor,' as an overarching policy by certain factions. Or perhaps all factions. When something is so deeply embedded into culture, it can be hard to untangle one's perspective. Or is that not it?
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The rationalizations these guys come up with...yep, that's real ALPHA talking there big guy. Especially the slut shaming. He ought to listen to her song catalog and one song in particular, hehe.
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I don't know how old she was when that clip was filmed, but the convo between her and her father there--he's so worried, but she won't let him talk over her because she understands how easy it would be to step back and do nothing. With her status and privilege and wealth, one could argue she is not taking as extreme a risk as some of her fans (for simply existing) but that she is galvanizing people (on the right side of history as she stated) to vote, to speak up, to not allow the hate machine to silence the right to exist and live life with the freedoms that are the right of everyone, not just the chosen few--that will register with those who wish to concentrate and retain the power of oppression. Good for her; may she have many allies in the fight.
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Not new, not classic, semi-old shitbox car thread
Mrs Whiggins replied to blacklab's topic in Hobbies
What about a Honda Accord Coupe? I think they made some sporty models around 2006-2008 that might fit your price if you look around? They made some that are vanilla but I seem to remember seeing some that were a little more vroomy. -
2024 Weight Loss/Exercise Thread
Mrs Whiggins replied to Storm the Field's topic in Can You Help Me With This?
I haven't been on this thread, although I do read it now and again. But the commentary regarding fasting ended up becoming useful. The past week and a half I had developed a gastro issue, something that is rare for me, other than the occasional tummy bug that the kids would bring home. We don't eat out much so I had only ever had food poisoning (salmonella) once many years ago, so I was a little concerned to have suddenly developed extremely painful abdominal cramping and acute (and I mean acute) diarrhea. No vomiting, just the other end. It was going into the weekend so I drank water and spouse insisted on mixing up powdered Gatorade so I drank that too, alternating. Three days in and he suggested a probiotic drink which I tried. That was a big nope which I paid for the rest of the day. After five days of liquids and taking sick days, managed to get in to a PA since my PCP was out and the convenient care affiliated with our insurance was full of flu and COVID patients and it seemed like maybe they needed more immediate care than I did, although I was getting pretty darn weak. But you're right, after awhile, you don't feel hungry so much. The amount of weight loss triggered their system (from my last visit) so now I get to provide a lovely sample and await the results. Hopefully the organs will be okay, but I'm beginning to think I didn't wash the lettuce I got from HEB as thoroughly as I could've (I have a salad for lunch daily) and I picked up a case of e-coli. Would not recommend for weight loss. But fasting, if only clear liquids counts, does affect one's weight. -
andrew scott is "ripley" - new tv show coming to netflix
Mrs Whiggins replied to henrygandorf's topic in Movies and TV
Me, too. He's in that generation of actors/actresses that came up through the ranks about ten-fifteen years ago and are hitting their stride. I love to see it--the ones who've developed and improved and made the most with whatever they've been tasked. I don't know how the biz works, but if artists (writers, directors, actors, etc) mentor the younger gens, I expect it doesn't make the business any less cutthroat but it does give those of us who watch so much pleasure to see talent unleashed. -
I would keep the TTP funds where they are at least for now. For the 529, keep contributing, naturally. Eighth grade is but a beginning and there's a lot of learning and maturing between now and the future as to the where and what she will study. These years are for her to figure out what paths keep as many doors open as possible. Life changes so many times over its course and learning how to adapt to that and see potentials and pitfalls is part of her learning process too. Mostly, remember that the early years of high school are stormy and full of stressors and keep an eye out that mom and dad are not contributing to that unintentionally but instead being the lighthouse to the shore.
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I have no account so if anyone sees any good comments in the replies, please do tell.
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Surly Horns State of Things End 2023
Mrs Whiggins replied to immamac's topic in Please do this better?
I hadn't given it any consideration at all, tbh. Getting a rough survey of the demographic the site is trying to attract might provide some insight as to what forums or issues work. -
Lorne likely makes the list because he's donated to both GOP and Democratic candidates. He gave to the late John McCain but also donated to Obama. He gave to Susan Collins of Maine as well.
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Surly Horns State of Things End 2023
Mrs Whiggins replied to immamac's topic in Please do this better?
This is a perspective that perhaps needs further discussion with respect to the topic. To step away from that for just a second, though, some other thoughts... Most collegiate sports message boards are +87% male. Among those males, a higher percentage are white, possess at minimum a bachelor's degree, and around 40% earn a higher than average salary of $100K/year.* Considering that the applied, admitted, enrolled data for the University of Texas (Austin campus only) shows that since at least 2013 (as far back as their dashboard goes--they have more data but the dashboard is quick and easy), Texas has enrolled an average of 52.8% female students. Of those females going back the decade, they're an average of 40% Hispanic identified ethnicity. Whereas, the percentage of males enrolled since 2013 averages to 47.2%. Of those males, ~35% enrolled were Hispanic, 26% White, 18% Asian-American, 11% Black or African-American, 6% Intl, and Other had no figures/were identifiable. Those numbers matter depending upon what you want your site to be and what your goals are. I enjoy the site and (most) of the posters, but it's not really welcoming to females and that's +50% of your graduates right there. That may not concern you and that's okay too. It's an observation based on the data from the UT campus. Focusing on males, there were 2,364 enrolled (freshmen) for 2023. Over the last decade, that number is 19,133. Presuming everyone graduates that enrolled, from 2013-2023, that is 21,404 females to 19,133 males. Given some of those numbers and percentages, it might be that Neonmoon's comment is not out of line. What makes the culture of Surly appealing is its infinite capacity for debate, discussion, diatribes, and devil-may-care digs, but boundaries--should they exist? Or not? That may determine engagement among the lurkers you try and attract or repel. Edit: and @safe sex had a beautiful response that came as I was typing. This is not meant as an attack on the site. I've gotten a lot of joy from hanging around here. *This was taken from a paper in the Intl. Journal of Sports Communication
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