I gather that in recent decades the University of California has been making significant efforts to help those students who are the first in their families to attend university. When I was there, around fifty years ago, it was still sink or swim. The typical class differences among both students and professors at UC and the California state colleges was very obvious; it took me a while to recognize it. My academic course was from high school to junior college to state college to UC graduate school to trade school. [The "appropriate" job market for PhD's had tanked before I worked my way through. But it proved to me that I could do something that required persistence.] -----Alan -----Alan
I'm not particularly sensitive to class differences, but I did't notice that when I was at Long Beach State. Of course, that was a commutter college founded only about a dezen years earlier.
It was also a California state college. The state colleges were (and I believe still are) economical enough that one could work one's way through; and their focus was on undergraduate education. They also produced many grade school teachers, reflecting their former status as normal schools.
(UC said they emphasized undergraduate education, but that was IMO mostly hot air. Like other PhD-granting institutions, the undergraduate programs seemed to be a necessary evil that was tolerated for the sake of maintaining the graduate schools. Please pardon my cynicism; I earned it.) ----Alan
I remember the old farmer in Vermont who registered as a Republican and ran for (I think it was) Senator to knock out the Republican flatlander candidate. At a televised debate the farmer asked the flatlander how many teats a cow had, and the guy couldn't answer. I thought at the time that if the flatlander had been smart, his response should have been "You can't fool me with a trick question like that; WHICH cow? No matter which number I give you will bring one out that has a different number. But I know one thing: the chocolate milk comes out of the hind teat." ----Alan
{listener} We heard that too, on NPR…as we were traveling to NH to tend the grands tomorrow. They said it’s the earliest Summer has been since then, but in 40 years it will be 45 min earlier. It’s all related to that catch up that has to happen every so often to right the clock.
Opinion: Russia is now a Chinese colony — while still foolishly dreaming of empire [Click] I hadn’t noticed that China has leased large amounts of land in Moscow Oblast.
ReplyDelete—Alan
Video: How far north did Neanderthals get? [Click] Fascinating research.
ReplyDelete——Alan
Some US universities are reinstating SAT and ACT score requirements. Experts say it will exacerbate racial inequality [Click]
ReplyDelete—Alan
Also class-based inequality.
Delete----Alan
I gather that in recent decades the University of California has been making significant efforts to help those students who are the first in their families to attend university. When I was there, around fifty years ago, it was still sink or swim. The typical class differences among both students and professors at UC and the California state colleges was very obvious; it took me a while to recognize it. My academic course was from high school to junior college to state college to UC graduate school to trade school. [The "appropriate" job market for PhD's had tanked before I worked my way through. But it proved to me that I could do something that required persistence.]
Delete-----Alan
-----Alan
I'm not particularly sensitive to class differences, but I did't notice that when I was at Long Beach State. Of course, that was a commutter college founded only about a dezen years earlier.
DeleteIt was also a California state college. The state colleges were (and I believe still are) economical enough that one could work one's way through; and their focus was on undergraduate education. They also produced many grade school teachers, reflecting their former status as normal schools.
Delete(UC said they emphasized undergraduate education, but that was IMO mostly hot air. Like other PhD-granting institutions, the undergraduate programs seemed to be a necessary evil that was tolerated for the sake of maintaining the graduate schools. Please pardon my cynicism; I earned it.)
----Alan
Rare species, thought extinct, rediscovered in Vermont [Click] My first thought was that it might be conservative Republicans, but it proved to be a plant.
ReplyDelete——Alan
{listener}
DeleteYeah, that was in the news here last month. No one was disclosing exactly where.
A conservative Republican is a plant.
ReplyDeletenotdy
ReplyDeleteI remember the old farmer in Vermont who registered as a Republican and ran for (I think it was) Senator to knock out the Republican flatlander candidate. At a televised debate the farmer asked the flatlander how many teats a cow had, and the guy couldn't answer. I thought at the time that if the flatlander had been smart, his response should have been "You can't fool me with a trick question like that; WHICH cow? No matter which number I give you will bring one out that has a different number. But I know one thing: the chocolate milk comes out of the hind teat."
Delete----Alan
So it will be officially summer when I board the plane for Libertycon in Chattanooga. Back Monday evening.
ReplyDeleteNo Chattanooga choo-choo? Safe travels, Bill.
Delete-----Alan
{listener}
DeleteTraveling mercies, W.A.
I mean nordy. 8-)
ReplyDeleteClose enough. Grin.
Delete----Alan
Supreme Court Decision Spares Potential Future Wealth Tax — For Now [Click] They took a dispute over $14,000 tax on more than half a million dollars’ income all the way to the US Supreme Court? That doesn’t seem sensible.
ReplyDelete——Alan
It's an indication of the lengths some people will go to to avoid paying one red cent in taxes. Don't get me started!
DeleteDemocrats move to repeal 1873 law they say could pave way for national abortion ban [Click] “The Comstock Act, largely unenforced in recent history, could be used to restrict abortion drugs in the post-Roe United States”
ReplyDelete—Alan
Sis said she heard on the radio that the last time the summer solstice was this early, George Washington was president.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting factoid!
Delete-----Alan
{listener}
DeleteWe heard that too, on NPR…as we were traveling to NH to tend the grands tomorrow.
They said it’s the earliest Summer has been since then, but in 40 years it will be 45 min earlier. It’s all related to that catch up that has to happen every so often to right the clock.
US approves Ukrainian use of American weapons across the border anywhere Russia attacks or is preparing to do so. [Click] “This is not about geography. It’s about common sense.“
ReplyDelete——Alan
The Guardian: Ukraine war briefing: Boost to Patriot missile supplies for Kyiv – other countries will have to wait [Click] “South Korea, infuriated by Kim-Putin pact, considers arming Ukraine; Zelenskiy orders beefing up of power grid and its defences. What we know on day 849”
ReplyDelete——Alan