News + current events

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...alary-unemployment-job-market-ai/90280770007/

So I can go to college for 4 years, be 100k in debt, and start out making 56k a year... Or, I can skip college, have no debt, and make 70k a year in the trades... that's a really hard decision

The ONLY reason I went to college was because I didn't have to pay for it. Now it was film school so it doesn't really count, my first job I had lined up to start the day after I graduated and my annual salary was whopping $35K/year.
That is good advise, and partly what I did. I took 2-3 years after high school to work and generally be young and retarded, then when I figured out I had done enough of that, I took 3 semesters (fall, spring, summer) of transferrable classes at a local community college, which allowed me to take baby steps back into school and keep my overall cost down.

This was a big reason why I joined the army. I didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew that I didn't want to go college and I didn't want to live with my parents. The time I spent in let me learn a valuable skill that's carried through my life, let be young and stupid (mostly), but most importantly it gave me time to really figure out who I was and what I really wanted to do career wise.
I would advise anyone to take their first 2 years at a community college for the associates degree. Then transfer to the 4 year school of choice....of course, neither of my kids did that.

I tell my kids all the time not to go college and if they want to, they have to figure out how to pay for it. They're only 9 and 13, but it's still important for them to know this.
 
I tell my kids all the time not to go college and if they want to, they have to figure out how to pay for it. They're only 9 and 13, but it's still important for them to know this.

I don't disagree with that general sentiment, but I'd tweak it to say the most important thing is to figure out why someone wants to go to college. I do value actual education, but that's not a guarantee with any school, and the modern one-size-fits-all everybody has to go to college push is bullshit. I won't be teaching my kids that college is bad, but I also will not be telling them it's something they have to do, like it was sold to my generation and the generation or two before me. It all comes back to the scope of why.
 
I don't disagree with that general sentiment, but I'd tweak it to say the most important thing is to figure out why someone wants to go to college. I do value actual education, but that's not a guarantee with any school, and the modern one-size-fits-all everybody has to go to college push is bullshit. I won't be teaching my kids that college is bad, but I also will not be telling them it's something they have to do, like it was sold to my generation and the generation or two before me. It all comes back to the scope of why.

I completely agree. I have explained to them that not every career/job path requires college and that success looks different to everyone. It was sold heavily to us as well and I think was another why I didn't want to do it. The idea of going to college just because didn't make sense to me even at 17.
 
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So far this week in the local news:

Toddler dies after hit-and-run collision in Phoenix; suspect in custody​

https://ktar.com/arizona-news/toddler-hit-and-run-phoenix-suspect/5877816/

Suspect arrested after bicyclist killed in hit and run in Phoenix​

https://ktar.com/arizona-news/bicycle-rider-fatal-hit-and-run-0431/5878123/


Driver in fatal collision at Phoenix intersection jailed on suspicion of murder, DUI​

https://ktar.com/arizona-news/murder-dui-phoenix-crash-driver/5878263/

Are those incidents a result of soft/no sentences?
 
Are those incidents a result of soft/no sentences?

I don't think so, at least not from our local prosecutors (they are very good and don't tolerate crap). It's sickening how often this stuff happens and we find the person was illegal alien / felon / under the influence / had arrest warrants / had no license or insurance. We have a cesspool and it is attracting more feces all the time.
 
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crim...nviction-after-fight-in-bradenton/ar-AA25k090

Jury hands Palmetto man his eighth DUI conviction after fight in Bradenton

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A Palmetto man was convicted Wednesday in Manatee County Court of his eighth DUI, the State Attorney’s Office said.

A jury found Ronald Clark Willard, 55, guilty of driving under the influence (fourth or subsequent violation); driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked (with knowledge - third or subsequent offense) based on DUI refusal with death or serious bodily injury; fleeing or attempting to elude an officer; and driving while license permanently revoked.

A sentencing date has not yet been set. He faces a possible 15 years in prison.

Willard’s eighth DUI conviction comes after previously serving an almost 4-year prison sentence for a prior felony DUI. It was his sixth conviction for driving while license suspended.

On Sept. 9, 2024, Manatee County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a battery on 14th Street West in Bradenton.

Deputies determined he had driven to a man’s house and punched him in the arm.

Deputies observed that Willard appeared intoxicated, behind the wheel of his car. He was arrested for DUI.

Prosecutors are seeking an enhanced penalty, arguing Willard is a habitual felony offender.


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Is it me, or things just getting a little crazier?

The county jail here is always at capacity, so they have to decide who to keep and who to turn out.

Turns out they're planning to cut the operating budget and stop using 20% of the beds.

On a completely unrelated note, 2 weeks ago I was awoken by gunfire. Got up and went out and didn't see or hear anything, so I didn't worry to much about it. Sometimes the neighbors shoot. Walking on the road a couple days later I found these on the road in front of my property.
1781241405684.webp
 
The county jail here is always at capacity, so they have to decide who to keep and who to turn out.

Turns out they're planning to cut the operating budget and stop using 20% of the beds.

On a completely unrelated note, 2 weeks ago I was awoken by gunfire. Got up and went out and didn't see or hear anything, so I didn't worry to much about it. Sometimes the neighbors shoot. Walking on the road a couple days later I found these on the road in front of my property.
View attachment 693651

That's BS with the jails. I don't know your area, are those spent casings from rednecks shooting signs, or bad guys shooting at something else?
 
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That's BS with the jails. I don't know your area, are those spent casings from rednecks shooting signs, or bad guys shooting at something else?

It sounded like a 7 round mag dump. I didn't find any holes so no idea what the target was.

Only other possible clue was a busted can of white claw, top unopened. Maybe someone driving by threw the can at someone else and that person decided to shoot in response. Just speculation.

There was a ballot measure in 2020 to tax and fund a new jail, but it didn't pass. Bad timing and the odd coalition of "no new taxes" and "defund the police/jail reform" stopped it.

I suspect they're trying to put pressure on citizens to raise taxes. Many local governments use the tactic when there's a budget shortfall of cutting the visible essential services first, like police and fire.

They are funding an airport expansion and a new animal shelter. I guess they think that's more important :rolleyes:
 
The county jail here is always at capacity, so they have to decide who to keep and who to turn out.

Turns out they're planning to cut the operating budget and stop using 20% of the beds.

On a completely unrelated note, 2 weeks ago I was awoken by gunfire. Got up and went out and didn't see or hear anything, so I didn't worry to much about it. Sometimes the neighbors shoot. Walking on the road a couple days later I found these on the road in front of my property.
View attachment 693651

Those look like reloads from the worst reloader in the history of reloading...

😳