Buying Fleetwood Mac music at Wal Mart

[gypsysara]

Originally posted by gldstwmn
I'm not, I was asking a question.

Sorry if I sounded defensive... just when you read black & white on grey, lol, it sometimes gets taken the wrong way.

For the record, I did inhale.

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by Livia
For all you Wal-Mart haters, an oldie, but a goodie:

Things to do at Wal-Mart:

. . . .

LMAO

[flyfirefly]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
I must agree with gldstwmn here because if you want to go to school but cannot afford to, many ways exist to pay for it (loan, scholarships, grants, work/study, nightschool, etc.). Also, affirmative action give minorites (which are not necessarily the same as the poor) have a leg up on being admitted. So, clearly, if you want to go to college but canot afford it you probably could go via one of these ways. In fact, I know many who did.

Right, are any of you in college right now? How about in places were tuition rises nearly 20% every year? I'm happy you know people who were successful at funding for themselves but clearly there are limitations to which these loans and grants go. I think the key word in what you were saying is "probably" - clearly, you underestimate financial situations of college students in a recessive economy.

[gldstwmn]

Originally posted by flyfirefly
Right, are any of you in college right now? How about in places were tuition rises nearly 20% every year? I'm happy you know people who were successful at funding for themselves but clearly there are limitations to which these loans and grants go. I think the key word in what you were saying is "probably" - clearly, you underestimate financial situations of college students in a recessive economy.

My first year of college was supposed to be in the fall of 1981, one of the worst recessions of the second half of the twentieth century and I lived on the east coast, no less. This recessive economy we are in is nothing compared to that. Hate to sound like a broken record but...

[flyfirefly]

...but that was then, and this is now.

It's completely possible to work full-time, barely pay bills, and receive little or no help from the government for school or otherwise. Happens all the time.

[gldstwmn]

Here's my point: We are responsible for creating our own reality.

[Wild Heart]

Originally posted by Livia
For all you Wal-Mart haters, an oldie, but a goodie:

Things to do at Wal-Mart:

You know, you should really type a warning before posting something that funny! I was laughing so hard I woke up my poor sleeping husband! I've still got tears running down my face!

I have refrained from commenting on this thread since it turned so political several posts back but since I'm in now I will say that I'm not particularly fond of Walmart either. I am forced to shop there though because it's the only one of three grocery stores in this small town that doesn't smell like Wild Turkey and Marlboros at any given hour on any given day.

Before I go further, I would like to apologize in advance to anyone from Alabama I'm about to offend. I know several great Alabamans and they tell me the funniest Alabama jokes ever heard!

I, like Sulamith, have to poke a little fun at the expense of the patrons of our local Walmart. I mean no harm but you see I live in a small town with a population of 4,000 that is three exits from the Alabama state line. We affectionately call the Super Walmart "The Zoo" not only because the chaos it houses but for the..well...interesting people who frequent it. Bless their hearts, it's like a genetic experiment gone wrong. Jeff Foxworthy could write ten more books from a few visits to this store!

I buy my cds from Best Buy & Target so no Walmart cds for me! Looking forward to this BN thing but also like Sulamith, I'll believe it when it's screaming from my speakers!

I'll leave the political discussion to you guys especially since I think I'm the lone Republican on this board! I have to say though that the "Hillary for President" and "conservative media" comments did give me a good hardy chuckle. No stones please....I had to get a little "dig" in there somewhere!

[sulamith]

Wild Heart, as you know, I agree with ya, and NO, you're not the only Republican on this board !

-Sharon

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by flyfirefly
Right, are any of you in college right now? How about in places were tuition rises nearly 20% every year? I'm happy you know people who were successful at funding for themselves but clearly there are limitations to which these loans and grants go. I think the key word in what you were saying is "probably" - clearly, you underestimate financial situations of college students in a recessive economy.

I am not in college anymore (Oh the days when I was though!!! ) But, I know many currently in college who are there because of loans, grants, scholarships, etc. I am pretty sure most high schools have prgrams (recuitment day, counsellors, career placement days, etc.) specifically designed to help all students who want to go find a way to go to college. I base this on my friends who have kids graduating public and private high schools. Moreover, there is always information available via the net, which public libraries provide free access to in most cities.

Moreover, the current loan programs (private and federally subsidized) are structured to meet all tuition demands - which is a whole other issue - can you say endless supply ($$$$) for limitless demand. To survive, they may have to work or participate in work-study, but many, including me, work while in college and many people take less classes because they have to work; moreover, there is always woking 9-5 in the day and night school. There also is always the option of living frugally for a few years, saving money, and then going to a less expensive college. I also know people who have done that.

A friend of mine told me a long time ago, college is not like grade school. No one forces you to go and you really have no right set by the government to be there like you do in grade school. Therefore, if you want to go, you have to find a way. Though many today probably learn this lesson before graduating high school, I think going to college is sort of like for many life's first and very important lesson on being an adult and learning how to make things happen for yourself. So, I guess my point was and is many ways exist out there for anyone who has the will but has trouble finding the way to get a college or higher degree.

[sulamith]

Hey, strandie, since I was told earlier in this thread to "take my advanced degree and wave it in front of the faces of the $6.50 an hour workers and laugh" well, I feel I can respond to this, lol!

I went to college in the 80's. I had one grant that paid part of my tuition. The rest I paid for myself. I worked two jobs and never got to do anything fun. If I wasn't studying, in class, or working, I was sleeping. There were times I was down to $2.00 in my checking account. I didn't have money in my pocket to buy a Coke out of a machine. I had friends who had jobs and weren't in College, and they spent their money on clothes, partying, and crap for their apartments while slept on a mattress on the floor (just like Stevie and Linds!) and used cardboard boxes as tables. I went to the grocery store and bought a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, and a jar of peanut butter (the cheap stuff, GAG!) and that is all I had to eat for the week. I was poor, poor, poor, honey! Somehow, I was able to keep my eyes on the prize. I knew it was only temporary.

I know it is true that alot of folks aren't able to do what I did, for whatever reason, but I guess I feel because I went through that to get my degree, then anybody can. It made me appreciate what I have now so much more.

I also teach in a local College now, and it really hard for me to sympathize with some students who constantly poormouth and complain about how expensive school is......... all the while sitting there with perfectly manicured nails, new clothes, and a coif that costs more than my rent when I was in school. Puh-leeze. If you have to suffer and sacrifice for something, it makes it all the more meaningful.

-Sharon

[strandinthewind]

Greetings Sharon!!!!

I totally know what you mean about today's kids poormouthing. I am sure many out there are commendably working very hard and making many sacrifices to achieve their scholastic goals.

But, it can be hard to take when you see someone not doing that and complaining about money all while they have a designer bag, etc. Sadly, I know many a youth today who do this. But, hope srpings eternal and maybe they will "see the light."

The scary thing is I sound like my parents when say this

[sulamith]

Haaaaaaaah!!

Don't we sound like just a couple of old fogies?

BTW, it also helps make things easier in the way of achieveing certain life goals if one doesn't start popping out babies the moment they are phyically able to reproduce, either........

ah, well........

Kids, today.......
Lemme just crawl back over here to my rocker and Rock A Little!

hee hee!

-Sharon

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by Wild Heart
I have to say though that the "Hillary for President" and "conservative media" comments did give me a good hardy chuckle. No stones please....I had to get a little "dig" in there somewhere!

Yeah, it's easy enough to dismiss an entire discussion with a little "dig." But do you really have something to say? I suppose you can prove to us that the media really is liberal, like that idiot Limbaugh so loves to tell us while he uses the publicly owned airwaves to do so?

Little digs are fun and cute. But do you actually have anything to say?

[CarneVaca]

As for the college discussion, I'm pretty sure the percentage you can get in grants and loans has been reduced in proportion to the costs. In other words, while costs have gone up, the percentage you can get in low-interest loans and grants has not kept pace. And I seem to recall there were some reductions.

I was fortunate to have done quite well in high school and only had to pay for less than a quarter of my college expenses. That was in the 80s. However, even that much was too much for my parents (I was their fourth kid to go to college) so I had to borrow the money. It was a great experience and paying back the loan wasn't a huge hardship.

Still, during some semesters I worked three jobs. I was busier than I have ever been since. It was worth it.

I don't believe everyone has a chance to go to college. I have a friend who grew up in the inner city. He had no clue that he could go to college. He wasn't a particularly good student. It's hard to when you have to dodge bullets on your way home from school. But his high school coach took interest in him and helped him get into college. What if the coach hadn't come along?

So we can spew slogans all night long, but no one is truly a master of his/her destiny. If you think so, I hope you never find out otherwise. I know a lot of people who found out otherwise after the dot-com bust. Most likely you are a product of your environment and what you are exposed to in life determines what you make of this thing we call life. Sure you have a lot of say in it, but there's a confluence of forces that come together to lay the path.

[sulamith]

Well, Carne, In Georiga, as of 93, we now have the Lottery which funds the Hope Grant and the Hope Scholarship, neither of which were around when I was getting my degree.

As far as Technical Colleges which offer Associate Degrees, ANY adult in the State can go for free. The only way you CAN'T get it is if you have defaulted on a previous student loan, or you are in trouble with the IRS. Even then, the cost is only 28 dollars per credit hour plus matriculation fees. A student can take a full load for around 300 bucks in tuition. That's cheap, and less than I had to pay with a Pell Grant. There are more stipulations on the Hope money for 4-year institutions, and I can't speak for states that don't have the Lottery, but here in Georgia it's easier than ever.

-Sharon