Search found 332 matches

by Arabesque
Mon Feb 05, 2024 8:15 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hotel recommendation at Siem Reap, Cambodia
Replies: 15
Views: 923

Re: Hotel recommendation at Siem Reap, Cambodia

We stayed here and loved it, a wonderful fantasy, but it was 20 years ago.

https://angkorvillagehotel.asia/about/
by Arabesque
Sat Feb 03, 2024 12:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Elderly parents were sold a variable annuity
Replies: 48
Views: 7001

Re: Elderly parents were sold a variable annuity

Jack FFR1846 wrote: Sat Feb 03, 2024 12:08 pm I would send a letter to the FA, the insurance company, your state's attorney general and your secretary of state. Tell them that you feel your parents were fraudulently sold this unsuitable product and wish to unwind it with all money returned.

In my own state of Mass, our secretary of the commonwealth goes after these scheisters and gets peoples money back quite often. An insurance company is going to want nothing to do with potential state investigation by the secretary of state or the attorney general and will very likely unwind the whole thing to avoid many millions in legal fees and possible bad outcomes for them.
by Arabesque
Sat Feb 03, 2024 12:16 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SUNY Binghamton nursing vs. Penn State vs.....
Replies: 24
Views: 2249

Re: SUNY Binghamton nursing vs. Penn State vs.....

Based on my experience directing a writing center at a large state university, I would say do direct admit only. The program on my campus was very competitive, and the pre-nursing students worked very hard for admission. In addition to GPA requirements, they developed portfolios and written statements about their qualities.
by Arabesque
Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:52 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: college decision: UIUC or UF for ECE?
Replies: 340
Views: 32458

Re: college decision: $63k UIUC ECE or full-ride UF ECE?

As a retired, research professor, I believe that universities vary tremendously in quality. I was amazed by undergraduate education when my older went to a HYPS. I had worked in many research universities for many decades, but I never saw such lavish attention placed on undergraduates. My younger went to a middle, ranked technical institution. We were happy with that choice because we knew the institution and its location.

Quality does differ, but there will not be so much difference between how undergraduates are treated at Illinois or Florida. I would go for fit, and a Florida girl is unlikely to be happy in cold, flat Illinois.
by Arabesque
Sun Jan 21, 2024 4:53 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: No-state-income-tax states are not good for retirees.
Replies: 413
Views: 39631

Re: No-state-income-tax states are not good for retirees.

Public transportation! Many people seem to have a limited idea of where it is, and how useful it is. I have lived without a car in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago. When I visit DC and New York City, I am reasonably happy with the public transportation systems. I once spent a summer in Atlanta, and I used their system for most of my travel to work.

I have retired to Boston. The T isn’t as good as it was, but it is still serviceable. I can imagine, living without a car as I age.
by Arabesque
Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Living in HCOL area and nearing retirement.
Replies: 30
Views: 2826

Re: Living in HCOL area and nearing retirement.

Same town, very similar story. I moved back to a small, shabby JP condo that I owned for decades as a rental unit. Despite family and friends, I don’t want to live in the condo forever, but the cost of a SFH is bizarre.

I have no idea how to proceed. Buy a house and eat ramen?
by Arabesque
Mon Jan 08, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Finding cost effective mid-tier colleges (Computer Science)
Replies: 164
Views: 27039

Re: Finding cost effective mid-tier colleges (Computer Science)

I’m a professor recently retired from a flagship university which has many articulation agreements. In my experience, transfers from CC, regardless of how smart, struggle to catch up. Their CC professors have taught to retain the average CC student. The transfers lose time catching up. I know many never catch up.

Now I know someone will respond with a story about how it worked for them or their child, but I never thought it worked well for students, regardless of how easily credits transfer.
by Arabesque
Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:21 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Concierge Doctor for Primary Care
Replies: 31
Views: 5250

Re: Conceirge Doctor for Primary Care

I moved home to a HCOL city when I retired. I tried to use a renown hospital system system,but only young, over worked drs. were taking patients. They weren’t very good. I looked to change physicians and was told the system wasn’t taking new patients. Then called up another well-known hospital system. They were taking new patients in 2025. At that point, I felt I should go with concierge medicine, even at $3500 a year. I have been thrilled. My primary is referring me to specialists who are solving the problems I have had for years. Not to mention more serious problems, I have had arthritis in my right thumb forever. Doctors told me to take ibuprofen or Tylenol. I was referred to a surgeon who put a splint on me. Within two days I was pain-f...
by Arabesque
Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:24 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Suggestions for charity doing international work
Replies: 26
Views: 2689

Re: Suggestions for charity doing international work

I like the thinking of-The Life you can Save- project. Here is a list of their evaluated international programs. I usually give to “fistula foundation,” but may donate to Educate Girls, too.

https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/best-charities/
by Arabesque
Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:54 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Should I take job offer? Commute concerns
Replies: 50
Views: 7305

Re: Should I take job offer? Commute concerns

In two years—maybe less—Your kids will be 6 and 8. They will be able to get themselves ready in the morning and evening with so little help that you will be amazed. They will be more eager to play with friends than hang with nannies or even parents. I never loved after school programs, but my kids did.

I would take the job until something better turns up. And I hate commutes.
by Arabesque
Mon Dec 04, 2023 4:22 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?
Replies: 285
Views: 41370

Re: T5 engineering school or in-state T35 with full-ride?

Slightly off topic: Harvard’s endowment is over 53 billion (not counting real estate and patents). University of Florida endowment just went from 2.5 to 3 billion this year.

Now, one can fuss about engineering rankings, but huge endowments change students lives in fair, rich and Complicated ways.

Fit is important, and resources for student support is a huge part of fit.
by Arabesque
Sat Nov 11, 2023 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Version of The Odyssey for Advanced 4th grader
Replies: 16
Views: 1382

Re: Version of The Odyssey for Advanced 4th grader

Emily Wilson recently translated the odyssey. It has received a lot of attention. I find it very readable, more enjoyable than Fagles Here are some links to help you decide. You probably can get each from the public library.

https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/0393089053

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023 ... on-profile

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/book ... ation.html

https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2018/2018.10.58/
by Arabesque
Thu Oct 12, 2023 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Feasible to fly with 2.5 and 1.5 year olds?
Replies: 64
Views: 5274

Re: Feasible to fly with 2.5 and 1.5 year olds?

Good heavens! I’m really surprised at all the negativity. I traveled internationally a lot with little children. 24 hour trips were normal. They were fine. Give the really little ones a bottle at take off and landing, gum or sucker candy for the older, and it’s not such a big deal. Mine were happy to be close to me. I was happy because I had extra room from their seats.

Around 3 they started to have memories of the trips. But the early trips set them up as lifelong travelers, and I didn’t have to stay home
by Arabesque
Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: When should one move to a lower cost of living area in retirement?
Replies: 77
Views: 9083

Re: When should one move to a lower cost of living area in retirement?

I resisted this thread, but it so speaks to me. I retired from a LCOL city to a VHCOL city where I grew up and have family. I can afford it, but it seems insane to spend the difference. My old city had museums, theater, minor-league, and even one pro team. It had international groceries and shopping, a reasonable airport. All of that for a lot less money. People write that it’s a personal decision, but it’s a hard decision, because there is no easy answer. After three years, I still don’t know whether to stay or go. Good luck to the OP
by Arabesque
Sat Sep 16, 2023 7:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Used luxury car recommendation
Replies: 96
Views: 8358

Re: Used luxury car recommendation

Status shifts too often to chase. All through high school, I only paid for a flip phone for my older daughter. When she got to HYPS, her summer lab job required the ability to take pictures. I bought her a smart phone. She told me she sort of regretted it. The other kids had been amazed at how she could text on the flip phone. It had a reverse status that she lost.
by Arabesque
Tue Aug 08, 2023 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Career Regrets
Replies: 114
Views: 15546

Re: Career Regrets

Why do you want to shoot people? How is that better than research that potentially improves lives? I don’t understand this part of your statement. I understand wanting to leave academia, but why would you want to be a sniper? What does it represent?
by Arabesque
Thu Jul 27, 2023 11:56 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pre-med Flagship State School vs Elite Private College
Replies: 23
Views: 1557

Re: Pre-med Flagship State School vs Elite Private College

Harvard has a 51 billion dollar endowment. That does not include the value of patents and real estate. It does allow them to give massive financial aid, including families, making well into the six figures. Families making less than 85K pay nothing. Families making between 85 and 140K pay 10% of their expenses. Up to 200 K families receive some financial aid.

Comparing Harvard to Purdue is a little imbalanced. Harvard and other well endowed universities spend significant amounts supporting undergraduate learning. College education is not just about classes and GPAs and earning potential potential.
by Arabesque
Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:16 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Martial art with least risk of injury?
Replies: 28
Views: 6055

Re: Martial art with least risk of injury?

Taiqi with a sword is definitely a martial art. I loved it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijijian

But even more fun is taiqi with fan. If you watch to the end, you can see the Martal aspects of the fan

https://youtu.be/JEff3tUVFMU
by Arabesque
Tue Jul 25, 2023 2:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: 41 and FI, going back to school?
Replies: 31
Views: 4496

Re: 41 and FI, going back to school?

I’m 72, and I start a third graduate degree this September. It’s basically free because I received an assistantship. I will be the oldest TA on the planet. I will have senior and student discounts at the same time. I was going to stop my Amazon prime, but I will get it half price as a student.

Learning is the nature of the beast.
by Arabesque
Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College major for 17 year old interested in business
Replies: 38
Views: 3405

Re: College major for 17 year old interested in business

I wrote ups thread about the management schools at Buffalo and Stony Brook, the two flag ships in the SUNY system. I didn’t mention that Cornell university has three colleges and the vet school that have reduced tuition for New York State residents. This dates back to some land grant college origins. One of the schools is the agricultural College for example. They are not cheap, nor are they easy to gain admission. However, I don’t believe that these colleges are commonly known.

Here is a link to the one that’s most related to business

https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/programs/un ... epartments
by Arabesque
Sun Jul 23, 2023 2:17 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: College major for 17 year old interested in business
Replies: 38
Views: 3405

Re: College major for 17 year old interested in business

The state of New York has changed its orientation towards higher education. For many years, it was committed to having degree programs within commuting distance of all surfaces. It was a pretty equivalent system, or at least attempted to be. There were four “SUNY centers”: Buffalo, Albany, Binghamton, and Stony Brook. They change their model a year or two ago. There are now two flag ships: Buffalo and Stony Brook. Going forward they will receive more resources than the other colleges in the system. I am posting links to undergraduate majors at Buffalo and Stony Brook. Buffalo looks better at first glance. https://management.buffalo.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate.html https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/business/Undergraduates/_current-stu...
by Arabesque
Sun Jul 23, 2023 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Maui or Scotland trip with kids?
Replies: 72
Views: 6207

Re: Maui or Scotland trip with kids?

I Traveled in Hawaii and England with my children under age 10; I worked about a month both places. Not quite the same, but I vote for Scotland. International travel is wonderful for kids: new accents/languages, money, transportation, architecture, food, television, vehicles, manners . . . It will blow their minds.
by Arabesque
Thu Jul 13, 2023 12:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: GE all in one washer dryer combo
Replies: 14
Views: 1546

Re: GE all in one washer dryer combo

I had 2 over 15 years as the main washer/dryer for a family. No complaints. Would do it again.
by Arabesque
Thu Jul 13, 2023 6:04 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: SAT Prep Tuitions - Opinions needed (timing/cost/etc..)
Replies: 101
Views: 8440

Re: SAT Prep Tuitions - Opinions needed (timing/cost/etc..)

Tests prep beyond buying a book (or taking one out of the library) during the junior year is a waste of time and money. I base this claim on a sample size of two. My older child did almost no test prep, got a 35 on the ACT, and arguably went to the most elite school in the country. She spent all of her time doing the academic things she loved, and competing at the international level. Incidentally, her grades were good, not amazing. It was her national and international awards that made her stand out. My younger child was a lousy test taker. I never believed in those until I had one. She did a fair amount of prep, but it never changed her score much. She spent her HS time running around, enjoying life, and playing piano. She went to a local...
by Arabesque
Tue Jul 11, 2023 6:12 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Worth doing a masters without a bachelor's? [in Australia]
Replies: 91
Views: 7179

Re: Is it worth doing a Masters instead of Bachelors degree?

[quote=gatorking post_id=7352767 time=<a href="tel:1689070746">1689070746</a> user_id=139] How long are the programs? Is it a "not for profit" or "for profit" college/university? 3 years or 1.5 years. Aren't all universities for profit? [/quote] Non-profit colleges exist for educational purposes. Most have long, long histories of preparing students for success. They spend their money on education. Profit colleges exist for share holders: they are not committed to student success. https://thebestschools.org/resources/for-profit-vs-non-profit-colleges/ https://www.mass.gov/service-details/for-profit-school-advisory https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/01/31/for-profit-college-education-student-loan...
by Arabesque
Wed Jul 05, 2023 6:48 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Staying the course - kids complicate things
Replies: 47
Views: 4598

Re: Staying the course - kids complicate things

At 1 and 3, I spent for excellent daycare, but their clothes and toys were largely hand me downs. The big crisis comes later when you have to decide about lessons, summer programs, colleges. I certainly didn’t start wishing to spend more money until sometime in middle school?

Objects from childhood, will not matter to them when they are adults. They will remember the experiences. Plan to spend on lessons, cultural experiences, great family trips that reinforce your values. They are still young for most of that.
by Arabesque
Thu Jun 29, 2023 12:03 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: West Coast Vacation- San Franciso or Seattle or ??
Replies: 52
Views: 3993

Re: West Coast Vacation- San Franciso or Seattle or ??

Vancouver BC with a side trip to Victoria and the island.
by Arabesque
Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:16 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Super high COLA: rent + vacation home?
Replies: 22
Views: 2551

Re: Super high COLA: rent + vacation home?

Remember that the nanny will only be around for 2-4 years. Children like daycare/pre-school. I wanted to keep mine out of institutionalized settings, but it became clear they preferred other children and age appropriate stimulation to a single adult (even me?).

3-2 should be fine.
by Arabesque
Thu Jun 15, 2023 5:32 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should we pay $70-$90k private school tuition for next 12 years
Replies: 183
Views: 19635

Re: Should we pay $70-$90k private school tuition for next 12 years

As I read these responses, I realize that many of them are willing to throw the woman‘s career under the bus. This is obvious in all of the suggestions of homeschooling. It is less obvious in the push to public schools. I was a single mother of two children in a decent public school system, the locals thought it was a great school system, but it was just a decent public school system. I sent my children to private starting in middle school. I don’t think that elementary school makes that much difference, but boy were the mothers involved. I couldn’t compete. The teachers and administrators were definitely affected by whose his mother volunteered and was in the office every day. They responded by being sure their children were recognized in ...
by Arabesque
Tue Jun 13, 2023 6:52 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Should we pay $70-$90k private school tuition for next 12 years
Replies: 183
Views: 19635

Re: Should we pay $70-$90k private school tuition for next 12 years

My children went to public through elementary school. I had not planned to send them to private, but the public schools were not meeting the needs of my smart, older daughter, and a friend was committed to private education. She talked me into it. They are now college grads. I don’t think they would have done as well without private school. The older went to.HYPS. The younger, no mathematician, graduated with a math heavy major. In public school, she would not have been expected to do so much math. The private school required it, and since all of her friends had math through calculus, she did too. Peer groups are important. She became comfortable with doing math, even if she didn’t star. She learned to persevere academically. I don’t think ...
by Arabesque
Fri May 12, 2023 3:37 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: new home purchase advice... in over my head?
Replies: 101
Views: 8590

Re: new home purchase advice... in over my head?

https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Rele ... nt-in-2021

I knew someone whose child drowned in their pool. Imagine living with the pool after that.
by Arabesque
Fri May 12, 2023 1:11 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Cairo for a few days
Replies: 19
Views: 1741

Re: Cairo for a few days

I have traveled independently in the developing world, many times, even as a single mother with small children. We also lived in southwest China during the 90s.

This year for 17 days I went with a Tour group to Egypt. This was My first tour group because of Egypt’s reputation. Other than being shocked by how few women were on the streets outside of Cairo, I was fine with the trip. I would go back some day for the new museum. I didn’t think the security was excessive (I was more surprised at the hotel security in Bangkok 2005).

That said, if I return, I would use a Tour group again and spend more time in Luxor and Saqqara.
by Arabesque
Wed Apr 26, 2023 9:38 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]
Replies: 2923
Views: 521005

Re: Tales from this insane real estate market [Home sales]

and houses in the $1.2 million range........this was in 2019. Fast Forward to now and those same houses are selling for ~$2.0 million and are pending in less than 1 week. I simply can't pay that premium.....not for that housing stock. And now I'm more leery of hurricane risk particularly as a would be retiree and my search has moved north 1-2 states and I'll rent a place in SW FL for $10K/month in Jan and Feb. Oh well. Similar story here I wasn't considering Florida but was considering moving from the East Coast to the West someplace. My job is relatively location agnostic and I figured I'd buy my retirement place move there while still working, work a few more years then retire. But COVID hit before I was ready to implement the plan and t...
by Arabesque
Sat Apr 22, 2023 8:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Safe areas to live north of Boston (Saugus, Lynn, Swampscott)
Replies: 56
Views: 5824

Re: Safe areas to live north of Boston (Saugus, Lynn, Swampscott)

Salem is fun and it’s just north of Lynn. Witch culture, history, university, museums, restaurants, etc.
by Arabesque
Mon Apr 17, 2023 6:45 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: STEM Options for bright college kid
Replies: 113
Views: 8775

Re: STEM Options for bright college kid

But they have something that makes them such an extreme outlier, whatever you want to call it. It's not like they just worked 10,000x harder than everyone else with a CS degree. I can say that my son has worked harder than most CS grads, although not 10,000x. But it's also not like he's making 10,000x what everyone else is. Has he worked 5-10x harder than everyone else? I bet he has. 10% inspiration, 90% perspiration and all that. I once had a roommate, a very privileged, only child who was going to med school at an Ivy. She used to brag that she deserved it because she worked harder than everyone else. At the time I was doing a study on child labor, children making soccer balls in Pakistan. They worked harder that she ever imagined. I did...
by Arabesque
Mon Apr 10, 2023 5:03 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Need help with student loans/son going to college in the fall
Replies: 50
Views: 3768

Re: Need help with student loans/son going to college in the fall

Penn State is well regarded academically, but it is not amazing. Further it’s limited by its location in terms of internships, jobs, cultural events, and diversity The fraternity scene is upsetting. What draws him to Penn State?

Just say you won’t fund it. Tell him to go to a SUNY for a year and transfer to a different SUNY. Has he looked at ESF which shares Syracuse’s campus/resources? It wasn’t right from my children but I thought it was grand https://www.esf.edu/about/index.php

Or the NYS colleges in Cornell? Alfred State and the private Alfred University share programs in interesting ways. Stony Brook and Buffalo have new designations as flagship universities. They should be getting more resources and changing an interesting ways
by Arabesque
Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:36 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sharing college costs with children
Replies: 142
Views: 12887

Re: Sharing college costs with children

...the quality of ~90%+ of undergraduate programs for ~90%+ of colleges or universities is essentially the same... Community college courses are far below and didn't even transfer into my freshman year, mediocre engineering program. Finding that this mediocre college engineering program was "too easy" to me, I transferred to what I considered the best undergrad engineering program around (I rejected MIT and RPI). The courses there were at least twice as intense as at the mediocre college. See the ~90%+ of undergraduate programs for ~90%+ of colleges or universities part of my post. Community colleges enroll over 40% of college students. I’m not sure if you’re including them in your 90% of undergraduate programs. Clearly they enro...
by Arabesque
Wed Mar 29, 2023 7:43 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College bound son for CS [Computer Science]
Replies: 205
Views: 16982

Re: College bound son for CS [Computer Science]

Purdue data based on self-reporting by only 73% of graduates. Not exactly gospel.
by Arabesque
Wed Mar 29, 2023 6:49 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Athletics pathway to college
Replies: 110
Views: 10853

Re: Athletics pathway to college

In my experience, as a professor, athletes tend to major in communication or psychology, and not engineering. Engineering is an incredibly time-consuming and intense major. Many, many people have said it should be a five year degree. There’s not time for athletics in an engineering curriculum. There really isn’t time in many majors for a Division I athlete. I once had exceedingly smart, softball pitcher, who couldn’t get out of B land. We discussed what she would have to do to move the needle, but there was just no way. I think your comment must be based on the school you teach at? My three athlete kids were premed, Business ( finance CPA) and Math. All did just fine as did many of their teammates...I think a lot of this has to do with the...
by Arabesque
Tue Mar 28, 2023 8:06 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Athletics pathway to college
Replies: 110
Views: 10853

Re: Athletics pathway to college

In my experience, as a professor, athletes tend to major in communication or psychology, and not engineering. Engineering is an incredibly time-consuming and intense major. Many, many people have said it should be a five year degree. There’s not time for athletics in an engineering curriculum. There really isn’t time in many majors for a Division I athlete. I once had exceedingly smart, softball pitcher, who couldn’t get out of B land. We discussed what she would have to do to move the needle, but there was just no way.
by Arabesque
Thu Mar 23, 2023 11:31 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Where to buy a bicycle (with training wheels)?
Replies: 35
Views: 1951

Re: Where to buy a bicycle (with training wheels)?

So many kids are going to so many bikes so fast. I found it very easy to find a hand me down from someone’s three year old. Then I found it’s easy to find a hand me down from someone’s five-year-old. And so on. No reason to spend money on bikes, until the child is really ready to roam.
by Arabesque
Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:22 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Choosing colleges
Replies: 146
Views: 10338

Re: Choosing colleges

One thing to know about Stony Brook: New York State had for many years an egalitarian education system. New York had 64 campuses, many of them community colleges, how on similar funding models. The goal was to have affordable education within range of all citizens.

Last year they designated two campuses as flagships. Stony Brook was one of them. This means greater resources and attention to Stony Brook students.

https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/ ... e-address/
by Arabesque
Sun Mar 19, 2023 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Vacation ideas with under 2 toddler
Replies: 72
Views: 7595

Re: Vacation ideas with under 2 toddler

When my eldest was about to turn two and stop being a lap baby, I flew from Philadelphia to see friends in Seattle. I rented a car, drove up and spent a day or two with friends in Vancouver, and then took the ferry to Victoria, Vancouver island. We stayed in a rather funky B&B, full of hippies. One of the other visitors was a single woman from New Zealand. Together, we took a bit of a road trip on the island and did some hiking and wading with a toddler. We took the ferry back to Seattle and flew out all before she turned 24 months. Another trip that I did with only slightly older children, still preschool, is Washington DC. There’s lots of outdoor things to see, including the national zoo. 20 months is a little young for the zoo, but t...
by Arabesque
Sat Mar 18, 2023 8:30 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: College selection-NEU or OSU
Replies: 104
Views: 8778

Re: College selection-NEU or OSU

If he goes to NEU, he is more likely to stay in the northeast. All those Kendall Sq. jobs and startup excitement. If he goes to OSU, he is more likely to settle nearer you. Not a given, but a consideration if family is important.
by Arabesque
Thu Mar 16, 2023 3:05 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13847

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

Not to enter into a silly fight, but it would be very hard to teach a pointer to herd sheep and as hard to teach a Border collie to point game. Not all breeds are the same. People breed dogs carefully for specific purposes. Hence, some breeds, like retrievers, have “soft mouths” so that they don’t puncture their retrieve. Other breeds, guardians and fighters, have poor bite inhibitions because they are supposed to bite.

This is pretty obvious if you work with breeds.
by Arabesque
Wed Mar 15, 2023 6:37 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13847

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

I grew up with a pug. He was a fabulous family dog, devoted to children. Flatulent though.
by Arabesque
Tue Mar 14, 2023 6:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sharing college costs with children
Replies: 142
Views: 12887

Re: Sharing college costs with children

calling for community college and state universities while living at home just might be forcing a square peg into a round hole. The programs offered at various colleges and universities are not the same quality in all subjects, indeed not all universities even offer studies in every discipline. Some have excellent programs in discipline A, but mediocre programs in discipline B and C. You might graduate with the same degree, but suffer if your degree is from a college with weaker programs. I wouldn't start with the college already determined and try make the student fit. I can't see how that is the best route for the student, even though the cost might be lower. This is a yes, no, maybe situation. From experience (I work in academia), the q...
by Arabesque
Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:56 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Calm small dog breed for family
Replies: 142
Views: 13847

Re: Calm small dog breed for family

OP, you already had one bad experience with a “poo, doodle.” Greeders who breed crosses are looking for profit. They are very different from people who breed for preservation or competition.

https://grca.org/find-a-golden/more-top ... endoodles/