I don't love CreateSpace (CS), an Amazon.com company, but I feel and think it's the best to use for book self-publishers like me. Two other major ones, Lulu and Book Baby aren't nearly as good. Lulu doesn't have an Interior Reviewer like CS. That's a fatal flaw. Book Baby would charge me $10.45 in print costs for 308 pages, whereas CS was $5.54 for the same book. So they're out.
If CS was smart, they'd charge a $25 annual membership fee just to use Interior Reviewer (IR), it's that good. They could offer a free 7-day trial to test it but not upload a manuscript permanently. You'll see
for yourself. Save yourself $349 from CS and other companies to format
it for you, and, with patience and time, do it yourself and save big on IR.
So I do love CS. Using it is easy . . . yet quite tricky, for a first timer like me. It took me 12 months to write Episodes, about my mental illness that hardly anyone knows (they will soon). It was close enuff, so I started editing, cutting and polishing. A month later I changed margins and was down to 316 pages instead of 330. Cut some more. Down to 298 pages, and it was done! Then I ran it thru IR and had to change margins again. 308 pages.
It said I had margin errors. Too small, yet my type fit perfectly within its dotted lines, and each page had plenty of space around the edges. I didn't understand so after four more tries at unsuccessful reformatting, I talked to a rep three days ago. "The dotted lines represent the trim lines." That is, where the edges were to be cut! They clearly don't say that. And this knowledge coming after I had spent weeks reformatting, renumbering, and redoing 38 endnotes! At first I was pissed when they told me this, so I emailed them a complaint. Then I got busy again with this new fact.
It took me 8 tries to get the margins and gutter right, but now it truly fits perfectly. For real this time. And now it's 350 pages. 350! Yes it'll cost more to print, about $6, so I'll have to raise my $9 price. So Interior Reviewer, which comes free with CS membership, is a miracle and lifesaver. It's that good. And now membership is free, whether you use CS to publish or not. (Don't use them to get your ISBN if you can help it)
So then I went to work on reformatting the 350 pages. My original goal for length was 300 pp. So I cut out two Appendices and others and got it down to 332 pages. Fini!
One other important thing about CS and Amazon. Royalties. If people buy it from CreateSpace.com directly, they get 20% in royalties of your list price. They should deduct the print cost, after all they sub that out and i'm sure make a profit on it. If you buy my book on Amazon they get their 20% on top of everything. AQ rip off. Just because of their big name I guess, 'cause they do nothing to earn it except put it on their site with a few bells and whistles. Oh well.
So when Episodes comes out in two weeks, please buy it from CreateSpace.com! It's the same price either way.
What are you using for your self-publishing platform?
By Rodney Richards. Subscribe or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com with comments. I'd love them.
Like you, I've had many ups and downs, and quite a few sideways experiences. I firmly believe everyone should write theirs and share them, whether just for themselves or their kids. Here are some from my memoirs, observations and thoughts.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Joy of Polls and Surveys
We humans like to be part of a group, a tribe, a neighborhood, a town, state or country. Naturally, who wouldn't? Strength in numbers and all that. But I hate statements, surveys, polls, and studies that purport to speak for "Americans," or "Republicans," single-fathers or the overweight etc. There's just too many of us.
270 million adult Americans, leaving 40+ million children and youth. Have you ever heard anyone speak authoritatively for those millions of folks, male or female? Or for any age group? I sure haven't, not yet, except MAYBE once every 10 years when it MAY come close. It seems that coming close to speaking for all Americans was the 11th U.S. Census, taken by Hollerith and his punch card machines in 1890, the father (in my eyes), of modern data processing some 60-70 years later. And the Census gathers facts -- not opinions.
So pollsters who say, "40% of Americans believe Obama is doing a decent job," or TV announcers, or pundits . . . are all outright lying to you. I believe Obama's popularity rating's even higher right now, more than 4 times Congress' so-called popularity, but we'll never know. Never know exactly.
No one poll represents more than a few thousand people when making such statements. If they're a decent poll like Gallup or Pew, they'll tell you how many Americans they actually spoke with in the small print after the headline statements and data are shared. Take Gallup on 10/7/13: "Americans now give Congress a job approval rating of 11%, down eight percentage points from last month and one point above the worst rating in Gallup history. Democrats' approval of Congress has dropped to 5%."
The small print:
"Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 3-6, 2013, with a random sample of 1,028 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia." Even tho I agree with the headline and find it believable, only 1,028 Americans polled! But Gallup's headline shown was also terribly, unforgivably, misleading. On its face, its somewhere between misinformation and disinformation.
There are polls I do like, like this statement from Forbes in its 10/13/13 article: "But a new poll of 1,976 registered voters finds that only 33 percent believe that the health law should be repealed, delayed, or defunded." So 652 voters actually stated that. 652! I can believe it; at least Forbes was upfront and truthful! And we'll never know of course, how many of those 652 were lying or felt coerced by party pressure to take that position.
So I don't trust or believe polls or surveys that speak for one group, any group, unless they've polled all its members, which is nigh impossible. This is also why scientific studies of drug testing on humans have all those disclaimers; its a small sample, and just extrapolate those symptoms to millions of people! Of course they better have all those disclaimers, lawyers, and deep pockets.
That's my point, be careful believing that stuff -- it's just not true, or even close. It's all really a guessing game, a show.
Are there any polls you've gotten a kick out of lately?
by Rodney Richards
If you'd like, either subscribe and comment, or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
270 million adult Americans, leaving 40+ million children and youth. Have you ever heard anyone speak authoritatively for those millions of folks, male or female? Or for any age group? I sure haven't, not yet, except MAYBE once every 10 years when it MAY come close. It seems that coming close to speaking for all Americans was the 11th U.S. Census, taken by Hollerith and his punch card machines in 1890, the father (in my eyes), of modern data processing some 60-70 years later. And the Census gathers facts -- not opinions.
So pollsters who say, "40% of Americans believe Obama is doing a decent job," or TV announcers, or pundits . . . are all outright lying to you. I believe Obama's popularity rating's even higher right now, more than 4 times Congress' so-called popularity, but we'll never know. Never know exactly.
No one poll represents more than a few thousand people when making such statements. If they're a decent poll like Gallup or Pew, they'll tell you how many Americans they actually spoke with in the small print after the headline statements and data are shared. Take Gallup on 10/7/13: "Americans now give Congress a job approval rating of 11%, down eight percentage points from last month and one point above the worst rating in Gallup history. Democrats' approval of Congress has dropped to 5%."
The small print:
"Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Oct. 3-6, 2013, with a random sample of 1,028 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia." Even tho I agree with the headline and find it believable, only 1,028 Americans polled! But Gallup's headline shown was also terribly, unforgivably, misleading. On its face, its somewhere between misinformation and disinformation.
There are polls I do like, like this statement from Forbes in its 10/13/13 article: "But a new poll of 1,976 registered voters finds that only 33 percent believe that the health law should be repealed, delayed, or defunded." So 652 voters actually stated that. 652! I can believe it; at least Forbes was upfront and truthful! And we'll never know of course, how many of those 652 were lying or felt coerced by party pressure to take that position.
So I don't trust or believe polls or surveys that speak for one group, any group, unless they've polled all its members, which is nigh impossible. This is also why scientific studies of drug testing on humans have all those disclaimers; its a small sample, and just extrapolate those symptoms to millions of people! Of course they better have all those disclaimers, lawyers, and deep pockets.
That's my point, be careful believing that stuff -- it's just not true, or even close. It's all really a guessing game, a show.
Are there any polls you've gotten a kick out of lately?
by Rodney Richards
If you'd like, either subscribe and comment, or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The Joy of Cursing
10-9-13. This idea came this morning driving to my favorite diner, God knows why; I don't. Here goes:
At some point, either consciously or unconsciously we've cursed in the past or still curse. I still curse, mainly in the privacy of my car when someone REALLY cuts me off or jumps out ahead. My earlier post about my motorcycle alluded to this flaw of mine.
I've had it since Catholic grammar school growing up in Trenton NJ in the mid and early '60s. The emotional response and words have not left me. Let me demonstrate how I went from mild, course and common, to just plain uncaring and ignorant.
Joey, "Sister Jane (Doe) gave me an effing F for English,"
Rodney, "No effing way! That mothereffer."
This was meant to solace the effect of receiving the bad grade. If it wasn't enuff to molify the poor student, Sister Jane got blasted behind her back for the next week, and it was also heard from other mouths.
Heaven forbid if a fellow 8th grader was really angry, like I was one day in the school yard when Tom called me a "Pansy," Even though he was a foot taller and 200 pounds, my effing mouth and fists landed on him at the same time. After 10 minutes we pulled away, put our arms on our knees catching our breaths, and walked away from each other. A draw. But him and his mouth never came near me again; nor did anyone else, that way.
So I had had a Phyrric victory over Tom, because next to Dave Shuster, Tom was still the worst bully. Dave was everyone's friend as long as you gave him respect, and he didn't take lunch money or punch you without reason. And he had the strongest punch in school. However he often instigated games of chicken to see who could hit who's chest hardest, in contests where the receiver of the blow was pinned by two fellow male students. Dave alwaysstarted off. "Ummph," I would utter quietly. I didn't want to seem like a pus.., a chicken.
So mostly we used effing if we were angry or surprised. Then subtlely it changed. Soon every other word was effing this or effing that, sprinkled liberally into every conversation, even with our hot eight-grade female classmates, like a handful of girls in plaid skirts and white blouses that we played Spin the Bottle or Doctor and Nurse with in their living rooms after school. It was about that time, age 14, that I started smoking Marlboro's to look as tough as Dave and others like the Gerambach twins who were also tough. No shortage of tough guys in center-city Trenton back then.
This went on thru my freshman year at Fisher Jr. High as well. Even all the Ewing Township "cool" kids talked this way. But then I was sent to California to get straightened out by my Marine Sergeant Dad, and as far as the cussin' went, it mostly cut mine down, because kids my age weren't as gross or as hard on each other, or others, in Southern California. Even bad stuff was "bitchin' man." Therefore, even now, bitch is not a curse word to me, even tho I only use it to say "What a bitch!" not bitchin' And now, never in mixed company but mostly under my breath.
That's like another curse word I learned from my dad. "Hey shithead, come back here and scrub this commode the right way!" After a number of times, it just meant well, nothin'. Maybe a term of endearment? Kinda like the F word, and has been. Now it certainly doesn't connote intercourse in any sense. And shithead just meant that your head was full of shit, figuratively speaking; not far from the truth at times. Especially 'cause I was always so forgetful of my responsibilities. So shit is not a curse word in my vocab. I try hard not to curse in any company, guys or women, and never in front of kids no matter what. The other night I said "Shit, you've got to be kidding," when someone was droning on and on and repeating themselves, and Janet jumped all over me even tho she was the only one to hear it. So I try hard not to jump in and comment when someone else is speaking, except when I'm really irked. Usually that's when I just can't believe someone could say such tripe.
But truly, there's one phrase I say aloud, that I learned from my Catholic schoolmates. It's not just a bad effing word, but it's mixed with a name in such a way that it's also sacrilegious. I always ask forgiveness after saying that aloud. This phrase only comes out when I'm super pissed, usually at myself, and it just pops out of my dirty mouth. But I retain a little control; I let it pop only when I'm alone.
But then I met my sweetheart Janet when I was a junior at Ewing High, and she and her friends, for the most part, didn't use such foul language. So I conformed. That got even better when I met the Baha'is and joined the Faith in 1970.
So when do you find yourself cursing? Or do you have it under control -- like I do. Do you have any mild ones you can share?
by Rodney Richards
Contact me by either subscribing or emailing me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
At some point, either consciously or unconsciously we've cursed in the past or still curse. I still curse, mainly in the privacy of my car when someone REALLY cuts me off or jumps out ahead. My earlier post about my motorcycle alluded to this flaw of mine.
I've had it since Catholic grammar school growing up in Trenton NJ in the mid and early '60s. The emotional response and words have not left me. Let me demonstrate how I went from mild, course and common, to just plain uncaring and ignorant.
Joey, "Sister Jane (Doe) gave me an effing F for English,"
Rodney, "No effing way! That mothereffer."
This was meant to solace the effect of receiving the bad grade. If it wasn't enuff to molify the poor student, Sister Jane got blasted behind her back for the next week, and it was also heard from other mouths.
Heaven forbid if a fellow 8th grader was really angry, like I was one day in the school yard when Tom called me a "Pansy," Even though he was a foot taller and 200 pounds, my effing mouth and fists landed on him at the same time. After 10 minutes we pulled away, put our arms on our knees catching our breaths, and walked away from each other. A draw. But him and his mouth never came near me again; nor did anyone else, that way.
So I had had a Phyrric victory over Tom, because next to Dave Shuster, Tom was still the worst bully. Dave was everyone's friend as long as you gave him respect, and he didn't take lunch money or punch you without reason. And he had the strongest punch in school. However he often instigated games of chicken to see who could hit who's chest hardest, in contests where the receiver of the blow was pinned by two fellow male students. Dave alwaysstarted off. "Ummph," I would utter quietly. I didn't want to seem like a pus.., a chicken.
So mostly we used effing if we were angry or surprised. Then subtlely it changed. Soon every other word was effing this or effing that, sprinkled liberally into every conversation, even with our hot eight-grade female classmates, like a handful of girls in plaid skirts and white blouses that we played Spin the Bottle or Doctor and Nurse with in their living rooms after school. It was about that time, age 14, that I started smoking Marlboro's to look as tough as Dave and others like the Gerambach twins who were also tough. No shortage of tough guys in center-city Trenton back then.
This went on thru my freshman year at Fisher Jr. High as well. Even all the Ewing Township "cool" kids talked this way. But then I was sent to California to get straightened out by my Marine Sergeant Dad, and as far as the cussin' went, it mostly cut mine down, because kids my age weren't as gross or as hard on each other, or others, in Southern California. Even bad stuff was "bitchin' man." Therefore, even now, bitch is not a curse word to me, even tho I only use it to say "What a bitch!" not bitchin' And now, never in mixed company but mostly under my breath.
That's like another curse word I learned from my dad. "Hey shithead, come back here and scrub this commode the right way!" After a number of times, it just meant well, nothin'. Maybe a term of endearment? Kinda like the F word, and has been. Now it certainly doesn't connote intercourse in any sense. And shithead just meant that your head was full of shit, figuratively speaking; not far from the truth at times. Especially 'cause I was always so forgetful of my responsibilities. So shit is not a curse word in my vocab. I try hard not to curse in any company, guys or women, and never in front of kids no matter what. The other night I said "Shit, you've got to be kidding," when someone was droning on and on and repeating themselves, and Janet jumped all over me even tho she was the only one to hear it. So I try hard not to jump in and comment when someone else is speaking, except when I'm really irked. Usually that's when I just can't believe someone could say such tripe.
But truly, there's one phrase I say aloud, that I learned from my Catholic schoolmates. It's not just a bad effing word, but it's mixed with a name in such a way that it's also sacrilegious. I always ask forgiveness after saying that aloud. This phrase only comes out when I'm super pissed, usually at myself, and it just pops out of my dirty mouth. But I retain a little control; I let it pop only when I'm alone.
But then I met my sweetheart Janet when I was a junior at Ewing High, and she and her friends, for the most part, didn't use such foul language. So I conformed. That got even better when I met the Baha'is and joined the Faith in 1970.
So when do you find yourself cursing? Or do you have it under control -- like I do. Do you have any mild ones you can share?
by Rodney Richards
Contact me by either subscribing or emailing me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The Joy of Working
America's a great country, right? That's what everyone thinks anyway.
But today Oct.8th, after a week of a stupid, uncaring, and threatening to destroy week, for no good reason other than ideological differences, it's a horrible day to be an American and either not get paid, or lose money from your business. Me? I'm just trying to copyright me first memoir, finished at 8 am. But the copyright office is closed.
So anyway, we are a great country and we have great problems to go along with the responsibility to be as great as we can.
Well I will admit I'm still a very happy American. I have a great wife of 42 years and adult kids who are smart and happy themselves. Along with tons of close family & friends. I'm very lucky to have retired after 39 years of public service, as well as Janet after serving 25 years an elementary teacher, so we have decent income. I started Social Security last year which helps....
And that's how to be happy #1. Working and earning fair wages. It's a bonus if you like your job, and here's some tricks I learned to liking what I did, no matter what it was, even pushing loaded hand trucks around.
#1. Take an interest in what you do. It's important to you and your family, your boss and your company to succeed; and to the country, no matter what work you perform, if done well, its a service to your country and all humanity.
Here's how I enjoyed work and tricks I used:
a. I took an interest in my work and my bosses needs and the departments goals where I worked. I learned what they were, like the popular late '90s Mission Statement. Then I really focused on the work I was doing and those around me. I came up with a few ideas to make it or other operations more efficient. Whatever I did, I tried to smile when I remembered. I wrote memos/letters, and later emails, explaining my recommendations to my boss. The changes must have benefits in either saving processing time or money; streamlining etc. I didn't worry or get upset if my observations weren't accepted. My focus was on making our jobs accurate, and a little easier. After I made the recommendations, I forgot about them. No reason to get mad. Just keep doing a good job.
I wish I had made more suggestions and listened to staff more often.
In other words, I tried to be alert and pay attention. And I must say all my co-workers did also.
b. Something I could've done better, was to get to know my coworkers better and what they did. They are just as important as me. i tried not to think in terms of important vs more important; and to think in terms that its all important or it wouldn't be done and we wouldn't have jobs. I did try to be courteous -- please and thank you's and "Atta way, good job!" Simple heartfelt praises will improve morale dramatically. For a supervisor its always about appreciating and challenging staff to excel. Doing these simple things made us a little more indispensable and improved our value to the org.
I went to many luncheons and Christmas parties (I said the benediction at some), and tried to get to know people better. Many times these personal connections helped get the job done better and quicker. And in learning the business, which is the #1 rule of working, I received recognition and promotions, unasked for.
I also read the monthly tips newsletter for work, with how to solve personality problems and improving cooperation, building teams and all of that, and implemented what I could, like a Unit work manual with guidelines. Chris Chianese distributed the tips, and also because he's smart and knows the job and people, he's now the Director of my old Division in the State Treasury Department, managing 100 staff.
All this stuff works well in an office environment which I worked in. How did you excel at your job?
Best, Rodney Richards
But today Oct.8th, after a week of a stupid, uncaring, and threatening to destroy week, for no good reason other than ideological differences, it's a horrible day to be an American and either not get paid, or lose money from your business. Me? I'm just trying to copyright me first memoir, finished at 8 am. But the copyright office is closed.
So anyway, we are a great country and we have great problems to go along with the responsibility to be as great as we can.
Well I will admit I'm still a very happy American. I have a great wife of 42 years and adult kids who are smart and happy themselves. Along with tons of close family & friends. I'm very lucky to have retired after 39 years of public service, as well as Janet after serving 25 years an elementary teacher, so we have decent income. I started Social Security last year which helps....
And that's how to be happy #1. Working and earning fair wages. It's a bonus if you like your job, and here's some tricks I learned to liking what I did, no matter what it was, even pushing loaded hand trucks around.
#1. Take an interest in what you do. It's important to you and your family, your boss and your company to succeed; and to the country, no matter what work you perform, if done well, its a service to your country and all humanity.
Here's how I enjoyed work and tricks I used:
a. I took an interest in my work and my bosses needs and the departments goals where I worked. I learned what they were, like the popular late '90s Mission Statement. Then I really focused on the work I was doing and those around me. I came up with a few ideas to make it or other operations more efficient. Whatever I did, I tried to smile when I remembered. I wrote memos/letters, and later emails, explaining my recommendations to my boss. The changes must have benefits in either saving processing time or money; streamlining etc. I didn't worry or get upset if my observations weren't accepted. My focus was on making our jobs accurate, and a little easier. After I made the recommendations, I forgot about them. No reason to get mad. Just keep doing a good job.
I wish I had made more suggestions and listened to staff more often.
In other words, I tried to be alert and pay attention. And I must say all my co-workers did also.
b. Something I could've done better, was to get to know my coworkers better and what they did. They are just as important as me. i tried not to think in terms of important vs more important; and to think in terms that its all important or it wouldn't be done and we wouldn't have jobs. I did try to be courteous -- please and thank you's and "Atta way, good job!" Simple heartfelt praises will improve morale dramatically. For a supervisor its always about appreciating and challenging staff to excel. Doing these simple things made us a little more indispensable and improved our value to the org.
I went to many luncheons and Christmas parties (I said the benediction at some), and tried to get to know people better. Many times these personal connections helped get the job done better and quicker. And in learning the business, which is the #1 rule of working, I received recognition and promotions, unasked for.
I also read the monthly tips newsletter for work, with how to solve personality problems and improving cooperation, building teams and all of that, and implemented what I could, like a Unit work manual with guidelines. Chris Chianese distributed the tips, and also because he's smart and knows the job and people, he's now the Director of my old Division in the State Treasury Department, managing 100 staff.
All this stuff works well in an office environment which I worked in. How did you excel at your job?
Best, Rodney Richards
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The Joy of Education
I've been editing and revising my endnotes for three days solid, so I'm taking a break.
Before I begin, let me preface my opins with this. Janet not only has a BA in Education, but also her Masters. Bothe Jesse and Kate graduated college: it was right for them and they thrived. And Jan and I are very proud of them for achieving it. but college isn't for everyone, even tho I regarded as highly commendable, and indeed its one prerequisite for success in a well-paying career. Almost all good job opportunities today require a BA or BS in something; and often that something has to be very specific to even apply for that job. So with that said, here I go:
College, college, college. May be overrated.
I don't mean you shouldn't go if you can "afford" it, you absolutely should. but... $25,000 a year tuition room & board, is steep for middle class like us, especially if you have more than one sharp kid like us. It's becoming to close to a privilege reserved for the wealthy elite, with an in into a big corporation upon graduation.
First, high school. We all need to get thru that, and its the job of the individual, parents and society to make sure that happens. What's that mean? First a decent home life and food, clothing, shelter and enough wealth. A safe and secure environment.
Because of the times (the '60s and 70s), I was able to get a low paying, entry-level job with the State of NJ with just my high school diploma. As a stock clerk, which started my 39-year career, ending up as a purchasing and contracting manager responsible for over $100 million of the State's; your money. But that's another story.
In those days and years it was still possible to progress professionally if one worked hard and had some smarts. It's very difficult now, but can be done with kind and mentoring bosses and some organizations, social welfare and government being two. For me it was never a question of wanting to earn a big salary; no, enough to support my family and have a little spending cash was enough. And sending our academically-inclined children to liberal arts colleges was a struggle and a gift. College is worth it.
But now, according to Wikipedia:
The United States has a total of 4,495 Title IV eligible, degree-granting institutions: 2,774 4-year institutions and 1,721 2-year institutions. As of 2010, the US had 20.3 million students in higher education, roughly 5.7% of the total population. About 14.6 million of these students were enrolled full-time. In 2006, 19.5 percent of the adult population had attended college but had no degree, 7.4 percent held an associate's degree, 17.1 percent held a bachelor's degree and 9.9 percent held a graduate or professional degree. The historic gender gap had practically vanished.
There were over 226 million adults over 18 in 2006, so millions more now. (Source: Answer.com) So actual college graduates, as a percentage, is abominable.
My point? 2 year schools can be fine, and relatively cheap, for millions more Americans. I attended two junior colleges, in southern California and here, but am 16 credits short of an AAS. Work became to demanding, and I wasn't required to have a degree for my jobs. I was just in the right places at the right times. That's just luck, and nobody can count on luck to work. Or unforeseen circumstance like earning a living for your family, or getting married to do the right thing. And goin' to work fulltime.
Besides, from a 2-year school you can transfer credits to a 4-year one if needed or wanted. An absolutely viable path. A leg up. That's why all job applications have a check box for "Some education."
So I don't get this over exclusive emphasis on 4-year schools. And the 4-year liberal arts colleges are also cheaper (especially if a State school), and seem to be excellent, and I can say that from our own experience. (I won't go into speciality schools like Business or Education).
Why start with a 2-year college? 1. When 18 or 19 or 20, you may not be sure what you want to do. 2. You can mix up minors and majors, and figure it out. 3. You can save money. 4. For the vast majority of jobs, the degree with a college's name on it is enough to help you earn more from the get go, if you can find a job (tough these days). And its a window of opportunity into a 4-year school.
In the 60s and 70s, the newspapers carried tons of jobs, and all employees were willing to give you a chance if you were half way coherent no matter college degreed or not (that's why the high school diploma is so important, it's the foundation for everything else). After a 2-year college you definitely have a leg up, it's easier to make a transition. Plus the junior colleges are much more closer to home. So night school may not be that tough if working days. Most of today's websites with job openings seem to require a 4-year degree.
But college isn't and needn't be for everyone. Many of us are smart and like to work with our hands. Carpenters, auto mechanics, plumbers and electricians. They all have specialized training and are in demand. And always will be, like IT positions are now. Thousands of possibilities. But guess what, the college industry and government have conspired to a "degree" to eliminate technical schools.
I learned wood shop in high school for example. Thank God there's hundreds of private tech schools, and some lasting public votech schools, mainly at the county level. But you have to be careful selecting one. (P.S. The US Dept. of Ed website is closed for the gov't shutdown, so I can't tell you how many tech schools there are.) Maybe it tech school was the first outsourcing. And technical is also an entirely viable way to go, they are all honorable professions.
A degree from college is not a profession. It only may help you get there. A degree from a technical school can get you a job quicker, and almost anywhere; you don't have to be a New York City MBA, altho there's nothing wrong with that! If you can hang in and give your company or government what they need, honestly; and are loyal, it'll work. In my opinion.
There's a reason we have cliches. "There's more than one way to skin a cat," whether getting something done, overcoming a roadblock, or getting a job.
You have my very best wishes in your endeavors at votech or college.
by Rodney Richards
Subscribe or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
Before I begin, let me preface my opins with this. Janet not only has a BA in Education, but also her Masters. Bothe Jesse and Kate graduated college: it was right for them and they thrived. And Jan and I are very proud of them for achieving it. but college isn't for everyone, even tho I regarded as highly commendable, and indeed its one prerequisite for success in a well-paying career. Almost all good job opportunities today require a BA or BS in something; and often that something has to be very specific to even apply for that job. So with that said, here I go:
College, college, college. May be overrated.
I don't mean you shouldn't go if you can "afford" it, you absolutely should. but... $25,000 a year tuition room & board, is steep for middle class like us, especially if you have more than one sharp kid like us. It's becoming to close to a privilege reserved for the wealthy elite, with an in into a big corporation upon graduation.
First, high school. We all need to get thru that, and its the job of the individual, parents and society to make sure that happens. What's that mean? First a decent home life and food, clothing, shelter and enough wealth. A safe and secure environment.
Because of the times (the '60s and 70s), I was able to get a low paying, entry-level job with the State of NJ with just my high school diploma. As a stock clerk, which started my 39-year career, ending up as a purchasing and contracting manager responsible for over $100 million of the State's; your money. But that's another story.
In those days and years it was still possible to progress professionally if one worked hard and had some smarts. It's very difficult now, but can be done with kind and mentoring bosses and some organizations, social welfare and government being two. For me it was never a question of wanting to earn a big salary; no, enough to support my family and have a little spending cash was enough. And sending our academically-inclined children to liberal arts colleges was a struggle and a gift. College is worth it.
But now, according to Wikipedia:
The United States has a total of 4,495 Title IV eligible, degree-granting institutions: 2,774 4-year institutions and 1,721 2-year institutions. As of 2010, the US had 20.3 million students in higher education, roughly 5.7% of the total population. About 14.6 million of these students were enrolled full-time. In 2006, 19.5 percent of the adult population had attended college but had no degree, 7.4 percent held an associate's degree, 17.1 percent held a bachelor's degree and 9.9 percent held a graduate or professional degree. The historic gender gap had practically vanished.
There were over 226 million adults over 18 in 2006, so millions more now. (Source: Answer.com) So actual college graduates, as a percentage, is abominable.
My point? 2 year schools can be fine, and relatively cheap, for millions more Americans. I attended two junior colleges, in southern California and here, but am 16 credits short of an AAS. Work became to demanding, and I wasn't required to have a degree for my jobs. I was just in the right places at the right times. That's just luck, and nobody can count on luck to work. Or unforeseen circumstance like earning a living for your family, or getting married to do the right thing. And goin' to work fulltime.
Besides, from a 2-year school you can transfer credits to a 4-year one if needed or wanted. An absolutely viable path. A leg up. That's why all job applications have a check box for "Some education."
So I don't get this over exclusive emphasis on 4-year schools. And the 4-year liberal arts colleges are also cheaper (especially if a State school), and seem to be excellent, and I can say that from our own experience. (I won't go into speciality schools like Business or Education).
Why start with a 2-year college? 1. When 18 or 19 or 20, you may not be sure what you want to do. 2. You can mix up minors and majors, and figure it out. 3. You can save money. 4. For the vast majority of jobs, the degree with a college's name on it is enough to help you earn more from the get go, if you can find a job (tough these days). And its a window of opportunity into a 4-year school.
In the 60s and 70s, the newspapers carried tons of jobs, and all employees were willing to give you a chance if you were half way coherent no matter college degreed or not (that's why the high school diploma is so important, it's the foundation for everything else). After a 2-year college you definitely have a leg up, it's easier to make a transition. Plus the junior colleges are much more closer to home. So night school may not be that tough if working days. Most of today's websites with job openings seem to require a 4-year degree.
But college isn't and needn't be for everyone. Many of us are smart and like to work with our hands. Carpenters, auto mechanics, plumbers and electricians. They all have specialized training and are in demand. And always will be, like IT positions are now. Thousands of possibilities. But guess what, the college industry and government have conspired to a "degree" to eliminate technical schools.
I learned wood shop in high school for example. Thank God there's hundreds of private tech schools, and some lasting public votech schools, mainly at the county level. But you have to be careful selecting one. (P.S. The US Dept. of Ed website is closed for the gov't shutdown, so I can't tell you how many tech schools there are.) Maybe it tech school was the first outsourcing. And technical is also an entirely viable way to go, they are all honorable professions.
A degree from college is not a profession. It only may help you get there. A degree from a technical school can get you a job quicker, and almost anywhere; you don't have to be a New York City MBA, altho there's nothing wrong with that! If you can hang in and give your company or government what they need, honestly; and are loyal, it'll work. In my opinion.
There's a reason we have cliches. "There's more than one way to skin a cat," whether getting something done, overcoming a roadblock, or getting a job.
You have my very best wishes in your endeavors at votech or college.
by Rodney Richards
Subscribe or email me at 1950ablia@gmail.com
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