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Everything posted by John Drake
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Thailand showing strong signs of travel recovery
John Drake replied to webfact's topic in Thailand News
A tourism industry newspaper generating income from ginned up business. No conflict of interest at all. This essentially is a reprinted press release. What is the criteria for publishing stuff like this? -
Ozzy Osbourne says he's leaving the US because of gun violence
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
JonnyF is right, and you are wrong if you think gun violence is the only reason. The article mentions taxes, wanting to die back home, and Osborne's wife saying America is disunited. -
Thailand grapples with allowing more Chinese landowners
John Drake replied to webfact's topic in Thailand News
Yes. -
Frenchman Lost In Koh Phangan Forest Rescued
John Drake replied to webfact's topic in Koh Samui News
Seems to happen to a lot of French. Guess they don't get out of the city much back home. -
Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
They're all charging high fees. In a way, you're getting to the point that should be discussed. And it's not just the cost of the degree(s) but the quality of the product the loans pay for. Reducing outstanding loans should at least be tied to a cap on tuition. There are lots of areas to cut at American universities. When I received my first appointment as a faculty member at a large, well regarded state university, the school had five secretaries who covered all the departments. When I visited there about ten years ago, there were 15 secretaries as well as four PhDs serving as full time undergraduate and graduate advisors--with perhaps a twenty percent growth in student enrollment. For all my academic life, advising was something assigned to individual faculty members, not a separate job generating $80K/year per advisor. Universities are bloated with excess administrators, support staff, and counselors. And this doesn't even take into consideration the money wasted on athletic programs, stadiums, pools, and even velodromes. All extraneous to the stated mission of education. -
Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
Most of the physicians will indeed make more than the cut off point. But I can assure you that there are plenty of failed lawyers and even engineers who will not come close to $125K. Ought to also check comparative salaries across the board. I'd imagine even a failed lawyer in NYC earns more than 125K, but how many lawyers in Peoria make 125K? -
Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
English or history is irrelevant. Don't you understand? Look at the cost of enrollment, first for undergraduate and then for graduates. Even state schools easily go past $100,000. I doubt that getting a PhD in any subject can be done for less than 100K, unless you're going to a diploma mill. -
Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
You have no experience with American higher ed, do you? Your major area of study does not preclude you from receiving a student loan. https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized -
Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
It's not a problem that those programs exist. The issue is that they overproduce graduates. Visual arts are fine, as long as they are a more exclusive course of study, instead of an undergraduate "undecided" dumping ground. If someone wants to study filmmaking or media arts, for example, they should be tested prior to entry for an aptitude in those majors. Or, if you really want to be effective, take the students interested in those programs and enroll them in majors that emphasize things such as storytelling, writing, narrative development, and history. Have them read. A lot. Then, upon graduation, those interested in direct application of their knowledge to industries such as film or television could take a six months vocational line of study at a place like SAE, which was a vocational training with hands on intensive study using equipment. Thus, exclusivity at the theoretical level, and broad based learning at the practical hands on level. Could cut costs enormously and save students from being directed into dead end careers. -
National Emergency in Pakistan ! 30 million without shelter.
John Drake replied to CharlieH's topic in World News
I'm sure their friend and ally China will step in and bring massive free aid.- 1 reply
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Biden cancels $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers
John Drake replied to Scott's topic in World News
Hold to be at fault the institutions ultimately responsible for generating the debt, the universities. Student loans go to places like the University of Phoenix, with a graduation rate of less than 30 percent. Some state institutions not much better. Essentially, they've become adult day care centers, with massive waste in facilities, administrators, and personnel. Any loan forgiveness should have been accompanied by a cap on tuition at universities receiving federal funds or loans. -
Perhaps I'm wrong, but didn't Musk arrive at his decision to buy based on Twitter's public filings? If as alleged in the whistleblower accusations those filings were deliberately falsified, then I don't see how Musk can be forced to buy the company. Or the CEO and board keep from being fined and sent to prison.
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I assume this is correct. I just wanted to point out that people with TM6s shouldn't discard them, thinking they're no longer checking. FWIW, they checked my TM30 and the photocopy of it as well. I always go to immigration assuming they want everything. So I keep things at the ready, including my lease, address documents, and any supporting papers.
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You posted this comment last Tuesday. Last Thursday I went to Chaengwattana for my yearly retirement extension. I had an appointment. I included a copy of the TM6 as well as put the original in my passport (I remove it most of the time because it is so old it is wearing out). At all three processes of the extension, they kept and put a check mark on the TM6 photocopy. They also flipped open the stapled TM6 original and inspected it. Usually, they discard items they don't want or that are superfluous. So it seems they wanted my TM6 last Thursday.
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Wine has now become a real luxury in Thailand
John Drake replied to webfact's topic in Thailand News
If you can't do without wine, just pay up for it. Wine, cheese, and other western foods cost more than back in your home countries. I never imagined when I was moving to Thailand that I was coming just to get a cheaper version of my home country.