August 2009

How much was that dollar worth? Interesting money tool

August 27, 2009

In a history article for a client journal, one of our authors mentioned Measuring Worth, a nifty tool that allows you to compare a variety of money-related values over periods stretching back to 1774. Among other things, it will calculate the relative worth of the dollar. Enter a specific sum and a year, and then [...]

Read the full article →

Earth to GOP: Define health-care “rationing”…rationally, please

August 26, 2009

I see the Republicans’ latest maneuver to obstruct Obama’s health care plan is to flamboozle us senior citizens into thinking a public option for health care will mean “rationing.” It would be awfully nice if the GOP would explain, please, how it is that we don’t have health care rationing right now. If you’ve had [...]

Read the full article →

First day of class…

August 25, 2009

So now I’ve met my first class at Paradise Valley Community College. I haven’t read their diagnostic writing yet, but on the face of it I can’t see the students are much different from the ones at GDU West. A few are a little younger: in Arizona high-school kids can take community college courses, and [...]

Read the full article →

No wonder community college faculty women dress like a million bucks

August 24, 2009

The other day while I was attending the Paradise Valley and Phoenix College adjunct orientation meetings, I felt like a country bumpkin, in my Costco jeans and old B’Gauze no-iron cotton tunic. The faculty women there were dressed to the nines, in expensive-looking suits and separates with notably handsome shirts, and sporting pricey-looking haircuts and [...]

Read the full article →

Preparing for the worst

August 23, 2009

If you were killed or incapacitated in a car accident, if you had a stroke or heart attack that put you out of commission, would the people who had to take over your affairs know where to start? Would they know where your bank accounts are? What insurance you have? Where your paycheck is deposited? [...]

Read the full article →

The perils of adjunct faculty

August 22, 2009

Alas, the first-semester freshman comp course I was scheduled to teach at Paradise Valley Community College this fall didn’t make. The other two sections—both second-semester comp courses—will fly, though. The chair called and offered to substitute a Wednesday evening course. This presented a choice between collecting $2,400 this fall and rejoining the choir, which holds [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →