OOC Thread and Chatroom

[TinCow]

I know many people who graduated from law school with over $200k in debt. I know several federal judges who are still paying off their student loans.

[_Tristan_]

I just can't imagine how you can make do with so much hanging over your head...

[Privateerkev]

I just can't imagine how you can make do with so much hanging over your head...

A lot of people can't. It's becoming a big problem. Though now, because of the mortgage crisis, student loans are becoming harder to get. It's a trade off. Get the loan in hope that your degree will let you get a job that will allow you to pay off the loan. Or don't get the loan and have little chance of affording college.

[Askthepizzaguy]

and without a college education, good luck buying a home, ever.

The whole reason I'm in college, besides the fact that I don't want to work dead end jobs forever, is because I'd like to raise a family and I can't do that in a cardboard hut, or 18 foot camper.

[Ituralde]

Ah good to be living in good ole Germany. Until a few years ago and also according where you live you have to pay around 100€ to 200€ for every half year you want to study and that includes a free bus ticket most of the time and is only for general management.

There's been a big fuss and massive protests when they tried to raise or raised it to an extra 500€ every half year. That's considered too expensive here!

[Askthepizzaguy]

First of all, what the heck happened to my country?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And secondly, the next person who says "America is number one" is going to get a sit down lecture about our standing in the world, our losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, our exorbitant military cost, wasteful spending, soaring gas prices, dependence on foreign militant regimes, breaking of the geneva convention, internment of war prisoners in places like Syria, the mortgage crisis, consumer debt crisis, federal deficit, outstanding federal debt, falling dollar, trade deficit, high crime rates, poor manners while vacationing in other countries, the statistic that 2 out of 5 people here even know where Iraq is on a map, the lack of universal healthcare or affordable education, our position as the second worst polluter on Earth behind China who is 3.1 times more populous, our rampant ignorance about basic facts and science, and our xenophobia, racism, and sexism.

In spite of all that, I love America. Why? Because I married her, that's why. Till death do us part.

God bless America! Land that I love!


USA! USA! USA!

[Ferret]

I just wanna say that I didn't make any of the posts in the Byzantine Name thread, except the first one, ATPG hacked into my accounts for reasons that are unclear to me.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

just a spoiler here, nothing more.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

no need to keep clicking buttons

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

-shows the truth behind this post

[Zim]

For my part, I stay because all my stuff is here.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Who the heck here said America is number 1?

That list of talking points starts off strong but ventures into questionable territory a bit further on. If you're really planning on giving such a lecture I'd teighten it up a bit, stick to the strongest points.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Which parts do you feel were weak, just out of curiosity?

Perhaps we have a difference of opinion, I'm just wondering where it comes from.

[Privateerkev]

While he could go more into specifics, I found ATPG's list to be dead on.

Though I fear deeper conversation might be more the province of the backroom. We've gone down this road before in the KotR OOC thread. ^_^

[TinCow]

I just can't imagine how you can make do with so much hanging over your head...

Work hard and live frugally. One of my friends from law school graduated in the top 5 in our class, got a top level associate position at a good DC firm, and was making $125k per year right out of school, which was close to $200k after bonuses. To earn this, he worked about 80 hours per week and had no life whatsoever. After three years he had paid off his debt, quit the firm, and moved to LA to become a criminal prosecutor. When he moved, his apartment furniture amounted to a bed and a couch. His TV sat on the floor. He had 4 roommates when he got to LA.