"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
  https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
A standalone science fiction book, no prequel or sequel. I read the
well printed and well bound trade paperback published by Tor Books in
2023. A sequel would be cool. There is a very nice short story at the
end of the book.
Charlie is down and out on his luck. He lives by himself with his cat, Hera, in his Dad's old house. His three older half siblings are
constantly after him to sell the house so they can get their shares of
the proceeds. Charlie used to work as a reporter for the Chicago
Tribune but he was laid off and then his Dad got sick. After his Dad
passed away, he now works as a substitute teacher. Paying for the
utilities and taxes on the house are difficult at best with his limited funds. Especially since he and Hera like to eat occasionally.
But, Charlie sees on CNBC Morning Squawk Box that his billionaire
reclusive uncle Jake, a major owner of parking garages across of the
USA, has passed away. His uncle was his mother's older brother, his
mother who passed away in a strange car wreck when Charlie was five
years old. And then Charlie's life goes wild as a beautiful woman
contacts Charlie about him hosting the viewing and burial of his uncle
in their hometown. The viewing of his uncles body is very contentious
with several obvious henchmen showing up to view the body. One guy even tries to stab his uncles body to make sure that he is "dead this time".
I love the cover of the book. It conveys a mysteriousness about the
book immediately. I showed the book cover to my 83 year old mother who promptly said that she wanted to read the book next so she has it now.
The author has a fairly active website / blog at:
  https://whatever.scalzi.com/
My rating:Â 5 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating:Â 4.5 out of 5 stars (13.025 reviews)
Lynn
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
   https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
A standalone science fiction book, no prequel or sequel. I read the
well printed and well bound trade paperback published by Tor Books in
2023. A sequel would be cool. There is a very nice short story at
the end of the book.
Charlie is down and out on his luck. He lives by himself with his
cat, Hera, in his Dad's old house. His three older half siblings are
constantly after him to sell the house so they can get their shares of
the proceeds. Charlie used to work as a reporter for the Chicago
Tribune but he was laid off and then his Dad got sick. After his Dad
passed away, he now works as a substitute teacher. Paying for the
utilities and taxes on the house are difficult at best with his
limited funds. Especially since he and Hera like to eat occasionally.
But, Charlie sees on CNBC Morning Squawk Box that his billionaire
reclusive uncle Jake, a major owner of parking garages across of the
USA, has passed away. His uncle was his mother's older brother, his
mother who passed away in a strange car wreck when Charlie was five
years old. And then Charlie's life goes wild as a beautiful woman
contacts Charlie about him hosting the viewing and burial of his uncle
in their hometown. The viewing of his uncles body is very contentious
with several obvious henchmen showing up to view the body. One guy
even tries to stab his uncles body to make sure that he is "dead this
time".
I love the cover of the book. It conveys a mysteriousness about the
book immediately. I showed the book cover to my 83 year old mother
who promptly said that she wanted to read the book next so she has it
now.
The author has a fairly active website / blog at:
   https://whatever.scalzi.com/
My rating:Â 5 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating:Â 4.5 out of 5 stars (13.025 reviews)
Lynn
I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder
Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
twists. I can recommend it.
I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't
really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch!
On 7/05/25 15:41, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
   https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/ >>>
A standalone science fiction book, no prequel or sequel. I read the
well printed and well bound trade paperback published by Tor Books in
2023. A sequel would be cool. There is a very nice short story at
the end of the book.
Charlie is down and out on his luck. He lives by himself with his
cat, Hera, in his Dad's old house. His three older half siblings are
constantly after him to sell the house so they can get their shares of
the proceeds. Charlie used to work as a reporter for the Chicago
Tribune but he was laid off and then his Dad got sick. After his Dad
passed away, he now works as a substitute teacher. Paying for the
utilities and taxes on the house are difficult at best with his
limited funds. Especially since he and Hera like to eat occasionally.
But, Charlie sees on CNBC Morning Squawk Box that his billionaire
reclusive uncle Jake, a major owner of parking garages across of the
USA, has passed away. His uncle was his mother's older brother, his
mother who passed away in a strange car wreck when Charlie was five
years old. And then Charlie's life goes wild as a beautiful woman
contacts Charlie about him hosting the viewing and burial of his uncle
in their hometown. The viewing of his uncles body is very contentious
with several obvious henchmen showing up to view the body. One guy
even tries to stab his uncles body to make sure that he is "dead this
time".
I love the cover of the book. It conveys a mysteriousness about the
book immediately. I showed the book cover to my 83 year old mother
who promptly said that she wanted to read the book next so she has it
now.
The author has a fairly active website / blog at:
   https://whatever.scalzi.com/
My rating:Â 5 out of 5 stars
Amazon rating:Â 4.5 out of 5 stars (13.025 reviews)
Lynn
I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder
Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to
Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
twists. I can recommend it.
I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't
really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch!
How would the potential listener judge whether a book was worth reading
if it did not have a cover?
I understand that in the US (where Scalzi is), a blue tie represents a Democrat political party supporter. To begin with, what cat would wear a Windsor knot?
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
   https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder
Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to
Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
twists. I can recommend it.
I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't
really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch!
I find myself wondering why Boulder Creek is such a prolific source of >detached organs. Is it connected to the (distinctly sketchy) Joe's Bar?
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
Dave lives in BC; I suspect the runs are between organ banks and the local hospitals.
I have several friends that live up there. One works for NASA, is approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers. The comment was "half of us are registered republicans
and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
I have several friends that live up there. One works for NASA, is approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers. The commment was "half of us are registered republicans
and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
On 5/7/25 06:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
[stuff deleted]
I have several friends that live up there. One works for NASA, is
approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers. The commment was "half of us are registered republicans
and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
He probably works at Ames Research in Mountain View, unless he is doing >something at the Lockheed rocket ranch up near Bonnydoon.
When I worked at NASA awhile back, it seemed like the old hands leaned
true conservative (as opposed to the wanna-be fascist we have now) while
the younger group was much more liberal. I hope it bites "Red" hard
right in their gonads at the mid-terms.
true conservative (as opposed to the wanna-be fascist we have now) while
the younger group was much more liberal. I hope it bites "Red" hard
right in their gonads at the mid-terms.
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/7/25 06:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
[stuff deleted]
I have several friends that live up there.   One works for NASA, is
approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers.  The commment was "half of us are registered republicans
and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
He probably works at Ames Research in Mountain View, unless he is
doing something at the Lockheed rocket ranch up near Bonnydoon.
When I worked at NASA awhile back, it seemed like the old hands leaned
true conservative (as opposed to the wanna-be fascist we have now)
while the younger group was much more liberal. I hope it bites "Red"
hard right in their gonads at the mid-terms.
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that
they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top
in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and 2028.
  https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258
I have been reading about the Human Resources departments in the USA
making it very difficult to find a job unless you are an underpaid H1B.
Not good for our nation.
Lynn
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/7/25 06:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
[stuff deleted]
I have several friends that live up there.   One works for NASA, is
approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers.  The commment was "half of us are registered republicans
and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
He probably works at Ames Research in Mountain View, unless he is doing
something at the Lockheed rocket ranch up near Bonnydoon.
When I worked at NASA awhile back, it seemed like the old hands leaned
true conservative (as opposed to the wanna-be fascist we have now) while
the younger group was much more liberal. I hope it bites "Red" hard
right in their gonads at the mid-terms.
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that
they are turning very conservative.
The young pushed Trump over the top
in the 2024 election.
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/7/25 06:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
[stuff deleted]
I have several friends that live up there.   One works for NASA, is >>>> approaching retirement, and is quite concerned for both NASA and
coworkers.  The commment was "half of us are registered republicans >>>> and that's gonna bite the red side in two years".
He probably works at Ames Research in Mountain View, unless he is doing >>> something at the Lockheed rocket ranch up near Bonnydoon.
When I worked at NASA awhile back, it seemed like the old hands leaned
true conservative (as opposed to the wanna-be fascist we have now) while >>> the younger group was much more liberal. I hope it bites "Red" hard
right in their gonads at the mid-terms.
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that
they are turning very conservative.
Nonsense.
The young pushed Trump over the top
in the 2024 election.
More nonsense. Trump won because 33% of the eligable voters
were either unable to vote (thanks to GOP voting restrictions)
or didn't bother to show up to vote.
On 5/8/25 16:43, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that
they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top
in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and
2028.
https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258
` You and the young folk who went conservative have flipped ouit.
They have a good reason being alive in a world destroying itself for the >convenience of automobiles and air travel.
But the Orange man-shaped creature in the Oval Office will do
very little good for them and I believe I have read that they are
beginning to figure that out since that one announced his Tariff plans.
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that
they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top
in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and >2028.
https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258
I have been reading about the Human Resources departments in the USA
making it very difficult to find a job unless you are an underpaid H1B.
Not good for our nation.
But I find it hard to believe that companies which, for example, hire
workers to collect trash/recycle/yard waste, are looking for H1B visa >holders. Most people, I suspect, can find a job without facing any
such problem.
On Thu, 8 May 2025 18:22:03 -0700, Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
On 5/8/25 16:43, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
<snippo>
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that` You and the young folk who went conservative have flipped ouit.
they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top >>> in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and >>> 2028.
  https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258 >>
They have a good reason being alive in a world destroying itself for the
convenience of automobiles and air travel.
But the Orange man-shaped creature in the Oval Office will do
very little good for them and I believe I have read that they are
beginning to figure that out since that one announced his Tariff plans.
That's the problem at the moment: things are in such flux that it is
hard to keep straight what the /current/ polls are saying or what the /current/ situation with the Courts might be.
So it's hard to tell who is figuring out what.
My solution, ironically, is tariffs. If there was a $50,000/year tariff
for each H1B brought in, companies would only bring in the actual 'best
of the best'.
On 5/9/2025 9:16 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Thu, 8 May 2025 18:22:03 -0700, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
On 5/8/25 16:43, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
<snippo>
The young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that` You and the young folk who went conservative have flipped ouit.
they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top >>>> in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and >>>> 2028.
https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258 >>>
They have a good reason being alive in a world destroying itself for the >>> convenience of automobiles and air travel.
But the Orange man-shaped creature in the Oval Office will do
very little good for them and I believe I have read that they are
beginning to figure that out since that one announced his Tariff plans.
That's the problem at the moment: things are in such flux that it is
hard to keep straight what the /current/ polls are saying or what the
/current/ situation with the Courts might be.
So it's hard to tell who is figuring out what.
Which is part of the plan.
On 5/10/2025 11:14 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
My solution, ironically, is tariffs. If there was a $50,000/year tariff
for each H1B brought in, companies would only bring in the actual 'best
of the best'.
This is true, but what about universities which may not have such
budgets? I am thinking perhaps most of the people who really deserve
H1-B visas would be employed in academia or research. But the idea
is not an unworkable one.\
I wasn't really aware that researchers were using H1Bs. I thought there
was some kind of academic researcher visa. Some kind of provision could
be made for people working for non-profits, I suppose, but I'm sure it
would get messy at the edges.
Still, it was and is pretty damn clear that companies are using the
H1B to get cheap, indentured labor, rather than pay wages necessary to >attract Americans to the jobs.
Its another facet to the destruction of the middle class, as we drift
back towards a feudal model of society, with a thin scum of ultra-rich >floating on a sea of barely-surviving poor.
I wasn't really aware that researchers were using H1Bs. I thought there
was some kind of academic researcher visa. Some kind of provision could
be made for people working for non-profits, I suppose, but I'm sure it
would get messy at the edges.
Still, it was and is pretty damn clear that companies are using the
H1B to get cheap, indentured labor, rather than pay wages necessary to >attract Americans to the jobs.
Its another facet to the destruction of the middle class, as we drift
back towards a feudal model of society, with a thin scum of ultra-rich >floating on a sea of barely-surviving poor.
On 5/9/2025 1:42 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
But I find it hard to believe that companies which, for example, hire
workers to collect trash/recycle/yard waste, are looking for H1B visa
holders. Most people, I suspect, can find a job without facing any
such problem.
The H1B system is completely broken because people like Mr. Musk have
figured out how to game the system.
The original premise was a really good one: allow the best of the best
into America to work for American companies. The problem is that folks
in the IT world figured out how to make low-level software developers
look like the best of the best, and those companies managed to get most
of the limited number of slots.
So, first of all you have a bunch of low-level software guys coming to work >> in the US (who probably -are- displacing Americans from positions) and
their companies control their visas so they have no ability to leave their >> jobs without leaving their companies. This is, of course, a recipe for
employee mistreatment.
But even worse from my perspective is that since all of those slots are
taken, it's impossible to get actual experts into the country on an H1B.
We'd like to hire a world-class coatings chemist from India. A local
university would like to hire a guy with a Nobel prize. But it's not
possible to get an H1B for these people because they are full up.
Severe reform of the system is needed but unfortunately the fox is running >> the henhouse.
--scott
As a former SW Engineer who was very much affected by this (my solution
was to work for defense contractors, who couldn't employ non-citizens),
I've thought quite a bit about this.
My solution, ironically, is tariffs. If there was a $50,000/year tariff
for each H1B brought in, companies would only bring in the actual 'best
of the best'.
Well, IIRC, the French solved that problem a while back.
Perhaps we can borrow Madame La Guillotine from them for a while ...
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
Well, IIRC, the French solved that problem a while back.
Perhaps we can borrow Madame La Guillotine from them for a while ...
Doesn't work. At least it didn't work for the French. They killed all
the royals, then within a short time established new royals. It happens
far too often... the Russians did the same thing in 1917....
--scott
On Fri, 9 May 2025 17:42:14 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
<dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:
On 5/9/2025 9:16 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Thu, 8 May 2025 18:22:03 -0700, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
On 5/8/25 16:43, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 5/7/2025 12:29 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
<snippo>
That's the problem at the moment: things are in such flux that it isThe young people (under 30) in the USA have been so screwed over that >>>>> they are turning very conservative. The young pushed Trump over the top >>>>> in the 2024 election. One hopes that they will do so again in 2026 and >>>>> 2028.
  https://www.newsweek.com/republican-support-poll-young-gen-z-2060258
` You and the young folk who went conservative have flipped ouit.
They have a good reason being alive in a world destroying itself for the >>>> convenience of automobiles and air travel.
But the Orange man-shaped creature in the Oval Office will do
very little good for them and I believe I have read that they are
beginning to figure that out since that one announced his Tariff plans. >>>
hard to keep straight what the /current/ polls are saying or what the
/current/ situation with the Courts might be.
So it's hard to tell who is figuring out what.
Which is part of the plan.
I thought the plan was "shock and awe".
The "shock" we got. Did anyone fell any "awe"? I sure didn't.
Hence the flux: things did not go as planned.
On Fri, 9 May 2025 16:43:44 -0400, Cryptoengineer
<petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
On 5/9/2025 1:42 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
But I find it hard to believe that companies which, for example, hire
workers to collect trash/recycle/yard waste, are looking for H1B visa
holders. Most people, I suspect, can find a job without facing any
such problem.
The H1B system is completely broken because people like Mr. Musk have
figured out how to game the system.
The original premise was a really good one: allow the best of the best
into America to work for American companies. The problem is that folks
in the IT world figured out how to make low-level software developers
look like the best of the best, and those companies managed to get most
of the limited number of slots.
So, first of all you have a bunch of low-level software guys coming to work >>> in the US (who probably -are- displacing Americans from positions) and
their companies control their visas so they have no ability to leave their >>> jobs without leaving their companies. This is, of course, a recipe for
employee mistreatment.
But even worse from my perspective is that since all of those slots are
taken, it's impossible to get actual experts into the country on an H1B. >>> We'd like to hire a world-class coatings chemist from India. A local
university would like to hire a guy with a Nobel prize. But it's not
possible to get an H1B for these people because they are full up.
Severe reform of the system is needed but unfortunately the fox is running >>> the henhouse.
--scott
As a former SW Engineer who was very much affected by this (my solution
was to work for defense contractors, who couldn't employ non-citizens),
I've thought quite a bit about this.
My solution, ironically, is tariffs. If there was a $50,000/year tariff
for each H1B brought in, companies would only bring in the actual 'best
of the best'.
Perhaps, instead of a "tariff", it should be an "annual visa renewal
fee". To be paid by the employer. With non-profits exempt.
/And/ a requirement to pay them the same wage they pay US citizens of comparable skills/education for the same job.
But voiding all the visas and sending them to who-knows-where would
probably be more attractive to Trump. Gotta deport more per month than
Biden did!
On 5/10/2025 9:22 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 9 May 2025 16:43:44 -0400, CryptoengineerCompanies would immediately reduce the wages of the US citizen employees
<petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
On 5/9/2025 1:42 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
But I find it hard to believe that companies which, for example, hire >>>>> workers to collect trash/recycle/yard waste, are looking for H1B visa >>>>> holders. Most people, I suspect, can find a job without facing any
such problem.
The H1B system is completely broken because people like Mr. Musk have
figured out how to game the system.
The original premise was a really good one: allow the best of the best >>>> into America to work for American companies. The problem is that folks >>>> in the IT world figured out how to make low-level software developers
look like the best of the best, and those companies managed to get most >>>> of the limited number of slots.
So, first of all you have a bunch of low-level software guys coming to work
in the US (who probably -are- displacing Americans from positions) and >>>> their companies control their visas so they have no ability to leave their >>>> jobs without leaving their companies. This is, of course, a recipe for >>>> employee mistreatment.
But even worse from my perspective is that since all of those slots are >>>> taken, it's impossible to get actual experts into the country on an H1B. >>>> We'd like to hire a world-class coatings chemist from India. A local
university would like to hire a guy with a Nobel prize. But it's not
possible to get an H1B for these people because they are full up.
Severe reform of the system is needed but unfortunately the fox is running >>>> the henhouse.
--scott
As a former SW Engineer who was very much affected by this (my solution
was to work for defense contractors, who couldn't employ non-citizens),
I've thought quite a bit about this.
My solution, ironically, is tariffs. If there was a $50,000/year tariff
for each H1B brought in, companies would only bring in the actual 'best
of the best'.
Perhaps, instead of a "tariff", it should be an "annual visa renewal
fee". To be paid by the employer. With non-profits exempt.
/And/ a requirement to pay them the same wage they pay US citizens of
comparable skills/education for the same job.
in response.
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
Well, IIRC, the French solved that problem a while back.
Perhaps we can borrow Madame La Guillotine from them for a while ...
Doesn't work. At least it didn't work for the French. They killed all
the royals, then within a short time established new royals. It happens
far too often... the Russians did the same thing in 1917....
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I
was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >degree.
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >>degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified >American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking >about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to
make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering >graduates.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like the priesthood and not just a fast-money job.
On 5/12/2025 7:38 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in
engineering programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US
and become well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering
as a calling like the priesthood and not just a fast-money job.
Praise be to St. Vidicon of Cathode
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >>degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified >American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking >about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to
make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering >graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math >programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance
of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an >engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver
for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical >stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering >programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become >well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like >the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would >probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
It wasn't just the royals. They made being an aristrocrat (there
may have been some conditions) a capital crime.
This will continue as long as we keep electing ultra-rich people to office, >regardless of party.
In article <off12k52ohmjaq946ba6748qmnpj9r9b0b@4ax.com>,
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> wrote:
It wasn't just the royals. They made being an aristrocrat (there
may have been some conditions) a capital crime.
They murdered some top notch scientists who happened to have
been born into the aristocracy. Lavosier being a famous example.
kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering graduates.
I think Lynn may also have been exaggerating - I was in University
at the same time, and while there were a number of foreign graduate
students, there were an equal number of domestic grad students. A lot
of the foreign students were from Iran and were stranded here in
1979.
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified American students for engineering programs.
Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to
make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance
of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver
for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become well-educated Americans.
But then, I think of engineering as a calling like
the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
--scott
On Mon, 12 May 2025 08:38:01 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>> was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate
degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified
American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking
about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to
make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering
graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math
programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance
of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an
engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver
for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical >> stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering
programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become
well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like >> the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would
probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
IIRC, something called "STEM" exists to ameliorate that problem.
Of course, since it isn't restricted to White Males it will shortly be
halted as being part of DEI.
BTW, it was known in the 60s that there simply weren't enough White
Males to fill all of the positions requiring something other than a
Liberal Arts degree that would have to be filled. Ultimately, it is
sheer economic necessity that is driving STEM and DEI.
On 5/12/25 08:43, Paul S Person wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2025 08:38:01 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>>> was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >>>> degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified >>> American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking >>> about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to
make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering >>> graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math
programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance >>> of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an
engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver >>> for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical
stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering >>> programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become
well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like
the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would
probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
IIRC, something called "STEM" exists to ameliorate that problem.
Of course, since it isn't restricted to White Males it will shortly be
halted as being part of DEI.
BTW, it was known in the 60s that there simply weren't enough White
Males to fill all of the positions requiring something other than a
Liberal Arts degree that would have to be filled. Ultimately, it is
sheer economic necessity that is driving STEM and DEI.
Not what the present Federal mal-adminstration wants to realize.
On Tue, 20 May 2025 19:13:52 -0700, Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
On 5/12/25 08:43, Paul S Person wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2025 08:38:01 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>>>> was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I
dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >>>>> degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified >>>> American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking >>>> about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to >>>> make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering >>>> graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math
programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance >>>> of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an >>>> engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver >>>> for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical
stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering >>>> programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become
well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like
the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would >>>> probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
IIRC, something called "STEM" exists to ameliorate that problem.
Of course, since it isn't restricted to White Males it will shortly be
halted as being part of DEI.
BTW, it was known in the 60s that there simply weren't enough White
Males to fill all of the positions requiring something other than a
Liberal Arts degree that would have to be filled. Ultimately, it is
sheer economic necessity that is driving STEM and DEI.
Not what the present Federal mal-adminstration wants to realize.
Myself, I am waiting to see how the Dems manage to lose the mid-terms.
I would prefer they didn't, but they appear to be locked in the past
-- and have still not figured out that whenever Hillary, Bernie, or
Bernie's friends (especially the Represntative from Hamas) opens their
mouth they lose votes.
Muzzles are needed!
On 5/21/25 08:31, Paul S Person wrote:
On Tue, 20 May 2025 19:13:52 -0700, Bobbie Sellers
<bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> wrote:
On 5/12/25 08:43, Paul S Person wrote:
On Mon, 12 May 2025 08:38:01 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
When I got into grad school in Mechanical Engineering at TAMU in 1982, I >>>>>> was the only USA citizen. The rot has been going on that long. I >>>>>> dropped out when I found a job that spring when I got my undergraduate >>>>>> degree.
That's a different problem. That's the lack of interested and qualified >>>>> American students for engineering programs. Also... when
I was an undergrad I heard a lot of freshman engineering students talking >>>>> about how they had picked their major entirely because they expected to >>>>> make big money as engineers. This is not the way to get good engineering >>>>> graduates.
I blame this on a lot of things, not just middle and high school math >>>>> programs being pretty terrible, but also on stuff like the disappearance >>>>> of shop classes in school. I deal with a lot of fresh-outs who have an >>>>> engineering degree but don't know how to pick the right size screwdriver >>>>> for a screw... but worse are the kids who never got interested in mechanical
stuff enough to consider engineering in the first place.
If anything I am pleased at the number of foreign students in engineering >>>>> programs, because a lot of them decide to stay in the US and become
well-educated Americans. But then, I think of engineering as a calling like
the priesthood and not just a fast-money job. (It's true that I would >>>>> probably make a lot more money if I didn't.)
IIRC, something called "STEM" exists to ameliorate that problem.
Of course, since it isn't restricted to White Males it will shortly be >>>> halted as being part of DEI.
BTW, it was known in the 60s that there simply weren't enough White
Males to fill all of the positions requiring something other than a
Liberal Arts degree that would have to be filled. Ultimately, it is
sheer economic necessity that is driving STEM and DEI.
Not what the present Federal mal-adminstration wants to realize.
Myself, I am waiting to see how the Dems manage to lose the mid-terms.
I would prefer they didn't, but they appear to be locked in the past
-- and have still not figured out that whenever Hillary, Bernie, or
Bernie's friends (especially the Represntative from Hamas) opens their
mouth they lose votes.
Bernie and his friend are speaking to gatherings of people comparable
to Trump rallies and make more sense than that individual ever did.
Muzzles are needed!
They certainly are but not by the people speaking to enthusiastic
crowds and
who consider Palestinians to be people who deserve fewer murders by bomb and >shell, not to mention IDF who shoot people that were hostages of HAMAS among >others.
The DNC is responsible for losing the last election as they controlled the
spread of the Democratic message to many groups and under-advertised the >previous administration's accomplishments. Individual democratic >politicians
are winning many positions formerly locked up by Republicans. That is the >Trump effect.
On 07/05/2025 14:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
<snip>
I find myself wondering why Boulder Creek is such a prolific source of
I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder
Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to
Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
twists. I can recommend it.
I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't
really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch! >>>
detached organs. Is it connected to the (distinctly sketchy) Joe's Bar?
Dave lives in BC; I suspect the runs are between organ banks and the local >> hospitals.
Query "organ banks". I think medicine in
2025 still uses relatively fresh organs,
not warehoused. Maybe I'm not thinking
widely enough about what is an organ;
I suppose that blood, bone, maybe skin
can be stored long enough for a depository
to be practical?
Or are we talking about e.g. chicken wings
which may be provided by courier, but not
to birds in need of veterinary assistance?
Brief Bing research shows that this topic is hard to research. Even
/"organ bank" wiki/ (quotes, but not backslashes, included) brings up,
as its first entry, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_donation>, a
page which does not contain "organ bank".
On Fri, 23 May 2025 20:51:31 +0100, Robert Carnegie
<rja.carnegie@gmail.com> wrote:
On 07/05/2025 14:39, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 5/6/2025 11:41 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
On 5/5/25 16:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
"Starter Villain" by John Scalzi
   https://www.amazon.com/Starter-Villain-John-Scalzi/dp/1250879396/
<snip>
Dave lives in BC; I suspect the runs are between organ banks and the local >>> hospitals.I find myself wondering why Boulder Creek is such a prolific source of >>>> detached organs. Is it connected to the (distinctly sketchy) Joe's Bar? >>>
I listened to it while doing my organlegger job, driving from Boulder >>>>> Creek to Stanford and back, or BC to San Francisco and back, or BC to >>>>> Sacramento and back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting
twists. I can recommend it.
I can't comment on the printing, binding, or covers since those don't >>>>> really come across well in audio format. But the narration was top notch! >>>>
Query "organ banks". I think medicine in
2025 still uses relatively fresh organs,
not warehoused. Maybe I'm not thinking
widely enough about what is an organ;
I suppose that blood, bone, maybe skin
can be stored long enough for a depository
to be practical?
Brief Bing research shows that this topic is hard to research. Even
/"organ bank" wiki/ (quotes, but not backslashes, included) brings up,
as its first entry, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_donation>, a
page which does not contain "organ bank".
Apparently, the term is used for facilities that receive the organ and
keep it useable long enough to be used. Which, as you suspect, may not
be very long.
Before the FDIC, the same could have been said about bank deposits.
Or are we talking about e.g. chicken wings
which may be provided by courier, but not
to birds in need of veterinary assistance?
Probably not.
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