Posts by slyrider5

Nicholas King said:As much as I’d love to hold onto some shred of hope that the answer to this question might be negative, I’m honestly terrified that it’s actually a yes: my colleague is essentially the poster child for that specific breed of rigid educator—the kind of person who ensures that no matter how many reforms get passed, they will absolutely, unequivocally fail.

Everything about it is laid out with such meticulous, absurd precision—it feels like something straight out of an old HBO drama: you’ve got everything from the bizarrely blatant misspelling of the Secretary's last name, to the sheer audacity of her attempting to critique the entire computer science curriculum despite clearly lacking any relevant expertise, all the way down to those constant, mindless ramblings about how the government is supposedly blocking "poor professionals" from pursuing their PhDs. And the cherry on top? That tragic level of literacy which—unlike the Secretary’s alleged ignorance of IT (which, by the way, is one of the most idiotic claims I've ever heard)—isn't actually a barrier to being an educator (I know, I know, this is just a forum, so there's no need to get pedantic about grammatical nuances, I get it... 🤦).

All that’s missing now is the inevitable whining about how much I make, the nostalgic longing for the good old days when people actually respected teachers, and that cautious little commentary you only hear in certain echo chambers—you know, the stuff where they claim kids today are spoiled, parents are impossible, and the only reform we really need is bringing back strict discipline in the classroom instead of all this soft, modern nonsense, as if life is just one big joke, screw school, and why on earth do we have to deal with all this crap anyway?

I'm with Byron on this one. He hit the nail on the head regarding how big of a problem we're dealing with.

Larry Walker24 said:CNN - Channel 3 11/25/2018 10:55 PM
Dreams of Tomorrow: School of the Future, a documentary series

We all want our kids to go to the best schools out there—places that actually spark their curiosity, make them want to learn, pack in the tech skills, and sharpen their brains so they aren't totally lost when they hit the real world. The world isn't standing still, and we seriously need to rethink how our entire education system works. Get this: about 65% of kids in preschool today are going to end up in jobs that haven't even been invented yet. So, what does school look like in 2050? How is the digital revolution going to flip the script on learning? What’s left for teachers to do? And will students eventually just run the show themselves? In this episode, we're diving into how the digital age is reshaping classrooms, how collaborative learning works, the shift away from physical textbooks, and how school buildings are being redesigned to fit the way people actually learn now...

What we’ll actually get is a bunch of semi-literate bots with zero motor skills but incredibly loud voices, ready to tell their creators and teachers exactly where to go. After all, this is the most advanced generation ever—perfectly programmed to feel like they don't need anyone or anything.
That school they're talking about doesn't exist even in Wonderland. But hey, it's fine if "our experts" want to ramble on about everything while saying absolutely nothing. And that part about "students taking control of the school"? I won't even dignify that with a comment.

analogdriver21 said:As long as your teeth haven't shifted and aren't loose, there's really nothing to worry about. Things will likely settle down in a day or two. Taking an elbow to the mouth probably just put some minor stress on the periodontal tissue—you know, the stuff holding the teeth in place—which explains why it feels weird right now. For the next few days, just be careful when you're chewing. Avoid anything too hard until that sensitivity fades. As for your lips, they should bounce back in a couple of days too. If there's a significant cut, it wouldn't hurt to clean it up properly.

Thanks so much for the reply, I feel a lot better now. It definitely feels like periodontal stress... that's exactly the kind of discomfort I'm still feeling, though it seems like things are returning to normal. I'm being mindful of how I chew now; it's stuck in my subconscious for a bit. My lips are healing fast, too. The cut isn't huge, just a tiny little nick a few millimeters wide. It’s just strange because I almost never cut my upper lip, so it felt pretty out of the ordinary. I guess everything will be fine 🙂 thanks again for the help!

So, my partner was being totally careless, just leaving his elbow hanging out in mid-air while we were getting into bed in the dark, and I ended up smashing my face right into it. He’s claiming he barely felt anything—that I didn't even move him much. He says it felt more like my lips hitting his elbow rather than my teeth. Honestly, I went into instant panic mode. That impact felt terrible; I had this immediate, terrifying sensation like my upper front teeth were just... gone, and I think I might have even nicked my upper lip with them. Thankfully, I haven't lost any teeth. For now, everything seems to be where it should be. They aren't loose, they feel alive, and nothing seems broken, but my upper jaw and lip are incredibly uncomfortable because the skin is a bit torn up. I can't tell if this is just pure shock or nerves, but I've always been a bit of a worrier. Losing my teeth is one of my absolute biggest nightmares, so now I'm spiraling. What can actually happen after a single "hit" like this? I don't want to get into all the nonsense I've read online about teeth falling out weeks later because of some invisible fracture, but the anxiety is real. I'm basically in a state of total shock right now. 😛 thanks!

I’ve basically been keeping my laptop glued to one spot just to keep it safe; I really don't want to mess with the smart pin port because I'm pretty sure it's fine, and honestly, I don't have the cash right now to go out and buy a replacement.

Then this popped up today, and the screen brightness immediately dropped:
"The Smart AC Adapter connected will power your computer, but
potentially at a reduced performance level. Your computer is designed
to vary performance as needed when a smaller capacity Smart AC Adapter
is connected. Resource intensive tasks may cause your system not to
perform at its highest level with a smaller capacity Smart AC Adapter.
Please connect a higher capacity Smart AC Adapter for full
performance."

So, what’s the deal? Is this a sign that my laptop is about to kick the bucket or what?

So, I picked up a new charger yesterday. It seemed fine at first—used, $40, but everything looked good. I actually tested it out right there with the guy selling it, and it worked perfectly. But then I get home, plug it in, and suddenly the connection keeps dropping. If the connector shifts just a little bit or tilts downward, it loses contact entirely. It feels like the port itself has loosened up or something. What am I supposed to do now? My laptop is a TI-84 Plus.
The old charger I mentioned a few months back was basically on life support. I had it wrapped in electrical tape and held together with a scrap piece of plastic just to act as a brace so the wires wouldn't bend too much—they were literally starting to poke out. Is it possible that all that extra bulk was putting pressure on the port and caused it to loosen? I’ve honestly never heard of someone's port just giving out like this.
Now I'm sitting here wondering if I just threw $40 down the drain or if I'm just losing my mind... Though, honestly, I'd probably get a nasty shock from that connector if I wasn't careful.
Just a heads up: this laptop is secondhand and doesn't have any kind of warranty, so I don't think a repair shop is an option.

The cable running from my power brick to my laptop has started fraying right where it meets the connector plug. You can actually see the tiny internal wires peeking out now. I tried a quick fix with some electrical tape, but honestly, it’s a joke—the second that wire shifts even a tiny bit, the whole laptop just dies instantly. What should my next move be if I don't want to go broke fixing this? To be clear, the cord from the wall outlet to the adapter itself is perfectly fine; it’s just the part connecting the adapter to the machine that's shot. My laptop is a Dell Latitude. I wanted to check here first because I know these cables aren't one-size-fits-all. Every port seems to have its own specific shape and size, and since I'm definitely not an IT pro, I really don't want to guess and end up buying something useless.
Thanks!

The cable running from my power adapter to my laptop has started fraying right where it plugs into the machine. You can actually see the tiny internal wires peeking out from the casing. I tried a quick fix with some electrical tape, but honestly, it’s a joke—the second that wire shifts even a tiny bit, the laptop just dies instantly. What should my next move be if I don't want to go broke fixing this? To be clear, the part that goes from the wall outlet to the brick is perfectly fine; it's just the cord leading to the computer that's shot. My laptop is a TI-84 Plus. I figured I'd ask here first because I know these cables aren't one-size-fits-all. Ports come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and since I'm definitely not an IT expert, I really don't want to mess this up and end up buying the wrong thing.
Thanks!

Casey Bennett said:You can buy things on installment plans regardless of your current overdraft, provided you stay within your approved credit limit.

When you opt for installments, the first payment hits exactly one month after the purchase, and then it repeats on that same date every month thereafter. Just make sure you leave enough breathing room in your checking account to cover the payment. For instance, if the installment is $50, you shouldn't be more than $283 in the hole. And obviously, always leave enough left over to cover the interest at the end of the month.

As for whether you can actually finance this specific procedure and how many months you can stretch it over, you’ll have to ask the doctor performing the surgery. Their clinic needs to have a direct agreement with JPMorgan Chase to offer installment plans, and they are the ones who decide the repayment terms.

Thanks so much!

Regarding that last point, I was just looking at the clinic's website (it's for a dental procedure) and next to the price list, they just list card types like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc. They mention options for up to 24 installments. Of course, I'll ask them in person if and when it actually comes to that. I'm hoping they have an agreement with JPMorgan Chase, since the only card I currently have that allows installments is my Visa...

Kenneth Wells6 said:1. You don't necessarily have to do anything; you could simply wait until you turn 27 and continue paying $1.75 per month for that package. Officially, you should report the change, but no one is going to knock on your door. I know plenty of people who just waited until their 27th birthday, at which point the package expires automatically.
2. There is no upgrade. 🙂 You simply start paying the standard rates for all your services. This will be significantly higher than $1.75. For instance, the checking account might be $2.25 monthly, while mobile and online banking could be $4.75 monthly, etc. You can select the specific services you need and coordinate with the bank to cancel anything unnecessary.
3. As for the overdraft limits, I have no idea, so I cannot assist there. 🙂

Thanks a ton for points 1 and 2. That's my plan—I'll probably go with option 1 lol. If anyone else happens to have the scoop on point 3 or anything else important, please let me know. Thanks!

So, I’ve been using this student banking package and that overdraft limit for a few years now, but I have a couple of questions:
1. I’m turning 25 this year and finishing up my degree—do I need to do anything specific about this account once I graduate? I know I definitely will, but what does that actually look like? Like, do I need to physically head down to a JPMorgan Chase branch to sort it out?
2. What happens once the student perks "expire"? Does the bank just upgrade me to a standard account or something similar? Basically, what changes? I probably won't land a full-time job immediately after graduation; it’s more likely going to be an internship first... Regarding my current setup, I have the standard checking, mobile banking, and debit cards, plus an American Express card that's still sitting sealed in its envelope. I don't plan on using the Amex until I have a steady paycheck, because I really don't want to rack up debt without a reliable income. For now, just having the checking account works fine.
3. Right now, I’m running about $267 in the red—I pay it off, spend it again, and just keep circling through it, lol. But I’ll likely need to pay for a minor medical procedure soon that will cost a few hundred dollars, and they offer a payment plan. My question is, can I still put that on a payment plan using my existing $333 overdraft limit, even though my checking account is already negative? Specifically, do I need to have a certain amount of cushion in the account during the months they pull the payments, or do I need to clear my current $0.00 deficit before I can qualify for installments? And how many monthly payments am I even allowed to spread a cost over with this kind of account?

Hopefully, that all makes sense... Thanks in advance!