The American college system is designed to insulate the wealthy and exclude the disadvantaged.

There.  I said it.

The intention behind the system supposedly is noble.  But it's out of control.  The system extorts money from families for degrees that don't mean much.  College execute slick advertising campaigns with pretty foliage and decked-out dorm ( Read more... )

This week, I've been putting a ton of thought into whether I want to go to school and study accounting.  Kind of late for me to do that, right?  After I've already put all that work into applying?

Well, better to rethink it now than later.  Better to research it now, before I've spent tens of thousands more.

I talked last week with a guy who's been ( Read more... )

Chronicled in brief by my camera phone.

4:55 p.m. -- Driving to work, the weather seems to be turning.  Rainy drizzle has turned into light flurries.  I shrug.

6:15 p.m. -- Coworker yells excitedly that it's snowing.  I look out the back door at work, and sure enough, snow.  Spring snow.


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"Dear Michael,

Congratulations! It is my distinct honor and pleasure to inform you that you have been admitted to the Master of Accounting program at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis for the Fall 2010 class."

( Read more... )

I didn't get into UT-Austin's master's of accounting program.  Which I think I'm OK with.  Sure, I reflexively gave my computer the finger when I found out.  But on the other hand, it's kind of nice to have my options narrowed down ( Read more... )

I've lived in Wausau for 20 months now.  Know how long that is?  That's so long that if I had a wife, she could have conceived and popped out two kids already during this time.  And have a third in the oven.

I got into UW!


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I recently had this dream where I climbed the Capitol rotunda. Once I got to the top, I knew I had to climb back down. But I knew I didn't have the nerve for that.  Looking up was fine, but I couldn't look down.  The dream ended when I fell off and the entire white dome crashed to the ground, smashing into pieces.

I had assumed it was the Capitol in ( Read more... )

The kind of games that leave me in an awkward, guessing place.  I've seen this before.  I don't like it.  I have this urge now to try and leave her heartbroken ( Read more... )

Hard to tell whether it'll last, though.  How do I know when the bottom's about to fall out?  And if I think like that, will it be a self-fulfilling prophesy?

Maybe this time, I'll get it right.  And if I don't, maybe this time it won't take so long to bounce back.