The value of a degree might be depressed, and that is true. Education inflation is real. But there's a basic problem here. Having no degree bans you from a lot of jobs. You are filtered out by the AI or automated system before your CV ever hits the eyes of a human. The degree at least cracks open the door.

I have an extensive resume, with almost thirty years in critical systems, from operational programming and 24x7 support to my PMP, extensive leadership and managerial experience, successful projects up to $50M... everything but a degree. When I took a voluntary buyout, it took me a year and over 150 applications to find my next job... and I got it through personal contacts. I received exactly one callback through cold application. And my CV is excellent.

I retired last year. I shudder to think of what would happen if I had to enter this market, filled with newly exited, degree-bearing, hungry folks.

The degree is more valuable than not having one. That's what it comes down to.

Or you sit on it until circumstances change. Wash the data one direction, wash the money in others. Data brokerage started out off of plumb. It's not going to get straighter. The ethics were broken from the get go.

Traceability is no deterrent. Putting serial numbers on cars didn't stop auto thef5.

The major problem—one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.

To summarize: it is a well-known fact that those people who must want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it.

To summarize the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.

To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem.

And so this is the situation we find: a succession of Galactic Presidents who so much enjoy the fun and palaver of being in power that they very rarely notice that they’re not. And somewhere in the shadows behind them—who? Who can possibly rule if no one who wants to do it can be allowed to?"

Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

In his book, the actual leader of the universe turned out to be oblivious to it. His thinking was that anybody who aspires to the role should under no circumstances be permitted to have it.

I've been saying for a decade or more that the altruistic public servant is an extinct species, and people entering politics now should immediately be suspect. It attracts poor quality people.

I read it, of course. But I'm 55. If the worst thing I do in my life is hang on to is secretly hang on to some nudes of an ex but not spread them around, I'm comfortable with that. :) I have the gift of middle age - the awareness that not everything I've done is stellar, and the clarity that no single act defines a person. We're complicated.

A quarter century ago I briefly dated a stripper. She needed new posters to sell, but she couldn't afford a professional photographer and she wanted control of the masters. This was near the dawn of digital photography for consumers and I had a camera, so I agreed to take them. We did a shoot with a couple hundred photos. They weren't great, but it got the job done.

Shortly after that we stopped seeing each other. She asked me for the photos, and requested I delete them. I said yes. I burned the shots to two copies on CDs and gave them to her.

I did not delete them.

I never shared them with another soul, but I absolutely lied to her. I knew I was lying as I said it. And my reasons were up front and simple. Fast forward to me today, and the only difference is that today I'd be honest about not deleting them. I would promise to keep them private.

Now these brokers have a vastly stronger motive to lie. Money. Lots and lots of it. I guarantee you data that is "deleted" is just relocated. Even if there's no immediate plan for it, it will be hoarded. And there are so many ways to do it you cannot catch them.

"...priced considerably higher than customers might pay elsewhere..."
 

Of course they are. The world is awash with "idiot money", and a huge ecosystem is in place to capitalize on it. For decades I've lamented that I'm precluded from feasting at the trough by my basic moral character, which was developed through no fault of my own.

This family has no such barriers.

Well of course you use both systems. It's out of necessity. An ounce of cocaine is 28 grams. If you want an 8-ball of coke, your dealer should give you some combination of cocaine and filler that comes to 1/8 oz, or 3.5 grams.

If your foot isn't in both worlds, you're at a disadvantage.

The point does not stand. It's logically incoherent - as is yours. Nobody's saying any alcohol consumption will kill you. Your straw man is incorrect.

If you pick any one factor you can then say all the other ones drown it out. And so it's meaningless.

And what group are you comparing Muslims to? It has to be a group uniformly filled with drinkers, probably moderate to excessive. If that's not your comparison then I don't understand your point.

You miss the obvious (and intentional) reason.

In the US (to be fair, not just them) you can have as much "justice" as you can afford. They don't call it the dream team for nothing. If you can spend enough money, you can evade all manner of conviction. If you can't, you get stuck with minimum defense, if any. The public defender.

Justice is explicitly for sale. Nobody even pretends otherwise.

For sure. Don't mistake my objection for a complaint about the form. I'm saying modern audiobooks are usually consumed in a setting where something else is commanding some of the attention preemptively. If your attention is fully on it, I think the difference is negligible.

Although I think tea sucks in general, I also know some teas suck much worse than others. :) For instance, I don't hate some varieties of Chinese Green Tea. But would I go two steps out if my way for it on a chilly winter night? Nope.

Agreed. That's why I think they belong solidly in the second spot. And that's not to condemn audiobooks to some sort of distant inferior position. I think they have a great deal of merit, and your succinct point is well taken.

Actually, I regret catching Cliff's Notes in the crossfire. They had a specific purpose - to help students pass the tests. And I respect that. That goal is nicely contained, and honest,

Blinkist, on the other hand, is targeted directly at posers.