5 ms·

In 1982, in my state, minimum wage was $3.35/hr. Tuition + fees at my states large research university was $1,562/semester. In 2001 when I entered as a freshma

In 1982, in my state, minimum wage was $3.35/hr. Tuition + fees at my states large research university was $1,562/semester. In 2001 when I entered as a freshman minimum wage was $6.75 and tuition+fees was $5,707. In 2013 minimum wage was $8.00 and tuition was $13,258. minimum wage is up +200%, education costs up +850%. That is probably a major reason why a) Not as many young people are getting degrees b) why not many actually finish their degrees. My advice: stick to the trades, work in a union for a major utility provider. At least until the singularity happens.

nmrm2 12y ago
There's a middle road: slash administrative costs substantially and roll back cuts to state funding for local and regional public universities.
totalrobe 12y ago
Utilities are beginning to see trouble in many places because of the rise of distributed power. High fixed costs + lower demand = trouble.
- fokov 12y ago
  People keep saying this, but does anyone actually have numbers to back up the claim that things are going to get really bad? The reason I ask is due to an NPR segment that aired last week about a Texas power company. They described the different types of energy they were using as well as how long it takes to "turn them on". There were order of magnitude differences between the various power sources. The more efficient the power, the longer it took to start/act to changes in demand. If more people are using local solar, then peak hours during a summer day would help level out usage: more sun = more local energy that will be used for AC. I would imagine that change would allow these companies to save a lot of money by not having to use the less efficient power sources to properly adjust available power. That extra money can then be spend on the infrastructure or more R&D. I'm just curious because I keep hearing crap like "solar is going to completely kill the grid and costs will skyrocket as people leave."

nmrm2 12y ago

There's a middle road: slash administrative costs substantially and roll back cuts to state funding for local and regional public universities.

totalrobe 12y ago

Utilities are beginning to see trouble in many places because of the rise of distributed power. High fixed costs + lower demand = trouble.

fokov 12y ago
People keep saying this, but does anyone actually have numbers to back up the claim that things are going to get really bad? The reason I ask is due to an NPR segment that aired last week about a Texas power company. They described the different types of energy they were using as well as how long it takes to "turn them on". There were order of magnitude differences between the various power sources. The more efficient the power, the longer it took to start/act to changes in demand. If more people are using local solar, then peak hours during a summer day would help level out usage: more sun = more local energy that will be used for AC. I would imagine that change would allow these companies to save a lot of money by not having to use the less efficient power sources to properly adjust available power. That extra money can then be spend on the infrastructure or more R&D. I'm just curious because I keep hearing crap like "solar is going to completely kill the grid and costs will skyrocket as people leave."