Education vs. Degree [2015/7/16]

The post from Mises Institute makes excellent points about how student loans work as

subsidies that create useless degrees, creating lot of waste. People often confound

between education and a degree. An education is when you learn something and a

degree is when you fulfill certain requirements and get an acknowledgement/ certification

for the  completion of the requirements.

Thus, a degree does not necessarily lead to more education.

In fact, I have seen more useless degrees that rob people's money and

opportunity. People do not often realize that the cost of a degree is not only the tuition

but all the other cool things you could have done if you did not go to school. In addition,

people magically think that degrees will open doors and boost one's income. This is not

really the case. Many degrees are not really worth the money. Forbes just ran a quick

video showing the best and worst master degrees. Of course, one cannot value the

worth of a degree just by income but your degree is just a hobby or intellectual curiosity

when you cannot really afford it then you should think twice.

People need to wake up and realize that degrees are not the answer. The answer is

knowledge and wisdom. The good thing is that you don't have to spend a fortune to

gain knowledge and wisdom. We have the internet! It is filled with information

(just google, wikipedia, youtube) and it is cheap. Plus, now we have the great MOOCs

(Coursera, edX, Udacity). There is a plethora of good information on the web. You can

even ask questions on Quora if you have questions. You can also get tutoring service

from many online tutoring websites. The point is that you don't have to have to get a

degree to gain knowledge and wisdom and have a more fulfilling life.

At this point, someone always asks but I need to signal my abilities and the best way to

do it is to get a degree. Well, in some cases yes, but in this digital age, you

can show your skills online. You can create blog showing your artwork, data analysis

skills, whatever you are good at. If you are a good cook, you can upload your cooking

videos. You can also participate in competitions such as Kaggle and show your quant

skills. Of course, shining in the internet is like trying to stand out in Noah's flood but

it is possible and has been done by many. You just have learn every day and work hard.

So before you decide to go get a degree, see what can you learn and do without going

to school. You will realize a lot!




From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/5/13]

1. Roughly you can earn $2 for 1000 views in YouTube.

2. A Taco Bell store in Chicago applied for a liquor license. Hmmm..I remember Starbucks planned on selling booze before but don't think it happened. I guess Taco and beer could work. Do I hear money?! We'll see whether other fast food chains follow Taco Bell.

3. Wegmans shows that super markets can provide great food at a cheap price and have a happy work force. The store is also known for good food waste management and theatrical display. Price is the only thing you can offer when you cannot offer anything else.

4. America is quickly losing soil! The fear may be overestimated but the problem is not small. Time to farm more sustainably.

5. Fishers, loggers, pilots, miners, roofers, and garbage collectors are more likely to die compared to other professions.

6. North Dakota produce North Dakota caviar. Time to taste this beauty :p

7. Rat extermination is becoming more high tech including transgenic rats. However, one of the most effective ways to exterminate rats is to litter less and less food waste. Yup, so please don't litter.




*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/5/7]

1. IRS has a new cybercrime team. This is good news but they may be a little late to the part? Should probably bring some programmers from the NSA.

2. Competition b/w YouTube channels is quite fierce. Something new comes out and bunch of people cover it :p

3. There is still lot of sexual harassment at the work place. Please be a decent human being....if someone feels uncomfortable than that behavior should be stopped...

4. A convenience store owner  had his assets seized by IRS for allegations of structuring making small deposits to avoid the $10,000 reporting requirement. The burden of proof is on the owner...I think IRS was overzealous and probably made a mistake rather than admitting it, well, we have an article...Note to self. Don't deposit too often...

5.  Bankruptcy trustees are suing students and college to recoup the debt. It is sad that it has come to this but I believe such trend will make students question the value of college and colleges will also question whether they are providing a quality education.

6. Scientists take  acoustic image of thunder. I guess this will help us be more prepared for thunder? Pretty cool :D

7. For some courses in Coursera, just reading the slides is more helpful :p


 


*From Snapshot Serengeti

What I have learned today [2015/4/22]

1. Tesla which has arguably the best battery technology is introducing home/ utility batteries. If these batteries are good then Tesla's stock will skyrocket. Also, it would be an awesome efficiency gain for the world. Imagine powering remote places or developing nations, wow, I am very excited ^^ Also, I will consider investing in Tesla if they become a battery company :D

2. Japan's Taco Bell has some interesting menus including shrimp burritos, fajita stuffed quesadilla, and  cinamon tostada chips...hmmm...they sound interesting and somewhat delicious but I wonder if Japanese will like them. I am sure Taco Bell did some market research and experimenting but the menu does not seem to be geared to Japanese...Looks like a menu that I would find in LA.

3. People are 1.4x times more likely to watch ads when watching YouTube on mobile. I am not surprised because you can't really open another window to do something and you are probably bored anyway so even the ads are better than sheer boredom. But I wonder how many actually recognize the ad though...should do a test whether not skipping is really related to brand/ product awareness.

4. Arab Youth survey shows that they want to live in UAE. I just wonder how many the youth surveyed actually lived abroad or at least traveled. Of course, Dubai is very nice but other countries also offer a lot as well.

5. People tend to hold on to whatever minimum authority that they have to show their power and worth....I think this is basic survival instinct but this creates absurd bureaucracies and a tsunami of inefficiencies.



*From Penguin Watch

What I have Learned Today [2015/4/13]

1. In investing luck is very important. Things that should happen do not happen and things should happen do happen. Please listen to Howard Mark's insightful talk at Google.

2. Mushroom roots can be used to bind wood, decreasing the usage of formaldehyde.

3. YouTube has great praise songs :D

4. Marijuana is being marketed for old and sick dogs. Did you hear that Snoop?

5.Jesus obeyed his parents despite being Son of God. I realized that I should be more humble and wise. Jesus could have just made a lot miracles and proclaimed Himself as the Son of God yet He came to the lowest place to serve us and to die for our sins. We all really be more humble and serving, loving our neighbor with all our hearts :D


*From Floating Forest