Transit

The New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority recently announced that they were raising subway fares to $2.75, provoking a fair amount of hand-wringing about the cost to riders.  This is for one of the world's great transit systems.  Fortunately, here in Edmonton we pay much less for our somewhat modest transit.  Oh wait.

Well, That Was Predictable

I've tried to be open-minded about MOOCs as a teaching option, but one thing that I have never understood is the business model.  It seems that this is finally sinking in many places.  I wonder about U of A, though.

Declining Support for Public Universities

Here is a link to a recent analysis of financial support by state governments in the US for "public" universities.  It shows clearly that students are being asked to pick up an ever greater part of the cost of education, though this has also required cut-backs where tuition increases are not enough.  Canada is less dire, but seems to be moving in the same direction, so we need to think hard about what we do in response to this trend.

Typical

ARAMARK is the "...primary fool service provider for the University of Alberta's North Campus."  They also like to serve maggot-ridden food to prisoners in Michigan.  Another fantastic move by our administrators.  Honestly, these people could not pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the heel.

The Willful and Destructive Stupidity of our "Leaders"

Ever wonder what it must be like to have visionary leadership, either at the University, or in the Province, or the Federal Government?  Instead, we are shackled by the limited thinking of mediocre careerists, who cannot contemplate anything beyond the preservation of their current privileged positions, and the diminishment of their perceived adversaries.  At the local level, I cannot think of a politician who has truly had a vision for the future since Peter Lougheed.

Imagine if we had a leader like the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan.  Here is a telling quote from the New York Daily News:  "When former Sen. Daniel Moynihan was serving as ambassador to India in the early 1970s, he was asked what Bombay, now Mumbai, needed to do to become a great global city.  Moynihan answered, 'Build a world-class university and wait 200 years.'"  This pathetic crew can't think ahead 200 days, never mind 200 years.

Excellent Opinion Piece

Good for Ravanne Lawday for her piece on differential tuition increases.

Reminder: Know Your Enemy

No song of the week this time.  Instead, in light of the latest provocation ($55M extra to Mount Royal), I encourage you to review a previous SOTW.

Notley Nails Lukaszuk

Quite an energetic exchange between Rachel Notley and Thomas Lukaszuk from yesterday's legislative session.  I can't seem to embed it, so here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H8gHD9t14A&feature=youtu.be