I've long thought the exact same thing. Taxation of property based on the government’s assessed value seems unfair simply at face value. It punishes the financially responsible citizens who pay off their property in the scenarios you mentioned. It seems to me that if you buy a piece of property you should be able to live there as long as you want without paying any taxes on it. Why should you be indebted forever to the government?
I find it terribly concerning that I'm paying $50k to go to a school to learn something I already know, and know well, to take classes on subjects somewhat connected to what I'll do in a future career, to get a job full of incompetent idiots who get the same paper as me.
Then why are you doing it? No one is forced to go to college. Nothing is stopping you from doing anything else.
If you want a "job" and a "career" working for someone else, then you probably will need a degree — there just isn't any way around that. You don't want to do it, but that's just what you will have to do because that is what is expected by the majority of people doing the hiring. Of course, if that's what you want, you should probably just get used to it because having a job means that someone else will be deciding what you do long after you are out of college.
If you want to chart your own course and be in control of what you pursue — then go do something on your own. Start something.
I wouldn't go to college with this mindset: "to learn something I already know". If you do, you won't learn anything, because you've already predisposed yourself against it. Go with an open mind. Look for opportunities. Collaborate with others. Find the best and the brightest — those in your class that are on your level — those that are ABOVE your level ... and learn from them, work on things with them, and learn everything you can not only about code, but people.
And never stop learning outside of your official classes. Keep pouring yourself into the things you love. Become an expert.
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” ~ Mark Twain
To me an email like that doesn't tell me they are more interested to 'engage'
When it's an email like the one from this blog I actually do feel that they are looking to engage — even though I know the email itself wasn't sent personally.
I like the invitation to reply — I've done that several times with a random question or thought about the product / service. Knowing that the person on the other end expects and welcomes those kinds of random emails is helpful. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't send it — and I expect many others feel the same way, which is why these types of emails are seeing a lot of success.
It limits the number of people who are going to show up and ensures that there is some level of interest by all in attendance. Even if 1000 people go to the first conference, that is hardly a big money maker — $350,000 disappears quickly with costs associated with hosting the conference.
They will make money, but it's hardly a boondoggle. The real benefit for Dropbox is getting 500-1000+ developers all in the same location sharing ideas, creating, giving them feedback, etc. A few days of a conference is worth months of emails/tweets/HN/etc — in both directions.
Those complaining about the price probably don't have any business interest in Dropbox and are unlikely to attend — which should suit everyone just fine.
Do you want to become an expert in email deliverability, DNS, bounces, white listing, DKIM, SPF?
Or do you want to sell your product?
It boils down to that. Spend your time doing what you are GREAT at and what you WANT to do. Are you great at email deliverability? Do you want to spend your time becoming an expert on that? Probably not.
I know how to change the oil in my car. I know how to mow my lawn. I know how to clean toilets. I don't do any of those things because they are a huge waste of my time that is better spent elsewhere. Same thing goes here.
This totally works — especially if the recipient is an organization or a cause. Grocery stores and other places do this where on certain nights they will donate a percentage of proceeds to a local school, etc.
People are willing to trade a small reward for themselves for a larger reward that a group can achieve.
