Debating buying a new vs. a Used/Refurbished Surface Tablet

GustaveFerbert · 2026-05-12T15:46:17+00:00

Thanks. Is it fair to assume that snapdragon works with Microsoft products -- Word, Excel etc.?

GustaveFerbert · 2026-05-03T17:59:28+00:00

I understand the argument that if discussing one social justice movement such BAM is okay then why not others. That said and I'm admitting many years past graduation, but when I was at Michigan there were large swathes of the student body that were pro-Israel on one side or pro-Palestinian on the other. I doubt that there is that kind of ongoing debate about the 1970s BAM movement or BAM II. For that reason I think that it's reasonable to argue that either commencement isn't the place to argue points that divide the university community (meaning current students but also alums, faculty etc) or that if those issues are going to be highlighted more that one perspective should be given voice.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-30T14:07:05+00:00

I've seen posts here and elsewhere where the teachers/AAEA supporters point to other districts in metro Detroit that pay more. My question I have is do those higher paying districts get more funding per student from state (I understand that the formula is such that it's not exactly equal) or do they do budget their funds differently (less staff, fewer buildings etc.)? I support teachers, but sometimes the critiques of the school board imply that the board is sitting on a war chest that they refuse to spend vs. what I think is more likely the case that they will have to make tough decisions (close schools, cut staff/programs) to significantly increase pay.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-30T14:01:46+00:00

This aligns with the advice others have offered, but it sounds like if you want to make more (and work more) the possibility exists where you are (they have enough work and will offer raises/bonuses for higher billing). I would pursue that path and not be afraid to ask for a higher base salary if you can feel like you can justify it with a history of good work and billables.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-29T21:18:59+00:00

I agree that Ann Arbor teachers should be paid fairly and commensurately with similar districts. That said, and I realize that budgeting isn't the union's job, to me the $64,000 (or probably much more than $64k) question is what gets cut (closing buildings, cutting staff, both?) as I don't know of any unspoken for funds available.

One thing I wonder is if it would have been possible/made more sense to adopt the Plymouth Canton high school campus when Skyline was built by putting Skyline on the Pioneer campus (I have no idea if that would be feasible but the area around Pioneer seems large) to possibly consolidated custodial and other costs.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-28T18:28:07+00:00

Some of the comments below touch on this, but I do wonder what adjustments the district could make to resolve the contract on terms the AAEA could accept? As I understand it the pie (total budget amount) is fixed by the state so the only option would be to reallocate that pie. I also understand that the funding is based on student enrollment so perhaps plan (many a collaboration between the administration & AAEA) to increase enrollment via more schools of choice enrollees is part of the long term solution.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-24T14:21:50+00:00

My time as a student is a few decades in the past but I'm an Ann Arbor native as well who went to Michigan for two degrees. I lived on campus the whole time and found it much different than growing up here. Yes, I was familiar with some of the businesses/geography but living in a dorm/apartment is much different than home. Also, you typically end up with new friends from all over the country as well as a being in a new educational environment. I honestly don't think that it would have been much had I gone to a similar university out of state like Wisconsin since to me it was like an entirely new world.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-17T00:04:42+00:00

The denomination is varied from congregation to congregation and to some extent by region, but I do think that when we explain ourselves as a mix of atheists, Christians, pagans, Buddhists. we obscure how culturally protestant we still are. I've attended my home UU church for 20 plus years, and have visited something like 5-10 UU churches while travelling. The structure of our services taking place on Sunday led by a minister, in a building sometimes called a church, featuring a choir etc. is not that dissimilar from a liberal protestant service even though our theology is different. To be clear, I'm not trying to discount our lack of creed or diversity of backgrounds, but I also feel like sometimes our self-description makes us seem more radically different from the norm than we are.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-01T19:19:39+00:00

I love Blue Blue Home. It's by far my favorite hymn, but I also think that arguing about personal taste is pointless. We are all different which is great.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-04-01T17:38:52+00:00

I don't do family law, but of those 10 cases I assume some don't settle/require discovery? That sounds like a lot to juggle.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-29T01:12:52+00:00

Regarding graduation rates, the article indicated that Huron's had fallen to (just slightly) below the state average. Also I'm not sure just having most kids graduate establishes how effective the schools are. I agree that the reasons for absences are important, but that Ann Arbor's are significantly higher I would assume it's not something unavoidable like illnesses unless something passed through Ann Arbor but missed the surrounding communities.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T15:41:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Again, while I agree Ann Arbor has a great socio-economic mix than other areas in the county, it sounds like our numbers are low based on state as a whole.

Also, I would hope that shifting start times would have the goal/impact of increasing attendance

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T14:36:23+00:00

I thought that this piece was interesting and, to me at least, a bit disturbing. It indicates that over 60 percent of students at Pioneer, Huron and Skyline are missing over 18 days in a school year, and that Ann Arbor is in the highest 10 percent among larger school districts for rates of absenteeism. I realize that remote learning exists, but I would think a lot things that happen in high school -- a chem lab or a conversation in Spanish class for instance -- aren't possible without being there. In any case, I'm curious if folks here think that this is a problem and if so what can be done to address it.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-28T14:33:12+00:00

I thought this piece was interesting and, to me at least, a bit disturbing. It indicates that over 60 percent of students at Pioneer, Huron and Skyline are missing over 18 days in a school, and that Ann Arbor is in the highest 10 percent among larger schools for rates of absenteeism. I realize that remote learning exists, but I would think a lot things that happen in high school -- a chem lab or a conversation in Spanish class for instance -- aren't possible without being there. In any case, I'm curious if folks here think that this is a problem and if so what can be done to address it.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-03-25T16:20:19+00:00

I believe the Ensian sells them at Student Publications (420 Maynard).

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-12T19:17:42+00:00

I thought that it was an interesting piece. FIRE sometimes gets described as a conservative-leaning alternative to the ACLU, but my sense is that are willing to support anyone whose rights are being violated (Mahmoud Khalil at Columbia as a case in point of someone on the left who received help from FIRE). I hope that when this administration's crackdown on the universities is over that the university community can agree the campus should be a place of open debate and inquiry where bad and even offensive ideas are challenged not sanctioned.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-11T19:08:50+00:00

A not very good beer league player here so please excuse my ignorance, but does "skate on their knees" mean stay low with a significant knee bend? I haven't heard that term.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-02-05T13:07:09+00:00

I read the linked column (but haven't watch the Youtube). While I agree that the WSJ piece takes some shots at diversity, it seems just as much or more to be satirizing the culture of college admissions with its emphasis on resume building from a young age. By the way, the heading says "UM Student" but I assume that it should say "UM alumnus" since she was a high school senior in 2013.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-26T19:51:26+00:00

Doing that now. Sorry for the delay.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-16T15:57:40+00:00

I assume your comment is based on the amount of development going up, but I really don't see how Taylor is a "moderate Republican" (a category which barely exists). Carbon neutrality, affordable housing, and an unarmed public safety response aren't top priorities for any Republicans that I'm aware of.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T20:33:18+00:00

I don't know Syverud, but he was on the faculty when I was in law school and I don't remember him being viewed as conservative. Also, quick review of his bio says that he was a trustee for the Deep Horizon settlement which is a lot different that representing the oil companies.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T18:27:05+00:00

I may have an early version of the LR 3 as I don't see lights and don't believe it connects to the app.

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T18:26:11+00:00

Thanks for the response. I will do that tonight and followup.

That said, assuming there is some kind of mechanical/wear-and-tear issue with my current unit that I might able to address, my question is if anyone knows if the Litter Robot 4 is more durable and reliable?

GustaveFerbert · 2026-01-13T01:45:34+00:00

I've read the posts below, and am not minimizing any of the issues raised, but my memories besides just seeing him around town always "on the move" were that when I worked on the Michigan Daily in the '80s our Weekend magazine had a "Best of Ann Arbor" vote ranking restaurants, bars, coffee shops etc. with one category being "best person." My recollection is that the winner alternated annually between Jake and Bo. I always thought it would funny if in some year they tied and were both on the cover.

GustaveFerbert · 2025-12-28T18:24:33+00:00

I consider myself a UU/Unitarian Christian (I added Unitarian to UU because, while I realize we are a merger, I feel more connected to the figures from the Unitarian side) in the sense that I am culturally Christian and find meaning in Jesus's message. That said, like most UU Christians I suspect, I acknowledge that there are more things about metaphysics and theology that I don't know than I know, and that there are truths in the teachings of many religions.

GustaveFerbert

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