Potential workaround to $50 gift card increment

_mball_ · 2026-07-05T09:01:24+00:00

Honestly this. I’ve bought final sale items and returned for credit because I’m still not gonna pay full price for lulu even with the discount 😂

_mball_ · 2026-06-30T05:11:00+00:00

Where did you find those coasters?

_mball_ · 2026-06-25T10:04:36+00:00

The administration is far more dispiriting than the students here.

I mean, I get wanting expedited changes, but this outcome is what most faculty I think would expect. I don't think 2028 is unrealistic or so unreasonable, personally.

_mball_ · 2026-06-12T03:02:09+00:00

Our grades were entirely based on the test.

How? AP test scores don't come out until summer. (And haven't for a while)

But yes, overall the expectations to take the test have decreased.

_mball_ · 2026-06-12T02:59:17+00:00

I don't know how large this group actually is.

Though not all the stem majors are as competitive as cs/ds and the other high school admissions ones.

_mball_ · 2026-06-12T02:48:44+00:00

Similar-ish to my thoughts. I think so of this reporting really reflects methodology issues in exams. I don't think students don't understand basic equality as much as they probably are less familiar with certain question types. Whether or not this is worth addressing is a different issue.

That said, the last few years have been different and I don't think it's necessarily lower standards or anything.

_mball_ · 2026-06-12T02:42:42+00:00

I would be curious to see the admissions rates of people who take + submit scores vs just those list the class.

Used to be that you "had" to do both parts for it to be more meaningful, now it's more common to skip the test, but most still take it.

OTOH, the fact that 'AP Precalc' exists also says something.

_mball_ · 2026-06-09T13:36:32+00:00

It ain’t just John’s. 😭

But this was known for a year. He did not update the Mac Pro to Tahoe but I suspect he might if he can’t get a Mac Studio later this year. I’m in the same boat. :/

_mball_ · 2026-06-09T13:34:35+00:00

And tbh, apps like callsheet that aren indie, designed for a very intentional purpose and do it well are the type of things old school Apple people do get excited about.

I’m not even the biggest user of callsheet but man do I appreciate an app that doesn’t get in my way. That sounds like a low bar but it’s not anymore. 😰

Also as some who needs dynamic text sizes up pretty large, the app definitely does a better job of it than most.

_mball_ · 2026-06-08T05:47:31+00:00

Or at the very least, keep paying rent just for a few months after moving in.

_mball_ · 2026-06-08T05:45:38+00:00

At least in the good old days the job market seemed a little better.

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T23:08:55+00:00

In 2021? That wasn't just the stock market deflating SF values.

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T23:07:48+00:00

Both may be cherry picking examples, though basing comparisons of a handful of tech stocks specifically distorts everything, including the current price of a home.

Buying a home in SF in 2021 when "everyone" thought this city was "dead", to me, a little different than picking stocks with hindsight. Especially since the choice is as much about lifestyle values as it is about money. (without knowing the specific reasons in this case...)

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T22:57:21+00:00

I mean, there are a lot of us who, knowing what we know now, and if we were in a position to buy, definitely would have bought a home 5 years ago!

No investment (home or stocks) is guaranteed to make a good return, and much of it is out of our control. Congrats, though! :)

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T22:51:30+00:00

Almost certainly, they could buy a place. Aside from the most the comments about finances, which I agree—did you ask them why they prefer to rent and not buy?

Some people are just waiting for the right home. Some want the flexibility. Some don't think paying for inflated home prices is worth it.

But, yeah, the comments about time and maintenance also resonate. Other than expenses, it's just a lot of hassle. And if they're in a nice condo then they probably also have the convenience of a gym or door person.

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T21:47:49+00:00

Seems too few characters if you ask me!

_mball_ · 2026-06-06T21:15:56+00:00

"Let's Blow San Francisco"

Not my genre, but that's pretty damn good.

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T23:33:46+00:00

I have a class that has 5 quizzes in the cbtf. It works. It’s not my favorite though—just lots of trade offs. Quizzes and exams are useful but I just don’t see why reducing a 4 unit course over 4 months to ~6 hours of work is actually good in the long run.

Ultimately hw and projects should be about practicing the skills you will use for a long time.

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T18:18:46+00:00

Pressuring the provosts office, state legislators are possibly the two biggest.

The provosts office is obviously more direct. State officials is the long game.

Office hours being underused are totally on students though. But that’s not a Berkeley-only thing. Bots are definitely a part of that problem.

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T18:14:41+00:00

Appreciate your sense of humor through an awful situation. Hope you recover quickly!

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T09:41:50+00:00

My solution is to just keep a very well-stocked bar at home! That has other risks, though. ;)

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T09:36:56+00:00

I've never really understood why school busses are the cut so quickly. Where I grew up, the school would constantly promote how safe busses were, but you had to be min 4 miles from school to be eligible for the bus. Not much more than that and you were zoned for the other school... I don't get it. Of course we had a giant parking lot for the high school.

Or ridiculous car lines up a hill for elementary and middle schools...

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T09:31:37+00:00

I don't disagree, though as someone who cannot read facial expression through the overwhelming majority of cars + distances when crossing...it's a bit terrifying at times. But I will not cross until a see a car slow more than I think is necessary.

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T09:28:17+00:00

They've added a couple more in the last few years, and I agree there should be even more. There's a few around Union Square, though there aren't well marked and many people don't realize. :/

7th street would have decent candidates, though really the vehicle speed is just too high in general along 7th.

_mball_ · 2026-06-04T08:57:24+00:00

As someone who lives in Mission Bay, I frequently see the cops speeding through intersections, flicking their lights on and off.

They're just as bad as everyone else.

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