^^^ Interesting. A year before the Spectrum deal I mentioned above, the deal I got was to get a Spectrum phone and mobile service for $5.55/month. That was the monthly cost of the phone (not the mobile service) for 3 yrs. I thought it was locked in that way. Turns out it wasn't. At the end of the year they started charging $40.00 for the mobile service. I don't recall that this was explained to me at the time, but whatever. So I canceled the mobile service and paid off the balance of the phone. Now I have a phone sitting in a box, just like you have a router in a box.

^^^Yep. Every year I have to call Spectrum to see what kind of a renewal deal I can get on my internet. This year they actually increased my speed, sent me a new modem, and lowered the price by $10/month.

Quote from: deiscanton on May 18, 2026, 10:11:34 AMI just got an email this morning from FloSports telling me that when my annual subscription is up for renewal for the 2026-27 academic year on July 2, they wanted to raise my price for next year from $107.88 for the year that I paid last July (covering the 2025-26 academic year) to $119.88 for the new year.    I decided that I could not afford that price and would rather cancel the subscription for at least a few days in July to see if I could come up with that amount.   When I first attempted to cancel, FloSports counteroffered, offering to renew my subscription for next year at a 20% discount at $86.30 for next year payable on July 2 if I stayed on.  I have agreed to that counteroffer for the time being.   Hopefully on July 2, FloSports will honor their part of the bargain and allow me to keep FloCollege for the 2026-27 year at their offer to me of $86.30 for next year. 

I got the same email yesterday informing me that the renewal price for my subscription would be $119.88. This morning I went to my Flo account, clicked on "Subscription" and hit the "Cancel" link. Immediately the 20% discount offer popped up, so I accepted it, at which point a box popped up with this message: "Thank you for staying with us! Your next payment includes a 20% discount, and you'll continue enjoying full access to all your favorite content."

I'll find out on July 15th, when my credit card gets charged, if this is what actually happens.

Thanks, deiscanton, for letting us know about this.


 

Quote from: MCScots2013 on May 22, 2026, 11:30:44 AMColleges used to teach people how to think.  Now it's what to think, with very rare exceptions.  I can love my alma mater and be thankful for my education yet still be critical.  (Isn't that the "how to think" role of my education?)

It seems to me that this statement stands in opposition to your earlier statement "If I'm running a college these days, I'm adding courses geared toward real life application in fields where people are making money.  Risk Management and Insurance, Project Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Banking and Private Equity."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that these are pathways where you are taught what to think vs how to think.

You haven't ruined my weekend, and I hope I haven't ruined yours. I'm also not trying to crap on you. Yes, the world (especially the U.S.) is changing -- in ways that make me sad. I'm glad I'm so old that getting left behind isn't a problem for me.

^^^ I wish I could point to that kind of success in my family. I can't just yet. But my son, who has a BA in Political Science, turned to writing about a decade ago and has just completed an MFA program in Creative Writing. Simultaneously he has a novel that was released on May 5th. It's not likely to be a best seller, but it could earn him royalties beyond the advance he was paid by his publisher. This has led to him being about to start a job ghostwriting a book for a computer science professor who spent over four years leading a federal government organization.

There are so many pathways in life.

Quote from: MCScots2013 on May 21, 2026, 09:48:52 PM

Quote from: scottiedoug on May 20, 2026, 04:03:40 PMThe elimination of sociology as a major puts BW right in line with DeSantis' campaign to eliminate fields in Florida where students might learn how social forces work. And who needs to know how capitalism works?  I am glad I am not trying to run a college these days!

I'm glad we agree that Econ is a better subject to study rather than (...get ready to clutch your pearls...) Gender Studies or Dance Theory.  Those majors are major scams that do nothing but degrade the educational standards and puts people in debt while wasting four years.  If I'm running a college these days, I'm adding courses geared toward real life application in fields where people are making money.  Risk Management and Insurance, Project Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Banking and Private Equity.  All of these can be added to curriculum and not diminish an institution's liberal arts philosophy.  Plus, more parents would be willing to spend the money to send Junior off the college if he's getting a useful education.  And, yes. I am calling out male enrollment.  5% drop (over 1 million) in enrollment since 2011.  There are two issues we can all can clearly see.  Declining birth rate and declining male enrollment.  Good luck.

See bolded sentence above. OMG. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard a statement like that. There are countless ways that people make a living in the world that aren't considered "fields where people are making money". Where would we be without our grossly underpaid public school teachers, to name just one profession?

^^^ Hmmmm. I'd love to discuss economics -- especially how it's being taught -- but I think we'd better stick to more appropriate topics on this forum.

Quote from: CNU85 on May 20, 2026, 10:50:26 AMInteresting informtion. I hope BW successfuly comes through this. Also intersting that Economics was eliminated. Hopefully they still offer some courses. I believe it is important for every student to at least be introduced to it. So does ACTA when they evaluate institutions. I know at CNU, every student has to take at least one Econ class, it might be 2.

What is ACTA? Requiring students to take one or two economics courses wasn't part of the RMC curriculum back when I attended in the 1960s. Nor was it a requirement at Fordham U in New York City where my son graduated in 2009. Is it something recent?

^^^If you divide those wins by the number of seasons coached, it looks like Bunch would have the most wins per season. I didn't make the actual calculations, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, is there something going on at Lyon? Not only did their men's hoops coach leave, I saw on Twitter/X that their women's coach has just left after one season.

^^^Thanks.

^^^ Did you try to cancel by email or on their website? I.e., how is all this transpiring? Are you exchanging emails with them or is it some sort of messaging exchange on the Flo website? Or something else?

Quote from: deiscanton on May 18, 2026, 10:11:34 AMI just got an email this morning from FloSports telling me that when my annual subscription is up for renewal for the 2026-27 academic year on July 2, they wanted to raise my price for next year from $107.88 for the year that I paid last July (covering the 2025-26 academic year) to $119.88 for the new year.    I decided that I could not afford that price and would rather cancel the subscription for at least a few days in July to see if I could come up with that amount.   When I first attempted to cancel, FloSports counteroffered, offering to renew my subscription for next year at a 20% discount at $86.30 for next year payable on July 2 if I stayed on.  I have agreed to that counteroffer for the time being.   Hopefully on July 2, FloSports will honor their part of the bargain and allow me to keep FloCollege for the 2026-27 year at their offer to me of $86.30 for next year. 

Good to know. I hope all subscribers attempt to cancel and get the same offer. I certainly will. I'm already on the cusp about renewing -- mainly because the value of the product just isn't there.

Quote from: WUPHF on May 14, 2026, 11:54:07 AMNot one for the list, but interesting nonetheless... in Women's Basketball, a Knox College guard is transferring to the University of Iowa.

Kyle Huesmann
@HuesmannKyle
Iowa Women's Basketball has landed a commitment from Knox College transfer guard Bria Medina. Medina was fifth in the NCAA (DI-DIII) in scoring, averaging 23.6 points per game last season

Interesting. The Webster women played at Knox this past season and got smoked 83-53. Ms. Medina scored 27 in that game.

I don't know if this qualifies for inclusion on the list of players that nescac1 maintains, but I was just listening to a podcast done by the sports information staff at Randolph-Macon. They were talking with Jabril Robinson and Amr Areikat. Jabril is finished with college hoops and looking to play overseas if possible, but Amr said he was hurt his freshman year so is looking to play a grad year somewhere. I know Amr isn't a well known name, but he played in 31 games for the Jackets in '25-'26, averaging 15.6 mpg and 6.8 ppg. Was always one of the first guys off the bench. Another name for the list if you think he merits it.

Quote from: WUPHF on May 12, 2026, 01:25:21 PMA part of me wishes the primary care industry would be disrupted because I have far too many examples, including three of my own, of a PCP pushing statins and scoffing at the idea of using diet and exercises to manage metabolic health, but this is probably the farthest I have ever been off topic, lol...

Yes, we are definitely getting off topic. I was just trying to point out the distinction between "traditional" medicine as taught at places such as Wash U Med School vs Osteopathic Medicine which is what Dubuque is undertaking. As for statins, I resisted them for years, but finally caved about three years ago. I have, for decades, eaten a healthy diet that seems unlikely to contribute to increased blood cholesterol. My cholesterol numbers weren't alarming, but always just high enough to get the attention of any doctor I saw. One doctor said that some people just have high cholesterol for which there is no explanation. Statins definitely work to lower cholesterol readings and I have not experienced any side effects. Whether or not they can be the reason why I haven't had a stroke or heart attack since starting them is unprovable. There seems to be better evidence that they are beneficial for those who have already experienced one of those traumatic events.

Anyway, let's hope Dubuque's new med school is a success and that the institution remains in D3. (How's that for getting back on topic? )