My mom was originally from Long Island, so we used to go down and visit often. She moved back about 10 years ago for a job. I've lived in Western NY for my entire life, but moved down for law school and spent a total of 5 years living in Patchogue. Honestly, I couldn't wait to leave. I hated every aspect of Long…

In terms of Democrat vs. Republican? Where I live upstate, the county has a Republican executive, but the city has a Democratic mayor and our US Rep has been Democrat for I think around 30 years. I think the state senators and assemblymen are usually Democrat. The suburbs are kind of split but overall I think it's a…

Yeah, basically the Eastern half of long island doesn't have sewer lines for human waste. So each yard as a cesspool buried in it. It's disgusting. God help you if it ever backs up or something happens to it.

To your 2nd paragraph, there is no better illustration than Long Island, NY. Some of the highest taxes in the country, yet, the roads are full of pot holes, public service is virtually non-existent, most homes still heat with oil, most homes have cesspools and not sewer lines, the enforcement of ordinances and codes…

Damn it, I totally read that in Carlin's voice. Now I need to go watch some of his routines.

That is, apparently, what we do in this society. Like... let me think... "for all intensive purposes", using literally for literally everything (see what I did there?), etc.... Instead of correcting the incorrect we just accept it because calling people out on incorrect language usage is probably "bullying".

CO Detector, not CO2. It's detecting carbon MONoxide not carbon DIoxide. Pedantic yes, but an important difference nonetheless.

I like your style. Nickel and diming them is nice, though I'd imagine they make more off a second of interest from their loans than a year's worth of doing that, but if it makes you feel good and ends up costing them even a little, I say go for it.

I've decided we're going to get my wife's loan's consolidated. Citizen's Bank offers some pretty good rates around 4% for 15 year loans. Even though she's on the 25 year repayment plan, her loans average out to 6.5%, so with the reduction in interest, we shave off 10 years and only end up paying about $100/month more.…

When I read this:

My suggestion is, if you're giving them instructions consistent with their contract, and they are not holding up their end of the bargain is, write them a letter detailing the events then tell them you're contacting the US Dept. of Ed., the US Attorney General, and your state Attorney General.

Interesting, because on one payment where they received an extra payment, the assumed it was a future payment. Another payment where we specifically indicated "pay to principal" (after our required payment), they put it towards a future payment. All in all, they're definitely a company to be watched. Not to mention…

We have them auto-deduct from our account as well. However, whenever we make an additional payment (i.e., above and beyond our required monthly payment), they tend to "screw it up" in their favor (shocking). Their customer service is good, I will say that. When I've called up to correct it, they usually put the order…

You can pay to principal. It's pretty standard with any loan. You have to pay your monthly payment (interest and principal), then any additional payment can be paid directly to principal. However, you can't assume they will do that. They will treat it is as the payment of your next required payment, unless you…

I would be extremely careful about just overpaying and assuming a) it will go to principal; and b) it will go to the highest interest rate. These are companies who's goal is profit, they are not there to help you save money. For Navient (formally part of Sallie Mae), any additional payment must be marked as "pay to…

So, under your rules, stating one's profession in a conversation regarding social interactions in a profession, is elitist. So, if involved in a conversation regarding professions, what, pray tell, should a doctor or a lawyer state as their given profession? I mean, of course we wouldn't want to come off as elitist,…

No, if you comprehended what I wrote (which you didn't), I didn't state my profession and my wife's profession to say LOOK AT ME, I'M A SPECIAL SNOW FLAKE AND I'M SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOU!!!!!!

First off, I don't buy anecdotal evidence. Sorry. But, I do know plenty of professionals that use social media, but employers tend to frown upon it, and it's by far more trouble than its worth.

As a lawyer, it can also prevent you from getting admitted and getting your license. In my book, it's just not worth the risk. What exactly am I giving up, pictures of babies and posting events that literally everyone encounters? I'm good. I'll share that with the people who are in my actual life.

Did you completely miss my point? Because something is popular it invalidates my point that in law and medicine its use is frowned upon? I'm sorry, but that's just word salad. It doesn't actually have meaning.