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Just a few thoughts:

I was thinking that it might be easier to have a list of products that ARE safe to make toys out of. Like if you make wood, wax, or natural rubber toys, you wouldn't be required to test them. It's a shorter list to make, rather than listing every chemical you shouldn't use.

Perhaps if a company is smaller than a certain size, testing could be free. Having worked in chemical inspections, it's really not that costly to toss in a few extra samples. Maybe this could be subsidized somehow?

-Paige

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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Hog rings are like big metal staples that have multiple uses.... Originally - they are the rings that are put into the noses of hogs so they can be led around. In fishing, they are used to attach nets to the heavy lead lines, and floats.

I worked for ODFW in Gold Beach a few years ago. My coworkers would tease me because I have a nose ring & they would chase me around with the hog ring crimper on days set aside for net repair. "I'm gonna get that thing outta there! Yuk yuk yuk!"

:) Best Regards!
~Paige

posted 4 years, 6 months ago
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I graduated from OSU in 2003 with around $32K in school debt, and an additional $10K in credit debt accrued during my undergraduate studies. I worked ~20 hrs./week and took about 17 credits per term. I was an in-state student.

Some pointers I have for young students would be:

-Don't rush through it and take 17 credits every term, or pack on the summer term classes because its not worth it. It's not a money saver to overload onesself with credits in an effort to reduce the time it takes to get ones degree. You're not charged per year. :P

-Be very careful about the degree you select! If you plan to take out loans, do consider what field you want to go into! I started in Zoology, but realized I'd never get out from under my debt simply because zoologists are not highly paid, and the jobs are few and far between. I, then, added on a Biology degree, but in that I also ran into the same problem: there are a lot of biologists in Oregon but not a lot of jobs... Particularly when the government stops funding conservation efforts and all the government jobs dry up. If you are gonna take out loans, pick a field that will get you a job, or even better - a good paying job. My chemistry minor saved me, because apparantly everyone needs a chemist.

Parents: don't force your kids into college before they understand debt and credit, particularly if it is up to them to pay for it. I was 17 when I started and a total idiot regarding money, and was responsible for all of my loans including stafford, and perkins loans. Make sure your kids know they will be paying off loans for a long lonnnng time, and that they consider the job market in the field they want to study.

Thanks!

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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