I have been buying CDs since the 1980s and spend anywhere from $14 to $20 on each one. Now they are only worth $2 a piece. Not exactly a smart money investment.

But I didn’t mind investing in the music itself. At least the artists and the songwriters got some money from me.

I’m hoping to make a generous contribution to an animal rescue organization. These are the people who rescue dogs from puppy mills and find proper homes for the animals. I saw them in action this summer and was very much impressed.

My heart goes out to animals, especially dogs, and hope that some day in the future there will no longer be a need for animal rescue groups because people will be more responsible with their pets, they will have them spayed and neutered, and will not allow them to reproduce for the sake of selling them from puppy mills.

Why does Facebook have a “poke” feature? I think poking is a bad thing. It is rude. It is pain. It is not something I welcome. I won’t use their poke feature and don’t want anyone to poke me, either.

Grants

Grants are undoubtedly one of the better forms of financial assistance for masters students because they don’t have to be repaid. They are sums of money awarded to masters students based on need, usually financial need. They may have criteria attached to them. For example, a student may have to maintain a certain grade point average to keep receiving the grant money. Grants can come directly from the government or they may be offered through private organizations.

Scholarships

Scholarships are another highly desirable form of financial assistance for masters students because they do not have to be paid back either. These are most often awarded based on academic excellence or some sort of talent although they can be given based on financial need, field of study, or for other reasons. They may be awarded as one lump sum or they may be awarded as smaller sums for every school year or for each semester.

Loans

Loans are given to students based on their financial need and they need to be repaid. Loans can come from banks, schools, private organizations, or the government. There are different types of loans that you can get and they will all very in their terms and conditions. They will have different criteria, allow you to borrow different amounts, have different interest rates, and have different plans for repayment. This is not the first choice for financial assistance but it is a great option for anyone who has run out of forms of financial assistance that do not have to be repaid.

Fellowships

Fellowships are another form of financial assistance that do not require repayment. They can be given by the government or by private organizations or institutions. In some cases masters degree students can just apply for fellowships while in other situations it is necessary for faculty members to recommend students for consideration. This type of financial assistance may be used to pay for education or for research. Students may receive fellowships based on need, merit, or other factors.

Assistantships

Assistantships make you work for your financial aid. With assistantships you have to work as a teacher’s assistant, a research assistant, or in some other capacity. Your assistantship position will be in your field of study and therefore will be worthwhile but will still be your way of working to help pay for your schooling. In many cases, you will be teaching a basic class in your chosen field or you will be doing lab work also in your chosen field.

Work Study Programs

Work study programs are geared toward those masters students with great financial need. The student takes a job through the work study program and makes money to pay off their school expenses. The amount of money that a masters student makes through a work study position cannot exceed their determined financial need.

Mare Ward truly enjoys writing about online education, in particular how students can request more information from schools offering an online masters degree.

I am thinking there are some parts of town in most cities where this sign would be real and not a joke. I know in this state it is against the law to cover your face with any kind of mask when you go into a gas station, convenience store or bank. Its sad that they have the need to pass laws like that.

We are lucky to have a good comedy club here. The club has top name comedians and entertainers every weekend. I’ve seen some great acts at Zanies, including John Pinchot and Tommy Chong. They were hilarious and I liked they way they hung around after the show and talked with people outside on the sidewalk. Good times!