Maths For Real Life, Period 1, Class 5 [2/4]

[notanactualfairy]

Today, there were computers. "Fact," said Jean-Paul, "things are more or less expensive in other countries; we talked about this already. Fact: things are more expensive in different parts of the same country. What a person can live on very comfortably in Atlanta, Georgia will not go as far in San Francisco, California. Comparative cost of living is, pardon my language, a bitch. As it is not exactly something you can calculate on your own without extensive research I am not about to ask of a high school class, I have provided the web addresses of a few calculators you can use to get a feel for how the cost of living varies in different parts of the country. You may pick some arbitrary salary; the percentage difference will remain the same. Prepare to be amazed."

Comments

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir raised his hand. Immediately. Almost before he stopped speaking.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

This one, he'd pretty much seen coming. "Yes, Liir. Have you ever used a computer before? I am guessing they do not have them where you're from?"

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He shook his head mutely.

...at least the screen was flat. It wouldn't terrorize him as he tried to do his work.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

Please, cathode ray tubes were so five years ago. "I am going to talk you through it, all right?" Jean-Paul gave him a brief overview of how to use the keyboard and mouse and how to get into a browser, then showed him where to type in the URL and, because he was feeling extra helpful, added, "Have you heard of Google?"

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I'd always thought you said it 'goggle'," he admitted, since he'd only read the word.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

That got a smile out of Jean-Paul. "No. English is a funny language, is it not?"

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't know," he pointed out, just a little frustrated. "I don't know it. Just common Ozian."

What did this have to do with anything?

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

But he was speaking--Jean-Paul quashed this avenue of thought as unproductive and upsetting to his student. All right then. "You are going to love Google. Type in 'www.google.com,'" he instructed.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He did as told and was not all that surprised to see the word in big bold colors on the screen. Why he'd love it, however, still alluded him.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

"You see the text entry field?" Jean-Paul asked. "Type in 'cost of living' there."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He guessed where that was and typed in as he'd been told. He got it right, though he wondered at how that was supposed to be a 'field'.

"All right."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

"Hit enter," Jean-Paul added, mentally kicking himself for not including that in his previous instructions. He did so hate wasted time.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He looked at the keyboard once to make sure before hitting enter.

The screen changed then, giving a multicolored list of things off to the left.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

And now Jean-Paul was giving him the whole spiel about links and showing Liir how a few of these websites were, in fact, the ones he'd suggested they play around with la. And how there were a whole bunch more links to mess with. "But, erm, try to avoid the porn. At least while in the class room, s'il vous plait."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"The what?"

...he was unaware of what porn might be. ...a good deal of what he'd learned to read on, however, could be said to be as such.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

Oh, very good, corrupt the students, Jean-Paul. "...Never mind."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Well, I can't avoid it if I don't know what it is, sir," he pointed out with only a hint of irritation. Oddly enough, it was mostly directed at himself.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

Jean-Paul considered headdesking. Then he considered suicide. Maybe he could get Logan mad again...

"I am sorry, Liir, it's only that I do not wish to be fired. You will have to ask someone else. Anyway, there should not be any on the first page or so."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Fired?"

He promptly dropped it. He liked Professor Beaubier.

"All right. As you were saying?"

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

"Right. Pick a link. Click the link."

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He picked the one nearest the top that wasn't in the grey box.

The screen opened again.

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[notanactualfairy]

Jean-Paul handwavily explained, briefly but thoroughly, how to use the website. "Got that?"

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

Michael had been listening to this conversation with interest, and promptly tossed a note over to Liir.

Can't fire me. You wanted to know?

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

I don't want to get in trouble in class, anyway. Why?

Re: OMGWTF Cost of Living

[rebelheartalien.livejournal.com]

'Cause I can show you, duh. There's magazines.