My thesis has been occupying most of my time, as of late. This has left me little opportunity to write other stories or random blog posts. But I did want to share this – what I would call brilliant – Facebook group I recently joined: “Cancel Student Loan Debt to Stimulate the Economy.” Created by a young attorney from New York who is struggling to make his own student loan payments, the premise of the groups is to advocate for the forgiveness of federally-funded student loans, to free-up the pocketbooks of debt ridden college graduates. Those grads would, in turn, begin funneling more money into the marketplace and boosting the economy (and maybe even the housing market?). The Huffington Post picked up on the group and wrote a short piece a few weeks back, also. Enjoy. Happy thesising…
Entries from February 2009
‘Take my loans… please!’
February 25, 2009 · 1 Comment
Categories: For the Funnies · Moola · Politics
Tagged: economy, stimulus, student loans
Nation finds ‘David After Dentist’ hilarious; except me, apparently.
February 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment
A girl I hardly knew in high school posted a link to the YouTube video “David After Dentist” on Facebook with a one-word comment – “HILARIOUS.”
The video, shot by the father, shows a boy stoned off his gourd, saying and yelling nonsensical things following surgery at the dentist.
Yeah, I had heard about it, and saw glimpses of it on the media circuit. But as I watched, I kept waiting for the hilarity to happen… At first I giggled as he rolled his head and slurred his speech. Then I started to feel a little icky and uncomfortable. And in the end, I just found it sad.
I guess I just don’t get it. This is young child, age 7 or 8 at the most, who says he can’t see straight, asking his father if the sensation will stop. It seems as though people are getting a laugh at this kid’s expense. Since Jan. 30, it has received over 8.9 million hits.
I mean, really? This is what people find funny?
Anyone who has been sedated at the dentist knows that groggy, almost out-of-control feeling the anesthetic can leave. It’s not like the kid willing put himself in a altered state that one would when they get drunk or stoned. He had oral surgery! Then his dad taped him and posted it on YouTube for the world to see.
OK, I did find the Chad Vader remake a little funny. But my position still stands: Humor at a child’s expense is not cool.
Categories: Bazaar-o · Get the Whip
Tagged: child, dentist, YouTube
Poverty, civil rights behind political unrest in Madagascar
February 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
When many Americans think of Madagascar, they may think of images as this:
Madagascar - a DreamWorks animated movie.
But the country’s reality looks much more like this, as of late:
By Walter Astrada/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Police killed 23 protesters today and wounded approximately 83 others who were marching toward the palace of Madagascar’s President Marc Ravalomanana, according to the Agence France-Presse.
With a death toll close to 100, the country’s civil unrest escalated last week when Andry Rajoelina, Mayor of Antananarivo – the country’s capitol, declared a coup, calling Ravalomanana a dictator who had abandoned the people of Madagascar.
The Agence France-Presse reported that Rajoelina presented his case in the country’s Parliament and in the constitutional court, seeking to remove Ravalomanana from office. However, the court declared that “it is not competent to rule on the matter.” Ravalomanana then removed Rajoelina from his mayoral position Tuesday.
Shrinking civil liberties and economic turmoil are fueling the discontent, according to another Agence France-Presse article, as Madagascar continues to be one of the poorest countries in the world.
This is not the first political upheaval in Madagascar’s history. The country when through similar events in 1972, 1991 and 2002.
Categories: Politics
Tagged: coup, madagascar, protest
Another shoe thrown at world leader, worse aim
February 2, 2009 · 1 Comment
By Erica Christoffer
How do you tell a head of state you disagree with their ideals? Throwing a shoe seems to be a method increasing in popularity.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao was the target of a shoe-throwing during his speech on the global economy at Cambridge University today.
Premier Wen Jiabao during speech at Britian's Cambridge University. (AP photo)
According to the London Times, a young man stood up, blew a whistle and shouted: “How can the university prostitute itself with this dictator? How can you listen to these lies?” The London Times describes the man as Western-looking with dark hair, and in his early 20s
But unlike the shoes lobbed at (Former) President George W. Bush in December during a press conference in Iraq, his shoe fell several feet short of the Premier. Journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi’s shoes came only inches from Bush’s head.
Zaidi is currently being held in Iraqi prison, charged with “aggression against a foreign head of state during an official visit.” If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail.
Thrown shoe (AP photo)
The Agence France-Presse reported that the Cambridge shoe-thrower was taken into custody.
Categories: Bazaar-o · For the Funnies · Politics
Tagged: Bush, China, shoe throwing, Wen Jiabao
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