1.08.2010
All That Loud Music
A.
Strength is always fresh:
Strength - Metal [Single] {2010} - "Metal"
B.
"For a quarter century, Sri Lanka seems to have been plagued by misfortune, including a brutal civil war between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. But the conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendors."
Ushering in a more peaceful era? Innocent Tamil refugees being carpet bombed by the government of Sri Lanka is not "peaceful." I hope to someday return to Sri Lanka, but this article in the New York Times disgusts me. I've stayed in most of these places and the reason the beaches are being developed is because all of the people who lived their were killed or displaced by the Tsunami in 2004. That has allowed developers to swoop in and build an endless stream of luxurious hotels and guest houses that very few Sri Lankans can actually afford.
Strength is always fresh:
Strength - Metal [Single] {2010} - "Metal"
B.
"For a quarter century, Sri Lanka seems to have been plagued by misfortune, including a brutal civil war between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority. But the conflict finally ended last May, ushering in a more peaceful era for this teardrop-shaped island off India’s coast, rich in natural beauty and cultural splendors."
Ushering in a more peaceful era? Innocent Tamil refugees being carpet bombed by the government of Sri Lanka is not "peaceful." I hope to someday return to Sri Lanka, but this article in the New York Times disgusts me. I've stayed in most of these places and the reason the beaches are being developed is because all of the people who lived their were killed or displaced by the Tsunami in 2004. That has allowed developers to swoop in and build an endless stream of luxurious hotels and guest houses that very few Sri Lankans can actually afford.
1.07.2010
Topical
A.
I'm a day late, but you should listen to this track by The Besnard Lakes:
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night {2010} - "Albatross"
Courtesy of The Hype Machine
B.
"The health-care bill now being kicked and prodded and bribed toward passage will not “do the job,” either—only part of it. Are Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress doing enough? No. But they are doing what’s possible. That may be pathetic, but it’s no fallacy.
Hendrick Hertzberg discussing Healthcare Reform
C.
I'm a day late, but you should listen to this track by The Besnard Lakes:
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night {2010} - "Albatross"
Courtesy of The Hype Machine
B.
"The health-care bill now being kicked and prodded and bribed toward passage will not “do the job,” either—only part of it. Are Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress doing enough? No. But they are doing what’s possible. That may be pathetic, but it’s no fallacy.
Hendrick Hertzberg discussing Healthcare Reform
C.
10.13.2009
Your God/Your Supernatural/Your?
Sunday
Today,
The sea has its own religion;
It is as blue
As an acori bead
I rubbed in my hand.
I think
Of swimming out
for miles
and miles
in prayer.
I think
Of never struggling back
In doubt.
As though
In a world like this
Love starts over and over again.
-Primus St. John
Today,
The sea has its own religion;
It is as blue
As an acori bead
I rubbed in my hand.
I think
Of swimming out
for miles
and miles
in prayer.
I think
Of never struggling back
In doubt.
As though
In a world like this
Love starts over and over again.
-Primus St. John
9.18.2009
9.01.2009
8.08.2009
Get Back
A.
I've checked out for a while. Mostly because of the nice weather this summer and a lot of great things happening around town. I'll be back. Until then...
Thoughts?
I've checked out for a while. Mostly because of the nice weather this summer and a lot of great things happening around town. I'll be back. Until then...
Thoughts?
7.03.2009
Slow Education
A.
Sarah Palin resigned because of ethic issues?
"Max Blumental reports on The Daily Beast that Sarah Palin may have quit her job today because she was trying to avert a major, yet-to-be-disclosed corruption scandal. The gist of the rumor is that an Alaska building company called Spenard Building Supplies (SBS) was awarded a contract by Palin to build a hockey arena in Wasilla, AK, and in return, SBS helped construct Palin’s home"
Courtesy of Think Progress
B.
Hedo Turkoglu breaks off contract talks with the Trailblazers:
"The Oregonian has learned that free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu has rejected an offer to sign with the Trail Blazers and has ended negotiations with the team."
C.
Silver Jews - Bright Flight {2001} - "Slow Education"
Courtesy of The Hype Machine
Sarah Palin resigned because of ethic issues?
"Max Blumental reports on The Daily Beast that Sarah Palin may have quit her job today because she was trying to avert a major, yet-to-be-disclosed corruption scandal. The gist of the rumor is that an Alaska building company called Spenard Building Supplies (SBS) was awarded a contract by Palin to build a hockey arena in Wasilla, AK, and in return, SBS helped construct Palin’s home"
Courtesy of Think Progress
B.
Hedo Turkoglu breaks off contract talks with the Trailblazers:
"The Oregonian has learned that free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu has rejected an offer to sign with the Trail Blazers and has ended negotiations with the team."
C.
Silver Jews - Bright Flight {2001} - "Slow Education"
Courtesy of The Hype Machine
6.27.2009
College Cost Reduction & Access Act
A.
Everyone should look into this federal student loan repayment option:
"One of the big perks of the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act is the Income-Based Repayment program. Taking effect next Wednesday, the IBR allows college graduates with federal loans, including Staffords, Grad Plus, and Perkins, to lower their loan payments if they have enough debt compared to their incomes. (If it takes more than 15 percent of what you earn above 150 percent of the poverty level to pay your loans off in a standard ten years, you’re in.) For most borrowers, the program reduces payments no more than 10 percent of their earnings."
"One of the big advantages of the program is that the term of the loan is capped. So as long as you make qualifying payments under IBR for 25 years, the rest of your debt is forgiven, no matter how big it is. If you work in public service – say, as a teacher or in a government job – the balance of the loan is forgiven after only 10 years."
Here is an article about this in the Christian Science Monitor .
Here is a website set up to explain IBR, but you have apply through your lender.
I think the federal government could do more about student loan debt but this is a good start. This is also an example of what happens when Democrats are in charge.
Everyone should look into this federal student loan repayment option:
"One of the big perks of the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act is the Income-Based Repayment program. Taking effect next Wednesday, the IBR allows college graduates with federal loans, including Staffords, Grad Plus, and Perkins, to lower their loan payments if they have enough debt compared to their incomes. (If it takes more than 15 percent of what you earn above 150 percent of the poverty level to pay your loans off in a standard ten years, you’re in.) For most borrowers, the program reduces payments no more than 10 percent of their earnings."
"One of the big advantages of the program is that the term of the loan is capped. So as long as you make qualifying payments under IBR for 25 years, the rest of your debt is forgiven, no matter how big it is. If you work in public service – say, as a teacher or in a government job – the balance of the loan is forgiven after only 10 years."
Here is an article about this in the Christian Science Monitor .
Here is a website set up to explain IBR, but you have apply through your lender.
I think the federal government could do more about student loan debt but this is a good start. This is also an example of what happens when Democrats are in charge.
6.24.2009
A Topic
A.
I stretch out for a nap in my little hut.
In the fields, frogs chant their songs
And the birds in the bamboo grove sing along.
~ Ryokan
B.
Get rid of the Vice President?
"Given that the office is at best worthless (most v.p.'s) and at worst a threat to the republic (Cheney), why don’t we simply get rid of it? Obviously, having someone ready to take over in the event of a president’s death is a necessity."
~ Matthew Yglesias in this months Atlantic Monthly
C.
More summer happy jamzzz:
LAKE
Check them out next week at Holocene on Thursday.
I stretch out for a nap in my little hut.
In the fields, frogs chant their songs
And the birds in the bamboo grove sing along.
~ Ryokan
B.
Get rid of the Vice President?
"Given that the office is at best worthless (most v.p.'s) and at worst a threat to the republic (Cheney), why don’t we simply get rid of it? Obviously, having someone ready to take over in the event of a president’s death is a necessity."
~ Matthew Yglesias in this months Atlantic Monthly
C.
More summer happy jamzzz:
LAKE
Check them out next week at Holocene on Thursday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
