Obama Signs Reconciliation Bill with Major Student Loan Change

I Care AboutPresident Obama signed into law the last piece of his mammoth plan to overhaul healthcare Tuesday, and achieved another dramatic and far-reaching change with the very same pen stroke — revamping the way most Americas help pay for a college education.
The healthcare provisions and changes to the loan program for college students were sandwiched into a single piece of legislation — the budget reconciliation bill approved last week by the House and Senate.
via Obama signs reconciliation bill with major student loan change – latimes.com.

This is good news.  I’ve gotten loans through my local bank and directly from the program through the financial aid office at my university and in my experience the second method worked my better.  Tuition was taken directly out of the loans saving a step in billing and payment.  Then, when there was a delay in the loans, there was no hassle because the financial aid office of the university was processing them and knew the issue.
By far the most ridiculous point made in this debate, however, was that made by Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) who said
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Academic Freedom Media Review

March 19-26, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Wide-ranging’ inquiry urged on higher education future
BBC News, 3/26
China bans poet from traveling to US conference
Associated Press, 3/25
Principles of scientific advice
Hannah Devlin, The Times Online, 3/24
2 Formerly Excluded Scholars Coming to U.S.
Inside Higher Ed, 3/24
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Tom Goss on "The Politics of Love"

Tom Goss is set to release a new EP, The Politics of Love and a DVD Live at Terry’s the first week in April, and the first stop on the tour to promote the disk is in Cambridge, MA on April 6.  He’ll be joined by Jeremiah Clark and special guest Stewart Lewis.  It starts at 9 pm at All Asia Cuisine and Cocktail Bar and promises to be a great show!
Recently I had the opportunity to interview Tom about the new releases, and the results are below. Through a technical glitch (Ok, I admit, I forgot to set the software to detect my mic as well as Tom’s) I only have his audio, so I’ve edited it together with voice over and some really awkward edits.  But it will give you a sense of Tom’s music in advance of the show.  It’s pretty good stuff, so check it out.  Advance tickets only $5 at www.tomgossmusic/tickets


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Singer/Songwriter Tom Goss discusses his a new EP “The Politics of Love,” which deals with the issue of Marriage Equality in the United States.

Why is that Man Sitting in the Dark?

Some Grey Bloke is sitting in the dark, but he’ll have you know it’s not because of that silliness associated with Earth Hour. Find out why. It’s funny!
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This link has more about Earth Hour.

Academic Freedom Media Review, March 12-19

March 12-19, 2010

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Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Thomas H. Benton, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 3/19
Education International, 3/18
John Bojarski, The Duquesne Duke, 3/18
Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, 3/18
Mike Shuster, NPR, 3/17 Continue reading

What You Need to Know NOW about Health Care Reform

Why does this number matter? Click to find out.


An appeal from Consumers Union Action Fund that found its way to my email today makes a good point.

Right now, they’re counting the phone calls in your Representative’s office. Who is calling against health reform, who is for it.
They’re keeping a minute-by-minute tally – undecided members are getting swayed; those who already voted ‘yes’ are reconsidering.

These days it is easy to feel jaded about politics and about the influence of the people on the process.  We are far too often given reason to.   The fact is, however, that the voice of the people does still matter.  Politicians do respond to political pressure.  They always have and always will.  After all, no matter how much money political action committees, corporations or special interests channel into politics, politicians have to be re-elected.
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Grayson Introduces Public Option Act

This is the way to look at Universal Health Care, extending Medicare coverage to everyone.

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A Press Release from the Office of Congressman Alan Grayson
March 9, 2010
Congressman Alan Grayson, D-Fla., today introduced a bill (H.R. 4789) which would give the option to buy into Medicare to every citizen of the United States.  The “Public Option Act,” also known as the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act,” would open up the Medicare network to anyone who can pay for it.
Congressman Grayson said, “Obviously, America wants and needs more competition in health coverage, and a public option offers that.  But it’s just as important that we offer people not just another choice, but another kind of choice.   A lot of people don’t want to be at the mercy of greedy insurance companies that will make money by denying them the care that they need to stay healthy, or to stay alive.  We deserve to have a real alternative.”
The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish enrollment periods, coverage guidelines, and premiums for the program.  Because premiums would be equal to cost, the program would pay for itself.
“The government spent billions of dollars creating a Medicare network of providers that is only open to one-eighth of the population.  That’s like saying, ‘Only people 65 and over can use federal highways.’  It is a waste of a very valuable resource and it is not fair.  This idea is simple, it makes sense, and it deserves an up-or-down vote,” Congressman Grayson said.
H.R. 4789 – “Public Option Act” or “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act”:
http://thomas.loc.gov/  Click Bill Number. Enter H.R. 4789. Click Search. From there you can access the text of the legislation (very short bill), cosponsors, and other information.

Music I'm Listening to these Days

Every once in a while, I feel like sharing the music I’ve been listening to lately on this blog. Even in this age of iPods, I still believe music is meant to be enjoyed socially. So I’m sharing a few things here and would love to know what you think of them for better or worse.
This first set is a handful of videos from people I’ve seen live recently and have enjoyed or who are recent discoveries. Let me know what you think.

Saw Jamie Cullum at the House of Blues and he was brilliant. Much more of a showman than I thought he’d be, and much more of a piano virtuoso, too. HOB was a terrible venue though, at least in my opinion. Stupid rules about where you can stand; constant distractions from staff moving people around, according to the rules, yet being inconsistent about it; ATMs with $4 fees; terrible, cold concession food that is only available on the 1st floor which folks from the upper floors are not allowed to go down too except when the food is ready. It’s the most un-Rock and Roll rock Rock Rock Club that I have been to in a long time.
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We are the World I and II

This is the video for the 25th anniversary version of “We Are the World”, made for the benefit of earthquake victims in Haiti.

This is a noble project.  The disaster in Haiti is certainly one of the worst in recent memory.  As of February 10 the reported number of deaths was 230,000.  Stalin once said “”A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic,” and I confess that 230,000 is a difficult number for me to wrap my head around, so I went looking for points of reference.  Comparisons are hard to find.
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Scholars at Risk Academic Freedom Media Review

I am late with this this week, due to a number of commitments Friday, over the weekend and Monday. Please accept my apologies.
February 26 – March 5, 2010
Compiled by Scholars at Risk
Book of the week: No University Is an Island
The Times Higher Education, 3/4
Darwin Foes Add Warming to Targets
Leslie Kaufman, The New York Times, 3/3
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