Banking on Education | college students borrow money at 800% higher interest than banks...

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Banking on Education infographic via Democracy for America

before they were U2 | everybody comes from someplace

in the wind | tweets from the week ending 07.27.13

TEDX Teen Talks | don't let what's not there make you miss what is there in abundance... http://huff.to/18zjLSI

"My son lost 40 pounds..." | prescription fruits + vegetables http://n.pr/15PQLUv

13 classic TV shows to stream with your kids (and where to find them cheap or free) http://bit.ly/12PFG3A 

Did Snapchat blow up because of sexting or by serving kids without mobile data plans (some of whom sext)? http://bit.ly/15PRpkK 

killing pain | a small idea from Raising Adults http://jimhancock.blogspot.com 

killing pain | a small idea from Raising Adults

It’s hard to find anyone who would argue that the world is not a potentially toxic place for children and other living things. But I’m shocked—shocked I tell you!—when religious folk who (I think) should know better promote the notion that the toxicity is all out there in society. You know who you are. You wanna quote the Bible at me? Bring it! I’ll quote right back.

The toxicity is not out there. I don’t believe our problems stem from exposure to drugs, pornography, and violence. That’s way too easy. I think the flow goes the other direction. Drugs, pornography, violence—the whole shootin’ match—move from the inside out. They are symptoms of deeper issues. 

Exactly which issues is the subject of much debate. 

There’s plenty of evidence that kids listen to adults—especially their parents—before they listen to peers. You think this isn’t true because of the mythology around peer pressure. The truth is, kids gravitate first toward older people who give them a sense of being and belonging. If no one like that is around, then they look to peers for relationship, affirmation and support. The upside of this is that caring adults value kids and cultivate the kind of safety and assistance that helps them grow as whole persons. The downside is that lots of adults care about things that aren’t good for kids (or adults for that matter).

It’s from adults that kids learn that winning is everything; that outcomes are more important than processes. Whatever happened to, “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game”? Adults decided it was childish and naive; that’s what happened.

in the wind | tweets from the week ending 07.20.13

Death Toll | Media reported gun violence since Newtown http://jimhancock.blogspot.com 

"It's not enough to know you aren't Trayvon..." http://bit.ly/10Z3EeY 

nothing new here | State of Florida v. George Zimmerman http://jimhancock.blogspot.com

Would you send your adolescent child a social media friend request? http://bit.ly/18ly8ty

Attention Generation Y writer: Stop it. Things millennials only do in media stories http://bit.ly/18lywZ2  

all we want is health care that works for everyone | another reason I like the Affordable Care Act http://jimhancock.blogspot.com 

"I'm sorry you guys have to deal with this..." | Kids . Cheerios . Race http://jimhancock.blogspot.com

Barbie v. Monster High | the waxing and waning of child's play cultural icons http://trib.in/13TJ9Em

will health care reform really work for everyone? | an update http://jimhancock.blogspot.com

what the president actually said about Trayvon Martin | read the transcript for yourself http://jimhancock.blogspot.com  

what the president actually said about Trayvon Martin | read the transcript for yourself

[You can watch the entire video uninterrupted by pundits here, or read the official transcript below]

—

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

July 19, 2013

Remarks by the President on Trayvon Martin

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:33 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I wanted to come out here, first of all, to tell you that Jay is prepared for all your questions and is very much looking forward to the session.  The second thing is I want to let you know that over the next couple of weeks, there’s going to obviously be a whole range of issues -- immigration, economics, et cetera -- we'll try to arrange a fuller press conference to address your questions.

The reason I actually wanted to come out today is not to take questions, but to speak to an issue that obviously has gotten a lot of attention over the course of the last week -- the issue of the Trayvon Martin ruling.  I gave a preliminary statement right after the ruling on Sunday.  But watching the debate over the course of the last week, I thought it might be useful for me to expand on my thoughts a little bit.

First of all, I want to make sure that, once again, I send my thoughts and prayers, as well as Michelle’s, to the family of Trayvon Martin, and to remark on the incredible grace and dignity with which they’ve dealt with the entire situation.  I can only imagine what they’re going through, and it’s remarkable how they’ve handled it.

will health care reform really work for everyone? | an update

Following the post, all we want is health care that works for everyone | yet another reason I like the Affordable Care Act, a friend responded on Facebook asking, "Will it really work for everyone??" To which I responded:

It certainly is being designed to work for everyone. Off the top of my head, so far:

- We're seeing increased transparency in the wide range that health care providers have been charging us for the same services, which levels the playing field for everyone 

- We can choose to keep our adult children on our insurance till they're 26 

- We can get annual check ups, including women's reproductive health exams and screening at no charge 

- No one can be denied insurance or dropped from coverage because of a preexisting medical condition - Insurers are required to spend at least 80 percent of our premiums on actual health care services or rebate the difference — last year [2012] those rebates amounted to about half a billion dollars back in people's pockets 

And starting in January, insurance exchanges will enable us to get quality healthy coverage at reasonable prices even if we don't have employers who contribute as part of a benefits package. The first-stage introduction of the California insurance exchange looks really good (I wrote about that here, with links to the state exchange information). I'm eager to see the details as they roll out a few weeks from now. 

All that to say, based on what we've already seen in the early phases of the plan, I don't see any reason to think it won't work for everyone.

"I'm sorry you guys have to deal with this..." | Kids . Cheerios . Race

Think you can get a conversation started with this little video?

[with appreciation to the Fine Brothers and a h/t to AdAge]

all we want is health care that works for everyone | yet another reason I like the Affordable Care Act

click here to learn more

nothing new here | State of Florida v. George Zimmerman

From Bernard E. Harcourt, Racial Profiling: What's the Problem? page 37

As far as I can tell, the process and outcome the George Zimmerman trial haven't yet lent themselves to crisp, clear, universal findings, except to underscore this conclusion: Dark-skinned young men are disadvantaged prima facie in the design and application of U.S. legal codes, law enforcement and criminal justice.

If we wish to be anything like who we say we are, we have to address and change prejudicial dynamics in law and policy as well as human interactions.

Death Toll | Media reported gun violence since Newtown

In the seven months since the slaughter at Newtown, Connecticut, the gun deaths of about 6,170 Americans have been reported in the media.

This does not for the most part reflect suicides which account for around 60% of US gun fatalities.

Federal legislation to restore and extend previously effective firearm regulations is stalled in Congress.

If this stalling doesn't bother you, no action is required unless the death toll reaches a number—or includes a name—that gets your attention.

If the stalling does bother you, you can tell your members of the US Senate and House of Representatives you want them to #makegunviolenceharder.

in the wind | tweets from the week ending 07.13.13

Are retailers flogging Back-to-School early? Some are/some aren't. What's it to you? http://bit.ly/10IMIt1

Scientist finally get around to measuring teenage sleep + the causes + effects of sleepiness http://bit.ly/14XXfjw

what if straight was gay + gay was straight http://jimhancock.blogspot.com 

one more thought about class diagnosis | a small idea from Raising Adults http://jimhancock.blogspot.com