Something to Know - 13 April

1.  This NY Times editorial helps to explain where Congress is in their muddy efforts to work out an Immigration Reform bill.  Yes, there is bi-partisan agreement.  It is messy and it is really slow.  The Republicans on the fringe seem to be happy to continue to be the darlings of the Tea Party at the expense of being the Party of Stupid:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/opinion/sunday/first-steps-to-a-better-immigration-bill.html?emc=eta1&_r=0&pagewanted=print

2.  Ah yes.  Graduation ceremonies abound at this time of year.  Commencement speakers, and the attention that is drawn to them are really intensified by social media.  Not being sure what the real purpose is, many administrators try and keep a cool and conservative appearance without drawing any attention.  However, it is the graduating class that is to benefit from the speeches, even though it may provoke, or alienate people who are not even going to be present.   Letting the seniors and grad students pick their speakers might just get you Kermit the Frog or Angela Davis....but it is their choice, as it should be:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/sunday-review/the-challenge-of-choosing-a-commencement-speaker.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=print

3.  Timothy Egan pays close attention to the "Wacko Bird" Senator from Texas.  You should too:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/e-pluribus-me/?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

3.  Student debt is a concern and an issue that we, as a nation, can do something about.  To allow it to grow and fester is killing this country.  It affects those most-likely to be tomorrow's productive citizens, and places them in serious financial straits before they even start.  It also sours the young on the future of this country:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/12/student-debt-and-the-crushing-of-the-american-dream/?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

--

Juan

"True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country."
       -- Kurt Vonnegut