Women's History Month: Acknowledging Indian American Women

March 25, 2011, 2:48 pm

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BY SHERRYN DANIEL

Women's history month is a celebration of what American women have contributed to U.S. culture. When most people think of American women and their contributions to women's history, they may switch between African American or Caucasian role models like Rosa Parks, Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Susan B. Anthony.
 
Though these and several other African American and Caucasian women have contributed a multitude to American culture -- they are not the only ones.

The United States is full of successful Asian American, Hispanic and Indian American women who have enhanced the fabric of American culture with bright hues. From politics to entertainment, these women have cracked the glass ceiling.

It's quite shocking, really, that they haven't been as widely recognized. This is especially true for Indian American women, who have augmented opportunities for other Indian American women to advance in entertainment, politics, business, and sciences.


ARUNA MILLER AND NIKKI HALEY

Aruna Miller (pictured left) is the first Indian American woman to win as delegate in the state of Maryland. Her win creates a path for other Indian American women in politics. And Nikki Haley (pictured above with caption) is not only the first woman governor of South Carolina, but the first Indian American woman in the United States to hold the position.



INDRA NOOYI

It is safe to say that Indra Nooyi,  Forbes third most powerful woman in 2009, created an air hole for women to breathe new life in the business world. Nooyi is the CEO of Pepsi and has focused on revamping the company. She incorporated healthier ingredients and has debuted new product lines that have enriched the company's brand nation-wide.




MINDY KALING

Women's history should also be inclusive of achievements made in the entertainment industry by women writers, producers and actresses. Actress Mindy Kaling, who plays Kelly Kapoor in "The Office," is a triple threat. She stars in, writes and has produced episodes for the show. Interestingly, some of the episodes she has written have been nominated for Emmy Awards.
 

 
JHUMPA LAHIRI

Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for her debut collection of stories -- Interpreter of Maladies. Her second work -- The Namesake -- was turned into a film, and the British-born, Rhode Island-raised writer's third book, Unaccustomed Earth, debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.



PADMA LAKSHMI

And finally, we must not forget about Padma Lakshmi -- the Indian American supermodel turned TV show host for Bravo TV's "Top Chef." In addition to being a bona fide food expert with best-selling cookbooks under her belt, Lakshmi opened up opportunities for Indian American women to be stars.
 


There has been no shortage of examples of why Indian American women need to be recognized during Women's History Month. Only time will tell if they ever will be.

Sherryn Daniel is a blogger, business school graduate student and New Media Manager for the National Women's History Project. In her spare time, she writes self-help articles as a D.C. Examiner Self-Help writer for examiner.com.

Photo credits are as follows: Mindy Kaling by Kristin Dos Santos; Indra Nooyi by World Economic Forum; Padma Lakshmi by David Shankbone.

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Listen to This: Twin Shadow

March 27, 2011, 11:58 am

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The South by Southwest music festival (SXSW -- or just "South-by", if you want to sound like you're in the know) recently wrapped up in Austin. I wasn't there, but I know people who were -- and some of them likely saw Brooklyn-based Twin Shadow doing his thing at the fest.

Twin Shadow is the stage persona of George Lewis, Jr., a Dominican-born and Florida-raised musician, whose debut album "Forget" has turned him into something of an indie sensation. After scoring a glowing 8.4 review on the go-to indie music site Pitchfork, being named as one of their 50 best albums of the year and chosen as a Rolling StoneBand of the Week, Twin Shadow now seems to be on the brink of getting some serious and widespread recognition.

Check out the video below from the "On Airstreaming" series, and watch out for Twin Shadow in your hometown in the coming weeks.


Download Twin Shadow's single "Slow" for free at www.twinshadow.net

Can Michelle Rhee Save America's Kids?

March 27, 2011, 12:43 pm

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I was on a transatlantic flight recently, taking advantage of the downtime to catch up on the movies I'd missed in theaters, when I caught Waiting for Superman, a documentary about American public schools, and without a doubt the most frightening movie I saw last year. It was also the most heartbreaking, and, in the interest of full disclosure, I was in tears by the film's end, no doubt attracting my share of strange looks from my fellow passengers.

Waiting for Superman, directed by Davis Guggenheim (who also directed An Inconvenient Truth) tells the story of America's public schools as seen through the experiences of a handful of kids from different backgrounds and economic circumstances. It reveals an education system that is not just broken, but that actively threatens the future of our nation by under-educating many thousands of children every year.

It's a highly troubling story to say the least, and reveals American public school students to be  some of the worst-educated in the developed world. It's a systemic problem rooted in dysfunctional policy and corrupt teachers' unions, and, if the film's message is to be believed, may soon lead to America's decline among the world's great powers.

The film is not without hope, however, revealing people who are actively working to turn the system around. One of them is Geoffrey Canada, the extraordinary leader of The Harlem Children's Zone (and a past guest on the show). Another is this week's guest, Michelle Rhee. One of the most striking sections of the film focuses on Rhee's turbulent battle to reform the DC public school system as its embattled chancellor, a tenure which ended late last year.

Rhee is one of the few rays of hope in an otherwise incredibly bleak picture of what kids in U.S. public schools face every day. Now, she continues her work as the leader of StudentsFirst, a national nonprofit aimed at education reform. If there is a hope for America's kids (at least those without the option of private education), it's in people like Rhee and Canada and their undying commitment to fixing our schools.

U.S. Policy Affects Chaplains

March 27, 2011, 5:31 pm

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I saw this story online and found it really interesting. CNN reporter Eric Marrapodi writes how the Obama administration's "don't ask don't tell" repeal could affect chaplains maintaining their role in the military.

It's true that many individuals took the role of chaplain because they feel a higher calling to be of service to the men and women in the armed services. Many chaplains who practice a Christian faith could be reluctant now. With the policy in place, many will have to contemplate their roles, which is the ultimate casualty of the new law.

But, in looking online, one of the requirements for an Army chaplain is that they are "Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army."  By my estimate, that includes those individuals who benefit from the law's repeal. At a time when many in the BLGT community were thrilled by Obama's policy, the question remains: Do chaplains have a right to be upset?

Ted Danson: A Long Way from "Cheers"

March 28, 2011, 7:05 am

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There was a time when it looked like this week's guest, Ted Danson, was receding into the shadows of Hollywood, his best contributions to the screen behind him. Clearly, that's no longer the case.

Following the success of Cheers, whose 1993 finale was watched by 80 million people, Ted Danson was one of the most famous actors in the world. Following up that series, however, turned out to be as tricky for him as it was for the rest of the cast (Kelsey Grammer excepted). While there was a six-year run as a TV doctor on Becker, that series failed to capture the public's attention in the same way as Cheers had.

In the last few years, however, Danson appears to have entered a prolific second act, in which his leading man roles have been replaced by even better supporting ones. In Curb Your Enthusiasm, Danson plays himself, and a foil to series star Larry David. In Damages, Danson is powerful as a disgraced industrialist opposite Glenn Close, and in HBO's Bored to Death, Danson proves his comic chops are in top form as a stoner New York socialite and erstwhile sidekick to Jason Schwartzman's bumbling private eye.

Probably most surprising, however, is Danson's latest project, a book called Oceana, which he co-wrote, about the problems facing the world's oceans -- as well as what can be done to combat them. The book addresses one of the most important issues facing humanity today, and is worth a read to anyone with an interest in preserving the oceans. Check out a preview here.

Exploring the End of Time

March 28, 2011, 9:32 am

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If you're like me, the concept of the end of time is a very intriguing subject. Perhaps you've explored the idea with a friend or colleague. Maybe you've even read about it in the Bible. But, nowhere is the topic more prevalent than in mainstream society. And that's typically where things get messy.

In the Christian world, every so often people will stand on street corners, write books or even make television shows or movies talking about the end of days. And that's cool for the most part. But what about the folks who try to specify a date the world will end or when Jesus himself will come back -- and are never right?

From Nostradamus to the average newcomer, claims are made that they know the date of the end. So far they've been 0 for 220 predictions, and my suspicions tell me that number will rise. For those of you in the Christian community who are curious about the end of time, consider this. Scholars and casual readers alike note that in the book of Mathew 24:26, Jesus says, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."

Others may point to the parable of a thief in the night, and how it correlates to believers getting their lives in order, rather than expecting a particular date of return for his followers. And, correct me if I'm wrong here, but wouldn't telling everyone when a return was going to happen remove the need for individuals to stay ready, which is the true intent and heart of the message?

In short, our society does a great job when it comes to entertaining, but we do a poor job when it comes to enlightening. So, the next time you hear someone telling you the end is near, you can nod your head in agreement, but don't ask for any specific dates. They're probably wrong.

New or Used? Consider This Before Buying a Car.

March 28, 2011, 10:37 am

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Do you have a financial question?Ask Michelle Singletary

Q: Which is better: Buying a car that's new or used?

A: If you're dying for that new car smell, go to an auto parts store and buy a "new car smell" air freshener.

But seriously, I wonder how much thought people give to the cost of buying a new car. The average cost of owning and operating a new car in the United States is 56.6 cents per mile or $8,487 per year, according to AAA's 2010 "Your Driving Costs." Those calculations include fuel, maintenance, insurance, license, registration, taxes, finance charges and depreciation.

In fact, depreciation often is the greatest expense incurred during the first five years of your new car ownership. The average vehicle retains only about 35 percent of its original value after a five-year ownership period, meaning that a car bought new today for $20,000 will be worth $7,000 after five years.

It's important to take this into consideration when buying a new car, because car valuations matter. An increasing number of consumers are "upside down" on their auto loans--meaning they owe more than the car is worth.

There is an advantage to buying a new car. The loan rates are typically a bit lower than the ones for used cars.

Nonetheless, for many, the wisest choice is to buy a used car, because you let the first owner take the big hit on the car's valuation lost. Of course, one of the biggest concerns people have with buying a used car is the chance that you are buying a lemon and will face high repair bills. However, if you weigh the cost of even an expensive repair, it's often not nearly as much as the annual cost of all those monthly car payments.

Whichever way you decide to go--new or used--don't get a long auto loan. Use a 48-month car loan as a benchmark for affordability. If you can't handle the monthly payments with a four-year loan, you probably can't afford the vehicle you'd like to buy. Keeping the loan to 48 months or less also reduces the chance that you'll be upside down on your car should you need to trade it or sell it.

Fighting Unemployment through Faith

March 29, 2011, 7:44 am

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A look at the role of faith and its intersection with unemployment challenges will be profiled on "Unemployment: How Faith Communities Help Job Seekers," Sunday April 10 on CBS.

The show will profile members of different communities of faith and take a look at how each community collectively works to help their body of believers.

For many individuals, support groups like family and loved ones have been looked to for encouragement in difficult times of unemployment. For others, tapping into one's own entrepreneurial spirit and outside-the-box thinking keeps people levelheaded and good spirited, as they search for the newest and most exciting innovation.

For countless others however, many attribute their churches, mosques and synagogues as what helps them to keep their sanity, as well as their faith, strong. And that's no easy task when you consider today's challenges.

For the first time in nearly 80 years, Americans are facing uncertainty like never before. Food banks are running low in parts of the country. Married couples are looking to downsize their homes. Parents are having to rethink how to send kids to college and, at every turn, emotions seem to run high, with hope for the future low.

I couldn't think of a more timely or relevant program to watch in the coming weeks. It will be very interesting to see how communities of faith have responded to the crisis and how lives have been positively affected by the faith community. Be sure to check it out.

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Michelle Rhee: "USA Today" investigation "absolutely lacks credibility"

March 29, 2011, 11:15 am

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Former D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, sits down with Tavis tonight to discuss the state of education in the country and to respond to a USA Todayinvestigation that questions the integrity of standardized test scores at D.C. schools under her watch.

"We followed all of the right protocols," Rhee says via satellite from D.C. "If you look at the story overall, I think it absolutely lacks credibility."

Specifically, USA Today investigated test scores at D.C.'s Crosby S. Noyes Education Campus and found the following:

...for the past three school years most of Noyes' classrooms had extraordinarily high numbers of erasures on standardized tests. The consistent pattern was that wrong answers were erased and changed to right ones.

Noyes is one of 103 public schools here that have had erasure rates that surpassed D.C. averages at least once since 2008. That's more than half of D.C. schools.

In the video below and on the show tonight, Rhee refutes the claims made by the USA Today investigation.

"The really unfortunate piece," the education reformer goes on to say, "is that oftentimes when the academic achievement rates of a district like D.C. go up people assume that it can't be because the kids are actually attaining higher gains in student achievement, but that it's because of something like cheating, which in this case was absolutely not the case."

Watch the video below, and tune in tonight for the full conversation.

Credit Card Machines at Church

March 30, 2011, 6:34 am

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A church in Kansas City has decided to install a credit card kiosk inside their sanctuary. The machines are called giving kiosk units. 

Quite frankly, I'm leery of them.

Don't get me wrong here -- I get it. Churches sometimes do things as a matter of practicality and to keep up with the times. People's lives are busy and most folks don't even carry checks. Yet, I still question whether this decision does more harm than good. 

More than anything for me is the question of whether or not churches are becoming so user friendly that members don't put any work into preparing to go to service. 

Think about it. Would it really take a lot for a person to put some thought into where they're going for worship services? Couldn't they make a stop a day earlier or, better yet, write a check out before they attend service for the week?

But, aside from my brief rant on the issue, I'm curious as to how others would feel about the idea of these kiosks one day being at their local place of worship. Now, based on its description, the kiosk machine being used in Kansas City isn't like the ATM that dispenses money in other places. Instead, a receipt of one's giving amount is recorded and printed for the individual. So, perhaps the matter is much to do about nothing. But, I've still got my lingering doubts.

Share your thoughts: Would you be comfortable with a credit card kiosk or ATM machine at your church?

How to Shut Down a Government

March 31, 2011, 11:50 am

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Government shutdown. The term sounds so binding. So grave. So...not specific enough for me.

How does one go about shutting down the federal government? And what does that mean for the American people? You know, the folks the government actually serve.

You'd be hard pressed to get a straight answer from any government agency about its plans should Congress be unable to get its budgetary act together by April 8th.

So, I talked to Stan Collender, federal budget expert, partner at Qorvis Communications and writer for Capital Gains and Games, to get to the bottom of this political mess.

Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

THOMPSON: When we say government shutdown, what do we actually mean?

COLLENDER: Like what happened in '95 and '96 -- if the government doesn't operate. Unless laws are passed providing permission for it to spend money, that is, to pay salaries and those types of things. Typically that happens with annual appropriations. This year, we're operating under a short-term funding bill called a continuing resolution, and what happens is that Congress and the president fail to extend the continuing resolution. If they allow it to expire, they fight over it, whatever, in this case, it could be all of the above, then the agencies literally won't have the legal permission to spend any money. And, under those circumstances, a variety of activities have to stop. And that's what we mean by a government shutdown.

THOMPSON: How would that impact everyday Americans?

COLLENDER: It doesn't mean that every activity will shut down. For example, Social Security checks will still go out. But, those activities that are funded with annual appropriations...the president will have to make a decision about what will continue and what won't.

By Monday [April 11], when the government is supposed to open its doors for business, you wouldn't be able to apply for a passport or a visa. And even intake on some programs like Veterans benefits might be affected.

Federal courts. Obviously, we wouldn't be letting prisoners out of federal jails, but if you had a trial or you were supposed to be a witness or on a jury in a federal court, that is probably going to be shut down.

If you're a government contractor or if you work for a government contractor or you own a coffee shop across the street from a government contractor where there are a lot of federal employees, you might find that you're affected as well, because contractors would discover that there would be no one in the government agencies to pay their invoices or to process their proposals or accept anything on the loading docks. So, there are a lot of things that people don't even realize they rely on the federal government for.

THOMPSON: How might this be different from the previous shutdown?

COLLENDER: You've got more intense politics with a larger deficit. It's kind of a witches' brew of political unease, and we're really not sure where it's going to turn out.

I think John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is in a very difficult position. On the one hand, I'm sure he'd like to compromise. That's what Newt Gingrich did, and that's eventually what stopped them from continuing back in '95 and '96.

It doesn't look like Boehner has that kind of permission from the other Republicans in the caucus. So if he cuts a deal with the White House...and Senate Democrats, then he might find that his speakership is in jeopardy because the Tea Party folks are so angry with him.

On the other hand, if he doesn't compromise, he keeps the Tea Party wing of the party in place supporting him and what else the Republicans want to do...

THOMPSON: So, you think the government shutdown is going to happen?

COLLENDER: Yes. I think it's going to happen.

Teaching Kids About Atheism: Smart Idea or Cardinal Sin?

March 31, 2011, 12:46 pm

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I was surfing the Web earlier when I saw this headline that grabbed my attention: "Primary kids to be taught non-religion"

What! Is someone really reporting this, I thought to myself. Not knowing for sure if the article was real, I kept reading, hoping to find out it was some early April Fool's joke. But it wasn't. It was all true.

The article came from The Sun, a UK news publication. Apparently, the education board there is open to introducing all types of beliefs to children -- including non-belief. According to the report, "The new Religious Education syllabus in the Lancashire town -- for kids aged four and up -- will include the belief that God does not exist."                         

Wow! Ages four and up, huh? That's a pretty early age to start telling kids that God doesn't exist. I'd love to meet the men and women who came up with this idea and, even more so, the instructors in class who have to teach it. I'm all for people exploring different ideas on a number of topics, but on this one I'd have to say it's over the top.

In the U.S., we seem to ask the question, how should you tell kids about God? But in the UK I guess the question is a bit different -- how old should they be when you tell them God doesn't exist?

I guess the answer for them is age four and up. Pretty interesting don't you think?

Can I Stop Wage Garnishment?

March 31, 2011, 1:02 pm

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Do you have a financial question?Ask Michelle Singletary

Q: If you already have a financial judgment against you, can a consumer credit service stop wage garnishment?

Elizabethton, TN

A: You will see a lot of ads from companies claiming if you give them money--sometimes thousands of dollars--they can help you get rid of a financial judgment. I would steer clear of such claims. If the judgment is legitimate, meaning you owe the money, you need to be talking to the creditor.

But, can I be honest?

The reality is the judgment means you couldn't work out how to pay the past due debt with monthly payments. Maybe you were unemployed and couldn't pay the debt. Maybe you had other financial issues that left this debt unpaid. Or, maybe you ignored the creditor calls, so they took you to court. The fact is it's unlikely the creditor or collection company will be willing to stop the wage garnishment and accept an agreement from you to make monthly payments. And why would they? They have a guarantee, as long as you keep your current job, that they are going to get their money.

If the judgment is fairly new, you could see if you can get it removed. Check the law in your state. Perhaps the creditor got the judgment based on debt that was past the statute of limitations. Could they prove it was truly your debt by showing original documentation?

If this is a fairly large amount of money, you may want to hire an attorney, who may tell you that, ultimately, you don't have a case.

However, your best option is to pay off the judgment if you can. If you can't, see if the creditor would accept a lump sum cash offer for less than you owe. Right now, the creditor has to wait for the money to come in from your wages. That could take years. So there's a chance a lump sum offer may be accepted.

A Time Machine for America's Most Vulnerable

April 1, 2011, 1:09 pm

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BY JANE ISAACS LOWE

This post was previously published on March 21, 2011 at Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.

Marist College recently conducted a survey to determine what superpower Americans would most like to have. More than a quarter of Americans said they would want the power to travel through time, which tied with mind-reading as the most popular choice.

At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we often wish we had the power to travel through time. We wish we could anticipate and adequately prepare for the challenges that lie ahead, especially to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable among us.

Fortunately, we got a taste of that superpower with the expertise of the Institute for Alternative Futures. While time travel may be the stuff of fantasy, we can look into the future -- or rather, many possible futures -- with the aid of scenario planning. This approach is helping us to understand how our society and the vulnerable populations within it could change over the next two decades.

Being healthy has as much, if not more, to do with our social circumstances -- where we live, learn, work, and play -- than our access to medical care. And if you're vulnerable, it often means you don't have the same kinds of opportunities to make healthy decisions as others. What opportunities you do have may be undermined by poor education, inadequate housing, low income, stress, or violence.
 
Recognizing the importance of such social influences on health, the scenarios we analyzed looked at a range of factors ranging from education and technology to food, cultural shifts, and crime.

Not surprisingly, two drivers of vulnerability loomed larger than the others: what happens to the economy and jobs, and how the government responds. Even a strong economy does not guarantee a drop in the ranks of the vulnerable. Likewise, there are ways we can respond to economic hardship that would ultimately improve their prospects.

The following is a quick overview of the four scenarios we considered:
 

SCENARIO 1: COMEBACK?
The economy rebounds after the Great Recession. Education improves and benefits most families. But automation and offshoring prevent many jobs from ever coming back. Governments are constrained by their debts. Despite some improvements, the ranks of the vulnerable expand.

SCENARIO 2: DARK DECADES
The double‐dip recession is followed by peak oil in 2016. Prices for energy and food rise rapidly while low‐ and middle‐income jobs continue to disappear. Government services and payments are cut severely, while vulnerability rises significantly.

SCENARIO 3: EQUITABLE ECONOMY
A depression follows the Great Recession. Massive unemployment and hardship prompt a shift in values that leads to an economy that is fair and works for all. Governments are forced to be effective and education advances opportunity across populations. Vulnerability is reduced.

SCENARIO 4: CREATIVE COMMUNITIES
The economy recovers. High debt levels limit what federal and state governments can do. Families and communities become more self‐reliant and entrepreneurial. Technology yields low‐cost energy and food. Communities develop local currencies, barter services, and support innovation. Vulnerability is reduced.

These scenarios allow us to anticipate what might be, to imagine, to check assumptions, to leave less to chance, and to act in smarter ways to enhance the impact of our efforts and resources. The optimal response is to develop strategies that will work across a range of different conditions. For example, finding cost-effective solutions to vulnerability that can be deployed locally, but also scaled nationally, makes sense in any of the scenarios. All the more so if those solutions address interconnected factors -- such as health, education, employment, and housing -- at the same time.

This is a particularly challenging time for vulnerable populations and for the country as a whole. We still face high unemployment and deep, long-term deficits with budget cuts that imperil safety net programs, education, and health care. And signs that policy leaders will reach consensus on effective solutions to entrenched challenges continue to be elusive.

But just as Americans are largely in agreement about what superpowers they wish they had, we are confident that there are many innovative and practical strategies that could improve the health and well-being of our most vulnerable populations and that the majority of Americans could embrace.
 
The time to start identifying those solutions is now, guided by thoughtful, provocative tools that help us take that leap forward in time.

Jane Isaacs Lowe is Team Director and Senior Program Officer for the Vulnerable Populations Portfolio of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Employer-based or Private Life Insurance?

April 4, 2011, 9:08 am

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Do you have a financial question?Ask Michelle Singletary

Q: I have always been told (and everyone I know believes the same) that employee life insurance is the cheapest way to get life insurance. Out of curiosity, I took a look at what I could get privately and was shocked to find private term level life insurance 30% cheaper: $1,138/year for private vs. $1,643/year for employee, for $1 million of coverage. The private coverage was for a 10-year commitment. My wife's policy was even worse. Have we been fooled all these years?

Paul, Reston, VA

A: You have proven one thing I always tell people. Check out what "people say" when it comes to your money.

Typically, employer-provided group-term life insurance is cheaper. But, there's another benefit that may not be the case with the quotes I assume you got online.

With group life insurance obtained through an employer, you typically don't have to answer a health questionnaire or pass a health exam. If you have health issues, you might get the quoted rate, or you may be rejected for coverage. Also, pre-existing conditions may be covered, perhaps after a short waiting period. You may find the quotes you got don't stand up if you have to take a health exam.

Actually, the most noteworthy disadvantage of employer-provided life insurance is that the coverage may not be enough for your family. And, of course, if you leave your job, you no longer have coverage.

You may find the insurance offered by your employer is less expensive than what you can get in the private market. You may also find you need to supplement what you get on your job.

So, here's the deal. You should always shop around.

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What Will They Think of Next?

April 6, 2011, 11:16 am

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A teen at a high school in California was suspended for bringing a deadly weapon to school. The weapon? His faith.

In all honesty though, no one actually called his faith a deadly weapon. They just said sharing his faith was a violation of separation of church and state.

After reportedly being told not to discuss his faith in school, he returned one day with his Bible; he was suspended. It's unfortunate to see this type of thing happen -- especially for a kid this age. With all the challenges facing teens, you'd think most adults would be happy seeing a kid do something like share a faith that believes in self discipline, respect for others, compassion and forgiveness.

What's interesting to note here is that the school received no formal complaints on the student sharing his faith. What's even more interesting is the possible lack of effort on administrators to have his parents intervene. Someone should really question whether or not anyone stepped up and called the parents to see if something in lieu of suspension could take place. It would have made a lot more sense. 
 
Was the school's decision to suspend in the best interests of the overall student body, or was the suspension a biased attempt to silence a Believer? You tell me.

"Master of the Mic"

April 6, 2011, 6:07 pm

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Most know award-winning veteran talk show host Larry King from his signature CNN program. He's also a very funny guy. Even though King turns the tables on Tavis by asking the questions in a two-part conversation airing this week, Tavis couldn't resist moving back into his usual role, if only for a moment.

Watch this preview clip of King describing his upcoming comedy tour, and tune in this Thursday and Friday as the two talkers reflect on their combined 70+ years of broadcasting experience.

Financial Literacy for Youth

April 7, 2011, 6:10 am

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Do you have a financial question?Ask Michelle Singletary

Q: I would like to do a "spending fast" with a youth council. Do you have any suggestions on how to get the youth to buy into the fast?

Denise, Washington, DC

A: First, good for you for trying to help young folks manage their money. And, what timing for your question, because April is financial literacy month.

In a proclamation for the month, President Obama said: "Americans' ability to build a secure future for themselves and their families requires the navigation of an increasingly complex financial system. As we recover from the worst economic crisis in generations, it is more important than ever to be knowledgeable about the consequences of our financial decisions."

In a survey a few years ago, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy found that high school students' use of credit cards was up. "The long-term health of our economy will be determined by how well we educate young people today," said Eddy Bayardelle, president of the Merrill Lynch Foundation, when that survey was released.

In the Coalition's biennial survey, high school seniors correctly answered only 48.3% of the questions.

A good source of information to teach youth can be found at the Jump$tart Clearinghouse, which lists more than 700 titles of financial literacy materials, many with free information.

So, how do you get kids interested in curbing their spending?

Ask them what they want. Are they planning to attend college, and if so, how will they or their parents pay for it? Would they like to buy a car one day? Do they want a better cell phone than the one they have?

You see, they won't buy into a spending fast (pun intended) unless they have something to save for. Get them to identify their financial wish list. Then you can personalize why the spending fast is a good thing for them individually.

And, if I may be so bold, my latest book, The Power to Prosper: 21 Days to Financial Freedom, provides a template for a spending fast. I encourage people to eliminate shopping for 21 days. In addition, you can't use credit or debt cards for 21 days. You only have to read one chapter a day.

When I've had young people do the fast, they are amazed at how much they spend, even when they don't have much money. A fast is a great idea and I know they will learn a lot.

Life on Mars? You Bet!

April 9, 2011, 4:24 pm

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In the mid-nineties, I was a huge fan of the showThe X-Files, the cult-classic detective drama about paranormal activity -- especially extra-terrestrials. As it turns out, the mid-nineties was also a period when the scientific community began embracing the possibility (or rather, the probability) that life exists on other planets.

According to a fascinating interview with Marc Kaufman, the author of First Contact: Scientific Breakthroughs in the Hunt for Life Beyond Earth and a science writer at The Washington Post, not only do scientists now fully accept the possibility that life on other planets exists, they believe it almost certainly does.

In his interview with Dave Davies on Fresh Air, Kaufman discusses how scientists are using forms of life inhabit in the most inhospitable places on earth to speculate on the kinds of life that exist beyond our planet, even as close as Mars. 

I was a little disappointed that Kaufman's speculation didn't include anything we'd recognize as your standard E.T.-ALF-X-Files type of alien; his are more on the microbial level. It's still cool, but not quite as cool as little green men.

You know what is cool, though? David Bowie.

  

David Bowie. Life on Mars?by kidibiza

Madoff on Madoff

April 10, 2011, 11:00 am

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Since being sentenced in 2009 to 150 years in prison, we haven't heard all that much from Bernard Madoff, the man behind the biggest Ponzi scheme in history.

Recently, a couple of Financial Times staffers, David Gelles and Gillian Tett, went down to visit him in prison. They spoke with Madoff for two hours -- or rather, Madoff told them his story -- in probably the most candid interview he has ever given.

The article, from this week's FT Magazine, chronicles Madoff's rise from upstart outsider financier, to one of the most revered men on Wall Street, to one of the biggest villains in the economic crash. He tells his story with a surprising even-handedness, even talking candidly about what he's been doing in prison (seeing a therapist, reading Danielle Steele novels).

For someone who was the subject of so much media attention, it's fascinating to hear him tell his story from his own perspective and get a little more insight into how the mind of such a man might work.