Thursday, July 31, 2008 College Students on Food Stamps POST A COMMENT When I think back to my 20's and working my way through college with a part time job...(* sighs) I do remember learning to stretch each dollar...'doing more with less. And yeah, even going hungry a few times. 'but thankfully, it never got so bad that I would imagine ever forming a Facebook group called "I Ain't Afraid to be on Food Stamps." - so, times have changed. With inflation fears mounting -- due in large part to the crippled housing market; 'we can expect to see growing gas prices & food costs... 'Even heard last night on ABC's Nightline that even 'rich-folks -- with plenty of available cash on hand -- are not spending right now. So much for that theory of trickle-down economics that says if you give Tax breaks to the rich they'll keep spending to grow the economy. Seems everybody's cutting their spending bracing for the worst-yet-to-come-ahead. So not so crazy to read "with things the way they are, a lot of students just can't afford to eat," reports the Gainesville Gardian. And they are lining up to local food banks just to get something to eat. "There is a stereotype that well, if they're in college, they can afford to eat," said a food pantry director. "But there are some - (college) - students who have hardly any disposable income, and because of that, the food budget suffers. They either eat really badly, or they just don't eat enough." I want to say learning to do more with less helps build character --for the generation ahead -- but, it's really hard to listen to any rosy theories on a empty stomach. Source: Gainesville Guardian Labels: College Students, economy, Facebook, Food Banks, Poverty Divide, rich and poor divide posted by Henry Cruz at 12:20 PM Sunday, May 04, 2008 Facebook D.L. POST A COMMENT Reading about folks bitching about "privacy" on "social networking sites" (such as Facebook). One dude's boss saw embarrassing party pictures on his facebook page: "It was fine when I was in school, but I just started my first job. I can't be out there like that." The new trend now is to assume "online aliases" on Facebook, and MySpace... to "avoid the prying eyes of parents, college recruiters, potential employers and other overly interested strangers." - going on the Down Low with their freaky side... First of all, privacy is very generational -- (younger folk will happily share every pimple), while older folk that grew up in a world without the Internet may be so concerned they wont even post a profile picture of themselves. They don't want people at work knowing they suck toes at night for fun. My questions are -- less the privacy issues -- more the long-term results of kids using Social Networking sites to "hang out" instead of hanging out "in the flesh" - I can't imagine "online socializing" translating to very good people skills. In real life, you meet people. And then meet more people through people you know. I get it, That online statement: “it is all in who you know” is kinda true in getting ahead in life...but, do you really know someone on the the Internet...when all they do is leave you comments like: “showing some mad love” Is that really “networking?” - do we need to know what brand of underwear you wear? Usually ends up being: getting creepy daily "friend requests" from total strangers (who rarely look like that one good picture) -- and people I thought I left behind in high school. New Rule on my facebook: "it’s NOT OK to “friend” me on Facebook unless you're either very very hot or super rich" - now, that's what I call networking. Source: Washington Post Labels: Facebook, privacy, social networking sites posted by Henry Cruz at 4:11 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .