Inside Out

http://www.insideoutproject.net/

What a simple but amazing project.

The Elephant in the room

‘Here’s the elephant in the room: most Americans are poorly educated at this point in time, especially anyone under 30. They are most likely to embrace slogans, conspiracy theories, and to look for scapegoats because they are incapable of real participation in a democracy which involves constant pursuit of information and its analysis. Also, because of this lack of skill and preparation to be real contributors to society, they are unemployable in the new world economy and so in their chaotic lives, lack the time, and resources to be self educated even if they wished to be so. Finally, as Nature will have her say, they end up having children, and a whole new generation cannot get a leg up in our rapidly changing (not for the better) society. As we ignore this problem, of course they will be victims of an elite who will both fear them and try to use them and their precious votes to stay in or grasp power in our election cycles. That’s where the dumbed down, inflammatory rhetoric comes to the fore. And if a good willed politician tries to communicate what’s really good for them, their well tended anger makes them see it as condescension and elitism. A nice “win/win” don’t you think? The past 35-40 years in American education is a disgrace compared to what we once had. My 84 year old parents had better educations in high school (one didn’t even finish) than people I meet now with Masters’ degrees – which I too, have. They had the good common sense to know when they were being HELPED in the Great Depression, rather than thinking they were being insulted; they could sort things out without always using the mirror of personal identity which is all you’ve got if you can’t read a book.’

#27 comment from “Nineva” in NYC in “Federal Charges Cite Assassination Plan“

via Rhetorics & Heretics

Changing Education Paradigms

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the fifth deadliest kind of cancer in the world.  National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) reminds women everywhere to practice regular breast self-exams and to schedule regular visits and annual mammograms.

Our Boy Barack On The Daily Show

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/wed-october-27-2010-barack-obama?xrs=share_fb

This seems relevant

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/19/is-pure-altruism-possible/?emc=eta1

Giving Slums a Human Face

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/10/20/arts/design/20ted-slide-show.html?emc=eta1