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WWW. 13th MarchSupport The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012Total outstanding student loan debt in America is expected to exceed $1 TRILLION this year. Millions of hardworking, taxpaying, educated Americans are being crushed under the weight of the educational debts, while the economy continues to sputter. Support a REAL Economic Stimulus and Jobs Plan. Support The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012
That’s why I signed a petition to Rep. John Kline (MN-2), The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, which says:
“Since 1980, average tuition for a 4-year college education has increased an astounding 827%.
Since 1999, average student loan debt has increased by a shameful 511%.
In 2010, total outstanding student loan debt exceeded total outstanding credit card debt in America for the first time ever.
In 2012, total outstanding student loan debt is expected to exceed $1 Trillion.
In short, student loan debt has become the latest financial crisis in America and, if we do absolutely nothing, the entire economy will eventually come crashing down again, just as it did when the housing bubble popped. Reasonable minds can disagree as to the solutions, they cannot, however, disagree on the existence of this ever-growing crisis, as well as the unsustainable course we’re on towards financial oblivion.
As a result of more than 30 years of treating higher education as an individual commodity, rather than a public good and an investment in our collective future, those buried under the weight of their student loan debt are not buying homes or cars, not starting businesses or families, and they’re not investing, inventing, innovating or otherwise engaged in any of the economically stimulative activities that we need all Americans to be engaged in if we’re ever to dig ourselves out of the giant hole created by the greed of those at the very top.
Now for the good news: there’s finally hope on the horizon!
Representative Hansen Clarke of Michigan has just introduced H.R. 4170, The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012, in the House of Representatives - legislation designed to lend a helping hand to those struggling under massive amounts of student loan debt.+148 notesStudent Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012medical schoolmedical studentsfinancial aidcollegeschool loansloansstudents -
12th JanuaryYears of studying puts a whole lot of strain on your eyes, so after receiving my new prescription and a scolding from my eye doctor about wearing my contacts too long, I was in dire need of new glasses. I searched far and wide at any number of eyeglass places on every NYC block, when little did I know that I could’ve found my perfect pair(s) online.
I found this company after reading a Forbes magazine article on names you need to know in 2011. For every $95 dollar pair of glasses sold, they donate a pair to someone in need. A socially conscious business model?? That’s amazing. Glasses can be super expensive. This company offers glasses (INCLUDING the polycarbonate, scratch resistant, UV-protective lenses) for $95. At first, I thought it really was too good to be true, like there was some sort of strange gimmick or hidden fees. This is not at all the case.
So a couple things. You can order the glasses online at www.warbyparker.com and try on up to 5 pairs at home. I was about to do this until I saw they have a showroom near Union Square. But before going into the showroom, I did the “Virtual try-on” where you upload a picture of yourself and you can “try on” different pairs to your pic. This really helps! I uploaded a couple pic (one with my hair up and hair down!) and ended up choosing the Zagg pair. I eventually went into the showroom after emailing for an appointment, and I had picked out the Zagg pair (actually I ended up with 2 pairs in Tennessee Whiskey and Striped Chestnut) after trying them on in person. The Virtual Try-on is pretty accurate, so if you can’t make it into the showroom, this is a good way to go.
The showroom staff is super nice and friendly. Jen helped me try on a couple pairs and was very helpful. The process was remarkable easy. You still end up ordering them online but it was nice to try them on an see them in person. While in the showroom, I also got a sneak peak into new styles that are not on the website for next season and they look really cool. I may have to try on another pair!
Just about a week later, I received them via UPS with FREE SHIPPING. They are high quality, come in a nice case and box with cleaning cloth. They are super stylish and exactly what I was looking for. I only paid $95 for each pair (and even got $5 dollars off for coming into the showroom), rather than the over $500 dollars I was cringing to spend at Oliver Peoples for a pair just like them. I brought in the new prescription that I had gotten a few weeks earlier at Costco. I’m glad I saved that money and ended up with 2 pairs, plus I can feel better knowing that 2 other people will be receiving glasses too.
I just yelped about this place but I just wanted to post it on tumblr too. I whole-heartedly recommend this place, especially for socially-conscious students who also are living on budgets while in school. You can give yourself the gift of sight to yourself and someone else who really needs it by ordering glasses from here.+7 noteseyeglassesstudentsNYCWarby ParkerForbessocial consciousness
About
An internal medicine resident's journey through public health, island living, medical school, clerkship rotations, internship, residency and life...with many pit stops, detours and distractions along the way. This blog is a gallimaufry of stories, pictures, videos, things I like, things I see and things that catch my attention even if for a fleeting moment. Feel free to contact me at christinechronicles@gmail.com Take the world apart and figure out how it works. - Built to Spill, 1994.
