Screen on the Green: Nope.

BREAKING!

Friend of the blog, TA, has alerted us that Screen on the Green will not be occuring this summer.  We don't have much information as of this time, other than an unofficial confirmation from the National Park Service.

At this point HBO has not applied for an permitting in relation to the Screen on the Green series, and knowing the headache in getting a permit from the NPS, you would assume they would have done so by this point.

So ... enjoy your outdoor movies somewhere else ... :-/

Student Loan Companies -- Destroying America

I just received an email from Citi, my student loan provider, and I am FURIOUS!!

Not only are they draining Americans of bajillions of dollars every year, these scam artists have now taken the time to draft an email telling me why the federal Direct Lending Program will hurt people. They couldn't be more wrong - greedy bastards.

In Obama's budget cuts, he has proposed that the federal government issue all federal loans directly, rather than referring them to private lenders. I remember seeing Hillary stump about this, and nothing on her platform got me more excited than this idea. The loan companies want nothing to do with this, of course, as this would severely slash their profits.

The money that the government saves by not outsourcing these loans to private lenders will go directly to increase Pell Grants, which would allow SO many more students access to college. The email I received from Citi is below, and their reasoning seems to be nothing more than the typical capitalist argument of "let the markets decide." I feel like I become more of a left-wing nut everyday, I realize, but give me a break Citibank.

WaPo has a great article here to make sense of what Obama is doing.

May 7, 2009


Dear CHARLES LEIZEAR,

Thank you for the opportunity to help you obtain the education of your choice. As a student loan provider for the past 50 years, Citi has provided financial aid assistance to millions of students and parents nationwide.

Given the challenging economy and continued increases in the cost of higher education, it is critical that the U.S. student lending system serves the best interests of students and their families. If you believe that competition and choice among student loan providers is valuable, you have an opportunity to make your voice heard.

Why Get Involved?
The government budget outline proposes offering federal student loans solely through the federal government's Direct Lending Program starting July of next year. While this proposal will not impact a borrower's ability to obtain a federal student loan, it will eliminate your ability to choose a student loan provider. It will also substantially increase the national debt since each and every federally-insured student loan will be funded by the Federal Treasury through the issuance of treasury securities. This proposal impacts you as a citizen - both as a taxpayer and as a borrower.

Why Does Competition And Choice Matter?
Without private lender involvement through the Federal Family Education Loan Program, students and their families will not enjoy the benefits that competition has made possible for more than 40 years. This competition has provided not only a choice of lenders, but also innovative products and services, such as:

• a variety of borrower benefits that lower your cost of borrowing
• financial literacy programs that educate you on how to borrow responsibly
• web-based tools and resources to advise you about your financing options
• default prevention services to help you pay back your loans

Competition also has driven increased customer satisfaction as a result of the responsiveness, personal attention and on-campus support that student loan lenders have provided to borrowers and schools nationwide.

Make Your Voice Heard
If you value the ability to shop for, evaluate and choose your student loan provider, make your voice heard by contacting your Members of Congress and by signing one of the online petitions that support borrower choice and competition in federal student lending.

Sincerely,

The Student Loan Corporation

Go Humans Go

My favorite ads ... check this out:
http://atomische.com/img/Go_Humans_Go

Go...

Go Humans Go

Sigma Chi ... Anchorbowl

If you are in the Greek community ... go to Anchorbowl to see Sigma Chi win.

If you are not in the Greek community ... go to Anchorbowl to see Sigma Chi win.

Amazing video.  Props guys.

Sucess, Failure and ???

Google 

• Success

1.  Google Search - Easily one of the best search engines out there, with everything at the click of a bottom. It provides the best searches, and in a godly quick fashion. It has really been what google has strive on. The google search design is really where it got started. Its simple, sometime funny design 'Google' is all that sat on the first page. The term google, originally mean to describe a number now became a Company and a Verb. Something only Shakespeare could do.
2. GMAIL - Abbreviated for Google Maile, GMAIL continues to increase the Market share on Internet web browser email. With contracts to schools like GW and Hofstra Gmail continues to grow. The simple design with the send bottom at the bottom has propelled its success under average users. Where google really does well in Gmail is their ability to fit the needs of the user. If you get 1000 emails a minute, Google allows filters, and labels to help you organize, something other web emails do not do.
3. Calendar and Doc's - Now with PDF and Tasking, it makes reading and scheduling a lot easier.
4. Reader- Most likely how some of you will be reading this!
5. Maps/Street View

• Failures

1. Orkut- ??? Feature linked here . This was google's attempt to take over Facebook. What happen, I'm not really too sure. Introducing a new social networking site may have been a bit too early, especially when facebook was doing so well.  Although thousands of users complain about the new(er(er(er))) facebook, they still continue to have hits on the website.  I feel like someone in high school made this website for a class and sold it to google. I honestly hope google does not invest time in money on this, because it looks really sad.
2. Knol ??? Linked Google's version of wikipedia. Fail! Another early release, and much needed work on the site has prevented a mass exodus against wikipedia. Although there have been talks that google did not intend to infiltrate the non-profit, it still makes google's web developers look pathetic.
3. Notebook- Not even available as a plug in for chrome, it appears google gave up on the side project

• Ok, why google?

1. Sketch 3D - Although i have always wanted to draw the Underground in a 3 dimensional way, i don't know why google invested in this. I think all of six people use it to be honest.
2. Sites - I think only Mike has ever used this feature. I have attempted to make several using patch stats, but i found it too confusing at some stages. I think it has potential, but what market is google going after?
3. Patent - oh right Coca Cola has a patent, why is google telling me this?
4. And Lastly ... Google Sets? I don't think anyone has heard of this, but if you write five things that are common google can make a list of 75 things in common. Example - Colors Blue, Green Orange, White Black Pink... gives you 75 colours.

Where have we been?

From Ireland

Updates on our Readers and Writers 

• Tim  Graduated preschool got a new job with G.W. . Since he will be working with The George Washington University his email(s) will remain the same. Although his knew blackberry has google talk, and the chirping noise. His job still does not provide him a computer, sounds a lot like bisnow if you know what i mean.
  
• Charlie finally slept! He slept after reading [insert actual amount here Charlie]  essays and applications, Charlie helped pickour future (or at least GW's). He also has been traveling the country a lot, preventing him from posting his favourite places to eat in DC. 
• Morgan is still basking in the glory of March 17th. Just a reminder, that was half a month ago.
• Patchus has been too busy Exploring the world, and taking pictures.  Studying Abroad is Stressful.
• Lori is on her way to getting her masters, and is only a class or two away.
• Marc Abanto finally got let into the party of the the Real World. He now works for a campaign, and could really use your help.  Email him if you want to intern, work or even just help him out.
• Chris "Friend" Rotella & Katie Ross both got into Grad School, though for different reasons, Rotella to establish a monoplistic empire (an MBA), and Katie to study it... as long as it is in America.

If some how I missed your update, please reply to this thread