[This article is reprinted here from The Social Verdict.]

As a university student I am all too aware of the increased cost of post-secondary education and the many ways one can rack up debt in order to achieve that desired goal, attaining a university degree. This article recently caught my eye and made me think whether my own mounting debts are worth it in the long run. Recently, it has become painstakingly obvious, even to the casual observer, that a university degree will not guarantee even an average-income upon graduation. Studies show that many graduates barely even reach the average-income threshold within five years of obtaining their degree.

Another problem graduates face is that a post-secondary degree has become a general requirement for many jobs. It seems that a degree is now a mainstay requirement for a majority of jobs. In years past degrees were looked upon as that little “extra” pushing one over their competition but now, due to the sheer number of people with a degree, it is expected of most people to obtain one. So, with an added pressure from the job market, increased costs, potential lifelong debts, and low paying jobs to look forward to, is it worth the investment, in terms of time and money, to obtain a post-secondary diploma? Better yet, do we truly have that choice or is it already made for us?

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One of the items I use everyday, sometimes, twice, thrice that I make myself is my own mouthwash. I make my mouthwash up with equal portions of water and that of Hydrogen Peroxide (3% Topical Solution). The cost? Not dollars, but pennies. You do save.

HOWEVER, rather than provide you with formulas to make products so as to save money and stretch that dollar — we will do that — please forget the now, and let’s return to then. Blog4Brains.com will, in the interest of nostalgia, provide you these easy-to-prepare concoctions that may no longer be needed, nor are they similar to any store-bought products that reside on today’s retail shelves. Some products you can make may still be useful, but maybe only for you. They are selected in the quest for some laughter and for some serious application for our Blog4Brains.com readers.

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[Note from the Editor: Although this article was originally written on Nov. 24th, 2008 by Alex Trusca, our new contributing author, I thought it had a strong relevance with today's global happenings. I can't help but think of how Iranians have used something as simple as Twitter, a seemingly superficial microblogging service, to effectively disseminate information that was critical to this recent Iranian uprising.

This article is reprinted here from The Social Verdict.]

The high-speed transfer of information in today’s world is a determining factor for technological improvements, business undertakings, and day-to-day communications. Many a time, this rapid yet necessary transfer of information can have broad consequences ranging from making or breaking business deals to the saving of lives in the farthest corners of the world. The “knowledge is power” truism is more relevant than ever in today’s cohesive social structure as more and more people are starved for varying sorts of information. People realize its substantial potential and appreciate the advantages of knowing as opposed to the downsides of being left in the dark.

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In The River They Swim — Essays of Enterprise Solutions to Poverty

“In The River They Swim” is a book collection of twenty-nine essays on enterprise solutions to poverty that includes a foreword by Dr. Rick Warren. Published this Spring (2009) by Templeton Press. What these authors have to say has additional meaning today during the current economic rescission, global warming, the scarcity of raw materials, and over-population on Earth.

Part one is called The Journey. Part two has essays under Strategies For Prosperity and Part Three’s essays are in the section that’s called Globalization.

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Snipped from DCExaminer.com.

I was left behind in elementary school, repeated the 2nd grade, years ago before there was any NCLB federal program/law. I remember not liking this then, felt embarrassed about it, but you know, I think it did me good. I graduated as the Valedictorian of my h.s. class, and went on to college.

Back on March 12th, 2007, Unum wrote an excellent posting for b4b called — you might have guess it — “No Child Left Behind: Is It Doing Any Good?” with 17 of your comments.

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Early onset of depression causing
physical abnormalities within brain.

I find the discourse about attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder interesting and, unfortunately, saddening. What is not coming to light is the causation of ADD/ADHD. I too find it overly diagnosed and medicated, and without first looking into why we are seeing this marked increase of children with ADD/ADHD symptoms, we will continue to see this superficial, and disastrous, medical policy continue.

In my casual readings in Scientific American Mind and New Scientist (as well as many others), I have come across many clinical trials and neuroscientific research that postulates behavioral abnormalities, such as ADD/ADHD, to be a symptom/effect from a early onset of a psychological pathology, mainly depression. We forget how much our brains are shaped by not only genetics, and our external environment, but our internal environment as well.

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