World News: July, 17 2013

Tainted Food In India Kills 22 Children

Source: BBC News

Money Quote: 

There have been violent protests in the Indian state of Bihar after 22 children died and dozens more fell sick after eating a tainted free school meal.

Four police vehicles were set on fire in Dharmasati Gandaman in Saran district during the protests by parents and hundreds of villagers.

A doctor at the local hospital said a chemical used in pesticides is likely to be the cause of the contamination.

Note to self: When in India (I hope to be going within the next couple of years), don't eat at the schools.

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Six U.S. States affected by "Valley Fever"
Source: BBC News

Money Quote:

The tiny city of 14,000 people, nestling in a dip in the floor of the San Joaquin Valley, California, is what experts refer to as a "hot zone" for coccidioidomycosis - an illness caused by the inhalation of tiny fungal spores that usually reside in the soil. 

Described by the Centers for Disease Control as a silent epidemic, 22,401 new infections were recorded across the US in 2011, mostly in the south-west, up tenfold from 1998.
Although two-thirds of those infected suffer no symptoms, and the illness is not contagious, about 160 people die each year when the fungus spreads beyond the lungs to the brain.

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More Law Schools Cutting Faculty Jobs
Source: Above the Law

Money Quote:

All of the untenured professors (of Seton Law) received notice that their contracts might not be renewed for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Opinion:  Law school cutbacks could be a good thing.  The amount of lawyers in the United States currently is, arguably, too high.  There is reform needed.  Schools are graduating too many students.  Does this make law a bad field?  No.  Does this make schools seem somewhat opportunistic?  Of course.  Law schools are merely doing what any large business would do -- making as much money as they can.  Of course, there are ethical ramifications about pumping the economy with too many law grads.  However, if everyone else is doing it, does it matter that additional schools follow suit?

1. The law school has given notice to its entire junior faculty, approximately seven untenured professors, that their contracts might not be renewed for 2014-2015.

2. The affected professors will be able to teach for the 2013-2014 academic year, but could be terminated after that.

3. As part of a larger effort to streamline the law school and control costs, these notices have been issued to preserve all of the administration’s options.

4. But the notices could ultimately be rescinded — and the administration hopes to be able to rescind them, provided it can find the needed savings elsewhere within its budget.

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Law School Admissions Officer Promises More Scholarships than Law School Had Allotted For

Source:  courier-journal

Money Quote:

The former admissions director for University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law — who in 2012 promised incoming students about $2.4 million more in scholarships than the school had allotted — has been indicted in the case, on a charge of unlawfully accessing a university computer. 

Brandon Lane Hamilton, who resigned last July after the irregularities were discovered, is to be arraigned next Monday on the charge, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Opinion:  This sounds a lot like my ex brother-in-law giving carpet away when he worked for a carpet installing cartel.  The cartel did not look upon the brother-in-law with favor and he was ousted.  He did not go to prison for it however.  He went to prison for another reason - impregnating my sister-in-law, something he was not allowed to do.  As a registered sex offender, the state had told him "stop getting women pregnant!"  He did not want to listen.

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McDonalds Tells Employees How They Can Afford to Live Off Minimum Wage

Source:  Lawyers,Guns, & Money

Interesting Comment:

But it gets pretty ridiculous when old white men want to control womens’ bodies and force them to have babies they can’t take care of. Ultimately, this is pretty ridiculous, but you have to be open-minded enough to apply it to the real issues in America. 

No person should have to hold down two jobs. The ultimate slap in the face is to have earned a degree yet have to put up with a budget like this.
Nvm the fact that McDonald’s allows a credit organization to steal your hard-earned money.

My Opinion:  I could live off this.  In fact, I have lived off less.  But, I must admit, 62 hours of work a week for $2,060 seems a bit harsh.  What is the point in the extra $800 spending money if you don't have time to actually enjoy it?

I say, work enough to just get the budget right, put that $100 in savings, and stop short of the extra $800.  McDonalds may be on to something by giving its employees a budget to go by, but there is perhaps a better way.  For example, show employees how to live frugally, take public transit instead of driving, get a roommate instead of renting a solo apartment, get the lazy bum of a spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend to get a job of his/her own to help supplement the income, and get on public assistance if needed. 

Furthermore, get rid of that cable/phone.  There is no reason to be blowing $100 a month on cable/phone when netflix is $10 a month for streaming and phone can be free with the Obama Phone (which I, too, have).