President Obama is not the only one having problems giving a commencement speech. A group at American University is protesting the selection of Congressman Barney Frank for an honorary degree and as the commencement speaker for the American University School of Public Affairs.

A letter written to the School of Public Affairs calls Barney Frank’s record “as a key player in our current economic crisis is almost as offensive as his endless refusal to accept responsibility for it.”  Sarah DeStefano, the founder of the Facebook group “AU Students & Alumni Against Barney Frank @ SPA Commencement ‘09”, told AU’s student newspaper, “The Eagle”, she is “sickened that the university would want to undermine the worth of my education by honoring a man with such a dishonorable record” stating that “Frank stood by and did nothing as our economy tumbled further into dismay.

On the record, he insisted that desires for further oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were ‘overblown’ and that ‘Wall Street would get over it’ if the banks collapsed.” DeStafano wonders how the Congressman “can honestly look students in the eye who are struggling to find a job.” (more…)

As you might have heard, women who would have ordinarily never set foot in a strip club are now taking to the pole in never before seen numbers, as the failing economy makes finding work that doesn’t require degrading yourself to drunken fools more and more difficult. For you guys, that means your otherwise perfect girlfriends may now be having to do some very, um, questionable activities, just to pay her half of the rent. And stripping isn’t the only one. Here are the 10 Sexiest Recession-era Jobs You Don’t Want Your Girlfriend to Have. (more…)

It is very easy to get confused when someone explains the US Tax system, but my buddy sent this e-mail chain message that breaks it down by relating the system to something we all understand very well – splitting the beer tab.

After the jump, check out U.S. Tax System Explained in Beer! (more…)

These days, common knowledge suggest that any Republican will cut taxes, any Democrat will raise them. And this election year is no different. Sen. John McCain has said that there will be no new taxes, only tax cuts, under a McCain presidency. Obama, on the other hand, says that he will only raise taxes on those making the most amount of money–those who benefit most from our economy should also invest the most back in, his logic goes.

But how much of this is talk and how much might actually result in more cash in your pocket? Luckily for us all, the Washington Post has put together an easy-to-read chart that tells you exactly what each candidate’s proposed plan means for your wallet. The information in this chart comes from a recent analysis of the Tax Policy Center, a project from the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution. (more…)

Believe it or not, free money for college isn’t only awarded to Einsteins and star athletes ‘ or those of you poor people who qualify for financial aid. There are plenty of opportunities for the ‘average’ college-bound student to take advantage of scholarship money. The biggest mistake to make, is to sit and wait, and not do anything about it in the hopes that someone will knock on your door and say, “Need some money?”

I just graduated in May, and now I am starting to pay back student loans. Let me tell you, it sucks. Having received my degree in Journalism from UCLA, I thought I would be in a good position to pay back my loans. Yeeeaaahhh…not so much. So now, after 4 years of tuition, room and board, I owe just over $115,000.

People say it all the time, but I will say it again…if I had it to do all over again…I would try to avoid the $1000 a month loan payment.

Here’s some common sense advice:

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Planning a trip this summer? Short on cash? Here’s a quick guide to make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck.

1. Shop Around.
So-called “value” sites like Travelocity, Expedia, and Orbitz give you the best price for plane tickets–but have often been paid by airlines and hotels to promote their fares and rooms above all others, screwing you over in the process.

Instead, use an aggregator, like Momondo or Kayak, that searches hundreds of travel websites in order to find you the best deal. These Sites also feature flights from smaller airlines and airlines, like Southwest, that don’t actively participate in online travel booking sites. Also, aggregators won’t jack you for a fee, like most “value” travel sites.

2. Skip the Hotel.
Really, most hotels are the same. Except for rooms whose per-night price could pay for last semester, you won’t notice much of a difference, I promise. So, trade in the five-star for one of these inexpensive (but way more fun!) options:

Hostels - For international and domestic travel alike, hostels kick the crap out of everything else. They’re cheap, relaxing and extra fun–plus, you get to mingle with countless hotties from around the world. You may not have the privacy or luxury of a hotel, but it’s worth the “sacrifice.” (more…)

The key to success? Be a nice guy. Seriously.

Obviously, be competent, smart and forward-thinking. But according to Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor, your career success depends on having personal well-being and playing well with others.

‘The grim reality is that life is a popularity contest,’ says Sanders, a Loyola-Maramont graduate and former indie-rock musician. ‘There was a Harvard Business Review study about how people select who they want to work with. And you know what? Everyone would rather work for a likable fool than a competent jerk.’

Sanders is part of a new breed of managers who are looking for ‘emotional talent.’ rather than just physical and mental skills. Being a nice guy, he shared with us some tips to finding emotional satisfaction in our career, from finding a perfect job to loving the one you get. (more…)

The Princeton Review has released their annual list of the best party schools in the nation and this year’s winner is…West Virginia University!

Princeton Review conducts an annual survey on the party scene at colleges and judges the schools on the following criteria: use of alcohol and drugs, hours of study each student puts in, and the popularity of Greek life. I guess whichever school scores the most points wins. (more…)

Campus Squeeze give us the Top 20 most beautiful college campuses in the USA. Of course Seton Hall didn’t make the cut but Pepperdine University, on the beaches on Malibu, CA, was #1 and I completely agree with the selection. I’ve seen the campus and nothing compares to the ocean views, rolling hills and cliff top dorms.

See if your school made the list, “The 20 Most Beautiful Colleges in the USA.”

It wasn’t by choice.

I attended an elite boarding school in Massachusetts (via scholarship, thank you very much) for the sole purpose of attending Harvard. I loved Boston, and I had dreams of going to a place where my intelligence would be respected, not mocked.

When I started applying to schools in the fall, my GPA was high and I had a ton of extracurriculars. Things looked good, but my parents, who had just moved to Michigan for work, insisted I plan out some alternatives. Of course. Thankfully, they had moved to a place with a great in-state school; even when I applied to U of M, I didn’t dread the idea of going. It just wasn’t in my top five. (more…)