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[Since 2000, tuition at public four-year colleges has risen by an inflation-adjusted 72%, or nearly 6% a year. At the same time, the real average earnings for workers aged 25 to 34 with only a Bachelor’s degree have declined nearly 15%, according to Citigroup.] Outstanding student loan debt now stands at $956 billion, an increase of $42 billion since last quarter.  However, of the $42 billion, $23 billion is new debt while the remaining $19 billion is attributed to previously defaulted student loans that have been updated on credit reports this quarter.1 As a result, the percent of student loan balances...

MEHR Letter to J. Duff @Washington National Cathedral, Re: Khatami MEHR has sent the following letter to Jean F. Duff, Managing Director of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation: Dear Mrs. Duff, It is a shame that your organization has extended the former President of the Islamic Regime an invitation to visit the US for a speech. It is very sad and disturbing that the Ex-President of a terrorist regime is allowed to address an institution that is supposed to stand for freedom and democracy. The fundamental rule of international law states that a superior may be held criminally...

What happens when mogul and a movie star get married? Contracts get signed, and the drama begins . . Ronald Perelman was born on New Year’s Day, 1943, and celebrates the occasion in extreme style. His annual New Year’s Eve–birthday party in St. Barts is one of the world’s most exclusive social events. The billionaire takeover artist hosts the gathering on Ultima III, his multi-million-dollar, 188-foot yacht, which he keeps docked in Gustavia harbor. In past years, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Jerry Bruckheimer have attended the event, and for Perelman’s 60th, Barry Manilow sang “Happy Birthday.” This year,...

HILLARY DUD -- NOT DUFF -- PORTENDS JEANINE WIN by Mia T, 8.10.05 As the unquestioned leader in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and as the holder of a 34 percent advantage in her Senate re-election campaign, she will almost inevitably deploy the strategy of "sitting on a lead." There is probably no more dangerous stratagem in American politics. -- Tony Blankley-'Pirrotechnic' campaign against Hillary ASIDE: I can think of one -- sitting on the elephants in the Hildabeast's living room. What Bush 41 knew in 1992 What every congressman and senator knew in 1998 What everyone...

BRISBANE, Australia - A woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to selling on eBay three nonexistent cases of Duff brand beer — the favorite of cartoon character Homer Simpson. Tara Edith Woodford, 28, pleaded guilty in the Mackay Magistrates Court in northern Queensland state to three charges of dishonestly gaining money by false pretenses. Prosecutor Gavin Burnett told the court Woodford was paid a total of 1,951 Australian dollars (U.S. $1,511) by three separate buyers after advertising the bogus beer on the eBay Internet auction site. Duff is the beer brand of choice for Homer Simpson and his barfly friends in the...

'Simpsons' cast gets more D'oh! LOS ANGELES (AP) — A month after stalled contract renewal talks led the voices of The Simpsons to stop work, both the actors and Fox are getting more "D'oh!" Terms of the deal were not announced for the actors who provide the voices for Homer and Marge Simpson and other characters on the long-running animated series. The loss of even a few episodes of The Simpsons, would be financially painful for the network. Fox "We couldn't be happier to have reached a multiyear deal with the enormously talented cast of The Simpsons, " series producer...

Feds: Janitorial contractors cleaned up in city set-aside scam September 25, 2003 BY FRAN SPIELMAN, CITY HALL REPORTER The owners of a controversial maintenance company with political ties to Mayor Daley and reputed ties to organized crime were accused of racketeering, conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering today for their alleged participation in a $100 million scheme to fraudulently obtain government contracts earmarked for minorities and women. The federal indictment accuses James Duff, his mother, Patricia Green, their business associate William Stratton and four other people of using “fraud, deceit and deception” to obtain certification as minority- and women-owned businesses,...