BagOfNothing.com

U.S. Representatives James McGovern (D-MA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Tim Ryan (D-OH) have pledged to live on an average food stamp budget — just $3 a day — from May 15-21, 2007 and have invited other Members of Congress to join them in the Food Stamp Challenge. The spouses of Reps. McGovern and Emerson will also be taking the challenge. A number of advocate groups and Congressional staff are also expected to take part. Members of Congress are living on a food stamp budget for one week in order to raise visibility and understanding around the challenges that millions of low-income American’s face in obtaining a healthy diet under current food stamp benefit levels.

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Hold your applause or you’ll be thrown off the property.

That’s the message Superintendent Eugene White is sending to the families of Indianapolis Public School graduates who will attend this year’s commencement ceremonies.

White sent letters to graduates earlier this month informing them and their families about the new policy forbidding cheering during the reading of the graduates’ names. The goal is to restore decorum to the ceremonies and make certain that every name can be heard.

White’s letter reminds students that attending a graduation ceremony is a privilege, not a right. A spokeswoman for IPS said 30 school police officers will be on hand to enforce the rules.

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There’s no shortage of sad songs about rainy days and lovers who don’t bring flowers. And then there are songs that truly bring the pain — songs so despairing they can make us wonder why we even bother. Here are 25 little ditties so crushing, they could knock Dick Cheney to his knees.

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