Student Loan Repayment Deadbeats May Have Options Before Garnishment of Wages

The U.S. Department of Education is set to resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. This includes administrative wage garnishment, where up to 15% of a borrower's disposable income can be withheld without a court order, expected to begin later this summer after a mandatory 30-day notice period. Borrowers in default-typically after 270 days of missed payments-will receive emails over the next two weeks urging them to explore options like income-driven repayment plans or loan rehabilitation to avoid garnishment. Only about 38% of borrowers are current on their payments, so millions could be affected. To dodge garnishment, borrowers can make voluntary payments, enroll in rehabilitation programs, or challenge the action if they qualify, like in cases of bankruptcy or disability.

The odd bit of all of this student loan business. The recipients of all of these funds have for the past 5 years were paying sporadically or not at all. See, a large swath of them have assumed that the previous administration led by Joe Biden would be their savior. Loan forgiveness was a known lie that biden pushed and the deadbeats with delinquent balances fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

I have no sympathy for any of them. They signed for the funds and now the piper will get paid his due.

Complaining About Daily Expenses Are Rooted In A Variety of Circumstances

People are complaining about their finances due to a mix of persistent economic pressures and shifting realities. Inflation, which peaked at 9.1% in the U.S. in June 2022 and has since cooled to around 2.4% by late 2024, still leaves prices for essentials like food, housing, and healthcare significantly higher than a few years ago. Real wages, adjusted for inflation, have barely grown for most workers—median weekly earnings rose just 0.8% annually from Q3 2023 to Q3 2024. This means many feel stuck, as paychecks don’t stretch as far.

Housing costs are a major pain point. Median home prices in the U.S. hit $412,300 in Q2 2024, up 5.2% year-over-year, while mortgage rates hover near 7%, making homeownership feel out of reach for younger generations. Rent isn’t much better, with median asking rents at $1,498 monthly. Add in student loan repayments, which resumed in October 2023 after a three-year pause, and childcare costs (often $1,000+/month per kid), and budgets are squeezed tight.

Debt is another issue. Total U.S. household debt reached $17.8 trillion in Q2 2024, with credit card balances alone at $1.08 trillion, carrying average interest rates above 20%. Many are dipping into savings or racking up debt to cover basics, especially lower-income households. The personal savings rate dropped to 3.4% in mid-2024, half its pre-2020 level.

Social media, like posts on X, amplifies the venting. People share frustrations about feeling “poorer” despite working hard, pointing to corporate greed, stagnant wages, or government policies. Some cite specific regional issues—like California’s $20/hour fast-food wage mandate driving up prices without boosting take-home pay enough. Others feel the system is rigged, with wealth gaps widening: the top 1% own 32% of U.S. wealth, while the bottom 50% hold just 2%.

On the flip side, some argue the complaints are overblown. Unemployment is low at 4.1%, and nominal wages are up 4.1% year-over-year. But perception lags reality—people compare their lives to pre-inflation days or social media highlight reels, not dry stats. Economic anxiety also ties to uncertainty, like fears of recession or job loss in industries hit by automation or trade shifts.

If you’re seeing specific complaints on X or elsewhere, I can dig into those posts or search for more context. Want me to check anything particular?

AI Scripted An Idea For A New Veterans Outreach Video For YouTube

 

Here are some engaging points you could include in your video about veteran outreach:

1. **Introduction to Veteran Outreach**: Start with a brief overview of what veteran outreach is and why it’s important. Highlight the challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian life.

2. **Personal Stories**: Share inspiring stories of veterans who have benefited from outreach programs. Personal anecdotes can create an emotional connection with your audience.

3. **Types of Outreach Programs**: Discuss various types of outreach initiatives, such as mental health support, job placement services, and community engagement activities. 

4. **How to Get Involved**: Provide actionable steps for viewers who want to support veterans. This could include volunteering, donating, or participating in local events.

5. **Highlight Organizations**: Feature specific organizations that are making a difference in veteran outreach. You could include interviews or testimonials from representatives.

6. **Common Misconceptions**: Address and debunk common myths about veterans and their needs. This can help educate your audience and foster understanding.

7. **Call to Action**: Encourage viewers to take action, whether it’s sharing the video, reaching out to veterans in their community, or supporting veteran-focused initiatives.

8. **Resources for Veterans**: Provide a list of resources where veterans can find help, such as hotlines, websites, and local support groups.

9. **Engagement with the Audience**: Ask viewers to share their thoughts or experiences related to veteran outreach in the comments. This can foster community and discussion.

10. **Conclusion**: Wrap up with a powerful message about the importance of supporting veterans and the impact that outreach can have on their lives.

Would you like help expanding on any of these points or crafting a specific section of the script?

Keeping Control Of Low Testosterone As A Retiree Is A Full-time Job

What Low T Does to Your Life

Testosterone deficiency can reduce your quality of life due to:

• Decreased drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Trouble getting your partner pregnant
• Fatigue
• Depressed mood
• Decreased concentration
• Failing memory
• Sleep disorders
• 
  

You might think, "I'm getting old," but it may just be that the things you're consuming are lowering your testosterone.

 

The 4 Worst Foods for Testosterone:

1. Energy Drinks

Yes, even the ones with fancy names and low-quality vitamins mixed in. While these may give you a jolt of energy, drinking these a few times a week can reduce your testosterone significantly.

 

A 2022 study showed that after 28 consecutive days of consumption, the cells in the testicles had trouble making testosterone and the sperm changed into a bad form. If you've gotten into the habit of having these regularly, it's a problem.

2. Alcohol

A drink every now and then isn't going to have much impact, but if you've gotten into the habit of having 2-3 beers a night throughout the week, watch out. 

 

Alcohol affects the Leydig cells that make testosterone, the Sertoli cells that make sperm, and even the part of the brain (pituitary gland) that tells your testicles to make testosterone. 

 

For some men, the testicles just kind of go to sleep - as if the cells themselves are drunk or hungover.

3. Vegetable Oils

Canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, rapeseed oil, and palm oils are hidden everywhere - in your favorite snacks, fast food, cereals, barbecue sauce, salad dressing, and even seemingly healthy almond milk.

You think you're doing great by ordering a salad or chicken breast while out, but it's your salad dressing or barbecue sauce that's the problem. 

4. Soy

Soy is everywhere in American ultra-processed foods as a preservative. 70% of all food in the grocery store is ultra-processed, and over 50% of the calories Americans eat daily come from these foods with high levels of soy.

 

A study suggests that 40% of all meat and seafood products in the US contain soy ingredients because the animals were fed soy. 

 

You can't avoid it all, but check your labels - especially vitamins and protein powders.

 

The hardest patients for me to treat for low T and ED are my vegan patients, partly because they often eat soy products. 

 

Men who consume a lot of soy eventually see lower testosterone levels and ED. Tofu, edamame, fake meat, miso - all these foods are rich sources of phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogen in the body and reduce testosterone.