Straight Talk TNT

We are writing today with an invitation. Straight Talk has become reader-funded. Our nation's newspapers are broke and can't pay more than a token amount for their content. Many can't pay anything, thus their reduced size. (No, newspapers are not dying, they are in transition. And they remain the top source of unbiased, vetted news in a jungle of information, so supporting them is important.)

Straight Talk has relatively low overhead, but we do have costs like any business: rent, power, website, office equipment, staff, and legal help. And to grow, we definitely need another bottle-washer.

With all the money we spend on war, body image, entertainment and consumer electronics, I'm offering an opportunity to invest in wellness and wisdom.

Our average reader donation is $20, but if you and everyone reading this contributed the price of a cup of coffee, we would be done fundraising in two hours and could get straight back to the work of being a straight-talking column, expanding it across the nation, and launching a weekly podcast.

Donations can be made through the mail by check and on our website by credit card. No donation is too small (or too large). Recurring monthly donations (set up automatically on our website) are greatly appreciated. 

Our mailing address is Straight Talk TnT, PO Box 1974, Sebastopol, Calif.

Our website is http://www.straighttalkTnT.org.

Your donation is completely tax deductible.

The Millennial Generation that we write about currently (people born from 1982-2001), is the largest generation ever on this planet. There are 40 million members in the U.S. alone. You know, from reading our column, that many have serious issues around body image, poor health, bullying, online pornography, cutting, binge-drinking — things they don't always talk to parents about. This generation is the first to come of age with (and literally on) the Internet resulting in the biggest generation gap since kids left the farm for the Industrial Age.

Study after study has proven that social-emotional intelligence is the greatest factor for success in life. As we answer questions from readers, we add another drop of social-emotional intelligence to the “matrix” every week. Those drops add up, with people, young and old, making better choices in a confusing world.

Every week that a teenager makes a better decision (or a parent makes a better decision regarding their teen), it benefits us all. For instance, every teen who winds up in juvenile hall, costs us an average of $88,000 per year. This is twice what it costs Straight Talk to be in circulation, bringing our straight-talking observations and insights every week to people like you who can make a positive difference with the information.

Between friends, there's nothing like a little straight talk. Our mission is to create a thriving, just and sustainable world. Please join us today with your support. —Lauren