SB 1070: Judge Intervenes Today: Blocks Parts of Bill:

Read the full story here:

Judge rules to block provisions of Ariz. law

She moves to hold requirement that officers check immigration

Dora's Book of the Month: July: THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova

THE HISTORIAN(from a post book review)

In this riveting debut of breathtaking scope, a young girl discovers her father's darkest secret and embarks on a harrowing journey across Europe to complete the quest he never could -- to find history's most legendary fiend: Dracula. When a motherless American girl living in Europe finds a medieval book and a package of letters, all addressed ominously to "My dear and unfortunate successor..." she begins to unravel a thread that leads back to her father's past, his mentor's career, and an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright: a hunt that nearly brought her father to ruin and may have claimed the life of his adviser and dear friend, history professor Bartholomew Rossi. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the historical Dracula, have to do with the 20th century? Is it possible that Dracula has lived on in the modern world? And why have a select few historians risked reputation, sanity, and even their lives to learn the answer? So begins an epic journey to unlock the secrets of the strange medieval book, an adventure that will carry our heroine across Europe and into the past -- not only to the times of Vlad's heinous reign, but to the days when her mother was alive and her father was still a vibrant young scholar. In the end, she uncovers the startling fate of Rossi, and comes face to face with the definition of evil-- to find, ultimately, that good may not always triumph.

America: Get with the times already!

Get with the times my dear America, after all football is the most celebrated and the most popular game in the entire world. Yes, America, there is another game named football and it does not consist of our usual American-type football game requiring an 11 man roster on defense, offense and special teams. This world-wide game of football requires plenty of endurance, power, and the need for each player to be involved in all aspects of the game. Someone once said: “a football player (referring to the game coined as such in the United States) can play football but he cannot play soccer; however, a soccer player can play both sports with no problem”. True or not, I casually smirk as I think on that comment and am more apt to lean towards believing it than not.
Anyway, whether or not the USA –as a whole- ever tries to learn this great game of football -or stops calling it soccer which is doubtful but understandably so- and whether it ever embraces it as the rest of the world has is irrelevant in my story.
FIFA World Cup 2010 has arrived and its popularity keeps growing and shows no sign of slowing down or even diminishing. In ending I ask more Americans to support Team USA and give football (hmm, I meant soccer for you) a chance.

FIFA World Cup 2010: The Games Must Go On!

In South Bend Notre Dame wins one for the “The Gipper” (George Gipp), but in South Africa, Team Bafana Bafana wins one for Madiba.

As the world comes together to celebrate the beginning of FIFA World Cup 2010, there is so much pride and so much anticipation brewing through-out hallowed football walls everywhere.
My story involves the ups and downs of life and how it seems that any sporting event at some point or another is hit with what I call “the human factor”.
Such “human factor” reared its ugly head already in this event in the early hours of Friday morning near Johannesburg when a car accident took the life of Nelson Mandela’s 13 year-old great-granddaughter, Zenani Mandela (picture above). I am not sure about the circumstances surrounding it so I will not write about that. In few words which I hope contain some wisdom, great compassion, due respect, but certainly no apathy, what has happened has happened and that is all that I need to say about that.
In my own love of the game of football (soccer) and having been an avid follower for over 15 years, I was watching anything on t.v. which pertained to this 2010 World Cup. Early this week there was a bit of perplexity or ambiguity spread about regarding whether or not 91 year-old Nelson Mandela would show up for the opening game. After all, we all know what he did for his country back when they won their first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1995…Madiba himself was there – he was always there. Speculation would lean on the side that he would be at the opening game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to see his beloved South Africa go head-to-head as the under-dogs versus Mexico. The Nelson Mandela Foundation (earlier this week) said he would be there, but one of his family members said “no”. Sad to say that fate would intervene and make that decision for him following the World Cup Opening Ceremonies in Johannesburg.
I am certain that it was with a heavy heart that Mr. Mandela watched the game from his own home. Torn apart as would be expected by his love of his country, the game and what he had just lost.

Note:
Bafana Bafana - It is a term of endearment which means "the boys the boys".
Madiba – This is the name of the clan of which Mr Mandela is a member. A clan name is much more important than a surname as it refers to the ancestor from which a person is descended. Madiba was the name of a Thembu chief who ruled in the Transkei in the 18th century. It is considered very polite to use someone’s clan name.

Pres. OBAMA: Hate Groups - Where Were Those Groups During the "W" Reign?!!

I posted the following data to my facebook wall tonight as a means to let people know how stupid, ignorant and dangerous ones actions and words can be. I am not sure how many of my FB friends will grasp the idea behind my posting, not sure I really care; but if they want to debate it, I welcome them with open arms. My goal really was to wake some people up - for them to see what their actions and words can lead to, that they should think twice about what they do and to be accountable for it. I also hope that maybe I can get some of my FB friends to delete their membership into any of these hate groups and to view things a little differently because things now really are no worse than when "W" reigned. Our economy started to collapse during his reign and got really bad by 2007, our freedom was attacked (9/11), our freedoms were truly dimished (Patriot Act). BUT immediately following a Republican reign over the White House and a Black, Democratic President having been overwhelmingly elected, it is only Pres. Obama whom gets treated like a commie, a thief, an illegal alien, a socialist. Please spare me, people. Anyway, below is what I posted, plus, I am including the web site (they speak of the groups who are wanting Pres. Obama to die) which I was referring to via a link (its URL): http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x272508

...i never, never, liked the previously 'selected' president "W", but i never wished for his death. bailouts occurred (started) during his reign, the 'patriot act' occurred under his reign, 9/11 occurred during his reign, big government was at its peak during his reign - not many good came out of his reign. hate groups, grassroots mov...ement groups were NOWHERE TO BE FOUND during his reign like now. even if a hate group existed during those grueling 8 years, no way would my consicence and morals allow me to join - they only incite hatred and violence. at most, i did join the "impeach g.w.bush group". i find groups like the one referred to via the link below and ppl who follow them quite sad and disappointing. we should be better than that. as if ppl like timothy mcveigh need anymore reason to do stupid things. BTW, Timmy did not bomb the Murrah bldg thus killing 168 innocent ppl for any cause, purpose or incident...he was just a scared, lonely, hate-filled narcissistic thug. besides, if part of his m.o. was that he was mad over the davidian incident at waco...well, timmy, let me remind you that david koresh was a child molester, a rapist and his group was stockpiling. militias like the armed forces still fall under fed law that the President is their Commander in Chief. (FYI...i fully support the right to bear arms). BTW, you seriously cannot hate the govt and love the military. the military is part of govt as are policemen, firemen, postal carriers. it is not the structure or our laws but some ppl (politicians, poli-pundits, and radicals) who make the govt bad, and we can make it good but not with violence. violence makes this a sad world to reside in, and if my post makes you indignant, don't read them anymore. it is my right to post, afterall, i am not inciting violence. be creative and post on your own wall - just don't throw stones - no one lives in glass houses, never did-never will.

Genealogy Quagmire: The Lack of Family Documentation Through-out The Years.

Celebrating My Latino Culture: Project 2040: Genealogy Quagmire: The Lack of Family Documentation Through-out The Years.

TRUE DEFINITIONS: Present day, so-called Grass-roots Movement Groups

The true meaning of certain groups who believe that they are the only true Patriots yet some prove too cowardly to say what they really mean!

BIRTHERS: Radicals who hate anyone not of Aryan descent. Deep down, these people truly admired Hitler (who was a so-called Christian himself) and secretly wish to become his followers of late. These birthers would also love to go back pre-1968 when they truly ruled the U.S. This group is the one I mostly have a problem with and refuse to take them serious or to justify their anger and violent behavior with a duplicated attack - verbal or otherwise. They are ignorant and we are supposed to disregard those types.

TRUTHERS: Honestly, they just want the truth behind the 9/11 attacks. They would like to see “W” and his cronies in the administration at the time be held accountable for questionable actions leading up to the attacks and then to the start of a needless war against a sovereign nation all in the name of “payback”. Yeah, right, “payback” – call it what it really was – control over oil and wealth for those who aided the admin! “W” and his cronies all need a good, old-fashioned “whoop ass”. To the likes of one ignorant Sarah Palin, “W”, Cheney, and their supporters…“how’s all that oil working out for ya?”!!!

TEA PARTY MOVEMENT: Pissed off Americans who are tired of huge government bail-outs of corporate America; the bail-outs which began during the “W” reign but have been more readily scrutinized under President Obama. Taxation without representation…sure I understand that. At least members of the TP Movement have their basic rights. Ask the LGBT community how they fair during these hard economic times? Ask the LGBT community how they pay exorbitant amount of taxes just so that people involved with the TP can vote to deny them their rights. Marriage is supposedly sacred. Yeah, right, hardly so. Most LGBT couples in a relationship stay together longer, are more committed to one another, more committed to the family and more likely to heed the meaning of the word fidelity. LGBT couples do not share the same rights and privileges as members of the TP Movement. If your spouse becomes ill, you have the right to make life-changing/life-saving decisions for him/her, but an LGBT couple is chastised and thrown out of the room. They pay taxes for such crude and neanderthal-like treatments. TP Movement, I see your point but do you have to be so ignorant, radical, loud and violent in trying to get your point across?!! (rhetorical). Bottom line, the TP Movement is as racist as the birthers are and worse. The TP blames too many taxes, bail-outs and health care as the reason behind their cause when in actuality they are like the birthers who are pissed off at the fact of a Black man in the White House. Surely they remember times being worse during the "W" reign. The TP Movement automatically reverts to screams of bloody-murder ala socialism. They don’t want to share their wealth with the less fortunate. I understand that. No one asked them to completely and totally finance and support the poor, they are just being asked to act like the Christians they claim to be and lend a hand. I hate involving Christianity (I firmly believe in a true separation of church and state) but since the TP Movement claims it to be part of their foundation, I too shall go to that "place". Oh, and providing health care for over 35 million Americans just pisses off the TP Movement. Are they scared that for once in this country that everyone will have equal treatment on the health care scale. That the minorities, the low class, the no class, the poor, the tired will be on the same level as them and that the elimination of such scum will be minimized because fewer have to die from lack of medical attention and affordability? (rhetorical). Jesus would be for health care and He is probably totally disappointed and pissed off at such negative actions by these people. Did they learn nothing from biblical teachings to treat others fair and equal? (r) I do not wear my limited Christian beliefs on my sleeve, but I d0 know right from wrong, and therefore I do not get irate at lending a hand to those less fortunate especially when my own home has been so greatly rewarded. Some of the TP Movement members go around all indignant of so-called socialism with one hand making a fist and the other hand guarding their money. Reminiscent of a three year-old as he goes around not wanting to play fair nor to share his toys while all the time reciting the words…“MINE, MINE, MINE!”

My friend said it best the other day…

~Tea (Party) is bitter these days, I will take Coffee (Party) - it's much sweeter!~

Arizona: LULAC Finds New Immigration Law Unconstitutional

April 15, 2010

Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 833-6130 ext. 16

The law will lead to more racial profiling and discrimination.

Washington, DC – The League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization, will sue to block an Arizona immigration bill as unconstitutional should Gov. Jan Brewer sign it into law.
“We are horrified," said LULAC National President Rosa Rosales. "This law opens the doors to racial profiling. It requires police officers, if they form a 'reasonable suspicion' that someone is an illegal immigrant, to determine the person’s immigration status.”
LULAC is opposed to an existing program known as 287(g) allows local police to enforce federal immigration laws, contending that it has been ineffective and subject to abuse. LULAC has always opposed involving local police in immigration matters because they do not have the resources or training to enforce immigration law.
First Lady Michelle Obama in a trip to Mexico today stressed that immigration reform is necessary and that more Democrats and Republicans should support its enactment.
“We're seeing children who are trying to cross the border just to reconnect with their parents, and their family members and their lives are at risk,” said Rosales. “A strong immigration reform policy would help alleviate some of those challenges.”
Until Congress passes an immigration reform bill, states will continue to take matters into their own hands and communities and families will remain separated.
LULAC is the largest and older Hispanic Organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide. For more information on LULAC, visit www.lulac.org.

“The History and Practices of St. Patrick’s Day”

Read full story click here: Why we really wear green, why we pinch those who do not wear green, etc...