USAMORNINGPOST.com

Immigration rally scheduled in Washington

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:17:00 +0000

Immigration rally scheduled in Washington

Sen. Charles Schumer, left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham have laid out plans for immigration reform.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Thousands of people expected at Sunday march on National Mall
Rally sets stage for fight over one of the country's most contentious issues
"American people deserve more than empty rhetoric," senators write
Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham have laid out plans for reform

Washington (CNN) -- Thousands of people are expected to pour into Washington for a Sunday rally demanding immigration reform, launching the first public battle over the issue since the announcement of a new bipartisan plan endorsed by President Obama.
While the nation will be focused largely on a more immediate debate -- an expected vote over health care reform -- the march on the National Mall will be setting the stage for a fight over another of the most contentious issues facing the country.
The organization Reform Immigration for America, which supports a path to citizenship for those in the United States illegally, says the changes it wants to see will help bring about "economic justice for all Americans."
In response, the Federation for American Immigration Reform -- which staunchly opposes amnesty -- called on Americans to contact their representatives and demand tougher borders and an end to illegal immigration. FAIR says it seeks "effective, sensible immigration policies that work for America's best interests."
"The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls for mass deportation," the two senators behind the new immigration plan wrote Friday in the Washington Post.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, lay out broad ideas for fixing a "badly broken" system.
"Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair path to legalization" for the 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally, the two lawmakers wrote.
The plan will "require an effective employment verification system that holds employers accountable for hiring illegal workers," the senators write, including a "tamper-proof ID system."
The plan also would create "a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally."
"Ending illegal immigration, however, cannot be the sole objective of reform," they wrote. "Developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring America's future economic prosperity."
After meeting with Schumer and Graham -- both powerful figures within their parties -- earlier this week, President Obama issued a statement saying he was "pleased" to see their "promising, bipartisan framework which can and should be the basis for moving forward. It thoughtfully addresses the need to shore up our borders, and demands accountability from both workers who are here illegally and employers who game the system."
The "critical next step," Obama said, is turning the framework into legislation. He called on Congress "to act at the earliest possible opportunity."
The push forward on immigration also helped the president woo a key vote for health care reform.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Illinois, agreed to support the House health care bill after meeting with Obama and discussing immigration reform.
"After extensive discussions with the president, I believe we have a health care bill I can vote 'yes' for, and I believe we have a commitment to move forward on a comprehensive immigration reform package as soon as possible," Gutierrez said in a statement Thursday.
Gutierrez added that he believes Obama "gets that we cannot ensure the health of our nation if we continue to ignore the 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the shadows. And he agrees that if we are going to have health care that works, if we are going to have a system that cuts costs and streamlines the delivery and keeps our children healthy, then we fundamentally need to enact comprehensive immigration reform."

Estimates of how many illegal immigrants are in the country vary. In January, the Department of Homeland Security said the number "decreased to 10.8 million in January 2009 from 11.6 million in January 2008."

source: cnn

US Jobs : Tanning butler

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:15:00 +0000

Help wanted: Tanning butler

NEW YORK -- Calling the unemployed! Do you like pool parties, sun tan lotion and hotties?
If so, the South Beach Ritz-Carlton has a position for you: tanning butler. One caveat: Ladies need not apply; this job usually goes to hunky male models.

You could be the South Beach Ritz-Carlton's next tanning butler.

The Ritz will be posting the gig on Craigslist and in the Miami Herald in the next few days, and it expects a deluge of response.
"We're looking to fill the position immediately with someone who's outgoing, positive, energetic and recognizes the role as a brand ambassador," said Ritz-Carlton PR gal Michelle Payer, who invented the position in 2004.
The lucky guy gets paid $20 an hour plus tips to slather sunscreen and spritz Evian on beach-going Ritz guests. Plus, the hours aren't too bad: Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., at the beach and on the pool deck.
The position requires a uniform, however -- an official "Tanning Butler" T-shirt and holster for carrying bottles of sunscreen -- so you can differentiate between the official butler and creeps trying to get frisky.
The last tanning butler -- there's only one in the world at a time -- vacated the position for an Armani modeling gig in Italy. And get this -- he left on Monday without even giving two weeks notice!
Interested jobseekers should e-mail their headshot and cover letter to Jennifer.Steinmark@ritzcarlton.com.
Oh, and if you'd like a tanning butler T-shirt, the Ritz sells them for $29.50 a piece. So you, too, can convince the ladies -- or gents -- that you're qualified to apply sunscreen.

source: cnn

US Greencard click here : http://dv-us.com

USA: Nude Beaches Don't be Shy: Take Everything Off!

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Nude Beaches

Don't be Shy: Take Everything Off!

by Melanie Mize

iStockphoto

Nude Beach. The very mention of these two words often arouses feelings of titillation, embarrassment, outrage or even a combination of the three. For the thousands of people involved in the naturist movement worldwide, however, the idea of a nude beach seems, well, natural. After all, we all come into this world wearing only our birthday suits.Below is a list of some of the best stretches of sand where beach lovers can shed their skivvies and perfect that all-over tan.

Little Beach
Maui, Hawaii
Officially known as Maui's "unofficial clothing-optional beach," Little Beach is an isolated strand surrounded by high shrubs, craggy volcanic rocks and driftwood. Although nude sunbathing is illegal in Hawaii, the law has not been enforced here for years. As a result, Little Beach has become a favorite hangout for naturists as well as artists like Dr. Leisure, who has been painting colorful scenes from nude beaches for more than a decade. Activities at Little Beach are plentiful, including swimming, body surfing and whale watching.

Haulover Beach
Florida
Just north of Miami lies one of the few county-run and government-sanctioned clothing-optional beaches in the United States. For years Haulover Beach, part of the city of Sunny Isles, has been a haven for naturists from South Florida as well as snowbirds from Canada and Europe. Thanks to the efforts of the South Florida Free Beach Association, this beach has certified lifeguards and organized group activities, such as swimming and volleyball.

Red Beach
Crete, Greece
With its cobalt blue waters, sun-bleached cottages, ancient ruins and red sandstone cliffs, Crete's Red Beach is picturesque to say the least. Made famous in 1968 when hippies from across Europe flocked to its shores, the resort at Red Beach has remained a naturist favorite for its rustic charm and its tolerance (nudity is allowed everywhere except the dining room). Visitors to Red Beach will find the area's ancient caves interesting, as well as sunken bits of history that wash ashore from time to time.

Praia do Pinho
Brazil
Although the barely-there, dental-floss bikini debuted here, nude beaches in Brazil are somewhat rare. However, naturism has caught on in some parts of the country, including Praia do Pinho (a.k.a. Pinho Beach), located in the southern state of Santa Catarina. Pinho opened in 1987 as the first sanctioned au naturel beach, and nudists who frequent this area make a point of saying "clothing is not an option" despite the strand's official description as clothing-optional. Balneário Camboriú, the chic city home to Pinho Beach, is very popular with beachgoers from Argentina, Uruguay and elsewhere, and its population is said to increase ten-fold from December through February.

Hedonism II
Negril, Jamaica
Unlike most other nude beaches, Hedonism II promotes a freewheeling and indulgent naturist experience for playful singles and couples. Located in Negril, Jamaica's famous 7-mile white sand beach, the all-inclusive resort is divided into "nude" and "prude" sections, with separate facilities for swimming, sunbathing, volleyball and more. Clothing is optional, however, throughout the entire complex. Visitors can expect to find vast spreads of food and drink, a thumping party scene and, quoting the resort, a "lush garden of playful passion."

Samurai Beach
Australia
Relaxed and lively is the only way to describe Samurai Beach. On this half-mile stretch of white sand, nudists let it all hang out while taking part in volleyball, tug-of-war and Frisbee.

Wreck Beach
Vancouver, British Columbia
Named for a hulking, wrecked vessel that once sat on the sand, Wreck Beach is the shore of choice for Vancouver students. Just several hundred steps below the University of British Columbia, the 3-mile-long beach is a wildlife and nesting area for both bald eagles and bald bodies. Other sections of the beach assume a more carnival-like atmosphere. One stretch on the beach known as Vendors' Row is a 1-stop shop for souvenirs, refreshments and the ever-important sunscreen.

Ochos Rios
Jamaica
The site for nude novices is the Couples Resort in Ocho Rios, a popular Jamaican port-of-call. A unique feature at the romantic, all-inclusive spot is a private, au naturel island approximately 200 yards offshore where playful pairs can enjoy a day of nudity. Located on the island is a pool, cozy nooks for lounging, a cabana bar and, of course, a pristine beach. Although the rest of the complex has a dress code, Couples is the ideal resort for letting loose year-round.

Montalivet Beach
France
Travelers looking for an authentic nude beach experience should go to Centre Hélio Montalivet, the birthplace of the international naturist movement. Established in 1950, this nude beach resort on France's Atlantic Coast provides a safe and legal wilderness setting for nudists and their families. Within the complex are more than 1,800 camp sites, 172 bungalows, shops and facilities for art classes, yoga, soccer and more. No other nude beach or camp on earth rivals Montalivet's family-friendly environment.

EASY TRAVEL with US Greencard : http://dv-us.com

source: travelchannel

Startup visa: Create jobs, get Green Card

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:25:00 +0000

Startup visa: Create jobs, get Green Card

WASHINGTON - United States Democratic Senator John Kerry and his Republican colleague, Mr Richard Lugar, on Wednesday proposed the creation of a new class of visa for foreign entrepreneurs who create jobs in the US.

The two-year visa would be given to immigrants who show that they plan to invest at least US$250,000 ($353,000) in the country.

The legislation, called the "StartUp Visa Act", would allow immigrant entrepreneurs to apply if their businesses would "create not fewer than five new full-time jobs in the US, employing people other than the immigrant's spouse, sons or daughters".

"Global competition for talent and investment grows more intense daily and the US must step up or be left behind," said Mr Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, in a statement.

"Our country should strive to attract to the United States the most talented and highly skilled entrepreneurs," added Mr Lugar. The legislation allows entrepreneurs who create and maintain five new jobs, attract at least US$1 million in additional investments or earn at least US$1 million in revenue to apply for permanent US residency. AFP

click here to register:
http://dv-us.com

canceled flight where's refund?

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:21:00 +0000

A canceled flight ... where's my refund?

By Christopher Elliott, Tribune Media Services
STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* A leg of a flight booked through an online agecney was canceled
* The traveler appealed to the agency for a refund; it said the airline was responsible
* Troubleshooter inquired with the agency and a refund was issued

RELATED TOPICS

* Air Travel

(Tribune Media Services) -- Nallan Chari's flight is canceled, but his online agency is dragging its feet on a refund. The reason? The airlines involved, including Continental Airlines and Jet Airways, haven't sent the money to the agency yet. How much longer should Chari wait?

Q: I recently booked a flight through Expedia from Orlando to Hyderabad, India. The flights were on Continental Airlines and Jet Airways. After I made the reservation and received a confirmation, I got an e-mail from Expedia that one leg of my flight had been canceled.

I have been trying to get a refund for that canceled flight since then. I've spent hours on the phone with Expedia, but they have not credited me, saying it's up to Continental.

We paid the money directly to Expedia, not Continental. Common sense suggests that this issue should be taken care of by Expedia. Don't you agree?

-- Nallan Chari, Longwood, Florida

A: Expedia should have credited you for the canceled flight immediately when you asked for a refund.

Why didn't it? Because Continental had your money, and wresting it from the airline is easier said than done. Even though Continental issued your tickets, part of your itinerary -- a flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad -- was through Jet Airways. Technically, that shouldn't make a difference (Continental has all your money) but in my experience, airlines use the multicarrier itinerary as an excuse to delay their refunds.

It could also have something to do with the fact that you no longer have the credit card you used to pay for the ticket. As a matter of policy, online travel agencies only refund purchases back to your credit card. Anything else confuses them.

It shouldn't be that way. If a company can take your money immediately, it should return it just as quickly. Any way you want it.

From your point of view, what's happening behind the scenes is irrelevant. As your online travel agent, Expedia took your money, and it should return it. But it's not that simple.

There's another wrinkle: A Transportation Department rule that tickets must be refunded within seven business days. But that rule only applies to refundable tickets. Alas, few tickets used by leisure travelers are refundable.

Should Expedia give you the money even if it doesn't have it? In a word, yes. A company of its size should be able to negotiate a faster return of its customers' money, and ultimately, I think the problem of ticketing and refunds between carriers is an issue for the online travel agency to work out.

You could have exerted a little pressure on Expedia in several ways -- none of which involved a phone conversation. A polite e-mail is a good place to start. If that doesn't work, try appealing to someone higher up. Sometimes, copying the Transportation Department is a good way to underscore the seriousness of your complaint to an airline when it is holding on to your money. A note to your state's attorney general can also be useful if you think your online agency is stalling.

I contacted Expedia on your behalf. It promptly apologized and refunded the money for the unusable portion of your trip.

OSCAR 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:39:00 +0000

Complete coverage on

Academy Awards

Oscar interrupter says she was wronged

A documentary producer who interrupted a director's Oscar acceptance speech Sunday night says she was the one who was "big-footed" on stage.

FULL STORY

Opinion

'Hurt Locker' Oscar was well-timed

Hollywood ... seldom gets [war] right ... There are exceptions. "The Hurt Locker" is an exception.-- Ed Rollins, CNN senior political contributor

Latest news

Who rocked the dress? You tell us

Rate Sunday's Oscar gowns from 1 to 10

Oscar buzz!

CNN's blog of Sunday's Oscar action

source: CNN

USA Green Card – Your Passport To Endless Opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:47:00 +0000

USA Green Card - Your Passport To Endless Opportunities

Take your Chance of a Lifetime !

time_stamp

USA Green Card - Your Passport To Endless Opportunities and World Class Living

United States (the world's largest economy and the most powerful democratic country) is undoubtedly among the best countries to live and work. Americans enjoy the benefits of living in this country wh

Publish Date: 2010-03-09

	USA Green Card - Your Passport To Endless Opportunities and World Class Living

	United States (the world's largest economy and the most powerful democratic country) is undoubtedly among the best countries to live and work. Americans enjoy the benefits of living in this country which offers several social, economic, and other benefits to its residents. United States of America also has one of the best infrastructures for living. Here people enjoy the best transportation, medical facilities, education, and work environment. There are endless opportunities for professionals as well as people with business acumen. Here people can turn their professional dreams into reality. Very few other counties offer facilities matching with United States. Due to that, foreign nationals try to get permanent immigrant status of United States. The statistics of green card applicants in past decade clearly reveals the craze among foreign citizens for permanent resident status of United States. They try to enter into United States through various ways and then try to get green card confirming that they are permanent immigrant. Green Card - Passport to Endless Opportunity Green card holders enjoy several exclusive benefits to people which are not available to ordinary Visa holders. People with a green card are free to live and work anywhere in United States. Their kids (below 21 years) also get the status of permanent immigrant and they can easily get into the topmost education institutions of the country. Students with green card have to pay less fees for higher studies. Green card holders can also apply for citizenship after spending a fixed duration in United States. However, it depends upon their social and economic history during the said period. If a person is paying his taxes on time and does not have any legal offenses then he or she is more like to get the status of permanent US citizen. Pleasure of Living In United States It is already confirmed the begininng that United States provides world class facility of living. Be in basic requirements of living or the advanced needs, residents of United States gets the best in everything. The development in the field of science and technology, education and entertainment, as well as medical facilities, all are excellent and together they create an environment which is better than living standards of any other country. Therefore eligible people from all over the world try to get United States green card through several ways. Nowadays, the most popular and easiest way of applying for green card is diversity lottery program. If someone is really eager to become permanent resident of United States in order to endless opportunities and world class living, then it is certainly the best way to apply Don't miss your Chance - Register Today http://www.usagreencardcenter.com

US travel bill to charge tourists $10

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Bill for U.S. travel promotion group headed to Obama's desk

The Travel Promotion Act calls for a nonprofit group that will promote the U.S. as a travel destination to international visitors.

"This is a historic victory for the U.S. economy and one in eight American workers whose jobs depend on travel," Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement.(CNN) -- A bill that will create a tourism promotion organization for the United States has received its final passage in the Senate.

The Travel Promotion Act calls for a nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion that will promote the United States as a travel destination and explain travel and security policies to international visitors.

President Obama is expected to sign the bill, which the Senate passed 78-18 Thursday, in the next 10 days, according to the travel association.

A $10 fee charged to visitors from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program will partially fund the public-private organization. These visitors will pay the fee every two years when they register online using the Department of Homeland Security's Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

The rest of the funding will come through a matching program of up to $100 million in private sector contributions. If the corporation is able to raise the projected $200 million annually, the organization would be the largest national tourism communications program in the world, Dow said.

National tourism organizations in countries including Greece, Australia and Mexico each spent more than $100 million on tourism marketing in 2005, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization. The United States spent about $6 million the same year -- the last year for which figures are available.

Some opponents of the legislation said that charging overseas visitors a fee to promote the United States will deter them from visiting.

"We don't want foreigners to have to jump through so many hoops that they just give up and don't bother coming to the U.S.," Steven Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, told CNN before final passage of the bill. The IATA represents airlines around the world.

Lott said improving entry and exit procedures would help U.S. tourism more than a promotional organization.

Dow acknowledged the legislation is not a magic bullet for the industry.

"Let's not be naive here. Travel promotion is not a panacea for our international travel issues. There's many things we have to continue to work on such as ... continuing to improve our visa process and all the entry processes."

Dow said he does not think the $10 fee will have a negative impact on visitation, particularly when compared with entry and exit fees for other countries that are rolled into airline ticket prices.

source: cnn

How to Get the Best Seat in Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:59:00 +0000

How to Get the Best Seat in Coach

iStock

As airlines begin charging for seat selection, T+L explains how to get the one you want without paying the price.

The days of reserving an airline ticket and then selecting a seat for free are numbered. Increasingly, carriers are charging passengers a fee to reserve in certain rows in coach. It’s the latest move in what the airlines call “à la carte pricing.”
Last October, British Airways began charging as much as $30 per preselected coach seat ($75 for one in an exit row). And they’re not alone. US Airways tacks on an extra $5 to $30 each way for a spot on an aisle or window at the front of the plane. United, AirTran, JetBlue, and others add on $9 to $109 for reserving exit-row or other premium seats, such as those by the bulkhead. The majority of coach seats on most airlines are still preselected at no additional fee, but on two domestic carriers, AirTran and Spirit, a preassigned seat—even the much-dreaded one in the middle—costs more.
If you’re paying for a preassigned seat, you should know what you’re getting for your money. Obviously, aisle and window seats near the front, where the ride is smoother and you can disembark faster, or exit-row and bulkhead seats with extra legroom, are preferable to ones near lavatories and galleys. But it’s a mistake to choose a seat based on its location alone. Although exit-row and bulkhead seats almost always provide greater legroom, they can have drawbacks. Bulkhead seats don’t have floor storage, are sometimes narrower to accommodate tray-table storage in the armrests, and are given to passengers with infants, so your extra legroom may come with a braying baby nearby. And some exit-row seats don’t recline fully or at all.
My go-to site to learn the nuances and measurements of individual airplane seats—especially now that I’m paying extra to reserve them—is SeatGuru (seatguru.com), which has the most detailed descriptions, including power port locations and comparison charts of coach cabins across various airlines. Other good sites include SeatExpert (seatexpert.com) and SkyTrax (airlinequality.com). At all of these, you will find advice on the most (and least) desirable seats for all plane models.
My vote for the worst seat ever? The limited-recline middle seat in the very last row, next to the lavatory, on a 757-200. (Seat 36E, I’m talking to you!) At least no one is charging a fee to preselect that one. For now.

source: cnn

Facebook Your One True Login

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:48:00 +0000

Facebook Wants to Be Your One True Login

Facebook and AOL announced last night a partnership that will integrate a user's Facebook friends into their AOL Instant Messenger. The announcement came on a day when Google announced its new attempt at capturing your social attention with Google Buzz and Yahoo! reminded us from the outskirts that they've been at this game for a year now.

According to Mercury News, about 70% of AOL users also use Facebook and the move is a sign of where AOL is heading, but we wonder if it isn't more a sign of where Facebook is heading and has been all along.

The partnership will use Facebook Connect to import a user's Facebook friends into their AIM contacts, enabling chat directly between the two services. This will allow AIM's 17 million users to continue using AIM while being able to keep in touch with their existing friends on AIM.

Dear visitors from Google. This site is not Facebook. This is a website called ReadWriteWeb that reports on news about Facebook and other Internet services. You can however click here and become a Fan of ReadWriteWeb on Facebook, to receive our updates and learn more about the Internet. To access Facebook right now, click here. For future reference, type "facebook.com" into your browser address bar or enter "facebook" into Google and click on the first result. We recommend that you then save Facebook as a bookmark in your browser.

The Great Migrations

If you think back to 2002, the big news was Friendster. For many of us, it was the first time we'd joined a social network and we went wild adding friends. Then, in 2003, Myspace came along and we slowly started adding these same friends on Myspace until one day the virtual cobwebs became too much and we left Friendster altogether. And then came Facebook and we did it again. Let's face it - if we can avoid it, we'd rather not do this again and that's precisely what Facebook wants. Facebook has already become the dominant platform for social networking, but as it expands its business in other directions, we will begin to see it pull users away from other businesses too. This partnership is not only about preventing that, but further solidifying Facebook's place as our one, true login.
The more integrated Facebook becomes, the less willing we'll be to recreate that same web of social connections we've reinvented time and again.
While many of us may complain about Facebook's on-site chat breaking down, being slow or crashing our browsers, the fact remains that Facebook is where we've based our online social life and chat is a basic extension of this. AIM used to be one of the industry standards in this realm, but now it looks more like the company is hedging its bets and trying not to fall prey to the same circumstances that caused us to abandon other platforms.

Your One True Login

As we wrote last month, users already prefer to use Facebook Connect by a margin of 2-to-1 and countless sites already let you make connections on their site by comparing their user base with your Facebook friends. In this case, however, it isn't the connections that are being imported - real-time interaction with an external user base is being imported. Whether or not a particular friend has an account with AOL is irrelevant. The partnership reinforces the idea that our Facebook profile is at the center of our online existence. Whether or not someone is signed into AOL is no longer what's at stake here, it's whether or not the user is logged into Facebook.
While other integrations attempt to replicate our social connections, to port them over to the site we're on, this one makes no such demands. We can continue using AIM while taking advantage of the particular friend set we've likely spent the most time cultivating and grooming - our Facebook friends.

source: readwriteweb

How German Homeschoolers Won Asylum in the U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:49:00 +0000

Monday, Feb. 01, 2010

How German Homeschoolers Won Asylum in the U.S.

By Tristana Moore / Berlin

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike are not like other asylum seekers, people fleeing war or torture in places like Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia. They're music teachers from a village in southern Germany. And yet, in what appears to be the first case of its kind, the couple and their five children were granted asylum in the U.S. last week by an immigration judge who ruled that they had a "well-founded fear of persecution" in their home country for engaging in what has become a popular albeit somewhat controversial American practice — homeschooling their children.
The Romeikes, who are Evangelical Christians, took their three eldest children out of school in the town of Bissingen in 2006 because they were concerned about the impact the government-approved curriculum and the public-school environment would have on their social development. "Over the past 10 to 20 years, the curriculum in public schools in Germany has been more and more against Christian values, and my eldest children were having problems with violence, bullying and peer pressure. It's important for parents to have the freedom to choose the way their children can be taught," Uwe Romeike said in a statement provided by the couple's attorney, Michael Donnelly of the Virginia-based Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). (See pictures of East Germany making light of its past.)
But here's the problem: in Germany it's compulsory for children to attend school, and the Romeikes soon found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Local authorities slapped the couple with a $10,000 fine, and police even took their children to school when the Romeikes refused to send them. Fearing that they could lose custody of their kids or even be put in jail, the Romeikes fled to the U.S. in 2008, looking for a community where they could educate their kids as they saw fit.
That's exactly what they found in Morristown, Tenn., a town of about 27,000 deep in the Bible Belt. Donnelly says the Romeikes flourished in the environment, becoming "very disciplined" teachers tackling subjects like math, history and social science with the help of textbooks and other teaching materials, all in accordance with state law. The couple also joined a local group that organizes activities and field trips for homeschooled children in the area. Once they were settled in their new community, they applied for asylum in the U.S., claiming they'd be persecuted if they were sent back to Germany. (See pictures of Detroit school kids' dreams of the future.)
Memphis judge Lawrence Burman's ruling sparked outrage in Germany. Authorities in the state of Baden-Württemberg, where the Romeikes had lived, angrily dismissed suggestions that the couple had been persecuted. "We have compulsory schooling, and this law applies to everyone, including the Romeikes," says Thomas Hilsenbeck, a spokesman for the state Education Ministry. "If parents don't want to send their children to a public school, they can send them to alternative private schools."
While there is a thriving homeschool movement in the U.S. — some 2 million children are now taught at home, or about 4% of the total school-age population, according to HSLDA — it is still a very new concept in Germany. According to the German media, there are only between 500 and 1,000 families in the country who homeschool their children — most in violation of the law. According to the compulsory-education statute introduced by the Prussians in the 18th century, all children must attend school from the ages of 6 to 16. And it's traditionally been viewed as a child's right rather than an obligation. "Compulsory schooling is one of the greatest social achievements of our time," Josef Kraus, head of the German Teachers' Association, tells TIME. "This law protects children." (Read a TIME cover story on how to save America's schools.)
Kraus strongly disagrees with the asylum ruling, saying it "treated Germany like a banana republic instead of a democratic country with its own laws." He also argues that homeschooling deprives children of important social lessons. "No parental couple can offer a breadth of education and replace experienced teachers. Kids also lose contact with their peers," he says. Advocates of homeschooling, however, argue that children benefit from tailored one-on-one instruction and that they're able to learn at their own pace without distractions in the classroom. The HSLDA goes one step further, saying research suggests that homeschooled children score significantly higher than their peers on standardized achievement tests. (See pictures of the college dorm.)
The ruling is sure to ignite passions on both sides of the debate — and may spur other parents around the world to follow the Romeikes' lead. If this happens, the U.S. could see a flood of a new type of refugees —educational asylum seekers.
Read "A Homeschooling Win in California."

source: Time

Apples new ipad

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Apple Reveals the iPad Tablet

SAN FRANCISCO — Steven P. Jobs has finally introduced Apple’s new tablet computer, called the iPad.
The question now is whether regular consumers will buy the iPhone-like device, which is priced at $499 at the entry level and can cost as much as $829.
Mr. Jobs, appearing energized but thin, a result of his continuing health difficulties, unveiled the iPad at a press event here on Wednesday morning. Its features and specifications, once the stuff of Internet myth, are now sharply in focus: The half-inch thick, 1.5-pound device will feature a 9.7-inch multitouch screen and is powered by a custom Apple microchip, called the A4. The iPad will have the same operating system as the iPhone and access to its 140,000 applications.
The price of the device will be $499 for the most basic model, with a Wi-Fi wireless connection. More expensive models will be offered with more memory and with 3G wireless access from AT&T, which will charge up to $30 for an unlimited monthly data plan.
Wi-Fi-only versions of the device will be available in March, Apple said, with the more expensive 3G models coming 30 days after that.
The most expensive models, with 64 gigabytes of memory and 3G connectivity, will cost $829.
However, the device does not have a camera and lacks the ability to make phone calls. It is not able to work with the ubiquitous Flash software that runs many Web sites. Apple is selling accessories that include a stand and a keyboard.
Mr. Jobs positioned the iPad as a device that is between a laptop and a smartphone, but which performs certain functions better than either of them, like browsing the Web, reading e-books and playing video.
The iPad “is so much more intimate than a laptop, and it’s so much more capable than a smartphone with its gorgeous screen,” Mr. Jobs crowed. “It’s phenomenal to hold the Internet in your hands.”
Mr. Jobs also dismissed netbook computers, another scaled-down device that seeks to fill a limited role. “Netbooks aren’t better at anything,” he said.
But perhaps the most significant iPad application was its own, called iBooks, an electronic bookstore that turns the iPad into a direct competitor to Amazon’s Kindle. Apple said it would sell books in the open ePub format. That conceivably means that e-books sold by Apple would also run on other devices that support ePub, like the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble’s Nook.
Mr. Jobs said Apple has entered relationships with five major publishers — Hachette, Penguin, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan — and was eager to establish relationships with others, including textbook publishers.
The announcement puts Apple on a collision course with Amazon. Mr. Jobs credited Amazon with pioneering the category with the Kindle, but said “we are going to stand on their shoulders and go a little bit farther.”
Gerry Purdy, an independent analyst who keeps a close eye on the e-reader industry, said, “Reading a book on an iPad isn’t necessarily going to be that much better — a whole lot better; it will still be in black and white. The Kindle still represents a good vehicle for people who only want an e-reader.”
He addeD: “Right now, it will have some effect on the Kindle market but it won’t be gigantic. There will still be people who want to buy the Kindles or the Nooks.”
Scott Forstall, an Apple senior vice president, said that developers can modify their apps to take advantage of the large touch-screen display, just as Apple did with its calendar, iTunes, e-mail and YouTube apps. The iPhone programming tools for developers will be enhanced to support development of the iPad, and the new tools will be released immediately.
“We think it’s going to be a whole other gold rush for developers as they build apps for the iPad,” Mr. Forstall said.
Among the partners at the San Francisco event that showed off new software compatible with the iPad: Gameloft, a game developer, which demonstrated a first-person shooter game on the iPad; Electronic Arts and The New York Times.
Apple has been working on such a tablet computer for more than a decade, according to several former employees. But early prototypes, which used PC microchips, quickly drained batteries, and Apple executives could never figure out how or why people would want to use such a device, which lacks a traditional keyboard and computer mouse.
Other companies, like Microsoft, have also sold tablet computers for years, but the category has never caught on with consumers.
But advances in technology have since made tablets more practical. Battery technology has improved, and the wide availability of 3G networks and Wi-Fi now allow such devices to remain tethered to the Web at all times.
Traditional “qwerty” keyboards have also, to many people, become expendable. In 2005, Apple acquired Fingerworks, a company founded by two researchers at the University of Delaware to develop computer interfaces based on gestures. Their work has been integrated into the iPhone and now, the iPad.
In 2008, Apple acquired a semiconductor company, called P.A. Semi. That group is responsible for the development of the A4 chip in the iPad.
The remarkable success of the iPhone and its cousin, the iPod Touch, have also shown a path forward for tablets. People have been willing to pay to customize those devices with a large repertoire of third-party tools, called applications, turning them into video game machines, compasses, city guides and e-book readers.
There are now more than 100,000 applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, and they are expected to generate $1.4 billion in revenue in 2010, according to an analysis by Piper Jaffray.

Brad Stone reported from San Francisco, and Jenna Wortham from New York.

source nyt

Enhanced screening for people flying to U.S. from certain nations

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:22:00 +0000

TSA: Enhanced screening for people flying to U.S. from certain nations

January 3, 2010 11:04 p.m. EST

Travelers stand in line at Chicago's O'Hare airport on December 26.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

TSA: Travel to U.S. from "state sponsors of terrorism" would trigger enhanced screening
So would travel from "other countries of interest"
U.S. lists Cuba, Sudan, Syria and Iran as state sponsors of terrorism
Government official: Some "countries of interest" are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq

RELATED TOPICS

Washington (CNN) -- The Transportation Security Administration announced Sunday that it will begin enhanced screening procedures Monday on any U.S.-bound air passenger traveling through "state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest" such as Pakistan, Yemen and Nigeria.

The TSA said in a statement announcing the new measures that "effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders."

A senior government official, not authorized to speak on the record, provided CNN with the full list of 14 countries that fall under the TSA's "countries of interest" label -- which will automatically trigger the enhanced screening.

The State Department lists four countries as those that sponsor terror: Cuba, Sudan, Syria and Iran. The other 10 countries of interest are Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen, the government official said.

Another source, a senior State Department official who could not speak on the record due to the sensitive nature of the material, said the countries on the list are places "where we have concerns, particularly about al Qaeda affiliates."

The official said the State Department was heavily involved in compiling the list, along with Department of Homeland Security and other intelligence agencies. The State Department compiles the annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, which details terrorism trends in countries around the world.

Passengers from other countries could still face enhanced security for other reasons.

Nations on the list

The TSA says air travel to the United States through "state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest" will trigger enhanced screening. A senior government official says 14 countries fall under that label:

State sponsors of terrorism, as listed by the State Department:

Cuba
Iran
Sudan
Syria

"Countries of interest," according to a senior government official:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Iraq
Lebanon
Libya
Nigeria
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Yemen

Unlike many TSA security directives, this one does not have an expiration date and is intended to be "sustainable and long term," although the TSA will continually evaluate the mandate in light of intelligence, a federal counterterrorism official told CNN.

The TSA said any person flying into the United States who is "traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening."

The TSA did not elaborate on what those enhanced security procedures might entail. The directive was issued to domestic and international air carriers.

In addition, the directive also keeps in place a mandate -- issued after an attempted Christmas Day terror attack on a U.S.-bound flight -- giving pilots discretion to prevent passengers from keeping pillows and blankets on their laps during certain international flights, the official said. Also retained is the option for pilots to limit movement in the cabin on those international flights.

Federal authorities have charged Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, 23, of Nigeria, in connection with the failed Christmas Day attack on a flight between the Netherlands and Detroit, Michigan. Authorities have said he tried to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear as the flight made its final approach to Detroit. The device failed to fully detonate, instead setting off a fire at his seat.

source: cnn

Should Obese Passengers Pay More?

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:56:00 +0000

The Debate Rages On: Should Obese Passengers Pay More?

A photo of an obese airplane passenger has inspired a passionate debate as to whether or not overweight fliers should pay more. Last week we said that they should and we asked you what you thought. We heard from over 2,000 of you and, overwhelmingly, you agree with us. Here, some of the comments from both sides:

The airline's position:

Credit: Flightglobal
The photo in question is believed to have been taken from American Airlines. We spoke with American Airlines media spokesperson Tim Smith to get his take on the situation. Here's what he had to say:

"We are currently in the process of looking into this situation. We do have a policy that tries to be flexible for passengers of size. Certainly no passenger would ever be allowed to fly on American Airlines in any way that obstructs the aisles of the aircraft, and all passengers must be properly seat-belted—part of the FAA rules. It is very obvious in the photo that the aircraft is not inflight at the time the photo was taken—other passengers are still boarding and several overhead bins are still open. We can assure you that all passengers on this flight were safely and comfortably accommodated, and that no FAA rules were broken."

Tim says that they don't "routinely charge for an extra seat unless there are simply no other options. Our people are trained to work with customers to try and accommodate ALL passengers onboard. Often, pending how full the flight is, we can get everyone taken care of." Tim adds that "each situation is handled individually on a case-by-case basis with utmost professionalism and discretion." He also cites FAA rules on the matter, which state that "all passengers must use FAA required restraint devices" and that "no aisle may be blocked by any passenger or bags in case of emergency."

A sampling of how some airlines handle full-figured guests:

Southwest
Passengers who "compromise any portion of adjacent seating" should plan on booking a second seat before getting to the airport. If the flight isn’t packed, the cost of the additional seat will be refunded. For more information, see Southwest’s Guidelines for Customers of Size or refer to their Customer of Size Q&A

United
In March of this year, United changed their policy regarding larger passengers. If unoccupied seats are available on the flight, the passenger will be relocated next to one free of charge. If not, passengers must purchase an upgrade to a cabin with available seats, or transfer their ticket and purchase a second seat on the next available flight. For additional information, see United’s webpage for Passengers Requiring Extra Space.

Continental
Larger passengers will be required to buy two seats. If the second seat is booked in advance, the same rate applies as the original seat. Those waiting for the day of travel will have to buy the second seat at the price applicable to the departure date. Customers also have the choice of upgrading to first class or business. For more information, check out Continental’s webpage for Customers Requiring Extra Seating.

JetBlue
JetBlue reserves the right to charge larger passengers for an additional seat, at the lowest available rate. They will charge larger passengers only if the flight is fully booked.

US Airways
Charging a customer for two seats is a last resort for US Airways. The carrier first tries to accommodate the passenger by relocating them near an empty seat. If no empty seats exsist on the flight, they offer to rebook them on a later flight that has open seats available, free of charge. If none of these are options, only then does the carrier require passengers to buy two tickets.

Larger passengers should pay larger fees:

This man violates FAA standards for safety.
As an airline captain I can tell you that passenger depicted in your article does not meet FAA standards for safety. More important than passenger comfort or even emergency egress issues, in the event of a crash sequence, the overweight passenger could cause death to surrounding passengers as he is not safely secured. At our airline, and I know at Southwest, obese passengers must pay for two seats. It has nothing to do with fair treatment; it has to do with total passenger weight which is limited to 190 per passenger for weight and balance, on average. They certainly would be considered handicapped as they could not exit as normal passengers would. There is absolutely no discrimination here. Weight is weight; if your bag exceeds 50 pounds, prepare to pay extra, same for passengers.

People need to pay their share.
It fits right in with the 100-pound. traveler toting 3-4 pieces of gigantic luggage, it's about time people people pay their share.

They should pay more and board last.
I think oversized passengers should have to pay for two seats and be located where the last person(s) to exit in an emergency so as to enable able-bodied passengers to escape rapidly. An exception would be when empty seats are available after all seat requests (stand-by, etc.) are satisfied. They should also either board early or last so as not to hold up the whole boarding process.

There should be a "demo" seat at the ticket counter—don't fit? Pay more.
Perhaps the airline should put a “demo” seat at the ticket counter—if your posterior luggage does not fit into the space, then you should have to buy a bigger space. Currently the same rules apply to oversized luggage. In looking at the picture, I wonder how the stewardess could fit the beverage cart down the aisle or how any passengers could access the lavatory.

Overweight passengers put other travelers at risk.
Absolutely. Since airlines treat us (and now our luggage) as nothing more than "packages" and charge us by weight on our luggage, why not charge morbidly obese people based on their additional weight? Think of this scenario: a convention of morbidly obese people is being held in San Francisco and a group of 150 morbidly obese people get together to fly there from Philadelphia. All that additional weight makes the plane unsafe to fly and the average-weight passengers on that flight have their lives put at risk, their comfort compromised by the "overflow" from the obese passenger sitting next to them, and the safety hazard of having a morbidly obese person blocking the aisle for exits in emergencies.

If you take up more than one seat, you should pay for two.
I'm not a lightweight, but I am constantly battling to keep myself healthy at 65 years of age. However, having traveled in coach with people who are “obese”, I really feel that if you take up more than one seat, you should pay for more than one seat. I traveled across the US seated next to a severely overweight young lady. She sat by the window and I sat in the middle. The aisle seat was taken up by a huge person as well. For five hours I was in sheer misery. I could not use either armrest because they could not be put down due to the excess flesh from both sides encroaching on my seat. If there had been a crash, I would have been overwhelmed by both these people trying to get out.

I'm a flight attendant and we frequently end up re-arranging seat patterns to put children next to obese passengers.
As a 20+ year flight attendant with a major carrier, we are not to address the obesity/space issue unless another passenger expresses their concern or displeasure—which they inevitably do not until we are airborne! Our only other company directive is to "attempt to re-seat passengers in order to accommodate the larger individual"! So, in addition to stowing a ridiculous number of bags because no one is willing to "utilize the space beneath their seats" and trying to cram in the tiniest possible articles into the overhead bins, we are now expected to rearrange the entire aircraft to put children beside obese passengers.

It's only fair to charge for two seats.
I'm overweight but not obese. I can comfortably fit into any seat on the plane, but if I were over, say 300 pounds. I think I'd prefer two seats so I'm not embarrassed by squashing the person next to me. I know everyone is scared of discrimination suits and that obesity is a disease, but you are legally fitting into two seats and therefore, I think you should pay for it.

It's discrimination to charge overweight travelers more:

It is discrimination.
It is discrimination. Period. Yes, airplanes have weight limits that must be followed for physical principles of flight; however, one person, no matter how much they weigh, should only have to pay for one ticket.

There's a lot more to worry about than someone's size.
Pay more?! Safety issue?! Screw that!!! The man in the picture wouldn't be any slower to exit than the harried lady with 4 kids, or the drunk businessman who can't figure which way to move, or the diva with her mink and manicure and purse. In other words, there's a lot more to worry about than someone's size.

The concept of "two seats" is deplorable.
That picture is me. I weigh 450 pounds. I fly constantly. My position is that I am one person, and to treat me differently is nothing short of discrimination. I would gladly pay extra for a larger, more comfortable seat—should one be available. What they should do, what no one suggests, is to make a bench seat, to accomodate handicapped individuals, or those who want more comfort, and charge accordingly. But the concept of "two seats" is deplorable.

This is the airlines' fault for being greedy.
I am a large person of approximately 350 pounds and I work in the business aviation field. I can personally testify that the seats used in many commuter jets nowadays are built smaller for fuel savings and payload. Blame the interior design engineers for these sorry passenger jets and the greed that paid for it before you point fingers at larger people. It is a medical fact that all of our population is getting larger and taller. If you believe that forcing larger people to pay for two seats is the answer, good luck paying the bills in the future!

Obese people have the same rights as anyone else.
As far as I'm concerned obese people have the same rights as anyone else and shouldn't be penalized like excess baggage. We all know, except for the privileged few, that airline seats are made as tiny as possible so as to accommodate as many fliers, and thus increase revenue. On the other hand, if you're small, why shouldn't you receive a reduced fare if overweight people are charged extra? Would you, personally, be willing to sit between two NFL linemen each weighing in at 375 pounds if you could get an interview with some famous people?

If heavier people have to pay, so should those with screaming children.
The airlines keep squeezing in more and more seats—when I first started flying, there were two seats on either side of the aisle—not three. Then they added the third seat on both sides and diminished the width of the seats. Why should heavier persons have to pay the difference? It's the greed of the airlines that has caused the problem. If the heavier person has to pay more—then those people with screaming children should have to pay more for the disturbance they cause. The list can go on and on.

source aol

The Obamas' First State Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Your request is being pressed...

State Dinner PICTURES, Details: Inside The White House Gala (PHOTOS)

WASHINGTON - The first state dinner of the Obama White House had it all: Oscar-winning entertainers, Hollywood moguls, a knockout guest chef and even a wardrobe malfunction. Traditional evening gowns vied with saris of vibrant colors Tuesday night at the high-glitz dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. There were turbans and bindis as well as diamonds and brocades.

"Everyone looks great; we're feeling great," White House social secretary Desiree Rogers told a phalanx of cameras as she arrived, betraying no hint of nerves at the biggest social event of the Obama presidency.

First lady Michelle Obama had been a little more forthcoming earlier in the day when she described the trick to pulling off the event as sort of like being a swan: calm and serene above the water but "paddling like mad, going crazy underneath."

The 338-person guest list was a mix of wonky Washington, Hollywood A-listers, prominent figures from the Indian community in the U.S., and Obama friends, family and campaign donors.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stand at the North Portico of the White House as they await the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur for the State Dinner. November 24, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Attorney General Eric Holder patted his pocket as he arrived and said his kids had prepped him with all sorts of questions for tablemate Steven Spielberg. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, asked who she was most looking forward to chatting with, ventured, "I'd have to name four." Then didn't.

Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania had to scramble when his ensemble went rogue at just the wrong moment: His cummerbund dropped to the floor just as he and his wife stopped to pose before a scrum of about 40 reporters and photographers.

Story continues below

Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood provided the celebrity quotient, but neither could come up with a connection to India. Underwood said he was there because of Woodard. She said she was there because she's on the president's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Dinner guests were treated to an eye-catching scheme of green and purple, from the green curry surrounding the prawns to the purple floral arrangements paying homage to the peacock, India's national bird.

Pumpkin was on the menu, too, with Tuesday's dinner coming just two days before Thanksgiving.

Hours before guests arrived and in keeping with tradition, Mrs. Obama previewed the glamorous table settings in the State Dining Room. That's often the venue for such dinners, but not this time.

Instead, in an effort to show Singh how much the U.S. values relations with his country, the Obamas decided to serve dinner in a huge white tent on the South Lawn, with views of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial through clear panels.

It wasn't your everyday tent: This one had chandeliers suspended from the ceiling and beige carpet on the floor.

President Barack Obama, in his dinner toast, said the setting conjured images of India, where special events are "often celebrated under the cover of a beautiful tent." Singh, in turn, told the president he was overwhelmed by the Obamas' hospitality and said the president's election last year had been an inspiration to millions of Indians.

Magnolia branches native to both India and the U.S. adorned the tent's inside walls, along with ivy and nandina foliage.

Guests were seated 10 apiece at round tables draped in green apple-colored cloths and napkins, offset by the sparkle of gold-colored flatware and china, including service and dinner plates from the Eisenhower, Clinton and George W. Bush settings.

Floral arrangements of hydrangeas, roses and sweet peas in plum, purple and fuschia evoked India's state bird.

Mrs. Obama brought in award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit, a Scandinavian restaurant in New York City, to help White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and her staff prepare the largely vegetarian meal. Singh is a vegetarian.

Samuelsson said being chosen to help whip up dinner was both "overwhelming and humbling."

The culinary offerings included potato and eggplant salad, arugula from the White House garden, red lentil soup and roasted potato dumplings or green curry prawns. Pumpkin pie tart and pear tatin were for dessert; the pears were poached in honey from the White House beehive.

The entertainment lineup was stellar.

Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson and jazz vocalist and composer Kurt Elling, both Grammy Award winners from the Obamas' hometown of Chicago, were performing. Hudson also won an Academy Award for her role in "Dreamgirls." Indian musician and singer A.R. Rahman, who won two Academy Awards for the music in "Slumdog Millionaire," also was in the lineup.

Among the other guests: Hollywood moguls David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Guests with ties to India included spiritual adviser Deepak Chopra, director M. Night Shyamalan and PepsiCo chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi. Katie Couric of CBS News, Brian Williams of NBC News, Robin Roberts of ABC News and CNN Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta were among the media representatives invited. Oprah Winfrey was not on the list, but her best friend, Gayle King, was among the guests. Also there Obama friends Eric Whitaker and Martin Nesbitt, along with Obama's half sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her husband, Konrad; and Marian Robinson, the first lady's mother.

Every aspect of Tuesday's events was fraught with meaning and symbolism, from the flower colors to Mrs. Obama's clothing designers.

For the dinner, Mrs. Obama wore a sleeveless, gold and cream colored sheath dress with an overlay of silver and matching shawl by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan. At the State Dining Room event earlier in the day, the first lady wore a skirt by Rachel Roy, who is Indian.

The dinner also was a debut of sorts for florist Laura Dowling, who's been on the job less than a month.

source : huffington post

Dateline Greencard Lottery 2009 !

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:08:00 +0000

US Government reports: Green Card Record Number of Winners Published

US Government reports: Green Card Record Number of Winners Published

The US government has recently released the statistical breakdown of the DV-2010 diversity visa program, the so-called green card lottery.

Approximately 110.000 successful applications for US permanent residence were randomly selected from more than 13.6 million entries which were received during the 60-day submission period last year.

However, only half of the selectees will actually receive a green card. The other half is expected to either not follow through with the application process or be disqualified due to strict educational and financial requirements requested from all winners.

More than half of all applicants were born in a developing country. The top three countries in terms of winning entries were Ghana, Nigeria and Bangladesh, Together they account for more than 15% of the total number of winners.

Due to per-country limitations, only 3,500 winners per country are allowed to receive a green card. Even if educational requirements are met, more than half of Ghana´s 8,752 winners will therefor not be able to actually come to the USA.

While the green card lottery is especially popular in less developed countries, interest is rising in Europe as well. A new research by the Pew Institute in Washington has shown that confidence in Obama has lifted the US image considerably around the world, especially in Germany, where US favorability has risen from 31% during the Bush years to 64% this June.

This research is supported by a record number of green card applicants from Germany last year. The submission period for the 2008 green card lottery lasted for about four weeks after the last presidential election. During that time, there was an increase of almost 150% in applications from most European countries." More applicants result in a relatively higher number of successful participants as well. In Germany, for example, 2,188 people actually won the green card - the highest number recorded during the last decade.

Application form : click here
dv-lottery-state-gov.com

in german / in deutsch
usbotschaft.de

Einsendeschluss! Greencard Programm 2009 - Pressemitteilung

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Greencard Programm 2009 - Pressemitteilung

Schönen Guten Tag,

Die USA haben die GreenCard Saison eröffnet.
Registrieren Sie sich jetzt für das GreenCard Programm
des Jahres 2009.
Je früher Sie sich bewerben desto höher sind ihre Chancen
eine der begehrten GreenCards (Daueraufenthalts Genehmigungen für
die USA) zu erhalten. Das Kontingent ist begrenzt und es ist die einzige!
Möglichkeit für ein "Leben und Arbeiten in den USA!"
Lassen Sie sich Ihre einzige Möglichkeit nicht entgehen ein tolles
Leben zu leben.

hier klicken:
http://www.usbotschaft.de/application.htm

Mit den besten Gruessen

Sandra Hall

USAGreenCard
Washington DC, U.S.A.
http://www.usbotschaft.de/application.htm

Airfare sale: $70 to Florida, $100 to Caribbean and Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000

Airfare sale: $70 to Florida, $100 to Caribbean and Mexico

USA3000, the quasi-charter flight operation that sells directly to the public, offers a sale to warm destinations for travel during winter's coldest days.

A sampling of the routes on sale (one-way fares, taxes and fees extra):

St. Louis to Ft. Myers, Florida: $69.99

Chicago to Cancun, Mexico: $99.99

Cleveland to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic: $99.99

Chicago to Montego Bay, Jamaica: $129.99

Detroit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: $139.99

Yes, these fares are being offered for departures in December, January, and beyond, but availability is limited. Finding the lowest "starting at" prices can be a challenge but not impossible. On the Chicago-Cancun route, for example, we were able to find several dates available at $99.99 each for departures in January. If the cheapest price isn't available, the next best price doesn't cost all that much more: Again on the Chicago-Cancun scenario, there were plenty of dates offered at a rate of $129.99 each way, which is still pretty good.

For more details, a list of sale routes, and bookings, check out USA3000's website.

Never heard of USA3000? Not long ago, we profiled the airline, along with a handful of other small interesting upstart carriers, in our story, "Flying Under the Radar."

source: cnn

Oprah To End Talk Show

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:40:00 +0000

Oprah To End Talk Show, Announcement On-Air Friday: WABC

WABC's Eyewitness News is reporting that Oprah will announce the end of her talk show Friday.

"The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011," ABC's New York affiliate reports.

Deadline Hollywood Daily's Nikki Finke reported earlier this month that Oprah had decided to end her syndicated show and moving to her cable Oprah Winfrey Network when her contract expires in 2011, but WABC reports that no decision has been made about whether she will do the show on cable.

Developing...

source: huffington post

The Best Netbooks for Travelers: Holidays 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:50:00 +0000

WIRED TRAVELER'S HANDBOOK

Slimmer Surfers

Stripped of nonessentials like DVD drives, netbooks are mini laptops best suited for Web surfing and word processing—and they're storming the market. Here are our three favorites, each loaded with a Windows operating system and a 160-gigabyte hard drive, enough to hold more than a dozen movies.

By Sean O'Neill, November 2009 issue |

From top: HP Mini 110, Toshiba Mini NB205-N325, Disney Netpal by Asus (Levi Brown) [enlarge photo]

WIRED TRAVELER'S HANDBOOK

• Wi-Fi in the Sky

• Slimmer Surfers

Best for the plane: HP Mini 110
Just an inch thick and weighing less than three pounds, the Mini 110 has a nearly full-size keyboard (92 percent) and an LED antiglare display that's good in bright and dark conditions. High-definition audio plays through built-in stereo speakers, so you can listen to your personal playlist in your hotel room. Another nice touch: The Mini 110 comes with software that lets you automatically synchronize music, videos, and other files with your primary computer when you're logged in to your home network. hp.com, $330, in black, pink, or white.

Best for kids: Disney Netpal by Asus
The company that kicked off the netbook trend two years ago, Asus, released the Disney Netpal this summer. The tiny machine, just 2.65 pounds and about the size of a hardcover book, has a spill-proof keyboard and parental controls that allow you to specify which websites and e-mail addresses your kids can access, as well as limit the hours they can surf the Web. The Netpal comes with a large, child-friendly touch pad and a customizable, Disney-themed desktop interface. disneystore.com, $350, in pink or blue.

Best for the long trip: Toshiba Mini NB205-N325
Yes, it's priced a little higher, but what really sets the Toshiba apart is its nine hours of battery life (most netbooks last between three and six hours). This 2.9-pounder has a full-size touch pad and special key commands that allow you to zoom in and out on images and Web pages. A USB port charges gadgets even when the computer is off, and if you drop the machine, a Hard Drive Impact Sensor minimizes damage by instantly separating the moving parts inside. toshibadirect.com, $400, in brown, blue, pink, or white.

source cnn

World travelers: America wants you

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:17:00 +0000

World travelers: America wants you

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

U.S. welcoming fewer overseas visitors, despite growth in international travel
Some want travel promotion group that tourists would pay for with $10 fee
Opponents say it's unfair for U.S. to charge tourists to promote itself
U.S. economy makes promotion critical, tourism firm official says

Kenyan artist Nicholas Sironka received a warm welcome to the United States when he first visited in 1999 -- a reception he's missed since.

"I came and it was joyful -- people receive you with smiles at the airport. Today, it's so tense," said Sironka, a Masai tribe member who spent time in the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar before the terrorist attacks in September 2001 prompted tightened security and entry requirements.

"It is good to be a superpower, and we wish you the best in everything you do to keep out bad people. But what about the good people? Should they be treated the same as the bad people?" said Sironka, who has returned to the U.S. more than a dozen times. "There is a courtesy that used to be there that needs to come back."

Sironka's experience hits on one of the reasons the U.S. Travel Association says overseas visitation to the United States has yet to recover to pre-9/11 levels.

Despite strong global growth in long-haul international travel between 2000 and 2008, the U.S. welcomed 633,000 fewer overseas visitors in 2008 than it did in 2000, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Calculations for overseas visitors do not include arrivals from Mexico and Canada, the top two tourist-generating countries for the United States in 2008.

The lag in the growth of overseas visits can be attributed to a difficult visa process, a lack of national promotion and a negative perception of how people are treated upon arrival, said Roger Dow, the U.S. Travel Association's president and CEO.

While strides have been made in recent years, he says, it takes time for those changes to be recognized.

"It's like if you go to a restaurant and you've known there's a three-hour wait every time you want to go. ... And then two years later they fix it, but you've stopped going there," Dow said.

Getting the word out about what's happening and what the United States has to offer is key, Dow believes.

"We don't promote the United States. Every other developed country in the world spends millions -- some countries spend 150 to 180 million dollars [promoting tourism]," Dow said.

In 2005, the most recent year for which figures have been compiled, national tourism organizations in Greece, Australia, Malaysia, Mexico and Spain each spent more than $100 million marketing inbound tourism, according to research conducted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. France, the world's top destination for international arrivals last year, spent more than $63 million in 2005, while the United States spent just over $6 million.

The recent passage of the Travel Promotion Act in the U.S. House and Senate brings the United States a step closer to widespread national promotion. Because of legislative procedure, the act requires a final vote in the Senate. Dow's association hopes the legislation will receive the vote in the coming weeks.

The act calls for a nonprofit Corporation for Travel Promotion that would promote the United States as a travel destination, giving equal attention to rural and urban areas.

Segments of the travel industry -- including large destinations, cruise lines, airlines and hotel chains -- have the means to promote themselves privately, but that leaves out national parks and forest lands, rural communities and the small businesses that make up most of the industry, according to Kristin Lamoureux, director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at The George Washington University.

"This is an opportunity to brand the U.S.," she said.

Funding for the public-private organization would come in part via a $10 fee charged to visitors from countries included in the Visa Waiver Program who don't have to apply and pay for visas. Visitors would pay the fee every two years when they register online using the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

Some opponents say charging tourists to fund promotion will deter overseas visitors from coming to the United States and may cause other countries to levy new fees on American visitors.

"We don't want foreigners to have to jump through so many hoops that they just give up and don't bother coming to the U.S.," said Steven Lott, a spokesman for the International Air Transport Association, which represents airlines around the world.

"I think focusing our attention on making entry and exit procedures easier would go a long way to help tourism, rather than fancy videos and shiny posters," he said.

Marianne Botoft and Line Andersen, 26-year-old massage therapists from Copenhagen, Denmark, who recently visited New York City, disagree with the proposed fee.

"It's not fair that people that come to the country have to pay for the country's promotion of itself," Botoft said. Her friend Andersen agreed: "It's not fair. We're spending a lot of money already."

Overseas visitors to the United States in 2008 spent an average of $4,500 each. Visitors from Canada and Mexico, who take shorter trips, spent about $871 per trip, according to the U.S. Travel Association. Overseas visitors make up 80 percent of the United States' international travel receipts, while amounting to only 44 percent of international arrivals.

Oxford Economics, an economic consulting and forecasting company, estimates a well-executed promotional program would draw 1.6 million new international visitors annually and generate $4 billion in new visitor spending. The Congressional Budget Office expects the program to reduce the federal budget deficit by $425 million in the next 10 years.

The current economic climate makes promotion more critical, said Adam Sacks, managing director of Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics partner firm.

"You've got a shrinking pie ... you're not going to be just enjoying a rising tide -- you've got to go out and get market share," he said.

International tourism started to drop off globally in the second half of 2008, and this year, international tourist arrivals worldwide have declined by 7 percent from January to July, compared with the same period in 2008, which was still strong.

The United States' improving global image also makes plans for increased promotion timely, Sacks said.

"I think the U.S. has a particular opportunity right now because it's in the process of refurbishing its brand in the global arena politically," he said. "There's a direct relationship between opinions about the U.S. and willingness to travel here."

source: cnn

`Illegal alien' Halloween costume offensive, groups say

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:34:00 +0000

`Illegal alien' Halloween costume offensive, groups say

Screen-grab of 'Illegal Alien' Halloween costume from Target.com.

TARGET.COM

LOS ANGELES -- (AP) -- A Southern California immigrant rights group has asked Target stores to stop selling an ``illegal alien'' Halloween costume it says is offensive to immigrants.

The costume, posted on Target's web site, features the mask of an alien with a green card and an orange jumpsuit with ``illegal alien'' written across the front.

Target spokesman Joshua Thomas says the company is removing the costume from the site after receiving several complaints.

He says the store never intended to sell the outfit but included it in its online offerings by mistake.

Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, says she wrote an e-mail to the Minneapolis-based retailer Friday calling the costume ``distasteful, mean-spirited, and ignorant of social stigmas and current debate on immigration reform.''

Movie - Video : click here

Poll: Hillary Clinton more popular than Barack Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:15:00 +0000

Poll: Hillary Clinton more popular than Barack Obama

Posted: October 15th, 2009 11:49 AM ET

From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Poll: Hillary Clinton more popular than Barack Obama.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – She lost to him in last year's battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, but a new national poll suggests that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now more popular than her boss, President Barack Obama.

A Gallup survey released Thursday indicates that 62 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of Clinton, 6 points higher than the 56 percent who view Obama favorably.

According to the poll, the president's favorable rating has dropped 22 points from its inaugural-month level in January. The survey indicates that Clinton's favorable rating has only edged down 3 points since the beginning of the year.

Nine in 10 Democrats questioned in the poll view both Obama and Clinton favorably, with independents split. Fewer than one in five Republicans hold a favorable opinion of the president, while 35 percent see Clinton in a positive light. According to the survey, Obama has dropped 23 points with independents and 41 points with Republicans since January, while Clinton has dropped just 6 points among independents and stayed even among Republicans since the start of 2009.

"This is a common pattern in recent polling," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice consistently had higher favorable ratings than George W. Bush. Madeleine Albright was more popular than Bill Clinton. Secretaries of State don't get blamed for economic problems or unpopular domestic policies, and they often don't get the same share of the blame as the commander-in-Chief for international slip-ups either."

The Gallup telephone poll of 1,013 adults was conducted October 1-4, before the president was named winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

source: cnn

Orlando: Walt Disney World set for largest expansion in its history

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:04:00 +0000

It's Not a Small World After All

Walt Disney World set for largest expansion in its history

P FACEBOOK

Getty Images

While most companies are cutting back during this recession, Walt Disney plans on expanding. Big time. An expansion that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland.

The largest expansion in the history of the central Florida theme park.

Analysts believe this expansion would re-ignite travel to Orlando, which has lagged during the recession.

Besides almost doubling Fantasyland, Disney plans to update Star Tours, the Star Wars-themed ride in Disney's Hollywood Studios. That will debut in 2011. The Fantasyland overhaul will be complete by 2013.

The biggest addition will be to the Little Mermaid ride, which will include an enclosed ride that will carry guests through the underwater realm of Ariel - the redheaded mermaid.

Disney World will construct individual areas - whether a castle, cottage or chateau - where guests can interact with some of the company's best-known princesses and other characters from their movies. Children will be able to dance with Cinderella, celebrate Aurora's birthday with the Good Fairies, or play a role with Belle in a performance in the library of the Beast's castle.

Disney intends to relocate Dumbo the Flying Elephant to a new "circus grounds" that will include an interactive queue under a big-top tent to entertain children waiting in line. Disney will add a new Pixie Hollow character-greeting area, home to Tinker Bell and other fairies.

To accommodate the expansion, Disney will raze most of Mickey's Toontown Fair, the smallest of the Magic Kingdom's "lands." Gone will be both of the walkthrough country houses where guests were guaranteed to meet Disney's most famous characters: Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

But not to worry, Mickey and Minnie will get new homes near the entrance to the park.

Copyright Associated Press

US Government reports: Green Card Record Number of Winners Published

noreply@blogger.com (Fred Soratas) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:46:00 +0000

USAMORNINGPOST.com

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`Illegal alien' Halloween costume offensive, groups say

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Poll: Hillary Clinton more popular than Barack Obama

Orlando: Walt Disney World set for largest expansion in its history

It's Not a Small World After All

Walt Disney World set for largest expansion in its history

Copyright Associated Press

US Government reports: Green Card Record Number of Winners Published