So…You Think Electric Cars Are THE Answer?

Sure…gas prices are through the roof. It sucks. We’re sitting on millions of gallons of oil, yet the libs won’t allow us to get at it.

Liberals side with environmentalists. “Oh no…we can’t drill!!! It might adversally effect the life of some human killing scorpion!!”

Sure…I find alternate energy interesting, but I also find interesting the ignorance of those supporting these alternatives.

Notice the hot talk on the main stream media. “Electric cars are the future!” Ever consider where electricity comes from? Ding!….another case of simpletons having the wool pulled over they’re eyes.

“Just plug your car into your house and you can drive to and fro with zero emissions.” That’s the message we’re being given.Makes you feel really good, doesn’t it.

So….environmentalists….care to tell us where that electricity is coming from? Imagine a $100 per month power bill jumping from $100 per month to $300 per month! Not seeing much talk of that, are you?

I have friends driving hybrids who realize that the cost benefit just isn’t there. The batteries have a limited lifetime and replacement costs are exorbitant. And where do those expired batteries go?

Don’t get me wrong. The hybrid/electric car is a really cool idea. Re-harnessing charge power from braking in cars is sweet. But what the main stream media “allows” you to know is not the whole truth.

The truth is, we are now on the road, an exciting road, towards weaning ourselves off of petroleum based energy. This development takes time.

In the mean time, we must realize that we are a petroleum based market, and as such should rely on existing fuel sources to get us to that new technology! We should immediately explore our own petrol options and kill our reliance on foreign powers.

It’s just common sense!

A new Site - Vintage-Electronics-Supply.com

Are  you a collector of old electronics? I collect older shortwave radios, ham radios, military electronices as well as old stereo equipment.

A new site has popped up that looks exciting! http://vintage-electronics-supply.com features a different featured item fo sale on an almost daily basis. It’s neat just to drop by and see what’s featured for the day.

If you’re into older electronics, check them out here. I understand a forum and classified ads section is coming soon!

Dryad Of The Trees

The Dewadaru tree is mostly found to the north of the island of Java, among the Sunda islands of Karimunjava, in the Java Sea, bearing the coordinates of Latitude 5° 52′ S, and Longitude 110° 26′ E. It has a human population of approximately 20,000 people. The Dewadaru tree had been sanctified by the local inhabitants of the island for countless generations as a result of a myth perpetuated by the elders of the society. In one of the local dialects, “daru” means “blessing from heaven,” while “dewa,” (derived from Sanskrit) is the Indonesian term for “god.” “Dewadaru” is thus interpreted as the “gift of the gods,” implying that this tree genus is a tangible symbolic gift from the gods/esses to the islanders. To the local inhabitants, the Dewadaru represents the wisdom of the gods in maintaining the harmony, stability, and peacefulness of Nature. The Dewadaru is believed to be the protective guardian of the living souls on the Karimunjava islands.

According to the legend, there was once a man living on the island of Java who was furious with his son for constant disobedience. The man, although he loved his son dearly, strove to inculcate in him a certain hard lesson. So one day he drove his son away from home with the warning that he was not to set foot on Java again.

Not willing to disobey his father again, he prepared himself for the journey. In sadness, the son left Mt. Muria where they dwelt and moved on to the open seas to the north. He sailed on a boat for many days through stormy weather and amidst huge waves, not really knowing his destination and perhaps with little will to survive. Then one day, his boat landed on the shores of a small, uninhabited island.

Meanwhile, from the peak of Mt. Muria in Java, the boy’s father was secretly watching over his son clairvoyantly. But for some reason his vision was vague and unclear, and thus lost track of the whereabouts of the boy on that island. In the old Javanese language, the word “vague” is translated as kerimun. Thus the island became known as “Karimun-java.”

The boy continued his journey inland bearing two wooden staffs as walking sticks to assist his journey. He retrieved these from the shore. These two short poles wounded him while his boat was capsized to shore by the sheer power of the waves. In the middle of the forest he poked the two staffs to the ground and started to rest from the tiresome journey. Miraculously, in that very instant the two staffs grew into magnificent trees. In awe of the incident, he named them “Dewadaru.” In the present day, the place where he rested now stands the village of Nyamplungan.

Nowadays, although not too numerous, there is a substantial amount of Dewadaru trees growing on the islands-the descendants of the very first two. The remains of the original, fabulous Dewadaru trees may still be seen. The humps are there as if to substantiate the truth of the legend. The descendants of the magickal trees grow in hill-slopes of the islands and are not easily accessible.

In proximity to the once glorious trees is a grave that until now is still being sanctified by the locals. On certain nights-such as Jumat Kliwon (a Thursday night occurring once in 35 days) of the Javanese calendar, the grave would be visited by pilgrims desiring the blessings of the spiritual adept to whom the grave belongs. The adept was known as Sunan Nyamplungan from whence the village received its name.

For centuries, the Dewadaru tree or wood is believed by the inhabitants of Karimunjava to possess magical powers. Tested through time, the wood is said to heal poisonous bites, and aches or illnesses in the abdominal region. Dewadaru wood is often carried as an amulet for personal protection against evil persons as well as a weapon against evil spirits or dryads. It is said that unlike other types of wood, the Dewadaru, even a small piece of it, sinks when placed in water.

Seventy-five kilometers away, as the crow flies, from the town of Jepara in Java, the Karimunjava islands has a scary myth related to the Dewadaru. There is supposed to be a warning by the regional dryads that the sacred Dewadaru wood or tree is not to be taken out of the islands without the concession of the spiritual guardians of the area. Whosoever violates this, even by taking a small piece of the wood, incurs the wrath of Nature and calamity befalls him or her not long after. The usual mishap is the sinking or the immobility of the vessel that the person travels on to journey back to the mainland. Sometimes it could be a fatal illness after the trip. Often the person dies a tragic death in a freak “accident.” At first this myth was regarded as a superstition, but several instances of this have been recorded.

In regards to the sinking of unfortunate vessels transporting the wood, some observers have noted of unusual events beforehand. Signs and warnings are given from the invisible world. Tales of these spirit  or dryad communications and unheeded warnings abound. One story in particular relates of an old woman appearing to the captain of a vessel warning that the boat or ship was carrying the sacred wood and that this was taken from the region without permission and the required ceremony. Before disappearing, she warned the captain to unload the illicitly gained item. The captain did not heed her request and as a result, the vessel that he commanded en route to the Java mainland sank to the watery depths. Before the ship sailed even the villagers of the island were given omens that the vessel was doomed. Many of them heard blasting sounds on the nearby Nyamplungan hill. Careful investigations revealed nothing that could have produced those noises. It is said that to this day these sounds still occur whenever a ship or a boat is destined to plunge into Davy Jones’ locker. In 1981 a mishap was prevented from occurring. There was a ship on its way to Java from the Karimunjava islands. Somewhere in the middle of the sea its engine stalled and it became immobile. Moments later everyone on board, passengers and crew, panicked. Out of the calm sea, huge waves suddenly appeared, threatening to capsize the vessel. The captain realizing what was wrong in haste called upon the passengers to throw into the sea any Dewadaru wood that they were carrying. One person confessed that he had some of the wood in his possession. This was quickly cast into the sea with apologies to the spirit guardians of Karimunjava. Amazingly, minutes later the waves subsided.

There are always two sides to a coin. The above myth also has a different aspect: if by any chance the Dewadaru wood finds its way outside of the Karimunjava islands, the wood would double its potency and act as a powerful catalyst to awaken the dormant occult faculties within its possessor or user. The energy of the wood itself is a potent amulet against all forms of black magick and it also wards off negative entities, as mentioned previously. Dewadaru is also worn as protective amulets against the jettatore, the evil eye. From the metaphysical viewpoint, the dryads or spirits of the trees are especially empowered and their power or virtues are occultly inherent within the wood. The energy of the Dewadaru wood has a beneficent influence upon the psychosomatic system of man. The village shamans say that the Dewadaru is an exclusive gift to the people on the island, one reason why the spiritual guardians of the region do not permit the wood to be exported unless with special concession.

There are numerous strange stories related to the magickal Dewadaru tree or its wood. To the local inhabitants these are no longer a matter of belief but knowledge and conviction gained from day to day experience. Being sacred, the Dewadaru is used only for devotional and protective purposes. One hardly finds the villagers using this wood for the fashioning of furniture or as a building material; and only the courageous would use it in their dryad activities. The trees are not too numerous on the islands nowadays and therefore they are forcefully preserved. The Dewadaru is esteemed highly for their traditional and cultural value, and regarded as the totem guardians of the island. Because the occult power of the Dewadaru is well known, many disrespectful outsiders plunder the wood seeking to possess and misuse the power within it for egoic purposes. But it is also believed that Sunan Nyamplungan, the guardian of the island, or his proxy, plays a role in protecting the place from pilferers. Some say that the Adept sometimes appear as a gigantic bat to those who carry-out their negative intentions.

In 1992, the faculty of biology of the University of Gajah Mada conducted some research on the Dewadaru and the report of their analysis states that this tree is quite rare and not easily propagated. There are two strains to be found in the Karimunjava islands: the first strain is Dewadaru Baccaurea Sumatrana from the Euphorbiaceae family. The second, Fagraea Elliptica from the Loganiaceae family.

The Dewadaru is supposed to be found solely in the Karimunjava islands. Although almost unheard of, there is at least one Dewadaru tree to be found in Java in the area of Mt. Kawi in the region of Malang, East Java. Strangely enough, those living in this area sanctify the leaves rather than the wood.

Mt. Kawi is well-known for its pilgrimage site for those seeking wealth. The tree grows nearby a grave of someone who was known as Eyang Jugo, a metaphysical practitioner of royal descent. It is said that those sitting underneath the Dewadaru tree and is fortunate enough to have a leave or two fall on their heads out of their own accord, then this is a sign that great financial blessings or wealth will be bestowed upon them. It is thus not surprising to find people sitting or even spending the night ‘neath the shade of the tree hoping to catch a leaf-fall. People come from all over Java hoping to transform their fate with a simple sitting. However, even with strong winds, seldom does a leaf detach itself from the branches with the hope and expectation of the sitters. Many return to their normal lives in disappointment. At times those standing quite a distance from the tree are often blessed with a falling leaf, often blown by a non-existing wind. There are tales of those who disbelieved in the sacredness of the tree and mockingly place a leaf upon their own heads. The result was that on their way home from the mountain they encountered tragic mishaps.

The origin of the Dewadaru tree at this particular site of pilgrimage has a similar tale as the one of Karimunjava. Both were the result of the insertions of walking staffs into the grounds. According to the legend, Eyang Jugo once journeyed with a companion to his close friend R.M. Imam Soejono, who lived on Mt. Kawi. Along the way he rested in a shady area. It was there that he received intuitively from the dryad planes that his life was drawing to a close. He advised his travel companion that where he died, it was there that he was to be buried. Further along the way Eyang Jugo suddenly stabbed the ground with his staff and expired. The staff filled with the power of Eyang Jugo, suddenly grew into a tree. The Chinese people living in the precincts of Eyang Jugo’s gravesite called the tree “Shian Toho,” and this was translated into Javanese as “Dewadaru.”

As mentioned above, the Dewadaru wood is often carried as an amulet. Those able to acquire a rosary fashioned from it for spiritual or devotional purposes is indeed fortunate, for it is rare that anyone is given the permission to secure this wood from the islands and to tap into its inherent magickal virtues.

Katie Holmes Hands

In celebration of summer, we will be exploring the hands of various celebrities.

Today, we begin with a young ‘un - Suri Cruise, the vibrant, beautiful daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Children’s hands quickly and accurately reveal the personality of the child.

In the picture found on my website, she is holding up her right hand for all the world to see. “Showing your hand” - openly, freely - is thought to symbolize an open, trusting nature - a person with nothing to hide. Great spiritual leaders throughout history are often depicted holding up both their hands, palms facing outward.

If you look closely at her finger tips, you can see how they appear to have shiny, raised mounds of flesh. These little mounds are called sensitivity pads, indicating a sensitive, emotional nature.

Her heart line, which begins beneath her little finger and travels up to touch the base of her middle finger, is known as the “fire” or “passionate” heart line. Our heart lines reveal our emotional style - the way we process feelings. With a passionate heart line, Suri’s gift to others is her vivaciousness. When she feels something, we see it. There is very little delay between her inner emotional experience and her display of her feelings. Her ability to know what she wants, express her desires and get those desires met actually gives the people around her permission to know what they want. As a typical ‘passionate,’ Suri loves having fun, hates to be bored and can be challenged in staying focused.

Suri could experience challenges later in life with her ‘me-first’ attitude if people imply that she is self-centered or too demanding. (And good luck trying to control her - she will not take kindly to that!) Her challenge will be to know her own wants without losing consideration for the needs and desires of others.

Notice that the mounds of flesh at the base of her thumb and base of her fingers are raised and full. Her fingers are also fuller in the lower zones and taper upward toward the tips. This type of “fullness” indicates that Suri has a large appetite - for food, laughter, affection, excitement. She truly wants to eat life whole.

The mounds beneath her index finger (Jupiter) and ring finger (Apollo) particularly stand out, indicating a path of leadership in the spotlight. She is likely to be in the public eye and stay there for her lifetime - ‘living in the limelight.’

She also has a strong clear head line (beginning between the index finger and thumb and traveling across the hand), indicating ‘clear thinking.’ Her life line, surrounding the mound at the base of the thumb, is well-marked and unbroken, anchoring down toward the wrist, indicating a strong physical constitution and athletic nature. Our life lines don’t reveal the length of our life, but rather, how we manage our physical energy and our relationships with family. Suri has an abundant reserve of physical strength and can utilize this energy when her life requires great endurance or fortitude without taxing her nervous system. People may tell her that she has “nerves of steel.” She will likely experience family encouragement and support from her parents, relatives and friends throughout her life. People are drawn to Suri’s light and want to help her. As a result, she may manifest what she wants as if by magic.

As for any possible challenges, the tip of Suri’s thumb looks a bit flattened, indicating that she might actually feel ‘under pressure’ by the attention she constantly receives from the press and those in her immediate circle. The thumb is also tucked in close to her finger, indicating that her self-reliance has not fully engaged - not surprising for a toddler. (Notice also that her index and middle finger are pressed close together, indicating that she, currently, does not have great independence of action. If they were spread apart, it would indicate independence of action. She still depends greatly on others to get her needs met.)

The other irony I see is that the mound at the base of her thumb, the mound of Venus, indicating our level of joie de vivre, seems small relative to the mound of the moon on the opposite side of her hand and the relative size of the other mounds beneath her fingers. So for all her passion - in her fleshy hands and fingers and her passionate heart line - she might be holding back. Why this is or what is causing it, I can only guess at.

The great opportunity for this child is to keep her heart open, for she has the potential to be a great leader in the arts and politics, likely both. At times, she may find that her opinions clash with those of her family and friends and she will be challenged to engage that tip of her thumb - her will power - and take a stand for what she wants and what she believes.

If a fiery person begins to repress themselves for fear of appearing “too much” or “too selfish,” the consequences can be dramatic outbursts or passive-aggressive manipulation. Let’s say a prayer for this little girl that she is celebrated and encouraged to be fully herself, without apology, no excuses, no matter what!

Isn’t that what we all need to do for ourselves and each other?

Have Urgency, Thinking of Cash Loan : Think Only Fast Cash Loan

Fast cash loans are of two types, secured fast cash loans and unsecured fast cash loans. Fast cash loans provide monetary support for various purposes depending on the borrower. There are different categories of fast cash loans. These comprise of fast homeowner loans, fast business loans and fast personal loans. These fast cash loans are an easy solution for most monetary problems one might face. They are easily available in the financial market. These fast cash loans are provided by various agencies including banks, private lenders, financial institutions and online lenders.

In order to avail fast secured cash loans, the borrower needs to place collateral. The loan amount depends on the collateral in question. The value of the collateral is assessed and on that basis the rate of interest along with the loan amount is determined. Secured fast cash loans are available at a lower interest rate. In most cases the collateral is ones own house. In contrast, unsecured fast cash loans do not require collateral. However, the rate of interest is much higher. If a comparison is drawn between secured and unsecured loans, unsecured fast cash loans turn out to be more expensive as there is a greater risk to the lender’s investment. Fast cash loans are called so because they are approved almost instantly and the borrower is free to utilize the money as and when they desire. The loan is approved of in well under 24 hours. Applying online is the fastest of getting a fast cash loan. One must however make sure that the details filled up in the form are accurate so as to avoid unnecessary delays. It also becomes easy to compare various factors such as interest rates online. One must also ensure that there is a plan of repayment available. This enables the lender to judge your repayment capacity and hence loan approval becomes a lot easier. This is especially true in case of an unsecured fast cash loan. In case of a secured fast cash loan, the equity of the property determines such factors. Bad credit is not much of a problem with regard to fast cash loans. There are many agencies that provide fast cash loans to people with bad credit especially those who have a method of repayment at hand.

Cheap Cell Phone Calling Plans

So the cellphone industry has blossomed into a gigantic gorilla that instead of taking loads of bananas from the public seems to give them out. You are bombarded everyday with free cell phone this and free accessories that. These promotions always seem great and too good to be true much of the time but what really counts in the whole deal is your calling plan.

What calling plan you decide to sign up for will be the most important decision in all of your wireless purchases being you will be paying monthly for whatever calling plan you choose. While calling plans will vary in prices and minutes the real outcome of a good cheap calling plan will rely on you and how you choose to use your phone.

While thinking of calling plans for your cell phone(s) there is more to put into consideration than just calling. There was a time when calling plan meant making phone calls, but now technology has graced the consumer public with advanced usage options such as email, texting, Internet, walkie talkie, ringtone downloads, and more. If adding people to your plan, expect to see that usage utilized by the other parties involved.

When signing up for a plan you will want to ask yourself what kind of usage your lifestyle will put into your wireless calling minutes. Put some of these questions into consideration:

* How much do I need to talk on a mobile device?
* Do I have to commute great distances often?
* How many family members or business associates will be on the plan?
* What are the calling habits of the other members I will add to the plan?
* Will I need to do any text messaging?
* Will I need to access email away from a computer?
* How often will I need to talk to the members included in my plan?

In the questions you will notice I mention the word NEED not WANT. In your quest for a cheap cellular calling plan you will have to rely more on needs than wants. Wants can become a ravenous pig that consumes your budget and hogs up enough money to fund a spring vacation in one year alone in respect to wireless plans. You want to focus on bare minimums when considering your calling plan if going the route of cheap.

If you commute often or are in a bad reception area for your service you will have to put roaming charges into consideration. Many wireless providers offer free roaming in their pricier packages but if you think you will not end up accessing other networks while using your cell phone the gamble shouldn’t be too risky to opt out of a package with free roaming.

If you plan on adding other people to your wireless plan you will want to consider if you will be calling the involved parties frequently. If you will be then you might do better with an unlimited phone to phone calling plan to help reduce costs.

There are many calling plans out there with various pricing structures but the ultimate decision of cheap will rely on you. Focus on what you will need and not what you will want and you might find that you have created your own cheap calling plan for yourself without the help of a provider.

Why I Dumped Netflix For Blockbuster Online

I’ve been a NetFlix member for nearly two years now and up to Monday of last week I have had no complaints. I noticed however, that BlockBuster has a similar online DVD rental service but goes beyond NetFlix by allowing its user to also be able to return movies to their local Blockbuster store. Netflix DVDs must be mailed to them and even though there is no shipping charge, the difference in time between driving to a store to return a rental and mailing the rental via the post office is more than a day. That is why I decided to sign up as a BlockBuster Online user and try out both services. As I will show in this review, even though NetFlix invented the online DVD rental service, Blockbuster is right at its tale.

I can only guess that Blockbuster had to come up with a creative way of persuading people to try their online DVD rental service and at the same time stay away from the negative publicity their retail store received. What Blockbuster came up with was genius in my opinion: “Let users receive the DVD rentals over the mail, similar to NetFlix, however, unlike NetFlix allow users to return the DVDs to their local store”. This was probably the selling point BlockBuster was going to use. Another feature that BlockBuster implemented to allow it’s customers to receive movies faster was by initiating an agreement with the Post Office. An article from the Boston Globe describes how the company has asked the US Postal Service to scan Blockbuster return envelopes and send the firm an electronic notification so customers don’t have to wait until the envelopes are actually delivered before having the next movie on their to-see list sent out. What does this mean? Basically here is the advantage to the renter:

1. Monday: You receive your DVD movies through the mail, 1 from BlockBuster and 1 from NetFlix.

2. Tuesday: You drop off both movies at your local Post Office. The Post Office Scans in both movies. However, the difference is that BlockBuster HQ is electronically notified that their movie has been returned to the Post Office. BlockBuster knows that you have returned the movie, so they send out your next movie. NetFlix has not yet received their movie so they have not sent out there movie.

3. Wednesday: You receive your second movie from BlockBuster Online. NetFlix has just received the movie you sent on Tuesday. They ship your next movie.

4. Thursday or Friday: You receive your second movie from NetFlix.

Anyone can clearly see how BlockBuster movies arrive at least one to two days sooner than NetFlix.

Another reason why I switched is that BlockBuster sends me coupons that allow me to rent 1 movie per week from their retail store. This definitely comes in handy on a Friday night when you assumed you would have received a movie in the mail but realized you wouldn’t get it till the next day.

If you are interested in renting DVDs online, I recommend you try both services. You can try them both free for 1 month (BlockBuster Online or NetFlix) then decide which one you want to stay with. For me however, I have already decided.

About the Author:
I am currently an instructor at a trade school in New York. I run two websites: http://www.flexdeals.net and http://www.flexbeta.net.

The Green Card, Naturalization, and How to Become a Legal Immigrant

The process for a foreign citizen to legally acquire a green card and eventually become a legal naturalized citizen of the U.S. is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Many critics of the system maintain that if the process was simpler there would be far fewer foreign citizens entering and remaining in the U.S. illegally.

When a foreign citizen visits the U.S. as a tourist, a medical patient, a student, or for business purposes, they generally need to present only a valid national passport, a photo ID card or birth certificate, and sometimes an entry visa. A visa is simply an endorsement on a document that shows authenticity and conveys permission to travel to and to enter a foreign country. This type of visa is also known as a nonimmigrant visa. Fees for a passport, a nonimmigrant visa, and a border crossing card total about $300.

However, when a foreign citizen wishes to reside and work in the U.S., they need to present an immigrant visa, also known as a green card. The green card was originally called the Alien Registration Receipt Card, but it has recently been renamed the Permanent Resident Card. Originally the card was green in color but now the card is white with some green printing on the back. It is still known generally as the green card. Recipients of the green card must carry it with them at all times. The green card is valid for a period of 10 years.

The green card is issued to a foreign citizen as a response to a petition by an employer or a relative who is a U.S. citizen. The petition by the employer or relative allows the foreign citizen to enter the U.S. for the purposes of being employed and residing permanently in the country.

The process for acquiring the green card generally follows three steps. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issues the green card. This service used to be known as the INS or Immigration and Naturalization Service. USCIS is often referred to as simply the Immigration Service and is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. The first step is for the USCIS to review all of the paperwork and approve the petition from the qualifying relative or employer. The second step is to send the approved paperwork to the National Visa Center (NVC) where the petition waits for a visa number to become available. Only a limited number of visa numbers are available each year. Once a visa number becomes available, then the third step is for the petition to be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country.

The three step process appears to be simple and straightforward, but the expenses and the amount of paperwork and time involved make the process difficult and frustrating.

The first step to obtain a green card is for the sponsoring relative or employer to submit the proper forms to USCIS. The process of filling out, collecting, and forwarding the paperwork on to NVC can take two months or more. Typically, not all of the necessary forms are submitted the first time and communication by mail between the USCIS and the petitioner and between the USCIS and NVC is slow. Fees for the paperwork, photos, and supporting documents can total $190 to $400.

Next, NVC collects the paperwork and determines if additional items are needed to complete the application process. There generally are additional necessary forms, passports, and documents needed before everything can be forwarded to a U.S. embassy or consulate in the foreign citizen’s home city or country. This process can take two to seven months and requires the payment of processing fees and fingerprinting which cost about $500 or more.

If the petition is for an immediate relative, such as parents, spouses, and minor children, then the application does not need to wait for a visa number, and the petition can be sent on to the U.S. embassy or consulate. Some consulates are busier with green card applications than others and the waiting period for an appointment at the consulate ranges from a couple of weeks to 9 months. In addition to identity documents the applicant must present blood tests and medical exam results which may cost an additional $200 or more. After the appointment at the consulate and the approval of the petition, the foreign citizen is issued the Permanent Resident Card or green card. The citizen is then free to enter the United States for purposes of establishing a residence or beginning employment.

If the petition is for a family member other than an immediate relative, such as adult children, married children, and brothers and sisters, then the application must wait for an Immigrant Visa number to become available. The waiting period may take a few months to as long as 10 years. Only a limited number of Immigrant Visa numbers are available for each country each year. An application may wait for a long period of time if the applicant is from a country which sponsors a large number of applicants. After the petition receives a visa number the application is sent to the U.S. embassy or consulate and the citizen can then complete the appointment and receive their Permanent Resident Card or green card.

The green card is valid for 10 years. After five years of residency in the U.S. the citizen is eligible to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. In addition to the five years of residency, the citizen must show an ability to read, write, and speak English, understand U.S. history and government, have good moral character, and be willing to abide by the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Fees for the application and electronic fingerprinting total about $400. Once the citizen has taken the Oath of Allegiance they become a full U.S. citizen.

Obtaining permanent residency or citizenship in the United States requires a large commitment of time, determination, and resources. Simplification of the process would allow foreign citizens to more easily immigrate to the U.S. legally and would likely reduce the number of illegal immigrants. The United States has a proud history of successful legal immigration.

Tony Snow Dies - A Sad Day

Tony Snow, former Bush spokesman, has died at the age of 53. He had been suffering from colon cancer.

Robert Anthony “Tony” Snow (June 1, 1955 - July 12, 2008) was a former White House Press Secretary, the third for President George W. Bush after Scott McClellan and Ari Fleischer. Snow also worked for President George H. W. Bush as chief speech writer and Deputy Assistant of Media Affairs.

Between his two White House stints, Snow was a broadcaster and newspaper columnist. After years of regular guest-hosting for The Rush Limbaugh Show and providing news commentary for National Public Radio, he launched his own talk radio program, The Tony Snow Show, which went on to become nationally syndicated. He was also a regular personality on Fox News Channel since 1996, hosting Fox News Sunday, Weekend Live, and often substituting as host of The O’Reilly Factor.

On August 30, 2007, Snow announced that he would step down from his position on September 14, 2007. He said he had taken a major pay cut to become press secretary and that in light of his cancer he needed to earn more than his $168,000 salary to provide for his family. Snow’s deputy, Dana Perino, succeeded him as White House Press Secretary.

As of April 21, 2008, CNN announced that Tony Snow would join them as a conservative commentator.

Snow was born in Berea, Kentucky, and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Jim, taught social studies and was an assistant principal at Princeton High School in suburban Cincinnati, from which his son graduated. His mother was an inner-city nurse who died of colon cancer in 1973 when Snow was 17 years old. After graduating from Princeton High School in Sharonville, Ohio, Snow obtained his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Davidson College in 1977. He did graduate work in philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago.

Snow began his newspaper career in 1979 in newspapers as an editorial writer for The Greensboro Record in North Carolina, next working as an editorial writer at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia (1981-82), editorial page editor of The Daily Press in Newport News (1982-84), deputy editorial page editor of The Detroit News (1984-87) and editorial page editor of The Washington Times (1987-91). Also, The Detroit News published his commentary from 1993 to 2000, and he was a Counterpoint Columnist for USA Today from 1994 to 2000.

Snow also wrote a syndicated column for Creators Syndicate between 1993 and 2000. As a nationally syndicated columnist, his commentaries appeared in more than 200 newspapers nationwide. Snow won numerous awards during his print career, including citations from the Virginia Press Association, the Detroit Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, The Associated Press and Gannett.

He appeared on radio and television programs worldwide including The McLaughlin Group, The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour, Face the Nation, Crossfire, and Good Morning America. Until 1994, Snow was the writer, correspondent and host of a PBS news special, The New Militant Center.

In 1991, Snow took a sabbatical from journalism to work in the White House for President George H. W. Bush, first as chief speech writer (Deputy Assistant to the President for Communications and Director of Speech writing) and later as Deputy Assistant to the President for Media Affairs (1992-1993).

From 1996 to 2003, he served as the first host of FOX News Sunday, a Sunday morning interview and roundtable program produced by Fox News, airing on affiliates of the Fox Broadcasting Company and later in the day on Fox News Channel.

Snow served as the primary guest host of Rush Limbaugh’s program from the mid-1990s on. He was also a frequent commentator on National Public Radio. Snow’s own Tony Snow Show on Fox News Radio premiered in late 2003. It ended when he became White House Press Secretary in April 2006.

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Weird Stuff

Elvis Memorabilia