TampaYankee

Anne Hathaway wildly surpassed my expectation of her performance. She was light and bubbly and energetic and witty for an actor. She managed a little song and dance and sold it IMO. She did have a boat anchor around her neck with Franco. Not that he isn't pretty eye candy, but he was way over is head in this role. She kept the show moving along with an arm around Franco's neck to keep him from going under for a third time. Award shows as all other award ceremonies are generally boring experiences. The Oscars offer an extravganza of personalities and fashion. People tune in to see the personalities as human beings, not actors, and for the glitz. Viewers hope that maybe there will be car accident or two during the night. Some years they happen ususally the don't. The winners feel compelled to thank a lot of obscure people that are complete unknowns to viewers. It is good and right that credit is shared with those who helped get the actor to the winner's podium but it doesn't make for scintillating TV. For every winner there are four losers on public display. That certainly tempers the excitement except for the blood sport crowd. Some years the Master of Ceremony successfully pulls off a little comedy, ususally at the expense of a few or wrinkles in the show decorum. Producers get pushed out of shape as often as not and don't invite those back. The bottom line is that the Oscar's has two purposes: to market movies and Hollywood and to permit the Hollywood community to 'honor' its own. A Roast format would probably get better notices but actors are actors not comedians. Laughing at themselves does not come as easy. This year's Oscars was better than the alternative broadcast choices on that night. Since I don't expect too much from award shoes, that's usally enough for me to watch.

Sorry to hear about this. Always sad to see a great icon from the past pass from the scene. Make me more aware of the world I knew passing and my own pending mortality.

I agree, my differences are not so much with gay issues as other policies in general. I also agree that his approach to dadt repeal is more robust than what some had advocated with taking short cuts. I do think he has unecessarily sent a lot of mixed signals on gay issues that have riled the natives about his approach. He is sly in that he sort of starts a rumble and then steps back and let's others fight the battle in the open. He stays in the background behind the scenes. Not inspiring leadership but in the end more often than not he gets what he wants or most of it. Not inspired rousing leadership for the troops but he does get results. In the next two years he has to move toward the center to get things done or appear as a reasonable moderate against intransigent Repubicans, or appear as an ineffectual executive leader to the independents that will hurt is reelection. Clinton laid out that road and Obama will have to take it too. The independents will elect the next President, as they have all the past presidents in the last 25 years. As for why now, I suspect he figures he needs to shore up bridges to the gay community just as he needs to do so with the labor community. Let's face it, the right is much better at messaging than the Dems and Labor has been. The Right succeeds at selling policy fictions and half truths and other downright lies. That is easily proven, whether it is birth certificates, or the President's religion, or the effect of budget cuts on jobs and the recovery, or the impact of Health Care repeal on the Deficit. The result of this is that he has to carefully navigate political waters minimize his cross section to right wing attacks aimed at the middle-of-the-road community. This frustrates his base who wants to see charges up the San Juan Hill convinced that the middle will see the light and fall in line behind the charge. Unfortunately, the middle doesn't always see everything as clearly as some of us feel they should. Part of that is because of the opposition's messaging operation.

It doesn't really matter at this point. He is our hope whether we passionately support him or not. I am of two minds about him. He has accomplished MUCH in his two years -- more than any other Dem since Johnson. Certainly not all I wanted and not in the style and passion I wanted. Some things I think he failed on, eg. financial reform to name one. IMO we are no less at risk than before reform. Nevertheless, we cannot cede the next SOTUS appointments to a Republican President or have a GOP President rubberstamp the draconian GOP House measures. I believe it likely that the Senate goes GOP in 2012 too. He is our hope whether or not we are pleased with his tepid passion in carring out his duties or his more middle of the road path after the last elections. The alternative would be devastating and screw up the country for a generation.

Hope for Queens couples' immigration rights after Obama's abandoning of Defense of Marriage Act BY Erica Pearson DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Saturday, February 26th 2011, 11:24 AM A lesbian couple from Queens fighting to stay together in the U.S. found new hope this week after President Obama abandoned the Defense of Marriage Act. Social worker Cristina Ojeda, an American citizen, petitioned for a green card for her Argentine wife, Monica Alcota, in August - even though the feds don't give gay couples immigration rights. Now that the White House won't defend the 1996 law that bars recognition of same-sex marriages, Ojeda and Alcota hope the petition will be approved one day. "Finally, the light of hope! Of being able to be together and live in peace," said Alcota, 35, an antique furniture restorer. "I filed the petition because I love her, and she's my wife," said Ojeda, 25. "I should have the right to live my life with the person that I love. Those are my rights as a citizen. In a way they're being sort of violated." The women were married last August in Connecticut, because gay marriages are not legally performed in New York. Alcota - who overstayed a tourist visa and is fighting deportation - plans to appeal if she's turned down for a green card. Their lawyer is planning to file petitions on behalf of other couples after Obama's announcement. "It forces the government to take a position - to write a letter to an American citizen and say, 'We're denying this petition because you're gay,'" said the lawyer, Lavi Soloway. Soloway and law partner Noemi Masliah have filed petitions for a dozen couples as part of a pro bono project. They are bracing for a flood of new clients because of the White House's position change. If the petitions are denied, they will take them to the Board of Immigration Appeals. The board is part of the Justice Department, which has been ordered to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. Soloway hopes the board will put the petitions on hold - keeping undocumented partners from being deported until the courts make a final decision on same-sex marriage. "Dynamic change in this area of law is currently underway," he said. "Pretty soon we all think they will be approved." Until then, he and other experts say gay couples should not file without legal advice because of the risk of alerting the feds to an undocumented partner. "It is increasingly easy for the government to remove you from the country," said Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality. "There are terrific set of potential new options on the horizon. Unfortunately, it doesn't change the game today." epearson@nydailynews.com See original article at: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/02/26/2011-02-26_hope_for_gay_couples_immig_rights_she_petitions_for_argentine_wife.html

White House Picks Openly Gay Jeremy Bernard As Social Secretary Staff On Top MagazineFeb 25, 2011 The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary The White House on Friday named Jeremy Bernard, who is openly gay, as Special Assistant to the President and Social Secretary, a job typically filled by a woman, ABC News reported. “Jeremy shares our vision for the White House as the People's House, one that celebrates our history and culture in dynamic and inclusive ways,” President Obama said in a statement announcing the appointment. “We look forward to Jeremy continuing to showcase America's arts and culture to our nation and the world through the many events at the White House.” Bernard previously served as Senior Advisor to the Ambassador at the US Embassy in Paris and replaces Julianna Smoot. He'll be responsible for planning official White House social events, including high-profile State Dinners that take months of planning. As chief of staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, Tina Tchen will work closely with Bernard to coordinate events. “I look forward to working with Jeremy to continue the great work of the Social Office, from fun and educational student workshops to elegant State Dinners that welcome world leaders to the White House,” Tchen said in a statement. “Jeremy's creativity, perspective and skills will be a welcome addition to our East Wing team, as we showcase the White House and celebrate America's arts and culture.” See source article at: http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2011/02/white_house_picks_openly_gay_jeremy_bernard_as_soc.php?ref=fpa

For someone who claims to no little to nothing that was a response of substance. If you know little to nothing about stocks then I'd like your advice. Let me add to that any changes to the system or firewall could very well impact browser behavior as well. And with all these auto-updates that app developers embed it can be daunting to know who did what to what. Personally, I like to ok all changes myself. That goes counter to the app developers who try to get you to leave it to them. FWIW

I advise that you keep on doing whatever it was that you did. Seriously, you have got to be kidding. Did you read that auto company exec response to Bill Gates?

10 Bargain Retirement Spots by Emily Brandon Saturday, February 26, 2011 provided by Declining home values can be devastating for homeowners. But falling home prices can create bargains for newcomers to the area. Retirees may now be able to afford homes in places they were priced out of only a year ago. U.S. News used our best places to retire search tool, powered by data from Onboard Informatics, to find the places where home prices are falling fast. Average home sale prices have declined by at least 45 percent between 2009 and 2010 in every city on our list. To add geographic diversity, we restricted the list to one city per state. Housing prices are declining fastest in Portland, Ore. (-92 percent), Tallahassee, Fla. (-91 percent), and Tucson, Ariz. (-88 percent). These big cities also offer plenty of affordable entertainment options for seniors. Free things to do in Portland include hiking in the nearly 5,000-acre Forest Park and strolling among the 7,000 rose bushes at the International Rose Test Garden. Seniors in Tallahassee can stargaze at the Challenger Learning Center Planetarium, explore the 68,000-acre St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, or visit the reconstructed Spanish colonial Mission San Luis, all for $5 or less. "There's a nice focus on cultural things and the standard of living is very high," says Charlton Prather, 82, a retired physician and former director of the Florida state health department about Tallahassee. He now volunteers at the Mission San Luis, sometimes posing as a blacksmith in a reenactment of the year 1692, and enjoys fishing. "There are lots of lakes within an easy distance of here and we find them a great source of entertainment and food," Prather says. There are even bigger bargains to be found in some smaller cities. The average home price in Weatherford, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, was just $131,586 in 2010. And in Delaware's state capital city, Dover, home prices have fallen 66 percent since 2009 to an average price of $168,805 in 2010. "I wanted to be near Dover because there is less congestion and everything is more easygoing," says Peggy Urso-Savarese, 64, who moved from Rutherford, N.J., to the suburbs of Dover, Del., when she retired for her marketing manager position in 2009. "There's also a lot of things to do. Everything is in very close proximity." Urso-Savarese now volunteers at the Biggs Museum of American Art twice a week. A few of these affordable retirement spots are located just outside of more expensive cities. Cathedral City, Calif., where average home prices have fallen 85 percent since 2009, to $182,076, is located just 15 minutes from Palm Springs. This city named for its majestic canyons is surrounded by golf courses and boasts year-round warm weather. Likewise, the planned community of St. Charles, Md., is an affordable suburb of Washington, D.C. While Washington home sale prices climbed 110 percent to an average of $940,992 in 2010, housing prices in St. Charles declined 46 percent to an average of $245,191 during the same time period. "Being a military retiree, I like the closeness to the military bases and the military hospitals here," says Fred Scott, 62, who retired from the air force in 1989 and then spent 20 years working for the postal service. "I really don't like the traffic and parking garages in D.C., but in St. Charles it's much easier to get around because there is plenty of free parking everywhere right outside the door." Not every place on this list will feel affordable to all newcomers. In the most expensive place on this list, Wahiawa, Hawaii, the average home sale price was an expensive $331,498 in 2010. But that's 82 percent less than homes sold for in this Oahu island city in 2009. Each of these places also offers recreation facilities and amenities for seniors that provide a good value for your housing dollars. Check out these 10 places where average home sale prices are falling fast: Portland, Ore. Average home sale price in 2010: $270,418 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -91.5 percen Tallahassee, Fla. Average home sale price in 2010: $220,135 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -91.48 percent Tucson, Ariz. Average home sale price in 2010: $147,731 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -88.06 Wake Forest, N.C. Average home sale price in 2010: $240,801 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -87.53 percent Cathedral City, Calif. Average home sale price in 2010: $182,076 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -85.16 percent Wahiawa, Hawaii Average home sale price in 2010: $331,498 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -82.13 percent Weatherford, Texas Average home sale price in 2010: $131,586 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -77.83 percent Dover, Del. Average home sale price in 2010: $168,805 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -66.26 percent Sycamore, Ill. Average home sale price in 2010: $168,053 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -48.49 percent St. Charles, Md. Average home sale price in 2010: $245,191 Average home sale appreciation between 2009 and 2010: -45.66 percent See original article at:http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/112181/10-bargain-retirement-spots?mod=retire-planning

Very clever flavors for this topic. My hat is off to you. As for the original question... um, no thanks. ( NOT )

Great retort. Hits close to Microsofts's home too.

Lol... You have impessed me. If I ever encounter you on an auto lot I'll have a firm hand on my wallet.

Maryland Senate Votes To Approve Gay Marriage Rights TOM LoBIANCO 02/24/11 09:14 PM AP ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Same-sex couples in Maryland would have the same full marriage rights as heterosexuals under a bill that cleared the Senate Thursday. If the House of Delegates approves it and the governor signs it, Maryland would be the sixth U.S. state to approve gay marriage. Opponents, including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert, promised that if it does become law that a referendum question would be on the 2012 ballot so voters have the final decision. One Republican, Sen. Allan Kittleman of Howard, joined 24 Democrats to pass the bill with 21 opposing. A majority of 24 of 47 senators was needed. Senators amended the bill to include protections for religious groups and institutions to keep them from being forced to participate in gay weddings. The bill would grant the same title and rights to same-sex couples as married straight couples. If the measure passes the House, Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he would sign it into law. Activists watching from the balcony cheered after the Senate voted. Lisa Polyak, who lost a legal challenge to the Maryland law which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, wiped away tears from her eyes and hugged supporters, including First Lady Katie O'Malley. "It's only halfway, we have another chamber that we have to work through, we have another hearing to go through tomorrow, and a whole other group of legislators to motivate, hopefully, to treat our families equally," said Polyak, who challenged the state's marriage law with her partner but lost an appeal before the state's highest court in 2007. The Senate debate Thursday – while hardly vitriolic or heated – was still deeply personal. The Senate's only openly gay member, Sen. Richard Madaleno, D-Montgomery, told his colleagues that his partner – whom he married 10 years ago – is still a "legal stranger" to him in Maryland. "This bill is quite simple, it has two parts to it: It reiterates that no religious denomination will ever be required to recognize, perform or celebrate any marriage that is against its beliefs. At the same time, it provides full equality under the law for thousands of same-gender couples in our state, couples like Mark and myself," Madaleno said. Hawaii approved civil unions for same-sex couples Wednesday, the same day the Obama administration told Congress it would stop opposing legal challenges to the federal law that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. Illinois legalized civil unions for same-sex couples last month. Opponents were almost evenly divided between Republican and Democratic Maryland senators. Kittleman, the lone Republican to vote in favor of the bill, recalled his father's work with the black community during the civil rights movement. Kittleman, who is white, said his father would invite leaders from the NAACP and other civil rights groups to his house when he was growing up in the 1960s. "We lived in a very white neighborhood, and we'd have the leaders of the African American community coming to our house talking and I would go to my neighbors' later, I'd go see my friends and their parents would come to me and say 'Allan, why do all those black people come to your house?'" Kittleman said. Granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples might not be the same as the civil rights movement, Kittleman said, but "it's the right thing to do." But Sen. Joanne Benson said her father – who was a "civil rights warrior" and a friend of Kittleman's father – taught her that marriage can only be between one man and woman. "My father often talked to us about the importance of marriage," said Benson, D-Prince George's. "One thing he said to us was you get married because one of the most important reasons for marriage is to have children." Benson was absent during the vote. See original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/24/maryland-senate-gay-marriage_n_827994.html

I think a more exciting title would have been: Luck Sucks Asian Muscle, more at Eleven O'clock.

lookin, Thanks for the nice words. I think we have a pretty special collection of posters here, yourself included. Our forum participation may be narrow but it is also deep. We don't engage in a lot of mindless fluff, tantrums and bitch fests. When something of substance is posted it often finds thoughtful responses of equal substance. For those who may wish to contrast our photo forum with our substance, I say that they are damn fine photos from damn fine contributors with great taste. We are a site dedicated to hot men and male escorts. These photo contributions and contributors support that site and member interst and they do a bang-up job. Thanks to all positive participants.

If Harry wants me to take him seriously then he would have to strap on a lie detector and convince me he has never visited one of these august institutions in his home state. I think that might be a telling result.

Can't wait to hear about it after they get past their break-in period. I wish them the best.

Were interest and inflation figured in the terms of the loan at that time? Few of us could pay off mortgages if we also had to account for inflation over the lifetime of the loan. I know this is just a math problem and the answer is alot. Neglecting the effect for inflation, for a fixed interest rate compounded monthly the formula is Where, A = final amount P = principal amount (initial investment) r = annual nominal interest rate (as a decimal) n = number of times the interest is compounded per year t = number of years For 6% interest compounded monthly from Jan 1 1978 to Jan 1 2011 the total would be $7202 and change, if I plugged in the numbers right. Straightlining the inflation over the 33 year period yields $198.1666666/yr and changes the compounded amount to $27,708. This underestimates the effect of interest on the inflation amount which grows exponentially, not linearly, over time because the interest grows exponentially. Thus there is an exponential increase in the earned interest amount to be inflated. To make concrete, the 198 inflation added yearly should be 198+ interst on 198 which is then inflated over the the next year and interest on that added to the total and and so forth, compounded for inflation and interest each succeeding year. The linear assumption is more in line with making a fixed monthly addtion to the principle such as adding a fixed amount monthly to an initial $1000 SRA. But that is a forumla at my finger tips ( http://www.moneychimp.com/calculator/compound_interest_calculator.htm ) so I used it. It gives a lower bound to the amount you seek. I'll let an energetic Einstein chase that refinement.

Another Runaway General: Army Deploys Psy-Ops on U.S. Senators By Michael Hastings February 23, 2011 11:55 PM ET The U.S. Army illegally ordered a team of soldiers specializing in "psychological operations" to manipulate visiting American senators into providing more troops and funding for the war, Rolling Stone has learned – and when an officer tried to stop the operation, he was railroaded by military investigators. The Runaway General: The Rolling Stone Profile of Stanley McChrystal That Changed History The orders came from the command of Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three-star general in charge of training Afghan troops – the linchpin of U.S. strategy in the war. Over a four-month period last year, a military cell devoted to what is known as "information operations" at Camp Eggers in Kabul was repeatedly pressured to target visiting senators and other VIPs who met with Caldwell. When the unit resisted the order, arguing that it violated U.S. laws prohibiting the use of propaganda against American citizens, it was subjected to a campaign of retaliation. "My job in psy-ops is to play with people’s heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave," says Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes, the leader of the IO unit, who received an official reprimand after bucking orders. "I’m prohibited from doing that to our own people. When you ask me to try to use these skills on senators and congressman, you’re crossing a line." King David's War: How Gen. Petraeus Is Doubling Down on a Failed Strategy The list of targeted visitors was long, according to interviews with members of the IO team and internal documents obtained by Rolling Stone. Those singled out in the campaign included senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Jack Reed, Al Franken and Carl Levin; Rep. Steve Israel of the House Appropriations Committee; Adm. Mike Mullen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Czech ambassador to Afghanistan; the German interior minister, and a host of influential think-tank analysts. The incident offers an indication of just how desperate the U.S. command in Afghanistan is to spin American civilian leaders into supporting an increasingly unpopular war. According to the Defense Department’s own definition, psy-ops – the use of propaganda and psychological tactics to influence emotions and behaviors – are supposed to be used exclusively on "hostile foreign groups." Federal law forbids the military from practicing psy-ops on Americans, and each defense authorization bill comes with a "propaganda rider" that also prohibits such manipulation. "Everyone in the psy-ops, intel, and IO community knows you’re not supposed to target Americans," says a veteran member of another psy-ops team who has run operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. "It’s what you learn on day one." The Insurgent's Tale: A Soldier Reconsiders Jihad When Holmes and his four-man team arrived in Afghanistan in November 2009, their mission was to assess the effects of U.S. propaganda on the Taliban and the local Afghan population. But the following month, Holmes began receiving orders from Caldwell’s staff to direct his expertise on a new target: visiting Americans. At first, the orders were administered verbally. According to Holmes, who attended at least a dozen meetings with Caldwell to discuss the operation, the general wanted the IO unit to do the kind of seemingly innocuous work usually delegated to the two dozen members of his public affairs staff: compiling detailed profiles of the VIPs, including their voting records, their likes and dislikes, and their "hot-button issues." In one email to Holmes, Caldwell’s staff also wanted to know how to shape the general’s presentations to the visiting dignitaries, and how best to "refine our messaging." Congressional delegations – known in military jargon as CODELs – are no strangers to spin. U.S. lawmakers routinely take trips to the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they receive carefully orchestrated briefings and visit local markets before posing for souvenir photos in helmets and flak jackets. Informally, the trips are a way for generals to lobby congressmen and provide first-hand updates on the war. But what Caldwell was looking for was more than the usual background briefings on senators. According to Holmes, the general wanted the IO team to provide a "deeper analysis of pressure points we could use to leverage the delegation for more funds." The general’s chief of staff also asked Holmes how Caldwell could secretly manipulate the U.S. lawmakers without their knowledge. "How do we get these guys to give us more people?" he demanded. "What do I have to plant inside their heads?" Read the remainder of the article at: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/another-runaway-general-army-deploys-psy-ops-on-u-s-senators-20110223

That is what separates you and many of us from those who commit these abhorrent crimes. Many convicts come to grow and feed on the environment and each other. That might be a fitting end if only the worst of the worst left together and segregated from others and they acutally didn't thrive on the experience. Unfortunately, many less deserving of that environment are also subjected to the worst of the worst. In my ideal world, my sense and sensibilities would be served by launching deserving individuals into space in a capsule with food, water and life support services such that they would never encounter a life form again. Of course this also assumes a rightful conviction of the abhorrent crime which is another can of worms.

Oz is alive and well in one of his usual haunts, busy as ever. I'm sure he'll burst on the scene with a plethora of posts when he comes up for air.

Apparently that part of his speech went over like a lead balloon as it was met with stone silence. It seems there is little support for that in the hinterlands of NV, which is pretty much all of the state save LV and Reno, which already demur from the State Passion.

Personally, I'm conflicted about the death penalty. On one level I feel a repulsive lack of humanity in the state coldly, dispassionately, taking a person's life. On the other hand in some cases that is the reason why people are being executed. Their actions rose to that level of abhorrent human transgression. I'm also aware of valid arguments on each side that support their respective views. I can see the strengths and weaknesses of each side. I won't recount them here. My view against captiol punishment is most strongly informed by the prospect of a mistaken conviction. I know these have happened and probably will happen in the future. I know that the system is NOT set up to guarantee or even to go an extra distance to see that guilt is not wrongly determined. I know there is extensive appeals process but this is focused on sufficiency of process and not on review of basic innocence and guilt. The weakness of the system is fanned by the attitudes that it is a win/lose contest that reflects on the offices and attorneys involved. That should not be a driver in trials but it is. My view for capitol punishment is most strongly informed by this case and others like it where the transgression is so abhorrent that Society needs to send the message that some crimes are so horrendous that the perpetrators have forfeited any right to share an existence with the rest of humanity. These conflicts leave me not so much indecisive as vascillating from case to case with the ultimate punishment restricted to the most abhorrent with a strong forensics foundation for determination of guilt. In this case I have no qualms about this outcome.

Shawna Forde Sentenced To Death For Double Murder In Arizona Elise Foley HuffPost Reporting elise@huffingtonpost.com WASHINGTON -- Shawna Forde, whom a jury convicted last week of murdering nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father, Raul Flores, was sentenced to death by an Arizona jury on Tuesday. The unanimous jury ruling is binding. The court found that Forde led a group of anti-immigrant vigilantes in a March 2009 raid on the Flores home, where they posed as immigration agents and pushed their way through the door. She and her accomplices, Albert Robert Gaxiola and Jason Eugene Bush, allegedly shot Raul Flores before turning their guns on Brisenia, who begged not to be shot. Gina Gonzalez, Brisenia's mother, played dead and survived the attack. The case was not designated as a hate crime, despite Forde's long history with anti-immigrant organizations. She once maintained a Tea Party blog, was a member of Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and has presented herself as a representative of Federation for American Immigration Reform. (All three have since distanced themselves from her.) After being cast out from the Minuteman group due to erratic behavior, she formed her own vigilante group, called Minutemen American Defense, which also patrolled the United States-Mexico border trying to detect illegal immigration. Latino advocacy groups have rallied to draw attention to the case, which drew little media attention until Forde's murder trial this year. "What we have shown is that Latinos are watching, and if people and parties want the Latino vote, they will have to speak out against things like this," Joaquin Guerra, campaign director for Latino activism group Presente.org, told HuffPost last week. "We hope her death wasn't in vain and that it serves as an example of what can happen when the types of conditions that are in Arizona are allowed to go unchecked and are legitimated as serious policy issues." See original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/22/shawna-forde-sentenced-to-death-double-murder_n_826861.html

I don't know how this thread got locked inadvertently. I can see no reason that it would have been done on purpose. <scratching my head> I apologize for the screw up.