Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Of course this refers to this whole debacle regarding Imus calling the Black women on the Rutgers basketball team "nappy headed hos" and "jiggaboos" along with a few other words.Here it is in case you haven't seen it yet:

Link

The thing that has my head spinning is how easily people, especially Black women, have been totally and completely swayed from focus. Imus said some ill shit but what he did holds no precedent to what just happened. The focus went from White racism, in the likes of Imus and Micheal Richards, to rap music, dominated by Black men! How!? How in the hell did it become an issue of Black men vs Black women? The thing that offends me the most - something not ONE Black woman has even opened her eyes to - since when does "bitch" and "hoe" refer ONLY to Black women? Answer that question ladies! Since when does "bitch" and "hoe" refer ONLY to Black women?

This is the flip. How in the hell did these terms become exclusive to Black women? Who in the hell set this false concept into motion in the first place? Everyone wants to lynch a Black man because it's been the popular thing to do and Black women are hopping on this bandwagon immediately (not a good look on your part ladies, not at all)! Yet, not one person has been able to address this issue. But, you know I will be doing it here!

All women KNOW that other women, other than Black women, can be bitches and hoes. This is NOT exclusive to Black women only. There are plenty of White bitches running around this planet. Just as there are plenty of White bitches, so too exist, Asian bitches, Indian bitches, Spanish bitches and all kinds of bitches in between. But, we all know that not all women are bitches! Let's say this again because this simple FACT has a lot of people dumbfounded. "Like wow! All women aren't bitches! Really?!?" Yes, it's true. NOT ALL WOMEN ARE BITCHES. Who doesn't know that? Honestly, if you didn't know that, you've got to be one silly son of a bitch (go figure).

Now, let me address this rap music nonsense. Rap is basically Black male dominant - true! But, since when in the use of the words "bitch" and "hoe" did it become a reference for ONLY Black women? This question pops up quite often here doesn't it!?

Let's hold a dialogue of sorts!
You only see Black women dancing in these music videos! Well damn, I suppose a Black man's idea of beauty happens to be Black women! And these women make their own choice to dance. GO FIGURE!

No, that's bullshit. Black men don't like or respect Black women which is why they are in the videos! Besides, are they saying that only Black women are beautiful enough to dance in videos? Hmmmm! Well, yeah! Fuck it, I will say it! I love Black women! We love... LOVE our Black women. Rappers LOVE Black women! Black men LOVE Black women! Everyone loves Black women. And no other women can compare! If we didn't love to see our Black women, they wouldn't be in our videos! Snoop Dogg said it best, "We don't love them hoes!" But, we do love our Black women!

Well if you only have Black women in the videos and you talk about "bitches and hoes" how else are we supposed to see Black women?
Is rap music your only view into the Black community? You don't know anything else about Black people outside of rap? (There's the pitiful crutch people like Imus have used to almost absolve themselves of their own racism and turn it back on the Black community.)


PICK UP A FUCKIN BOOK! ASK A QUESTION.
The reality of a lot of White people including Imus is that they are very racist... VERY RACIST! They do NOT like anything Black. So, for them this is an opportunity to cause strife within our own community. Read the message boards, forum posts, article talk-back sections etc etc etc. Racism is alive and strong in the US. You think these people give a rat's ass about Black women or are they just using rap music and Black women as a way to further lynch Black men? Think about it. How many Black women truly believe Black men, in general, do not respect them? So, why are we fighting each other for beliefs we do NOT hold internally?

I do believe rap music needs a major overhaul. But, it's not an overhaul of the terminology nor ideology but instead an overhaul of the marketing and distribution support system. There's a reason every other song is about rims and grills and nothing else! Do you really believe that Black men, rappers, only rap about these meaningless things? You don't believe there are any other types of music that exist out there? Who's fault is that? Who signs these people to their labels with national and international marketing contracts? Who gave Cash Money millions to set up Cash Money? Who put money in Snoop Dogg's pockets? You want to stop degrading rap music, answer those questions first and start there! We can sit here and blame Black men all we want but it isn't going to stop WHO gets support in the music industry! Think on it!

Finally, the answer
Question:
Since when does "bitch" and "hoe" refer ONLY to Black women?
Answer: NEVER DID IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Don't let other people decide what you already know to be true! Think on it for yourselves.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Visit Extreme Rugged Remote Parashant Canyon National Monument
by: Bob Therrien

Grand Canyon Parashant Canyon National Monument is not as well known as it’s bigger sister next door. On January 11, 2000, President Bill Clinton established the 1.1-million-acre Monument. This vast monument protects much of the Shivwits Plateau. The Shivwits is ecologically unique because it's where the Sonoran, Great Basin, and Mojave Deserts intersect. This region is a wildlife habitat for several endangered or threatened species. California condors, desert tortoises, willow flycatchers, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope call this area home.

This is a very remote and undeveloped Monument. Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument is located in northwest Arizona, bordered by the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon National Park to the south and east, Nevada and Lake Mead to the west. Many people fly into Las Vegas as a Hub, and plan their visit from there.

The Monument information center is located in the lobby of the BLM Office in St. George, Utah. The address is 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah, 84790. There you will find maps, field guides, books, and other items. Staff members are available to answer questions and provide safety information.

If you decide to add this to your adventure tours, here is the mileage from closest major cities: To Saint George from Las Vegas 118 miles, 190 km, From Phoenix 435 miles, 700 km, From Denver 631 miles, 1015 km.

There are only two semi-maintained trails in the Monument – Mt. Trumbull and Mt. Dellenbaugh. All other hiking is on unmarked routes or requires bushwhacking through dense brush or rugged terrain. Grand Canyon Parashant provides a sense of solitude to those who trek into its isolated areas. Located on the edge of the Grand Canyon, the Monument's expansive landscape showcases both natural and cultural history.

Of the points of interest in the Monument, here are the ones that the Bureau of Land Management point out:

• Virgin River Gorge Campground
• Condor Release Viewing Site
• Pakoon Springs
• Mt Trumbull Schoolhouse
• Sawmill Historic Site
• Witch’s Point
• Uinkaret Pueblo
• Nampaweap Petroglyph Site
• Tuweep Ranger Station
• Toroweap Campground
• Toroweap Overlook
• Tassi Spring
• Pearce Ferry Campground
• Pearce Ferry

To travel here, you must use caution, as it is off the beaten track. You must have the appropriate maps to find your way to and around the Monument. There are entry roads from Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Plan your entrance point by your travel route. There are no paved roads or visitor services within the Monument's million-plus acres, so visitors need to be prepared by traveling with an appropriate high-clearance vehicle equipped with two full-sized spare tires. Some content provided by The National Park Service and AZ BLM.

About The Author
Bob Therrien is a travel writer and has traveled all over North America. He currently operates the website at Parashant Canyon.

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Fiance Visas - U.S. Immigration
by: Maury D. Beaulier

Overview

We have successfully obtained thousands of fiancee and marriage visas. These include visas for wives and husbands in all countries including Latin America (Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama), asian countries (China, Viet Nam, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China), the former USSR (Russia, the Ukraine, Czechoslovakia), the Phillipeans, Europe Canada and more.

The length of time it takes us to obtain a fiancee visa depends on the state in which you reside, the country in which your fiancee lives and the immigration processing center where the application is processed. We will do all of the work and provide you with a realistic time estimate based upon your situation. We obtain fiancee visas for clients from every state in the U.S. Call us at (952) 746-2153.

Whether you met that special someone on a trip overseas or while she/he was visiting the United States or even in an online chat-room, if you’re ready to join as husband and wife, or at least fiances, you may be eligible to bring your fiancé(e) to the U.S. to finalize your union in marriage.

If you are a U.S. citizen and your fiancé(e) lives abroad, the Fiancé Visa may be just what you’ve been looking for. The Fiancé Visa is a relatively fast process that allows your fiancé to enter the U.S. to marry you and then adjust his/her status to lawful permanent resident based on the marriage (without having to leave the U.S.). Compared to other types of permanent status visas like the Family Based Petition, Employment Based Petition, or the Diversity Lottery program, the Fiancé Visa has a relatively fast processing time and when done properly, can reunite you and your fiancé(e) in the United States.

Procedure

The first step is to file the Fiancé Visa Petition with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), with supporting documents. It is very important to submit the necessary supporting documents; failure to do so can result in long delays or even denial of the petition.

Once the petition is approved, the INS will forward the petition to the U.S. Embassy or consulate where your fiancé(e) resides. Your fiancé(e) would then be contacted by the embassy or consulate for an interview. Some of the documents that your fiancé(e) may need to present at the interview include: a valid passport, evidence of support, birth certificate, medical examination report, divorce decree or death certificate of any previous spouse, police certificates from all places lived since age sixteen (16), evidence of the validity of your relationship; and passports and medical examinations for any accompanying children.

Upon issuance of the visa, your fiancé(e) would be allowed into the U.S. to marry you; however, the marriage must take place within 90 days of your fiancé(e) entering the United States. If you do not marry your fiancé(e) within 90 days or your fiancé(e) marries someone other than you (the U.S. citizen filing the Petition for Alien Fiancé), your fiancé(e) will be required to leave the United States. In addition, your fiancé(e) may not obtain an extension of the 90-day original admission. Therefore, it is very important to marry during the 90 admission period. If your fiancé(e) does not marry you and stays beyond the 90 days, he/she will be subject to deportation as well as possible bars from returning to the United States for specified periods of time.

Permanent Residence (Green Card)

After you marry, your fiancé(e) may apply to become a permanent resident (Green Card). Your fiancé(e), now spouse, will receive conditional permanent residence status because the status is based on a marriage that was less than two years old on the day he/she was given permanent residence. The status is conditional because you and your new spouse must prove that you did not get married to evade the immigration laws of the United States. The conditional status will last for two years, at which point you must apply for removal of the conditions on the status.

Employment Authorization

Although it may take months or longer for approval of the green card, your new spouse may apply for employment authorization while the green card application is pending. Employment authorization would allow your new spouse to work legally while waiting for permanent residence.

Reminder

An important reminder is that only U.S. citizens may take advantage of the Fiancé Petition. Presently, there is no provision that allows lawful permanent residents to use the Fiancé Petition.

If there is someone special in your life whom you are considering to be your husband or wife, we have been very successful in assisting our clients with Fiancé(e) Visas and would gladly assist you with yours. Call (952) 746-2153 or visit www.workvisalawyers.com.

About The Author

Maury D. Beaulier is part of a 29 attorney immigration law firm handling cases for clients across the United States and abroad. The firm and its members are recognized leaders in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization process including asylum cases, work visas, investor visas and family based immigration. You may reach Mr. Beaulier at (952) 746-2153 or through his immigration website located at Work Visa Lawyers.