immigration

Went to the opening panel for the UO's Conference on Gender, Families, and Latino Immigration in Oregon.

Last November, we decided to shift some of the (not in the job description for either of us) responsibility for covering Latino communities from me to another staff member, since I'm an arts editor and all.

But I'm a-thinkin' we'll have to share because I can't stand not covering these issues. I definitely have some stories about Latinos, both recent immigrants and longstanding members of the community, that I'd like to pursue in a more focused way with a bit more time...

Anyway. Panel had four members. I came away just feeling like I could devote my life to (learning a lot more Spanish and several indigenous languages and) covering immigrant communities in Oregon, and that the many, many issues are both overwhelming and incredibly important.

More tomorrow. As one member of the panel said, these issues can just consume your life. And unfortunately or fortunately, I have other things to do.

But if you're a person who has some free time tomorrow, I beg of you to head over to the UO's Law School and listen to a panel or two. Dramatically important discussion!

Again: The program in English and Spanish.

Just how bad of a "problem" is immigration?

From the AP today comes news that:

"Nearly one in five people living in the United States speaks a language at home other than English. California led the nation in immigrants, at 27 percent of the state's population, and in people who spoke a foreign language at home, at 43 percent. West Virginia had the smallest shares of both: 1.2 percent of immigrants and 2.3 percent of people who speak a foreign language at home."

Hmmm. Let's compare California and West Virginia.

In median family income, California ranks 6th highest in the nation at $37.019. West Virginia ranks last in the nation at $25,758.

In percentage with college degrees or higher, California ranks 15th in the nation at 29 percent. West Virginia ranks last in the nation at 16.5 percent.

In percentage living below poverty , California ranks 15th at 13 percent. West Virginia ranks fifth in the nation for poverty at 17.3 percent.

The Census doesn't rank states based on moral turpitude, but consider this news item from West Virginia that also appeared today:

"Six whites, including two mothers and their adult children, have been charged in the week-long kidnapping, torture and rape of a 20-year-old black woman in West Virginia."

Maybe immigration isn't such a problem after all.

Ugh! So tired. But oh, my, did Chuck and I enjoy our four days at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, even the less good plays and the, well, disastrous tuna affair at the lame restaurant (all shall be revealed in good time).

Anyway, while we were away, things happened.
1. Nuclear war is OK online. Hey, we ran a story on Second Life. But this? This is creepy.

2. Get back on that rowing machine, Einstein! Exercise makes you smarter. SUCK. Why can't it all be about coffee and wine?

3. For more female equality (and better sex), don't beat your swords into plowshares; just get rid of 'em. Actually, that's but one thing that this Salon story tells us.
Generally women take a broader view of everything, for good Darwinian reasons.

4. Jesus F. Christ, please put down your book and pay attention to flight attendants when they talk about those emergency slides. And here's why.

5. Some dailies still have books coverage. Check out my hometown newspaper! Frankly, I'm shocked. Why? Where's Robert Heinlein on that list, eh?! (He was from KC, after all.)

6. Holy fucking shit: Hamas in kindergarten. If the photo with this story doesn't creep you out, you are not creepable. (Yes, it's totally SFW.)

7. Australia totally screws over its Aboriginal population. Seriously. Over the past six years, at least $30 million of the money the Government promoted as being for Aborigines was used to oppose native title and compensation claims.

8. Bush's Sweeping Push for Democracy Falters. Or so says The Washington Post. But um ... WHAT "push for democracy"? (Or here. Or here. Or here. Or ... )

9. The weekend's weirdest and possibly most counterproductive headline comes from Sunday's O, which ran Illegal immigrants aren't filling jails as the above-the-fold front page story. Um. Thanks, I think.
Online, the story has a different headline.

10. Don't have sex! You'll burn ... down your house!

BONUS: "Help! I'm Hot For an Older Lady in my Church Group!"