Ricardo Aca should continue his story. He would find a welcome among film festivals.

I think there is a film festival in Soho. Wait a minute, maybe not. Nope, I am thinking about Tribeca Film Festival 2016 (click here).

I am not making guarantees, but, if Ricardo Aca believes he has been treated with ill will and he has a story to tell, then I suggest he tell it. He has an Associate degree in commercial film making. He needs to get started. 

There are SUBMISSIONS made all the time to film festivals for short films such as this or longer films. But, longer films need to be edited to deliver a legitimate message. He may not have access to the facilities he might need to put together a full length documentary. He may not want to make a documentary at all. But, the Undocumented community needs to be heard in a way that delivers an unequivocal message to the people of the USA. 

Maybe the Undocumented have been served well by the lack of immigration policy, but, I doubt it. The community seems to be caught between their desire to live in the USA as citizens and the success of living in the country without recognizing them. There is a legitimate status of 'living in plain site' which can be conveniently reassuring.

Ricardo Aca is a prime example of a person that grew up many years in the USA and has thrived here. He is one of millions. Sometimes when one particular person is viewed for scrutiny deportation seems plausible and correct. The fact of the matter is Ricardo Aca is a representative of a large number of people. He should not be victimized for his willingness to speak out.

His appearance on film is a bit troubling for me. Donald Trump was not on a campaign to root out any potential of the Undocumented employees. Yet, Ricardo Aca was moved to speak out. I sincerely think the Undocumented need to go about their lives and stop feeling as though they have to 'man up' to take on American politics or an American politician.

Nothing is going to change the Republican point of view. They are entrenched with opposition to an immigration policy even when there is a Republican president. This issue has been around for a long time and it will probably be around for a lot longer. 

Ricardo Aca is also an example of what is considered 'a good person.' There are many among the Undocumented that are good people. The lifestyle of Ricardo Aca and his father reminds me of the American working poor. There are legitimate citizens of the USA with the same lifestyle; if it can be called a lifestyle.

I doubt Ricardo Aca will keep his job at "Trump Soho." He seriously needs to begin to plot a course for his life. If he is as talented as he appears to be, he needs to carry out his craft. His work is needed.

I wish he and his family well. 

One other thing. There are people in the USA consenting to being part of drug trafficking and otherwise. Documenting that would be difficult and dangerous. A legitimate documentary would recognize the criminals in the country and put it into perspective. A narrative would be more than sufficient to balance the average life of the Undocumented and the statistics of those causing problems in the USA. Actually, causing more than problems, they can be attributed with deaths of Americans. I think that is a legitimate concern. I am sure Ricardo Aca would agree.

Very few Americans know that education reform is a tax issue for Republicans.

I recently heard Grover Norquist speak and he stated it is only right all the educational monies collected in taxes be refunded to parents to decide about their children's education. 

Norquist is a member of "Parentalrights.org." The organization wants an Amendment to the US Constitution.

April 8, 2009
By CBS News
 
If there were a recipe for creating a new conservative culture-wars issue, (click here) it might look something like this: Start with the United Nations, fold in the prospect of an expanded role for government in children’s lives, add some unfortunate court decisions, then toss in Barbara Boxer and Hillary Clinton.

And indeed, when House Republicans recently found themselves with all these ingredients at hand, Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) started pre-heating the oven.

Hoekstra last week introduced a bill in the House to amend the U.S. Constitution to permanently “enshrine” in American society an inviolable set of parents’ rights. The bill had 70 co-sponsors, all Republicans, including Minority Whip Eric Cantor and Minority Leader John A. Boehner.

The bill, said Hoekstra, is intended to stem the “slow erosion” of parents’ rights and to circumvent the effects of a United Nations treaty he believes “clearly undermines parental rights in the United States."... 

The so called right to choose the school for children is nothing more than a defunding of the public school system. Actually, as the US Constitutional Amendment states, it is about defunding education period. Once the monies collected for a public school system ends, there won't be any pools of money. Supposedly, the monies will go back to the taxpayer to do as they please about educating their children.

When Rick Perry states he is going to dissolve the Secretary o Education position from the President's Cabinet, he means it. The tax relief is cloaked under the politics of "Liberty."

Local economies and local control of their power grid.

Heritage Sustainable Energy, LLC (click here) is Michigan’s leading provider of clean, renewable wind energy. Formed in 2004, Heritage has worked closely with landowners, local communities, local government, contractors and utility companies to build, operate and maintain wind farms that achieve the most cost-effective, renewable energy generation for our customers. 

In addition to clean, renewable wind energy, Heritage’s wind farms generate millions of dollars in local communities through contracts with local businesses, local tax revenues, royalty revenue to landowners and new jobs.

Heritage has established itself as the best choice for Michigan’s utilities to maximize their investment in wind energy generation to meet Michigan’s renewable energy mandates and achieve the most cost-effective renewable energy generation for their customers. 

Wind Energy is Pure Michigan (click here)

On of the many ecotourism of Michigan gains recognition. 

And the advancements in perfecting the energy is ever growing. More efficiency means more profits and more benefits to consumers.

May 19, 2015

By Tom Gray

...While wind power costs (click here) have declined massively over the past several years, there’s still a need to wring even more economies out of the technology, and the growing use of big data in wind farm operations and maintenance (O&M) is going to be a major part of that effort.
That was the theme of “Future of O&M–The Technology Impact and Lessons Learned,” an education session held Tuesday at the WINDPOWER 2015 Conference & Exhibiton in Orlando, Fla.
Session moderator Peter Wells of UpWind Solutions summarized the panel discussion by saying there are limits on the degree to which costs can be cut through taller towers and larger rotors and “the rest of the [cost reduction] journey … is going to come through real material gains in technology, such as wearable intelligence, machine learning, etc. It’s just really, really important.”'

May 23-26, 2016
AWEA (American Wind Turbine Association) Wind Power 2016 
(Attend the conference - click here)

The future is here and women are a part of it.

(WoWE) "Women of Wind Energy" (click here)

"Nice balance of networking, career development, and personal leadership development..."

Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

-- Warren Buffett,
investor and philanthropist

J P Morgan's $100 in wind is proving an incredible return on investment.

August 19, 2015
By Smiti Mittal

...JP Morgan (click here) is said to have invested $100 million in Leap Green Energy, and if the transaction is completed JP Morgan would reap substantial profits on its investment....

Morgan purchased 75% of the company for $100 million. That is nothing for Morgan. The investment now is too good to be true and to increase cash flow and just plain time to reap investment rewards the bank is selling 50% of it's holdings. That is 37% of the total shares of Leap Green Energy. But, Morgan is taking no chances, it is keeping half the investment for future returns.

It is rather interesting really. While petroleum stocks are losing money endlessly, the alternative energy sector is skyrocketing. It's about time. 

Iowa is a model for wind power success. I congratulate them in going forward unafraid.

Farmers have a dual income; from their crops and from the royalties of wind turbines. It is the perfect solution and wind energy will never run out, it won't pollute aquifers and is a wholesome source of energy that is kind to Earth.

The income for this farmer from these wind turbines is forever. It doesn't explode and take lives either.

A farmer bales hay near We Energies wind turbines last September in northeastern Fond du Lac County near Johnsburg. Wisconsin has been slow to embrace the transition to wind power.

August 18, 2015
By Chris Kunkle

...Iowa manufacturers pay the lowest electric rates in the Midwest (click here) and the third lowest in the entire country. This trend isn't going to change anytime soon: Iowa's largest utility recently announced a major investment in wind energy that will reduce customers' rates by $237 million over the next decade.

According to an independent, third-party analysis conducted by Synapse Energy Economics last month, if Wisconsin invested heavily in renewable energy and energy efficiency, consumer bills would be $30 per month lower than business-as-usual in 2030 and $10 per month lower than residential bills were in 2012.

The benefits of wind power extend beyond just cheap electricity. Iowa's focus on wind energy has brought 6,000 jobs to the state and $10 billion in private investment. Every year, Iowa farmers and other rural landowners receive more than $17 million in payments for leasing their lands for wind turbines. And while Wisconsin's industry numbers are nothing to scoff at — approximately 1,000 jobs, $1.3 billion in investment, and $2 million in annual lease payments — they could be much, much higher.

Manley asserts that the United States is blessed with abundant energy, and indeed it is. But Wisconsin currently sends over $800 million per year to other states to purchase their coal, and Wisconsin homeowners and businesses have paid over $2.7 billion — yes, billion — in recent years to maintain and upgrade coal plants that are, on average, 40 years old. While other states cash Wisconsin checks, the wind that could be creating wealth and jobs continues to blow across Wisconsin....

Who are we to hate this political season?

I think there is an interesting paradigm at work in American media. I don't care what network it is, the media is attempting to pick winners and losers.

The castigation of Donald Trump is obvious. The media does not want him running for the Republican nomination or President of the USA. He is to fail and go back to a broken life. The latest attack was about Donald Trump's mental health. According to many media sources Donald Trump is narcissistic and unbalanced. He states his credentials over and over to audiences that come to meet him.

Okay.

Then what about Jeb Bush, is he narcissistic and unbalanced?

During Jeb Bush's "I am my own man campaign" he repeatedly stated "My father is the greatest man in the world." Okay. I can understand how a son might feel that way, but, to repeat it over and over is quite another issue. What's the point, if the electorate loved H.W. then vote for Jeb because he is about the same in every way? 

I think Jeb Bush has a problem. He is obsessed to be the second greatest man in the world. He can't be the greatest man in the world because his father has that title. I think Jeb Bush is comfortable with the idea of being the second greatest man in the world. But, how does he feel about his brother being the third greatest man in the world? 

Sibling rivalry can always lead to trouble on the home front. What if Jeb Bush's obsession takes flight if he is only measuring up to the third greatest man in the world? Do we invade another country like Syria so he can prove he is better than his brother. How will history paint him? 

My, my, such mental health issues among the Republican party.  

"W" stated about Saddam, "He threatened by father." And we all know what happened then.

So, when it comes to winners and losers, I think the American people should be given all the information they need. I think the ballot box can determine who are winners and losers in spite of the mental health issues presented by the media. Or should I say, in spite of the lack of mental health issues presented by the media. 

There is no doubt George H. W. Bush is a great man and has achieved great things. He deserves the country's gratitude for his service. That is where it should be left. 

August 19, 2015

Japan and Iran (click here) will start negotiations on an investment accord once sanctions are lifted following last month's landmark international deal on Tehran's nuclear program, the Nikkei reported on Wednesday, citing Japanese government sources.
Initial talks are being held between the two countries to prepare for the lifting of sanctions and begin formal negotiations, the business daily said, without identifying the sources. Japan is keen to boost ties with Iran and invest in resource projects in the country, as well as return imports of Iranian oil to about 10 percent of the total from 5 percent now after sanctions forced Japanese refiners to cut purchases, it said....

Japan already knows the wrath of the USA when triggered. It is not interested in having that occur anywhere in the world again. Japan is correct in welcoming Iran to a global stage. The more prosperous Iran becomes and the people are valued in other economies in the world as well, the far less the incentive to break sanctions and pursue nuclear weapons. 

Perhaps it is time for the Iranian leadership, including the Supreme Leader tour other countries to witness the horror of nuclear weapons and ovens of mass genocide. Both issues are real. Both issues need to have an impact on any foreign policy. Deaths of millions of people goes against humanity and God.

The world is still too dangerous. We know that because Russia threaten Europe according to the German Chancellor Merkel when Ukraine first had problems and an international agreement was breached. That solves nothing. It would kill the very people Russia wanted to protect when The West retaliated.

Nuclear weapons are not a solution simply because it decimated Japan during WWII. That act of war by the USA was carried out when it alone carried nuclear weapons in their military assets. Imagine what Japan and other areas of the world would be like if nuclear war broke out. It's crazy. 

Nuclear weapons in the year 2015 is irrational. A nuclear war could end habitable land. It makes no sense. If offers no comfort. A nuclear war defines the profound lack of government responsibility to their citizens.

Non-proliferation must go forward. It would be an excellent idea for non-nuclear countries, including Iran, demand further disarmament. There are only five permanent members to the United Nation Security Council. That is a small voting block in the real world. It is time all signators to the Non-Proliferation Treaty demand brevity to their participation and global disarmament.

Donald Trump is classified as an entertainer.

Oh.

Immigration to the USA is rather complicated. There are significant problems that manifest when trying to return them to their homelands.

Venezuela is a prime and possibly the best example of the USA immigration policies. It is common practice for Venezuela to send it's young people to the USA for education and then have them stay. Venezuela doesn't want them back. Once the Venezuela citizens left the country there were abandoned by their homeland. 

March 8, 2015 
By Christine Armario

After late President Hugo Chavez (click here) came to power in Venezuela, many upper class Venezuelans immigrated to the US with a considerable financial cushion. Now, many middle class Venezuelans arrive with a visa and little else...

The USA's generous in accepting students to their universities and colleges. The idea is that the graduates are to add to the brain trust of their native homelands. That isn't what occurs. The immigration policy is a complete failure and that is why the immigration courts are backed up for years and not merely months. The cases the court hears are complicated and tedious to wade through the facts.

Miami — Carlos Salamanca fled Venezuela's growing political turmoil in January with his wife, two teenage children and $7,000.
Two months into their journey to the United States, he and his wife are sleeping most nights in an old, worn Nissan.
Salamanca had no family or business contacts in the U.S. No property he'd purchased on a previous trip. No idea where the children might attend school....

$7000 is legal also. The most any Venezuelan who comes to the USA for any reason that brings more than $10,000 is unlawful. The USA restricts the money that can come into and leaves the USA.

So, while deportation, no matter how humane and well thought out the USA policy might be, the ground work to implement such an idea is enormous. I always believe when people come to the USA it is a mistake. These countries need the brain trust and hope for the future. The homeland countries should be welcoming their citizens back to add to their futures, but, that is not the focus of these countries. They are either passively or actively opposition of the return of these people.

Immigration is a very complex issue in the USA. The best that can occur is to pass immigration reform and provide function back to the courts. The USA has to fully staff and fund the courts and quite possibly expand the number of courts. All this is infrastructure to an effective immigration policy even the idea Donald Trump has to return people to their homeland.

I do believe "The Dreamers" have a real case to stay in the USA. To ask these people to return to their homeland is a human rights issue. It asks them to abandon the only home they have known to return to a country they have no idea about or how to survive under very different governments. There is a chance The Dreamers could face dangers in day to day living they never expected. It would be a sincere tragedy if Dreamers return to their homeland only to die because they unwittingly end up irritating a drug cartel with results we have seen in Mexico. 

The future policies can be effective, but, to address all The Dreamers and their families on a case by case basis may prove to be perilous for them when it just as easy to allow good people to stay in the USA. I do believe immigration policy needs to updated and tighter than it is today. I think the chance to return any of the Undocumented is far too late. 

Amnesty International's new position on prostitution has direct conseuences in the USA.

August 19, 2015
By Sarah Greenmore

I've been working in Nevada's legal brothels (click here) for almost a year and a half now. In this time I've learned a lot about sexuality, psychology and relationships. My job is a mix of customer service and fantasy fulfillment, and I love it. It suits my needs and allows me financial stability I never had access to before. However, what I've noticed since starting this career is that there is a lot that the general public doesn't seem to get about sex work. Here are some of the biggest misconceptions: 

1. 'Sex work is lazy – and easy'
I can describe my job many ways, but never as easy. I work a 12-14 hour shift each day, and during this time I'm juggling my four social media accounts, two professional email addresses, posting on multiple industry message boards, scheduling client appointments, arranging radio interviews, writing essays online, and cleaning meticulously.

I'm also meeting countless visitors of the brothel, taking them on tours, gauging their interest, pulling teeth to figure out exactly what they desire, then negotiating prices. That's before the sex even starts, in which I'm generally doing most of the physical workload, putting emotional labor to make my clients feel at ease, listening to their deepest confessions, and trying to make sure they get their money's worth.

Sex work is a physically intimate therapy session for most of our clients. Many workers who work independently also have to schedule hotel rooms, vet their clients to make sure they dangerous, run their own websites and handle marketing....

Women's menstrual cycles have never been more political.

February 16, 2015
By Natasha Presky

The average woman buys, (click here) uses and throws away 11,000 tampons during her lifetime. In my local Tesco, a box of 20 regular Tampax costs £3.14. This means that someone earning minimum wage must work approximately 38 full working days to pay for her lifetime’s supply.

Brushing over the fact that many people also use sanitary towels at the same time as tampons, five per cent of this cost is tax. Both are taxed as luxury, non-essential items – you are, quite literally, being tolled for having a uterus....

American women are not exempt in taxing their monthly needs. Every time American women and girls cycle the government makes money. Think about it. Women's lives are ridiculously expensive the way it is and the government has been taxing women's metabolism.
 
June 3, 2015
By Susie Poppick

More states tax tampons than candy in the USA (click here)

Forty states tax tampons and other feminine hygiene products, a new report from Fusion finds.
That’s odd given the fact that the 45 states with sales taxes typically allow exemptions for “necessities” like groceries—and, well, menstrual products are a necessity for about half the U.S. population.
Only five states with sales tax—Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Jersey—have explicitly eliminated sales tax on tampons and pads, the report found....

But, if Thialand knows the bomber was a terrorist, why was this not prevented?

August 18, 2015

...Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (click here) has described the incident as the worst-ever attack on Thailand.

Thai police chief Somyot Poompanmoung told the Associated Press news agency on Wednesday that the shrine attack was the work of more than one person.
 
"He didn't do it alone for sure," he said, referring to the main suspect. "It's a network," he added, without giving further information.

He said he was certain that Thai citizens were involved in the bombing, but could not confirm if the bomber was a foreigner or a Thai citizen in disguise....

The network needs to be shut down before this occurs again.

Another incident with natural gas infrastructure.

Oh, well, it was only partially leveled and only an injury.

August 19, 2015

A gas explosion partially leveled a suburban Washington state motel late Tuesday and left one person critically injured, police said.
The Motel 6 in Bremerton, on the Kitsap Peninsula near Seattle, had been evacuated due to a gas leak about 30 minutes before the blast, police said.
The force of the explosion blew back firefighters 20 feet, Bremerton police said.
A gas company employee on scene trying to fix the leak was badly burned and transported to a local hospital.

It is more than 21 extra days. It is included in a record that the government will review before release.

August 19, 2015
By Victoria Cavaliere

..."Chelsea's ridiculous convictions today will not silence her," (click here) her attorney Nancy Hollander said on Twitter. "And we will fight even harder in her appeal to overturn all her convictions."
Manning, who was born a man but identifies as a woman, faced a disciplinary board on Tuesday on charges of attempted disrespect and possession of prohibited books and magazines during administrative segregation, Hollander said, among other charges.
These included misuse of medicine, pertaining to expired toothpaste, and disorderly conduct, for pushing food onto the floor.
Manning was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to 21 days without access to recreation, including the gym, library and outdoors.
She had faced a maximum penalty of indefinite solitary confinement....

Thank you, Chris Cuomo. Well said. Hillary supporters appreciate it.

Donald Trump’s immigration plan (click here) is huge in every aspect — including its price tag.
Think $166 billion. And that’s on the low end.

It is a form of war with other countries that don't or can't improve the circumstances of their people. A diplomatic war if you will. In that light the idea has a strong basis of American intervention to improve the circumstances of other people. It is about time the USA admit it has neglected the hemisphere while it prospered.

The USA will be losing a lot in the people that are forced to leave to return to their native countries. The Undocumented have been an asset to the USA. Their allowance to pursue American citizenship may prove to be a rare opportunity to permanently enrich this country. 

The $166 billion is the cost to return the Undocumented to their native countries. It doesn't account for the monies already invested in these folks.

The question as to whether or not the Undocumented native countries will actually accept them back and what will occur when they are returned. They should be guaranteed a peaceful return home and not viewed as a commodity for information about their experience with the USA. 

One might recall the exchange of spies (which is slightly different) with Russia. They became a political chip in the politics of Russia. I would think that could be the potential for any returned Undocumented. 

The potential to human rights violations inflicted by the USA has to be examined, but, Mr. Trump stated, "We will work with them." It could prove to be an interesting outcome.