Since immigration is such a huge issue in Arizona, they have decided to add more restrictions in the hope that illegals will avoid their state entirely. Afterall, who wants the already wretched Spanglish people speak there to start sounding like actual Spanish again.
Unfortunately, the new restrictions will prevent their children from attending school. The Supreme Court has ruled that no child will be denied an education regardless of their status. Illegal immigration is a serious issue, but sometimes these lawmakers just don't think. What else is new.

When Vicente Fox was voted into office he promised change. Some of it has been bad, but some of it has been very good for Mexico. The last time I was there I saw more ramps and elevators. The disABLED were important, not just an afterthought, and so were the dozens of indigenous people who lived in the country. Now there's a new campaign that focuses on tolerence.

The campaign is part of a new law, signed by President Vicente Fox in June 2003, that outlaws several types of discrimination, including bias based on sexual preference. The law also requires federal agencies to launch campaigns to promote tolerance.
While gays and lesbians have experienced a growing acceptance within Mexican society, they still have a long way to go before obtaining full equal rights. And there are still occasional reports of attacks against transvestites and people suspected of being gay...
In one of the radio spots, a mother prepares dinner before her son brings his date home for the first time. She asks her son several questions about how long the two have been dating and the date's likes and dislikes.
Then, she asks, ``What's your date's name?''
``Oscar,'' her son replies, revealing to the audience that he is gay.
A narrator then says equality begins with acceptance of those who are different.

If anyone thinks, well they could do more. Frankly, this is a huge step for Mexico. It's a mostly male dominated society that is slowly changing, and stuff like this doesn't happen overnight. Does it even happen here? We're taught to be tolerant, yet you can't find it here either. There's more of an understanding, more of an acceptance. Homosexuality exists, but our government doesn't do enough to stop the discrimination.

I finally received some good news yesterday. I received a commision to design a website, and the money will help. Money always helps, and I love doing site design, so it's a good deal. At the same time my printer decides to start dying. So help me, I wanted to help it along. The strange thing is I don't think it's the actual printer that has the problem, rather I think it's the laptop serial port. If that's indeed the case then I'm in trouble, seeing as that's why the sound is having issues on the laptop as well.
Then today the wireless connection doesn't want to stay connected no matter what I do. What is this, karma? Though I did figure out that the problem with my iPod battery was related to a turned off surge protector and not the battery itself. Now I have to deal with this. I'm a closeted geek. The wireless networks have been growing in our apartment building, and I think maybe the new one has been clashing with ours. So I enabled WEP encryption, succesfully locked myself out of internet access for half an hour, and then I was able to get an IP address again. At least no one can steal our bandwidth, but I don't know if my laptop is behind the wonkiness.
I need to reformat. I'm not even sure if a reformat will fix the problems if they're hardware related. Compaqs just love falling apart on me physically after two years.
I went to sonystyle.net and drooled at the vaio laptops. They sell a 100 gig model that's for business and design and all for like $40 a month. What is considered the best brand for laptops, other than Dell?

The Supreme Court just ruled that it's against the Constitution to sentence teens to the death penalty when the crimes were committed before they were even adults.

The executions, the court said, were unconstitutionally cruel...
Justices in 2002 banned the execution of the mentally retarded, also citing the Constitution's Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishments.
The court had already outlawed executions for those who were 15 and younger when they committed their crimes.
Tuesday's ruling prevents states from making 16- and 17-year-olds eligible for execution.

Maybe now the states will concentrate on finding help for these kids instead of locking them up and throwing away the key. They do horrible things, but have we forgotten that they're still kids?
The opinion is Potosi Correctional Center v. Simmons

Contradiction, or saving face? The FCC has ruled that ABC did not violate indecency rules when it broadcast Saving Private Ryan. So graphic violence and language is ok when it comes to war, but everything else is fair game. Gotcha.
Actually, I hope they rebroadcast Schindler's List. The Holocaust was a very important part of our history, and that movie is another perfect example of the atrocities of war and the things people will do to survive.

Actress who breastfed an Apple - worst joke ever!
Foreign Film: It goes to... The Sea Inside El Mar Adentro. Now I really need to see it.
The man, Sam Jackson, is presenting Original Screenplay. Sunshine should win and finally the Aviator does not win something. Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind wins, and I wish Jim Carrey had been nominated. I swear he's been snubbed too many times.
Best Actor: Cheadle, he was so good in this, and the movie was powerful. Depp, I love him. I'm glad he's being recognized. DiCaprio, he's just good, but I still see "I'm the King of the World!" Eastwood, haven't seen it but I here he's good. Foxx, he's the favorite, and it could be an upset.
Jamie Foxx wins. Yayness. Can I just say I've loved him since "In Living Color" Aww, he thanked his daughter. And damn, that man loved his grandmother. Ohh, I'm going to cry. That was so sweet.
Julia Roberts had twins? She looks nice. She's presenting Best Director, and Aviator lost to Million Dollar Baby. How upsetting. Scorcesse deserved the Oscar.
Best Picture: My pick is Aviator. Million Dollar Baby wins. ::pout:: The only pleasure I get from this is how upset all the disability activists are going to be. They obviously don't get movies.

I haven't heard any of them except for Lemony Snicket, which I love, and it didn't win.
Back to Beyonce. She has an amazing voice. That has been established, but the duet is beyond disturbing. Why oh why must she sing like that. There's no meshing, just warbling.
Best Song: Motorcycle Diaries. And the original singer sings the song as his acceptance speech. Maybe next time the Academy will allow the original singers to perform their songs. It won't be such a train wreck.
Best Actress: Hilary Swank wins. Annette Benning deserved an Oscar, and they're cutting her off. Funny.

Hands down, Beyonce has a gorgeous voice and she made "Learn to be Lonely" sound beautiful. But what I really want to know is was that Gerard Butler or some no name dressed as Phantom. I swear the blood started to warm.
Cinematography is next. House of Flying Daggers deserves it, but Aviator just won. This doesn't mean it will win Best Picture.
Oh, that's Terminator music, and I'm such a geek for knowing it.
Sound Mixing is next. Spiderman 2 is nominated, but so is Aviator. Salma didn't say what movie won, but thankfully a little banner showed up and Ray was the movie. That's rather fitting. Hmm...I wonder who speaks better English, Salma or Cruz. Incredibles wins.
Banderas is going to sing now instead of the original singer. It's the first song nominated in Spanish for an Oscar. Now see, Banderas looks so much better with the hair down rather than in some ponytail that is not flattering, especially when he's standing next to that she-he pretending to be his wife.

Is Rock trying to make a statement that African Americans don't watch good movies, just bad ones?
I love the bit with Edna, and Brad Bird does her voice. All the costumes are excellant in this category. Aviator is going to win...oh my god Brad Pitt... and yes I was right. Aviator wins and deserves it. So much about that movie just clicked.
Alright, Rock is just not funny. It's excruciating.
Best Supporting Actress. Cate Blanchett deserves to win. She was amazing as Hepburn. I loved Linney in Kinsey. Madsen's performance was subtle, and wow she's a favorite. Sophie's perormance was heartbreaking in Hotel Rwanda, and Natalie Portman was great in Closer. I've seen all these films!
Cate wins.
Nice little Carson tribute.
Now Leo is presenting Best Documentary. Born into Brothels wins. I was so sure Super Size Me would win just because of the controversy, but apparently not.
Dunst's hair looks amazing, and now she's presenting editing with Bloom. Aviator wins again. It's going to be a sweep.
Counting Crows just sang their nominated song and the lead singer sounded flat. It was rather bad. Maybe nerves got to him? It wouldn't be the first time. I remember when Madonna bombed "You Must Love Me."
Adapted Screenplay: Before Sunset - I loved, loved it. Sideways should win. OH YEAH Sideways wins!!!!!! Finally, it wins something.
By the way, the whole Catherine Zeta Jones bit, amusing but I bet it could have been better if Sandler had adlibbed. Rock is depressing me.
Now Jake and Zi are presenting visual effects. It's between Potter and Spiderman 2. Spiderman 2 should get it because it was amazing, and it does! I'm sad it wasn't recognized for more awards, but at least it received something this year. Bring on the well written, acted, directed Marvel movies.
The president of the Academy introduces Al Pacino. Are we already at honorary Oscars? This is going by fast.

Why couldn't he have hosted the Oscars!!!
Incredibles should win for best animated film. Yay, and so it does. I hung up on my mother to listen to Williams and this category. It also goes to show that Pixar is a powerhouse for its animation and its storytelling. What will Disney do without it.
Cate Blanchett is presenting makeup from the audience. Pretty dress. Lemony Snicket wins.
Now it's the first original song. I guess using a major recording artist to sing the songs is the network's way to draw more viewers. I think it's sad. I'd rather hear the original performers.