"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change those things I can change, and the wisdom to know the difference." - Serenity Prayer

Fuera de los buenos. There are a number of women who have given, or are willing to give, their most precious possession for a green card. If you don't know what is a woman's most precious possession, you haven't been around women. I met some on my last trip to the Philippines. This is not the time and place to talk about the savory details.

You have a chance to achieve the American Dream "for a fistful of dollars." Yet we hear the usual whiners complaining about the proposed increase in fees for applying for immigration benefits. Why not count your blessings - you can apply for benefits. Others, like the women I met, cannot, for the nonce.

FIANCEE/FIANCE & OTHER VISA FEES BEING REDUCED

Most of those complaining about fee increases are purveying half truths. They are, in the words of the late U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew "nattering nabobs of negativism." They are not telling you the positive news - that fees are being reduced for applying for certain well-known immigration benefits. So you will know the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, here is the link to the USCIS Proposed Fee Rule Press Release:

Gaudencio Prudy (Dela) Cruz was born in barangay San Vicente, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on August 8, 1916 to Evaristo Dela Cruz and  Michaela Corpuz. He’s the brother of Gabriela Dela Cruz Viloria and Stanley Dela Cruz in the first nuptial and Ben, Mark, Feliza, and Juan Dela Cruz in the second nuptial.

When World War 2 broke he joined the Philippine Scout 57th Infantry Regiment as part of United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE). He received a Purple Heart medal for the wounds he received in action against the enemy on January 12, 1942 and a Bronze Star medal for exemplary conduct in ground combat against the armed enemy during the Philippine Islands Campaign in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He survived the 65 Mile Bataan Death March from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga and then to Capas, Tarlac after the fall of Bataan in April 9, 1942.

After WW2, he immigrated to the San Francisco bay area and settled in Hayward, CA.

A year later, he joined the Merchant Marine as a cook in the USS Barrett that was used to transport military personnel to and out of Vietnam during the Vietnam war. He retired from the Merchant Marine after 30 years of service.

He then went to work for Kaiser Permanente Health Foundation in Hayward, CA for another 10 years until he finally retired permanently.

He died last Saturday, 6/5/2010 around 3:30 AM in his sleep at the age of 94. His schedule burial is on Saturday, 6/12/2020.

THE TRUE TEST OF CHARACTER IS GENUINE TESTIMONIALS, NOT FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE SOCIETY BUT RATHER FROM THE ORDINARY PEOPLE.  THEY MAY BE REGARDED BY MANY AS MEN AND INSIGNIFICANT, BUT THEY WILL ONLY SPEAK OF THE TRUTH WITHOUT HESITATION.

UNIVERSE. An amateur astronomer in Australia peering at the giant gas planet this week reported witnessing a bright flash from an object hitting the Jovian surface.  Anthony Wesley, a computer programmer, alerted the cosmic collision to professional and amateur sky-gazers.  Wesley gained fame last year when he spotted a scar the size of the Pacific Ocean near Jupiter’s south pole believed to have been caused by an asteroid smacking into the plant.

WORLD.  In observance of World No Tobacco Day 2010, the World Health Organization is urging global action to protect women and girls against the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use. It is held on May 3l each year starting in l988 pursuant to World Health Assembly Resolutions. This year’s campaign theme, Gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women, focuses on the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls. 

Tales of Miranda and Thompkins

"In restless dreams I walked alone . . .
And touched the sound of silence . . .
'Fools,' said I, 'you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.'
'Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.'
---The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

In the world of romance, when a woman remains silent in the face of a suitor's advances, the aggressive suitor will take it to mean "yes" and proceed to make love to a successful climax. However, there are those contending that a woman's silence means "no" and if the suitor advances that could be rape.

Some men have been accused of raping their wives who said nothing when the husband made romantic overtures A few naughty women say nothing and when the husband is about to have an orgasm shout "stop it." If he doesn't, they cry "rape". That is cruel and inhuman.