Captain Hammer

I like the idea, but is there any way you can make forums invisible? My wife might not want me on VJ anymore.

Correct on both major points: it's a federal crime to open, destroy, or hold someone else's USPS mail. And yes, unfortunately the affidavit of support is still fully in effect. It's definitely time to lawyer up and see what amicable terms you can come to with her. It's a tough situation, I wish you the best of luck!

We only need to look at the banking industry for an example of worst-case industry self-regulation. Not that banking and hair care have a lot in common, but it illustrates that private regulation isn't always the answer. Could it be in the case of the cosmetology industry? Perhaps. But I don't see the cosmetologists in my state breaking down the doors of the assembly demanding that the state stop regulating them. I also think that when it comes to hygiene, a society (the state) is compelled to protect the well-being of its citizenry. I can see the point of "if you keep giving bad haircuts then the market will correct by forcing you out of business," but if during your time of market correction you are passing diseases on to your ever-diminishing client list, that's not good. That's what leads to things like plagues. Of course issuing a license to somebody doesn't mean they will automatically be qualified in a practical sense, but it does seem to work on a macro level.
When it comes to hygiene, I really don't think there's enough regulation. It's one of the reasons I don't eat fast food, I really don't relish the idea of small helpings of fecal matter with my Big Mac. Also fast food tastes like ####### to me, so I guess I still wouldn't eat there even if they were fecal free, but that's another conversation.

We only need to look at the banking industry for an example of worst-case industry self-regulation. Not that banking and hair care have a lot in common, but it illustrates that private regulation isn't always the answer. Could it be in the case of the cosmetology industry? Perhaps. But I don't see the cosmetologists in my state breaking down the doors of the assembly demanding that the state stop regulating them. I also think that when it comes to hygiene, a society (the state) is compelled to protect the well-being of its citizenry. I can see the point of "if you keep giving bad haircuts then the market will correct by forcing you out of business," but if during your time of market correction you are passing diseases on to your ever-diminishing client list, that's not good. That's what leads to things like plagues. Of course issuing a license to somebody doesn't mean they will automatically be qualified in a practical sense, but it does seem to work on a macro level.
When it comes to hygiene, I really don't think there's enough regulation. It's one of the reasons I don't eat fast food, I really don't relish the idea of small helpings of fecal matter with my Big Mac. Also fast food tastes like ####### to me, so I guess I still wouldn't eat there even if they were fecal free, but that's another conversation.

We only need to look at the banking industry for an example of worst-case industry self-regulation. Not that banking and hair care have a lot in common, but it illustrates that private regulation isn't always the answer. Could it be in the case of the cosmetology industry? Perhaps. But I don't see the cosmetologists in my state breaking down the doors of the assembly demanding that the state stop regulating them. I also think that when it comes to hygiene, a society (the state) is compelled to protect the well-being of its citizenry. I can see the point of "if you keep giving bad haircuts then the market will correct by forcing you out of business," but if during your time of market correction you are passing diseases on to your ever-diminishing client list, that's not good. That's what leads to things like plagues. Of course issuing a license to somebody doesn't mean they will automatically be qualified in a practical sense, but it does seem to work on a macro level.
When it comes to hygiene, I really don't think there's enough regulation. It's one of the reasons I don't eat fast food, I really don't relish the idea of small helpings of fecal matter with my Big Mac. Also fast food tastes like ####### to me, so I guess I still wouldn't eat there even if they were fecal free, but that's another conversation.

We only need to look at the banking industry for an example of worst-case industry self-regulation. Not that banking and hair care have a lot in common, but it illustrates that private regulation isn't always the answer. Could it be in the case of the cosmetology industry? Perhaps. But I don't see the cosmetologists in my state breaking down the doors of the assembly demanding that the state stop regulating them. I also think that when it comes to hygiene, a society (the state) is compelled to protect the well-being of its citizenry. I can see the point of "if you keep giving bad haircuts then the market will correct by forcing you out of business," but if during your time of market correction you are passing diseases on to your ever-diminishing client list, that's not good. That's what leads to things like plagues. Of course issuing a license to somebody doesn't mean they will automatically be qualified in a practical sense, but it does seem to work on a macro level.
When it comes to hygiene, I really don't think there's enough regulation. It's one of the reasons I don't eat fast food, I really don't relish the idea of small helpings of fecal matter with my Big Mac. Also fast food tastes like ####### to me, so I guess I still wouldn't eat there even if they were fecal free, but that's another conversation.

We only need to look at the banking industry for an example of worst-case industry self-regulation. Not that banking and hair care have a lot in common, but it illustrates that private regulation isn't always the answer. Could it be in the case of the cosmetology industry? Perhaps. But I don't see the cosmetologists in my state breaking down the doors of the assembly demanding that the state stop regulating them. I also think that when it comes to hygiene, a society (the state) is compelled to protect the well-being of its citizenry. I can see the point of "if you keep giving bad haircuts then the market will correct by forcing you out of business," but if during your time of market correction you are passing diseases on to your ever-diminishing client list, that's not good. That's what leads to things like plagues. Of course issuing a license to somebody doesn't mean they will automatically be qualified in a practical sense, but it does seem to work on a macro level.
When it comes to hygiene, I really don't think there's enough regulation. It's one of the reasons I don't eat fast food, I really don't relish the idea of small helpings of fecal matter with my Big Mac. Also fast food tastes like ####### to me, so I guess I still wouldn't eat there even if they were fecal free, but that's another conversation.

Actually people who work in the food industry are generally required to undergo some form of hygiene training. Usually it's in the form of a video that the worker probably didn't watch but signed a form saying they did anyway. But still, it's required. Cosmetologists and hair stylists, as Slim said, are generally licensed for hygiene as well. The state wants to make sure that if they drop a comb onto a lice-ridden floor, they at least knew they weren't supposed to. Although I think it's generally a good idea for states to make sure people are qualified to do the job they're performing.

Newbie here, so pardon if it seems like I'm intruding, but the topic of this thread is one I've been asking myself for some time. I'm newly registered but I've been lurking one particular regional for some time. And instead of beating around the bush any more, I'll just come out and say it's the Russia/Ukraine/Belarus regional. Some...no...MUCH...of what I read in that forum is to put it mildly, disgusting. It's like some good old boy's club from the 1970s. Women are spoken about in the most awful terms, and when someone takes issue with it then they're just one of those awful Western feminazis, or they'll defend themselves by saying they're just joking and having good fun. I should caveat that I'm not talking about everyone in there. In fact, it's really only about 3-4 names that keep popping up this way. But there never seems to be any moderator who steps in to say this or that is inappropriate. I dunno, is this normal for this site?
I get the impression Visa Journey tries to label itself as "family friendly," and I think I've even read it somewhere. I also don't see quite this level of inappropriate locker room "humor" in the other regional forums. I'm too new here to offer up any reasons as to why that is--are there specific moderators who handle specific regions and this one is just being neglected? I don't know. But at least the forum I mentioned isn't even close to what I'd call "family friendly."
I've kept my mouth shut for these few months because we're coming up on our 10 year green card, Visa Journey seems like a great resource that I wish I'd known about in the beginning, and I didn't want to alienate possible resources in the specific regional forum that could be of the most help. But thanks to this thread, I just can't keep my mouth shut anymore so I'll take my chances. I tried using the "Contact us" link to voice my concerns, but I don't think anyone reads it because I've had no reply.
Anyway, my experience so far is that if this site is labeling itself as "family friendly," then it's got a long way to go. Ironic in a sad sort of a way for a family immigration web site.

-- Portal Page Updated (looks in general on top and right)
-- Review Sections width increased and limited to max size (with browser resizing)

Above comments noted.
Updates already made worth noting (many other minor tweaks):
-- Timeline listings enhanced with member profile avatars. Flags for countries added.
-- Monthly Filer Page enhanced with member profile avatars, follow icons/links
-- Reviews (consulate/local/poe) enhanced with member profile avatars
-- Reviews (consulate/local/poe) minor cross browser compatibility fixes made
-- Individual Review listings for Consulate/local/poe revised with updated look and member avatar.
-- Homepage enhanced with member profile avatars
-- Homepage cleaned up. News links moved to the left. Popular topics moved higher. Background images on right boxes added. welcome text revised (shorter). Country list moved above member listing.
-- Review section(s) layout revised and broken link(s) fixed.
-- Backend software updates for various software
-- General cleanup of 'vogue' timeline entries... fixed obvious entry errors for dates.
-- Review cleanup (minor) on vogue entries
-- Consulate Information Page Cleanup. Width extended. Links revised to Portal for Country Flag.
more updates to come...

More theme options might be nice. Or if there's a way to set our own colors, I missed it.

Can Kathryn be promoted even higher than Lead Mod? She deserves it, si man.

This has been a really interesting thread that I've come to late.
Gary, unfortunately, makes hash of elementary thermodynamics and unfortunately tries to cover up by claiming authority. (Well, I'm a Ph.D. physical chemist with more than passingly adequate training in thermodynamics. So there's my claim to authority, in case it matters. Probably shouldn't.)
Ice, in the belly, melts. As it melts, it first warms to zero degrees Celcius and then stays at zero degrees while the phase transition to liquid water occurs. A lot of heat transfer into the ice cube from its surrounds (the belly) is required to conduct this phase transformation. The heat, flowing from the surroundings into the ice cube, results in a decrease in the temperature of the surroundings. A lot of us who actually consume ice have experienced this. On a hot summer day, it can be rather nice. Outside on a cold winter day, not so nice. The physical chemistry is the same in both seasons, though. Once the former ice cube is melted, it is warmed by its surroundings to 37C, which is the temperature, more or less, that we humans keeps our bodies at when we're healthy.
Where does this heat come from? Either the body or the surroundings of the body or both. In the first event, though, the body. So, the body, or a portion of it, is cooled. That is, its temperature goes down, for a while at least.
If it goes down too much, the body may compensate, through normal metabolic pathways that involve chemical transformation of, for the most part, sugars in the body to CO2 and water. This is respiration but it is often called "burning calories". The word "burning" here is, strictly speaking chemically, an analogy to the combustion process we also often call burning. The analogy is a very good one. The oxidation process associated with sugar metabolism and the oxidation associated with burning sugar in a flame produces very similar final products, CO2 and water. (Flames are often less efficient combustion processes and make soot, carbon monoxide, and lots of other stuff. The body's combustion apparatus is very efficient, though. That's why I used the weasel words "very similar"). The body doesn't necessarily have to compensate, though, through metabolic pathways. If its really hot outside the body, then the ice cube within can save the body from having to sweat so much for a while and heat can be transferred into the body from the hot room. In that fashion, the ice can actually decrease the amount of calories the body burns.
Most of us know this intuitively. 'Tis a pity that someone with a little bit of knowledge, perhaps sufficient to confuse some, comes in with information that is between misleading and wrong and tries to compensate bolster hisclaims by an inappropriate assertion of expert authority.

Oh let's say yeah, sure. Is that not something RUB men do? We've never seen, say, Slim poke a little fun at his wife? Or...you?
But once again Gary, it was a joke. You should seriously lighten up. You will be a happier person.

I don't believe Visa Journey imposes any limitations on who can post where. So having an Australian flag under her avatar or not having a RUB spouse/fiancee does not exclude her from posting here.
Regarding the topic at hand, if you had something positive to offer, it would be welcome.

One inappropriate comment has been removed. It is not necessary to make personal attacks to get your point across.
. . . and just for the record so as there is no misunderstanding, when a report comes in I don't sign off to go and 'make love to my wife' and my 'kid' lives with her kids nearly a 1000 miles away so it is rather difficult to arrange time to play with her - just so everyone is clear on that.

Well there's no such thing as "RUB membership," and insomuch as there is a community here, it's done voluntarily and without restriction (beyond the TOS) or formality. But it's interesting that you would bring this up, because I see a lot of "us" and "we" used in this forum, as I'm no doubt sure you have seen also. I would feel more confident that you had the best intentions of the community in mind as a whole, rather than singling out one individual, if you were to likewise aim your admonitions at others.
Oh dangit, I was hoping you were exactly like your avatar.
Language is really interesting. I learned French in high school, had to take another year of it at university, and I wish I'd appreciated it more than to just scrape by. (and don't get me started on Latin!) I picked up enough Russian to order a meal in a restaurant or give a taxi driver instructions (although one time I wound up clear on the wrong end of the city), but otherwise I'm what they call a "cave man."
I'm constantly impressed that Victoria is able to write entire dissertations in a language that isn't her own, discoursing on a legal system that's not her own, with just a few mistakes or awkward sentences in the whole thing.

My wife holds a Jurist degree from Ukraine, and is currently working on her J.D. here. She has an amazing grasp on the English language, especially considering that she's only been speaking it for less than 10 years. And yet, as talented and educated as she is, she still looks to me to do minor editing, or at least just going over some of her papers. Jodee, I think an honest answer to your question is that although Alla has a good enough grasp on the mechanics of the language, she probably still needs a little help on the "polish" that really only comes from being immersed in the language for many years. I wish I could think of an example off the top of my head, but sometimes I'll come across a phrase she's written that is clearly wrong, and yet I can absolutely see why she'd have written it that way. I guess one example would be articles. Because Russian doesn't have articles, she sometimes gets confused (is it "the" or "a" ?) or other times forgets to include the article at all. Not often, but often enough. In cases like this, even though he has no formal education, she can run it by him and he's going to be able to pick things up like that quite easily.
Nice to see fresh faces, stick around, not all of us bite.

My wife holds a Jurist degree from Ukraine, and is currently working on her J.D. here. She has an amazing grasp on the English language, especially considering that she's only been speaking it for less than 10 years. And yet, as talented and educated as she is, she still looks to me to do minor editing, or at least just going over some of her papers. Jodee, I think an honest answer to your question is that although Alla has a good enough grasp on the mechanics of the language, she probably still needs a little help on the "polish" that really only comes from being immersed in the language for many years. I wish I could think of an example off the top of my head, but sometimes I'll come across a phrase she's written that is clearly wrong, and yet I can absolutely see why she'd have written it that way. I guess one example would be articles. Because Russian doesn't have articles, she sometimes gets confused (is it "the" or "a" ?) or other times forgets to include the article at all. Not often, but often enough. In cases like this, even though he has no formal education, she can run it by him and he's going to be able to pick things up like that quite easily.
Nice to see fresh faces, stick around, not all of us bite.

Why_me, I think you missed the point and genuiness of my question. I meant that if her hubby had to proof read things for her, does this mean that her English is not strong enough to teach English?, or she did not have enough confidence in her English abilities, this is a honest question, not trying to be mean?
Your response was more ignorant and rude than my actual question....

I just wanted to pay a little tribute to my wife. Married one year tomorrow. This woman has changed my life for the better in so many ways it's difficult to even explain it. However I know most of the men here in the RUB forum know exactly what I'm talking about!

If she had posted information that would complicate her visa process, that makes sense. We've seen at least one post where the embassy interviewer looked at somebody's Facebook page during the actual interview, so anything is possible. Good thing V. and I are past the visa stage, I'd hate for the consulate to know of my sordid Lacrosse past.

Eventually these state legislators are going to learn the difference between what is in the federal domain, and what is in the state's domain. Immigration is federal, not state. States have no right to legislate immigration. The federal government has done a terrible job of controlling illegal immigration, but the solution is not for the states to overstep.

Ha, honestly Kip, it sounds more like the problem is you and not Russia.
Have your documents in order, don't try to start s#!t with people no matter how much you want to rep your home state, and you won't end up zip tied with no money.