TBoneTX

Great discussion from everyone in this thread. Thank you for your thoughtful input, and keep it up. I'd like to add that churches and support-groups often offer free English classes. These could certainly be publicized much better in all communities. I haven't seen foreigners being made fun of for their (lack of) English skills. Having been exposed to Spanish people via Mrs. T-B., I'll say that a lot of them in the U.S. are hesitant because of: 1. Latino pride/fear of embarrassment; and 2. Lack of opportunity to practice at home. I worked for a university, and the faculty advisors in at least one department actively encouraged the foreign students to find American roommates. Exposure at least, and immersion optimally, seem to be the ticket.

^^ This. In my day, lawyers told me that the K-1 is a hybrid visa, a "strange animal," a "nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent." This is why they're processed in the consulates' IV units, as Dashinka says.

This sounds harsh until we try to find a non-English-speaking country that gives taxpayer- or government-paid interpreters to speakers of English-only. I also wonder if the "no more interpreters" extends to functions such as asylum interviews. We'll almost certainly need more and clearer information on the extent of this directive. Please keep comments apolitical. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trump Doubles Down on America-First Agenda, Cuts Language Translation Services for Immigration Agency In a move that reflects the Trump administration's commitment to prioritizing American citizens and legal residents, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been directed to end language translation services for those seeking information about their immigration or employment status. While critics on the left may cry foul, this policy shift is aimed at reducing taxpayer-funded services for individuals who are in the country illegally. "Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society," the order read. The DHS has a contract with Legal Interpreting Services that costs the government roughly $3.6 million. The move is simultaneously with the steps Trump has taken to terminate the contract and reduce reckless spending. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also been directed to cancel its language translation services. [...] https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/03/18/trump-ends-language-translation-services-for-immigration-agency-n2654016

Let us know when it arrives.

It is Wednesday and time for our Semiofficial Semiweekly VAWA-Thread Joke: =========================================== THE IRATE BLONDE WIFE A young blonde suspected that her husband was having an affair, so she went to a gun shop and bought a handgun. The next day, she came home to find her husband in bed with a beautiful redhead. She grabbed the gun and held it to her own head. The husband jumped out of bed, begging and pleading with her not to shoot herself. Hysterically, the blonde responded to the husband, “Shut up! You're next!”

Federal Judge Orders Price Of Eggs To Go Back Up U.S. — Egg prices are finally on the decline for the first time since 2022, but one federal judge has put a stop to that with an injunction requiring egg prices to go back up. "It's the court's position that egg prices must return to their previous elevated levels," District Judge Sandra Milo ruled. "Lower egg prices cause people to think President Trump is doing a good job, and that is a threat to our democracy. Therefore, egg prices must immediately go back up to their absurdly high levels. That's what the law clearly states." "I am a federal judge, and I have spoken," she added. [...] https://babylonbee.com/news/federal-judge-orders-price-of-eggs-to-go-back-up

Tesla Owner Repents And Vows To Vote Democrat After Having Car Torched LAS VEGAS, NV — An awful Republican-voting Tesla owner has repented of his evil ways and vowed to vote Democrat in the future after having his Cybertruck destroyed by a Democrat activist. The campaign to protest Elon Musk, DOGE, and Donald Trump by destroying other people's property and terrorizing drivers is expected to raise awareness of how awful Republicans are. Experts also say the miraculous change of heart for this Tesla owner, Brandon Powers, is undoubtedly the first of many to come from such acts of righteous property destruction. "I was pricked to the heart," recalled Brandon of his conversion to the Democratic Party. [...] https://babylonbee.com/news/tesla-owner-repents-and-vows-to-vote-democrat-after-having-car-keyed

I'd begin researching the Medicaid rules on the state's website right now. If it's like most bureaucratic processes, expect onerous documentation requirements. Call the agency with questions. But be proactive -- children get sick a lot, and the child should be covered somehow. If income to qualify for Medicaid is too high, check for an agency program called CHIP.

This sounds like a really sensible idea. Comments? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Students Could Soon Learn Real Gun Safety in School High school students in the state of Texas could elect to take a class on gun safety as early as next school year if a bill under consideration gets signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. HB 1085 will get its first hearing in the House Committee on Public Education today, and bill author Rep. Pat Curry is hoping that the measure will receive support from both the public and his colleagues. [...] Under Curry's proposal, the state Board of Education, in consultation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, would develop curriculum requirements for a "lifetime recreation and outdoor pursuits" elective class that includes a hunter education component, which would satisfy a physical education requirement. As Curry says, students and parents would have to opt-in to the class, so any mom or dad who preferred to take an abstinence-based approach to teaching their kids gun safety could still do so. [...] https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/03/18/texas-students-could-soon-learn-real-gun-safety-in-school-n1228010

Interesting observations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Push for Red Flag Laws to Prevent Suicides Has Fundamental Flaw [...] there are studies that seemingly suggest that red flag laws are useful for preventing suicides. I say "seemingly suggest" because there is a major issue with most of those studies. None seem to look at other methods of suicide beyond a firearm. [...] https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2025/03/17/the-push-for-red-flag-laws-to-prevent-suicides-has-fundamental-flaw-n1227997

Brother, just file the petition ASAP. If necessary, collect all materials from the lawyer's office, fire the lawyer, and file the petition yourself. Just DO IT.

And missing almost all daylight hours, given that you embed yourself at noon or before.

Thrilling Tuesday report, see man: Lunch was onecan of beef stew*, ingest we man. *bought on liquidation discount from Big Lots, financially savvy we man An attempted siesta failed, no zzz for we man man. Date with FNSJJC per above, man. Din-din was chicken enchiladas + rice + beans + cheaps, ingest we man. Half-hearted party with the rubias tonight, half-cavort we man. No plans at all for Wednesday except Two Guys eve, probably for the best man. And that was/is our thrilling Tuesday, report we man.

What an unmitigated disaster, ouch man. We T-B.-mobiled to the FNSJJC's area, nothing in between man. She was Many minutes late coming down to us, typical chica man. She was pretty enough but had no makeup and nails were ratty, OK man. She told us that we were handsomer than our site profile, OK man. After that, nonstop yammer blather blather yammer yak yak yak YAK YAK man. We couldn't get a word in edgewise or even answer any of her questions to us, no and no man. This continued at the restaurant, nonstop yammer blather blather yammer yak yak yak YAK YAK man. She ended up taking nearly Many00% of her food in a doggie-box, that much yakking man. At the end, she pulled out an eviction notice for her apartment, show she man to we man man. She asked for a donation toward it, unbelievable man! We of course declined and she turned ice-cold, cold she man. She even called a friend right then to complain about us, what the dickens man. She muttered all the way back and had us drop her off on her streetcorner, no escorting to building entrance man. This wonderful evening cost us $Many ($2x2x2x2x2x2x2 - 2x2x2), completely thrilled we man.

Oh, really now...

Taking the FNSJJC to din-din this eve, si man.

Already bedtime!

You're welcome. Relax and enjoy the forums.

Welcome to the forum! Confirmation is rare, if it ever happens. You've done your part, except for stopping your worrying.

This. Always better to bring too much and not end up needing it than the converse.

Yee-HAAAAA! [Note to T-B.'s self: Jokes worked again... jokes worked again... ]

Aldi is consistently cheaper than Walmart. Mostly their private labels, though.

Send it to me, D ma'am!

OK! Yes, and he has and surely will again.

Blessings toward your happy new life together.