mikeize

Not just software...

in this age of globalization, and the US primarily consumers... so much can and will be outsourced to the lowest bidder. It's "free-trade" isn't it? I want to know when labor will move as freely as goods. Not anytime soon I guess, if we're building walls to keep it out.

Globalization is a crazy ride because of the inherent discrepancies between nations/regions and the antiquated notions of statehood. Still, maybe it is the best way to get to where we need to go. I don't know...

-mike

edit: I've been drinking straight from the bottle tonight...

Chok dee, na

-mike

On behalf of all slackers and otherwise flaky or outright rude bastids...

...

THANK YOU! You've been a big help.

-mike

I'm missing the point of this (yeah, I read the explanation). Yeah, sometimes people misperceive innocently spoken words, but often enough words are used abusively with the intent to emotionally injur or provoke. And they also can have that effect contextually when used out of ignorance to the cultural 'values' they may represent. One word is not the same as another. Yes or no?

-mike

I can sympathize with that guy! I wish missionaries would just #### off with all that proselytizing. It's good to give people a taste of their own medicine. In Thailand I'd see missionaries bugging schoolkids! I wonder how Americans would like it if Muslim or Buddhist missionaries were here trying to convert OUR children and telling them that their parents are going to hell for believing the wrong thing. I don't think most people would appreciate that.

Sorry, but I f*cking hate missionaries (even when they are being "polite"). If there were for real atheist missionaries, I'd f*cking hate them too. End of rant.

-mike

So everything went pretty well. They gave ize a stamp in her passport, and told us to apply for the new card within three months before the expiration date of the old (lost) card. So we'll apply for that around April or May. I tried to convince them that they made a mistake giving ize the 2-year one in the first place, but they said "no, it's not being married for 2+ years before GETTING the green card, it's being married that long before APPLYING for the green card." Oh.

Anyway, we were in and out of there in less than 15 minutes. First lady was friendly and helpful, the second one was not either of those things, but she stamped ize's passport anyway!

If anybody else goes to that Fairfax location (on Prosperity Ave), there is a nice gravel parking lot about a couple blocks away on (Merrilee?) St. Free parking! And MapQuest sucks! The end.

-mike

Not suprised. Then again, I find myself hating all the customers when working in any service type position... the difference? Well, I was raised to be polite, so I am always nice to customers even when on the inside I am hoping to see them get hit by a bus as they leave.

-mike

edit to add: when I first brought ize here, our POE was SEA. It was f*cking horrible. Officers standing around talking sh*t about my wife! Blatantly! We had our bags searched to the smallest detail (they tried to twist the end off of a chopstick! ####### would be worth finding in there?). Not one smile or nice word. #### them. They could at least pretend to be nice while looking for the magic reason to fu(k us over and possibly ruin our lives, right?

Been all over the US, much of Canada, India, Thailand, and Laos. Thailand wins hands down. Not to say that it doesn't have some minuses, but I like hot weather, and good food cooked fresh 24/7! Other than that, the Pacific NW is beautiful, but too wet and cold. Right here in the Blue Ridge mtns is very nice as well... gee, I guess everywhere has got it's own beauty. But really, we'll live in Thailand.

-mike

I think we should just outlaw marriage all together. If it can't be mine exclusively then no one should have it. So there!

-mike

You do realize this means that over half of your neighbors are effectively AQ deputies, right? Better start making some phone calls and get everyone outside of your tiny little circle shipped off to gitmo...

I guess I better start packing, eh?

I can't believe you're still here! lol

There's this guy from Kazakhistan who is suing him because he says that he is impersonating him in the movie and Borat is based on his life. Why in hell would you admit to something like that?

I think the guy you're talking about is from Turkey, actually. Also, I think he just *wants* to sue him...

as for the frat boys... I've had enough dealings with "greek brothers" to be less than suprised when they say stupid ######! Notice that they aren't really denying the sentiments they expressed, so much as complaining that they didn't realize anyone was gonna find out.

-mike

You do realize this means that over half of your neighbors are effectively AQ deputies, right? Better start making some phone calls and get everyone outside of your tiny little circle shipped off to gitmo...

ya know what? kaydee's just a little mixed up... we should really finish the job in vietnam before we stay the course in iraq. ####### is wrong with americans that they don't have the balls (bloodlust) to sacrifice their sons and daughters (and those of another nation) ad infinitum in pursuit of an ill-defined cause? I can't figure it out either.

-mike

It just amazes me that this thread has gone on and on and no one seems to realize that missing from the debate are same sex couples. Wy? hmmm maybe because the law does not allow them equal protection in terms of sponsoring their partners?

I wonder how stronly this forum would be to openly uphold anti-marriage equality laws if some of the people on this board were gay.

I just read this whole thread and this is to me the most important post. It cuts through to reality. As in gay people are PEOPLE! Being such they happen to fall in love (whether you 'agree' with them or not), and being so desire to be with whom they feel to be their SOULMATES (what, you think they're making it up?)... and well, their own government (a democracy designed with care to protect minorities) which they support (like their neighbors) with their taxes and participation, withholds from them basic civilities such as VISA SPONSORSHIP!

Now just like the argument about two straight guys shamming for tax purposes, I know someone is gonna say fraud will increase. Well, you can bet that gay couples would be vetted at LEAST as vigorously as straight ones! And costs would NOT increase (any more than usual!), because INS is self-sufficient... ie, they fees they pay cover the costs of processing their cases.

Marriage or Union? First things first: give them their civil rights, whatever you are most comfortable calling it. However, for those who don't want to call it 'marriage'... ask yourself why. If gays are allowed to 'marry', will this somehow diminish your own 'marriage'? You are willing to give them the privileges but not the name? To me it seems trivial, but it is obviously a major issue for millions of people. Why?

omfg ####### ffs

couple of new words I heard today, thought they were pretty funny, but then again I am a terrorist sympathizer:

borrow-and-spend conservatives (as opposed to tax-and-spend liberals)

theo-cons (as opposed to neo-cons, as in the two major factions in the GOP)

carry on with the carrying on. please.

-mike

I'm stoked because the dems are slightly less ####### than the repubs. Also, it gives me renewed hope in this nation that despite the propoganda (and notwithstanding o'reilly fanboys like the op), still has the wherewithall to cut through the bushit.

-mike

edit: that last bit goes double for the senate race here in VA. I can't believe that damn redneck allen nearly one after all he has done to prove what a schmuck he is...

Did my part in VA... I would just love not to have to look at that smirking, racist, tobacco-chomping, "good ol boy", georgemuthafuckinallen ever the hell again. I would not buy a used car from that guy! Okay, so Webb is no bright star, but Allen is a clown and an embarrassment to the state. (fingers crossed for majority sanity!)

-mike

Sorry to hijack this but MIKE!! Dude, where have you been?

been? uh... around. I had a long nap

>__^

-mike

How about what kind of pornography? Like if people look at like, sick rape porn maybe they would emulate it in reality, but then again, might it be that those who like that stuff have a predeliction for rape? What causes what, right? Also, there has been a lot said about how rape is not generally caused by men with no sexual outlets. I mean, it's not like you gotta have porn just to 'rub one out'. Neither do guys that can't get laid just go out and rape somebody. I have a hard time believing that there is any sort of causal relationship between porn and rape.

-mike

twice now.

Right-o

Thanks again. Good advice and useful information. We've scheduled our appointment already! Ize just dug out the I-90 receipt and it only shows receipt of the base fee of $190 dollars, which leaves out the other $70 for biometrics. I paid online with a debit card, and my online records show I was charged $260. I guess I'll have to get something official from my bank noting this... *sigh* just when we were beginning to forget how frustrating this "process" can be... Still, at least we've got a plan, and we know what questions to ask (and we won't be taking no for an answer!) We'll definitely check back and let you know what happened.

Glad to know everything has come around for your family, and I hope your husband is gonna vote for the "right" candidate!

-mike

Thanks Meauxna,

They did NOT take Ize's biometrics- while she was waiting for her turn, she was "weeded out" by one of the officers. And yeah, it was an Application Support Center. Unfortunately they wouldn't let me wait in there with her, too bad because I am a bit more assertive about dealing with the US authorities then Ize has yet learned she needs to be!

So, I guess the Infopass seems like the way to go (*has a good cry*). Is that where you show up a 5 am and wait in line for 4 hours? These days it's not such a big deal to go up that way, cuz we have a friend in the area...

Incidentally, we did PAY for the biometrics we never got. Is it naive to suppose that USCIS will keep this as "credit" against the time when we ACTUALLY get them done? Or has DHS already spent them on gas masks for the Sioux Falls Fire Dept dalmation?

-mike

(and yeah, other than that we are doing just fine, thanks for asking. I trust y'all is the same?)

then you need to file a form I-90 to replace it.... with the fees... you can do this e-file or by snail mail....

Yeah, er... we did that already. And when we went to the biometrics appointment, they sent us away saying that we should file the I-751... It's just that we have gotten bad/wrong instructions before, and were hoping someone hear would have clear knowledge or experience in regards to this type of situation.

-mike

When did your wife get approved??? are you due to lift conditions?

She originally got the GC in Aug or Sept of 2005, and we were married in March of 2003. So, like I said we "should" have gotten the 10 year card in the first place (based on the 2+ years of marriage), but her 2-year card (lost) wouldn't have expired until Aug or Sept 2007.

-mike

Hi everybody, long time no see...

Here's the deal: My wife lost/had her wallet stolen with her GC in it , so we filed the I-90 and got an appointment to have biometrics done in Alexandria. The original GC was good for 2 years despite the fact that we were married for more than 2 years before she received it (mistake?). Anyway, when my wife went to her appointment she was told that they didn't do the 2 year cards there, and that she should file the I-751 to apply for the 10 year card. Now before I engage in the frustration of the USCIS phone system, I was hoping that someone here could give me some good information. The instructions on the form say to submit a copy of the Green card (which we obviously don't have), and also they ask for "evidence", which we already submitted for the original GC (which should? have been a 10 year one in the first place). Did we get the wrong advice when she was told to file the I-751? Is there a better way to go about this, since what we really need is a "replacement" card that just happens to have a "corrected" expiry date? Thanks in advance for your help with this one!

,

mike

I would never join this nation's army, because there is too deep a history of its mis-application. Too often it has been wielded for the purposes of regime change, too often for the benefit of private interests, too often under false pretenses. Too many people have been slaughtered for such bullsh*t!

Yeah, other countries too. Guess what? I wouldn't join their fuckin armies either.

This guy prolly forgot about the disgusting history of our "foreign policy", on Sept. 11th. I can't fault him for that. I also know more than one republican who supports the war in afghanistan but not the one in iraq.

Having said that, if you join the army... and it bites you, you got what you deserve. Well, these days anyway... when there is hardly a reasonable expectation that you will be sent anywhere for noble reasons.

-mike