happythoughts

This has been around for a long time, in theory. elevator

I think we should accept that it is so widely consumed and that legal prohibition is as counter-productive as it was for alcohol. The religious concerns need to be disregarded and common sense needs to be applied. We need to move to the form of regulation applied to alcohol.

when i read Merkel's comments, the content did not suggest that Islam was the problem, but a lack of effort to acquire basic language skills and work ethic. it seems that it is only commentary unless it is about Muslims.

Ahh... a guy is riding around in a pschedelic-painted van, no job, and conversing with his dog. Oreos.

During the 2003 RIF, I dropped by and ran into 3 friends. The repeat conversation was, "How's it going?" (normal comment). The response was, "Worse than you can imagine." A few months ago, a friend was hired to come back as team lead (contract). On renewal, they cut the rate. When the person left, they counter-offered higher (rejected). They lost two more valuable people this week playing that game. What dumbasses.

clicky This time, it is the IT management. Personally, I heard 45% this afternoon.

going back a bit, since this thread has morphed a bit. It wasn't originally about food. No serious discussion about helping adults ever is. Adult immigrants who come to this country want the dream of the "Land of Opportunity". They aren't coming here so that they can eat more types of sandwiches. The opportunities are education and job opportunities. There are proven paths to acquiring both. To accelerate the educational process, they must have language skills. The ELL programs exist because educators realize that they are essential. The education is the stepping stone forward to better job opportunities. To suggest that immigrants wish to come to this country with a goal of staying at the bottom of the economic ladder (and want this for their families) is absurd. They aren't coming here so that their grandchildren can mop floors and drink new flavors of beer.

That's not proof. Consider Satan and Santa. One's name is an anagram of the other. They both wear red suits. You never see them together, but we know they are real. Hmm... I also saw Stan B. at the dz yesterday... wearing HIS red suit. Stan... same letters, same suit. Probably just coincidence. Where were you Saturday? I stopped by for one of Janine's hotdogs after finishing my cowboy duties for the day. I saw Stan then but you were nowhere around. I was out there at 9am. Did 4 jumps and went home around 4. There was a party Sat night, and I expected it to be cold, so I went home for some warmer clothes and came back around 7.

If you are paying taxes in a state, you are supporting the colleges with your tax dollars. So, you are still essentially paying for their education with your money still. If taxpayers are paying to support colleges, then they should get the first benefit. The secondary benefit is a future populace with an advanced education.

That's not proof. Consider Satan and Santa. One's name is an anagram of the other. They both wear red suits. You never see them together, but we know they are real. Hmm... I also saw Stan B. at the dz yesterday... wearing HIS red suit. Stan... same letters, same suit. Probably just coincidence.

No, just hatin' on Beyonce today. Generally, people who string together words that make no sense, but make them sound complex. Single Ladies lyrics "... And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond." Delivers me to a destiny? Ok. The Stones may have sang, "I can't get no... uh no no no, hey hey hey, that's what I say..." - but there was no implied poetic grace there. Maybe it was really, "to infinity and Beyonce..." Everyone should have a self-referential line in a song. "Everybody Wang Chung tonight..."

Is it? I am not so sure that is true. Weak economy.....check Desire to blame and demonize others......check And this isn't just germany either. This sentiment is large, and growing, in many parts of Western Europe. "Desire to blame and demonize others" (......check) ... means what, f.e.?? I'd really love to meet the *checker* I did not see in any of her comments where she "demonized" anyone. I suspect that people who write that, did not read the actual article. I see her comments are positive and constructive. Identifying problems and providing solutions. It is fair to expect that people to acquire entry-level education and employment skills. You cannot help them otherwise.

You know, when we can actually define a dominant society here, maybe people might want to think about integration. For "dominant" language, I define it as the language that the government uses for its communications, the educational system uses in 95% of its classrooms, and 90% of business functions are performed with. When people move to the US from (example) Kenya, it is reasonable that they learn English, not the entire US population learning Kenyan. This is reasonable on the basis of cost-effectiveness alone, considering the number of different languages that immigrants speak. I believe that there are many English Language Learner (ELL) programs in the US for just the purpose of aiding these people.

When I go to work, I work with people in my immediate group of 6 nationalities on a daily basis. The expectation at work is that they can conform to the basic needs of the company. A list of technical skills and the ability to fluently communicate in English. It is not my responsibility to learn Russian, Hindi, Laotian (?), Chinese, and Portuguese to work with them. Integration into a society is the ability to function as an adult. If I moved to France, I would be the immigrant, and it would not be an unreasonable expectation that I should learn to communicate in French to get a job. Being able to make a mean pizza or a tasty beer at home may be nice, but it is not a primary requirement to get a job. For almost everyone, beer is not a central theme of life - food, clothing, and shelter for the family is. If 90% of a country communicates in one language, then newcomers need to acquire that as a skill or they are will be hindered in education and employment. The new country is not punishing them, they are excluding themselves.

If someone uses that phrase, and is not quoting Toy Story, slap them. They should not be using multi-syllable words.

It shows that the content of tv shows has lost one important aspect, respect. Even in disagreement, "Ward and June" were respectful and kind to each other. You don't see that on King of Queens or Raymond or most current sitcoms. I think that is a loss. Class.

Nothing missed sir Nothing at all French fries ya right If we are discussing "French fries" as a defining concept of French cooking, then it is either an insult to French culture, or a transparent trolling attempt to re-direct discussion. Regardless, of low value. If all multi-culturalism contributes to society is a different hair, music, food, or clothing style, it shouldn't be discussed on a national govt level. Only on the mid-section of Seventeen magazine. Integration has a great deal more importance to the individual because it will determine the ability of the individual to function as an adult in the host society.

So it is good as long as the host country changes it's culture to accomodate the newcomers. I think that there is two separate sections to this and two different levels of value. Martin Luther King was clearly in favor of integration. The areas of interest were educational opportunities and employment opportunities. I don't think he was going to demand that black Americans give up jazz and blues for the music of white America. Those are part of the culture of black Americans. Cultural impacts were of less importance to him. He wore a suit and tie and spoke English. (Of course, he was born in the US, so there was no cultural conflict of food or dress styles). Americans do not shy away from eating a sandwich because it was an English food style. If multi-culturalism is wrongly defined as total non-integration and separate sub-culture, then it is a disservice to the immigrant. The main value of a host country to an immigrant is the educational and employment opportunities. These are important to adult existence. Cultural styles, such as food, dress, and music are far off secondary values.

Seems like people are against integration these days. Expecting people to "Integrate" into the dominant society is deemed as racist.

Neither. I think her point was that immigrants should make more of an effort to learn the language of their host country so they can better help themselves. That is what I got from actually reading what she said. I don't know what others are rambling on about. She wasn't talking about the failure of everyone to appreciate the others music, food, or clothing. She was discussing their ability to function on a basic level. Two things - get an education, get a job. Interesting how people are criticizing her for things she didn't say. She seems to make sense and have minimal expectations.

What do you think should be done? In the US, studies have shown a direct relation between the inability to speak English and the difficulty of success in higher education. Also, most employment will require command of the English language. In recognition of that, since the 60's, there has been a variety of programs to help English Language Learners (ELL). One integral part is to gain a functional knowledge of the core language of the host country. Given the broad range of immigrant languages, it is impossible to guarantee employment when commerce is predominantly done in the core host country language.

"Ward, weren't you a little hard on the Beaver last night?"

...well, the last moment.

Obvious falsehood. The Liberals, and their ilk, have been on top of any candy company machinations for years because of Robert Welch. Welch founded the John Birch Society. He founded the Oxford Candy Company in NY and used his money to fight communism. He created such well known candies such as Sugar Babies, Junior Mints, and Pom Poms. Knowing that his profits went to keep the country strong, Madonna prohibits the sale of Junior Mints at any theater showing her movies.

WAIT A SECOND HERE! That is not original material and Quade says that is not allowed! That's how I roll, dawg. Q knows who has the horizontal and the vertical.