World Forums

[Buzzz]

Actor Heath Ledger has past away at 28. From a suspected drug overdose. R.I.P.

[Falc]

If that is the case, dumb shit.

[lillie]

From what I heard ion the news they found prescription drugs packages, and that he had been depressed.

[Buzzz]

Christian Brando has past away at age 49 of pneumonia. Eldest son of actor Marlon Brando, and actress Anna Kashfi. Christian Brando had a difficult early life and in 1990 shot and killed his half sister Chayenne's boyfriend Dag Drollet. He was sentenced to 10 years injail. Hope he can reat in peace now.

[lillie]

Lol, saw a small piece in my morningpaper a couple of days ago. The guy who plays the crook in the new Bond film said he soaught for inspiration in Tony Blair's smile and Nicholas Sarkozy's eyes...and it has something to it indeed.

[Pabs]

speaking of which, last week they named the new Bond flick.

It was temporarily being called Bond 22, but now the name has been revealed: Quantum of Solace



apparently it will be a continuation of 'Casino Royale'. Picking up "1 hour" after the last seen of that movie.

[agentesecreto]

The last seen? What you mean Master pabs?

[Pabs]

LOL !!!

I meant 'scene'. I'm fuking tired dude.

what's even funnier is you correcting my spelling !

[agentesecreto]

you're something dude.

Are you sad there wont be a Brokeback Mountain II ??

[Pabs]

get outta town...

[bineaz]

Are you sad there wont be a Brokeback Mountain II ??

Yes.

[Falc]

LOL - The Fur Traders - You like that girl-on-girl thing?

[bineaz]

Let's just say it's light years better than boy/boy

[Falc]

While the girl-on-girl thing really does not do much for me, I can't argue your point. Let's put it this way, when it is girl-on-girl, I don't get the feeling of hurling my breakfast.

[bineaz]

...or last night's dinner, or yesterday's lunch....

Not that there's anything....

[Arcade Fire]

Are you sure, Falc? I heard you were Heath Ledger's replacement in Brokeback Mountain II

At least Heath won't be able to make any more shit films now he's dead. Other than that, he was a non-entity to me.

[Falc]

It will be interesting to see what Batman will do when it comes out. He was the Joker.

[Leonid]

I don't mean to pile the scorn on the poor dead fella, but recall watching Casanova film. I think Giacomo Casanova was if not great at least a very interesting man. The film, on the other hand, was almost amateurish, including Heath Ledger's acting.

[agentesecreto]

[/img]

[Falc]

[/img]

About time you made a positive contribution on this forum. From now on, instead of acting like an ass, just post a picture instead.

[agentesecreto]

that's almost funny. Speaking of non-funy, where is our resident Sishka?

[Pabs]

Superbowl XLII Commercial -- Victoria's Secret featuring Adriana Lima

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQkJlErOlAk

[Pabs]

BTW

Just a comment on the Halftime Show from the Superbowl.

It went exactly the way I knew it was going to go. Tom Petty signing 15+ year old songs. They could have gotten somebody else.....

[lillie]

For valentine's day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wihvdDU7pE

[Pabs]

Man, I just can't stop watching this -- AMAZING

guys, you've gotta watch this. People are actually crying listening to this guy


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEo5bjnJViA

[Leonid]

Pabs

Not every professional opera singer would attempt that. Incredible.

[Pabs]

Simon Cowell is smiling because he's seeing dollar $igns flash before his eye's.

The lady judge is HOT !

Mark, who is she ?

Is Paul Potts a big name now in Wales ?

[Pabs]

Damn

the original excerpt of that video has over 21.5 MILLION views. Another video of his has 7, another has 4, another has 3.

EDIT TO ADD:

this is the exact same video. The other one I posted was a link from the guys MySpace page.

Apparently this is one of the most viewed video in youtube's history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

[agentesecreto]

Now go dry your panties lady. This is proof that you are absolutely gay.
The man is a great singer but no need to get excited like a 20 year old virgin who just spotted her first 8 incher.

[Pabs]

8 inches ? What's that ? This is Canada, son. We use the Metric system.

palo palo palo, if I said it once I said it a million times. You should be thankful to us Westerners. We gave you football, opera. Without us you'd still be in your trees.

[agentesecreto]

YOu don't know the history of Italy, do you?

[Leonid]

"Without us you'd still be in your trees."

He's still there, where you left him. Smelly baboon, stealing Chiquita bananas from the legal owners.

[agentesecreto]

The dynamic duo. What would you do with your unlikely alliance?

Not unlike the Russians during WW II, kissing up to the West out of fear.


But you really don't know the history of Italia, mosern or ancient, do you pabs. Without the Marshall plan, Italian would still be no more.
Be glad the West was kind to WW II losers.

[Pabs]

And we are thankful they were. Europe/Italy have rebuilt thanks to the Marshall Plan and some hard work.

BTW, did you know how much more money has been given to Africa compared to the Marshall Plan and Africa is still nothing ?

[agentesecreto]

Europe already ahd the infrastruture and in terms of Real Dollars, I have no idea. Africais an interesting dilemma. Your comparison is not a balenced one bcause of all the inherent problems in the African continent. But withut the Marshall plan, there would be no modern Europe.

[Pabs]

ahh shaddup.

Do yourself a favour replay that video of that master singing.

[Leonid]

What do you smelly baboon have to do with the Marshall Plan, history of Italy, WWII, Western Civilization, Christianity and just about everything else?

Get off that high horse, demented theurapist. You're supposed to clean it, not to milk it:)

[Arcade Fire]

Yes, the Marshall Plan most certainly helped Western Europe rebuild after the war. You wouldn't have seen the post-war economic boom in Germany without it. Italy, France and Great Britain benefited greatly too.

However, why are you bringing it up, Palo? This was something that the USA did, not Mexico. Did any of your ancestors even fight in that war? Many of mine did, so perhaps you should keep your thoughts on Italy, WW2, and the Marshall Plan to yourself.

[agentesecreto]

Arcade:
In case your reading skills are not up to par.

Mr. Pabs writes :

palo palo palo, if I said it once I said it a million times. You should be thankful to us Westerners. We gave you football, opera. Without us you'd still be in your trees.

[agentesecreto]

Arcade:

Maybe you should change your name to arcane.

Here it is, per your request:

A History of Mexican Americans in California:
WORLD WAR II AND ITS AFTERMATH
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

World War II marked another sharp reversal in the course of Chicano history, renewing hope where the Depression had brought despair. The Depression had left in its wake a population decline, devastated communities, and shattered dreams; the war brought population growth, resurgent communities, and rising expectations.

World War II caused a tremendous labor shortage. When the military forces called for recruits, Mexican Americans responded in great number and went on to serve with distinction. Some 350,000 Chicanos served in the armed services and won 17 medals of honor. The war also brought industrial expansion, further aggravating the labor shortage caused by growth of the armed forces. Chicanos thus managed to gain entry to jobs and industries that had been virtually closed to them in the past. These new opportunities liberated many Chicanos from dependence on such traditional occupations as agriculture.

The turnaround from the labor surplus of the 1930s to the labor shortage of the 1940s had a special impact on agriculture and transportation. For help, the United States turned to Mexico, and in 1942 the two nations formulated the Bracero Program. From then until 1964, Mexican braceros were a regular part of the U.S. labor scene, reaching a peak of 450,000 workers in 1959. Most engaged in agriculture; they formed 26 percent of the nation's seasonal agricultural labor force in 1960.

Along with opportunities, World War II also brought increased tensions between Chicanos and law-enforcement agencies. Two events in Los Angeles brought this issue into focus. In the Sleepy Lagoon case of 1942-1943, 17 Chicano youths were convicted of charges ranging from assault to first-degree murder for the death of a Mexican American boy discovered on the outskirts of the city. Throughout the trial, the judge openly displayed bias against Chicanos, and allowed the prosecution to bring in racial factors. Further, the defendants were not permitted haircuts or changes of clothing. In 1944, the Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee obtained a reversal of the convictions from the California District Court of Appeals, but the damage had been done. Los Angeles newspapers sensationalized the case and helped create an anti-Mexican atmosphere. Police harassed Chicano youth clubs, and repeatedly rounded up Chicano youth "under suspicion."

In the aftermath of the convictions and the press campaign, conflict broke out between U.S. servicemen in the area and young Mexican Americans who often dressed in the zoot suits popular during the wartime era. Soldiers and sailors declared open season on Chicanos, attacking them on the streets and even dragging them out of theaters and public vehicles. Instead of intervening to stop the attackers, military and local police moved in afterward and arrested the Chicano victims. Spurred on by sensational, anti-Mexican press coverage of the "zoot-suit riots," these assaults spread throughout Southern California and even into midwestern cities. A citizens' investigating committee appointed by the governor later reported that racial prejudice, discriminatory police practices, and inflammatory press coverage were among the principal causes of the riots. The Sleepy Lagoon case and the zoot-suit affair provided the basis for Luis Valdez's Zoot Suit, which in 1979 became the first Chicano play to appear on Broadway.

Despite such events as these, the World War II era proved to be generally positive for Mexican Americans and is often viewed as a watershed in their history. Progress continued after the war. The G.I. Bill of Rights gave all veterans such benefits as educational subsidies and loans for business and housing. Moreover, returning Chicano servicemen refused to accept the discriminatory practices that had been the Chicanos' lot. The G.I. generation furnished much of the leadership for post-war Mexican American civil rights and political activism.

Veterans were instrumental in the founding and growth of a variety of Chicano organizations. Among the heavily political organizations, the Unity Leagues and the Community Service Organization registered voters in California and supported Chicano candidates. These groups also engaged in such diverse activities as language and citizenship education, court challenges against school segregation, and assistance in obtaining government services. Even more overtly political has been the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA).

Chicano progress since World War II is reflected in occupational patterns. Changes in Mexican American job concentrations reflect to some extent changes in the state economy. Since 1940, California has experienced a manufacturing boom and rapid growth in such areas as government, product distribution, consumer-oriented activities, and professional services. Percentages of Mexican Americans in agriculture and unskilled labor positions have declined, while percentages in professional, technical, managerial, clerical, skilled craft, and semi-skilled occupations have risen.

The post-Depression era brought socio-economic gains for Mexican Americans, but not equality. Although percentages of Mexican Americans in professional, technical, managerial, and clerical positions have increased, they still fall far short of parity according to their population numbers. Moreover, in nearly every major occupational group, Chicanos tend to hold inferior jobs, and Chicano earnings in the same job classifications tend to be lower than those of Anglos.

Inequitable economic conditions are paralleled by comparatively low Chicano educational attainment and severe underrepresentation among elected officials. The latter has resulted partially because thousands of Mexican immigrants have lived in California for decades without obtaining U.S. citizenship. With Mexico so close, many come with plans ultimately to "return home," although these dreams often go unfulfilled. Some Mexican immigrants, although harboring no desire to live in Mexico, have refused to surrender their Mexican citizenship. In comparison to immigrants from other parts of the world, Mexicans and other Latinos have been more reluctant to become naturalized citizens.

Other factors have also contributed to Chicano electoral underrepresentation. In 1977, for example, a California legislative committee on elections partially attributed Chicanos' limited representation on most city councils in cities with significant Chicano populations to the predominant use of citywide at-large elections instead of district elections. There were no Chicano council members at all in 42 such cities in California. The committee argued that local at-large elections prevent "minority voters from exercising their potential political weight," since "their votes disappear in a sea of majority group votes." On the other hand, some contend that at-large elections make it less likely that candidates will write off minority votes as irrelevant, as can happen in ward-based contests.

When it comes to military service, combat decorations, and wartime casualties, however, Chicanos have been overrepresented in terms of population. Because of their lower educational attainment and restricted employment opportunities, Chicanos have traditionally viewed military service as a viable economic option. And since they were underrepresented in higher education, Mexican Americans did not benefit from student deferments as frequently as Anglos.

Finally, the 1970 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report, Mexican- Americans and the Administration of justice in the Southwest, documented unequal treatment of Chicanos by law-enforcement agencies and the judicial system. Among widespread abuses cited in this and other studies are the lack of bilingual translators in court proceedings; underrepresentation of Chicanos on grand juries, as judges, and as law-enforcement officers; unequal assignment of punishment and probation to convicted Chicanos; excessive patrolling of Chicano barrios; anti-Mexican prejudice among police and judicial officials; and even wrongful use of law-enforcement agencies. In the search for undocumented Mexicans, the U.S. Border Patrol has exacerbated antipathy among Mexican Americans by periodic raids on houses, apartments, restaurants, and bars in Chicano communities and predominantly Chicano places of employment.