Feathers268

So it looks lk anywhere from 5 to 11 months should be typical. Thanks, I'll get Jen studiing and see how it goes.

Look at CFL time lines thread. Time lines Been there and done that over 4 years ago with a time line a hell of a lot longer than today. I am looking onto Jen's transition to USC.

Were beginning to look at the final chapter. One question, how long does it typically take from first filing to interview?

That's really not a fare assesment of the war today vs. WWII. It was an entirly different thing. The Axis powers were whole countries with Uniformed armies, and the whole population involved. Today, it is small bands of terrorists hiding among a population who's only crime is living where they are. We just can't make broad strokes with our sword. It makes a much easier target to aim at when you can just lay waist to all you see. Also, the United States was forced to totally commit to the war effort. By all rights, most of us have continued with our lives hardly taking note of events outside our borders. In WWII, our entire economy shifted gears to put into motion the greatest military build up and support in history. Above all of that, was the human cost. To date, military casualties is only in the 5000's. Still tragic, but in WWII we lost thousands more than that in single battles. A cost we could not even imagine today. If we were to put the 2 conflicts on the same level, we have been highly successful. The war started on our soil. Since then, we have shifted it over seas. Also, by the definition of victory in WWII, we took Iraq in a matter of months. The continuation is from fighters flooding in from other nations. It would be as if we defeated Japan, only to have Korea and China start sending in troops to sabotage our rebuilding effort.

I just found this audio and video on youtube. WARNING, it is very disturbing.

Here is a commentary that was in a special issue of Time after 9/11. I'm not a vengfull person, but in this case I do still harbor a deep hatred for those who planned this. I would gladly waterboard any of these pricks who did this, not for information, but for satisfaction. The Case for Rage and Retribution.I understand how WWII vet feel about the Japanese after Pearl.

My Father was a baby for Pearl Harbor, JFK was a few years before me, but 9/11 was my experience. I've talked before about where I was when I learned what was happening, or about seeing the second tower get hit live. But the biggest memory was the blank stares on the faces of everyone as I had stopped to get gas on the way to work. You could here the news coming out of every car radio, on every TV, and on the traffic signs saying all airports are closed and all flights are cancelled. And I remember President Bush standing at ground zero. When someone called out saying "I can't hear you", he replied, "I hear you, and the people who did this will hear all of us soon!" I also remember the silence at the opening ceremony for the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City when a tattered flag was brought in, in front of a tearful President.

With tomorrow being September 11, I couldn't let this fall to page 2, and state once again, We Will Never Forget

Since the time of our country's beginning, music has been written to capture the hearts of her people. Whether it is an old marching tune from the Revolutionary War to a modern pop star, songs have been able to make one stand up and cheer, or even bring a tear to one's eye. Some have roots in history and tell stories of great men or heroic events, some are just off in search of "America". We all have stood at the side of the road as a marching band thunders by playing a John Phillip Sousa piece, and some of us were on that street playing it. I have fond memories of recieving a standing ovation after my high school band had just finnished the "Stars and Stripes Forever" in the Pavilion of Nations at the 1986 World's Exposition in Vancouver. Now I'm used to hearing it at the finale of soooo many of the fireworks shows we do, usually on Independence Day. So I ask you, what American songs give you that pride. If you can, find a link let's hear em, and if you have a story about when you heard it, it's history, or anything else that comes to mind about it, let's hear that too. To get started, I take you to the Civil War. President Lincoln had heard tune that was popular among the northern troops. It paid tribute to John Brown, a minister who's actions against slavery had brought about his death, and the beginning of the Civil War. He liked the tune, but he commented that the words were less than to be desired. Upon hearing this, the minister's wife woke up one night and wrote what has become one of the most famous and inspiring songs of the day. Near the end of the war, Lincoln was at a celebration. He was told a story how prisoners in a Confederate camp had been told that the North was in retreat. When a new prisoner came in and brought the news that not only was that not true, but the Union Army was advancing, the entire population began singing this song. The chior then performed it for the President. Upon it's completion, with tears running down his face, President Lincoln stood and requested they sing it again, to which the did. To that, I give you, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia W. Howe Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword; His truth is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His day is marching on. I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel; ¡°As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal¡±; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel, Since God is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Since God is marching on. He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet; Our God is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me: As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free; While God is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! While God is marching on. He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, He is wisdom to the mighty, He is honor to the brave; So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of wrong His slave, Our God is marching on. Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Our God is marching on.

Something had struck me the other day reading posts about what people will be doing these three days of vacation. In reality, the three day weekend is the result of a holiday. In this case, Labor Day. The sad fact, is that most people, Americans alike, have forgotten, or never knew why we celebrate certain holidays. Hopefully this can be a source to shed some light on the history behind these days. Now, tomorrow is Labor Day. I have to admit that I myself did not know too much about it but fortunatly, in this day and age, it is easy to find out. What better place to learn about Labor Day than to go to the website for the Department of Labor. To put it simply, It is important to remember, that every holiday has a story behind it and at one time was deemed significant enough for Congress to declare it a national holiday. It is sad that these days have fallen to the point of being an excuse to just go out and play.

That is greatly going to depend on where you are in America. Every region will be different. Here in California we have the luxury of having great representation from all over the world. Like I said earlier, for a good burrito, a good mom & pop place wins hands down. That bean and cheese thing from Taco Bell doesn't count. Hands down, the best pizza locally is from Round Table, if your in a state that does not have RT? Sorry. Now I agree, as you said about most Americans, it also goes for most Chinese, and for that matter, just about every nationality you could say the same thing. How many of you have had a hard time trying to get your Chinese half to try something new. Hell, I even started a thread here about that. No argument from me mate, I will eat anything thats on the table (well at least they are eating it too) sometimes wonderful, sometimes scary. Most folks wont do that, but really go all the way to China to eat burgers or pizza seems like a reciepe for disaster With me, there was 2 reasons. My first trip, Jen and I traded nights. she would introduce me to something she liked followed by me showing her something I liked. The best for that was TGI Friday's in Shanghai. For all intent and pourpose, it was the same menu as you would find in the states. Added with that, was a first time novelty of dicovering KFC there. I still find people here that are suprised by that. Other times, it was for the same reason here. We are on the go, and it was fast. Other than that, I agree with Anthony Bourdain from "No Reservations. He had stated that he pitties the western tourist that stays at the htel and refuses to try the local offerings. The true way to learn about a culture it through the local cuisine. The other thing he sait that I took to heart, was that the greatest honor one could give you was to be invited into their home for a meal, that they have worked hard to provide. The best thing you can do is eat up, and eagerly ask for seconds.

That is greatly going to depend on where you are in America. Every region will be different. Here in California we have the luxury of having great representation from all over the world. Like I said earlier, for a good burrito, a good mom & pop place wins hands down. That bean and cheese thing from Taco Bell doesn't count. Hands down, the best pizza locally is from Round Table, if your in a state that does not have RT? Sorry. Now I agree, as you said about most Americans, it also goes for most Chinese, and for that matter, just about every nationality you could say the same thing. How many of you have had a hard time trying to get your Chinese half to try something new. Hell, I even started a thread here about that.

To each his own. I would take dim sum over say the fast food chains, but home grilled or from a small Mom & Pop burger stand? Boy howdy! 2 GREAT places locally, Redrum Burger in Davis, and The Squease Inn here in Sacramento. Jen loves In & Out, or the steak burger from the Sizzler, but in the interest of keeping her beautiful fiure, she has swore off of those gut bombs.

You have some good points, but then, the young people today will be the older generation soon enough. Each time I was in China, each of Jen's relatives had coupons for KFC. Now granted, Jen does like burgers, but she likes the chicken sandwiches better. I even like the KFC sandwicheds in the Chinese places better than the US locations. Now the expence? I can see that doing in a place in China. As an American, I'd pay for good burger, but Jen wouldn't. Now I do agree with Starbucks. Most people I saw in there were westerners looking for something familiar, myself included.

??!? My bad, I over looked the line about it not being part of the construction. So I'll raise the story to a B.

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is likely to remain closed at least a day longer than expected as crews race to repair a significant crack in a steel link that holds up part of the span, a state transportation official said Sunday. http://news.aol.com/article/san-francisco-...dge-in%2F657761 What a lousy and lazy report from the AP. First question, was this crack on the part being moved into place as a bypass or is it part of the original 73 year old bridge, and second thier wording on the "colapse" makes it sound a hell of a lot worse than it really was. One section from the upper deck fell onto the second deck. Over all, I give the AP story a C-.

I don't know, Each time I was in China with Jen, we would visit both types of places. The amount of people in the KFCs and McDonalds was incredible. As for Carl's, IMO it is the best of the chain burger places, sorry In n Out Burger. It is a truly a charbrioled burger, not fried or grilled then microwaved like BK. Now, if they sell this in China.....Big Carl. i sometimes feel like i'm reinforcing a stereotype when i show up at a mcdonalds or kfc in china. they think it's all we eat! last time i went to one they gave us the wrong flavor milkshake, forgot part of our order, and gave us too much change back. True...and I don't think I'll ever get used to sit down, knife and fork Pizza Hut with oysters on the half shell on the menu... You mean like when we have a get together and ALWAYS wind up eating dim sum or going to a Chinese restauraunt. Each time we have eaten dim sum, the vast majority of patrons were Chinese here in the states. When we eat at KFC or another America chain in China, the vast majority there is Chinese. I would think differently if it was mostly western tourists but if the locals are eating it up, there has to be something there they are liking.

Well, Jim...I do hope there is a happy panda this morning. So far so good. She is still asleep, but in a little time I think we will celebrate the anniversary we missed while she was in China.

This was taken from the Gettysburg Address delivered by President Lincoln at the end of the Civil war on the site of what was a truly horrific and tragic battle. At the same time, it can be spoken about the men who stayed in the Alamo and fought to the death against overwhelming numbers, or the soldiers and sailors caught on that Sunday morning in 1941 when the Japanese attacked the Pacific fleet in Pearl, and of course for the military who died at the Pentagon and the thousands of civilians, and the heroic efforts of the FDNY, Police, and Port Athority personel who ran into those towers knowing that they might not be coming out again. So, why do we as individuals as well as a nation choose to keep digging up the past and remember such things? In one sence, it gives us the resolve to see though what must be done to right the wrongs perpitrated against us. "Remember the Alamo!" was the battle cry that sought vengance against Santa Ana and gave our troops something to fight for. The Attack on Pearl Harbor united a nation divided on whether we should enter WWII and gave us the resolve to see it though to victory over Germany, and the Japanese Empire. And 9/11, it reminded us yet again that evil does exist in the world and the freedoms we enjoy here in America requires vigilance against those who would take it from us. We also remember the sacrifice of those who, as President Lincoln so eloquently put, gave their last full measure of devotion. The men inside the Alamo who knew they were already dead and kept up the fight for as long as they could. The men and women who died, as the Japanese unleashed Hell all around them, trying to help the fallen, or stayed at their posts trying to fight against a surprise attack that left them and our Navy broken in the face of a new world war. And of course we remember the people who's only crime was getting up on a Tuesday morning and simply going to work or getting on a plane. Finally, we remember the actions that were perpitrated against us. Those who fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. A good example of this would be United flight 93. Upon learning of the fate of 3 other planes that morning, they decided to become the first soldiers in the war against terror by not allowing their plane to become the 4th weapon and sacrificed themselves, rather than passively allowing the hijackers from killing countless others. The common theme amidst all of this, is the people. Those who saw that there can be something greater than themselves. That by standing up in a time of unspeakable horror they helped save the lives of people they did not know, and the helped people of a great nation preserve their greatest asset, their freedom.

Only one item on the agenga this weekend, and that was yesterday. Pick up my Panda and bring here back home! And Don, I done reel gude! No Panda fur was a flyin last night. She was impressed with my Panda den cleaning efforts.

I don't know, Each time I was in China with Jen, we would visit both types of places. The amount of people in the KFCs and McDonalds was incredible. As for Carl's, IMO it is the best of the chain burger places, sorry In n Out Burger. It is a truly a charbrioled burger, not fried or grilled then microwaved like BK. Now, if they sell this in China.....Big Carl.

Where did you hear this if I might ask? B) Yeah, and I heard that if you eat chicken on the Tuesday of the week before the interview, you have a 20% chance of being in the top 50% of the 10% that get a blue slip..... Don't listen to that kinda stuff. A fact, Jen did the interview in Chinese and had no trouble what so ever. To calm her nerves, I posted here asking for stories of Chinese interviews that went well, and got dozens. There are also pink and blues that are given to English interviews. There were stories about the "Black Pearl" someone notorious for supposedly being tough at the interview with a ton of blues issued. All you can do is collect your evidence and let the process work. Keep talking to your girl, and get copies of EVERYTHING. If you talk on the phone copy the bill, print out chat logs, write her a letter or two, I would take pictures around California and would sent them to Jen to show where she would be moving to. Just work on getting so much evidence to prove how real your relationship is. I don't know how much they will actually look at, with Jen, they hardly looked at anything, BUT, it gave Jen confidence that we had enough and therefore she was more relaxed going into the interview. Above all else, keep telling yourself, she will do fine, and she WILL be here before you know it.

You found the right place here. Just look at the bottom line of my signature. That was written about 3 days after Jennifer's interview was passed and we were getting ready to come home together. I learned sooo much here that when we went to Guangzhou, it was as if I had been there before. Take some time and relax. Are you planning on going with her when she has the interview? If so, it will give you something to plan for. In the mean time, the paperwork will get through, she will get an interview, she will pass and get her visa, and you both will come home together. And then your training really will begin.

Everyone here was worried at some point in the prosess. Hell, I had 15 months of worry followed by the greatest joy I could imagine. Trust me, after 4 years of marriage, looking back on the visa experience seems a lot different.

Just let it pass and move on. I have found with Jen, she just doesn't hold on to things like I do and has usually put it behind her. If anything, just explain to her how the visa process is making you a bit crazy.