Archive for August, 2009
A Welcome Welcome
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The long-awaited Green Card confirmation.
There are certain things that I have never felt comfortable discussing on this blog. My criticisms of the immigration system has been one of them.
Though the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service has, at times, given me cause to wonder whether they would actually be diligent enough to Google me, I did not want to wreck my chance of a Green Card by saying the wrong thing. I still have to renew this card in ten years. So, I’ll just shut up.
What I will say, however, is that after almost six years of jumping from two-year visa to two-year visa, after standing for hours in lines to be fingerprinted and photographed in Brooklyn for a Work Authorization document or to have a visa put in my passport at the US embassy in London, I am relieved that it is finally over.
For Sofie and me that means no more worrying about if, and when, we will get the next visa extension. It means no more endless form filling and waiting. It means no more costly trips to London. It also means our nighttime reading will soon be Welcome to the United States: A Guide For New Immigrants. I don’t think I realized quite how big a step we had taken, until I read the intro:
Congratulations on becoming a permanent resident of the United States of America. On behalf of the president of the United States and the American people, we welcome you and wish you every success in the United States.
The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world. America values
the contributions of immigrants, who continue to enrich this country and preserve its legacy as a land of
freedom and opportunity.As a permanent resident of the United States, you have made a decision to call this country your home. As you work to achieve your goals, take some time to get to know this country, its history, and its people. It is now both your right and your responsibility to shape the future of this country and ensure its continued success. Exciting opportunities await you as you begin your life as a resident of this great country. Welcome to the United States!
Inglorious Bastards
Posted by: | CommentsClive Davis enjoys David Denby’s delicious hatchet-job on Inglorious Bastards. But first he throws in an experience of his own:
Around the time that “Pulp Fiction” came out I interviewed Quentin Tarantino in a Manhattan hotel and found myself marvelling at the most unbuttoned display of teenage egomania I’d ever witnessed. He was so in love with his self-proclaimed genius that he would probably have started snogging himself if he could have found a body double.
I saw the trailer for Inglorious Bastards recently and it looked awful—which made the relatively positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes hard to fathom. Instead, this weekend, I’ll opting for District 9. I don’t go with the highest of hopes. But I do at least expect it to to be better than, in Denby’s words, the “ridiculous and appallingly insensitive” Bastards.
Martha’s Vineyard
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s hard to believe we’ve been back from Martha’s Vineyard for less than two days. I didn’t take my camera so no photos this time other than the one below (taken on my iPhone) of a pig race at Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair.
We only had three full days on the Vineyard but it might as well have been a week for all the fresh air, fine food and good conversation. (Not to mention my 11-point Boggle score with ENRICHED.)
Martha’s Vineyard is a truly incredible place. It has a rural beauty that reminds me of the Westcountry, but with a New England/American feel all of its own: relaxed, friendly, fun.
Needless to say, our experience of the Vineyard is based in large part on the generosity of our hosts. But looking around at the beaches and cafes, the hotels and restaurants, the sail boats that decorate every inlet and the cyclists who slow traffic on almost every road, I can’t help but think that it must be one of the best holiday destinations in America.
Steven Seagal: Lawman
Posted by: | CommentsIs this really real? Because, if it is, it is too good to be true. UPDATE: More details here.
Message From Scotland
Posted by: | CommentsREF: LIBYAN BOMBER RELEASE
SUBJECT: THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE SPEAK OUT
FAO: PAUL
The real people of Scotland wanted the whole of America to know just how strongly they feel about the release of the Libyan bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, we wanted to share the following sentiments with the US . . . . .
We would like the whole of America to know that the real people of Scotland are completely appalled and disgusted at the release of the Libyan bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. 99.9% of us strongly disagree with this decision and the way that it has been handled by our own authorities. It is important for every American to know that this was the decision of the Scottish Justice System and not the Scottish people. We have stood side by side with Americans throughout the greatest of world war battles and we continue to do so today with the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have lost many of our own lads over there but we are very proud of the sacrifices that they continue to make in name of Freedom and Democracy. To see the imagery of Megrahi being hugged by Gadaffi completely undermines everything that these lads have been fighting for.
To see the Scottish Soltaire being flown in amongst those scenes upon his release would have made William Wallace turn in his grave. It seems that Scotland has been used as a scape goat yet again to do the dirty work that the British Government simply did not have the courage to do. Gordon Brown’s absence and failure to comment on the matter makes this even more evident that this is directly linked to the British Govenments interests in Libyan Oil and Gas reserves.
Lee Hutcheon
Scottish Film Director/Producer
ABERDEEN. SCOTLAND
