Robrief no. 1: Most Americans don’t read blogs, political or otherwise
Those 56% of Americans don’t read your blogs. Only 22% do but most of them are senior citizens. That’s just too bad but that ain’t stopping me from blogging! As because there are hungry readers out there, I have a lot of red meats, vegetables or desserts to feed at them! 
Robrief no. 2: Five Most Annoying Deaf People
Best and funniest blog I’ve ever read in a long time. Good one, thedeafcrab.com. The last one… the Interpreter who must keep you up in front of everyone in a class. So true with me: I had an interpreter who insisted on me staying awake during those long, incredibly boring lectures from a high school teacher. She kicked me in the shoes a few times when I was doozing off. Argh!
Robrief no. 3: Hate crime linked to immigration, Time reports
Southern Poverty Law Center designated Federation for American Immigration Reform a hate group. FAIR returns fire by calling the law center’s designation a smear tactic to avoid genuine immigration debate in the country. Frankly, I really questioned the SPLC’s decision to make FAIR a hate group, since the organization is comprised of Americans who wanted honest, legitimate immigration reform to end illegal immigration and reinforce existing immigration laws. Its board of directors, its national board of advisors and members are comprised of ex-politicians, doctors, lawyers, retired military or law enforcement officers, judges, homemakers, ex-federal employees, academic scholars, and so on.
It is pretty obvious that SPLC’s slam on FAIR is influenced by donations from the National Council of La Raza (la raza is Hispanic for “the Race”), a group covertly promoting a return to ancient Aztec heritage and a re-conquest of the American southwestern states than to do with promoting civil rights and opportunities of the Mexican people in the United States. Don’t take the NCLR’s positions at face value. The issue of illegal immigration have absolutely nothing to do with the Mexican or Spanish-speaking peoples at all but, unfortunately, the tactics of NCLR and other Hispanic-advocacy groups have twisted and distorted the debate of immigration reform as an issue against the Latinos and Spanish-speaking peoples. They need to recognize that we have laws and means to allow people to migrate, integrate and settle into the United States the legal way.
Give it up, NCLR, we know your tactics and you’re ain’t getting the American southwestern states back. You lost the war back in 1848!
Speaking of the Aztec heritage, Shep Lenchek of Mexico Connect.com has a nicely written piece on the Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico, published back in 2001. While the account of the Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire was well-known over the centuries, there have very little of full accounts of the Conquest as described by the Aztec survivors, until the last few decades, newly interpreted works propped up. Lenchek summed it pointedly of what the Conquest was all about:
All historians recognize that in addition to seeking gold and new territory for Spain, the Conquistadors were strongly committed to spreading Christianity. The Codices reveal that the Aztecs were equally committed to spreading the realm of their own Gods, particularly the blood thirsty Huitzilopochtli. Thus, fanatic Christians met an equally fanatic Aztec priesthood. Ultimately, it was the clash of the two religions that led to the destruction of the Aztec Empire.
Read it all. Good history stuff.
Robrief no. 4: Gas near $108 today
If this cost of gas price is keeping up and up, the costs of living modestly or thrifty in America will become more difficult for 98% of Americans (the other 2% are the wealthy who can afford the costs). It is not only most of them are paying the costs of fueling their vehicles to drive, it is the costs of gas being passed onto the retailers receiving and processing the goods onto the shelves, such as the grocery stores, general or bulk goods stores and other businesses, forcing the retailers to mark up the prices higher to off-set their own costs (paying FT/PT employees, operating expenses, bills, etc.). Some retailers have been reporting less-than-satisfactory same-store sales expectations. Consumers are buying less goods than ever before.
Owner-operators (the independent big rig drivers who hail goods around the country for big bucks) are being squeezed by higher diesel prices and getting out of the independent business to save costs. Municipal or county police departments are being forced to cut back their patrolling duties to save costs and reduce energy costs. City and county governments are being asked to reduce expenses, lay off some employees or face limited closure or cutbacks in public services.
Back in 2005, I’d warned that the year 2005 is the last year of cheap oil and the next few years we would see gradual rises of oil prices. Maybe it could be for a short time but who knows? 
