New York - November 23, 2010.  Bets are being made that Bristol Palin, a dancer with 2 left feet will be the winner in the finals of Dancing With The Stars.  A Palin win is not too difficult to envision, but very difficult to swallow.  Imagine how this could  happen.  Palin has regularly been at the bottom of the leader board.  Each week, viewers are sure that she would be the one to be thrown out of the competition, but each week without fail, she comes back, again and again.  No matter  how poorly she dances, she wins.  Last week she even beat Brandy, who most viewers will agree,  was one of the best dancers DWTS ever had.  But Palin with the  support of the Tea Party and her mother's announcement in her rallys managed to get Palin so many votes that every contestant, judge and host were flabbergasted. She won, but she did not deserve to win.

Once the votes are tallied, it will tell the story of whether ABC's Dancing WIth The Stars will remain as an serious program or will begin its slippery slide into non existence.  Everything depends on who the final winner is not.

Since this year's show began,  Jennifer Grey has amazed Dancing With the Stars fans and judges with fantastic dancing and choreography.  In their final performances last evening, Jennifer and partner Derek Hough reached  perfection with 30 out of 30 points for both of their dances.   First a  paso doble that caused the audience to give them a standing ovation.  They followed with a freestyle that had all three judges raving and the audiance in an uproar.

Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer danced unbelievably well with Kyle's personality making his unique statement. The started with  an elegant foxtrot that garnered  a solid 27 out of 30 points that even had judge Len gleaming.  In their next dance, a hip-hop freestyle earned them a score of 29 out of 30 points.  Judge Carrie Ann Inaba was overwhelmed and called Kyle "the Fresh Prince of Dancing with the Stars."

And again, in the bottom of the heap were Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas.  Mark Ballas did his best to make Palin into a dancer but she was barely able to move her feet and did not do even one flip or complicated move. The best part of her dance was when she was locked up in a cage. She earned a score of 27 out of 30 for her first routine, but when she tried to dance a Chicago-themed freestyle  she did poorly. All three judges made negative remarks with Bruno Tonioli commenting that it was "not quite at the level" of what was expected. 

The judges statements  must have been quite a disappointment for her mother Sarah Palin, who stood in the audience with family members and friends.  Of course she and her millions of Tea Party friends believe that Bristol is the best and should win.  But as Bruce Springsteen  has said “Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.”

The judges scores have been tallied and the fate of the constants and for that matter DWTS, will be sealed. The season 11 live results show airs  on ABC Tuesday at 9 p.m.

NOW IT'S TIME TO VOTE:

Voting by phone is open Mondays from the start of the show until 30 minutes after the end of the show. At this time you may still Vote online until 11a.m. Eastern/8 a.m. Pacific Tuesday.

November 19, 2010 - The web is on fire with articles, blogs and commentaries about Bristol Palin’s win over Brandy this week on Dancing With The Stars. People are not just upset to see an apparently inferior dancer knock out of the contest, a far superior dancer but what is polarizing the DWTS community is the rumor  that there is a Tea Party conspiracy working feverishly to make sure that Palin is the ultimate winner.

Dancing with the Stars in 2010 is an abnormality.  By and large through the years, even though there have been some gripping eliminations earlier in the contests, by the time we reach the finals, eliminations are basically based on skill.

But Palin and partner Mark Ballas have reliably been positioned near the nadir of the leader board from the beginning of the competition, being in the lower ranks of the contestants for 7 out of 9 weeks, but audience votes have helped the couple outlive high-scorers like Fox and Audrina Patridge, who to the surprise of both judges and viewers were eliminated last week.

The tea party conspiracy theory does appear to have a basis in fact.  The Daily Beast website followed Palin's Twitter groups to conservative author Tammy Bruce, who has created "Operation Palin."   Bruce has advocated for Palin. Ms. Bruce tweeted before Monday night's show: "Operation Bristol waltzes in tonight! As #DWTS starts vote at abc.go.com Tweeps pls tweet phone info, will RT."

What this means in English is, "Vote early and often for Palin!"

During an interview with E! News, Palin maintained it's hard work that's kept her in the contest and not a tea party conspiracy. "I work my butt off here," Palin complained. "I rehearse every day. I am totally out of my element here. I think I deserve to be here."

According to Jezebel.com, while Bristol Palin refutes any Tea Party conspiracy theory, she  cannot deny that Tea party people have been working diligently to secure votes for her.   But what isn't generally known is that the evidence appears in blogs and website comments that this movement  involves fixing the election through a technical problem on ABC's website, which permits Palin's supporters to cast an infinite number of email votes.

Even the show's producer, Conrad Green, told Bloomberg that "it's entirely possible" that Bristol Palin may be garnering support from her mother Sarah Palin's political supporters and receiving a wave of tea party votes., Mr. Green said that Callers may be behind Bristol Palin "for political reasons."

How is it possible to game the system? According to hillbuz.org  when you vote for Bristol and Mark you have to sign up, you can make up email addresses. “As many as you want. But you have to keep signing out…then signing up each time.”

The site explained that “you can start calling the moment the show starts…and you can call as many times as the phone will let you.  After that, use someone else’s phone to call the maximum times on that.  Then — and I am not telling you to do this — it would not be a bad thing to randomly knock on neighbors’ doors and use their phones and call, call, call, and then call some more."

"Then vote like nuts online with all of your email addresses. If you haven’t heard, the fact we’ve been all doing this for Bristol has been driving the Left NUTS.”

But the show’s executive producer Conrad Green rejected any perception of a immense, right-wing Operation Bristol conspiracy. Green said abc.com verifies IP addresses when reviewing ballots and they (ABC) are experienced enough to obstruct those using fake e-mail addresses.  “If you put in phony e-mail messages, you might think you are gaming the system, but the votes are discarded,” Green told the Herald yesterday.

13 year old  Palin fan, Adam Tomasi, of Kingston, New York ,a member of the Young American Tea Party said in an interview for the Herald “I know a lot of other Tea Party members support the ideology of Sarah Palin and her 2012 presidential run,” said Tomasi. “Tea Partiers might unite around Bristol just to stick it to the media and show that there’s a lot of support for the Palins.”

Elayne Rapping, a pop culture expert at SUNY-Buffalo says that "It's a game-changer,". Tea party activists on Twitter "are part of a large community that has power, and when this group of people with this power decide to put it in the service of Bristol Palin, it's kind of mind-boggling."

Well the odds are growing that Bristol Palin will be the 2010 winner of Dancing With The Stars.   Should that happens DWTS may have seen its last season.

After Monday night's performance show, doubts are popping up all over the internet on the reliability  of Dancing With The Stars vote tabulation.   Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of  Vice-Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin  was at the bottom of the DWTS leader board on  four occasions, yet, Bristol and professional partner Mark Ballas made it to the final round, while Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who were at the top several times this season were unexpectedly booted out.

It was not just a show shocker, but a major disappointment for viewers and potential embarrassment to everyone involved in the show. Dancing With the Stars fans “allegedly” sent Brandy Norwood packing her bags.  There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Brandy was a much better dancer than Bristol Palin, but she couldn’t compete with the numbers of calls and web site votes that Palin managed to receive.

According to Tom Bergeron, the weekly host,  the votes she received were the highest in the series in order to win on a “popularity” level. How could something like this happen?  Palin should have been eliminated in the first show, but she managed to go forward despite her lack of talent. Let's face it, with the way hackers can manipulate computer system, there leaves little doubt that many will conclude that some votes were manufactured. DWTS should look at politics to see what happens when people lose faith in the voting system. Politicians do not like to lose and if it happens; recount. DWTS may soon find itself in the middle of a huge legal battle should any disqualified dancer demand a recount. 

It was obvious from the first show that this season would have a political undertone when when Bristol Palin was announced loud boos emanated from the audience.  It seemed clear that they were not booing teenager Bristol Palin. but for her mother Sara Palin, who has become a major disappointment to the Republican Party because of her Tea party assault on traditional republicans which cost them control of the Senate, and an embarrassment for Americans in general.

Throughout the season, Sarah Palin's daughter has battled to stay in the show. Each week it seemed as if she would be taken out, but viewer votes have kept her in, notwithstanding the low scores from the judges. The big question now is whether the votes cast for Palin  were real or have been manufactured.  We may never know the truth, but when truly great dancers are dismissed and a clearly inferior dancer remains you could surmise that it looks  suspicious.

Co-host Brooke Burke said that it  was a "shock. So did "Judge Bruno Tonioli.  Finalist Kyle Massey, placed his hands on his hips looking confused, while his partner, Lacey Schiwmmer clapped, but appeared quite disappointed.

Jennifer Grey, who currently is the highest scoring finalist  stood and turned away, while her professional partner, Derek Hough’s jaw dropped.

Mark Ballas, Palin’s professional partner  rubbed her arms  and she  looked expressionless and dazed like a deer facing a headlight.

The announcement  that Brandy and Maks received the lowest total score following Monday night’s competition stunned the ballroom. Maks looked down when he heard the announcement and a number of members of the studio audience booed the results.

On the other hand, perhaps vote manipulation is not the cause of Palin’s win, it’s just her mother. DWTS 11th season has been almost like  a microcosm of the 2008 election season. Just like it didn’t matter that Sarah Palin was not ready to be president  nor that she could no answer a question intelligently, unless she was on a FOX channel, so too is her daughter Bristol's dancing career. It doesn't  matter that she can't dance. What may matter here, is that she has a huge republican, may I say Tea Party fan base. They don't mind that Bristol is a living contradiction - an unwed mother who, for a $15,000 speaking fee, promotes  "abstinence" all over the country.  Her “fan” base likes her, but more importantly they just love her mother.

Palin’s win has shown this show is not about dancing.  It's about  power. And maybe it's about who our next president could be.

Blogs are questioning why Palin was in the show to begin with. She is not a star. These are some of the quotes from different blogs:

SO FREAKIN MAD!!!! Bristol doesn't deserve to be in the finals. She can't say she is the only person to come on this season with no dance experience.There were plenty of people who were non dancers this season who danced better than she ever could and yet they were voted off and she is still on. If she wins,which i think she will, I wont be watching this show anymore because this show has proved to be about popularity not talent..UGH”

“I am a Republican and I think that Bristol Palin should have been eliminated this evening. This show should not be about popularity or politics - it should be about the best dancer. Jennifer and Brandy should be competing for the trophy next week.”

“It is totally absurd that a political alliance can be so strong as to influence a popular TV show.I have been a fan since the inception of the show,however after this evenings obvious political agenda on the voting I will not watch the finals.Disney the parent company of ABC should be ashamed of letting their political alliance take away from what has been up until now a wonderful reality show

“Bristol is boring, can't dance, and looks over 30! What a shame - If she wins, I will never look at DWTS again! It was such a great program until Politics got into the game - Those Damn Republicans!!”

“I have watched Dancing with the Stars for about 5 years and it has encouraged me to begin ballroom dancing at the age of 60+. I can't believe that Bristol Palin was voted to continue on before Brandy and Maks. Bristol showed little talent other than to spawn an illegitimate child and have a mother who is a bizarre right wing scary person.”

“This could be the end of the show. It all appears rigged. There will be a decline in viewership.”

Well who knows, Palin may even win in the finals coming up next week.  If that happens,  then  Dancing With The Stars may find itself asked not to come back… next season.

November 16, 2010-  Arizona’s neo-Nazi’s rally in support of Arizona’s anti immigrant law SB1070 caused a riot on the streets of Phoenix this weekend.  They were however, heavily outnumbered by equal rights protesters who challenged the neo-Nazi spectacle while they headed to the federal courthouse. Police dressed in riot gear separated the two groups, and used pepper spray to calm them down, however, people were injured and two rock throwing protesters were arrested.

The anti-immigration protest was in support of the draconian Arizona's  “papers please” law called SB 1070. The law in its entirety would have permitted police to interrogate anyone they suspected of being in the country without legal papers. The neo- Nazi’s were upset that the most controversial aspects of the law have been blocked by a district court decision.

The National Socialist Movement is a neo-Nazi group that advocates a white separatist nation, where “Only those of pure White blood, whatever their creed, may be members of the nation. Non-citizens may live in America only as guests and must be subject to laws for aliens. Accordingly, no Jew or homosexual may be a member of the nation.” 

In their 25 point treatise the neo-Nazi's make it very clear that nothing American is sacred to them.  For example it state that “[a]ll non-White immigration must be prevented. We demand that all non-Whites currently residing in America be required to leave the nation forthwith and return to their land of origin: peacefully or by force.”  They further demand that “[t]he Party combats the Jewish-materialistic spirit within and without us.”

Arizona is not new to neo-Nazis.  In fact, evidence establishes that the Arizona's SB1070 anti-immigrant law was written and introduced to Arizona congress by Neo Nazi supporters.  ((Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce, who championed the bill, has, for many years, been associated with local Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups)).

In the video, J.T. Ready the neo-Nazi march organizer, can be seen explaining to a group of protesters that the assault of his members is not acceptable. Ready  reportedly shares a connection to SB-1070 architect and Arizona state Rep. Russell Pearce (R).

According to tucsoncitizen.com, JT Ready collaborated with Sean Pearce when the Minutemen were in existence. Sean Pearce is the son of Senate President and creator of SB1070 Russell Pearce, who also sanctioned JT Ready when he ran for office in Mesa in 2006.

Kris Kobach, an attorney and virulent anti-immigration who was recently defeated in his challenge to California’s in-state tuition law, authored the anti immigrant law, SB 1070.  Kobach is an attorney for Immigration Reform Law Institute, the legal arm of the chameleon organization named Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR. As   Rachel Maddow revealed her program, the founder of FAIR is a well-known racist. The seed money he used to start FAIR came from an infamous Eugenics (the same thing the Nazi’s did) outfit.

Not surprisingly, a recent poll conducted by the Arizona Republic exposed that nearly half, 46 percent, of Arizona adults agreed that the immigration debate has "exposed a deeper sense of racism in our community."

SALT LAKE - At a press conference on Friday, Utah Governor Gary Herbert discussed a state investigation into the source of a list of alleged illegal immigrants circulated to media outlets and law enforcement offices.

Herbert called the action of the people who generated and sent the list "deplorable" and "unfortunate."  Herbert explained that the investigation involves Utah Department of Workforce Services employees and at least two state employees may have been responsible for compiling and distributing an illegal list containing the names and personal information of 1,300 people who, the senders charged, are illegal immigrants and should be deported immediately.

Herbert did not identify the individuals involved as the investigation was "ongoing" but commented that the results of the investigation would to be turned over to Mark Shurtleff, Utah Attorney General.

The Department of Workforce Service employees have been placed on leave, In their position, they have access to a database containing information matching that on the list. There could be more state employees involved.  Officials stated that the investigation is ongoing.

The list was sent to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Salt Lake City this April.  It was redistributed this week adding morel names and sent to Utah lawmakers, news organizations and police chiefs. The anti-immigrant list senders called themselves Concerned Citizens of the United States and insisted that authorities start deportation proceeding for people on the list.

The list included addresses, Social Security numbers and incredibly whether some women were pregnant and expected date of birth.  According to Utah Atty. Gen. Mark L. Shurtleff "Most likely both federal and state privacy laws may have been violated

June 9, 2010 -- Just last week, the notorious Governor Brewer promoter of the draconian anti- American law SB 1070, which in essence throws the entire civil rights movement into the proverbial garbage was caught claiming that her father had “died fighting the Nazi regime in Germany.”   Her comment came out when she was discussing her state's destructive new anti-illegal immigrant law.  It’s difficult to believe she meant anything else when she said :  "Knowing that my father died fighting the Nazi regime in Germany, that I lost him when I was 11 because of that... and then to have them call me Hitler's daughter. It hurts. It's ugliness beyond anything I've ever experienced," Brewer told the paper.

Shortly thereafter, trying to clean up her mess, Paul Senseman, a spokesman for Brewer's office  “explained” that the governor's remarks had not been meant literally, and that Mr. Drinkwine had passed away as a result of the toxic fumes he had inhaled while working as a civilian at an ammunition factory in Hawthorne, NV.   Senseman said she was not "embellishing" the story and did not mean her father had died while a soldier in Germany.

"The fact is she didn't say, `My dad got a disease working in a munitions plant and he died from that 10 years after the war,'" said Jennifer Johnson, communications director for the Arizona Democratic Party. "She used words that made it sound like her father died on the battlefield fighting the Nazis."

Johnson said Brewer's comments were "disrespectful to veterans who died in combat."

It seems that Arizona cannot get past its, neo Nazi and white supremacist underbelly.  Recently it was uncovered that ((Arizona’s new anti-immigrant law was written and introduced to Arizona congress by  Neo Nazi supporter Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce)). Pearce has been associated with local Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.  Just take a look at his background.

In 2006, he spoke emphatically about the 1950’s deportation act called “Operation Wetback.”  In doing so he sent emails to his supporters expounding the greatness of this program.  In this email he included   an attachment from a white supremacy group and made the conspiratorial claim that journalists pushed the view of: “a world in which every voice proclaims the equality of the races, the inerrant nature of the Jewish ‘Holocaust’ tale, the wickedness of attempting to halt the flood of non-White aliens pouring across our borders…”

In 2007, Pierce was photographed with J.T. Ready spokesman for the National Socialist Movement, better known as the Nazi Party. They refer to themselves, “the premier white civil right organization in the world.” The group claims to be true patriots claiming that they are only against non-white immigration.  J.T. Ready has said that closing the borders is crucial to preserving the white race. “Let's face it,” he said. “We're not being invaded by Swedish nuns here. We're on a border with a country that is a hostile country.”  Pierce is also known for speaking at Neo-Nazi rallies and conferences.

Just recently in Los Angeles, Neo-Nazi rallied against illegal aliens. They waved American flags and banners with swastikas, wore black military uniforms and helmets.  They shouted ‘Sieg Heil’ before each of their members began speaking.

In 2008, Pierce sponsored Senate Bill 1108, which would make it impossible for students at Universities to join groups based in whole or part because of their ethnicity, claiming it would indoctrinate people with anti-American mentality. As if the relationship could not be any clearer, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer yesterday signed a bill targeting a school district's ethnic studies program, Arizona law now prohibits classes that promote ethnic solidarity, that are created primarily for students of a particular race or that promote resentment toward a certain ethnic group.

Kris Kobach, who is currently running for Secretary of State of Kansas, authored the anti immigrant law, SB 1070.  Kobach is an attorney for Immigration Reform Law Institute, the legal arm of the chameleon organization named Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR. As Rachel Maddow revealed in a recent program, the founder of FAIR is a well-known racist. The seed money he used to start FAIR came from an infamous Eugenics (the same thing the Nazi’s did) outfit.

FAIR is just one piece of a vast and powerful anti-immigrant organization, created over the last 30 years, and orchestrated by John Tanton.   His organization has been able to insinuate itself into many of the social and political debates of our time.

Tanton developed many different entities so that it appears that there are numerous advocates for what he sees and the ideal society.  Another of his group, the Center for Immigration Studies, acts as so-called "think tank" to the anti-immigrant movement. Some other entities he is invalid with are the Coalition for the Future American Worker, Progressives for Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, Immigration Reform Law Institute, United to Secure America Coalition.  These are just a few of his many groups that work in unison trying earnestly to modify America's thinking on immigration.

The Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League have connected these groups with racists, white supremacists, and political extremists.

The Tanton message is blatantly clear - no more immigrants in the U.S. and those that are here should leave.

These are the background players in Arizona's new anti-immigrant laws.

"Today's republicans have forsaken the ideals and political precepts of men like Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater"

There was a time that Republicans were committed to protect America from anything that appeared to be connected to violations of personal liberty and would have emphatically fought against these type or organizations.  Apparently in 2010 the Republican Party has morphed into something else.   Today's republicans have forsaken the ideals and political precepts of men like Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater and seem  have chosen to forget the  American dream and it's integrity.

It's truly difficult to comprehend how Arizona,  a state whose population is one-third Hispanic would want to alienate a significant segment of their residents; mostly hard working family members.  Even as I write other states are following Arizona's lead.

Yes, it is irrefutable that the borders have to be secured to prevent criminals from entering the United States as well as to prevent future illegal immigration.  It is also understandable that Arizona has been pushed into this position by the federal government's failure to fix the broken immigration laws. However, the Arizona law, as written, will never accomplish its intended goal of security and instead, will only serve to violate the rights of all Americans.  Only with comprehensive immigration reform can this country resume the path intended by our founders and America will once again be "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

And who can blame Governor Brewer’s Nazi slip, it must have been on the tip of her tongue.

New York - May 7, 2010-- A new research was made regarding the persons who are attracted by Camel cigarettes. In conclusion it was established that teen girls have more interest in Camel cigarettes than any other category. Another study made on 1,036 adolescents, also says that the ads for Camel No. 9 cigarettes, that are found in magazines like: Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Vogue represent a big hit for teen girls aged from 12 to 16.

This new brand was launched in 2007 and in promotional giveaways for it were included cell phone jewelry, wristbands, purses and berry-flavored lip balm.

The spokesman for tobacco company R.J. Reynolds, which is the manufacturer of Camel cigarette brand, David Howard said that the ads were from the beginning aimed for adults. He also said that more than 80% of the persons who read it are over 18. In 1998 Master Settlement Agreement agreed with the tobacco companies not to influence kids in smoking habit. The same spokesman said that the number of the teens has declined since the ads were introduced.

Cheryl Healton is the president of the anti-smoking group the American Legacy Foundation and co-author who conducted a study about teenagers and said that the teens were very interested in the ads. She also asked teens if they realize what kind of cigarette brands exist.

In the year of 2008, there were 22% of girls who listed Camel brand as their favorite cigarette ad. But before that, there were made other four studies and the number was twice smaller. Healton said that all of that happen because Camel launched the new campaign and it is not because of the old one.

The cigarette ads are attracting kids too, said John Pierce of the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California-San Diego. If a non smoking teen is able to name a favorite tobacco ad then he is more likely to start smoking with 50% than other children.

When the boys were asked to say what their favorite cigarette ad was, they didn't show many preferences in comparison with the girls, who could name a favorite tobacco ad. So the cigarette ads are still reaching kids, even though there is a marketing ban on them. If on the ads is drawn smoking as being fashionable, then teens is even more attracted to it.

articlesbase.com  via  Jornal.us

Thousands of SEIU Members Will Rally In Cities Across The Country May 1 To Call For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

In response to AZ's draconian anti-immigrant bill...

SEIU Members from AZ, CA, CO, DC, IL, IN, MA, MN, NM, NY, OH, TX, WI
to participate in May 1st Immigration rallies

Washington, DC - On Saturday, May 1, thousands of SEIU members will join faith, business and civil rights leaders across the country to rally against Arizona's draconian anti-immigrant law and call for comprehensive reform. The message they will deliver is simple: our system is broken; the need for comprehensive immigration reform is urgent and we expect our politicians to lead on this issue.

Since last Friday's signing of Arizona's SB 1070, SEIU members have been making phone calls, signing petitions, and holding rallies and vigils to urge local and national leaders that America cannot wait any longer; the time is now to pass comprehensive reform. From Phoenix, Arizona to Washington, D.C., SEIU members will be marching on Saturday to remind politicians and citizens that comprehensive immigration reform is good for our economy and good for America.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

WHAT: Thousands of SEIU members in cities across the country

WHO: Janitors, nurses, home care providers, public sector workers, security officers; immigrants and native-born workers

WHERE:Locations of May, 1 rallies and marches are as follows -

• San Jose, CA: March from Story Street & Kind Road to the San Jose City Hall (4:00 pm)
• Sacramento, CA: March from the steps of the Capitol Building (10:30 am)
• Oakland, CA: March from Fruitvale BART to the Federal Building (11:30 am)
• San Francisco, CA: March starting at 24th Street and Mission Avenue (11:30 am)
• Los Angeles, CA: March 9th Street and Broadway to LA City Hall (9:00 am)
• Washington, DC: March/Rally from Lafayette Square (1:00 pm)
• Chicago, IL: March from Union Park, 1501 West Randolph (1:00 pm)
• Chelsea, MA: March from Pollo Campero, corner of Park Street and Essex Street (11:00 am)
• Minneapolis, MN: March from MLK Park, Nichols and 41st Street to Stewart Park, 26th and 12th (2:00 pm)
• Albuquerque, NM: Concert/Rally at Plaza de Encuentro, 714 4th Street SW (6:00 pm
• New York, NY: March from Foley Square, Worth Street between Centre and Lafayette Streets (11:00 am)
• Houston, TX: March from Bellaire and Renwick, 5900 Bellaire Blvd (4:00 pm)
• Seattle, WA: March from Judkins Park, 611 20th Avenue South (12:00 pm)
• Milwaukee, WI: March/Rally from 1027 South 5th Street (10:30 am)

MEDIA NOTES:
To speak directly with SEIU members and leaders prior to the May 1st rallies, please contact Ali Jost at Ali.Jost@seiu.org or at (202) 730-7159.

SEIU's Comprehensive Immigration Reform Principles:
SEIU believes the current immigration system is broken and must be updated and replaced by one that does a much better job of addressing the needs of U.S. and immigrant workers in the global economy of the 21st century. As the largest union of immigrant workers, and also a union that represents more than a million workers who are not immigrants, we hope and expect that our nation's leaders will enact workable solutions to our immigration problems and that they will recognize that punitive, anti-immigrant measures are neither realistic nor workable. Moreover, it is not only right, but in our long-term interest, to treat immigrant workers in accord with our nation's highest values. Doing so will tie us closer together as a nation; and if we can come together we will be better able to address all of the other vexing challenges that plague America's working families. Read more about the Change to Win and AFL-CIO's Unified Immigration Reform Framework.

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas and the largest union of immigrants. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

April 24, 2010 - For the 11th time, more than 100 magazines from all over the world—including Mix, Electronic Musician and Remix—came together to vote the best audio and musical instrument products of 2009/2010.

Chosen from three finalists in each of dozens of categories, the winners were announced at the annual MIPA (Musikmesse International Press Awards) ceremony on the evening of March 25, 2010, held during the Musikmesse/Pro Light + Sound show in Frankfurt, Germany. More than 300 representatives of manufacturers and distributors of musical instruments and audio were on hand for this truly international event, including guests from the USA, Canada, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Great Britain, Italy, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

The coveted "Best Innovative Product" award went to TC Electronic for its impressive PolyTune guitar tuner. The honoree for this year’s MIPA Lifetime Achievement Award was Hartley Peavey.

AND THE WINNER IS...
The following lists the 2010 MIPA winners in the recording, live sound and electronic music categories, as chosen by more than music/audio journalists from dozens of countries worldwide. Congratulations to all the winners!

SPECIAL CATEGORY
Most Innovative Product: TC Electronic PolyTune

STUDIO GEAR
Studio Microphone: Neumann TLM 102
Studio Monitor (Near-field): Focal CMS 65
Recording Software: Steinberg Cubase 5
Recording Hardware: Cakewalk SONAR V-Studio 100
Mixing Desk (Project Studio): PreSonus StudioLive
Mixing Desk (High-End): SSL Matrix
Audio Processor (Software): Universal Audio UAD-2
Field Recorder: Zoom H4n
DAW Controller: Cakewalk SONAR V-Studio 700

Several companies (including Cakewalk, Korg, Neumann and TC Electronic) were among those winning several MIPA Awards at the 2010 ceremony, held last night in Frankfurt. Shown here are Cakewalk’s Brandon Ryan (left) and Steve Thomas, during the celebration.

Photo courtesy of Steve Thomas

KEYBOARDS/SOFTWARE
Hardware Synthesizer: Dave Smith Instruments Tetra
Stage Piano: Yamaha CP1
Controller Keyboard: Novation ReMote SL Mk II
Software Instrument: Synthogy Ivory II
Sound Library: Vienna Symphonic Library
Live Performance Tool: Korg Kaossilator Pro
Electronic Drums: Korg Wavedrum W-DX

PRO AUDIO (LIVE)
Portable Sound: Fohhn Linea Focus
P.A. System: d&b T-Series
Live Microphone: Neumann KMS 104 Plus
Sound System Technologies: Optocore SANE
Mixing Desk (Live): Soundcraft Vi2

Visit MIPA at www1.mipa-award.de.