That would make the extra GOP downturn among Hispanics more like a mere 2%! But that would be hardly be worth writing a big report about. No wonder Pew didn't mention it. ...

P.S.: What are the chances that the Pew Hispanic Center is going to conclude that Hispanics are not important or distinctive--they're really just like everyone else and really not worth studying much? I'd say close to zero. The study would be more credible if it came from the Pew Hellenic Center. ... Update: Steve Sailer says I'm being unfair to Pew. ("Robert Suro and the others at the Pew Hispanic Center are willing to publicly state, for example, that the Hispanic vote isn't as big or powerful as the media typically assume."**) But this report, not written by Suro, seems pretty egregious--and it does hype Hispanic voting power.

Politicos flex muscles in opponents’ areas

Politicians in Haryana have taken a fancy to slug it out in their opponents battlegrounds to make their presence felt.

The trend by now is so prevalent that holding a rally at their home turf has almost become a thing of the past. The trend has also caught the imagination of the man on the street, forcing the politicos to show their political muscle in their arch opponents area of operation.

Although senior politicians have been organising political performances outside their own constituencies or home districts in the past, these were either a part of a statewide political campaign like the one launched by late Devi Lal in 1985 against the Rajiv-Longowal accord or such events marked the end of campaigning before the assembly or parliamentary election in the state.

For several decades, Rohtak remained the first choice of all major political parties and their leaders for hosting campaign-end shows.

Unstoppable Obama

Or should she reconfigure herself, untangle her triangulations, and attempt to appeal to the American people in some deep human way, with or without a tear or two? This, too, would take heavy lifting. Someone needs to tell her that there are better ways to signal conviction than by raising one's voice and drawing out the vowels, as in "I KNOW…" and "I BELIEVE…" The frozen smile has to go too, along with the metronymic nodding, which sometimes goes on long enough to suggest a placement within the autism spectrum.

But I don't think any tweakings of the candidate or her message will work, and not because Obama-mania is an occult force or a kind of mass hysteria. Let's take seriously what he offers, which is "change." The promise of "change" is what drives the Obama juggernaut, and "change" means wanting out of wherever you are now.

Law would ban serving obese diners

There are skinny people that have died of heart failure and strokes and obese people that never get sick a day in their lives. To refuse service to an obese person will cause a riot because ADA will come in and fight for the Rights of obese people of this country. I know you want everyone to be slim, but it's not going to happen as long as there are people not wanting to Diet. Yes, some are born to be obese, so let them live their life because remember you have your own body to worry about. I weigh 180 lbs., which to me is obese, but I'll try to lose at least 10 lbs. or more, so I can look taller at 5' 8". " .

Sudan and the war in Darfur [Recommended Readings]

Sudan's former ambassador to the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Deng examines the civil war and its concerns with race, culture and identity, and provides three possible solutions for ending the crisis.

"Sudan: Policy Options Amid Civil War" discusses the long-running civil war in the Sudan. The report evaluates the available options for ending the war and achieving a sustainable peace. Though peace negotiations began in 2002, the outcome is highly uncertain and the country remains deeply divided. The report discusses the exploitation of petroleum resources, the slavery question, terrorism, and humanitarian responses to the war.

A WEB Q&A WITH BIN LADEN'S NO. 2

Since the announcement, no other issue has been as hotly debated on the al-Qaida-sanctioned jihadist sites. Of course, it doesn't happen every day, either, that one is granted more or less direct access to an al-Qaida leader.

Despite reports to the contrary, it's not the first time al-Qaida leaders have engaged in Web 2.0 activities.

North Beach to Build 'Green' Town Hall

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Man charged with selling fake IDs

Manuel Acevedo went to area flea markets and drummed up business like any legitimate businessman would.

The informant called a phone number on the card and got Acevedo.