Illegal Immigration - what's the problem?

The problem is that no one really knows because no one is keeping data. Many Demopublicans claimed during California's last primary campaign that illegal aliens cost taxpayers and the state tens of billions of dollars each year. Thanks to the New Times, here are recent comments from those that should know because they're supposed to be keeping track of the money related to the cost . . .
“It turns out we really just don’t have the data on undocumented people because they don’t get benefits,” said Tracy Buckingham, assistant director of San Luis Obispo County Social Services.
“The city of Santa Maria does not compile statistics about the cost of undocumented residents,” spokesman Mark Van de Kamp said in a statement. “City police officers do ask the immigration status of arrestees booked into county jail, but it’s up to ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to determine who’s undocumented and subject to immigration holds and deportation.”
According to SLO County Administrator Jim Grant, the county collects no data on illegal immigrants and therefore has little data on cost estimates. The county is reimbursed for the costs of detaining and processing such individuals he said. In the 2005 fiscal year, for example, the county received about $200,000 in reimbursement from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Last fiscal year the county received about $249,000 and Grant said it has budgeted to ask for about $275,000 this year.
SLO Sheriff’s Department spokesman Rob Bryn said the department doesn’t track illegal immigrants. “Normally we don’t track anything we’re not required to track,” he said. “And that’s just a budget issue.”
What about SLO County Auditor-Controller Gere Sibbach? Does he have any idea how many illegal immigrants are in the county or how much it costs the average legal resident?
“No I don’t,” he said. “I can’t think of anything.”

You can read the whole story here

Dead End Kids on Acid -

click here to read the story from Reason Magazine

There is a book entitled "Orange Sunshine: The Brotherhood of Eternal Love and Its Quest to Spread Peace, Love and Acid to the World" by Nicholas Schou.

Making money after death - Michael Jackson style

Since Jackson died at the age of 50, his estate has generated over $250 million, with about $125 million coming from sales of Jackson’s own recordings, $60 million from an advance for the “This is It” theatrical documentary, about $35 million from music publishing, and more than $50 million from merchandise such as video games, one of the people said.

Across the Bluegrass - Country Music Divide

When the Wall Street Journal writes about music, they do a good job click here

Fiery Spacecraft Re-entry video

This is spectacular . . . click here

Some of my fraternity brothers will gather at the College World Series

This is a note from Mike Ball.

Thought that you might like to know that the NCAA is recognizing the 1970 USC National Champ baseball team on the field next Saturday night June 19 at the College World Series in Omaha. ESPN is televising the games, and we're not sure if our introduction (during the 5th inning of the second round game starting at 4PM PST) will be televised...what do you think?....run commercials, or show a bunch of old guys that haven't touched a ball in 30-40 years?

This is the final year for Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of our 1970 championship, which also was the first of five titles in a row for SC...never done before and will never be done again! One of my buddies who works at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis (where I lived for 19 years before moving to Florida) said that the NCAA wanted to recognize USC for the 12 titles we've won, and they decided that no other school would be recognized...pretty cool!

The bros that will be in Omaha are Rick Raczka (Most Outstanding Orthpaedic Surgeon/Catcher), Jack Harrington (Most Outstanding Dentist/Water Park Developer/Pitcher), Frank Alfano (CWS All-Star Second Baseman 1970 & 71) and myself...Walt Failor, are you coming, buddy??? (and, I can't even imagine your resume!).

The other bros that were on that team, but not able to make it to Omaha, are Al Rossi (friend of Peaches O'Day), Brent Strom (5-year MLB career) and Steve Busby (only MLB pitcher to throw a no-hitter his first and second year in the bigs....a great trivia question). Hope that I didn't miss anybody.