that I post topics, videos, and pictures in my “pages” that may not appear on the main site? It’s true – just click on the beautiful sliding picture headers above (way up top there, underneath the “H. Luiz Presents…” banner) for the subjects you are interested in. I know that the “Private Page” gets a lot of hits (thank you family members) but the other pages are just as useful and entertaining…check them out!
Here are the results of the survey: Which niche of H. Luiz Presents most interests you? (437 of you voted <WOW!!>- some of you voted more than once, but that’s ok)
Answer
Vote Percentage
Immigration Issues?
(15%) 66 votes
The Private Page?
(13%) 57 votes
In Crazy News…?
(6%) 26 votes
Customer Service?
(9%) 30 votes
Videos podcasts?
(17%) 74 votes
Entertaining?
(12%) 52 votes
Government?
(1%) 4 votes
Reviews?
(10%) 44 votes
Law School Prep?
(12%) 52 votes
Human Rights?
(5%) 23 votes
Surprisingly (to me anyway) “Government Issues” yielded the lowest percentage as far as interests are concern with just 4 votes. Not surprisingly “Video and Audio Podcasts” came in on top with 17% of your votes (74 people).
Thank you for participating and don’t forget to tell your friends and family about the site. Look forward for new surveys (probably next week). Thanks!!
Just like my 10 and a half year relationship, this site H. Luiz Presents, feels like I’ve been happily involved in it since forever and then at times it feels like I started only yesterday. Now, I’m at my 100th posting and I just can’t believe it. Today was my first radio show and I had a great time (I need to edit some details and I promise that it will be up by this Sunday.)
I have received a lot of support, recognition, and credibility from a bounty of subscribers, friends, and family who are always listening. reading, and talking everyday. I see an appreciation for my hard work as I appreciate the loyal support I found within various Internet communities.
H. Luiz Presents is #1 in Google Search. That’s #1 – searchword h. luiz- out of 9.2 million…yes MILLION!!!! (However, please note, that in in cyberspace, that’s not such a big deal, so I’m told.) But it’s MY big deal, and I must thank you for making that a reality.
In just 3 short months, I have achieved more than I have expected to and I strive to do even more than that. I am so inspired by your comments, emails, phone calls and messages. I am always here to listen, advise, learn, and lend a helping hand whenever I can – I trust that you”ll continue to do the same for me.
I want to thank my immediate family – without them, I know that I am still somebody special, but with them – I am so much more! I was telling one of my extended family members at Christmas that I feel like I get “too much” credit for the wonderful things in my life. Too much credit for the warmth my home gives, too much credit for being a strong academic and sentient being, even too much credit for having an incredible bond with my beautiful son. I said, “I am not so sure people realize that all that I am and all that I offer is nothing more than a direct consequence and reflection of what I’m given by my Partner. My relationship with my Partner makes all that I do possible. It is very easy for me to give so much of myself because I have a comfort zone that you would not believe. I THINK it’s possible for me to do just about anything I set my mind to. Then Henry let’s me KNOW that it’s not possible – it’s more than probable. I have my own wings, my own flight patterns, but Henry is there to guide me (and even catch me when I fall.) You see, it’s pretty easy for me to be me, because he is who he is. So don’t forget: True love, trust, and support is a most-powerful thing to have within a family.
Here’s to 100 postings and much, much more to come!
The Monsieur and Madame turned to leave the outdoor celebration to retire for the night.Although, most slaves thought and then rumored that the De La Reuxs were sitting on their rooftops with rifles into the wee hours, in case someone decided to run.
“What’s wrong with you, Sara Jane? Are you crazy giving a prayer like that – on Slave’s Day? You should be ashamed of yourself!”
“Christophe, I assure you that you do not want to have a conversation about ‘shame’ this evening.If I had half a mind to, I would pack my things and go to Daddy Lawson and the authorities with what I know.”
“Do not ever threaten me, Sara Jane.With everything else I have to deal with, I’m not about to hear your madness tonight. I am your husband and so help me, if you ever threaten me again, I will beat you unrecognizable–”
“Ha! Don’t make me laugh, Christophe De La Reux.You give these savages a party for being slaves.You dote and fawn over them and yet you dare tell me you will beat me?”
“I’m warning you wife!Let this be the last time I ever hear of this or as God as my witness–”
“God as your witness? God as your witness?Have you any idea what God has witnessed?God has witnessed you keeping two niggers in your home with rooms befitting queens.God has witness that mongrel-sister of yours drinking tea out of the cups made for good Christian women. God has witnessed two niggers walk free out of here on the arms of your father.God has witnessed–”
A flash of pain burned her face that left her unconscious for several minutes. When she came to, she found herself on the floor with the taste of blood in her mouth.She could still hear the celebration outside.She heard bits of conversation.
“…that sure was some prayer the Missus gave tonight…”
Damn fools. I was asking God to bless them.
“…don’t eat up all the ham now…”
How could they eat pig? It’s ungodly.
“…sounded more like a curse, if you ask me…”
“Hush – they’ll whip you if they hear…”
“…Tammy, or Tam as she likes to be called, is thinking about running…”
Running? Running away? Running where?
“That boy sure can play that flute…”
Wish that nigger-pansy would stop so I can hear what they’re saying.
“…wonder where Miss Raina and Miss Viola are going to…”
Straight to Hell and with Christophe’s father with them.
“Pass me some of that good pie…”
“…done found Master Breed, lying dead as a rock last Sunday…poisoned…”
That man has been lying down with slave girls as young as twelve. It’s ungodly.
“…shame about Ben and Sally.Why is it that they’re not allowed to marry?”
Yes, why is that?
“…did y’all catch that owl yet, it’s been ages…”
“…say that his slaves, all of them his seeds, just went crazy and…”
Breed was poisoned by his slaves? Have Mercy.
“…she’s going to have a baby…”
Who’s having a baby?
“… hung five slave women and sold eight over at Breeds…”
“…who made these biscuits? …baked with pork fat… pass me another…”
Again with the pork. Savages.
“…them hung slave girls were kin to Dee…”
“…you hear about Master Christophe’s cousin moving in? They say she’s…”
What? Which cousin? Better not be his Cousin Claire, anyone but Claire…
“…think they say her name is Clara or Claire.”
And Sara Jane once again fell faint and drifted back into darkness.
1) Brown bag your lunch (The average lunch in NYC is around $9…that’s $180.00 a month you’ll save right there.)
2) Drink the company’s free spring water, that’s why it’s there ( Average price of bottled water in NYC is $2, same for coffee – Starbucks: around 4 bucks.)
3) Pull all plugs from everything in your home – coffee maker, AC, chargers, lamps, stereos, TV’s, computers, etc. (We do this and saw a huge difference in out PSE&G bill – cut a full third off – about $30 dollars. We also put in those “green” energy reducing bulbs and find that they really work.)
4) Do not go crazy buying expensive gifts, if any, at the holidays and birthdays (We buy baking ingredients – about $40 – and make home-made Baked Goods for Christmas gift-giving for about 12 relatives/friends. That’s like $3.33 a person. A few favorites are “A-Lotti-Biscotti,” “Gourmet Crisp Treats,” “Outrageous Brownies.” and “Organic Coconut Macaroons.”)
5) If you rarely use a landline, get rid of it or reduce the cost. (We just reduced our landline Long Distance Feature. We call NY and Florida and use our free weekend minutes on our mobile phones for it anyway, so why pay the extra $29.95? We’ll save $330.00 a year!)
6) For those paying for water, take showers – not baths. You can also install a shower head SAVER (you’ll use less water for your showers.)
7) Cook all your meals – do not eat out. (Average cost of a meal for 4 in NYC is about $120.00 – dessert not included. However, you can buy groceries and make 25 meals, including dessert for the same amount.)
8) If every room has a TV and each TV has Cable Premium Channels, then cut the Premium Cable on all TVs, except the Family TV. If you find that you are not really using Pemium Channels, then why pay for it at all? (We figured out that we watch Movies, Specials, and general tv programs in the living room anyway, so why pay an extra $30.00 a month on Premium Service on 2 bedroom TVs?)
9) Still want to entertain? Have a pot-luck party, tasting party or a cocktail party…better yet, do a Brunch. (These kinds of parties have more “work” involved, but are less expensive than a full blown dinner party for eight.)
10) Swap magazines, books, and DVDs with friends instead of buying new ones. You can even make a “club” out of it by emailing each other what you have and what you may want to borrow. (I hate it when I find out a friend and I are reading the same book, or bought the same music or movie. We could have swapped and saved.)
Happy Savings!!! (Got a money-saving tip? Please share via comments)
Most of my Lawyer friends, Professors, Paralegals, Legal Secretaries, and General Managers all say the same thing: When one becomes a lawyer, one’s personality usually goes through severe changes. People just become “cases,” creativity goes out the window, and patience takes a nose-dive. Compassion and understanding? – things of the past.
Why does this seem to happen? Is it inevitable? Will my personality really change?
I like my personality – I really do. I know it’s NOT for everyone, but most people I know say I have an “energy” about me that draws them in. My family has noticed this “ability” within me from an early age. Even today, if I were in a room with 50 people, 47 of them would be my friends. Now, that’s a BOLD statement, but I didn’t make it. Nope – Dr. Vacarella, my former psychology professor of human perception, personality disorders, and physiological psychology made that statement years ago. It’s a strong but approachable personality, so why would it change?
Studies show, that the long hours one WILL put in as a new attorney may wear at one’s personality – for the next 5 years out of law school. Sleep – deprived people are often impatient – usually with themselves and I’m impatient enough, so I see potential for problems there already.
Those same studies show that the body WILL take care of itself – they call it “survival mode.” The mind will shift into “modes” you didn’t know you had. I guess that’s how “people” become just “cases” (and there are hundreds of cases per year) in order for the mind to maintain its sanity. I know that sounds logical, but I just can’t see that happening with me. Then again, how many lawyers have said that same damn thing?
Another study (from back in my college days) stated that creativity gets replaced with analytical skills. In fact, my LSAT instructor said the same exact thing in his law-prep class. However, I have a sharp analytical side as well as a strong creative side to my personality. According to this study though, I may not want to create special meals and parties for my family. I may not want to create videos, home movies, and art projects. The gift I have of being creative on a budget may leave me to make room for my analytical side to expand.
Compassion and understanding for others are my strong suits. Am I really going to let that go for a law degree and a plaque on a door? I have seen (and worked with) some lawyers who were all about the money and not the client, were they compassionate and understanding at one time?
I know that my family will keep me in check, and I hope I beat those odds in regards to all the data I have read and researched. Thankfully, I do have my inspirations. They keep me going and believeing that I will beat the odds.
Straight from the Press Room for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services…
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that a competitive grant program is being offered through Grants.gov for a $1.2 million grant program to support citizenship preparation programs for legal permanent residents.
USCIS, through the competitive grant program, will provide funding to community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve one or more priority immigrant groups in areas of the United States that contain a large representation of the country’s immigrant population.
To be eligible for funding, CBOs must have demonstrated experience in providing citizenship and/or immigration related services to legal immigrants.
If your organization intends to apply for funding under this program, please send an e-mail to citizenshipgrantprogram@dhs.gov by April 15, 2009. To apply for this funding opportunity, visit the Grants.gov Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
We had a blast!!! We are all golden brown – Jonathan is more brownish gold (his hair on his arms, back, and legs turn blond.) We are relaxed, invigorated, and ready for the world. As a bonus, “Customs” did not detain me as they usually do. With a name as common as mine (It’s the equivalent of “John Doe” in Spanish), I am constantly stopped when we return from our international travels (listen to me…the world-traveler – yeah right!)
Anyway, I promise to return all phone calls, voicemails and emails this week and look out for my LAUNCH in April (about two weeks away) with new “bells and whistles” added to the site.
Spoke with a few of the locals (the men who work for the hotel, really) and I found some news, though not unusual, but disturbing.
They say that some US Lawyers are demanding thousands of dollars from their relatives for just “looking” at their cases. They said not one of those relatives has seen a form, statement, piece of paper, nothing. They only “paper” they have are receipts showing they paid in cash about 1 to 2 thousand dollars.
Immigrants, legal or not, are going to some US Lawyers and it’s the lawyers that are extorting monies from them without representation. If you know or see this “practice” being done, please contact the New York State Unified Court System and lodge a complaint: http://www.nycourts.gov/ip/attorneygrievance/complaints.shtml
We’ve been here a few days and I have to say that this may be the actual first time we are RELAXING.
Last year, we brought our son for his first time and we were doing nothing but tours, tours, and tours. Now, we are having lazy days by the pool and beach with a stack of novels, puzzle books, video & digital cameras, suntan lotion, hard drinks (soda for Jonathan), fantastic Mexican food (my favorite latin cusine) and smiles all-around. We’ve been even going to bed – at 10pm (that’s how tired we are by just relaxing!!!)
Support for the DREAM Act has grown each year since it was first introduced in 2001 during the107th Congress. In past years it has garnered 48 Senate cosponsors and more than 152 Republican and Democratic House cosponsors, more than one-third of the House. It has twice passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in bipartisan fashion, by a 16-3 vote in the 2003–2004 108th Congress, and again in 2006 by a voice vote without dissent as an amendment to the comprehensive immigration reform bill. In May 2006, the DREAM Act passed the full Senate as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S. 2611). On Oct. 24, 2007, in a 52-44 vote in the Senate, the DREAM Act (S. 2205) fell just 8 votes shy — with four senators absent for the vote — of the 60 votes necessary to proceed with debate on the bill. The DREAM Act continues to attract bipartisan support and now, for the first time, also enjoys the strong backing of the House and Senate leadership, all of the relevant committee chairs, and President Obama. Sen. Dick Durbin (IL) and Rep. Howard Berman (CA) plan to reintroduce the bill in the coming weeks.
Looks like FaceBook heard your complaints and they did not want to lose anymore members. Now, when you log into FaceBook, this is what you get:
Terms of Use Update
Over the past few days, we have received a lot of good feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.
Hopefully, you FaceBook-ers have some piece of mind now. However, I do think that they will go back to “ownership” of your images again – be wary!
It’s a countdown to the “launch” of the site in March 2009. Originally set for Late February, I had to defer due to technical difficulties (mainly human error, mostly admin problems…yes, I’m the admin, but moving on…) so now the month of March is looking good. It is possible that I may still “launch” in late February, but we’ll see how much work progresses from here on in. Wish me luck, now!!
This site has taken so much of my time – and I love it! However, I want to make sure that it does not impact the time I spend with my family. I have been ”ironing out” the kinks (as I previously stated) and every day (or should I say night?) brings another mountain for me to climb and conquer. So far so good though!
I also wanted to mention that I am working on an “ask H. Luiz” portion where you can ask me anything (I’ll decide what’s appropriate) and I’ll even post some of the questions and answers. I also plan to answer some as a video podcast. ’till then – Stay tuned!!
