Category: News
NumbersUSA watching new immigration proposals
Written by Chad Phillips
Tuesday, 14 August 2007 12:25
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Potential for Both Good and Bad in 25 “Reforms”
By Staff Reports
MTW News

WASHINGTON, DC – NumbersUSA today applauded the Administration’s announced “no-match” regulation to reduce the number of employers hiring illegal aliens, and to increase the use of the Basic Pilot Program for workforce verification, re-named “E-Verify.” Some of the other 23 proposed “reforms” are part of existing law, and others have the potential to increase the number of immigrants and open loopholes in our national security.

“It is heartening to see that the Administration recognizes that a significant portion of immigration law needs to be implemented,” said NumbersUSA Executive Director Roy Beck. “Interior enforcement, particularly in the workplace, is the cornerstone of the Attrition through Enforcement approach to solving our illegal immigration problems.”

Among the “reforms” are regulations that are yet to be promulgated, including streamlining existing guestworker programs. While it is better to improve current programs than to implement new ones, it is unclear whether the regulations will unnecessarily raise the numbers of guestworkers. Additionally, NumbersUSA has concerns about whether the changes to the guestworker programs and the proposed expedition of background checks will result in increased deficiencies in our national security.

“The devil is in the details of the coming regulations, and it is my sincere hope that this won’t be a case of one step forward, two steps back,” said Beck. “Americans will be watching closely to make sure that these promises of enforcement will not be a Trojan horse drastically increasing the number of immigrants in the U.S."

 
Is ‘Pewlett Hackard’ out to get me?
Written by Ted West
Tuesday, 14 August 2007 12:21
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By Ted West
MTW contributing writer

Did one of you mugs tell HP I was saying bad things about them?

Yesterday, I almost bought two new Dell Computers but the deal fell through at the last second when the salesman wouldn't throw in a stinkin' twenty dollar media card reader.

I might have caved and gone through with the deal anyway were it not for the fact that late last night I came across a great deal from HP in the form of a $300 off coupon for any purchase $949 and above.

So I took the time at 2am to configure my new computer with an Intel chip and proceeded to checkout. After applying the coupon the total was $793 with tax. I was gonna hit the "submit" button when I thought, "Gee, maybe the little woman would like one of these too?"

And thinking that she might not be that thrilled with me waking her up to answer that question, I left the deal in my cart and went to bed. The coupon was good for five days, so there was no rush.

Any idea yet where this is going?

Well, I was back up at 7am, the wife was indeed thrilled, and so I was dyin' to spend some bucks. One small problem… I discovered that there was a similarly configured computer with a slightly less expensive AMD chip that would allow me to get a 20 inch monitor for the same price. And both the Intel and the AMD came with a TV tuner card and PVR.

Dude, you're not gettin' a Dell!

"Scramble me two Athlons, heavy on the memory, hold the modem… uh… and the toner, please."

We were ready to go for the deal…

HP wasn't.

So I figured that maybe it was something about the AMD package. No problem, we'd take the Intel and the nineteen inch monitor. What's an inch, anyway, right girls?

Nope. HP wasn't buying… er… selling that either now.

It turns out that unbeknownst to me… and you, it doesn't matter that the coupon expires five days from now if HP decides it doesn't want to honor any more of them eight hours after they were issued. And they aren't even gonna tell you when they're cutting things off. You find that out by being turned away like a dog in the street.

All told, I spent three and a half hours figuring and pleading during four complaint calls to customer service, and all I have to show for it is… this lousy survey they asked me to take.

Oh, I should mention, one guy did offer to take off one sixth of the original $300. Such a deal.

At the end of the survey, a computer voice said that a real voice would call me back within one day. The problem now is, even if they are willing to give me my coupons (which I ain't holding my breath since there's no HP printer in the room), I'm going to require something that indicates they appreciate the amount of unnecessary time and effort I've expended on this.

From long experience, I can tell you that great companies do that. So check back here early and often.

 
HP Makes Killer Printers… Literally?
Written by Ted West
Saturday, 04 August 2007 05:45
2 Comments

By Ted West
MTW contributing writer

I'm really excited today about computer printers, but I know full well how boring that subject can be. So before we get to the mundane, I would like to alert you to some good news and bad news on the fitness front.

First the good news: did you know that muscles are not the only things which can be toned? That's right; researchers have found that your lungs can now be toned as well.

But here's the bad news: It turns out that lung toning can be hazardous to your health.

Don’t laugh; you might just see a warning to that effect on your next printer?

An Australian medical study has found that a third of laser printers emit unsafe levels of toner dust that may be more hazardous than cigarette smoking.

But who cares, you don't own a laser printer, and even if you did, you'd use it so sparingly that stray dust particles would hardly be significant, right?

Don’t be so sure: The researchers found that HP made half of the worst dust emitting printers, and that's an ominous tone… er.. I mean, if you work in an office that uses HP printers, you should be aware that the toner dust is small and light, so that lovely toner residue can linger in the air for fifteen minutes – before it finally settles – into your lungs.

And in an office environment, where the printer might get a lot of use all day, everyday, let's just say you might be experiencing Purple Haze, but without the words and music.

And while no one really knows what toner dust might do in your lungs, we can assume it doesn't resemble a printed page, so it might be good if you started wearing a dust mask in the office.

And/or brought in your own air cleaner.

And alerted your company to the potential hazard.

That way, at least you can hold your employer liable (for knowing about a hazard and not affecting a cleanup) when you get that incurable disease you've always wanted.

Of course, your boss… and his boss… and your industry may come to regard you as a troublemaker, and you might find yourself jobless as a result, and forever unable to find employment in your field…

But look on the bright side; you'll still have your health. And you'll breathe easier when the CDC announces its first cases of Hewlett Pulminosis. If that doesn’t cheer you up, consider this: Laser printers, even color ones, have become very affordable, so messy and clogging ink cartridges may soon be a thing of the past.