I started working on our income tax returns about three weeks ago, then got distracted by other stuff.
I finally came back to the project this evening and plowed through it using H&R Block tax software – the same company I’ve used for several years.
I just finished the federal and state returns and e-filed both, so I can now move on to other matters.
Posted the AP Blog on 04/02/2013 by Paul Colford
The AP Stylebook today is making some changes in how we describe people living in a country illegally.
Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explains the thinking behind the decision:
The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term “illegal immigrant” or the use of “illegal” to describe a person. Instead, it tells users that “illegal” should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally.
Why did we make the change?
The discussions on this topic have been wide-ranging and include many people from many walks of life. (Earlier, they led us to reject descriptions such as “undocumented,” despite ardent support from some quarters, because it is not precise. A person may have plenty of documents, just not the ones required for legal residence.)
Those discussions continued even after AP affirmed “illegal immigrant” as the best use, for two reasons.
A number of people felt that “illegal immigrant” was the best choice at the time. They also believed the always-evolving English language might soon yield a different choice and we should stay in the conversation.
Also, we had in other areas been ridding the Stylebook of labels. The new section on mental health issues argues for using credibly sourced diagnoses instead of labels. Saying someone was “diagnosed with schizophrenia” instead of schizophrenic, for example.
And that discussion about labeling people, instead of behavior, led us back to “illegal immigrant” again.
We concluded that to be consistent, we needed to change our guidance.
So we have.
Is this the best way to describe someone in a country without permission? We believe that it is for now. We also believe more evolution is likely down the road.
Will the new guidance make it harder for writers? Perhaps just a bit at first. But while labels may be more facile, they are not accurate.
I suspect now we will hear from some language lovers who will find other labels in the AP Stylebook. We welcome that engagement. Get in touch at stylebook@ap.org or, if you are an AP Stylebook Online subscriber, through the “Ask the Editor” page.
Change is a part of AP Style because the English language is constantly evolving, enriched by new words, phrases and uses. Our goal always is to use the most precise and accurate words so that the meaning is clear to any reader anywhere.
The updated entry is being added immediately to the AP Stylebook Online and Manual de Estilo Online de la AP, the new Spanish-language Stylebook. It also will appear in the new print edition and Stylebook Mobile, coming out later in the spring. It reads as follows:
illegal immigration Entering or residing in a country in violation of civil or criminal law. Except in direct quotes essential to the story, use illegal only to refer to an action, not a person: illegal immigration, but not illegal immigrant. Acceptable variations include living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission.
Except in direct quotations, do not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal, illegalsor undocumented.
Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution.
Specify wherever possible how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?
People who were brought into the country as children should not be described as having immigrated illegally. For people granted a temporary right to remain in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, use temporary resident status, with details on the program lower in the story.
I’m on the email list for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) and this appeared in my in-box this week. Makes me proud to be an Arkansan.
Arkansas: Pro-Gun Action Dominates 2013 Legislative Action
Arkansas continues this year to make solid improvements to our Right to Keep and Bear Arms, as the 2013 Regular Session proves to be one of the most productive for pro-Second Amendment legislative reforms in recent memory. This week, Governor Mike Beebe (D) signed into law two more NRA-backed bills.
The first, House Bill 1503, the Firearm Retailer Protection Bill, was signed into law on March 26. This new law will protect lawful firearm retailers from illegal gun sting operations such as those orchestrated by billionaire New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Anti-gun extremist Bloomberg has sent hired agents into other states to attempt deceptive illegal firearm purchases in an effort to blame federally licensed firearm retailers for gun crimes in New York City and around the country.
Yesterday, Governor Beebe signed House Bill 1819 into law. This law is an important amendment to the Emergency Powers statute, and will prohibit any Arkansas Governor from imposing restrictions on the transfer or transportation of lawfully possessed firearms during a declared State of Emergency. We thank Governor Beebe for signing these important pro-gun reforms.
In addition to these new laws, several other pro-gun bills are awaiting action.
Senate Bill 858, which would establish that Arkansas recognize any valid Right-to-Carry permit issued by another state, passed in the state Senate by an overwhelming 34-1 vote on Tuesday. Introduced by state Senator Jason Rapert (R-35), this important reform would replace the current conditional reciprocity standard. SB 858 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and could be considered on Tuesday, April 2.
Senate Bill 896, introduced by state Senator Bryan King (R-5), has also been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and also could be heard on Tuesday. This legislation is a companion bill to Senate Bill 71, also sponsored by Senator King and signed into law by Governor Beebe in February. SB 71 removed the absolute prohibition on concealed handgun carry license (CHCL) holders from carrying a concealed firearm for personal protection into any church or other place of worship. Churches and other places of worship can now decide if CHCL holders will be allowed to carry concealed firearms on their property. SB 896 would address places of worship that also have a private school (grades K-12) on the same property. Because Arkansas law prohibits CHCL holders from carrying their personal protection firearms onto any school property, SB 896 is necessary to create an exemption for those properties that have the dual function of acting as both a house of worship as well as a private school.
Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to support SB 858 and SB 896.
Finally, we alerted you last week to House Bill 2162, introduced by state Representative Eddie Armstrong (D-37), which sought to allow the destruction of any firearms that have been seized by law enforcement in Arkansas. Current law stipulates that all unclaimed seized property, with only minor exceptions, be sold at public auction. HB 2162 would not only allow for seized firearms to be destroyed (currently not part of the exceptions), but would also allow only Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders or another law enforcement agency to acquire any firearms that are not destroyed but allowed to be sold. HB 2162 passed in the House Judiciary Committee and could have been considered on the House floor. Thanks to your calls, HB 2162 has been amended to make it slightly better by removing the destruction option, and it was then sent back to the House Judiciary Committee. Please contact members of that committee and urge them to work with the NRA to make additional necessary changes to this legislation. Contact information for members on the House Judiciary Committee is provided below:Representative Marshall Wright
Representative John T. Vines
Representative Darrin Williams
Representative Jim Nickels
Representative Mary L. Slinkard
Representative Nate Steel
Representative Matthew J. Shepherd
Representative Jeremy Gillam
Representative John W. Walker
Representative Sue Scott
Representative Mark D. McElroy
Representative David Kizzia
Representative Stephen Magie
Representative Charlene Fite
Representative Bob Ballinger
Representative John Baine
Representative Wes Wagner
Representative Micah S. Neal
Representative Mary Broadaway
Representative Monte Hodges
I got an alumni questionnaire in the email the other day from my fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega.
The deeper I got into the lengthy survey, the more acutely aware I became that I’ve been a pretty crappy alumnus.
I read the ATO stuff that comes my way, via email or snail mail, but I’ve only been back to Indiana State University a couple of times for ATO alumni events. And I’ve been very very stingy when it comes to giving money to the fraternity – mainly because I don’t have much to spare and because there are more than enough guys to carry the load.
I’m 400 miles from ISU, but there’s an ATO house on the Arkansas State University campus that I drive past frequently. I’ve thought of dropping in and introducing myself, but then I try to imagine how I would have reacted if some 67-year-old alumnus from another chapter dropped in to the ISU ATO house when I was an undergraduate. I’m sure I would be uncomfortably non-plussed. Better to just wish them well when I drive past and let it go at that.
And wear my ATO t-shirt now and then when I go into town for coffee and Wifi.
The sequence of the brands is the same as the Rodeo/B&S dinner plates.
The seller said it’s an example of the Syracuse “Buckaroo Pattern” but I can’t find any reference to such a pattern.
I got it for an opening bid of $15.
Corinne Joy Brown, the author of “Come and Get It!,” the definitive reference book on cowboy dinnerware, responded to my query thusly:
“Syracuse took over the production of Wallace China from about 1960 until it closed. (It's in the book under the Wallace history section I think.)
That would explain the border with no center design-- merely a cheaper add-on, or co-ordinate for all the patterns. I doubt if it had any such name. It may have been a restaurant special order.
It's a good collector's piece at a good price.”
Pat Caddell is the most important voice for journalistic integrity in my lifetime and he raises all of the right questions.
Since I have a sinus headache and am feeling cranky, this would be a good day to list some things I don’t give a shit about and don’t want to be bothered with:
I could go on…
Walking through the parking lot at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Saturday afternoon, we came across this amazing trash-filled car parked in a media spot.
Our friends figured out whose car it is, but I won’t share the name. The front seat was awash with newspapers and other paper to the point where some of it had avalanched onto the floor on the driver’s side and could conceivably interfere with the operation of the accelerator and brake pedal.
The back seat bore testimony to the owner’s fondness for Sonic cuisine. We noticed there is a Sonic drive-in across the street from Oaklawn.
If this car were a home, it would almost certainly be condemned. Safe to say the driver can’t offer anyone a ride.
Today’s mail included this postcard inviting me to return to Terre Haute next month to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the chartering of the Zeta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
Seeing this photo of the founding members on the steps of the former Tirey Memorial Union Building triggered a series of flashbacks to my years at Indiana State.
I was in the first ATO pledge class after the chartering, accepting my white and gold pledge pin the evening of Dec. 9, 1963. That means the guys in this photo were my mentors and tormentors during pledgeship.
I have particularly fond memories of Reed McCormick, the guy in the top right corner of the picture with his hand on the stone railing. Reed was from my hometown of Delphi, Ind. and we became close friends. Reed died a year ago this Thursday of a heart attack in Arizona.
I can still conjure up the names of many of the guys in this photo – Otto Berlin on the right of the charter, Chuck Cerny on the right end of the first row and Dan Fitzgerald over his left shoulder, Larry Thompson in front of Reed, Marty Aimone in front of him, Don Prior at the left end of the second row, and so on…
It’s astonishing to realize this was a half-century ago. It seems like only a few years. Now we’re all in our late 60s and early 70s – old men whose memories of fraternity life harken back to the Animal House days.
I don’t plan to return for the 50th anniversary celebration next month. I went back in the fall of 2005 for the dedication of the new ATO Fraternity house and felt oddly disconnected, probably because none of my pledge brothers showed up.
I can’t see driving 900 miles to experience that feeling again.
I realize my friends up in Indiana are up to their eyeballs in snow and it would be silly of me to complain about the weather, but I can’t help it.
I don’t think the temperature got higher than 45 degrees today and it was a chilly 37 degrees when I dragged the trash to the curb just now.
Maria determined that our cherry trees, lilac bushes and dogwood tree are primed to bloom any day now if and when the weather warms.
If the Weather Channel website is to be believed, we’ll break into the 50s on Wednesday and the 60s on Sunday with next week being a reasonable facsimile of Spring. It’s about time.
We’re in the midst of a complicated transaction which I may or may not be able to blog about later. Just wish us luck and let it go at that.
Several of us adjourned to Oaklawn Park for an afternoon of horse race wagering after the APME awards luncheon yesterday.
I lost more than I won betting on horses in five races, but it was great fun hanging out with smart newsies.
That’s Barry Bedlan, assistant Associated Press bureau chief for Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, seated to my left, and his compadre, Kelly Kissel over my right shoulder.
I decided to show Maria what the old downtown Hot Springs looks like, with the bathhouses and all before we left town this morning. We ended up having breakfast in a nifty 1940s style café called the Pancake Shop. I had a ham and cheese omelet and Maria had French toast. Maybe we’ll try the pancakes next time.
Here’s a 360° view of the place.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – I’m taking a break from APME morning seminars to hang out in our room here at the Clarion Resort on the Lake and blog.
This trip is also a field test of the Norton Hotspot Privacy software I’m reviewing for the Amazon Vine program. I’ve installed it on my netbook 
Since I have no way to know if it really does make me invisible to hackers and identity thieves, I have to be content with at least the illusion of being protected. And the realization that LifeLock will kick in if someone does get past the Norton software.
Maria, being the Arkansas APME president, led a spirited and wide-ranging discussion on new media and other topics this morning. It was so spirited that it ran 25 minutes over the planned stopping point, but nobody seemed to mind and everyone in the room was fully engaged in the conversation. That’s the mark of a well-run discussion.
We have an awards luncheon at 11:30 a.m., after which some of us will adjourned to the horse racing track. It’s been decades since I’ve been to a horse track and I don’t think Maria has ever been to one, so it should be fun wagering a few bucks without a clue to what we’re doing.
