West Wing Week: "Mailbag Day, New Year's Edition"

West Wing Week: "Mailbag Day, New Year's Edition"

In this special edition of West Wing Week, look back over the last year, watch the President sign a law getting those loud TV ads under control, and find out the answers to a couple burning questions from the mailbag.

308,745,538

Census Director Robert Groves announces results for the 2010 U.S. Census at the National Press Club, Dec. 21, 2010

Sister Cities

http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/citygov/commissions/sistercities/

http://www.sjeconomy.com/sistercities/default.asp

The 2010 Census: A Proud Moment for our Nation

US Census Bureau: The 2010 Census: A Proud Moment for our Nation

The census is a historical milestone that we encounter every ten years. The reveal of the total population count brings with it not only the numbers that help determine the amount of representation for your state but also the amount of federal funding your state will receive over the next ten years. As we come to the end of the 2010 Census, we can take pride in the huge accomplishment we achieved as a nation.

US Census Results Expected Boost Republicans

VOANews: US Census Results Expected Boost Republicans

2010 census report contains some potentially good news for Republicans, population shifts from Northeast, Midwest to South, West

VOA Learning English: United States Releases Results of 2010 Population Count

The 2010 census contained some possibly good news for the Republican Party IN THE NEWS download MP3 (Right-click or option-click and save link)

The Numbers Count

US Census Bureau: The Numbers Count!

The 2010 Census was a huge success from which we will determine the total U.S. population and the number of representatives for each state. These numbers also help determine the amount of federal funding that your state will receive for the next 10 years. From this video you will learn why the numbers count!

US Census Data Shows Immigrants Moving Out of Cities

VOANews: US Census Data Shows Immigrants Moving Out of Cities

New data shows for the first time immigrants congregated in major cities like New York, Miami, Chicago or Los Angeles

US Population Shifting to South and West

US CENSUS WEEK on uscitizenpod!

VOAVideo: US Population Shifting to South and West

Results from the latest census in the United States show that people are moving to the country's South and West where there tends to be more jobs and a lower cost of living. These states also tend to attract large, Hispanic immigrant populations. VOA's Elizabeth Lee looks at the census and what it may mean for the nation's politics.

USCIS 100:100 Party!

USCIS 100:100. Name two national U.S. holidays.

CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR!



Citizenship Christmas Party 2010

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Milpitas Adult School Citizenship class and ESL 2. See you Tuesday, January 4, 2011 5:45pm for more English (and fun) in the new year!

West Wing Week: 12/24/10 or "AKA Santa Claus"

WH.go: West Wing Week: 12/24/10 or "AKA Santa Claus"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he signs the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell," looks back at an historic lame duck session, reads to kids for the Holiday season, and receives the Census report.

Christmas 2010 in America: Three Stories of Struggle, Tradition and Wonder

VOA Learning English: Christmas 2010 in America: Three Stories of Struggle, Tradition and Wonder

A homeless couple hopes for a special gift. The immigrant experience on Skype. Two retirees on a road trip THIS IS AMERICA download MP3 (Right-click or option-click and save link)

Wreaths Honor Troops for Holidays

VOAVideo: Wreaths Honor Troops for Holidays

Thousands of volunteers turned out to decorate some of the graves at Arlington National Cemetery with wreaths trucked from Maine for the ceremony. By the end of the day, 24,000 wreaths are placed on headstones at Arlington. Organizers want to expand to include the entire cemetery next year.

ESL Podcast 643 – Liberal and Conservative News

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?


ESL Podcast 643 – Liberal and Conservative News

Right, left, or center? Whatever your political opinions, you’ll learn how to talk about them in this episode. Download Podcast

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

• vote
• join a political party
• help with a campaign
• join a civic group
• join a community group
• give an elected official your opinion on an issue
• call Senators and Representatives
• publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
• run for office
• write to a newspaper

Home of First US President Hosts Historic Christmas

VOAVideo: Home of First US President Hosts Historic Christmas

The Mount Vernon Estate in the southern U.S. state of Virginia is one of the most beloved historical landmarks in the United States. Every year, about one million people visit the home of America's first president, George Washington, who led the country from 1789 to 1797. The house and museum on the grounds are now decorated for Christmas. In addition to enjoying the decorations, visitors can also see a camel and hear stories about what Christmas was like at Mount Vernon in the 18th century. VOAs Deborah Block has more.

THE NATURALIZED Re-broadcast Sat Dec 18 · 8:00pm - 9:30pm EST

The Naturalized - Trailer from Flicker Flacker on Vimeo.

"The Naturalized" airs on History Channel.

Saturday, December 18 · 8:00pm - 9:30pm EST

Check your local listings.

‎"The Naturalized": Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up-close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff and Isabel Allende plus the Milpitas Adult School Citizenship Class!

DREAM ACT fails

DREAM ACT fails. (I am heartbroken)
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DADT repealed!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell repealed.
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VOAVideo: Obama: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal 'A Historic Milestone'

President Barack Obama is ending the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy that bars homosexuals from serving openly in the US armed forces. The president has signed legislation repealing the 17-year-old policy.

(POST UPDATED 12/23/10)

DREAM ACT Vote on Saturday Dec 18

All we want for the holidays is the DREAM Act. Turn up the heat on wavering Senators: 866-587-6101 Tell them to vote YES. Pls fwd.
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West Wing Week: 12/17/10 or "All These Pens"

VOAVideo: West Wing Week: 12/17/10 or "All These Pens"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he signs a landmark childhood nutrition bill, urges passage of the compromise on tax cuts and unemployment insurance, discusses the Afghanistan-Pakistan Annual Review, and more.

THE NATURALIZED airs Wed Dec 15 10am

The Naturalized - Trailer from Flicker Flacker on Vimeo.

"The Naturalized" airs on History Channel.
December 15th @ 10AM & 4PM EST
December 18th @ 8PM EST
Check your local listings.

‎"The Naturalized": contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff and ISABEL ALLENDE, plus the Milpitas Adult School Citizenship class!

THE NATURALIZED--New Citizenship Documentary!

My Citizenship class appears 44:14 in The Naturalized

THE NATURALIZED (the doc featuring my Citizenship class) makes it History Channel debut 12/15!

Synopsis: The Naturalized (2010 Documentary)

Weaving together the lives of different people from different countries who all share a quest for citizenship by choice, not birthright, this documentary travels from a citizenship class in San Jose to a naturalization ceremony in Iraq. Along the way, there's unprecedented access to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, revealing the complex process up-close, including a marriage interview and the one-on-one Citizenship Exam. How many amendments are in the Constitution? To become an American, not knowing is not an option. Contemporary stories of struggle and success are combined with insightful interviews from notable naturalized citizens like Fareed Zakaria, Alan Cumming, David Rakoff and Isabel Allende.
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West Wing Week: 12/10/10 or "It's Alive!"

WH.gov: West Wing Week: 12/10/10 or "It's Alive!"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he visits Afghanistan to celebrate the holidays with our men and women in uniform, announces a free trade agreement with South Korea, attends a series of meetings at the White House and holds a press conference to answer questions about the tax cut compromise, signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010, and more...

The US Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine

USCIS 100: 25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?



US Census: The US Census and the Amazing Apportionment Machine

Apportionment is the process of dividing the seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states based on the population figures collected during the decennial census. But how does it actually work? Through animation, the US Census Bureau helps explain how the apportionment formula is used to ensure equal representation for all, just like the Founding Fathers planned.

USCIS 100: 25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

• (because of) the state’s population
• (because) they have more people
• (because) some states have more people

The House has passed DREAM ACT. The vote was 216-198. On to the Senate!

Thank you House! Call your Senators to pass DREAM ACT.
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Obama Agenda Faces Stiff Opposition in 2011

VOAVideo: Obama Agenda Faces Stiff Opposition in 2011

U.S. President Barack Obama made progress on an ambitious agenda in 2010. But as VOA's Kent Klein reports from the White House, a larger and stronger contingent of Republicans in Congress will present much stiffer opposition in 2011.

US Observes Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

VOANews: US Observes Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

Hundreds estimated to be gathered at Pearl Harbor, where new visitor's center is to open at scene of attack

Illegal Immigrants in US Push for Passage of Dream Act

VOAVideo: Illegal Immigrants in US Push for Passage of Dream Act

U.S. lawmakers before the end of the year are expected to consider a controversal immigration reform measure that would give tens of thousands of young illegal immigrants a chance to become legal residents by going to college or joining the armed forces. The proposed legislation is known as the Dream Act . VOA's Chris Simkins tells us about it.

West Wing Week: 12/03/10 or "Sharp Elbows"

WH.gov: West Wing Week: 12/03/10 or "Sharp Elbows"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he holds a meeting with bipartisan members of the Congressional Leadership at the White House, greets the American 2010 Nobel Laureates in the Oval Office, meets with General Colin Powell, makes a joint statement about the importance of ratifying the START treaty with Russia, and more...

Harsh Life of Washington's Slaves Revisited

USCIS 100:60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?*

VOANews: Harsh Life of Washington's Slaves Revisited

George Washington was born into a world where slavery was an accepted part of life. When his father died in 1743, Washington - at the age of 11 - inherited 10 slaves. When the nation's first president died in 1799, more than 300 slaves lived in quarters on his Mount Vernon estate. This year, those slave quarters, first opened to the public in 1962, went through an extensive archaeological analysis and restoration. These refurbished quarters shed new light on the story of the slaves who lived and worked at Mount Vernon.

USCIS 100:60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?

• Africans
• people from Africa

USCIS 100:70. Who was the first President?*

• (George) Washington
  

Citizen Diplomats Sought for Worldwide Outreach

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy

VOANews: Citizen Diplomats Sought for Worldwide Outreach

The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy says individual Americans have the right and responsibility to help shape U.S. foreign relations. This month, it hosted a summit in Washington with the goal of getting more Americans to do just that. (download MP3)

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

• vote
• join a political party
• help with a campaign
• join a civic group
• join a community group
• give an elected official your opinion on an issue
• call Senators and Representatives
• publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
• run for office
• write to a newspaper

President Obama's World AIDS Day Message

WH.gov: President Obama's World AIDS Day Message

President Obama commemorates World AIDS Day 2010 and highlights the ways in which his Administration is combating the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.