Mexicans Less Likely Than Other Latin American Immigrants To Settle In Mixed Neighborhoods, Study Suggests

Mexican immigrants tend to be worse off economically and are less likely to move into more ethnically diverse neighborhoods than their counterparts from other Latin American countries, according to a new study.
According to a report from Brown University, Mexicans - making up about 60 percent of the country's Latino population and a clear majority throughout the Southwest - are so numerous that they drown out other Hispanic groups in many studies.
New arrivals typically continue moving into immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, which, according to the report, ends up "creating isolated communities even as many Mexicans move to other parts of the nation."
That trend wasn't that surprising. But it stood out when compared to other ethnic groups, who are becoming less segregated.
"We thought Hispanic segregation stayed the same because we couldn't see the rest of the picture," said Brown University sociologist John Logan, co-author of the report, according to USA Today. "This seeming stability masks important differences, because every group except Mexicans has become less segregated since 1990."
The Brown University study, entitled "Hispanics in the United States: Not Only Mexicans," also showed that Latino immigrants from smaller countries in Latin America are making gains in terms of population growth at a rapid pace.
In 1990, there were only three Latino groups with over a million members: Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans. The 2010 Census shows three more groups -- Dominicans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans -- all joined the million-member club, while several other Latin American nationals surpassed more than half a million.
Still, growth in population hasn't necessarily turned into widespread economic advancement.
On average, Mexican immigrants make about $20,200 compared with Cubans, Venezuelans and Argentineans, who average around $30,000. Only Hispanics from Central America -- one of the poorest regions of the world -- make about as much as Mexicans.

US Pediatricians Back Gay Marriage

The nation's most influential pediatrician's group says gays should be allowed to marry to help ensure the health and well-being of their children.
The American Academy of Pediatrics' new policy, published online Thursday, cites research showing that the parents' sexual orientation has no effect on a child's development. Kids fare just as well in gay or straight families when they are nurturing and financially and emotionally stable, the academy says.
The academy believes that a two-parent marriage is best equipped to provide that kind of environment. Their policy says that if a child has two gay parents who choose to marry, "it is in the best interests of their children that legal and social institutions allow and support them to do so."
The policy cites reports indicating that almost 2 million U.S. children are being raised by gay parents, many of them in states that don't allow gays to marry.
The academy announced its position Thursday. Officials with the group said they wanted to make the academy's views known before two gay marriage cases are considered by the U.S. Supreme Court next week.
"We wanted that policy statement available for the justices to review," said Dr. Thomas McInerney, the academy's president and a pediatrician in Rochester, N.Y.
The pediatricians' gay marriage stance is not surprising. They previously joined other national groups including the American Medical Association in supporting one of the Supreme Court cases, which contends the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. The academy also previously supported adoption by gay parents.
The academy's statement notes that several other national health groups have supported gay marriage. Those are the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the American College of Nursing.
Dr. Ben Siegel, a Boston pediatrician and chairman of the committee that developed the new policy, said its focus is on "nurturing children. We want what's best for children."
The academy has a history of taking a stand on politically touchy issues. It has discouraged families with children from having guns in their homes and urged pediatricians to give teens advance prescriptions for emergency birth control.
Policy positions typically start in the academy's committees and are based on a review of scientific literature. These recommendations then go to the academy's board of directors, and if approved, sent on to a three-member executive committee for a final vote. The group's 60,000 members do not vote on policy.

Lindsey Vonn Is 'Not Freaked Out' by Tiger Woods's Past

Ever since Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn revealed their romance in simultaneous Facebook posts on Monday, the reaction from women has mostly been varying degrees of head-scratching.

Why would Vonn, 28, the fresh-faced skiing star and Olympic gold medalist, go for a man whose marriage-ending sex scandal arguably made him a poster child for whom not to date?

Apparently, the answer is simple. "Tiger makes Lindsey happy," says one Vonn pal. "She isn't concerned what others think. She trusts her instincts. She is very comfortable with the relationship."

A source close to Woods, 37, says the golf pro has been open with Vonn about his past, which includes adultery and a 45-day stay in rehab, reportedly for sex addiction.

Weekly Jobless Claims Edge Higher; Trend Positive

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits edged higher last week, but a trend reading dropped to its lowest in five years and pointed to ongoing healing in the labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 336,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected 342,000 first-time applications last week.
The four-week moving average for new claims, a measure of labor market trends, fell 7,500 to 339,750, the lowest level since February 2008.
That could bode well for job growth in March. Last week's claims data covered the survey period for the government's monthly tally of nonfarm jobs. The four-week average of new claims fell 6 percent relative to the survey week in February, when nonfarm payrolls increased by 236,000.
Still, while layoffs have ebbed over recent months, companies have been cautious about ramping up hiring and the Federal Reserve has appeared worried that belt tightening by the government could dampen progress made in the labor market. The Fed on Wednesday pressed forward with its aggressive policy stimulus, pointing to still-high unemployment, fiscal headwinds out of Washington and risks from abroad.
The Fed action came despite a rash of recent data showing the economy gathering strength. Retail sales have been stronger than expected, manufacturing output has picked up and employment growth has quickened, with the jobless rate dropping to 7.7% last month from 7.9% in January.
The central bank said it will continue buying $85 billion in bonds per month, pledging to keep up its asset purchases until it sees a substantial improvement in the labor market outlook.
Last week, the number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid rose 5,000 to 3.053 million in the week ended March 9.
A Labor Department analyst said jobless claims data had not been estimated for any states and there were no special factors influencing the report. The prior week's claims figure was revised to show 2,000 more applications than previously reported.


Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/2013/03/21/weekly-jobless-claims-edge-higher/#ixzz2OBzJmLQ5

Unemployment Rates

Unemployment Rate is at 7.7% in the United States
8.8% in washington DC
and 6.7% in Maryland

Bill would make more students eligible for Dream Act

A bill to change the newly approved Maryland Dream Act is being considered in Annapolis.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville, is meant to correct what Kaiser is calling an unintended consequence of the Maryland Dream Act. It would make illegal immigrants who are enrolled in high school and dually enrolled in college eligible for in-county college tuition rates.
The Dream Act, which took effect Jan. 1, allows students who are not citizens to pay in-state tuition rates for Maryland universities. But, first, they must graduate from Maryland public high schools and their families must have filed income tax returns in Maryland for three years.
That means students who have not yet graduated but are taking college courses are not eligible.
The House Ways and Means Committee heard Kaiser’s bill on Tuesday. No one other than Kaiser spoke about the bill during the hearing.
The committee also heard a tuition-related bill sponsored by Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18) of Chevy Chase. She said the bill addresses the loophole without touching the scope of the Dream Act.
Under her bill, current high school students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals and who are dually enrolled in college would have their tuition rates waived.

teens hooking up and no longer dating

It seems that today's teenagers/ students are much different than the last generation of teenagers when it comes to dating. “Hooking up” is a term to describe a sexual encounter between two people. It is a deliberately vague expression, and can mean making out, having intercourse, or anything in between.

The hallmark of hooking up is the clear understanding between both parties that the encounter will be free from any expectations for further contact. It is designed to avoid the possibility of commitment or emotional connection. Students have all the pleasures of dating without commitments or pressure.

Many students feel as if they do not have time for a relationship, between school and sports. But is that true, or is it just another excuse? In an Interview with english teacher, former track coach, and father of two preteens soon going into high school, Charles Alexander. he stated, “Kids see sex as recreation, I think it’s a reflection of society because there are adults of there who also see sex as a recreation”. When we asked if he thought the media was an influence factor, he brought up the point, that, it could also be the other way around and actually be the teenagers influencing the media. Its like the chicken and the egg.

Everyday more and more teenagers are involved in these actions, more and more adults are noticing these actions as well. “what we consider relationships nowadays, opposed to what it once was. I think the cause of it is that a lot of kids nowadays do not have role models at home, a mother and a father together that show love and affection of what a real relationship should be like. That’s what I believe, honesty is the biggest and major impact on why the change is apparent.” stated Mr. Isaac Williams, northwood security.

Laura Sessions Stepp, author of “Unhooked,” states in her book “That hookups can be damaging to young women and men, denying their emotional needs, putting them at risk of depression and even sexually transmitted disease, and making them ill-equipped for real relationships later on.” not to mention teen pregnancy’s.

We really have to try and change this trend, our generation has to learn self respect and well as respect for others. Honestly what's wrong with dating? its fun getting to know people and being able to care for them. spending time with them and just enjoying the teenage years without the pressure of having meanless intercourse.

Our generation, specially the girls, need to realize that they are worth so much more than just a hook up. Why would you let someone use you and why would you use someone else.