Oh, gdogni. I tried to make this short, but it can't be said in a few sound bites. Who was doing the jobs before the illegals came? They were being done. Have we been quick to buy the idea that Americans don't want to do these jobs because we, ourselves, wouldn't want to do them? Americans have done jobs for many years I wouldn't want to have to do. I would do anything I could do, if necessary, but I do have my 'druthers. I wish you could have talked with the young woman I just spent time with the other day. She was almost in tears because she was pretty sure she was going to loose her jobs because the company had just brought in a new group of illegals. She commuted 60 miles - one way - to work on the assembly line of a chicken processing plant. I've been just in the office of a processing plant and my stomach lurched from the smell. It's a job I don't want to have to do - but others have for many years. She said, in a shakey voice, 'I've just got to have this job.' The shocking thing she told me is, if this company lays someone off, not fired for reason, but laid off because of slowdowns, etc., they will only rehire you one time. That means you can be rehired, but if laid off again (because a batch of illegals come in) you are no longer 'qualified' to work for that company. By way of their hiring practices, they are creating 'unqualified' workers in the area. People know to not apply for the job again. So when the news media goes to the spokesman for that company he/she can say things like 'we just can't find qualified workers', or 'we just haven't had any applicants' or the old stand by 'no one wants to do these kinds of jobs'. Neither they nor the media are going to tell you they fixed the situation. When you see jobs being filled by illegals - the only thing that means is they have the job. It means absolutely nothing else. We don't know how many others applied for the job, and didn't get it. One thing you have to realize is that in many areas, people are aware that only illegals will be hired, and they don't even apply. I saw illegals building the houses that got built in the frenzy of the last few years. Can we assume that Americans no longer wanted to do carpentry, dry walling, electrical,plumbing, bricklaying?? I don't think so. I know a lot who wanted the jobs. They are a bargain to employers because the employers have no responsibility. They don't have to comply with overtime laws, collect and match taxes, worry about OSHA regulations, workman's comp. If one gets hurt, they are taken to the hospital and the taxpayers pay for it. The media and the politicians are not giving out the true story on this. Now the reason I mentioned illegals was the fact they are working here. Americans already are competing with them for jobs, and if things get bad, it will be even more so. There is nothing wrong with mowing lawns and bussing tables, but that is not the only jobs they are doing. We will be hampered by the fact employers will have to work within the labor laws when hiring Americans, so given the choice, they will take illegals. The illegals are also getting benefits that are going to be needed for American families who loose their jobs. Again, just because Americans aren't doing the jobs, don't assume they won't or don't want to - now - but especially in the future.

Consentual sex - didn't anyone tell the boy the law? Or did the parents just hand him some condoms and tell him to have safe sex as he was going out the door? I understand that some boys may be on the registry for stupidity and they will live that mistake for the rest of their lives. But let's not forget that men can always stop - stop if someone says no, stop if they think the girl is underage, stop if they are aware that the parents at at any time could charge them, stop if they have any concerns whatsoever that this isn't right. Stop. That's within their control, not the woman's. Do I feel sorry for these young men who couldn't control their hormones? Yes. Would I throw out the registry of animals because their stupidity put them in the same boat? No. Was it a case where a gal was putting out to a group of men and decided man number 6 was a rapist and the first 5 were not? I have a major problem with this comment. Is this the reason you would have done away with a registry? Because some woman put out for 5 men and on the 6th she said no? This is the very reason women don't charge men with rape. Because some snail of a defense attorney is going to put the victim on trial claim because she put out for 5 men, the 6th was no different. Shame on you Wildchild. Shame. When a woman says no, she means no. And no rational man is beyond their ability to stop. Only the animals keep on going. As for consentual sex with a minor, whatever your personal experiences are, a boy, no a man, should know and understand the consequences. I don't care if some woman sings him The Song of Sirens. If he puts his hormones in front of the law, he takes his chances. Even if the girl consented. Often times they consent because it's the captain of the football team and they want to be accepted. That doesn't make the man any less responsible. It takes more than a "he said, she said" to get put on that registry. It takes a trial, a hearing, a judge and maybe even a jury to hear all the evidence, including dragging the so-called "victim" through every relationship and every photograph and every friend she's ever had. So no, I don't cry for those on the registry, although I do agree there are some on there who may not belong. But take a look at the registry and some of the people in your neighborhood on it, and tell me they are all just poor misunderstood souls caught in a web of a lying female.

For years and years and years, I lived in a nice neighborhood in the midwest and there was no crime on our street, period. Now I live on the East Coast in Hampton Roads and it's a different kettle of fish. Being alert and being wise is a biggie, but the most important life lesson I've learned here is this: Call the cops for any and all suspicious activity. A friend of mine had her home burgularized, and miscreants took their time and cleaned out the house - top to bottom. Everything was loaded into a moving truck and carted away. The last straw: The criminals also stole her car. Hide those keys! And keep a disposable camera by your front and back doors, so if you see someone suspicious walking down the street, you can snap his photo real quick. We have an alarm system with all the bells and whistles but I'm not convinced that it's that big a help. Criminals know they have an easy five minutes from the time they bust down your door to the time any cops will show up. I second the idea about a dog. We have a 30-pound Sheltie and she has a big bark. We don't have people wandering through our yard anymore and I also don't have the rake-less wonders showing up at the front door, offering to rake the yard. BTW, most of those guys are crooks. Do not hire guys who go door to door. Trust me on this. In conclusion, I'd say that a good watch dog (one who barks at strangers) is the best deterrent. Rose

Newhomebuilder, I find this thread fascinating, too! And to think for the longest time I never opened it because I thought it was something I would not be interested in. Judiegal, God Bless you and your large, wonderful family. I think it is just lovely. This coming from someone who is an only child and has no children...and I don't particularly even care for hubby's family. HA! I've many times wished I were Italian....if only for the pasta. HA again! And can I just say...to the real point here, good grief at all those tomato plants!!! And oh, oh...the canned ones. A thing of beauty to behold. My beloved father lived to 92 years of age enjoying his vegetable gardening. He couldn't do it the last two to three years of his life as he lost his sight, but in his 80's he had just as many tomatoes and such as you that he loved and cared for. His favorite was the Super Fantastic tomato. Me, at the present, I have three tomato plants and think I'm doing good to take care of them. Thank you so much for sharing your pictures...enjoyable indeed! pup