AWESOME SHOW GUYS!

Said by: Ryan from Witchita, Kansas at October 18, 2006 04:00 AM

NOMINATE the FEAST OF FOOLS on www.gaybloggies.com for BEST PODCAST!

there are other categories that you might want to nominate them for... like BEST BODIES... ;)

much love!
Jau

Said by: Jau at October 18, 2006 04:34 AM

Just wanted to say, I became the last person in the universe to see the movie "Showgirls" last night. Then I listened to FOF #397 again--funny the first time even if I didn't get all the references, but much better once I'd seen how astonishingly so-bad-its-good that film is!

Said by: Sarah in London at October 18, 2006 05:12 AM

Awesome show once again... still counting down the days till i see my blue haired buddy... I had a few of my friends start listening to your show since I added it to my myspace page...

Keep it up... Muah!!!!

Mike B

Said by: Mike B. at October 18, 2006 07:25 AM

Today's podcast was great! This time I have to take Amanda's side on citizenship. Without doing that these people DO NOT PAY TAXES and they use our hospital services and cost the country MILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year! If I moved to Germany, I would learn German and apply for citizenship. If I was denied, then I would expect to have to move back. Life isn't always fair but doing something illegal will never ever justify it.

Said by: Mark Delgrosso at October 18, 2006 08:04 AM

Mark, the trouble is that illegal immigrants DO pay taxes. How many illegal immigrants run their own businesses? How many illegal immigrants can survive without a low-wage earning job? These jobs all have income tax taken out of their paychecks up front. If they use false social security numbers, that's more in the system for the rest of us. Being as how the social security system has been so very poorly managed, I would think that's a definite plus. BESIDES, most illegal immigrants are from down south, and they try natural treatments first and don't go to a hospital unless it's truly necessary. Shouldn't we also consider who they take jobs away from? High school students? Are these people terrorists? No, because what they want to do is survive and send money back home. In spite of their miserable wages, they actually send back millions of dollars, making our southern countries more viable. If anyone is at fault here, it is (1) the maquiladoras [which are usually American countries looking down south to raise profits by paying far less wages] that are not only spoiling foreign environment but causing people live under horrible, miserable conditions and (2) the multinationals who get our gov't to sign bills that bilk the poor and make the rich even richer in these southern countries; and (3) the countries themselves which are usually ruled by the already rich & powerful and too often care little for the little person. If we focus on the little guy, we're focusing in the wrong direction...

Said by: Patricia Fernós at October 18, 2006 08:47 AM

Fausto, excellent show as always, however I've been humming "Seven Wonders" by Fleetwood Mac all morning now. LOL!

Amanda, U R hott. ;)

The reason you were thinking Niagra Falls was one of the seven wonders is because they used to call themselves "The Eighth Wonder of the World" in their promotional material, which is utterly rediculous because everyone knows the eighth wonder of the world was really Kink Kong. Sheesh

Love,
Puppy D

Said by: pup don at October 18, 2006 02:10 PM

The eight wonder of the world is Iris Chacón's butt.

Said by: Fausto at October 18, 2006 03:42 PM

Go, Patricia! Fausto, could you get your mom and Amanda on the show at the same time, and have a Meet the Press sort of debate?

Being born in the US shouldn't make us feel entitled. Just lucky. We didn't do anything to earn our citizenship -- we just happened to have been born here.

Yes, once we've grown up we pay taxes to support the government. But undocumented immigrants pay taxes, too:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html?ei=5090&en=78c87ac4641dc383&ex=1270353600&partner=kmarx&pagewanted=all&position

Without the billions of dollars the Social Security Administration gets from undocumented workers each year, our social security system would be in even deeper shit than it is right now...

Said by: Maia at October 18, 2006 04:12 PM

Dear Feast of Fools Folks,
Love the show, and usually Amanda, but I got a bit cross at her today. First, if Mexican people aren't jumping to adopt American culture maybe its because they realize it leaves much to be desired. Mexicans place an importance in family values and people you just don't see in this country, and I'm talking real family values like not sticking your folks in a convalescent home. Mexican immigrants give us a lot, without them we'd be paying $4 for a head of lettuce and no one wants that.
Second, you don't just become a citizen, and while it would be nice if immigrants came here legally, that's an option that's not available to most Mexicans. If a Mexican wants to VISIT this country the process is long and expensive and bureaucratic, and that's all coming from the U.S. side. Keep in mind that's only to visit, if you actually want to stay in this country, the process is much worse. Pretty much the only way you can come into this country is if you are somewhat well off (the way a bank will only lend you money if you can prove to them you don't need it). Most Mexicans are not well off. In fact they are so not well off that they are willing to risk their lives crossing deserts in Texas and Arizona to get here. Hundreds of them die out there.
Long story longer: Amanda you strike me as a funny, sweet and intelligent woman who's compassion I have heard more than once, so throw a Mexican a bone already.

Said by: Luis Ramirez at October 18, 2006 04:28 PM

Fausto, wouldn't you say Iris Chacón WAS the 8th wonder. I wonder what she looks like now...

Said by: Patricia Fernós at October 18, 2006 08:47 PM

I love ya Amanda, but I gotta say your comments during this show were ignorant. I won't fault ya for it, though, because you made it very clear that you don't know anything about the immigration process. Most Americans don't, which is why we have so many Americans saying stupid shit like, "Well if they want to move here so bad why can't they just do it legally?" Anyone who's gone through that process will tell you it's the most trying, stressful, nerve-wracking thing you've ever done. Beauracracy at it's finest.

I 100% agree with Patricia and Luis. You can't just "apply for citizenship." It's not a black and white thing. It's a lengthy, grueling process that involves a lot of money (which low-income Mexican immigrants need to put food on the table), a good immigration lawyer and a lot of luck, especially if you're not marrying an American to get in. There is a strict limitation on how many people can annually immgrate from each country, and for a country as populous as Mexico those spots are usually given to the wealthier applications first. And even *if* you are able to apply for residency, the wait is anywhere from 3-20 years to complete the process. I also agree with Fausto is saying fear is a primary motivator for illegal immigants not applying for a green card. It's a very scary process and as a Mexican the likelihood of being deported is very high.

Immigration made this country and, like it or not, immigration still fuels this country. Indians are routiely imported by wealthy dot-coms because they will work for a far lower salary than their white American counterparts. Mexicans harvest our produce, butcher our meat, and cook our restaurant meals. You exploint an illegal immigrant with every bite you take. There's a very fascinating chapter on this in Eric Schlossinger's book "Fast Food Nation." (Forgive me if I butchered his name.) The treatment of illegal immigrant workers in slaughterhouses is more than enough to make you take a good long look at that chicken breast of sirloin steak before you put it in your mouth.

Said by: Frank at October 19, 2006 04:08 PM

Patricia put it beautifly and all I have to say is 'amen' to her post. Same goes for Luis.

I still love Amanda to bits and pieces but she clearly doesn't understand how becoming a citizen or just purely entering legally works.

Said by: George at October 19, 2006 06:30 PM

Illegal immigration now costs Arizona taxpayers about $1.3 billion annually, finds a new report, "The Costs of Illegal Immigration to Arizonans," published by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_mediaf7cb
What else is there to say?

Said by: Mark Delgrosso at October 22, 2006 06:58 PM

Who do you think makes up those tax payers, Mark?

Said by: George at October 22, 2006 07:32 PM

Amanda, fabulous job on the war chant! The linguistic discrepancy aside, thanks for cheering us kanakas (locals) during the earthquake. Only Big Island suffered major damage. But us folks on Oahu experienced major blackout until past midnight. Luckily I had all the FOF since March, when Ms. Ronnie christened my not so virgin ear, on my iPod to keep me thru the night. You guys all tuck me in before the electricity came back on. Mahalo nui loa!

Said by: Anuhea at October 23, 2006 02:59 AM

Why is it always white people who are against immigrants in any way? You never hear hispanics, blacks or asians wanting to sign up and be minutemen.

Said by: Daryl at October 23, 2006 03:40 AM

You made a Bye Bye Birdie reference. I love you more and more every day. I was in that show two years ago, I was even in that number!

Said by: Bethany at October 23, 2006 11:31 PM