The perennial controversy over what to call McCain's amnesty is silly. Every program in the world that has allowed illegal immigrants to stay has been called an "amnesty." McCain himself called it "amnesty" as recently as May 2003, when he told the Tucson Citizen "I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible … Amnesty has to be an important part ..." But once the focus-group results were in, "amnesty" became a four-letter word. ...[snip]

P.S.: The McCain, post-focus-group argument is that it can't be "amnesty" if it has some requirements--e.g., to pay a fine, learn English, etc. But it turns out that Ronald Reagan's 1986 "comprehensive" reform, which he and everyone else called an "amnesty," had requirements too, including payment of fees.

Sounds of Summer: NT intervention

NADINE WICKER: It's good, high school. Good fun at school. You learn, get more education, you know.

SARA EVERINGHAM: Nadine Wicker was trying to regularly attend school in spite of the difficulties.

NADINE WICKER: It's really hard sometimes with families and friends, when you get friends and all that.

SARA EVERINGHAM: What do you mean it can be hard?

NADINE WICKER: Fighting, people yelling, families drinking and smoking.

SARA EVERINGHAM: And in spite of pressure from her peers.

NADINE WICKER: There's too much sniffing. I used to sniff when I was 12, I used to smoke, drink but I stopped them now.

SARA EVERINGHAM: The conference had workshops for the girls not only on drugs and alcohol but also domestic violence and sexual abuse.

War looms for Robbie Warnock

A Victorian, Warnock was a third-round pick and No.42 overall pick in the 2005 national draft. His older brother, Matthew, is at Melbourne. Last season, the Dockers secured lead ruckman Aaron Sandilands to a $2 million deal for four seasons and keeping the gifted Warnock is now a priority signing. Victorian-based clubs are already clambouring for his signature, with Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton the frontrunners. Fremantle contracts manager Steve Rosich confirmed yesterday the club was keen to re-sign the gifted Warnock. "Robert is a priority, but it's not our club's policy to discuss player contract issues through the media,'' Rosich said. Warnock will become football's next version of former Eagles champion Chris Judd, who reportedly left WA for personal and family reasons, but headed to Carlton with a massive financial lure in the region of $7.5million for five years.

Update: Budget Heads to Governor's Desk

If paying $1 more per pack doesn't make smokers ditch their habit, the state has other ways to help them quit. The budget will spend $30 million on smoking cessation and prevention programs. DRIVE MY CAR: Anyone who drives a car will pay more. The annual vehicle registration fee will increase from $55 to $75; driver's licenses will cost $10 more; and the fee to title a vehicle goes up $24.50. FLOAT MY BOAT: Don't think you can escape the new fees by taking to the water. The budget adds between $1.25 and $11 to boat registration fees, depending on the boat's size and motor. LOCK AND LOAD: Breathe easy, all you outdoorsmen. Hunting and fishing fees remain unchanged from last year. THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Buying a hunting license is one thing; finding a place to hunt is another. The budget could make that easier.