What a great idea - Arizona's Proposition 200 will force voters to prove citizenship, before their ballots can be cast!....The Bureau  of Labor Statistics has again exposed the Phoenix Metro area as the lowest-paying of all U.S. major metro areas, and even below the U.S. average, including ALL metro areas, providing further evidence that Arizona's 'Right-to-Work' status is more of a problem than minimum-wage laws.  And now the U.S. Senate will ponder raising that minimum from $5.15 to $7.25/hr., over the next few years, further encouraging our youth and immigrants to abandon formal education, in lieu of one of those top-paying jobs!....The Chicago City Council has recently voted to force 'Big-Box' employers, such as Wal-Mart, Target, etc., to elevate their wages to a minimum $10 per hour, plus $3 per hour for benefits, by 2010.  Illinois has a mandated minimum of $6.50, so Mayor Richard Daley may veto the Ordinance, citing special-interest unfairness, and potential loss of jobs to inner-city areas.  Try this, America - lower the minimum wage to $4.00 per hour, for workers under the age of 18 and for those not earning a qualified high school diploma.  Raise the minimum to $7.50 for all other legal residents.  And, according to my friend Sheryl Mathias, anyone dropping out of school should have to serve from one to two years of public service, including community and/or military detail.  Education, American Citizenship and a good work ethic may then again be valued assets, and not just inconveniences to a better social life!....Arizona's AIMS Tests are officially a joke!  Statewide, less than 300 students did not earn diplomas, in 2006, due to failing the tests.  Bonus points offered for in-class work, the dumbing-down of test questions, and lowering of the passing-grade standard, ensured that almost all of the potential 26,000 students(including the thousands of non-English speaking students) who had not passed these tests, before the final Spring 2006 test date, would receive their 'earned' diplomas!  Arizona must soon decide if the time, money and efforts for these tests are worth the Federal money received from NCLB legislation.  And unless your children are enrolled in AP/Honors classes, they may be receiving an inferior education, based upon Arizona's already inferior minimal curriculum standards!.... Phoenix police will be asking its Mexican community for information on the identities of the Baseline Killer and the Serial Shooter.  Most of that particular community are, supposedly, illegal immigrants, not wanting to expose themselves for any reason, so unless Puerta Vallarta freezes over, expect these sprees to continue!....A new genus of cricket has been found, in caves near the Utah/Arizona border.  Characterized by its raspy, but melodic chirp, its discoverers wanted to name their find 'Jiminy,' until the Walt Disney Company issued a 'cease-and-desist' order!....The Arizona Republic, owned by the Gannett Corporation, is one of the most expensive major metro newspapers, while providing much less in its content than others of comparable size!....If your life seems to be a blur, you're either going too fast or you need glasses!