What are the basic eligibility requirements for Lawful Permanent Residents (“green card” holders) for filing the N400 citizenship application?

The applicant must be age 18 or older at the time of filing N400.

The applicant is a permanent resident (“green card” holder) with valid green card for a period of the past 5 years. If married to U.S. Citizen you may apply after 3 years with valid green card. One exception prevails - if an applicant has served in the United States armed forces during war, that individual may obtain US citizenship without first becoming a permanent resident if they were in the United States upon enlistment into the U.S. military.

Applicants wanting to obtain US Citizenship must have maintained continuous residence in the United States for at least five years immediately preceding the applicant's filing for citizenship with form N-400. Continuous residence is not the same thing as physically being present in the United States. An applicants must maintain status as a legal permanent resident (green card holder), but does not necessarily have to be physically in the United States to accomplish this. For instance, if individual is overseas for a portion of this period, maintaining a U.S. address and paying one’s state and federal taxes may help to provide continuity of residence for this eligibility requirement. If the applicant plans to be abroad for several months, it may be wise to file Form I-470, Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes, prior to departing the U.S. in order to preserve their continuous and physical residence status. If the applicant is married to a U.S. citizen, only three years of continuous residence is required before filing N400 based on marriage in obtaining the green card.

NOTE: It is required that physical presence is established within the U.S. for a total of at least one half of the period of required continuous residence. That is, two and a half years for most applicants and one and a half years for spouses of U.S. citizens.

The applicant must have resided at least three months at their primary residence within the state where the N400 is submitted before filing their US citizenship application.

The applicant must be able to read, write and speak ordinary English unless they are physically unable to do so due to a disability such as being blind or deaf, or suffer from a developmental disability or mental impairment. Individuals over 50 years of age on the date of filing who have lived in the U.S. for a total of at least 20 years after admission as a permanent resident and those individuals who are over 55 years of age and have been legal permanent residents for at least 15 years are also exempt from this requirement.

An applicant applying for US citizenship must have a general knowledge of the fundamentals of U.S. history and government.

The applicant must be a person of good moral character and willing to abide by the principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Social networking 'success' doesn't extend to offline relationships

The researchers found that spending a lot of time online was not linked to having a larger number of "offline" friends.

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-social-media-20110426,0,2756036.story

Teen Bicyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run in Canoga Park

The teen and a friend were riding their bicycles around 9 p.m. Wednesday along De Soto Ave. in the area of Valerio Street when he was struck from behind by a vehicle.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-teen-bicyclist-killed,0,6088344.story

Energy drink buzz: What's in the potent liquids?

College students who drank a cocktail of alcohol and energy drinks reported feeling twice as stimulated as those who drank alcohol alone, according to a new study from Northern Kentucky University. The caffeine overrides the drowsiness that kicks in after drinking alcohol. "The danger is that you don’t realize how drunk you’re getting." -lead author Cecile Marczinksi
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-energy-drink-alcohol-20110419,0,7309033.story

GOP Officials: OC Republican's Obama Chimp Email 'Completely Unacceptable'

Email sent by Orange County Republican Party official Marilyn Davenport (April 17, 2011)

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-obama-offensive-email,0,3803760.story

Georgia passes immigration bill similar to Arizona's

Following Arizona's lead, the Georgia Legislature on Thursday passed a strict measure that would empower police to check the immigration status of "criminal" suspects and force many businesses to do the same with potential employees.

Quote

"Why am I fighting to live, if I'm just living to fight
Why am I trying to see, when there aint nothing in sight
Why I am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try
Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die..." -Tupac

Beaten Giants Fan May Have Brain Damage

Giants fan savagely beaten in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium is showing signs of brain damage. Brian Stow is in critical condition in a medically-induced coma. The 41-year old man suffered a severe skull fracture and bruising to his frontal lobe.

MMA Fighter and Friend Murdered at Tijuana Border Crossing

The men were gunned down while sitting in their white pickup truck at the San Ysidro border crossing in Tijuana at 2:40 a.m. Monday.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-2-americans-shot-dead-mexico-us-border,0,1173196.story

9/11 suspects to face military tribunal

Professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged co-conspirators are being referred to the system of military commissions for trial.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-terrorism-trial-20110405,0,6230679.story