Life on the left coast

From bullamakanka on conservative_ca:

The California State Senate and State Assembly have BOTH endorsed the big immigration rally/walkout next Monday (May 1.) As was expected,the endorsement was voted strictly along party lines. The Republicans voted against the endorsement, the Democrats voted in favor. Since the Democrats have the majority in both the Senate and the Assembly, the endorsements were passed.

In other words, the California Senate and Assembly APPROVE the walkouts of schoolchildren, employees, etc.,across the state of California next Monday to protest against current immigration laws.

Now, here's the kicker:

On Monday, all the Democrat Senators and Assemblypeople will show up the State Capitol, and when they step foot on the carpet, they are automatically listed as "present and accounted for." Then, they will turn around, exit the Capitol, board planes for Los Angeles, and take part in the march in downtown themselves!

The point of showing up at the Capitol is simple: they get paid their 'per diem' allowance (like a salary) for Monday, as well as the prior two days (Saturday/Sunday). If they didn't show up Monday, they would forfeit the allowance for all three days. It amounts to about $500 for all three days, per person.

This money is paid to them TAX FREE.

So,they will ensure that they receive their tax-free money for three days, fly to LA, and march alongside all these people who are likely to either not get paid for not working, and/or people who may actually lose their jobs, on an issue that is contrary to existing laws!

Aren't Democrats special?

Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, the Republicans plan on showing up for work as usual on Monday. But they cannot actually do anything, because there won't be enough votes to be counted! There's only a couple dozen of them (a minority), and for votes to be taken, there has to be at least 40 or so in attendance (a quorum). Since the Dems won't be there to vote on anything, no work will be possible! And as pointed out byone Republican Senator, the state government is so far behind on its work (especially the budget), they simply cannot afford delays of any kind.

But Democrats can afford to take time off to march in a rally against legal immigration, and still get paid for it.

Reading List 2006

I haven't updated this thing in a long time...

1. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
2. Stargate Atlantis: Rising by Sally Malcolm
3. Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
4. Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop
5. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
6. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
7. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
8. Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
9. Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn
10. Jovah's Angel by Sharon Shinn
11. The Alleluia Files by Sharon Shinn
12. Angelica by Sharon Shinn
13. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
14. Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier
15. Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier
16. Stargate Atlantis: Reliquary by Martha Wells
17. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
18. Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey

More on Flight 93

From Blistering Cheese:

Back in January I blogged on the flight 93 movie.

"It’s not that this isn’t a great story, nor that it shouldn’t be told.  But it hasn’t even been five years, and we’ve got two movies in production dealing with 9/11, one being directed by Oliver Stone of all people.  These are stories that should be told, but not so damn quickly.  It’s just tasteless, no matter how it’s presented.

"Now, do you think for a second that the hijackers are going to be portrayed as bloodthirsty murdering Islamofascist scum?  Not on your life.  They’ll be shown in a way that the viewer will begin to understand them, that we might have some insight into why they committed this act.  Typical Hollywood bullshit."

I just got back from seeing the movie, and I cannot express how wrong I was.  I decided to see if after hearing the commentary from the family members and reading some reviews.  There is nothing I can say to describe how good this movie is, except to say that I actually cried in the theater.  I can’t remember the last time I actually cried in a theater, but there you go.  This is one of the most powerful, moving films I have ever experienced.  There is no left-wing equivocation here, no trying to explain the terrorists or humanize them.  You know who the good guys and who the bad guys are, and the bad guys are presented as just as fucking evil as we know they were.

Paul Greengrass deserves the Oscar for this film.

Go and see it this weekend.  Get your family, your kids, your friends, anyone, and see it.  You won’t be disappointed.