Why I hate California

As of 2003 my new home was in San Diego California. It was very different from any other place I had lived. There were gated appartments, gangs, kids running around in parking lots unsupervised. It took some getting use to not having any friends or family around. I was able to get a job quickly and started working part time. They had me as a cashier which was somewhat new to me, my previous jobs include dishwasher, cook/waitress, janitor, grounds keeper at a nursery, 1 hour photo/video clerk/western union/lotto/guest services and a greeter and cashier at KB Toys. I don't remember much about cashiering from KB Toys I just remembered I didn't do it well.
Well I got some training and I picked up the skills for using a register, I was pretty excited about it and got into my groove kinda fast.
Soon I noticed how different people acted here. They always seem to be in a huge rush and no matter what rude thing they were thinking they always said it. Weather it be about the store or some other thing that was bothering them.
I worked as a cashier for about a year and I started to get very irritated with the guests that were checking out. They would leave their carts in my lane, yap on the cell phone even when I was trying to talk to them. They would ask if I was open even if I was standing at my register and the light was on. Or they would comment things like "Oh you look like you need someone to check out!" or "You look bored." and "You rang that up wrong theres a sign saying its cheaper." The worst by the way was if I ran an item over the scanner and it didn't scan the first time the comment was always the same "Oh is it free then?" Getting this everyday takes its toll. I even noticed that I was angry before I even clocked in. After a doctors appointment I was told my blood pressure was a little high. Well that was the last straw for me, I talked to my boss and asked if I could be moved.
And I was, to guest services, I was very happy to be there, I had more power and if a guest got rude with me I was allowed to be rude back. So I was part time guest services and very little cashiering. I had to put up with rude people, people that got mad at me because I wouldn't give them cash for an item that they had no proof what so ever they bought it. It didn't bother me much for some reason, I suppose it was because I could tell the guest "NO"
A few months down the road I found out that 3 people from the photo lab were quitting, I jumped on the oppertunity to work in there and hopefully I wouldn't have to cashier anymore.
I got the job, I picked up how to run the lab and things were going great. But for some reason recently the people have changed. When I have been on the clock for 5 hours or more I am required by California law to take a lunch. Being the only one schedualed in the lab I had to shut everything off and post my "Off to lunch sign" Of corse people were still comming up to me trying to drop off film or use the digital computer kiosks. When I told them I couldn't take any film they would get angry with me and want to talk to my manager, saying that "This is unacceptable!" The worst comment I got was when I was in guest services, of corse they schedual us alone. There are 2 areas of guest servies where I help guests, one is an open room where people from outside come in to do returns or what not. The other is a window where people have gotten what they wanted for an exchange. Well I was helping a guest in the room and I noticed that there was a small line at the window. Just as I was finishing up the transaction an African american lady came in. I greeted her and told her that there were some people at the window that had been waiting and I would be with her shortly. She said that was fine and waited.
It took me less than a minute to help all 3 people that were waiting and as soon as I turned around to help the lady that had been waiting, she slammed her fist on the counter and demanded to speak to my manager. I was confused but I got my manager over there. The guest yelled that I "Must be a racist because she went to help some white people first!" I could not have been more shocked, I have never been called anything like that and it hit hard.
I appologised to her and said that I had no problem with any person of color or race and that if I came across as a racist that I was terribly sorry.
My manager at this time was helping her with her transaction while I was trying to help another guest that was somewhat frightened by the upset woman. Well after about the 5th time of being called a racist I pounded my fist on the counter and said "Excuse me ma'am, please stop calling me a racist, thats a strong word and to throw it around without really knowing can hurt someone. If I had ignored you, insulted you, or refused you service then yes I would be considered a racist. I greeted you and informed you that people had been waiting ahead of you. Now please stop calling me that." Well anything I said to her she didn't listen to, she called me a racist again and my manager finally spoke up and told the woman that she needed to let it go and to just leave.
I got called a racist again and it made me cry, I walked out and cried in a storage closet thats next to guest servies.
I was fed up with most of the people here, theres such a tiny handful of guests I like that I almost never see them. They are nice and understanding, I can't wait to get out of this state.
Lillys rating: California is no Washington

Immigration Nation; Willows Rant

America is a nation of immigrants. Even the Native Americans immigrated from the China/Northeastern Russian region via the land bridge. Europeans were here well before the atrocities committed by the post Christopher Columbus era, including the Clovis theory that the Solutrean people of what is now France crossed an Atlantic land bridge or used boats as far back as 17,000 years ago (both artifacts discovered and mitochondiral abberations that do not match Siberians). Many theorists including Thor Heyerdahl and his Ra expedition believe that ancient Egyptian cultures and those massively marvelous Phonecians could have rode the Gulf Stream to the Carribean. Peoples from Oceania could have sailed over to South America. Additionally, although we live in a Northern Hemisphere centric historical period, there were thriving and technologically advanced cultures in the southern hemisphere including parts of Africa. and the Olmec statues show evidence of Africans in Central and South America. If there was an ice age in the North Hemisphere it would stand to reason that the ocean levels dropped worldwide, and perhaps other cultures aside from the 4-5 waves of Siberians made it over. So who were the first immigrants anyways.

Our country is built on immigration either way you look at it. There is a history of using impoverished peoples to do the dirty work. First the true slaves and indentured servents (freedom after 7 years for the price of one boat ride to the New World.) then the economic slaves. Post African slavery, the economic slaves were paid substandard wages and have included Chinese coolies, the Irish, and most recently the Mexican and Central American peoples.

As capitalists we want inexpensive things. Right now we have them, things are pretty cheap. However we have them partially at the expense of 12 million illegal immigrants, but primarily because of the exports from Asia. It stands to reason that although the media is portraying it differently, not all 12 million immigrants embody the attributes for perfect American citizenship. Aside from that point, I do not believe in rewarding those who blatantly break the law. If we need 12 million immigrants to bear the weight of the economy by, as our illustrious leaders (LOL) put it, "do the work that no one else wants too" I think we should advertise to the world and to the people that stayed in their countries and did not break the law. I think we should accept those whose applications are pending for American citizenship a little quicker, maybe run down to Mexico and say "Hey good job those of you who didn't illegally cross the border. Here are some guest worker permits. You guys rock!!"

Additionally, just because Mexico shares a border with us I do not think they should get preferential treatment on immigration status. They are fleeing poverty looking for a better way of life that they think they are entitled to. Hmm. According to per capita charts Mexico is ranked 85th out of 231 countries with a per capita of $9000 a year (2003 est). So that means there are 146 nations whose people are more poverty stricken including Russia (86), Brazil(95), Bulgaria(96), Turkey(105), China(122),Egypt(139),. Almost all of Africa, as well as Central and South America are poorer than Mexico. Much of Eastern Europe, and almost all the former republics in Russia are poorer. Nearly all the Pacific Islands are poorer. Much of Asia is poorer. In perspective with the rest of the world Mexico is on the top half, so perhaps Mexico needs to open its borders to the rest of the world to replace its population that is migrating northward. I am sure that many members of the 146 nations that are poorer than Mexico would jump at the chance for an upgrade in life. And as the United States is number two on the list I propose that we Americans deserve the right to move to Luxembourg who's per capita income is nearly $20,000 higher than our own!!!

One last thing. I believe in amnesty. I also believe in science. I think the United States needs to do a study and find the optimum population for the United States. We are probably pretty close to the maximum number of people the country can reasonably sustain (350,000,000). When we fall below we should extend citizenship in our country to the most persecuted peoples of the Earth (definately not Mexicans sorry, but Africans under the threat of genocide or Thai girls sold into prostitution by their families would be much higher on my list. Or maybe we need to make some room for the Pacific Islanders whom our global warming activites threaten to engulf. They are also much poorer than Mexicans, or even the Central Americas who as I understand it are terribly persecuted when they try to cross into Mexico to look for a better life).

So make guest worker permits easier to obtain. Go to other countries and offer them to the people that did not break the law. Remove those that did. Charge guest workers United States taxes. Add a law that children born to guest workers in the United States are not citizens. It is an insult to those waiting patiently to enter this country legally to grant citizenship to those who entered it illegally. What does that say to the law abiding peoples of the world?

Oh, and by the way, do you think that once the illegal immigrants are citizens that they are going to keep doing "the jobs no one else wants to". No, because then their employers would have to pay them minimum wages and they would have to pay taxes. They are not an ignorant group of people. They will go get better jobs, and in turn the agricultural and service industries will have to sneak more illegals across the border in a vicious cycle. Blame it on the panicking baby boomers who need that many more people to support their Medicare lifestyle as they enter old age in droves.

Willow says Immigration is a worldwide right, and I am moving to Luxembourg.

She came, she saw she got stopped...she whined

I'm sure by now a good amount of you have herd all about Cynthia McKinny and her little run in with a security guard. She walked through a security checkpoint, I suppose because she has done it many times before. Well this time she wasn't wearing her badge and her usual hair doo was different. So she got stopped, she got angry and hit the security guard with her cell phone. Now hundreds of thousands of people get stoped at security check points everyday. Why she thinks shes the exception to the rule I don't know. I wouldn't have posted any of this on the blog if it hadn't been for one sentance she said during a speech. "......inaproproate touching and stopping of me, a female BLACK congress woman." She just had to emphasize on "black" well we get it you are a black woman, but darlin, thats not why you were stopped.
Had I been the security guard I would have stopped her too, she had no badge, she was running, and didn't look the same as she usually does. Hey the security guy was just doing his job. So you got stopped so what? Get over yourself. She did appologise but the whole thing could have been avoided if she just followed the rules. So now this story is all over the t.v and shes treating it like a racial thing. Everything is racial now a days, I'm supprised she didn't mention the skin color or sex of the security guard. My few cents on it, let it go Cynthia, no one is out to get you. I have been stopped at check points as well, I get drug tested when I start a new job. My luggage has been opened and checked through at airports. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!
Lillys rating: Oh the Hollywood touch.

Invasive Species and a Simple Solution the Government will Never Approve Because it Would Work

Everyone says globalization is a good thing. Maybe for the economy, but there are little or no benefits for the environment from globalization. Aside from the atrocities that big business inflict upon poor countries with lax environmental protection laws, there is the introduction of invasive species that destroy natural ecosystems and endanger or crowd out indigenous plants and wildlife. Large boats bring exotic species to different ports worldwide when they dump their bilge water. Insects and RATS hitch rides on international shipping vessels. Plants whether ornamental escapees or accidentals crowd out native habitats and reduce biodiversity. Okay that is the rant Part 1.

Part 2 revolves around the plants. I live in the Pacific NW in Washington State, and like the rest of the United States we have non-native invasive species destroying the scenery. Thats great and all, but our programs to control and eradicated these non-natives are comical and wasteful of tax payer dollars. In otherwords they are ridiculous. Millions of dollars are spent on studies such as: Predicting Invasiveness of Plant Species Based on Biological Information, or Invasive Plants Versus Their New and Old Neighbors: A Mechanism for Exotic Invasion or even A Taxonomic, Biogeographical and Ecological Overview of Invasive Woody Plants. In other layman terms the government dishes out large sums of money, millions of dollars in grants for these overeducated intellectuals who have little to no grasp on the real world so they can push up their glasses and say, yes this plant appears to be invasive and these are the reasons why.

Truly I can look around my mothers property and tell you with just my few biology classes and a botany class which plants are invasive. You look in an area and a non native plant, like Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Blackberry, Scotch Broom or English Ivy are the only plants there. Oh and another hint is they preceding names like Japanese, Himalayan, Scotch or English although this is not always an indicator as evinced by the likes of purple loosestrife or spotted knapweed. Oh my goodness how did I forget the prickly Canadian thistle. I must be slipping. Irregardless we know what is invasive. So tell me why in the world do we need to study these things.

I can solve this problem. Easily. Yeah it might cost a little and utilize some generally underutilized concepts in our quick fix society . . but first a little background. I have had two jobs that would lend to my expertise in the ability to solve this problem. One I have picked brush or cedar for Christmas tree wreathes and two I have planted trees. Now there are a whole community of people to work these jobs in almost every region of Washington. Some are even our illegal aliens getting so much press these days. Okay to solve the problem of invasive species instead of wasting more money on brazilliant scientists going "Eureka it is invading the riverbeds" you hire real people to go out and "GASP" dig this stuff up. I know, it is an outrageous concept. Hire them you say, take 100,000 dollars and not waste it. But they won't work hard and they will go through that money like crazy.

Okay here is the kicker. You do not "hire" them in the classic sense. You set up a station and let them go out to public lands or private lands with property owners written permission and dig up ROOTS. It must be ROOTS. You pay them a reasonable amount per pound that will enable the hard working people to earn about $100 dollars a day. From experience I know that they brush pickers are some of the hardest working people I have come across but they are often forced to tresspass to get to their product, so in one simple maneuver (sp?) you have caused a group of people to stop breaking the law and you have found a simple way to reduce non-native species invasiveness. Oh wait, it is way to simple and might actually work. The snail paced bueuracracy will never go for it. Long live Japanese knotweed!!!

Ranting by willow, the non invasive kind!!!