No radio, no TV, had to read the BBC world news this morning to find out about major immigrant protest in Dallas these past few weeks. Basically what we have here is mass protest in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants. This is their bottom line, “We’re here now, and we’re working now, so just let us stay.”

Here are my thoughts on the subject as a native Texan growing up in the “free world.” Immigration is an awesomely wonderful thing. Hell, I toy with moving to other countries my self from time to time, and I know I’d hate to be treated like dirt if I ever got up the gall to do it. Here’s the difference: If I ever decided to jump the All-American boat, I’d suffer the cost and jump through the loops of the man. Visa, Passport, all the T’s crossed and the… lower case j’s dotted. How could I possibly expect to have any rights if I broke the LAW to enter a place? It’s like smashing into a bar and becoming appalled when the bartender refuses to serve you drinks. I understand that life in other countries can be hard; I understand that we have crappy border laws, but we have them for a reason.

Listing to the Bush radio cast from last weekend, he pulled a line that I just loath: “Immigrants are needed because they will do work that other Americans will not.” BULL SHIT. Here’s why: One cannot live on $5.25 an hour. PERIOD. If the local McDonalds paid $10 to flip burgers and take out trash, I’d probably be there right now. If sweeping the sidewalk with a leaf-blower paid $15 to start, I KNOW I’d be there right now. Americans born and raised in America know this, and they seek to become ABOVE this. Illegal immigrants coming here to escape the chains of LESS than $5.25, they see a nice place to make ends meet and raise a family, but with modern Cost of Living that’s a sorry lie built upon outdated American FUD. Ask any citizen what their time is worth, I promise it’s a lot more than minimum wage. The reason those wages are so low? Here in Texas it’s no secret, it’s common practice, illegal immigrants are more than willing to settle for minimum, and sometimes LESS! After all, they are illegal; one is already breaking the law hiring them, so why lose out any more?

So what does this mean? It means that businesses can keep less desirable jobs low wage, fire citizens as they rise in pay rank, and keep on the illegal workers for cheap. The best part is, the government doesn't care! Just an audit phone call every once in a while when too many SS numbers don't add up. Solution? While I don’t agree with it completely, a discussion with my father yielded this cure all: Make hiring an illegal a crime punishable by no less that one year in jail for the company owner, and no less than 2 million dollars in fines for each illegal employee.

So some of our pals came up from Waco for the weekend, you know, for a LAN party. Well anyway, apparently being the only fool with PCI Express is quite nasty, and being the only fool with PCI Express and no PCI Express card to fill it out is down right heresy. The remedy? Give out your old 6800 AGP to Thomas and receive a 7600 PCI Ex in exchange. No cost, no fees, no nothing, just "here, have a slightly better video card, you punk!"

Getting ready for SummerTech, about to place an order for a new laptop HDD, got an external kit for my old one. I’m also preparing for a journey to the dreaded realm of ex-employment known as the “Town East Mall” to get some new “stylized, over priced, made in china, coverings,” you know, for my glorious pasty white outer man flesh. I avoid articles with some other dudes name clearly visible on them, it’s not like I’m going out with Abercrombie or Fitch, or anybody like that, so why tattoo my outer man flesh coverings with their names? I donno either, but they charge a lot for it.

Getting down from months to weeks.



While I'm at it: GPU Review!

So every Wednesday we go out for some fast-food junk, fire up the laptop, crank the stereo system to 11, and s-video it all up for dinner with Bleach!

It's one of those fighting shows that's really dumb, but highly entertaining in that when it ever decides to take its self seriously, you can't help but fall right in. The last two weeks have been hour long specials, and this week's episode was top notch, right back to what made us love the series in the first place: A main character who's strength, resolve, and idiocy allow him to face any challenge and beat it. Word on the street is that Adult Swim is going to air this at midnight soon... mmm, prepare for some sleepless nights.

I'm also following two other shows this year that have really caught my imagination this year: Mushishi, and Ergo Proxy.

Mushishi is a show where each episode is self contained, all featuring the exploits of a travailing exorcist of sorts. Think animal planet meats ghost busters, seriously mellow, and in feudal era Japan. The music is quiet awesome as well, kind of an ambient bamboo percussion to highlight the rather gritty and surreal stories.

Ergo Proxy is 1984/Matrix/Blade Runner/Brazil all rolled into one show that takes it's self very seriously. It's wonderfully drawn, and beautifully animated. It's got a nice balance of talk and action to keep you on your toes. If I give out much more than that I'd ruin it for you.

I would like now to engage in a bit of political discussion.

To start, here is a quiz to help plot your general view: World's Smallest Political Quiz

You may notice a bit of bais in those questions, it does lean libertarian, which is my current party of choice.

from their site:

What is a Libertarian?

Libertarians believe that you have the right to live your life as you wish, without the government interfering -- as long as you don’t violate the rights of others. Politically, this means Libertarians favor rolling back the size and cost of government, and eliminating laws that stifle the economy and control people’s personal choices.

lp.org

So where do you stand in this crazy world of ours? I've chosen to cherry pick from both left and right wing, dropping the bits I found illogical or against my totally pro-choice nature. Less government leash and more personal responsibility for me please.

I have a great deal of discussion with my roommate, such as the issue of drugs. He says, and with good reason, that they are right to be illegal, that they should be banned outright as they are, for they are clearly dangerous. When under such potent chemical influence, it clearly and profoundly impairs an individual to do silly, and often highly dangerous acts.

Even so, I stand fast to pro-choice, that if one wishes to engage in a clearly dangerous act, then only he is responsible for his actions. If he hurts someone, regardless of chemical influence, he should be punished to the full extent of the law. The government is not in the position to prevent one from making mistakes, however, it is in the position to punish for them.

It is often difficult to maintain this position, especially when so many people suffer, but if you issue bans and controls on one issue, it makes it easier to do the same for others. Where do you draw the line? And, who can be trusted to draw them?

On this day 23 years ago, the world was made a better place.

I hope to maintain this level of awesome for at least another 23.