Pretty sure "Namaste, motherfucker" is a Madrigalism.

I'm generally "yay, law," but the new AZ immigration law is particularly stupid and pernicious. I can't see a way of enforcing this without treating a whole lot of non-white Arizonians as criminal suspects. I'm having trouble seeing any other law breaking concern being handled in such a ham-fisted manner. How about murder? I see that as a far more serious crime than illegal immigration. 90% of the murders in the western world are committed by men. Shall we have random DNA checks of males in the US to see if they match evidence from murder scenes? There's also a sharp peak in murders committed by those between 17 and 30 years of age. Are all of you young whippersnappers willing to put up with random stops to make sure you don't have bodies in your car trunks? No, we're not going to do that, because it would be a stupid waste of resources and, oh, hey, a ginormous civil rights violation. But now someone with dark skin needs to be ready and able at all times to prove they're not a criminal in AZ. Utter bullshit.

I really need to take newer pictures of my house. After I get some more stuff put up. I really need to make prints of my favorite trip pictures. And a quilt hanger. And get furniture, not rubbermaid tubs, for end tables in the guest room.

And, yes, we constantly prove that we are not precisely different from any other creature that has evolved into their current form and is focused on self interests.

This is interesting; certainly biologically true, and I know that I am (a) pretty selfish and self-centered and (b) very much would kill or maim to retain my own life and safety, or that of loved ones, if directly threatened.

OTOH, I also believe that humans have these nice spicy brains (thanks, Barb! MWAH!) so that we may think about and, hopefully, act upon things that are outside the realm of self. I think it's a constant human challenge, balancing the two. I'm amazed by people who are much more selfless and compassionate and other-centered than I, because I find it amazingly difficult to do, in my own deeply flawed way.

But I feel that the attempts to continue to do so are deeply worth it. For me.

EDIT: spelling, and good lord: can I have more commas?!

I had something pertinent to say about immigration earlier but i got pulled away. You will all love the reason. A client of mine, an "illegal" is currently in immigration jail in AZ. He's days away from deportation. We filed a very Hail Mary style request to stay his deportation and it was granted! No word on the ultimate decision but i spent my afternoon making sure ICE didn't "accidentally" deport him while claiming they had no idea of our granted stay.

This particular client is not the greatest guy in the world. He has some criminal history and i might not want him to be my neighbor. Having said that, he is the husband of a US citizen who loves him and the father of a US citizen daughter who is 3. He also has been the father to a US citizen girl, 11, whose American father can't be bothered to either visit her or pay child support. His deportation was facilitated by a government attorney who totally violated normal rules of due process and a judge who let him do it because these things are okay in immigration court. Did he come here "illegally"? Yes. Has he committed crimes? Yes. Does he deserve to be separated from his wife, daughter and step-daughter for life because of it? I don't think so.

(Thanks, Cass, I thought I was pretty clear)

I really need to make prints of my favorite trip pictures.

Ha! I JUST sent an email to some folks to help me pick some pics from my Flikr page because I can't seem to decide!

Pretty sure "Namaste, motherfucker" is a Madrigalism.

I associate it with Madrigal. Um, every time I say it inside my head. Which is rather a lot.

so that we may think about and, hopefully, act upon things that are outside the realm of self. I think it's a constant human challenge, balancing the two.

Personally, I think the potential is absolutely there. I just wish I saw more of it.

What/who is Madrigal? I remember someone with that name on Salon.

Namaste Mofo

I just wish I saw more of it.

Indeed. Le sigh.

Oh, Madrigal! Madrigal was sly and clever and dry. Miss her! Anyone stay in contact with her?

Stephanie, I always think of this case: [link] [link] when I think of how broken our immigration laws are. (Alvarado is now a jockey in Canada.)