Mar. 9th, 2011

kittydesade: (beautiful day)
Okay. That's another chunk of author bios in that Russian bit down, and only a couple more left for tomorrow. Not so bad! I even managed to get some fair chunk of editing done last night, which is more than I've managed the last couple of nights. Hopefully I can slam through some more of that today. Light incoming, maybe light outgoing, if I can't get day job work done I might as well get writing work done.

Still thinking about bits and pieces I've picked up from studying other languages over time. Little words, the way I respond to people calling my name isn't really in English anymore. It's ... usually in German or Russian, for whatever reason. Bits and pieces that I pronounce in Spanish. Every so often my English goes higgledy piggledy and my grammar goes to pot and I have no idea what happens or what grammar I'm using, but it's not English. And stuff. I don't know what that says about me, which is a bit weird, but oh well. I guess this is what happens when you have exposure to a fair number of languages starting with a couple at an early age and moving on. There may be something in here about the soft theory for Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or whatever it's called these days.

Anyway. Work, and writing work today. Writing scheduling, figuring out what needs to go where and what's due first and so on. How much time I have for everything. The first thing, of course, is the edits. And then... everything else.
kittydesade: (morning ugh)
As always, please do link, reblog, etc. Wisconsin affairs are here as usual or here on DW, previous entries are here on LJ or here on DW.

We're adding a couple of states today: Michigan, for some less directly union-related issues and Idaho, for fuckery that snuck up on me and now requires thinking on and looking into. Because I know that's what you all wanted, more states caught up in this collective bargaining whirlwind. Yay. As always, although I don't think I've explicitly stated this here recently, if you have fuckery or just something that should be paid attention to share with us, please do so.

Ohio
* USA Today via Cincinnati Enquirer reports that 2 GOP reps have been replaced on the House committee reviewing the collective bargaining bill. These two reps also sit on a budget committee, and have stated that they wish to give their full attention to that.
* Ohio News Channel describes Kasich's State of the State address. He says he will not raise taxes, but he wants to create jobs and address sentencing reform and education reform as well as the collective bargaining issue. They also have a report on protesters against Senate Bill 5.
* The Columbus Dispatch reports that House Republicans expect the bill to pass easily, and offers examples of further modifications that might be made to the bill.
* The LA Times provides another description of Kasich's State of the State address, as well as a transcript.

Indiana
* The AFL-CIO announces a rally tomorrow at the Indiana State House building.
* Local News reports that the out of state Senators might attend, and also that Minority Leader Bauer sent a letter to Majority Leader Bosma seeking clarification of the Republicans' position. IndyStar confirms and offers more details.
* This IndyStar Editorial observes that this has grown into more of an overt movement and a stand for beliefs and principles in addition to the political maneuvering.
* Local News reports that the Senate President Pro Tem believes the Democrats are staying away until they've formed an exit strategy where they can save face.
* The Post Tribune has a brief description of the Chamber adjourning for the week.
* The Post Tribune announces a Town Hall meeting for the Indiana House Democrats, information on the link.

New Jersey
* North Jersey dot com describes a report which states the teachers' union spent 6.6 M on an ad campaign against Christie's education cuts.
* Local New Jersey News also reports that Gov. Christie's poll numbers are dropping over the last couple of weeks.
* The New Jersey Herald announces public budget hearings, and how to attend them.
* Currently, the NJ budget proposal would slash education and cut jobs of teachers for the blind.
* And another article offers fact-checking on Christie's budget boasts.
* Bloomberg Business discusses public opinion of public worker benefits.

Iowa
* The DeMoines Register illustrates what the collective bargaining bill would actually do. It also includes a link to the bill.
* Forbes reports on Iowans speaking to lawmakers at a Monday hearing on the bill, most of them against it. The Iowa Independent covers a labor rally yesterday.
* The Chicago Tribune reports that the Iowa House has opened up debate on the bill.

Michigan
* Once again, the bill text
* Business Insider reports that protesters are demonstrating at Michigan's Capitol building, comparing it to Wisconsin.
* Detroit Free Press also covers a rally from yesterday.

Tennessee
* Local Tennessee News reports that a bill to prevent teachers unions from voting members onto the state pension board has passed the Senate. A summary paragraph is phrased thusly: "The proposal would transfer the authority to appoint the three teacher members who serve on the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System's trustee board from the Tennessee Education Association to speakers of the Senate and House, which are both controlled by Republicans."
* The Times Free Press has more on that bill as well.
* NPR reports on a teacher rally against anti-union bills.
* Cookville Times reports on Senate Democrats voicing their concern over these bills.
* The Republic describes Tennessee business leaders supporting a proposal from Gov. Haslam to make it harder for teachers to get and keep tenure.

Idaho
* Fox News and Yahoo News report that a bill was just passed into law in Idaho curtailing teachers' collective bargaining rights. The Governor is expected to sign it soon.
* The Daily Kos goes into some more detail on the bill.

Nevada
There's mention of a Nevada bill running a similar course on Yahoo, as pointed out by a DW commenter, but I can't find anything on a first pass of Nevada press to elaborate. Suggestions, links anyone? Previously used google terms are "Nevada" "collective bargaining" I love my source.
* SB 78 - which is mostly a transparency requirement, making collective bargaining procedures available to the public so they don't seem so shrouded in mystery, though it allows for the temporary freeze on raises and promotions if there is no money. However any such freezes must be revisited & addressed upon the renewal of the agreement.
* SB 41 - Eliminates mandatory collective bargaining. This is the one that is liable to be the most controversial. It's from the governor. It says local governments can bargain with unions, but they don't have to do so. However, [in the words of my source] the Democrats still hold power here, and they got elected by unions--they won't shoot themselves that much in the foot and lose what little power they have left.
* S.B. 162 - Eliminates 2 things that are required to be bargained about--how layoff are done and the policies for transferring teachers, but leaves everything else in place.
* And there are murmurings of other things to come, but so far that's all they are, murmurings.
kittydesade: (sorely fucking tested)
Well. So much for the Voice of the Resistance. Or, indeed, the voice of the people at all. Fuck you, Governor Walker. Fuck you very much. That is not how a democracy works. I'm not even in your state and I hate you. That's not how a democracy works.

I'm too tired to muster up words of outrage. I did, at least, make a good start on learning Beat The Devil's Tattoo (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) on the guitar. It doesn't sound quite right, but that's the tabs I have for it so, hey. I'll start with that and then figure out what's next, but it looks pretty simple to play. I hope.

God, I'm tired. And disappointed, and sad. I like living in a democracy. I like living in a country where I can believe that the people decide things. Or rather, we elect representatives to hear our views and then take them to a body politic where they argue and debate and hopefully work out something that benefits everyone. Not corporations. It isn't even only about collective bargaining rights, it's about health care for everyone, and affordable education, and, Christ, Walker. Why don't you just put a big "Taco Bell" sign on everything and call it a day? Stamp: Property of [Big Corporation] on Wisconsin. Fuck you, Walker. The United States does not exist to cater to your ideas of what's right and wrong, you were elected to serve the people, not your ends or beliefs. You don't even believe this is right for Wisconsin, you believe this is right for you, you self-serving little shit.

Oh, hell. I'm tired and I don't have the energy to rant in full voice. This isn't how a democracy works. This is how regimes take power. Quickly, before any dissension can be heard, and with as little power to anyone else as possible. Jackass. Congratulations, Walker, you have become the first politician I have come this close to wishing assassination upon. Not quite there yet, I don't like assassination, it sets a messy precedent and is unfair to the families of the politicians. But damn. Loathing.

Anyway, killing you now wouldn't help anything.

Happy things, because there's not much I can do in this state. Learning Beat The Devil's Tattoo on the guitar. Figuring out a writing schedule. Getting things edited. All the governors who have already said no, I have no intention of stripping collective bargaining rights from workers, there's no point. Carpet shark kitties. Toughened fingertips. Bruce Boxleitner, maybe I should put on some Babylon 5. Warm laundry. Springtime.

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