Youu know what we need?

[rubato]

Just as a matter of state pride, cultural enrichment, and acknowledging our own forbears we more state stuff. Like these forward thinking Alaskans did with their state rifle:

http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_ne ... b2370.html

Parnell signs bill designating state gun

The Associated Press Jul 30, 2014 (…)

JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska will now have an official state bolt-action rifle.

Gov. Sean Parnell this week signed legislation giving that distinction to the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70, in a range of calibers.

Sure they made a good start with the California poppy, desert tortoise, that cute little quail, and anything with a richly descriptive name like smilodon fatalis just nominates itself

And they made some real progress with the avocado and the artichoke although I don't think they were working that hard to come up with the California State Historical Society as the State Historical Society nd then they rattled off Gold, the Gray Whale, and the Garibaldi and a few more but I think all of this exhausting effort ended up with a 3-martini lunch and a siesta after which they lost the thread so I was thinking you might help suggest some other unfilled categories of state symbols that we could start filling in.

Like:
State Stapler (Swingline, the choice of California hipsters everywhere)
State Parasite ( Heartworm? )
State Garden tool ( I think Hoe and spade are already taken, otherwise. )
State Mass Delusion? (Scientology? Mary Baker Eddy? The evil of GMOs?)

Well what do you think?


yrs,
rubato

[Big RR]

And for the state book, The Necronomicon, featured in low and high budget Hollywood horror films alike.

[rubato]

An interesting choice but the Calif. connection via the movies is a little indirect and lets in pretty much anything from anywhere, if you get my drift. Pithy though. A little dark, not jolly outgoing and friendly like "smilodon".

Lovecraft wrote[7] that the title, as translated from the Greek language, meant "an image of the law of the dead": nekros - νεκρός ("dead"), nomos - νόμος ("law"), eikon - εικών ("image")

Ok, I'm in.

What do we do about the state novel though? Too many choices to sort through. The Octopus, East of Eden, Day of the Locust, Dianetics (the new science of modern mental health!).


yrs,
rubato

[dales]

CA State Firearm



The TEC-9 a POS firearm used by thugs and other low-lifes in CA.

[Sue U]

What do we do about the state novel though?

I'd pick The Big Sleep.

State bacterium has to be E. coli (it's popular, so get it before someone else does), although a strong case could also be made for N. gonorrheae.

[rubato]

The TEC-9.

Definitely a local connection there.

Shootings

At 2:57 p.m. 55-year-old failed entrepreneur[1] Gian Luigi Ferri (born December 29, 1937, as Gianluigi Ettore Ferri) entered an office building at 101 California Street in San Francisco, and made his way to the offices of the law firm Pettit & Martin on the 34th floor. Ferri's reason for targeting the firm is unknown; P&M redirected him to alternative legal counsel about some real estate deals in the Midwest in 1981, and had no contact with him in the 12 years since. They could not advise him on matters out of state. After exiting an elevator, Ferri donned a pair of ear protectors and opened fire with a pair of TEC-9 handguns and a Norinco NP44 (a Chinese-manufactured copy of the Colt M1911 pistol)[citation needed]. He reportedly used a mix of Black Talon hollow point and standard ammunition, and used Hellfire trigger systems for the TEC-9 pistols. After roaming the 34th floor, he moved down one floor through an internal staircase and continued shooting. The attack continued on several floors before Ferri committed suicide as San Francisco Police closed in. Eight people were killed in the attack, and six others injured.[2]

The reason for the shootings was never determined. A typed letter left behind by Ferri contained a list of complaints,[3] but the letter was largely unintelligible. 4 single spaced pages in length, the letter contained many grammatical errors, misspellings and was typed in all caps.[4] Ferri claimed he had been poisoned by monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer in food, and that he had been "raped" by Pettit & Martin and other firms. The letter also contained complaints against the Food and Drug Administration, the legal profession (which he claimed gave "allegiance to the monarchy"), and a list of over 30 "criminals, rapists, racketeeres [sic], lobbyists", none of whom were among his actual victims.[5] Pettit & Martin occupied floors 33 (partial floor) and 34 through 36. The main reception floor was 35 and Ferri intended that floor as a target. His elevator stopped at the 34th floor because a secretary from that floor had pushed the up button for an elevator. As a result Ferri began shooting on the 34th floor and worked his way down to lower floors.

And even a good sales pitch for it: "The TEC-9, when you're really angry and crazy as a bug."


yrs,
rubato

[rubato]

What do we do about the state novel though?

I'd pick The Big Sleep.

State bacterium has to be E. coli (it's popular, so get it before someone else does), although a strong case could also be made for N. gonorrheae.

I almost mentioned The Big Sleep but I thought I was more influenced by the movie.


yrs,
rubato

[Sue U]

Never saw the movie, only read the book; it's pretty much the first thing I think of whenever I think of L.A.

[Lord Jim]

The current State Bird Of California is the California Quail:



Given all the road rage in this state, I propose a new State Bird:



Though there may be a conflict with that...

I believe that may already be the State Bird of New York...

Or is it New Jersey?

[rubato]

Never saw the movie, only read the book; it's pretty much the first thing I think of whenever I think of L.A.

"City of Quartz" and Reyner Banhams "Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies" are interesting overviews. RB taught at UC Santa Cruz near the end of his life and I saw him present his documentaries about the city. The criticisms of the former (C o Q) are pretty accurate but there is a darkness in the sun-seared landscape down there that leaks out in the noir movies and things like "Chinatown". And the fact that when you're reading the LA Times you can't tell if you're in the entertainment section or the business section: both are 'all about movies'.

There is a nice quote from Banham: "Banham said that he learned to drive so he could read the city in the original." Truer words.


yrs,
rubato

[Econoline]

I don't think that State Things have to be exclusive to one state. IIRC several states (including Illinois) call the northern cardinal their Official State Bird (though I'm surprised that no state has yet taken up Jim's suggestion for its OSB!).

I immediately thought of Dianetics for California State Book.

[wesw]

dianetics......

good one econo, good one....

[rubato]

"...
I immediately thought of Dianetics for California State Book.

I suggested it for state novel.

I don't think you can improve on the quail:

Cute little dickenses.



Although they are major polygamists with one or two males taking charge of a large covey of females, maybe they are a tribute to the large Mormon contingent in Calif.?


yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

What's the state fruit? Ohio's is the paw-paw????

[rubato]

What's the state fruit? Ohio's is the paw-paw????

Avocado





yrs,
rubato

[Bicycle Bill]

What's the state fruit? Ohio's is the paw-paw????

-"BB"-

[RayThom]

“Oh, my.”

[kmccune]

How about the state governor ? you know the one before the T-100 .

[MajGenl.Meade]

... one less 'u'
?

[No Greater Fool]

... one less 'u'
?

Took 'u' long enough.