It used to be "In the PI"

I was reading old posts and came across a prohetic statement I made.

http://crappiblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/signature-season-decline-to-sign.html#links

Where I wrote the following on March 17, 2006

"Now I can understand the PI editorial board feeling a little betrayed by the democratic process, I mean, we’ve elected President Bush twice, we clearly can’t be trusted to make decisions on our own behalf. Seeing as how today is St. Patrick’s day, a toast to the PI seems appropriate, but I think I’ll put my bottle on the self and save the toast for the day the PI puts their last drop of ink on a page and closes shop forever."

I'm happy to report that a mere three years later, the PI did indeed put that last drop of ink on a page as they printed their last issue.

The PI laments the change in advertising that caused thier demise, I point out once again the root cause was their far to left leaning slant, you can't sell a "Newspaper" when it's filled with opinion and adgenda masquarading as "news"

Retention Bonus Maddness

From an email I sent to Glenn Beck in response to his comments on the AIG rentention bonuses.

Dear Glenn,

I was the recipient of a retention bonus last year and I'm so glad you've distributed the resignation letter from Jake DeSantis.

I was working for a company that went through a consolidation, and a large round of layoffs. I have a MS degree in my field and specialized knowledge of our product line, and at the time was contacted a couple times a week by recruiters. My company offered me a retention contract, just like the folks at AIG, it stated that I'd receive a bonus equal to a percentage of my salary, 20% after three months and the remainder paid at the end of the 12 month period.
Based on that contract, I decided to stay with my company. I had to forgo opportunities with other companies and the associated increase in compensation from moving to a new employer. My retention period ended just as the economy was starting to slow down, so I also lost the opportunity to make a move when the job market was hot.

In other words, in exchange for compensation, I agreed to forgo other opportunities I agreed to stay and help my current company. I cannot tell you how furious I would have been if my company had not fulfilled their promise to me, and I don't think there is a name for the shade of red I'd be seeing I Barney Frank and those self righteous idiots in congress would have passed legislation to take 60% more in taxes than I had to pay.

I'm not even sure such a 90% surcharge is legal, congress can't pass post facto laws, and their ability to interfere in the ability of an individual to contract with another individual or corporation seems un-American to me. Isn't enough that the federal government can't leave the minimum wage alone, they now have to dictate the maximum wage someone can earn?

New anti-spam snailmail box

I need a new mailbox, yesterday I went to see if there was anything good in there, maybe from Publisher's Clearinghouse, and it was full, to the top, of junk.

Catalogs, solicitations, an offer to join Doctors Without Borders, which comes with an honorary degree from Bob's Upstairs Medical School.

Doesn't USPS have a SPAM filter? I guess I'll need this mailbox, copyright, me, 2009, all rights reserved, patent pending.

How about this for a Global Warming Picture

Instead of this:

Nokia Siemens Networks Trademark

For Immediate Release:

February 7th, 2007

PepsiCo sues to block new Nokia Siemens Network Logo citing trademark infringement.

Purchase, NY—Frito Lay, a division of PepsiCo filed suit today in federal district court seeking to block the use of the logo representing newly merged Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). Citing the similarity between the NSN logo and the popular Ruffles brand potato chip, attorneys for Frito Lay are seeking an injunction baring Nokia Siemens Networks from launching any marketing campaign using the newly created icon.

Charles Nicolas, Vice President of Public Affairs for Frito Lay, insisted at a press conference earlier today that irrevocable harm to the Ruffles brand would result from any use of the NSN logo. “Consumers associate delicious Ruffles Potato Chips with the distinctive ridged shape,” Nicolas said, “we had to act to make sure there would be no confusion in the marketplace.”

Chip lovers have come to know that “R R R Ruffles Have Ridges!” The thick ridges of Ruffles Potato Chips help hold more great potato chip flavors and stand up to the thickest dips. “We’ve delivered the Triple Play of Ruffles, Dip, and an ice cold Pepsi, now Nokia Siemens Networks is attempting to confuse consumers with their ‘voice, data, and video’ triple play.” Nicolas asserted. “How well does a Flexi Base Station Platform stand up to a thick ranch dip fresh from the refrigerator?”

Simon Beresford-Wylie, CEO-designate of Nokia Siemens Networks disagrees with Nicolas’ assertion. “First of all, the Flexi Base Station is housed in a high impact ABS plastic housing, which, one would assume, could support more dip than all but the thickest potato chip” Beresford-Wylie retorted. “Second, Nokia Siemens Networks is offering an integrated product portfolio that allows our customers to offer the quad play of voice, data, video, and wireless. How does Frito Lay intend to step up to the quad play? By adding a napkin?”

Legal analysts give the lawsuit little chance of success, but concede that the Nokia Siemens Networks logo does look remarkably similar to both Ruffles and Lay’s Wavy potato chips.

Ruffles Potato Chip

Nokia Siemens Networks Logo

Report on climate to include 'smoking gun' on global warming

We're entering a period of increased global warming hysteria designed to scare boomers retiring in Florida into supporting wacky liberal policy to forestall rising see levels which would put America's least majestic land mass under inches of seawater. Since this would throw a serious crimp in many senior's golf and early bird dinner special plans, they're happy to throw the financial burden of carbon neutral policies on top of prescription drugs, Medicare, and social security.

Before I move on to my main points regarding global warming, let me remind all those fear crazed codgers that Soylent Green is still people, and the trade imbalance with China, a country that has trouble producing enough food to feed its population will require creative solutions.

Back to the news, or what passes for news in the PI which today reports:

Report on climate to include 'smoking gun' on global warming

Which is interesting since:

"The NASA study also discovered the sun has been undergoing a period of particularly strong solar output since the late 1970s, which correlates with warming temperatures after a 30-year global cooling period." http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030321075236.htm

What? you mean the sun (look it up Seattle, it's the big ball of fire you see North of Mount Rainer when the monsoon season ends), which heats the Earth, doesn't have a Honeywell thermostat which keeps it's output at a constant 70 degrees? Could it be that sometimes more of the Sun's energy hits the Earth than at other times? If only we had an example of this variation in temperature caused by the amount of Solar Radiation hitting the Earth--oh wait, we do, we call that variation SEASONS.

Now stay with me, and I'll type slowly for those of you who are new to the concept: In summer more radiation hits the hemisphere pointed toward the sun and it's warmer, in winter, less energy arrives and it's colder.

So far we have two facts in evidence 1. More Sun=warmer, 2. In the past 30 years, there has been more Sun.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and draw a conclusion from the facts in evidence: The Sun is causing the slight amount of cyclical global warming.

Clearly we should do something about the Sun. Perhaps Congressional hearings? Censure? I'm not a parliamentarian, but can you Impeach the Sun? If so what celestial body would serve out it's term?

But, you say, Global Warming is still the biggest threat to humanity. Not so fast Al, in fact, Russian scientists predict a minor cooling period toward the end of this century:

"Basing their conclusions on patterns in solar cycles that have corresponded with past global temperature changes, the Russian scientists conclude the upcoming decade will be the last one of relative warmth until well after the year 2100. They released their findings in an Interfax news release on November 22.

Climatologists generally agree the Little Ice Age lasted from roughly the fourteenth through the nineteenth centuries. The prolonged cold temperatures shortened growing seasons and corresponded with periods of shrinking human populations." http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/08/25/globalcooling.shtml

So, it appears as though the science isn't conclusive, the debate isn't over, and one is forced to question the agenda of those pushing the man made global warming scenario. In fact, the 1/2 degree increase in global temperatures that one can attribute to increased greenhouse gasses (man made or natural), may actually help maintain arable land as the planet cools over the next 100 years.

With that in mind, coupled with the fact that Since February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol has cost US$ 290,258,231,863 while potentially saving an undetectable 0.003010085 °C by the year 2050. http://www.junkscience.com/ I am amazed that the global warming lobby gets any attention at all. Shouldn't we be busy dismantling government, instead of creating new intrusions into average citizen's everyday lives?

UPDATE April 12, 2007: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html

Wow, Mars is warming too!!! Must be those Martian SUVs. I mean what else could be the connection between two different planets in the "SOLAR" system?

The Seattle Times: Editorials & Opinion: Climate change heats up

The Seattle Times: Editorials & Opinion: Climate change heats up

As it turns out, every planet in the solar system is experiencing warming. Which means, if we take the man-made global warming alarmists at face value; 8/9ths of the planets that orbit our sun are warming due to solar activity, while 1/9 of the planets orbiting our sun are warming due to man's actions.

Pretty ludicrous to me, as I understand it, if the sun puts out more energy, more of that energy will hit the earth, and the earth will absorb more of the energy, which results in a slight rise in the temperature of the earth.

Stop me if I move to fast for you.

Here's the link to info on increased solar activity http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/sun_output_030320.html

The Seattle Times: Sports: We all lose out if we lose the NBA

The Seattle Times: Sports: We all lose out if we lose the NBA

Actually, only a few thousand people loose if the Sonics leave, the majority of us win. We win because we no longer help finance the entertainment of a few thousand basketball fans by subsidizing their team. If the Sonics, a private business, cannot make a profit in Seattle without an influx of taxpayer money, they should move.

And that goes for all tax breaks and subsidies, taxpayers shouldn't pay part of the operating expenses of a private business, a business that can't support itself should leave the area, or close its doors.

Idiots to vote in New Jersey-Democrat victory assured

The democrat leader of the New Jersey Senate wants to remove language from that state's constitution that prohibits idots from voting. This will ensure that idots, a solidly democrat voting block will continue to put liberals in office in the great stank of New Jersey.

GMA not to blame for housing prices----Really?

In a guest editorial in this morning's Times, Aaron Ostrom and Carla Okigwe argue that the growth management act isn't to blame for median home prices in King County that exceed $440,000.00.

They cite as their primary evidence a Brookings Institute study that asserts that "market demand, not land constraints, is the primary determinant of housing prices".

Since our guest columnists are liberals, it shouldn't surprise any of us that they missed the critical third leg of the market demand/land constraint relationship, something Adam Smith(the economist, not the congressman) called SUPPLY!

An appropriate analogy to the market forces that dictate housing prices in our region is the diamond market. Diamonds are carbon, one of the most prevalent atoms on the planet, and diamonds are far from rare. The reason diamonds are expensive is that the supply is limited by a cartel that owns the majority of the world's diamond mines, while creating demand through aggressive and effective marketing.

In the Puget Sound, land is the artificially limited resource, we have LOTs of it, but due to regulation, most land is unavailable for use, which increases the price of that land private owners are ALLOWED to use as they see fit.

Think of this scenario, what would happen if we woke up tomorrow morning and suddenly discovered a 30% increase in the amount of available housing in King County, not in Renton, nobody wants to live there, but in desirable areas. Housing prices would plunge. Every real estate agent will tell you "It's a seller's market" partially because they are paid a commission on the selling price no matter which party they represent, but mostly because the supply of housing is kept artificially low by regulation, which our government justifies as required by the Growth Management Act.

Demand will not magically increase just because more houses are available; demand is a function of the number of people who choose to live in the region. Those people come here mostly for jobs, which, even in our robust economy are a limited resource. Bringing in 30% more people won't create 30% more jobs in the region.

In addition, I question the wisdom of letting government artificially limit the supply of any resource that they have a vested interest in the value of, to wit, high housing prices means higher tax assessments, which means more dollars contributed to the state in the form of property taxes.

So Aaron Ostrom and Carla Okigwe, I reject your argument, you are either using flawed logic to reach your conclusion that growth management regulation doesn't affect housing prices, or you are deliberately obfuscating the facts to advance your political agenda.

Light rail chosen to link Seattle, Eastside

Light rail chosen to link Seattle, Eastside

Global warming, light rail in the Puget Sound, and the Easter Bunny, these are just three things people insist on believing in although there is no evidence that they do, or should exist.

Lets say we need to move people from Seattle to Los Angeles, what is the fastest, most efficient, lowest cost way to do that? Is it to build a 1000 miles of magnetic levitation high speed train track, or to put people in busses and on airplanes?

Roads and busses already exist in the Puget Sound, why spend billions to move very few people in an inflexible fashion from one side of the lake to the other.

I vote, drain Lake Washington and lay down more Pavement.

34 states to sue chip makers for price fixing

34 states to sue chip makers for price fixing

When did the law of supply and demand i.e. I have a product to sell, I set the price, if you want it and are willing to pay what I'm asking then you buy my product, if the price is too high, don't buy it and I'll eventually have to lower my prices to what the market will bear.

Government is out of control, price controls are un-American, and retroactive price controls are unbelievable.

Chicken lays mystery Allah egg�|�Reuters.com

Chicken lays mystery Allah egg��Reuters.com

A chicken in a Kazakh village has laid an egg with the word "Allah" inscribed on its shell, state media reported Thursday.

Wow, I guess a thousand chickens shitting eggs for a thousand years will eventually crap islam out of their butts. Moses gets a burning bush, Mohammed gets an omelet.

Flag Burning Amendment Fails, and that's a good thing.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell voted against a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, and while it pains me to, I have to agree with Cantwell on flag burning. Language itself is symbolic, the sequence of letters in the word "cat" is not itself a small furry annoying animal, but we who speak English understand that those letters together stand for, or symbolize said mammal.
We understand the allegorical nature of the phrase "cool cat" which doesn't mean a feline with a below average core temperature, but an individual with admirable personality traits.

If reasonable people can agree that language itself is symbolic, and we describe our flag as the symbol of our country (not our country, but the Symbol of our country) than why is it such a leap to agree that a symbolic statement (i.e. speech) against our country could very well involve a flag, even burning a flag?

And if we can begin to see how some can make the connection between symbols and speech, even involving our flag, don't we as defenders of freedom and advocates for the constitution have to defend the First Amendment by defending some hippie's right to offend us to our core by burning an American Flag?

I've got a deal for the liberals, you all give up hate speech legislation, and we'll stop trying to ban flag burning, fair enough?

FOXNews.com - Study: Talking on Cell Phone as Dangerous as Driving Drunk - Science News | Current Articles

FOXNews.com - Study: Talking on Cell Phone as Dangerous as Driving Drunk - Science News Current Articles

So here's an idea, rather than making illegal to talk on cell phones while driving, why not just de-criminalize drunk driving?

I tell you this much, since some of the participants in the study crashed while talking on the cell phone and none crashed when drunk, it might be a good idea to have a couple of drinks before making a call from the road.

FOXNews.com - Bare Back Mountain Nudists Throw a Very Open House - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

FOXNews.com - And Now This From the Tell-It-Like-It-Is Department ...

A Michigan man faces 30 days in jail on a contempt charge for writting

Bull Shit Money Grab

On a check used to pay a parking ticket.

Since when did it become illegal to have contempt for government? It's the American way to protest things we feel are unfair!

I have little but contempt for government at all levels and a message for all elected officials and judges.

You are not special, you do not deserve some sort of deference based on your job, you're not aristocrisy, you are a citizen just like the rest of us.

The government has no authority to restrict comments critical of the government, that is the foundation of our country, No law abridging the exercise of free speach.

Candidate McGavick goes on offensive over Safeco

Candidate McGavick goes on offensive over Safeco

Bill Virgin writes:

If the campaign wants to do itself a favor it can spare us the chatter about "the market sets CEO compensation." Even if that were true -- and it's not -- it's pretty sorry rationalization that will only make it look silly.

Not that I exact a reporter to understand market forces, Bill probably thinks when someone says "the market" they mean Pike Place, so his confusion is understandable. The lack of understanding regarding THE MARKET is why Bill and his fellow PI reporters will be looking for new jobs before long, they no longer produce a product that enough people are choosing to purchase, and the PI will thankfully be out of business soon.

What Bill fails to do is define who actually does set wage rates, perhaps the government sets minimum wages for executives as well as the 3% of entry level workers who get at least $5.15 an hour.

Bill, the market is that space where individuals exchange goods and services in an arrangement where each party to the transaction receives value equivalent to, or greater than the resource they choose to exchange. The shareholders of Safeco hired McGavick and structured his compensation package to meet their business goal of increasing the value of Safeco, and the price of their holdings. The shareholders had other options, they could have hired me for a lot less, but I have to confess, I don't really have the executive experience in the insurance industry to create the results McGavick did.

So Bill in preparation for your next job, I recommend a reading assignment, Adam Smith wrote An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations it's about an obscure concept called economics, and the supremacy of market forces, a concept that works every time it's tried.

New state online gambling law raises doubts

New state online gambling law raises doubts

Dear State Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton,

Your sponsorship of the recently enacted internet gambling ban appears problematic. Your district includes Renton, home to may brick and mortar casinos. Your PDC report shows a number of donations from casinos and gambling interests, which brings me to my point.

I believe your sponsorship of the internet gambling ban is a blatant political payback to the gambling industry, so prevalent in your district, for their support of your candidacy. You have enacted legislation which criminalizes behavior the state should have no role in controlling, you’ve done it for political gain. Shame on you senator.

When you sell political influence as you have clearly done, you abrogate the trust the people, the smell of corruption creates animosity between the voters and government representatives.

When a citizen can place a wager directly with the state via the lottery, or in person at more than one hundred brick and mortar casinos in the state, the issue at stake is clearly not gambling, it is where those gambling dollars go, whether the state can tax the revenue, and in the end if it stays in your district for future campaign contributions.

Sincerely,
Dan Covey

nykola.com | bothering people since 1981

The Cult of the Offended


What someone is saying when they claim offense is that their right to not be exposed to an idea they're uncomfortable with supersedes your right to put forth that idea. In fact, we Americans have contracted with one another under the Constitution to allow our neighbors rights and privileges we might never personally choose to exercise.

It seems to be a lack of critical thinking skills on the part of the terminally offended to advocate you abrogate your rights to free speech so they can exercise their imagined right to a life free of cognitive dissonance.

FOXNews.com - Report: Hundreds of WMDs Found in Iraq - U.S. Senate

FOXNews.com - Report: Hundreds of WMDs Found in Iraq - U.S. Senate

Well I can't wait for the flood of liberal retractions, their mantra that "Bush lied, people died" is predicated on their assertion that there are no WMDs, now that we've announced that we've found WMDs, which we know Saddam had and used on the Kurds, I expect a change to "Bush was right, continue the fight"

State law changed to rename King County

State law changed to rename King County

Originally named after Franklin Pierce's Vice President, William King, our government decided to spend a half a million dollars to Rename the county after Dr. Martin L. King because the former VP was a slave owner.

Now I'm a King fan, but the French didn't rename their country just because their king was a jerk, and they’re cheese eating surrender monkeys.

So now that we've set a precedent, here are some suggestions for re-naming the rest of Washington's counties to honor the more deserving:

Pierce County
Before: Named for 14th US President Franklin Pierce.
After: Pierce County will henceforth be named for Frasier actor David Hyde Pierce.

Garfield County
Before: Named for 20th President James Garfield.
After: Garfield County will henceforth be named for the lovable lasagna scarfing cat.

Douglas County
Before: Named for Lincoln's Presidential opponent and supporter of slavery.
After: Douglas County will henceforth be named for War of the Roses actor Michael Douglas.

Adams County
Before: Honoring our first American father/son Presidents, John and John Q. Adams, the 2nd and 6th respectively.
After: Adams County will henceforth be named for Canadian Rocker Brian Adams.

Grant County
Before: Named for warmongering General Ulysses S. Grant our 18th President.
After: Grant County will henceforth be named for monetary grants from the federal government.

Jefferson County
Before: Named for drafter of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd President Thomas Jefferson.
After: Jefferson County will henceforth be named for fictional dry cleaner George Jefferson.

Lincoln County
Well I guess nobody can object to Lincoln.

Finally the state of Washington itself, originally named for the father of our country George Washington will henceforth be named in honor of Training Day star Denzel Washington.

Abortion Rights: Dakota Plan B

Abortion Rights: Dakota Plan B

The Seattle PI editorial board writes the following:

We're not terribly big fans of voters second-guessing representative democracy. But the legislators in South Dakota have provided the exception that proves the rule.

I think what the board means is that they're not a big fan of voters participating in decisions that affect their lives. The PI knows that voters are too stupid to participate in government, and that legislators should be trusted to pander to the most vocal advocacy groups without fear that reasonable, rational citizens will intervene in a government out of control on multiple fronts.

Video Games' Chaos Echoed In Streets, D.C. Leaders Say (washingtonpost.com)

Video Games' Chaos Echoed In Streets, D.C. Leaders Say (washingtonpost.com)

Rogier van Bakel at Nobody's Business, a fine blog, challenges advocates of video game bans and warning labels to justify their approach to digital media in light of the predicted public outrage if busybodies tried the same tactic with printed books.

I don't think the people who want to ban sales of video games read much, I know none of them has reviewed the Constitution in quite a while. It's the type of disingenuous pandering that all Americans should call shenanigans on, but what the heck, I rarely play video games, why should I care if they restrict your freedom...I'm sure they'll never pass any laws that affect my ability to write, think, act, in any way I see fit, or to be secure in my person, own a firearm, elect senators by popular vote.

I mean politicians are all about selflessly preserving the liberties of their constituents...Aren't they?

FOXNews.com - China Wants Man on Moon by 2024, Scientist Says - Science News | Current Articles

FOXNews.com - China Wants Man on Moon by 2024, Scientist Says - Science News | Current Articles

With China's population problems, they'll need to put more than one man on the moon come 2024, with their one child policy and preference for sons, they'll need to put 30 percent of their male population there to head off enormous societal problems.

Sound Politics: County Council Hearing on Vote-By-Mail

Sound Politics: County Council Hearing on Vote-By-Mail

Dear Residents of King County,

Notice I did not address you as citizens, because that would imply that I desire and would accept your participation governing my county. Truth be told, I know what's best for you, and while I don't often say it, it's obvious to me that you're too stupid to make the important decisions for yourselves.

Let's take an honest look at how I’ve made your lives better over the past ten years, I’ve designated 100,000 acres of land as green space. Sure this limits the available places to build homes for young, growing families, and artificially increases the price of houses, but think of all of the additional property tax dollars I collect from bloated property values. Those dollars are used for programs that make life better for selected King County Residents.

Besides, young families should live in high density urban housing, where they have access to transit, which cuts down on the number of cars on the roads, and are close to day care so both parents can work. I’ve worked on making it harder to drive a car in the Puget Sound for years, and I’m proud of the results we’re seeing today.

So all of you who are upset about not being able to go to the polls and get your little “I Voted” stickers need to consider the bigger picture, the greater good if you will. Open, honest elections create an unacceptable risk of Democrats not winning important seats. If we loose power, who will tell you where to live, what to put in your body, and how much of your paycheck you can keep?

So this November, vote, or don’t…I don’t really care anymore, I’m so excited about the new VBM law I can hardly wait until after the election to release the results.

King County Executive for Life,

Ron Sims

The Seattle Times: Opinion: The supreme confidence to say "no" to government

The Seattle Times: Opinion: The supreme confidence to say "no" to government

You'd never think to see an article this pro constructionist judge in the Times, but Kudos to Bruce Ramsey for pointing out some major blunders by the sitting Washington Supreme Court.

Bruce comes dang close to endorsing these two conservative candidates, on behalf of me, thank you Bruce.

FOXNews.com - Widespread Protests Precede 'Da Vinci Code' Premiere - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

FOXNews.com - Widespread Protests Precede 'Da Vinci Code' Premiere - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

Hola amigos, it's been a while since I last wrapped at you. I'd be afraid someone would accuse me of stealing from the onion, but since nobody reads this blog I'm feeling safe.

Anyway, I don't get the controversy, if Christianity is your belief, it's challenged everyday, why all the fuss about a movie? If your "belief" can't stand being challenged by fiction, it's not a belief you understand, it's dogma to you. Why not respond by educating yourself about the first century, the historical Jesus, and the gospels. Then make your own decision. If you don't want to go through that effort just feel free to stick your fingers in your ears and scream at the top of your lungs: "LA LA LA I'M NOT LISTENING TO TOM HANKS" repeat as necessary.

The Seattle Times: Local News: Taking aim at current gun laws

The Seattle Times: Local News: Taking aim at current gun laws

Nicole Broduer fulfilled her duty as a liberal to write the obligitory anti gun column following this crime. I am forced to respond.

One could just as easily point to a reporter, maybe a now retired nationally famous one, using his First Amendment rights in a heinous fashion, lying about National Guard Memo’s, and yet I don’t recall seeing a Seattle Times Editorial decrying freedom of the press. Oh, I know what you’re thinking, that abrogation of the faith we put in our fellow citizens to use their freedom responsibly doesn’t approach the severity and permanence of the loss of so many young lives. How can I compare an innocent mistake with cold blooded murder? I’m forced to draw your attention to the similarities because of Ms. Brodeur’s obligatory knee jerk reaction anti-gun column.

You see while is easy to imagine the pain caused those who lost a loved one, and the temptation is there to exploit this crime to call for more gun control legislation, I think that is the wrong approach. Having a constitution, a contract between us citizens, means that we entrust our neighbors with the same freedoms we claim for ourselves, as well as some freedoms we have no intention of exercising. When one of our neighbors breaks with that trust, we don’t give up on freedom, we sanction that neighbor.

There will be those who declare that no family should ever again have to suffer after a loss such as this one, and I can’t argue with that statement. However mitigating the risk of this happening to my children falls to me as a parent, I will monitor where they are, and who they are with. I will prevent them, at great risk to my parental popularity, from placing themselves in situations where drugs and the people who use them are a danger to their safety, and in doing so, I will ensure that they someday enjoy all the freedoms I have today.

The Seattle Times: Local News: Court rules in favor of unions over fees

The Seattle Times: Local News: Court rules in favor of unions over fees

What kills me is that our state constitution mandates that to serve on the supreme court you have to have to be a member of the bar. As if having a law degree is the key to fairly and accurately applying the Washington State Constitution, it obviously isn't enough for 6 of the currently sitting justices

The Seattle Times: Local News: WASL writing: Make it up as they go along

The Seattle Times: Local News: WASL writing: Make it up as they go along

Well that's the ballgame folks. Truth, and for that matter verifiable facts have been under assault by the education establishment for years. Facts are inconvenient, if we insist that 49 divided by 7 is 7, we could seriously damage some child's self esteem.

Now, ala the New York Times, WASL takers are invited to make up facts, figures, and statistics. They are even encouraged to make their own people, creating experts to support their arguments. How will these arguments be judged?

Experts agree that 47% of all teachers chose the profession because in college they were too lazy to study, and not good looking enough to be communications majors. That really left teaching; a profession which, an ex-girlfriend whose brilliance exceeded that of a blacklight, admitted she intended to pursue so she could have summers off to follow the Grateful Dead.

My children have only two chances for a decent education, homeschool or vouchers, because I just can't see throwing my kids under the bus that is today's public school system.

Signature Season: Decline to sign

Signature Season: Decline to sign


The PI is advocating that people not sign initiatives that the PI doesn’t like? When you sign an initiative petition you’re promoting the democratic process, you’re allowing the people to directly exercise our franchise. Now I know that people don’t really need to vote on issues, we have the PI to tell us what to think and legislators to mandate how we behave, and look at some of the stellar decisions our elected officials make. Nickels wants to spend at least twice the biannual state budget to move cars underground for a couple miles, state legislators just increased spending in an off budget year by 17%, McCain-Feingold limits political speech in direct violation of the First Amendment, and the CAO takes away the use of private property without any compensation at all.

Now I can understand the PI editorial board feeling a little betrayed by the democratic process, I mean, we’ve elected President Bush twice, we clearly can’t be trusted to make decisions on our own behalf. Seeing as how today is St. Patrick’s day, a toast to the PI seems appropriate, but I think I’ll put my bottle on the self and save the toast for the day the PI puts their last drop of ink on a page and closes shop forever.

People in the News: Jessica declines GOP with a 'Smile'

People in the News: Jessica declines GOP with a 'Smile'

I don't think it should surprise anyone that Jessica Simpson, a young lady who epitomizes the stereotypical dumb blond declined to throw her hat in with the Republicans. While I'm not happy with the party right now, I do know that Simpson isn't smart enough to be a conservative, she looks good, sounds great, but can't think her way out of a paper bag; that's a democrat in my book.

FOXNews.com - Views News - ifeminists - Right Cause, Wrong Approach

FOXNews.com - Views News - ifeminists - Right Cause, Wrong Approach

This is a load of crap, not the good type like I write here, but crappola of the highest magnitude. You can't frame this as a "Men's Rights" issue, Men don't need this lawsuit, Men take responsibility for their actions, their families, and especially the children they father.

Actions have consequences, Men are accountable for those actions, and the smarter Men consider possible consequences and whether they're willing to pay them before acting.

Men, you have the right be proud of the traditional male role of provider and protector, I don't even know what to call the males who back this frivolous lawsuit.

New drug plan is pushing us to brink, pharmacists say

New drug plan is pushing us to brink, pharmacists say

This is a huge problem, my doctor who went to med school as a second career, is selling her practice because Medicare and private insurance does not cover the cost of providing medical care to her patients.

If the government won't pay what it costs to deliver services, but insists on insuring the elderly population, how long can a private system of health care exist in this country?

I believe that both parties are trying to move this country toward nationalized heath care by mandating those over 65 be insured by Medicare, and then underpaying for medical care and drugs. Soon we will hit a crisis situation, and then all health care will be nationalized.

What I don't understand is the insurance companies, are they under the assumption that they can contract with the government to provide coverage for some and get the premiums paid by the government with a cap on payouts or a guaranteed profit margin?

Either way this reeks of socialism, and I don't like it one bit.

The Seattle Times: Local News: Lawmakers set aside millions for prison space

The Seattle Times: Local News: Lawmakers set aside millions for prison space

Come one here, I'm as conservative as the day is long, but it seems to me that setting aside $278 million for prisons and only $35 million for higher education is lopsided. I think it stems from our obsession with regulating every adult behavior from sex, to what we put in our bodies (those two things aren't necessarily related).

Why don't we just admit it, the war on drugs is a failure, I call on the Bush Administration to immediately withdraw from the war on drugs. The people using drugs keep fighting this guerilla war, and society keeps throwing away billions on enforcement, interdiction, and incarceration. It makes no economic sense to go to war with your own people to keep them from poisoning themselves with drugs.

Continue to prosecute those who endanger others by driving under the influence, continue to prosecute and incarcerate those who provide drugs to minors, and continue to put the violent and those who steal in prison.

Leave the rest of us alone, and throw a few more dollars toward those who just want to get an education in order to lead a more productive life.

Mexico-you just gotta go

Several years ago my Dad, who considers Motel 6 roughing it, spent only two days in Mexico before giving up and going straight to Hawaii. Just didn't like the place.

So it was with a little trepidation that Jen and I went to Playa Del Carmen for five days so I could play minister and marry Pete and Therese.

Let me say a couple things, while there is definite evidence of poverty in Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is beautiful, great beach friendly people, very clean, the hotel we stayed at, La Tortuga, gets my highest recommendation, although you should stay out of the unheated pool unless you're a polar bear, the ocean is at least 10 degrees warmer.

The food at all of the restaurants was outstanding, and the prices were very reasonable. Service is Mexico speed, which takes a bit of patience for a Type A+ guy like me, but the wait is worth it.

So book your trip to Playa, you'll really enjoy it.

Welfare for Breweries?

Reaching out in beer country

I never imagined I'd be writing an article against beer, but that's what its come to. The microbrewers of Washington want the legislature to create a Beer Commission to promote the consumption of Washington Beers. Not to compete with the millions we spend on anti-consumption messages I'm sure.

Sure, the Washington Wine Commission helped propel the vinters of our state to international status, which is why, I'm sure, the brewers now want the same treatment.

But just like we shouldn't pay for wine makers, apple growers, loggers, fishermen, or tourist sites, we shouldn't subsidize private business through direct expendature of public monies.

I'm a real estate agent, do I ask the state to subsidize my marketing efforts? No Way! and I don't think it's right for the brewers of Washington State to take my hard earned money to try to buy additional market share.

If the government can promote Washington Beers for a few million a year, just imagine how much a private organization funded by those who will benifit could do.

Big Sports Soaks the Little Guy Again.

Sonics score in Olympia

This has got to stop, taxing the average Joe to give multimillionaires a place to play a game is asinine. Even the argument that the ripple effect helps other businesses means that we're being taxed to help private business, that is wrong, it's socialist, and the elitist legislators should stand up and tell big sports that if they can't be self supporting then they may need to take a look at their cost structure, starting with labor costs.

On the same day that the Times reports that taxpayers are subsidizing WalMart to the tune of $12 million

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002791346_walmart07m.html

The PI reports a $200 million taxpayer subsidy as a "Score" for the Sonics. Why is big business bad and big sports good? Will the democrats stop picking on WalMart only when their average salary approaches that of the average Sonics player?

And which organization does the most good for our community? Which creates more jobs and sells things people need at prices that allow those folks that don't make lots of money to still live very comfortably?

Sure WalMart's annual revenues dwarf those of the NFL and MLB, but when I subsidize a stadium, I'm freeing up dollars the owner can use to offer obnoxious salaries to millionaire athletes, why should all of us little guys take a hit to our wallet so they can make another few million a year?

Spears Nominated for Nobel Prize in Rocket Surgery

FOXNews.com - Foxlife: Entertainment and Lifestyle News - Britney Defends Driving With Baby in Lap

In a typical demonstration of the judgment and intelligence America has come to expect, Britney Spears was photographed by paparazzi driving her SUV with her eight month old infant in her lap.

Photographers dispute Spears claims that she was fleeing a dangerous situation caused by the paparazzi claiming their photographs show a serene situation.

I don't know what I expect from the woman who considered scumbag Kevin Federline marriage material, but when you start life with the mental handicap of getting the genentic instructions for brain development from Spears and Federline, you deserve to have every low functioning brain cell in your head protected, and that means your mommy shouldn't use your body as an auxiliary airbag.

I don't back down the driveway without securing my son in his carseat, cars can be dangerous, especially when traveling at speeds one might expect when fleeing a "dangerous" situation.

I don't know what outrages me more, Spear's actions, or that I just spent five minutes bitching about her.

From the Desk of Rev. Dan

So we're flying to Mexico tomorrow night for the Kelly Wedding, I will be officiating, by the power vested in my by the internet, specifically the Universal Life Church. Being ordained online had a lot of appeal to me, I get to make up my own religion. In my religion I argue against the existence of free will by defining God as omnipotent and omnipresent, insert some star trek physics of non linear time and Voila' it's all part of the plan.

Anyway I wanted to share some of the ceremony I wrote for Pete and Therese.

It is fashionable to read first Corinthians 13 at weddings, and while fashion isn’t my strong suit, a wedding would seem to be the perfect place to reflect upon the theme of the passage.

There is a good reason why we choose one person to devote ourselves to, love is hard. Unlike other emotions which we can feel in response to our environment, we only feel love through giving love to others. Love demands we overcome the inclination to be selfish and demanding to be patient and giving, that we set aside our wants and needs in favor of the wants and needs of another. The love of a strong marriage is just too much work to exist outside of the devoted partnership between husband and wife.

And yet we seek this work eagerly, and value it above all else in life, because it is the secure foundation which protects and trusts, the basis of hope from which all things are possible.

Just say "NO" to more education spending

The Seattle Times: Local News: Voters to rule on levies, bonds in 20 school districts Tuesday

The special election for school levies is tomorrow, and I’ll be voting no as usual. It’s not that I don’t value education, I think a good education is critical, it’s just that I don’t believe the public school system is the right delivery mechanism any longer.

What really galls me is people like Dan Steele of the Washington State School Directors' Association, who takes taxpayer money in the form of dues paid by school boards, (funded by taxes) to lobby the government for more taxes. Ridiculous, we’re paying someone indirectly to extort more money from us, and for what? To maintain the union dominated failure we have today.

You liberals hate consequences, but the consequence of low performing schools is not that I will pay more in taxes, it will be the admission that our current union dominated education delivery system doesn't work, and that "our children" deserve better. And since there is no service that can be provided more efficiently by government than by private enterprise, we need for profit k-12 education.

It's math, for what we spend on a class of 30 students, a two or three person team could deliver world class education and bring home a nice salary. But instead we have bureaucrats siphoning off 50% of every dollar for unnecessary and bloated administration.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.

If you always do what you’ve always done and expect different results, you’re insane.

It’s time to employ a different educational paradigm, and a willingness to discuss the dismal state government controlled education is in today is the real test of whether someone cares about this society and its children. I hate to use the “c” word again, but the consequences of staying on our current path are more than anyone is willing to pay.

Peaceful Religion Also Evil

Mecca, Saudi Arabia--A spokesman for Muslim Cleric Abdul Mohammad Durka reported today that the well known Islamic scholar had made a breakthrough in the understanding of Islam. According to Durka, Islam is in fact the religion of Peace while simultaneously acting as the source of the majority of Evil in the world today.

New documents that have been discovered in Medina, the birthplace of the prophet indicate that Mohammad may have been a delusional schizophrenic who, in the words of Durka, "…probably made the whole thing up to sleep with eight year old girls, 72 eight year old girls to be precise."

"Sure we're Evil with our blowing up Jews platform and that subjugating women thing we do, but we're also peaceful when you infidels aren't drawing cartoons of the Prophet, or otherwise violating Sharia" Durka said.

Durka's statement today was to clarify an earlier fatwa he issued which stated that Islam was, in fact, the religion of Pieces, as in Pieces of you infidels scattered all over the place.

Rabid Sports Fan Actually Infected With Rabies

Seattle, Washington--Route salesman Greg Norberg, thought by friends and coworkers to be a "fairweather fan" of the Superbowl bound Seattle Seahawks has been diagnosed with end stage Hydrophobia.

"Greg could always care less about sports," sobbed his wife Nancy, "I couldn't understand his sudden obsession with the Seahawks."

Friends and family agree that they were suprised when Norberg purchased a 12th Man jersy after the Hawks first ever playoff win, a ever 41-3 whooping of the San Fransico 49ers. However when the Seahawks clinched the NFC championship with their win over Carolina, Norberg was sporting full body paint and a giant foam finger.

Norberg's doctors ran a battery of tests at the behest of his wife, "When we see a formerly appathetic man turn into a superfan, there is either something seriously wrong medically, or the guy's a complete jerk trying to live vicarously through professional athletes," said Dr. Kenneth Jackson.

In it's advanced state, Norberg's disease is untreatable, so after the big game he will be taken out back of the log shed by his 12 year old son Travis and shot in the head.

Homophobic Man Can't Get Enough Brokeback Mountain

Austin, Texas--Steel worker Rex Conrad has seen "that queer movie", the Oscar Nominated Brokeback Mountain more than 15 times, the single, 26 year old Conrad reported from the basement of his mother's east Austin home.

"I was just on my way home from the mill, driving my Miata and listening to ABBA when I passed the Capitol Theater, and I thought that since there were cowboy hats in the movie it was my duty as a Texan to see it," said Conrad. "I always wanted to be a cowboy, the chaps, and those bandannas, cowboys really know how to dress."

"Of course I was real uncomfortable with all of the butt sex and guys kissing, but those are some fine horsemen." Conrad said.

In addition to multiple viewings of the movie, Conrad has also been conducting research on the interent with more than 50 search varients that include the words "gay" "cowboy" and "naked".

"Now I don't go for that faggoty stuff," Conrad reports, "but the cinamatography is outstanding!"

Bush Demands Americans End Dependance on Foreign Oxygen

The White House, Washington DC--Responding to a United Nations resolution that calls upon the people of America to "hold their breath until they turn blue and pass out and maybe die", President Bush called upon all Americans to reduce their consumption of foreign oxygen.

Bush adminstration officials have been decrying the increasing amount of oxygen used by Americans, expecially the poor. "Americans are addicted to foreign oxygen, now I'm not proposing that we ration oxygen, not yet, but this is an issue my adminstration is looking very hard at," Bush asserted. "Some of this oxygen is being produced in countries that are known to be sympathetic to our terrorist enemies, it's downright unpatriotic to breath air from Iran or North Korea."

Bush then produced a map on which Iran, North Korea, and France were labeled the "OXIS of Evil".

"The United States must be a shining example to the rest of the world on low oxygen consumption," Bush stated, "I envision a day when the whole nation is composed of shallow breathers."

Kerry asserts: 53% of all statistics made up

New York, NY--Former democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (D-MA) asserted Tuesday that 53% of all statistics he cites are made up on the spot to advance his political agenda. "The statistics I cite may have no basis in fact," Kerry said "but they do support the way decent Americans everywhere should feel about whatever issue I happen to be demogoging about."

Speaking to reporters after his appearance on the Today Show Tuesday Morning, Kerry pointed out that he had just made up a statistic during the interview with today show host Matt Lauer. "I told Matt that 53% of Americans drop out of high school, notice that I chose a number that correlates exactly with the percentage of statistics I make up," said Kerry. "In fact, I'm so committed to a less than 50% accuracy rate, I've asked Terressa to change the name of our steaksauce to Heinz 53 sauce."

Citing the dismal state of education as the root cause of poverty, Kerry then asserted that the only thing that could reduce the soaring drop out rate was a massive new federal program. "I say, just give all the money to the National Education Association and see what happens" Kerry said.

Kerry then accepted a campaign donation from the NEA, asserted that 94 percent of christian conservatives were drooling idiots and that his haircut was "fancy" before entering his limo for the ride to Kennedy Airport where his private jet was waiting.