Is ADHD Caused By An Outdated Educational System

Sir Ken Robinson, with the help of a animator, lays out an fascinating theory on the possible causes of ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) in children.



via: The Daily Dish

Sick of the Stonewalling Compelling Reasons For Building The Deep Bore Tunnel

Nearly four years ago I argued in a post that the deep bore tunnel was the real compromise for replacing the crumbling Alaskan Way viaduct architectural monstrosity. Although we have moved closer to the actual beginning of construction there still remains a number of very vocal entities in Seattle who continue to act like Chicken Little when the idea of getting on with building the damn thing comes up.

The main opposition seems to be Mayor McShwinn, bicyclists, certain eggheaded writers at the SLOG that love hairsplitting , a number of provincial thinking no tunnel folks, who I doubt own vehicles or need to use the viaduct on a regular basis, the don't tax me no matter what conservatives like Tim Eyman and people who like the view while driving on the upper deck of this deathtrap of a highway.

Many Seattleites remain skeptical. I think this is due mostly to the misinformation, scare tactics, stonewalling, vague conspiracy theories put forth by the opponents and red herrings arguments coming from narrow-minded politicians, environmentalists who ride bicycles as the main means of transportation and anti-tunnel revisionists partially listed in the previous paragraph. Presented with the realities and benefits of building the tunnel I think that a majority of the citizens will come to the conclusion that the deep bore tunnel should be built.

It was a memorable moment when candidate McShwinn ended up mitigating his position in opposition to the tunnel just prior to the election, based on his advisors realizing that it would mean a probable election defeat. We know now that that this political theater was actually quite disingenuous. McShwinn never really liked the tunnel idea based on the ideology that everyone in the future apparently will be riding a bicycle, taking a bus or perhaps using space ships as a means of transport to get goods to market. Something that is unrealistic given the present day and foreseeable future demand for a corridor other than I-5 that will be needed to move people and deliveries through the city using personal or business trucks and vehicles.


McShwinn remains the main obstacle to progress. Even the City Council, to their credit, revolted and decided that it’s now time to move on towards actual construction. I think the citizens of Seattle and the region have had enough of the Chicken Little ideologically driven nay-sayer's conspiracy theories that drive their arguments in opposition to constructing the tunnel. The message from the opponents of the tunnel often appears to be based in a condescending form of social engineering that tells people, "we know best when it comes to people who still find it necessary to drive a personal vehicle",  or that building a tunnel is is some vague way an attack on Seattle's "values".  Please!

The main “red herring” argument against the tunnel seems to be that it will cost too much and create “cost overruns” that the city’s taxpayer will be force to pay. Lesser “pink herring” arguments runs the gambit and go something like this: That a tunnel built so close to the water will be an engineering impossibility and will probably cave-in during an earthquake. That there won’t be enough exits from the tunnel directly to downtown. That commuters won’t be as inclined to use public transit or ride their bike to wherever their going instead of driving. Somehow they surmise that a major traffic corridor through the city isn’t needed anymore once the viaduct is removed. Their current talking point is surface traffic increasing because tolling will make drivers more inclined to find other routes. An argument that fails to point out that 100% of the traffic will be on the surface streets if we go with their vague idea of using surface streets and transit. Finally, they like the views from the viaducts northbound upper deck when driving into town with their out of town relatives in the car. If those excuses don't hold water just claim that the sky is falling.

Let’s look at these arguments.

It cost too much and cost overruns:

Please name me a major capital hybrid project of this scale anywhere in the world in the last 100 years that didn’t have cost overruns? The Brooklyn Bridge had cost overruns. Have a contractor give you a estimate for major work on your house and the rule of thumb is that it will probably cost more then you thought it would cost in the beginning so add 15% to the estimate.

We should be looking at this project like the once in a lifetime project it is, and therefore it’s going to cost lots of money simply based on the size and scope of the undertaking. Considering the numerous long-term benefits the replacement of the viaduct and seawall will surely generate its worth it, given the increase in commerce it will bring for the region and its inhabitants. It’s really more about controlling cost overruns.

Lawmakers have gone on the record repeatedly stating that cost overruns will be controlled and the city’s responsibility for paying them mitigated. But, the Mayor continues to use this dishonest sandbag in a rather outmoded way. McShwinn really doesn’t want a tunnel at all and I believe he really never did. Most reasonable lawmakers, who have to answer to their constituents too, have moved on. They, at least, have the courage to see that building the tunnel is the real compromise here given the options that we have all been talking about ad nauseum for years now.

That the tunnel can’t be engineered safely, will be a construction nightmare and unsafe. The tunnel will eventually probably “cave-in”, during the eventual earthquake:

Hey scardicats,  please! They build a tunnel under the English Channel didn’t they? We even built the downtown transit tunnel that most people don’t feel is going to collapse anytime soon. Modern engineers must have a good laugh about this objection. Bold engineering ideas help build this country. It’s duplicitous to say this tunnel will ultimately be unsound. If the region has a “big one” earthquake most shit will cave in folks no matter how well or when it was built. Earthquake faults are better understood today and engineers will take that into consideration. Digging tunnels is common place nowadays and this tunnel is nothing that modern engineers can't handle.

There won’t be enough exits directly to downtown:

It is truly the nature of the beast. Eventually people will adapt to the changes and learn how to navigate the new highway system. Though there are varying opinions about such matters, such as the loss of access ramps to downtown. I think overall the tunnel will be a traffic moving improvement and environmental benefit by reducing the overall amount of traffic over time given the combination of plans to improve surface transit , foot and bicycle traffic options.

People will still be more inclined to use cars rather then public transit:

When someone lives on Vashon Island, as I do, or in West Seattle or Ballard they actually need their car to efficiently get to central Seattle and beyond. Businesses have to make deliveries and trucks need to move goods. Not everyone wants or desires to use public transit or bicycles. People will use public transit when the city builds a viable transit system. Seattle’s politicians and citizens have missed the boat when it comes to actually building a real transit system in this region for years and we continue to lag behind most modern cities. The politics of having a modern transit system caught up in the same process that now stalls the tunnel construction. We continue the local political tradition of having a lack of vision or chutzpa. 

We don’t need two major traffic corridors anyway. Let them use I-5:

This excuse is tied to “let them use I-5 for a while as the only way to get to town and then for sure they’ll be willing to consider riding a bike”. Seattle and the region need two major traffic corridors through the city. I-5 was not designed to handle the traffic increase that would take place if the highway 99 were not available. Commerce must move goods and services to market. Emergency response services would be impaired. You can’t use a bicycle or the bus if you’re a plumber going from south Seattle to Ballard to a job site.

The sky is falling:

Perhaps on a second term for Mayor McGinn

But there are also many compelling reason why constructing a deep bore tunnel is the best option for the city. Here are a few:

Safety:

Everyone agrees that the Viaduct needs replacing, is falling down and that a major earthquake could cause the structure to actually collapse with deadly results. The construction of the new tunnel also will include construction of a new seawall replacing the failing one that now exists.

Quality of Life:

Once the tunnel is constructed and the viaduct demolished Seattle should have one of the best waterfronts environments in the world. Everyone, even the “stop the tunnel” crowd, agrees the viaduct has been an architectural mistake. It’s ugly, blocks the waterfront from the downtown business district and actually serves as a “fence” that blocks economic development from happening in what potentially could be one of the most viable redeveloped neighborhoods in the world.

Small parks will line the areas where the viaduct once lived and promenades and city streets will replace most of the urban mess that now exists. New Businesses and shops are sure to thrive along this new viaduct-less thoroughfare. Hundreds if not thousands of new jobs can be generated by the redevelopment of the area. Seattle’s downtown will once again be connected more directly to the water. Traffic and smog will be reduced while walking and bicycles traffic will be enhanced and safer.

Jobs and more Jobs:

I have argued for some time that building the tunnel and seawall will bring thousands of union wage jobs during construction. Call it a super massive local stimulus plan if you want.These workers will be buying goods and services in the local economy. Billions of dollars will be pumped into the area directly related to tunnel constructions. In this time of economic insecurity it’s a no brainier. Local labor leadership and workers agree and estimate 30.000 new construction jobs with be created. As I said above the redevelopment of the neighborhoods surrounding the new tunnel will also create countless jobs.

The new deep bore tunnel option will keep traffic flowing during construction:

Completing the tunnel before the viaduct is removed will assure the least amount of disruption of the thousands of cars that use the corridor each day. A surface only option or replacement option would severely disrupt traffic for years during demolition and/or replacement. Most political leaders realized that keeping the viaduct open to traffic during construction of the tunnel was the real compromise.

Need for Action:

As I have said above. Most political types and many citizens agree that it's a time for action. 10 years or discussing about what to do about the viaduct is long enough. Had Mayor McSchwinn not been elected I think this project would have be closer to starting today. McSchwinn and his anti-tunnel allies need to realize that the tunnel “is the compromise” that knowledgeable citizens, stakeholders, most of our elected officials, and many sincere citizen activists have reached. Further delay will only add more cost to the project in the long run.

It’s time to build the tunnel, so let's get on with it.

Paul Krugman Stole My Idea On How To Deal With The Foreclosure Crisis

"What should be happening? The excesses of the bubble years have created a legal morass, in which property rights are ill defined because nobody has proper documentation. And where no clear property rights exist, it’s the government’s job to create them.

That won’t be easy, but there are good ideas out there. For example, the Center for American Progress has proposed giving mortgage counselors and other public entities the power to modify troubled loans directly, with their judgment standing unless appealed by the mortgage servicer. This would do a lot to clarify matters and help extract us from the morass."

I proposed this idea two days ago. Not bad for a grouchy unwashed old blue collar iconoclast, eh? Does this make me mainstream media? Now it's time for the politicos to actually make it happen. Loan modification here we come.

KOMO News Reports On Vashon Says No To Crime Public Forum

Vashon Island, the artsy-fartsy hippie paradise, has a drug problem. I'm not talking about someone smoking a joint or perhaps drinking too much occasionally. It's far worse than that. I think it may be time that residents of the island stop denying the existence of the other elephant in the room.

I don't care if someone wants to waste their life using METH or any other hard drug. But I do care when their personal selfishness and total lack of empathy for others leads to some of these unfortunate souls believing it's acceptable to break-in to my neighbor's home, business, shed or vehicle and steal shit to support their sickness. Learning the consequences of their actions is most often the best thing for this type of user, but they often don't realize it when they're in the midst of the craziness.

There is also the very real heartbreak and fear that it brings to the loved ones of the users themselves. Families destroyed, children abused, people around them manipulated and victimized in a cesspool of self indulgence. Hard drug users are often hopelessly lost, and in the fleeting moments when the drug haze clears they usually know it. But often they can see no way out. But there is a way out I assure you. It begins when the thought enters your head that life isn't all about you and your thinking then begins to turn to how your drug use may be effecting others.

Watch For Me On KOMO News at 11pm Tonight

You may see something about this upcoming public forum.

Great Interactive Graph On How Unemployment Relates to GDP

This Washington Post's interactive graph and economics for dummies lesson is quite entertaining an informative, and I think passes the smell test. Robert Reich, the former secretary of labor, has of course been pointing out the need for the economy to grow faster to keep up with job losses even though the "recession is over".

Stupid Main Stream Media Airhead Question of the Day

MTV, BET and CMT aired a hour long town hall style "conversation with the president" today. Thousands of questions were submitted for the President via twitter. Two or three questions actually made it through the filters to the President. The question below bubbled to the surface when they went to Katie Cook, the CMT anchor person, who asked it during the rather questionably conceived segment called, "what's your greatest fear or what's your greatest hope". Katie decided that of the thousands of substantive fears and hopes people must of tweeted this should get asked of the President.

"Mr. President my greatest fear is
that we are turning into a Communist Country?"

My Question For The President

Today at 4pm Eastern the President will hold a town hall meeting on several networks including MTV. Below is a screen shot of my tweeted question for Obama.

I think it's time that the administration look at legislation that would facilitate banks to modify loans given the leverage on them caused by the foreclosure crisis. I think that most progressives agree that the current loan modification program is somewhat of a joke. Apparently bankers are not willing to agree to modify many loans because they feel it is not to their advantage, in spite of the fact we have given them billions of dollars. I'm hoping the current crisis will finally force their hand and that politicians will work to facilitate the process with new legislation.

2010 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard Has Washington State Near Top

Washington State ranked 5th in the 2010 study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The Council is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.

Jimmy Stewart Plays You And Mr Potter Plays (Insert Your Mortgage Holder Here)

Foreclosure Crisis May Finally Force Mr. Potter’s Hand

It could be a wonderful life after all.

There is a growing buzz on Internet blogs that the current loan foreclosure crisis could leverage banks and loan service companies into finally taking a more serious approach towards loan modifications with homeowners having problems with their mortgages.

Under the loan modification alternative to foreclosure scenario banks forced into a corner because of fraudulent foreclosure practices and documentation would see it is in their interest to modify a homeowners loan rather then getting nothing. Thus bankers fearing loses or lawsuits from investors who hold these bundled securities may be force into a willingness to work out a loan modification with a delinquent homeowner rather then foreclose.

"A coalition of as many as 40 state attorneys general is expected Wednesday to announce an investigation into the mortgage-servicing industry, an effort some of them hope will pressure financial institutions to rewrite large numbers of troubled loans. The move comes amid recent allegations that mortgage-servicers, which include units of major banks such as Bank of America Corp., submitted fraudulent documents in thousands of foreclosure proceedings nationwide [...] The attorneys’ general immediate aim is to determine the scale of the document problems and correct them. But several of them have said that the investigation could force the lenders and servicers to agree to mass loan modifications or principal forgiveness schemes. Other possibilities include financial penalties or changes in mortgage servicing practices. Lenders and servicers have largely resisted reducing principal on mortgages, instead focusing on interest-rate reductions or term extensions. Banks say they are worried about lawsuits from investors, some of whom could lose money in a principal write down. Former New Jersey attorney general Peter Harvey, now a trial lawyer in New York, said that a settlement with state attorneys general would likely “to give the banks some cover” to make changes that might otherwise result in lawsuits by investors in mortgage-backed securities."

If so, the fraud-ridden mortgage crisis could morph into a program that would force the greedy bastards to do what the Obama administration’s loan modification program apparently couldn’t. Any politician worth his salt should be jumping at the chance to submit legislation to make the process of loan modification easier for the bank and the homeowners involved.

So, screw you Mr. Potter!

Republican Lies About National Debt Rarely Challenged By MSM

Dino Rossi accuses Patty Murray of 18 years of reckless spending while she been in the other Washington. But the actual numbers indicate that over two-thirds of the current national debt has accumulated under the last three Republican Presidents. Why weren't the angry teabaggers and Dino yelling about spending then?

Vashon Island's Crime Problem

I've put together a community meeting on October 18 at 6pm at McMurray School to discuss the recent rash of burglaries and thefts that have been taking place on Vashon Island. This includes an armed home invasion that took place in August. The meeting will feature a community policing spokesman from the King County Sheriff's Department followed by a questions and answer session.

I'm hoping the meeting will be the begining of a dialog between Vashon residents about what's at the root of the problem and what we can do about it. All are welcome. Many islanders suspect that an increase in hard drug use on the island including a METH problem have fueled the increase in crime.

Tony Curtis

I liked Tony Curtis. Late in life he battled many personal demons, but I think he remains one of the great movie stars of our time.

Ronald McDonald Won't Like This

Does anybody know what's in those hamburgers anyway?

Heath Reform Explained In Nine Minutes Really

Where was this video six months ago when we needed it?

More Adventures With The Real Terror Babies

Who are the real terror babies the Republicans want us to fear? ABC Good Morning America interviewed a panel of American teens about their views on religious tolerance towards Muslims.

One of the panel members turned out to be the son of the Koran burning Florida Pastor. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as indicated by what he's been indoctrinated to beleive. "Kill all the nonbelievers" he offers us. Aren't the real "terror babies" the home bred right wing-nut kids like this little darling? I can hardly wait until he grows up.

Why Can't I Own A Canadian As A Slave?

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them. 1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of t two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan,

James M. Kauffman
Ed.D. Professor Emeritus
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education
University of Virginia

PS (It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)

Thanks Steven for bringing this to my attention

Are You Fat Because Your Eating Beef?

Recent studies show that Americans has become one of the fattest countries. Is there any connection between obesity and eating beef? Listed below are lists of the top 30 meat-eating countries followed by a list of the top 13 fattest countries.

I’m not a scientist of course nor is this observation very scientific probably, but I have long held the intuitive thought that meat from hormonally and antibiotic filled supercharged corn-fed feed lot cattle has a direct connection to why so many Americans are obese. It’s my personal theory that the use of corn and hormones to fatten cattle is simply pasted on to humans further down the food chain. In other words the process not only fattens the cattle faster but it fattens the humans who consume the meat produced in the unnatural process.

As you can see below 11 of the top meat eating countries are also found among the top countries when it comes to obesity. I think it certainly plausible that there a connection and "you don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows"

Top 30 beef eaters:

1. Argentina
2. Uruguay
3. *United States
4. *Australia
5. *New Zealand
6. Brazil
7. *Canada
8. France
9. Italy
10. *Czech Republic (Slovenia)
11. *Greece
12. *Belgium-Luxembourg
13. Denmark
14. Switzerland
15. *Mexico
16. Kazakhstan
17. Sweden
18. *United Kingdom
19. Netherlands
20. Costa Rica
21. Austria
22. Russia
23. *Ireland
24. Colombia
25. *Spain
26. Venezuela
27. Portugal
28. Germany
29. Ukraine
30. South Africa

* Also listed in top 13 in obesity rates

Top 13 countries by obesity rates:

1. Mexico
2. USA
3. New Zealand
4. Australia
5. UK
6. Ireland
7. Iceland
8. Canada
9. Chile
10. Greece
11. Slovenia
12. Luxembourg
13. Spain

Note: Only Iceland and Chile are not also in the list for the top 30 beef eating counties

Sources: Huffington Post, US census all other countries

Colbert Testifies Before Congress

Stephen Colbert testified before congress this morning in a ploy to draw attention to the need for immigration reform that could help the plight of farm workers. Apparently Republicans didn't get the joke.

My Thoughts On HA Story About Seattle Times Union Bashing

Below is my comment about Goldy's story over at HorsesAss concerning the Seattle Times tendency to bash unions whenever possible.

As a resident of Vashon Island I depend on the ferry system. Though not perfect, I commend the ferry system and I feel that Washingtonians should be proud that we operate a marine system that is one of the largest, most efficient and safest in the world. The Washington State ferry system truly creates a “marine highway” for many commuters who depend on it when they live or work in the archipelago of islands that are scattered around the periphery of this state.

Frankly, I’m sick and tired of these news stories from the Times and other local TV media types basically reporting that there’s something wrong when ferry workers or other workers are paid well or have certain protections written into their contract that grant them a livable wage and good working conditions. Most ferry workers I observe are hard working likable people who are just trying to make a decent living.

It seems to me that in this age of union bashing there is a tendency by many people to vilified anyone who belongs to a union simply because their making more then $20 bucks an hour, are given a coffee break or have employer provided health insurance. Maybe these “go it on your own types” who are willing to let their employers exploit them on a daily basis by paying then substandard wages and providing them with poor working conditions and benefits should join a union and demand that they be paid more. But they have been duped, frightened or intimidated into somehow “carrying the employers water” by attacking other working people who presently are lucky and smart enough to belong to a viable labor union.

Generally speaking, I think it is simple jealousy or a form of misdirected rage at unions in most cases. KING TV, who often likes to attack ferry workers compensation, would better serve the public good by reporting excesses and actual crimes by billionaire business types, runaway corporations and banks rather than running so called “investigative reports” attacking ferry engineers or other workers for making too much money working overtime or being paid for their travel expenses, benefits that executives in most companies regularly receive.

Really, I think that someone should do a "report" on the wages and perks that these airhead TV types get paid for spouting the misinformation, nonsense filled infotainment fluff news stories and BS they give us each day. While Rome burns!

Labor Activists Stanford And Moscoso Working Hard To Win 1st LD

Memo Shows Why GM Went Broke

Click on image to enlarge

Study Shows Quality Of Life And Social Values Fare Better Under Democrats

Dear Tea Party knuckle heads read this. Fact versus fiction collide in a new San Francisco Chronicle report that uses statistics to make the case that under Democratic Party governance people do better economically and maintaining social values that conservatives say are somehow eroded when Democrats are in power.

Which Side Are You On?

The battle continues in our effort to move America into the future:

A Check List For WA State November Ballot Measures

Please support these ballot measures:

I-1098: Raises Money for Health Care and Education

• I-1098 cuts the state property tax by 20%, eliminates B&O taxes for small businesses,and establishes a strictly limited income tax on the wealthiest 1.2% of households.
• It raises $2 billion a year dedicated to education and health care.By law, the first $200,000 ($400,000 for couples) of income is exempt.
• By law, the tax rates or who pays them cannot be changed without a vote of the people.

R-52 (referred by the legislature): For healthy schools

• Many of our aging school buildings are riddled with problems like mold, rusty pipes, and asbestos filled walls, that are interfering with the learning environment.
  
• R-52 would provide needed funding so that local school districts statewide could retrofit and renovate school buildings so that they are safe and energy efficient.
• Retrofitting and renovation work will create 30,000 good jobs for Washington families, putting people back to work immediately.

Oppose these ballot measures:

I-1053: No to California-Style Gridlock

• I-1053 would allow just 17 legislators to prevent the majority from taking action on a responsible, balanced approach to the budget.
• California has the same two-thirds rule and it has caused a mess of partisan gridlock.
• Special interests like BP and Bank of America are behind I-1053 because they want to keep their tax loopholes and giveaways.

I-1082: No to Insurance Industry Fine Print

• I-1082 was written by the insurance industry, so it’s loaded with fine print that will help Wall Street giants like AIG unfairly profit from our workers’ compensation system.
• It allows private insurers to set their own rates with virtually no oversight.
• I-1082 will cost state and local governments $250 million over the next five years.
• Small businesses would be left to pay skyrocketing rates after insurance companies had cherry-picked large and less risky businesses.

I-1100/1105: No these Risky Deregulation of Liquor Schemes

• Because the corporations who want to sell liquor wrote these initiatives, I-1100/1105 are too risky and go too far.
• Washington would become the most unregulated state in the nation for liquor sales.
• Every gas station, mini-mart and convenience store would be allowed to sell hard liquor near schools, parks and in high crime areas until 2 am.
• I-1100 will cost our state and local governments $275 million over five years and I-1105 will cost more than $700 million. That means more cuts to services like education, health care, police and firefighters.

I-1107: No to DC’s Big Soda Lobby

• I-1107 would repeal the small, mostly temporary tax on non-essential items like soda pop, candy, bottled water and gum.
• It’s worth a few cents more for a can of soda to raise more that $100 million per year to fund schools, health care and services for seniors and kids.
• The American Beverage Association the national lobbying arm of the big soda companies is behind 1107 and they are running a highly deceptive campaign.
• Don’t be fooled there is no food tax in Washington. Soda pop and candy are not food.
• Too much sugar, which many of these beverage contain, can cause health issues, especially for children.
  

Via: Fuse

Main Stream Media Again Ignores Real News In Favor Of Bullshit News

While the economy sputters and the President holds a press conference to talk about what he's doing about it, the mainstream media remains caught up in a meaningless bullshit news feeding frenzy over the bat-shit crazy Koran burning redneck Florida pastor. Now they've moved the narrative about the kooky pastor to an introspective discussion of "why did this story get that much attention in the first place".

I always love that special moment when a bullshit news story turns to a story about the media's handling of the bullshit news story.

Stranger Does Something Right

Nice chart boys!

click on image for better resolution

Bill Gates Jr. Has Problem With Yes Or No Answer On Tax Cuts

In and article for McClatchey News Bill Gates Jr. splits the baby on letting tax cuts for rich expire. What kind of billionaire double speak is this Billy Boy? Gates makes the point that rich people tend not to spend or reinvest the tax cuts when they get them since their sitting on piles of money already. But then again additional taxes collected could help reduce the deficits should the tax cuts be allowed to expire on the wealthy. There is some filler in the story about income distribution that says the top one percent of the rich control nearly a quarter of the nation's wealth nowadays. So those piles of money that's not getting spent by the wealthy are apparently larger then ever.

Oh shit maybe that's the problem?

Saturday Burning Of Assorted Dino Rossi Holy Campaign Brochures Going Forward

That's if I can get a burn permit.

Every time I hear Dino Rossi in that goofy TV add talking about working as a janitor or busboy at the Space Needle I want to burn something. Someone sent me some bullshit filled lying sack of shit Rossi Campaign Materials in the mail. To show my anger for having to listen to him lie his big business ass kissing face off through both sides of his mouth on the TV and also for increasing my junk mail I'm going to burn his campaign shit in the good old 50 gallon drum in the front yard on Saturday. Don't try and stop me.

Whiny Progressives Act Like Rats Leaving A Sinking Ship

Barack Obama maybe a bastard but he's our bastard. Overly hairsplitting, whiny and sensitive progressives who's feeling are hurt because their pet special interest causes didn't get the support of some compromised back-boneless Democratic Party scaredy-cat pink state Senator have done a 180 on the President like a woman scorned.

This after only two years of a new Presidency. At least let the guy find out where the bodies are buried. Progressives apparently forgot how the hell the separation of powers thing works.

It isn't the President you pussies. In case you haven't noticed he just saved the economy from a depression and passed a historic health care bill. It's the fucking dumb-shit Republican Party and their nubile progeny the batshit-crazy, bible thumping, sexually suppressed tea party white trash. Better get off your ass and get your disgruntled fellow intellectuals off theirs and get them out to vote for Democrats in November our your going straight to political hell come January. Did you think changing this was going to be done in one election cycle you selfish little brats?

Now shut the fuck up and listen to the President as he lays into the old nut-bar angry white guy's party. He talks about building things with "sweat and effort". He not talking about sweat and effort like in your spinning class though. So turn that misplaced anger in the right direction and allow yourself to get freaking mad as hell and go out and dropkick some tea bag ass.

Old Testament God Sends Asteroids to Destroy Cuckoo Koran Burning Red Neck Preacher

Wired News reports that not just one but two asteroids narrowly missed the earth this week. Since 154,000 and 49,000 miles in considered close in space circles. I've got 87,000 miles on my Ford pickup so relatively speaking that's pretty close I guess. Two enterprising Italian astronomy nerds captured the event on video.

McFfiti I'm Lovin' It

Paris McDonald's tagged, Very nice!

Artists Build Kiddy Ride To Draw Attention To Gulf Oil Spill

via: Wooster Collective

Rich Person Thinks We Should Tax The Rich

Bill Gates Sr. does his thing.

At Least European Labor Union Members F@#king Get It!

Meanwhile here in the US the American worker learns how to bent over and take it in the ass while conservative nuts and tea party members plan seriously to dismantle what remains of the social safety net in this country if they gain control in November. The dream of healthcare for everyone, that seems so close, social security, unemployment benefits, environmental protections, all on the chopping block. What in the fuck is wrong with this country?

We can't seem to move on into the future?

It's hard to listen to the high pitched whining coming from the media concerning this massive and apparently effective use of general strikes by workers in France and England. Workers protesting government austerity measure mainly aimed at cutting working class pension benefits and safety net social programs.

Meanwhile in America nothing to see here so just keep moving along. Have we become a nation of ignorant white trash half-baked tea party nuts and fancy pants progressives who rather wax on ad nauseam just to hear ourselves talk. It’s hard to believe that these mainly race based dido heads and tea party types are about to take over the levers of power in the US Congress according to the polls and prognosticators. Without so much as a whimper, it seems, from any progressive entity in this country. Un-fucking-believable!

Have we actually entered the Orwellian world of no is yes, war is peace.

Meanwhile most liberals are completely happy to jump on the Obama snob-fest bashing freaking bus. This man is not perfect and we certainly had our expectations rather high, but he has made significant progress in a number of key areas.

These strikes in Europe should be spreading around the world as far as I’m concerned. It may be a cry for help or a last stand against how sick and tired thinking middle class people are in some places after having their wages cut, pensions reduced, healthcare denied, working conditions lowered, and lives decimated through economic trickery by their corporate controlled governments. Who happily spend millions on war and billions on banks bailouts, but have no real relief for things ailing the middle class. The corporate controlled mainstream media tools rant about selfish overpaid union members and poor disrupted commuters. The really sad thing is most ignorant and uninspired Americans buy into this corporate controlled media bullshit machine message completely. Damn you for making twenty dollars and hour and wanting a pension.

The protesting strikers in Europe are of course a totally different breed from the biblically bullshit driven right wing tea party nuts in the good old USA, who'd have a hard time telling Saul Alinsky from Monica Lewinsky really. The workers in Europe value the solidarity they have with other workers and they stand up for their fellow workers as well as for social justice and programs that protect and enrich the middle class. They’re smart enough and conscious enough to recognize the real enemy. It isn’t Socialism or Muslims wanting to practice freedom of speech. It’s the BP's, Lehman Brothers, the greed driven corporations of the world and the unethical politicians who support them?

Viva la huelga!

The Real Terror Babies

The real "terror babies" that Republican efforts to repeal the 14th amendment overlook.

God Damit Ed's Right

For God's sake who going to fight for the working class? Not these empty headed bought and paid for bastards in Congress apparently. What the hell is wrong with people anyway? MSNBC's Ed Schultz channels some of the same frustration I feel for WHY it is in America we can seem to stop the ideological bullshit and start using common sense when it comes to health care reform. Everyone with their head screwed on right should be as mad as Ed right now about this problem.

Healthcare Hysterics

Okay the world is not ending. The passage of health care reform as it is now generally constituted will be a win for Democrats. It's the begining not the end of reform. So take a deep breath and live with it. Plus it turns out Limbaugh apparently loves socialized medicine after all. This guy is beyond a dumb shit.

Gang Banging Dumb Shit Millionaires

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Lesson One For Rednecks Why You Don't Torture Prisoners

Taliban release video of captured US Soldier missing since June. Stupid shit rednecks like Dick Cheney, who like to think of the war in Afghanistan as just another episode of Jack Bauer in 24 should realize that when the US tortures people they put American soldiers at grave risk of the same thing happening to them should the shoe end up on the other foot.

"The video, which has an English-language narration in parts, also shows images of prisoners in U.S. custody being abused. The speaker says he did not suffer such ill treatment."

But he probably will....

How the hell can America act outraged. "To release this video on Christmas Day is an affront to the deeply concerned family and friends of Bowe Bergdahl, demonstrating contempt for religious traditions and the teachings of Islam." says General so in so. Meanwhile here in Texas us Christians think it's god's will to apply electrical current to your balls if you end up being a freaking Muslim.

These draft dogging malingering assholes like Cheney, Bush and Rumsfeld aren't going to be the ones jumping into a foxhole in a some faraway third world country. They'll be eating fancy meals and smoking big cigars and joking about how fucking tough they are when it comes to blowing people up and torturing prisoners who end up in our custody.

There's a special place in hell for these ignorant despots.

Don't Throw the Baby Out With The Bathwater Just Yet

Where we're at today in the Obama era..

A quote from David Cole's Huffington Post mention and New York Review of books

"Thursday morning--Christmas Eve, that is, just after 7 a.m.--the United States Senate did something it's never done and passed a bill that aims for broad reforms of America's private health-insurers (it also delivers them 30 million new customers over the next decade, a bone of contention on the left). Potential snags exist, to be sure, but in all likelihood Barack Obama will become the first president, out of eight who've tried, to pass large-scale health reform. His presidency is either one-quarter or one-eighth over. Let us say, for argument's sake (because the economy is starting to turn around; and because of the advantages of incumbency), that it is the latter. What have we learned in this first year that might tell us something about the next seven?

Three things, I think. The first is that he's not the liberal tiger some people assumed or hoped he would be. Put aside the contingent of Americans who consider him a Communist. The rest of us should by now, I think, see him as the center-left politician he is, a person whose deepest intellectual conviction is to look skeptically upon conviction. He has, by the way, never said otherwise. If you happened to read The Audacity of Hope, this is the person you encountered."

There's a Republican for that..

Thanks John for the heads up...

The Sky Is Falling The Sky Is Falling

Or so said you know who. Has every fucking progressive in the country turned into a freaking drama queen? Okay there’s no public option. Get over it. There’s a ton of good stuff in this bill and it certainly a foundation on which we can build. Look at it as a patient’s bill of rights on steroids if nothing else. The paint isn't even dry on this baby and your having a cow. Here are some of the good things in the health care bills:

• Extend health insurance coverage to 31 million more Americans, including 14 million lower-income, working people through Medicaid.
• Prohibit insurance company discrimination based on gender or pre-existing condition and make sure you can't lose your insurance when you get sick.
• End the upward, unsustainable increases in insurance premium.
• Increase funding for community health centers in 10,000 communities across the country, enhancing primary care for more than 25 million people who have traditionally been uninsured or under insured.
• Close the prescription drug dough nut hole for seniors.
• Require insurance companies to spend at least 85% of their income on patient care, not executive pay or profits.
• Cut the federal deficit by $132 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

After more than 30 years of the corporations taking over the government, a fact that many of you overlooked for decades when you failed to even show up to vote, did you think these bastards would somehow disappear overnight because you actually put down the pot pipe and clicked your heals together when you finally sobered up enough to realize the alarm bells were ringing.

Democrats are generally pussies. Yes you heard me right we're a bunch of sniveling crybabies in never fucking never land half the time. I’m sick of John Avavosis over at America Blog and even the female version of Governator Swartzenager, the Queen Arianna herself at Huffington Post bashing Obama every time he sneezes. Make like Medicare Plan D and please close your donut holes a minute!

You apparently have the attention span of a 2nd year college student after he has been sucking on a bong all day. It has been just a year ago when Obama inherited the piece of shit leftovers of Bush and his band of fucking criminals. W and his cronies spent years robbing the fucking treasury to finance their unlawful wars, while all the time enriching their personal blind trusted companies. They greased the palms of their big business buddies and the asses of the middle class. The ran the country into the fucking ground so that it’s a wonder it still functions at all.

Yes, maybe the fountain of idealism that rode in with our current President was turn on full blast. It was sure to make for a terrible bummer of a hangover when we had to come back to earth. Huffington and especially the nitwits over at America Blog wouldn’t of done much better if they, through some miracle of science and religion, has suddenly been put into Obama’s shinny shoes.

I still believe that Barack Obama is an honorable and intelligent man who has done one hell of a lot of good things to improve the situation is a relatively short period of time. Given the total crapper that the right has attempted to turn this country into for the middle class, and it didn't start with the Bush's either. Saint Ronald Reagan probably was the biggest asshole of all. Problem was he was sort of a likable jerk.

If you believe that Obama hasn’t been an effective and viable President for progressive and liberal ideas your not paying attention again. I could go into a fucking litany here about what is right about the last year. But all you assholes out there are interested in is your little petty fucking agendas or parroting the same bullshit in your echo chamber then to take a minute to look at the big picture. Yes, we should keep the Presidents feet to the fire. But the constant whining is becoming counterproductive. Most importantly you should be blaming the people who are really responsible, the Republicans and a few assholes D's and one asshole I in the Congress named Joe "the weasel" Lieberman. Fitting that his name starts with LIE. It’s not Obama’s fault Lieberman was born for Christ sake.

Problem with the left sometimes is they get all hung up in their limited little fucking worlds. It’s all about their particular area of special interest. You know who you are. If your issue isn’t getting the attention you think it deserves your ready to throw the baby out with the bath water. Be careful you don't windup poisoning the well in the process.

Yes!

A dreamliner comes true.

But Will It Fly

Will the last machinist leaving Seattle please turn off the lights!

Oh the Drama… Progressives Have A Temper Tantrum Over Health Care Compromise

Many knee jerk liberals awoke this morning with a nagging feeling that they have been sold down the river with the apparent demise of the so-called public option. But most likely they are really only suffering from a severe case of tunnel vision when you look at what the overall proposed and significant reforms might turn out to be by the time the bill hits the President’s desk.

Both Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight and Chris Bowers over at Open Left, well respected progressive types, express similar themes, that liberals would be wrong to call the direction and scope of health care reform, as now proposed, anything other than significant should it become law. Now take a deep breath and exhale then repeat.

Is Darcy Burner Fixating On The Public Option

Darcy Burner, the twice beaten Democratic Candidate from WA 8th District and the loopy lefty darling of all neo progressives in ear shot nearly had a cow yesterday when reports emerged from the Senate that it maybe willing to drop or weaken the public option in a scheme allowing 55 to 64 year olds to instead buy into Medicare.

Burner’s rant on Huffington Post yesterday claims that the two big issues of the healthcare reform debate are: “A whole bunch of people don't have insurance, and can't therefore get the range of medical services they need; and we spend way too much, twice as much as most of the rest of the industrialized world, for healthcare that's not as good as what they get.” Sounds to me like something a liberal would parrot at a cocktail party in Bellevue.

Then somehow she claims that the extension of Medicare to the 55 and over crowd in exchange for dumping or the drowning in the bathtub of the public option will likely make cost go up rather then down. Although I’m certainly no expert, I don’t see how she can substantiates that conclusion.

Experts have argued that Medicare administrative costs are lower then for private insurance when it comes to delivering treatment. Given that premise is true, wouldn’t that mean that if millions were allowed to buy in to Medicare, meaning they have to pay something too, and the cost of the government administration is lower then for private insurance companies. Wouldn’t the program lower the overall cost of the actual delivery of treatment to those patients? Plus a government run program has a better chance of controlling cost because it's the fucking government with big government clout, standard setting, uniformity and reach.

Sometimes I think the left is as hysterical as the right when it comes to their pet issues. The public option has become the litmus test for how progressive you are, or aren’t, on health care reform. Many couldn't tell a public option from a hole in the ground, but it’s something to talk about that sounds good when all out at the sushi wine bar, I guess. You’d think they were going to remove your appendix without anesthetics if you even dare mention that perhaps the public option has become so watered down that it’s time to start looking at other proposals. Hell, I was as dingy as Darcy about the public option last summer, but this latest fish we may not want to throw back.

For god sake Doctor Governor Howard Dean is the one who supposedly came up with this idea of Medicare at 55. Burner acts like it was a proposal by the insurance lobby. Dean understands that it has the potential to be a winner with voters immediately. Because it would probably kick in immediately and be a tangible thing that everyone understands as an improvement to the healthcare system. The damn public option under the most favorable Democratic proposal doesn’t start till 2014, and what the fuck will it look like given the sandbagging it's experiencing in the Senate at this very moment. The new Medicare proposal is giving millions of people the option to participate in a government run healthcare plan, and it could add needed political legitimacy for the what's in it for me crowd out there in the hinterlands, and the program is all ready up and freaking running.

There’s a number of other good reasons to seriously look at this proposal that I don’t have room to mention here.

Burner then goes on a tirade about how all this somehow will mean a reduction in preventive care to treat her yet undiagnosed diabetes. Connecting the non existent dots that lowering the age for eligibility to buy in to Medicare will, in Burner mind, make doctors less likely to order early preventative care testing for your hereditarily related diseases. I’d argue that the practice of proper preventative care incentives and allowing 55 year olds to have Medicare are two different aspects of the overall health reform bill. Burner talks about early testing and personal awareness of the need for exercise becoming somehow unavailable if the proposal passes. Isn’t exercise always been a personal lifestyle choice anyway? Do you need a doctor to tell you that you need to exercise to make it happen? Besides I think the bill as it now stands addresses these issues of promoting a healthy lifestyles and cost cutting with the promotion of early testing anyway.

Here my health reform advise for you everyone. Don’t smoke; exercise, and don’t eat so much that you become a fat ass. If you follow these three easy steps you will lower your health care costs and probably live a long a productive life. Otherwise not.

Darcy then makes the argument that the insurance companies will dump patients when they reach 55 years of age and get sick. These people will then become the wards of Medicare and it will be the responsibility of the “taxpayers to cover the cost”. If I remember correctly both current bills in the Congress provide protection against such antics by the health insurance companies. I think Darcy Burner could be dead wrong on this one. For the sake of reason, let’s at least let the proposal see the light of day before we kill it in the crib. If it will get the 60 votes needed to pass the legislation then it’s worth consideration.

This maybe the trade off for the public option we can live with.

Update: Here's more via Crooks and Liars on the details of the proposed changes to the Senate health-care bill. Howard Dean says, ""I think this is still real reform," but hedges his complete approval until he can see the details of the final proposal, especially on just who gets to buy into Medicare. I believe the CBO is in the process of "scoring" the bill to see what the projected costs would be. So stay tuned.

Dump The Public Option In Favor of Being Able To Buy Into Medicare At 55 One Fantastic Idea

And apparently the Blue Dogs actually like it.

Hey if this will fly I say go for it. Not only will it achieve the long desired Democratic Party goal of expanding Medicare to those 55 and older, it will have an favorable immediate impact by providing a tangible easily understandable benefit to people that will help the Democrats at the polls in 2010. For God’s sake this is far better then any public option that been offered so far.

Besides a great number of other direct benefits one can think of with this proposed expansion of the Medicare program the one I, and my daughter, like is that it would allow many older folks to advance their retirements. It seems many American can’t afford to retire because they can’t afford the health insurance cost based on what their potential retirement income would be . With this new early Medicare buy in proposal that may change drastically. Think of the job vacancies created by a wave of retirements, but also by a boom in new jobs created to cater to a vast number of new retirees.

This is a political gold and those on the left who want real health care reform need to be open-mined about dumping the public option if the new Medicare proposal actually becomes viable. It’s not Medicare for all but it’s sure Medicare for a hell of a lot more people. Which maybe the closest thing to Medicare for all on the immediate horizon.

Police Shooting Of Cop Killer The Two Extremes

On one hand we have the right wing New York Post and on the other wing we have the more often then not predisposed Seattle police bashing SLOG. When comparing the two online headlines about the killing of suspected killer Maurice Clemmons I think you see evidence of the two extremes. The Post story paints a picture of good-riddance to bad rubbish and the SLOG story's tone is one of questioning whether the suspect's civil rights were violated.




And the comments I posted on the SLOG story:

Seattle's Moisture Festival Needs Your Votes To Win $25K

Seattle very own Moisture Festival, the annual comedy, variete and burlesque festival, held in venues throughout the city each spring needs your votes on facebook. The festival dates this year are March 11 through April 4, 2010. The Moisture Festival is one of the eligible non-profits in the Chase Community Giving Campaign where people with facebook accounts vote for their favorite charity. One hundred non profits who receive the greatest number of votes will get $25K each. Voting ends December 11th, so vote today. You can vote for up to 20 of your favorite charities at the Chase Community Page. Just use the search box to find your favorite charity or non-profit and cast your votes.



Moisture Festival Photo Book Released...

If you wonder what The Moisture Festival is all about your in luck because The Moisture Festival Photo Book has just been released. The book is available through Fremont Place Books while supplies last. These books are gorgeous and would make a wonderful holiday gift plus help raise money for the festival.

Palin Related Quote Of the Day

drip, drip, drip....

"They're like poisonous snakes in the grass who spew nothing but venom.They just lay in wait and they attack you until you're dead."

Says Mike Wooten The Alaska State Trooper at the center of Sarah Palin's so-called Troopergate Scandal which impeded her run for the vice-presidency and stained her record as Alaska governor has broken his more than year-long silence since his embattled divorce with Palin's sister, Molly, became a cause celebre during last year's presidential campaign.

Giving The Devil The Benefit Of The Law

There has been much whining by the usual suspects on the right about Attorney General Holder's decision to try certain al Oaeda plotters in the Federal Court in New York. What fear driven poppycock. These fear filled Republicans embolden the terrorists with their hysterical outbursts and demonstrations. You'd think that these criminals had the power to walk through walls after listening to these Republicans.

Last night I happened to be watching the 1966 Movie, A Man For All Seasons, and one particular scene in the movie pops up where the magnificent actor Paul Scofield, who plays Sir Thomas More, explains the power of law over the ever changing whims of people to just take the course of least resistance when considering justice. I said that the scene dialogue explains wonderfully why these men must be tried in open court even if they are devils. Yes devils they may be but they have the right to the laws of this land.

Hypocritical Conservatives All In A Twit About Obama Bow

As we all know conservatives love to conjecture about what Jesus would do. One thing he apparently did do is preach and demonstrate humility. As in the story popular in Christian mythology of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.

So why the hell are conservatives so worked up when our President does the same thing when he shows respect and humility towards the Japanese emperor. The Republicans love to promulgate the popular American myth that our national leaders show weakness by doing such things as bowing to any other head of state. When in fact such a demonstration shows wisdom and, yes, humility. The important thing I would say is what the Japanese think about this demonstration of respect rather then what we think.