Search Results for 'cU'

[lizru]

The Wash. Secretary of State’s office (www.sos.wa.gov) is a great resource for this type of information. Go to the “elections and voting” section, then 2010 Election Voters Guide”. Click under “state measures”, then the particular initiative you’re interested in. One of the areas you can click on is “Fiscal Impact Statement”. This will tell you the estimated impacts and the organization that estimated those impacts. (Whew! Didn’t think this would take this long!). Sam Reed’s office does a terrific job with this type of stuff. Good luck!

[BigPhil]

I must say the non-religious glut in Seattle is still throwing me off guard. I just moved here from Colorado Springs, where everyone and their neighbor is a brow-beating evangelist keen to judge you for your sinful behavior. I drove by New Life Church (of male-prostitute-hiring meth-snorting evangelist Ted Haggard’s fame) and another mega-church just to get to work every day! I wouldn’t dare let my own beliefs be exposed, and I had an Atheist pin or t-shirt that I’d only wear if I had two or three friends around. If my employer(s) had known my disbelief, I would have immediately been distrusted, because atheists are clearly shady and will lie and steal (per them).

If the mega-churches and massive evangelical population wasn’t enough, we also had the conservative Air Force Academy and the headquarters of many evangelical organizations, including Focus on the Family.

Here, I mention that I don’t buy into the nonsense that is Christianity and Islam and I get looked at like “yea, so?”

Refreshing doesn’t even do it justice.

[maplesyrup]

It’s not like you can find a bunch of boutique wines in Safeway right now.

And in order to be in big chains you have to be able to supply certain quantities to make it worth their while, so small wineries are already out of that equation anyway.

But 1100 does give smaller wineries the potential to put their wares in a lot more retail outlets. Nor would they be forced to go through any particular distribution system.

[DP]

JoB: Welcome back. (As a matter of fact, we did miss you.)

I wish I could give you my full agreement as a homecomeing gift, but on this one, I’m afraid I have to go with SarahScoot, who obviously cares about this alot.

While I don’t think it’s wrong to tax something like alcohol in order to provide health care for people, I do think it puts the state in a difficult position, morally. It’s like: “OK, we’re going to sell you something that could be bad for you. But then we’re going to tax it to offset the cost to society.”

It’d be like buying OD insurance from your local heroin dealer.

Kind of.

I feel the same way about the Lottery. While Lottery revenue is good for the citizens, problem gambling is bad for them. Therefore, while I agree with the state taxing gambling, I don’t agree with the state promoting gambling. I know several people whose lives have been ruined by problem gambling, so every time I see a billboard where my government is promoting the Lottery, it makes me kind of mad . . .

Fortunately, there’s an easy way out of the quandary as far as liquor is concerned. With private liquor sales, the state can still tax it, and the citizens can get their booze at times and places that are convenient for them.

Frankly, I don’t see a problem here . . .

Oh, and one more thing. I’ve noticed that nobody’s talking about the money the state will save by having hundreds of fewer liquor store employees on the rolls and fewer buildings and business operations to look after. Shouldn’t those savings be factored into any equation of how much I-1100 will “cost” the state?

Seems like.

[DP]

The state can still tax liquor sales, regardless of where those sales occur. Therefore, whether the state loses money from 1100 and/or 1105 in the long run is really up to the state itself.

Throwing 1098 into the equation makes it too complicated in my opinion. There are Web pages out there that can give you revenue impacts on any of these bills separately, but I don’t think there are any that compare the possible combinations among the three of them.

[JustSarah]

JoB, I find it difficult to engage in that debate when your premise is faulty. Alcohol consumption does not automatically equate to higher healthcare costs; in fact, moderate drinking is linked to increased longevity and general health compared to teetotalers.

Sources:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/MedicalReports/Longevity/1088617919.html

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/alcohol/index.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100824161432.htm

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20100519/moderate-drinking-linked-to-better-health

If you really want people’s taxes to be linked to how much they use health care, it seems maybe we should tax alcohol abstainers more than those of us who enjoy a glass of wine or a beer each evening.

Incidentally, I think it’s quite dangerous to say that certain people should pay more in taxes simply because they use more healthcare services. I’m sure my cousin would love to hear that she should be paying higher taxes because her 9-year-old son has medullablastoma and the cost of his care over the past seven years is now in the multi-million dollar range.

For most health conditions/diseases, it is very difficult to determine what is brought on by lifestyle choices and what by genetics or uncontrollable environmental factors.

[happy hour]

I saw a ch 5 special on winery’s last night after the news Giving discounts to larger retailers. Yes, I believe retailers will go for the bottom line for profits and weed out smaller winery’s for larger profit margins. Yes, it will also affect budget cuts for local programs and schools I’m sure you can look it up on line

[Garden_nymph]

Heck, the fleas have a circus AND a market. What can your spiders do (other than spin beautiful webs and eat bugs that is)?!

[JoB]

extending tax cuts for the rich will create jobs..

it hasn’t yet..

but it might

and pigs might fly too

but i wouldn’t bet on it.

[charlabob]

thank you! my life, cupcakewise, is complete.

[voodoo]

Finally went in to Circa tonight – for the first time, after having lived on this lovely peninsula for 5 years! It was a full house so we stepped out of our usual comfort zone to sit at the bar.

Wow! What a great time we had! The stranger next to us (gasp!) was friendly and warm, as was the barkeep and everyone we encountered. Great neighborly vibe. We instantly felt like we belonged.

And, to the point of this thread – the sweet potato fries. With those offered, I am certain I will never try another side there. Excellent burger, perfectly cooked, nice beer selection.

My only question is why hadn’t we been there yet? Honestly, partly because we were led by their logo to think it was a chi-chi place. It wasn’t until I saw “Neighborhood Alehouse” in small letters that my curiosity piqued. Thanks for the prod!

[Kimberley]

Semele – that’s just plain rudeness on the part of those sitting behind you (dumb @*$(*) – my tolerance for rude people lessons as I age.

Jiggers – thanks for the info, I may need to take my fat arse down to Talarico’s on a non-quiz night to check them out.

[Jiggers]

Talarico’s has the best seats period for my fat a_____! Comfort is a huge plus. I’d be more inclined to stay and spend more if it wasn’t uncomfortable.

[add]

http://livingsocial.com/deals/5310-2-dozen-cupcakes-15?ref=SEADeal092610_27email

[spoon]

Neighbor’s Excursion got hit last night just next to Alki auto repair heading East. From the leftover carnage you can see that a black GMC truck or other full size hit him. Not an expert on automobiles but judging from the plastic its probably no older than mid-ninetys at most. The truck’s grill will be mostly if not completely gone and I’d expect big damage to the front right quarter panel at least. Judging from the fact it hit a 5000 lb Excursion hard enough to smash into the car in front of it there might be a lot more damage as well. Keep your eyes open.

[Semele]

I like West 5 as well, however, avoid going there for that exact reason. The last time I was there I was bounced around so much by the three people sitting behind me it was insane. I even said something to them, which didn’t make a difference. It really is too bad.

[c@lbob]

Well, I sit at the tables, myself. For me, the yellow seats are only uncomfortable at the bar. I’d prefer it if they had regular bar stools.

I guess the owners should take note that the novelty of the retro decorations has worn off, replaced with the realization of why they became retro.

That won’t stop me from placing my body in any of the seats at West 5, of course, My experience has been that there are plenty of others there to fill them.

[c@lbob]

Far left? Relative to Grover Norquist, Dick Armey, the Koch Brothers, Dick Cheney, Sharron Angle (does that refer to the shape of her head?), Tom Coburn, Mitch McConnell, Doc Hastings, and their ilk — I’m pretty far from wherever they are.

Relative to politics worldwide, I couldn’t be accused of being leftist.

[DP]

Dateline: “West Seattle” (South of Alaska)

Saturday, September 25, 2010

 

As one would expect, there’s a ton of high-tech audiovisual stuff in the classrooms at the new Chief Sealth.

Forget flying school buses (that’s so 20th Century!) — now every teacher has a veritable computer magic show at his disposal, in the form of the “SmartBoard.” Using this mother-of-all-gizmos, a teacher can electronically “capture” documents, parts of documents, or even notes that he scribbles on documents, all by tapping his finger on a projection screen. Think of the SmartBoard as an 8 x 5-foot iPad that actually makes your kid smarter, not dumber.

Note: The phrase you’re most likely to hear from your Sealth student of the future: “No school today, Mom. The Internet’s down.”

 

Sealth’s new auditorium is now the best in the district.

With superb acoustics and seating for 1200 grown-ups, it’s like having our own performance hall right here in the ‘hood. Naturally, I’ll be looking for opportunities to see a show there. My preferred seating section? “Free” of course.

 

Old Chief Sealth H.S. is now Chief Sealth International H.S.

What’s that mean, exactly? Probably not as much as you think — you won’t be suddenly hearing lots of Swedish spoken at the Target in Westwood Village, for example — but still more than nothing. There will be a strong focus on culture and language programs (with a special resource center devoted to languages) as well as international exchange programs and an “international baccalaureate” degree, whatever that is.

According to Principal John Boyd, the “international high school” feature was something that Sealth staff really wanted, and is also in keeping with the character of the student body at Sealth, which is now the most ethnically diverse high school in Seattle.

New district-wide enrollment policies also ensure that a much higher percentage of Chief Sealth’s student body will hail from local neighborhoods than was formerly the case.

The trade-off for getting an international school (and having what Principal Boyd refers to as a “full-service” school) was that Sealth class sizes will be larger than those of some other Seattle high schools.

 

The building feels open and airy.

Many spaces are lit at least partly with “ambient” light (i.e., daylight) so that, in some spots, it feels like being on an open-air campus. Let us hope that all this light and air will have a salutary effect upon those of our young people afflicted with the tragic disorder of hyperkinesia.

[Hyperkinesia: (n.) A tendency to run around a lot.]

 

The new plan uses the available space more efficiently.

For example, the enclosed multipurpose “Galleria” connecting the high school with Denny Middle School is a much smarter use of space than what was there before, which was just a ho-hum breezeway from the main building to some portables. It’s impressive to think that a space that was originally designed for well under a thousand students will now be serving > 1000 high schoolers, PLUS all the Denny Students. And the designers didn’t even have to go high-rise to do it.

 

The project is efficient in other ways as well.

Some material from the old building was recycled or preserved during the upgrade. For example, benches from the old auditorium were resurfaced and reused throughout the building, and the original (beautiful) gym floor was simply sanded down and resurfaced, instead of being replaced. Energy efficient materials (like double-paned windows) were used throughout, and I believe the HVAC system is also superefficient.

 

Although the campus will ultimately serve both high school and middle school students, there will be little mixing between the two species.

— Or that’s the theory anyway. (We’ll see if it pans out.)

Sealth students will get where they’re going by one route, Denny students will use another. In cases where an area is shared, each group has its own designated space. Some areas have partitions that can be removed for all-campus activities — another example of efficient design.

 

“My goat ate my yardwork.”

Sixty specially trained high-tech goats were contracted to eat the blackberry thickets that formerly infested the slope on the west side of the building. I’m happy to report that the goats finished their meal on time, within budget, and without a single case of indigestion.

Now if we can just get them to eat a tunnel under the Seattle waterfront.

 

The Sealth renovation was originally budgeted at $50 million. Due to a precipitous decline in the price of steel, however, all of the extra wishes from the staff “wish list” (things like a deluxe weight training set for the gym) were granted.

Pretty cool, huh? Sure, fifty mils is a lot. But hey! Deluxe weight training set! — Right? Come on . . . you know you want one.

 

Was there anything about the new Chief Sealth I didn’t like?

Yeah. I don’t like the parking lot. But I guess cars gotta hang out somewhere. And if they stay at school, at least they won’t be getting into trouble.

 

 

So next time you pass by Chief Sealth, take a moment to reflect and feel good about what Seattle schools are doing to safeguard the future.

And as you think of the sacrifices that were made to clear that west slope of blackberries, always remember:

. . . No goats, no glory.

 

—Mad props to Principal John Boyd, and to Nels Enquist, Assistant Coach and tour guide par excellence.

[transplantella]

Hunter G, you rock! Many thanks.

Melody at Thriftway also rocks!

And a big whoo-hoo! to west seattle blog.

I talked to Melody today and she was brilliant. Totally knows her stuff, will work within any kind of budget, and miraculously will purchase all the flowers I need at a pricepoint lower than any other dealer/vendor/wholesaler I’ve talked to in Seattle.

Melody has saved this mother-of-the bride and has guaranteed to make the wedding gorgeous.

I.am.so.happy. :-))

Many thanks.

[elikapeka]

Who should I vote 4? Well, it won’t be any Republican candidate. Not that I’m enamored of the Democrats, but they’re slightly better. In the past, I’ve always voted for the candidate, not the party, and I usually vote for something or somebody, not against it, but the Republicans have demonstrated that they act in lockstep – individuality is not welcome in the party. They’ve become so extreme that I won’t vote for any of them.

We have had 30 years of privatization, deregulation, free markets, free trade, lower taxes. And both parties have supported this agenda. In any other era, Bill Clinton would be considered a moderate Republican. It didn’t work. It didn’t trickle down. A few people got richer, corporations made out like bandits, and the middle class and poor have lost ground. The class warfare and wealth redistribution the conservatives love to rail about has been going on for years, just the other direction.

We have lost jobs, pensions, any kind of security for retirement. Health care is a disaster. Our infrastructure is failing. Our educational system is a mess. We no longer lead the world in any meaningful category.

In the last election, the Democrats won with a different message, one that offers some hope to the middle class. Elections are supposed to mean something. Yet the Republicans in the Senate have abused the rules of the Senate to block almost everything. This isn’t a matter of being the loyal opposition. This is an abuse of the rules, where power and the institution becomes more important than the job they’re supposed to do. I sometimes see the same thing with unions, where the union itself becomes more important than the workers they’re supposed to represent.

Look, if you’re wealthy and living a nice life off of your investments, I get why you’d want to continue the status quo. It’s worked for a very small group. But why anyone else at this point would vote for people who want to continue down this path is beyond me.

Actually, the late George Carlin said it better than anyone else. You can watch at

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/1044358/

[MargL]

Today and tomorrow Budget Cuts is having an anniversary sale of $9 haircuts, raffle drawing for a year of free haircuts and complementary drinks and snacks.

Just got a great cut (very quick, no wait or short wait – they have a full staff today) plus a cold drink and a bag of chips. Good deal! :-D

[happy hour]

My neighbor. Was watching world news the other night and they declared that the recession was over!!! Wow, I told her she must have been watching comedy central!! But, no!

Also, toxic poisoning in our country is epidemic. I will post web that addresses these issues. I have toxic poisoning in my body and was tested(out of pocket) to try to find out what was wrong with me. No cure! China exports more than just lead. This should be posted in politics. (

Oops)

[inactive]

Yay for PetFest 2010!

Ginger’s Pet Rescue will be adopting out pets, if you ready for a new beloved family member!

Sound Dog Swims (sounddogswims.wordpress.com, Facebook, Twitter and soundogswims.com) are offering Senior Discounts and raffling off a Reflective Leash for SHAG residents.

Stop by and get your pet’s picture taken today too!

Looking forward to a fun event and meeting more pet people!

[Al]

Most bicycle “licensing” programs are synonymous with registration, i.e. being able to identify a bike if it’s stolen and found within a certain jurisdiction, rather than for licensing purposes like a driver, who must be able to prove that they can operate a large, dangerous motor vehicle and to license the vehicle to prove that it’s passed safety, maintenance and paid for at least some of the costs it will take to operate it on the public roadways.

Bike licensing programs are usually cost intensive and who has to license their bike and at what age? A 5 year old? What if a cyclist is just visiting or biking through the city? Should they stop and get a license for the weekend? Kansas City repealed the program just recently, in June 2010.

Honolulu does have a “registration fee” but only in conjunction with bike sales, not “licensing” as we understand it.

http://www.bicyclelaw.com/articles/a.cfm/legally-speaking-death-taxes-andfree-riders

If licensing people and vehicles for the roadway stopped all vehicular crime, again, we’d have a zero % fatality accident rate. If licensing paid for the roads then they’d already be paid for since most households have 2+ motor vehicles. Maybe I should stop and talk to those drivers I see with expired tabs or driving with out of state plates and inform them that they are not properly licensed. Maybe all those persons that have no valid drivers license be somehow vanished from behind the wheel. Nah, drivers are exonerated. They aren’t the problem…it’s those dang cyclists!

Yeah, Fauntleroy is just a horrible mess right now isn’t it? All those pedestrians and cyclists who can now use the roadway or cross it without worrying about getting run over by someone. A public roadway for the public. Who needs ’em?