19 July 2010
The Most Useless Sign in the Universe
This street sign is a few blocks from my apartment:
I find it amusing.
The Seattle Times: Masters of Logic
The Seattle Times editorial board annoys the living piss out of me, but can't they at least be consistent while they're at it?
Today it was another run-of-the-mill dose of anti-tax rhetoric, this time "arguing" that Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn should set aside a bunch of bike and pedestrian infrastructure plans that would have to be paid for by a parking-lot tax and a car-tab fee. Of course, they pull out the usual "you shouldn't raise taxes in a recession" bullshit (an assertion they make all the time in editorials, and always back up with nothing).
But exactly two weeks ago the same ed board was railing against McGinn for "obstructing" the giant tunnel proposed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct — which means trying to ensure the city doesn't get stuck with a bill for one shit-ton of dollars in cost overruns. The average tunnel or bridge goes over budget by 34 percent (the number's buried way at the bottom of that story) — and this one, at 56 feet in diameter, would be the biggest tunnel the world's ever deep-bored. Nah, not risky at all.
So Seattle can't afford any new projects right now. Except for that mammoth, overpriced freeway, the costs of which dwarf any pedestrian or bike improvements we could ever hope to make. Sure, Seattle Times, that makes sense.
Although I shouldn't be by now, I'm still amazed those guys manage to put out such condescending, uninformed assholery day in and day out.
Today it was another run-of-the-mill dose of anti-tax rhetoric, this time "arguing" that Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn should set aside a bunch of bike and pedestrian infrastructure plans that would have to be paid for by a parking-lot tax and a car-tab fee. Of course, they pull out the usual "you shouldn't raise taxes in a recession" bullshit (an assertion they make all the time in editorials, and always back up with nothing).
But exactly two weeks ago the same ed board was railing against McGinn for "obstructing" the giant tunnel proposed to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct — which means trying to ensure the city doesn't get stuck with a bill for one shit-ton of dollars in cost overruns. The average tunnel or bridge goes over budget by 34 percent (the number's buried way at the bottom of that story) — and this one, at 56 feet in diameter, would be the biggest tunnel the world's ever deep-bored. Nah, not risky at all.
So Seattle can't afford any new projects right now. Except for that mammoth, overpriced freeway, the costs of which dwarf any pedestrian or bike improvements we could ever hope to make. Sure, Seattle Times, that makes sense.
Although I shouldn't be by now, I'm still amazed those guys manage to put out such condescending, uninformed assholery day in and day out.
11 July 2010
Soccer: How?
The World Cup final is in extra time as I'm writing this. It's tied--at zero. I'm not one of those people who runs around badmouthing soccer or anything (well, maybe I kind of am), but I really can't understand how this is the most popular sport in the world.
I mean, it's alright...I guess. But it's hard to see how this is the game that everyone else in the world gets fanatical about and has riots over. Seriously, for 20- and 40-miunute stretches, NOTHING HAPPENS in soccer. People talk about baseball being slow, but at least there's the potential for some action with every pitch.
Whatever. I'm rooting for the Netherlands in what's left of this game. But only because they're orange.
I mean, it's alright...I guess. But it's hard to see how this is the game that everyone else in the world gets fanatical about and has riots over. Seriously, for 20- and 40-miunute stretches, NOTHING HAPPENS in soccer. People talk about baseball being slow, but at least there's the potential for some action with every pitch.
Whatever. I'm rooting for the Netherlands in what's left of this game. But only because they're orange.
01 July 2010
When One of These Two Things Inevitably Happens This Month...
...it will make me very sad.
In a year when the Mariners have managed to suck in just about every measurable way, Cliff Lee has been absolutely amazing. Last night was the "bad one" of his last three starts — he allowed three runs and a walk in a complete-game win against the Yankees, who are tied for the best record in baseball. And afterwards, he was pissed about the one base on balls. The dude has only walked five batters the whole season.
Yeah. It'll be sad when he goes. We better get something good for him.
*** Also, I feel compelled to state that this is the only thing I consider a New York Mets hat. Unfortunately the black monstrosity displayed above turned out to be way easier to Photoshop. So there.
Update: Yeah, totally nailed that prediction, didn't I?
The Seattle Times Thinks the State Income Tax Initiative Will Murder Children, Eat Kittens and Sand Your Grandmother's Face Off
Does anyone who isn't an angry, elderly Republican take the Seattle Times editorial board seriously? They put another editorial up yesterday afternoon, saying Initiative 1098, the income-tax-on-the-rich proposal sponsored by Bill Gates Sr., will be the end of the fucking world.
I honestly think the Times ed board all sit around in a room and start screaming whenever anyone says the word "tax." Every time a new tax proposal comes up, for any reason, they immediately pump out some hysterical bullshit about why it's a terrible idea that will obliterate business, destroy jobs and generally do just about everything they can think of that is bad (not backing any of this up with actual facts or anything, of course).
What really gets to me about this editorial is how they manage to entirely ignore that a new income tax will come conveniently packaged with a 20 percent reduction in state property taxes — one of those "middle class tax cuts" the Times loves to champion when rich people's extra cash isn't at stake.
I've written letters to the editor when they've published garbage like this in the past. They're a nice idea in theory, but they don't really accomplish anything. The process usually goes something like this:
If anyone's interested, I included an example of the Times' dumbing-down of one of my letters below the jump:
I honestly think the Times ed board all sit around in a room and start screaming whenever anyone says the word "tax." Every time a new tax proposal comes up, for any reason, they immediately pump out some hysterical bullshit about why it's a terrible idea that will obliterate business, destroy jobs and generally do just about everything they can think of that is bad (not backing any of this up with actual facts or anything, of course).
What really gets to me about this editorial is how they manage to entirely ignore that a new income tax will come conveniently packaged with a 20 percent reduction in state property taxes — one of those "middle class tax cuts" the Times loves to champion when rich people's extra cash isn't at stake.
I've written letters to the editor when they've published garbage like this in the past. They're a nice idea in theory, but they don't really accomplish anything. The process usually goes something like this:
- I triumphantly e-mail a fiery but well-written letter.
- They edit it — removing and/or watering down just about every point I make
- They publish the letter with their edits included and my name at the end, thus making me look like an idiot who doesn't have well-thought-out opinions.
If anyone's interested, I included an example of the Times' dumbing-down of one of my letters below the jump:
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