Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny, is an ambitious book, with a title that one might deem grandiose. But the author, Robert Wright, crafts a satisfying, readable tour de force that synthesizes human history, anthropology, game theory, biology, and ethics. The book first explores the evolution of human societies towards larger and more complex social…

Summer Stinson posted on the facebook page Washington Paramount Duty the following (and gave me permission): ACTION ALERT: STOP Betsy DeVos policies in WA! In the dead of night, at 1:30 in the morning, the Senate Ways and Means Committee passed the bill proposing to address the school district levy lid issue, SB 5313. But…

The auditorium at Bellevue College was standing-room only on March 23, 2019  for the town hall of the 41st Legislative District lawmakers Sen. Lisa Wellman, Rep. Tana Senn, and Rep. My-Linh Thai. Sen. Wellman is Chair of Early Learning & K-12 Education and sits on Environment, Energy & Technology, Higher Education & Workforce Development, and…

The KOMO documentary Seattle is Dying is a powerful  and angry film, denouncing the city council and courts for allowing homeless camps, tents, filth, and crime to fester. It depicts the low-functioning homeless who are drug addicted, mentally ill, and/or criminal. It condemns the inability or unwillingness of the police, courts, and city council to…

Common Dreams is reporting that the Democrats in Congress appear ready to give into most of Donald Trump’s request for a $750 billion defense budget. From ‘Military Keynesianism is Back!’: Democrats and Trump Agree on Pentagon Increase, Quibble on Details: The Democrats proposed $733 billion budget would give the military most of what it wants…

Last night there was a showing of Rick Steve’s The Story of Fascism in Europe. There was a big turnout, about 40 people, which the organizers said was the largest they’ve had for a film. The film blamed the rise of fascism on desperate people deceived by charismatic leaders (Hitler, Mussolini, Franco) who offered simple…

An abundance of progressive legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives, setting the stage for eventual passage, when the Democrats take back control of the Senate. Thanks to Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Bernie Sanders and years of advocacy by health care activists, single-payer healthcare is coming closer to reality. As of Februrary, 2019 there…

Puget Sound Energy is planning to lay down new power lines on the Eastside, claiming that the existing infrastructure is too old and too inadequate to deal with the expanded energy needs of the booming population. They call their project Energize Eastside. But community groups oppose the project, saying that new technology such as batteries…

Two Washington State resolutions call for amending the U.S. Constitution: SJM 8001 – 2019-20: Calling on Congress to exercise its authority under Article V of the United States Constitution to regulate money spent on elections. (Sponsors: Hasegawa, Frockt) SJM 8002 – 2019-20: Asking Congress to call a limited convention, authorized under Article V of the…

I went to see the film Trickle Down Town, by Thomasz Biernacki, about homelessness in Seattle. It was inspiring. Mostly it was in-depth interviews with several people who faced homelessness. One is a (beautiful) young woman who became addicted first to Oxycontin and then to heroin; who went through a period where she sold her…