I think for the next ten days, my thoughts, time, money are on the Washington Uprising. A bunch of groups are coordinating activities around the State and carrying the message to the Governor and the Legislators in Olympia. Washington State is jumping on the austerity bandwagon. We have a Democratic Governor, Christine Gregoire, who is…

#10) Indifference to racism in our criminal justice system Last year, during a KZOK radio interview regarding Farrakhan v. Gregoire, Attorney General Rob McKenna appeared to dismiss the problem of racial discrimination in our criminal justice system when, in response to a direct question about prison race disparity, he answered: “unfortunately, our prison population is…

I love Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, Joe Pass, Duane Allman and Dickie Betts as a duo were very fine, but I will choose Pat Metheny.  Pat’s collaboration with Lyle Mays has produced some great stuff. The guy is a fantastic technician on guitar, but it’s more than that.  He plays in the key of hope…

A letter to a Democratic activist who called for a go-slow approach to eliminating tax preferences. (For background, see Failed KCDCC Resolution a Good Idea and Fair School Funding Coalition.) Thank you for your well-written and thoughtful analysis.  I admire your commitment to the cause of justness and fairness.  The real “enemy” is conservatives, not…

Dr. Daniel Nocera and his team at MIT have created an artificial leaf that might be able to power a home. Here’s a bit from the story I found at Mail Online with help from Slatest: About the shape of a poker card but thinner, the device is fashioned from silicon, electronics and catalysts, substances…

I think from the start of the intervention, the military attack, the outcome in Libya has depended on removing Qaddafi from power. If he stays, he will crush his Libyan opponents at a future time and place. If he stays after the intervention, he will sponsor or cooperate with folks who will launch bombings and…

Joe Bageant died yesterday. He fought a good fight against cancer the past 4 months and kept writing and posting. Here is part of a piece he wrote not too long ago: AMERICA: Y UR PEEPS B SO DUM? Ignorance and courage in the age of Lady Gaga By Joe Bageant Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico If…

Washington Community Action Network is holding a Week of Action to demand that our legislators and the governor do the right thing.  Close corporate tax giveaways and stop balancing the budget on the backs of the poor and the middle class. APRIL 5-8 we will take back our dignity and our State. On April 5-8th,…

The Washington State Democrats have sent out a fund-raising appeal so that it can place an ad critical of Rob McKenna in the Seattle Times.  (See http://www.wa-democrats.org/content/our-newspaper-ad.) This ad calling out Rob McKenna for his attacks on public employee unions is running in today’s issue of The Olympian. GOAL: We need to raise $6,935 to…

Juan Cole has an interesting post up at Informed Comment on the current state of affairs in Libya: Top Ten Accomplishments of the UN No Fly Zone. I find Juan’s analysis of the current state of affairs to be a little encouraging. I understand the break that exists between the folks who do not believe…