February 11, 2012

The Real Story of how a Bill becomes a Law

source: http://www.thesefriesaregood.com/articles/the-real-story-of-how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/

February 11, 2012

Vancouver (WA) considers ordinance to keep bongs, pipes hidden at convenience stores

It soon might be a little harder to know whether your local convenience store carries glass bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia.

The Vancouver city attorney's office is working on a draft ordinance that would require convenience stores to keep drug paraphernalia out of sight and in a secure area -- and to sell it only to people 18 and older.

The City Council could consider the ordinance as early as March. It's currently being reviewed by Clark County's government.

<snip>

The ordinance would be a victory for PREVENT!, a local substance-abuse-prevention coalition, which has been pursuing restrictions on the sale of drug paraphernalia for two years. The organization made a presentation to the Vancouver City Council in January, where it urged the council to pass an ordinance that would prohibit children from buying paraphernalia. Tacoma and Spokane have passed similar ordinances.

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2012/02/vancouver_will_consider_an_ord.html

Ummm, guys, do you see all that BEER and TOBACCO in there? You gonna hide all that from the recovering addicts and the innocent kiddies too?

Pointing the bony finger of indignation at you,

Steve

February 5, 2012

I'm losing track of all the Republicans who are in hot water in the last couple of weeks.

There are so many of them that I get confused and start conflating them with one another so that my brain just thinks,

"Generic Republican = Lying Crook".

If more Americans see this obvious trend, the better off we all are.

February 4, 2012

Oregon Republican who ran against Sen. Ron Wyden in 2010 busted for election law violations

Busted! Jim Huffman to pay $30k fine for violating federal election laws

http://www.blueoregon.com/2012/02/busted-jim-huffman-pay-30k-fine-violating-federal-election-laws/

<snip>
It was one of the strange little mysteries of the 2010 election cycle. Jim Huffman, the law professor and GOP opponent of Senator Ron Wyden, disclosed in his quarterly reports that he'd loaned a total of $1.35 million to his campaign.

The only problem? Previous disclosures had listed his total non-home assets as between $500k and $1m, and he didn't disclose a loan against his house. So, where did the money come from?

Now, we know. As we all suspected, it was from his wife, Leslie Spencer. And because their assets were not jointly held, a contribution or a loan from her in excess of $2400 is illegal. So, the DPO filed a complaint.

And now, Huffman has been fined $29,900 by the Federal Elections Commission (pdf). The FEC noted that Huffman "reported the receipt of six loans from Huffman’s personal funds that were not from his personal funds because, based on Huffman’s personal financial disclosure statement, Huffman did not have sufficient personal funds to make the loans." </snip>

Republicans in this state whine and whine they just can't catch a break and win just one election here. Besides in freaking Klamath Falls or Roseburg or Molalla or some such backwater place.

Hey Oregon GOP!

It's because you don't deserve a break because you're a bunch of crooks and tax cheats! And most people know it. The only ones who don't listen to Limbaugh and Hannity and Lars Larson.

Good luck in November. You're gonna need it.

February 2, 2012

The Washington state Senate just passed same-sex marriage.

48 Yeas, 41 Nays!!!

Governor Gregoire has already said she sign the bill.

I think now it goes to the House.

Edited to add: It goes to the House tomorrow, where there is enough support to pass.

Congratulations, Washingtonians!

February 1, 2012

Hands.

Look at them. Yours, and those of others.

Mine are pretty beat up. I'm pushing sixty, and now they don't always do what I command them to do. And my legs? Well, that's a whole 'nother post.

I grew up in a farming family. Loggers, too. I saw hands missing fingers many times. No one saw this as strange, just a part of life in our world.

I still lift heavy shit, rain or shine or snow and ice. My hands have aged, just like the rest of me. I can still do it; it just takes longer after 45-50 years of work than when I was perfectly invulnerable at age 12-14.

My hands ache some days, and so do my knees and ankles. My doctor has helped me a great deal with medication and therapy. I'm one of the lucky ones. I have health insurance that is still marginally affordable. And I think I can retire in five years. I am very lucky.

Now, take a look at Mitt Romney's hands. Newt Gingrich's hands. Hell, the hands of any softy Republican or Democrat in Congress, the legion of DC lobbyists, and the velvety soft hands of the pundits who make big bucks to tell us all what we think.

Their soft hands remind me of those of the short, defensive character Curley in "Of Mice and Men".

Curley wore a glove filled with Vaseline to keep his hand soft for his wife.

Romney is a softy. He's never had to work a real goddamned day in his life in actual labor.

I wish I had a picture of Willard Romney's soft hands...hands that stole the dreams of many honest hard-working folks like you and me.

I respect blisters, and 30-hour work weeks going forward.

With hardened hands,

Steve.