My husband and I took to calling our local paper, The Seattle Times, 'The Liberal Rag' a long time ago. We still get it delivered every Sunday morning because we feel it is important to be aware of what is going on in our local area, even if we do not agree with most of it.
This past Sunday's edition was a doozy, with a headline on the front page of the 'Northwest Sunday' section that read: "Slip Up May Slam Doors On Gun Law". However, If you read the article online here you will notice that they have toned down that original headline to: "Mistake In Gun Bill Could Defeat The Effort".
I guess a mistake is more palatable than a slip up. Phony Baloney, I say. I don't believe any of this stuff is happening without plenty of pre-planning on the part of our local government.
In fact, I would say that this Sunday's article concerning having the sheriff come by to take a look at law abiding citizens guns 'no more than once a year' (-never mind that the whole idea of limiting my 2nd amendment rights in any way shape or form doesn't work for me at all) is the perfect pairing to this story that came out just yesterday about how upset the locals are that the police have plans to use cameras in just about every public place around town.
And it has been said that people who fear an Orwellian future are nut jobs who just don't get it?!
I say, if this stuff doesn't scare you, even a little bit, then you and I must live on completely different planes of existence...
“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” – Golden Rule
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. ” – Mother Teresa
Showing posts with label Seattle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seattle. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Growing Pains
How come being authentic has to be so darn painful sometimes???
Anyway. I stuck to my word. Here's the proof.
Maybe by being open and honest about my politics, I'm asking for anything that comes my way.
And I thought I was just being brave and hoping that maybe others would see that they are not alone here in the land of 'only leftist politics allowed'. Silly me.
So far... one of my neighbors has accosted me with a screechy speech about the Koch brothers. Another neighbor has informed me that she feels guns should be reserved only for those who live 'out in the country'. And last night when I picked up a friend to take her to a basketball game, she actually asked me if I had put my dogs on the roof of my car during my last trip to California.
I kid you not. These are completely real comments. Including the one from someone who is supposed to be my friend. Oh and then there's the guy who flipped me off on the freeway while gesturing fervently toward my bumper...
To neighbor #1 I answered by telling him that if he wanted to have any kind of real open conversation, he would have to pick a better opening line.
To neighbor #2 I told her that we would have to just agree to disagree. I really didn't know what else to say. Believe it or not, I've never actually thought to question the second amendment.
As to my friend's rude dog comment, I simply told her that I take plenty of abuse from all the wonderfully tolerant souls here in our fair city of Seattle and I felt that was enough. I didn't need to take any extra abuse from my friends.
She got real quiet. Real fast.
I'm not gonna' lie. This is not easy. It's just as bad as I thought it might be.
But I'd rather be honest than popular. And I'm still smiling. And glad I decided to do this.
Even through the tears...
Anyway. I stuck to my word. Here's the proof.
And I thought I was just being brave and hoping that maybe others would see that they are not alone here in the land of 'only leftist politics allowed'. Silly me.
So far... one of my neighbors has accosted me with a screechy speech about the Koch brothers. Another neighbor has informed me that she feels guns should be reserved only for those who live 'out in the country'. And last night when I picked up a friend to take her to a basketball game, she actually asked me if I had put my dogs on the roof of my car during my last trip to California.
I kid you not. These are completely real comments. Including the one from someone who is supposed to be my friend. Oh and then there's the guy who flipped me off on the freeway while gesturing fervently toward my bumper...
To neighbor #1 I answered by telling him that if he wanted to have any kind of real open conversation, he would have to pick a better opening line.
To neighbor #2 I told her that we would have to just agree to disagree. I really didn't know what else to say. Believe it or not, I've never actually thought to question the second amendment.
As to my friend's rude dog comment, I simply told her that I take plenty of abuse from all the wonderfully tolerant souls here in our fair city of Seattle and I felt that was enough. I didn't need to take any extra abuse from my friends.
She got real quiet. Real fast.
I'm not gonna' lie. This is not easy. It's just as bad as I thought it might be.
But I'd rather be honest than popular. And I'm still smiling. And glad I decided to do this.
Even through the tears...
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Surviving The Crazy... And Seafair!
Lately around here, it's still a little bit crazy.
1) We've settled into a routine of working especially hard to get my husband through his next actuarial exam by having him 'teach' his papers to me. He missed passing the last one by 1/4 of a point! So this new tactic has got to work- since either he needs to make sure he's a valuable enough employee to keep around after his company's coming shakeup or we'll need all the help we can get in selling him to somebody elses company in Texas. Cuz' we sure won't be able to afford to be staying here if his company shows him the door. Either way, we're going to be prepared!
2) I recently survived a 20 year high school class reunion that entailed a strange trip down memory lane with a neighbor girl who was always my friend at home, but never at school. She was a cheerleader and I the band geek. I learned that she is now a lesbian who is super down to earth and still as sweet as I remember she could be and she learned that I am now a blond who it turns out had a secret life of competitive dancing and other things that prove I was never really that geeky at all. Ahh, the lives we lead when we compartmentalize! It's so much easier to be real and just one person... And it wasn't half bad to be lumped into the new clique of those dubbed the 'non-agers' at the reunion. Thank goodness the attendees were mostly different than those who came 10 years ago, so nobody said a word about how much fatter I was last time around!
3) It's also that time of year when Seattleites go as nuts as any politically correct people can. It's Seafair!
Tomorrow my husband will feel his office building shake as the Blue Angels arrive in town. Many people will go bonkers, either complaining about all the unnecessary noise and hoopla or joining in. It's really not summer in Seattle without Seafair- rain or shine, complete with people suddenly tearing off clothes to reveal especially bad tattoos and fishbelly white skin, the wonderfully intelligent combination of drunken boaters all tied together to a logboom and women who only pretend to be disgusted when the pirates drag them down the beach and haul them off at swordpoint.
Here's a sample of the raucousness for the out-of-towners to enjoy: You really have to see it to believe it!
1) We've settled into a routine of working especially hard to get my husband through his next actuarial exam by having him 'teach' his papers to me. He missed passing the last one by 1/4 of a point! So this new tactic has got to work- since either he needs to make sure he's a valuable enough employee to keep around after his company's coming shakeup or we'll need all the help we can get in selling him to somebody elses company in Texas. Cuz' we sure won't be able to afford to be staying here if his company shows him the door. Either way, we're going to be prepared!
2) I recently survived a 20 year high school class reunion that entailed a strange trip down memory lane with a neighbor girl who was always my friend at home, but never at school. She was a cheerleader and I the band geek. I learned that she is now a lesbian who is super down to earth and still as sweet as I remember she could be and she learned that I am now a blond who it turns out had a secret life of competitive dancing and other things that prove I was never really that geeky at all. Ahh, the lives we lead when we compartmentalize! It's so much easier to be real and just one person... And it wasn't half bad to be lumped into the new clique of those dubbed the 'non-agers' at the reunion. Thank goodness the attendees were mostly different than those who came 10 years ago, so nobody said a word about how much fatter I was last time around!
3) It's also that time of year when Seattleites go as nuts as any politically correct people can. It's Seafair!
 | |
| Credit: news-world.org |
Tomorrow my husband will feel his office building shake as the Blue Angels arrive in town. Many people will go bonkers, either complaining about all the unnecessary noise and hoopla or joining in. It's really not summer in Seattle without Seafair- rain or shine, complete with people suddenly tearing off clothes to reveal especially bad tattoos and fishbelly white skin, the wonderfully intelligent combination of drunken boaters all tied together to a logboom and women who only pretend to be disgusted when the pirates drag them down the beach and haul them off at swordpoint.
Here's a sample of the raucousness for the out-of-towners to enjoy: You really have to see it to believe it!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
That's What I Get... And A Handy Dandy Guide To Seattle Weather
Me and my big mouth.
I should have known better.
Speak of the sun in Seattle and it is sure to make its exit.
Immediately.
If not sooner.
This is what it looked like today (July 10) at high noon in Seattle:
I should have remembered that we have 12 different distinct weather zones in our state that often wreak havoc on one another so the people who forecast weather are often wrong. And I think they try really hard to remain optimistic...
Oh well, there's still that two weeks of summer we sometimes get in early August.
I can't wait!!!
And for those who mistakenly think that here in the Northwest since we don't get summer, we might get other actual seasons.
Nope.
Not so much.
Here's that handy dandy guide I promised you. It's from the guy at theoatmeal.com. Enjoy!
I should have known better.
Speak of the sun in Seattle and it is sure to make its exit.
Immediately.
If not sooner.
This is what it looked like today (July 10) at high noon in Seattle:
 | |
| My husband says that you can still tell that it's summer because the sky is a lighter shade of grey. Whatever... |
Oh well, there's still that two weeks of summer we sometimes get in early August.
I can't wait!!!
And for those who mistakenly think that here in the Northwest since we don't get summer, we might get other actual seasons.
Nope.
Not so much.
Here's that handy dandy guide I promised you. It's from the guy at theoatmeal.com. Enjoy!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Help! They're Trying To Save Us From Ourselves... Again
Even Seattleites have their limit.
Here in the northwest we work pretty hard to make sure nobody actually sees us doing anything mean or confrontational. Heck, people have even been known to leave a note on the car window of a person whose alarm keeps going off rather than confront them.
In a city known for its passive aggressive tendencies, it takes a lot to get somebody to actually say anything to your face. They'd rather talk nasty behind your back.
Well....somebody finally had enough.
Check out this video of a real killjoy, (even though she claims she wasn't trying to be one) and the reaction she got. Pause the music player.
I think the worst part is the anchors making fun of the woman's frustration.
This situation reminds me of the people who get in the left lane on the freeway and sit there going right at the speed limit, making sure you don't have the chance to speed or anything like that. Yes, people here do this- all the time.
All this snow seems to have brought out our uncivilized side. I say, bring it on!
Here in the northwest we work pretty hard to make sure nobody actually sees us doing anything mean or confrontational. Heck, people have even been known to leave a note on the car window of a person whose alarm keeps going off rather than confront them.
 |
| photo credit: seattlemetblogs.com |
Well....somebody finally had enough.
Check out this video of a real killjoy, (even though she claims she wasn't trying to be one) and the reaction she got. Pause the music player.
I think the worst part is the anchors making fun of the woman's frustration.
This situation reminds me of the people who get in the left lane on the freeway and sit there going right at the speed limit, making sure you don't have the chance to speed or anything like that. Yes, people here do this- all the time.
All this snow seems to have brought out our uncivilized side. I say, bring it on!
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