Friday, December 5, 2008
News The Morning News
Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Unemployment: Skyrockets to 6.7%, the highest it's been in 34 years. One high note for the economy: whiskey and vodka sales are up.
Record-Breaking: One in ten Americans are behind on their mortgages or in foreclosure.
Why Didn't We Do That?: Indian middle class, furious over terror attacks, take it out on their government.
The Big Three: Still whining.
Israel: Boosting forces.
Canada's Going Nuts: Harper's suspended the Parliament and his Conservative Party is likely to win majority status.
We'll Be Unemployed, but Insured: Obama's quietly working on health care reform.
Unless He's Not a Citizen: Supreme Court investigates whackjob Obama's-not-a-citizen claims.
Seattle's Mental Health System: Failing.
Free Parking in Fremont: Over.
Rainier Beach Closure: Saddening.
Dillinger Meets Dina Martina: French Bank robbers steal $100 million—some while dressed in drag.
Look Out, Slog Commenters: Angry screed on Craigslist might land man in jail.
Jesus Fucking Christ: "Atheists take aim at Christmas."
He Had a Real Nice Hat: Russian Orthodox Patriarch dies at 79.
And now, because my first week's Morning News was such a dismal affair, I give you two Muppet videos. I can't figure out which one I like more: This one...
...or this one:
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6
That is a whole mess of bad news.
It's fun to watch automakers squirm under questioning. And while they may have pretended to humility by driving to D.C., I'll swear one of them was wearing a $6,000 suit.
I hope all the sick ones are feeling better today.
It's fun to watch automakers squirm under questioning. And while they may have pretended to humility by driving to D.C., I'll swear one of them was wearing a $6,000 suit.
I hope all the sick ones are feeling better today.
7
Beaker, like scary tyler moore, is a total fuckin' dork who can't play the violin worth shit, unless there's Bartok involved. Please post more videos with Napoleon Dynamite in them.
8
Those Muppet videos are new, which is awesome because they're the first part of the great Disney Muppet re-introduction. Disney realized that what made the Muppets awesome was that they weren't just for little kids, but lots of adults love them. So they re-tailored and are starting viral Muppet hype in preparation for the new Muppet movie that's coming out within the next couple years. Squee!
9
re fremont paid parking:
The reality is that this will not significantly improve the parking situation. While parking in Fremont can be difficult - especially around noon, it is most difficult to find parking Thursday through Saturday night.
The Parking Plan does little to alleviate the weekend parking problem. It also does nothing to alleviate the problems associated with parking on major events,
such as Oktoberfest and the Summer Solstice Parade.
The residents of Fremont have twice voted against creating a Residential Parking Zone. The Fremont Chamber of Commerce, realizing this plan is bad for business, bad for employees and bad for the industrial companies, is also against it.
This plan will force a handful commuters to utilize public transportation, carpool or bicycle. This is the only positive aspect to the plan. This poses a significant problem for bikers, as there aren’t very many places to actually park your bike in Fremont. The city hasn’t built many, if any, new bike racks in Fremont in the 3 years I've lived here. In all of Seattle, SDOT installed only 147 bike racks last year.
If the city was really serious about reducing congestion in Fremont, there are a number of things that could be done. The city could enforce parking laws (wasn't that why all those segways were purchased?), increase bus trips, add those bike racks that were promised and work with small businesses to implement alternative transportation plans.
I'd be interested in hearing SDOT's plan to relieve congestion once the Parking Plan takes effect, as everyone clamors for the few remaining free spots. This will undoubtedly cause more congestion issues. And with the added revenue from paid parking, will Fremont finally get a meter maid that actually does their f*cking job!?!
Congrats Mayor, you just lost at least 5,000 votes.
More...
The reality is that this will not significantly improve the parking situation. While parking in Fremont can be difficult - especially around noon, it is most difficult to find parking Thursday through Saturday night.
The Parking Plan does little to alleviate the weekend parking problem. It also does nothing to alleviate the problems associated with parking on major events,
such as Oktoberfest and the Summer Solstice Parade.
The residents of Fremont have twice voted against creating a Residential Parking Zone. The Fremont Chamber of Commerce, realizing this plan is bad for business, bad for employees and bad for the industrial companies, is also against it.
This plan will force a handful commuters to utilize public transportation, carpool or bicycle. This is the only positive aspect to the plan. This poses a significant problem for bikers, as there aren’t very many places to actually park your bike in Fremont. The city hasn’t built many, if any, new bike racks in Fremont in the 3 years I've lived here. In all of Seattle, SDOT installed only 147 bike racks last year.
If the city was really serious about reducing congestion in Fremont, there are a number of things that could be done. The city could enforce parking laws (wasn't that why all those segways were purchased?), increase bus trips, add those bike racks that were promised and work with small businesses to implement alternative transportation plans.
I'd be interested in hearing SDOT's plan to relieve congestion once the Parking Plan takes effect, as everyone clamors for the few remaining free spots. This will undoubtedly cause more congestion issues. And with the added revenue from paid parking, will Fremont finally get a meter maid that actually does their f*cking job!?!
Congrats Mayor, you just lost at least 5,000 votes.
11
he should have found a better looking kermit but it still rocks.
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! james murphy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXFfcubPY…
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! james murphy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXFfcubPY…
12
I feel bad for liberal americans who thought Canada was a liberal shangri-la.
Harper is a mini-W, and I'm only in support of proroguing because I trust the GG's judgement.
Harper is a mini-W, and I'm only in support of proroguing because I trust the GG's judgement.
13
atheists don't help themselves with stuff like this. pick your fights, you insufferable asses! (i'm an atheist, but not one of those).
14
The muppets are too politically incorrect for this day and age. Beaker and the Chef have speech impediments so it's mean to laugh at them. Gonzo engages in bestiality. The cranky old guys are ageist. Animal, always wearing his chains, is a victim of slavery (and oppression that goes with it). Kermit and Miss Piggy - miscegenation, if they ever consummate it. And there's something wrong with Fozzie that I'm pretty sure makes him a protected class of some sort.
That said, I welcome their subversive return. Wocka wocka.
That said, I welcome their subversive return. Wocka wocka.
16
That item about Seattle's mental health system failing depresses me (no pun intended.) It's one of the things that I find maddening about the 99 bridge suicide fence thing -- I probably misspoke on an earlier post when I said that thing wouldn't save a single life, because it might. But the seven million it costs to build could also fund mental health services that are currently experiencing cuts. And as that news story points out, things like the Shannon Harps incident are more likely to occur when treatment is inadequately funded. It seems our spending priorities are focused on the one visible example of mental illness and completely ignore the daily ongoing need to address those needs in the community. The takeaway is that we don't care about the mentally ill until they do something unthinkable.
Those horrible unemployment numbers lead me to believe that we will soon be seeing an even larger street population, exacerbating these issues even further.
Those horrible unemployment numbers lead me to believe that we will soon be seeing an even larger street population, exacerbating these issues even further.
17
Paul,
That's the second time I heard about this story regarding Obama's birth certificate. I believe he's a US citizen (born in Hawaii) and will be our next President. But, couldn't he placate the doubters out there by merely asking the state of Hawaii for his original birth certicate and displaying it at a press conference? The matter would then fully rest. Being the nation's first biracial and bicultural President is extraordinary but he'll score even more points with an assurance of his citizenship.
That's the second time I heard about this story regarding Obama's birth certificate. I believe he's a US citizen (born in Hawaii) and will be our next President. But, couldn't he placate the doubters out there by merely asking the state of Hawaii for his original birth certicate and displaying it at a press conference? The matter would then fully rest. Being the nation's first biracial and bicultural President is extraordinary but he'll score even more points with an assurance of his citizenship.
18
I will never forget the night I was hopped up on cold meds, watching television, and thought I'd suffered some kind of episode when I saw Coolio and the muppets perform 1-2-3-4. I think that was the last episode of The Muppet Show I ever watched (how do you get any higher and/or lower than that?). I eagerly anticipate a revival!
19
@18: that was the baaaaaad Muppet Show revival of the mid-90s, memorable to me only because the voices were all off and it was once hosted by Paula Abdul.
20
Free health and unlimited unemployment insurance...USA finally becomes Europe with everyone on the dole.
Seattle leaves convertible Mercedes behind and goes back to being lounge city of idlers in independently owned coffee shops, scribbling in spiral notebooks 5 hours per.
Seattle leaves convertible Mercedes behind and goes back to being lounge city of idlers in independently owned coffee shops, scribbling in spiral notebooks 5 hours per.
21
@17: "couldn't he placate the doubters out there by merely asking the state of Hawaii for his original birth certicate and displaying it at a press conference?"
He could try, but the people who have convinced themselves that he's not a natural born citizen will still come up with some explanation for why it's not legit. Just like that damned "moon landing"!
He could try, but the people who have convinced themselves that he's not a natural born citizen will still come up with some explanation for why it's not legit. Just like that damned "moon landing"!
22
mike @9:
Um, mike, so how the heck do you propose to pay for all these improvements?
Oh, yes, I guessed it. Tax the other guy. Hey, maybe there's a rich developer out there.
And how exactly is this increased bus service going to help much? All you'll have is more buses stuck in the same dreadful Fremont traffic.
More mike:
You gotta admire the neighborhood NIMBYs for their sheer chutzpah. They always like to claim to speak on behalf of their entire neighborhoods, as if they magically knew that everybody in their neighborhood shared their views. Or maybe it's only the "real" Fremonters who share your views, mike, y'know, kinda like Sarah Palin liked to talk about the real America.
Anyway, mike, to whom exactly is Mayor Nickels going to be losing those 5,000 votes you hold in your pocket? Peter Steinbrueck? That developer dude who's thinking of running? I don't see how their views about urban planning and transportation differ all that much from Greg Nickels's.
Or are you hoping for some old-Seattle, retro-populist white knight to emerge? Hey, maybe Gene Hoglund would consider a run for mayor.
If the city was really serious about reducing congestion in Fremont, there are a number of things that could be done. The city could enforce parking laws (wasn't that why all those segways were purchased?), increase bus trips, add those bike racks that were promised and work with small businesses to implement alternative transportation plans.
Um, mike, so how the heck do you propose to pay for all these improvements?
Oh, yes, I guessed it. Tax the other guy. Hey, maybe there's a rich developer out there.
And how exactly is this increased bus service going to help much? All you'll have is more buses stuck in the same dreadful Fremont traffic.
More mike:
Congrats Mayor, you just lost at least 5,000 votes.
You gotta admire the neighborhood NIMBYs for their sheer chutzpah. They always like to claim to speak on behalf of their entire neighborhoods, as if they magically knew that everybody in their neighborhood shared their views. Or maybe it's only the "real" Fremonters who share your views, mike, y'know, kinda like Sarah Palin liked to talk about the real America.
Anyway, mike, to whom exactly is Mayor Nickels going to be losing those 5,000 votes you hold in your pocket? Peter Steinbrueck? That developer dude who's thinking of running? I don't see how their views about urban planning and transportation differ all that much from Greg Nickels's.
Or are you hoping for some old-Seattle, retro-populist white knight to emerge? Hey, maybe Gene Hoglund would consider a run for mayor.
23
Bill O'Reilly stole the sign to keep his tatterdemalion rant fueled. I'd advise: "Thou shalt not steal" - but isn't that from some religious tract I've heard about - the one that invented Christmas?
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