Have you ever stopped to think about how many outside influences you have on your life? Specifically, how many people do you interact with in one day? Some people will have higher numbers than others (as, I can imagine, a banker would have a higher number than me, a couch potato). How much of those [...]

The landmark trial currently before the United States District Court for the Northern District of California has huge potential. The constitutional challenge to California’s anti-gay marriage statute passed by referendum in 2008 (a.k.a “Proposition 8″) started this past Monday, and is easily the most anticipated court challenge in the past few years. Everything is on [...]

This was prompted by an assignment for my Sociology class to try to find a way to solve the world’s climate issues and consumerist tendencies. Each student was encouraged to come up with a particular plan to “save the world.” My plan? A five-step primer for completely solving most of the world’s economic and environmental [...]

Seeing the multiple, senseless tragedies that occurred this week in our country (the Halloween killing of an officer in Seattle, the Fort Hood massacre yesterday, and Miami this morning) reminded me of a paper I had written for my Political Science class last year. The assignment was to write a pretend policy memo to my [...]

Washington State is a diverse state in many respects – diverse people, places, ideas, everything. Diversity is at the core of everything we are taught in school, in the images we see in local media, and in the history of our state itself. This diversity is an asset to our state and our region as a whole by providing all our citizens with a rich sense of background and unity, because while we are diverse, we are also all rooted in our region’s common heritage in nature and independence.

So why am I about to argue against the political diversity of our state and region when I say that Eastern Washington and Western Washington should split ways? Well, it might seem like an odd point-of-view, but it is indeed an important aspect to consider we think about what is best for the citizens of our state.

These are the articles and stories I’m interested in today: Pictures for Sad Children Book –  As many of you already know OMFG I LOVE THIS COMIC AND WAIT A BOOK IS COMING OUT?!?!?!?! http://is.gd/4NzFc The faces of the Yes on 1 campaigners in Maine as they hear the election results (via Reddit) – A [...]

These are the articles and stories I’m reading today: KFC’s Colonel Sanders tricks his way into UN to pose for ‘official’ photo (via Telegraph) - http://is.gd/4EwaC Statisticians reject global cooling (via Yahoo! News) – http://is.gd/4EtJt Obama to give $3.4 billion in grants for smart grid (via Yahoo! News) – http://is.gd/4EuK3 Christina Romer: Public Plan Can Reduce [...]

This seems like questionable timing on WSDOT’s part. Something’s not right here… Via Slog’s Dominic Holden: Washington State Department of Transportation spokespeople claimed that they had to publicly release a fiery simulation of the viaduct collapsing in an earthquake because a private citizen requested it. “We’re simply complying with a public disclosure request and by [...]

This is Kevin. Kevin is an awesome and amazing person. I love everything about him. He is mon chéri et mon amour. <3 One day when I was very lonely and troubled, I reached out to him and he made it all better. He continues to make it all better for me every day. I [...]