January 25, 2025
An unfortunate commentary on the news diets of the reading public - even what remains of the newspaper-reading public ...
A piece in the Slog recounts the 10 most-read (online) articles for the year in the Seattle Times:
"That's six stories about death [murder celebrity, blizzard], two about the weather, one about sports, and one about Microsoft's new logo. Those were the top ten stories in our state's paper of record. During a presidential election year."
Not a happy commentary.
Preview from the next Washington Weekly Digest:
A new proposed rule from the Washington Liquor Control Board highlights some of the ongoing aftermath of the conversion of the state liquor sales system from public to private hands.
Rule 12-24-089 said that "The passage of Initiative 1183 and the privatization of spirits theft and product loss is significant and increasing. This is contributing to increased underage access to alcohol. Rules are needed to clarify reporting requirements of product loss due to theft and internal shrinkage."
 Chris Carlson Carlson Chronicles |
“They also serve…â€
The full quote from the 17th century English poet, John Milton (1608-1674; author of Paradise Lost), is "They also serve who only stand and wait." It’s from another of his writings, On His Blindness, made poignant by the poet’s own blindness.
It’s a reminder that most are supporting cast on the stage of life to a few star players whose light outshines others and who are more noted by historians. That said, their roles, seemingly insignificant, are necessary to fill out the drama. Every star needs a supporting cast to help them stand out in life’s movable parade.
These thoughts were prompted recently following a discussion with two of the four most noteworthy stars from the Idaho State Senate freshman class of 1961. This is the class whose stars and role players, with seasoning and maturity, four years later led Idaho into modernity by debating, then adopting and sending to the voters for ratification the first ever sales tax designed to better fund public education and meet the stated first goal of Idaho’s state constitution.
Fifty years later two of the "stars" who played critical roles in the sales tax debate and passage are still alive with sharp memories: former four-term Governor Cecil D. Andrus, who in 1961 was elected to the Senate as a Democrat from Clearwater County, and former Majority Leader Bill Roden, a Republican from Ada County.
Curious about the other lesser known members of their class and what each might recall of these supporting players, I called both recently.
Coincidentally, both Andrus and Roden started by recalling the same anecdote. It seems the Statesman’s then political editor, John Corlett, ran profiles during the session on new members from both the House and Senate. Corlett wrote up a glowing profile of Roden in 1961 in which he said Bill, at 29, was the youngest person ever elected to the Idaho Senate. (more…)
 Barrett Rainey Second Thoughts |
While trying to fight back my anger at the National Rifle Association’s contempt for civilization the other day, I got to thinking about the concept the demonic LaPierre was spewing. He didn’t use the actual words I was thinking of but there was no mistaking they formed the irrational concept he was spouting.
It’s called “Mutually Assured Destruction.†Or maybe you remember the utterly accurate acronym: “MAD.†The world lived with that MAD sword hanging over us for some 60 years. To some extent, we still do.
It began in the 1950′s when both we and the Soviets – at that time -had nuclear bombs. The idea was, if one of us decided to lob a nuke over the North Pole, the recipient would return the favor – plus a dozen, dozen additional. The concept was simple:†You kill me – I’ll kill you more.â€
It was taken to the lunatic extreme of us having some 2,000 nukes in the 60′s and they had about the same. So it got to be: “I’ll kill you a thousand times but you’ll only have time to get off enough to kill me 438 times.†I’d always thought being killed once was sufficient but – since I wasn’t asked to help with national security issues – I just sorta lived with it.
In the 50′s and 60′s, I was in the Strategic Air Command – the outfit that would do all the long-range killing for this country. Adding to the MAD irony for me was the motto of SAC emblazoned on the nose of every bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile: “Peace is Our Profession.†Looking back, you gotta admit that was kinda sick. (more…)