May 7, 2011

On June 19th, a group of self-described “sluts” and their proud supporters will take to the streets of Seattle. Now, had I reported this story alone, I would be called an offensive sexist along with whatever else the PC crowd could find in their vocabulary. Since the mainstream media is also calling these people “sluts”, however, I don’t think any of...

May 6, 2011

A couple of years ago, I was involved in an “effort” to educate businesses about photography and the law. Specifically, I tried to educate them that photography, in almost all cases, is perfectly legal in public or in places of public accommodation (casinos, sidewalks, shopping malls, hotels, etc). After a fellow blogger was illegally detained in...

May 3, 2011

Sunday was International Workers’ Day. A day which, every year, sees thousands of people march through Downtown Seattle. A day over which I am deeply conflicted. In 2011, in my heart of hearts, I know that I am watching “Decline of the Roman Empire, Part II – This Time It’s Personal”. Not only am I watching it, but I am living it. The...

May 3, 2011

Q13 has the video here: http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-federal-officers-arrest-medical-marijuana-activists-20110503,0,2549997.story Notice the camera being passed off to other protestors who try to get away with the footage, and watch the abject panic on the face of the “officers” as they try to tackle whoever has the camera. It was beautiful to...

Apr 22, 2011

Last night, shortly before 9pm, a group of vandals used hammers to demolish the windows at the Chase Bank at Broadway & Thomas on Capitol Hill. The group also left paper flyers at the scene, although when I rode up to investigate this morning, the flyers were gone. This being the case, I cannot speak to the specific agenda of the group. If you will...

Apr 15, 2011

Today is “National Don’t Buy Gas Day”. The premise of the day is obvious. In order to show your outrage over high gasoline prices, the organizers of the event urge you not to buy gasoline today. While I vaguely support this endeavor, the problem with such a “protest” is obvious. Since most fuel companies account monthly or quarterly, it is of no...

Apr 13, 2011

Yesterday, a group of people lined 5th Avenue between Madison and Marion to protest Washington State SB 5073. I’m not terribly up to speed on this bill myself, but apparently it would, among other things, create a “voluntary” registry of patients who use medical marijuana. The registry would be “confidential”, with the caveat that...

Apr 12, 2011

Today at 10am, students gathered on the lawn of the Seattle Central Community College to protest the proposed 11% budget cuts in higher education funding. According to a release by organizers: “Our educated workforce is the engine that drives our economic survival, allowing us to attract and retain powerhouse multinational industrial and technological...

Mar 28, 2011

Download Video: MP4 I just got back from the “Pro-Police” rally on 12th Street, and I have to tell you, I’m kind of baffled. I mean, I just don’t get it. What, exactly, are the people of Capitol Hill supposed to think about this? “Awww shucks, ma’am, you’re right. That whole Ian Birk thing was an overreaction on my part. My...

Mar 28, 2011

Mar 26, 2011

I just left Victor Steinbrueck Park near Pike Place Market where a group of about 30 people are currently protesting Monsanto in what they call the “Rally for the Right to Know”. Rallies to raise awareness of the danger of Monsanto are planned around the nation this Saturday, March 26th. They are being organized by The Organic Consumers Association,...

Mar 12, 2011

But hopefully not chaos. This coming Tuesday, March 15, 2011, the anarchists will come to Westlake Park in Downtown Seattle. As noted before, I am conflicted about all of this. On one hand, I think it’s abundantly clear that the police stopped serving the people a long time ago … but, NO police in the streets? Ever? Somolia has tried that, and it didn’t...

Feb 18, 2011

There will be another protest at Westlake Park tonight at 6pm. While I support the protester’s outrage, I’m not 100% sure that more generic rallies are the answer. The first one was great, but at this point we’re using up police manpower and overtime for specious reasons. That money comes out of our pocket for better police training,...

Feb 16, 2011

Images from tonight’s protests, taken by yours truly.

I’ve never been a fan of rhyming protest slogans. In my opinion, they turn serious protests into goofy nursery rhymes or really lame rap songs. Sure, I get it on some level, rhyming slogans are supposed to be catchy and easily memorized, but still … more often than not I just end up laughing at them. Take, for example, the Egyptian Protest in...

Jan 29, 2011

For the last couple of days, I’ve been watching the Egyptian uprising live: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/2007829161423657345.html In my opinion, everyone should watch it, for it is the destiny of all corrupt nations. Personally, I sympathize with the Egyptian people. I respect what they are doing tremendously. It’s the most beautiful...

Jan 29, 2011