Found at local blog:

CLARK COUNTY - A driver and his dog are lucky to be alive after the minivan they were in plowed through a cyclone fence, went down an embankment and plunged into Salmon Creek on Thursday. Scott Calderon was headed south on Highway 99 a little after 10 a.m. when he swerved to miss a utility truck and a barricade at the end of Klineline Bridge, which is closed. The bridge’s barricade is clearly marked, so how did Calderon (pictured on the right) end up in the mess he did? Well, it all started with his small dog, a chihuahua. “He got trapped under the brake and I tried to kick him loose,” said Calderon, who also had a cup of coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other to contend with.

Problem: we are not teaching people to drive for modern conditions; such as with a coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other, while a small dog scampers at your feet. Clearly education is the key. What is needed is practice and a vat grown third arm as standard requirement for licensing.

... And finds the oft reported story inaccurate.

FAIR [Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting]

Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs
Distorting the Venezuelan media story

Government actions weighing on journalism and broadcast licensing deserve strong scrutiny. However, on the central question of whether a government is bound to renew the license of a broadcaster when that broadcaster had been involved in a coup against the democratically elected government, the answer should be clear, as McElwee concludes:

The RCTV case is not about censorship of political opinion. It is about the government, through a flawed process, declining to renew a broadcast license to a company that would not get a license in other democracies, including the United States. In fact, it is frankly amazing that this company has been allowed to broadcast for 5 years after the coup, and that the Chávez government waited until its license expired to end its use of the public airwaves.

"Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one’s thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down. They know its power. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, founded in injustice and wrong, are sure to tremble, if men are allowed to reason… There can be no right of speech where any man…[is] compelled to suppress his honest sentiments.
Equally clear is the right to hear. To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker."
- Frederick DOUGLASS, "plea for free speech in Boston" 1860

"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want rain without thunder and lightning."
- Frederick DOUGLASS

"Freedom to speak... can be maintained only by promoting debate."
- Walter LIPPMANN

"Freedom of expression must be considered sacred and thought can only be corrected by counter thought."
- Naguib MAHFOUZ

"Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties."
- John MILTON

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."
- George ORWELL

"Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself."
- Salman RUSHDIE

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist."
- Salman RUSHDIE

"In America - as elsewhere - free speech is confined to the dead."
- Mark TWAIN

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.
- Voltaire

The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.
- Walt Whitman

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.

Are GM Crops Killing Bees? asks German magazine Spiegel.

The Europeans have noticed, but the largest die off is in the USA.

In light of the recent difficulty finding a local city council member I have come up with an easy and cheap solution.

Some would recommend tracking chips and GPS. I think we can be far more budget minded than this.

What is needed is a simple and cheap application of an old technology: bells.

We attach bells to all public officials. We do this to all elected officials, all bureaucrats, and all police. The easiest way to accomplish this would be by attaching the bells via a bell-collar system available at certain common specialty shops.

This system is both cheap and serves utility well; thus getting the job done vis-à-vis accountability. I think all can agree this is a necessary step toward public accountability; everyone who loves America that is.

I'm for seeding Capitol Lake with Alligators.

This will have many benefits.
First, It will increase tourism.

It will create an industry that has been ignored for far too long in these parts: Alligator wrestling.

It will create a market for those alligator shirts that were so big in the 80's. This will be a great environmental advantage; I'm sure there are plenty of these shirts in some warehouse somewhere just going to waste.

It will give Olympia a mascot that will be the envy of the west.

It will start a new exotic pet craze that will be the next big thing for single women and celebrities the like (men in pickup trucks will like it too).

I will vote for anyone who is forward thinking enough to support this measure.

I don't care much for electoral politics, the only announced candidate I care for is Elaine Brown

Kucinich has proven he's a DP lapdog. His purpose is to keep the left attached to the DP begging for rotten scraps.

Often in life, I find, you are forced to fight a bear.

When fighting a bear, play it safe: go for the its weakness.
As you know, bear weaknesses vary by breed.

Black bears are gentlemanly. It is best when facing one to quickly tie one hand behind your back. The black bear with its well honed sense of fair play will not attack a disabled opponent. As he lopes away, shoot him. As Ted Nugent says, "Just because the black bear refuses to kick a man when he's down doesn't mean you can't."

The Grizzly bear is a sucker for flattery. Praise him and slowly approach. When you are right up on the bear start stroking his fur. When he closes his eyes, shoot him. Nugent calls this "the sucker shot."

The Teddy Bear cannot be defeated. He is impervious to bullets and you will only anger him. Pray he is a good shot.

Olympia, land of creamed scorn
where shoes are made of paper
but are hardly ever worn

The nights are filled with flapdoodle
The days with googer-goo
The hippers are all feudal
Pleasure bump grind & chew

Members have their meetings
Outers have them too
They say their morning greetings
And set fire to their shoes.

There is not enough thinking in Olympia on a daily basis.

I suggest everyone take time out daily at noon, wherever you are, to drop everything and strike the thinker pose for five minutes.

While in the pose, feel free to think. I know some people like direction; so, if you are drawing a blank from 12:00 to 12:05, try thinking about spatulas.