Five Reasons To Sign: SensibleWashington.org

Five Reasons To Sign:

1. Marijuana is a benign substance. Unlike alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine, marijuana has never caused a single death. Marijuana should not result in a lifetime criminal record. Students should not be ineligible for financial aid and children should not be taken from their parents over a marijuana conviction.
2. Marijuana prohibition is a waste of money. The State of Washington spends one hundred million dollars annually to arrest, prosecute and jail 12,000 people a year for non-violent, victim-less “crimes” related to marijuana. That's taxpayer money that could be saved -- or spent on education, health programs, teen drug treatment programs, etc.
3. Just like alcohol prohibition, prohibition of marijuana empowers violent organized crime. Instead of allowing small business owners and farmers to grow and sell marijuana and industrial hemp, the government has granted a monopoly to criminals who will maim, kill, and sell drugs to children in the name of profit.
4. Medical marijuana patients are not protected by current law. Voters in Washington overwhelmingly approved our medical marijuana law in 1998. But patients are still being arrested, prosecuted and sometimes even jailed for using doctor authorized medicine. The only way to really protect patients is to make their medicine legal.
5. Hemp is an eco-friendly, profitable crop for Washington's farmers. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of hemp can be grown locally instead of imported. Industrial uses include cooking and fuel oils, fabric, paint, paper, construction materials and environmentally-safe plastics. Hemp Seed is nutritious and contains more essential fatty acids than most other food sources. Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis and grows well without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.

from: 5 Reasons To Sign - A flyer produced by Troy Barber for the upcoming petition drive.


Sensible Washington
3161 Elliott Avenue, Suite 340
Seattle, WA 98121
www.sensiblewashington.org

10 Things Michelle Obama Wants to Say to Sarah Palin [but can't]

I ran across this commentary by Keli Groff on the Huffington Post today. The first lady is constrained from speaking her mind, but Keli does a good job ad-libbing for her... I busted up at some of these...

10 Things Michelle Obama Wants to Say to Sarah Palin

1. For once I agree with Barbara Bush.
2. At least I know the difference between North and South Korea.
3. If Katie Couric had asked me I could name plenty of publications that I read on a regular basis because reading is something you get used to doing in law school.
4. When I said I was proud of my country for supporting my husband, what I really meant is I was proud Americans were smart enough to support him over the other guys (and gals, hint, hint...)
5. Some people shoot harmless animals. I adopt them.
6. When you accused me of not trusting parents to do a good job raising their own children, you were only partially right. I trust most parents, but some could use a little help because their kids are out of control; you know calling people offensive slurs and whatnot. Not like my well-mannered girls.
7. While I realize a strong, attractive black woman defeated you for the Miss Alaska crown (which must have really stung since there are like 5 of us in the whole state) you shouldn't let that leave you with a chip on your shoulder about all of us strong, attractive black women.
8. Not that I'm judging, but Sasha and Malia will appear on "Dancing with the Stars" the day my husband goes ice-skating in hell with...well you.
9. Some people appear on reality tv, while some of us appear on the cover of VOGUE. (Click here to watch a fashion faceoff between the two ladies.)
10. Please run for president. I'd really like to live in the White House another four years.

Goldman Sachs Emails: Firm Had 'The Big Short' As Economy Fell

I love this part of the article ;-]

The firm made money on the upside -- originating, securitizing and selling subprime mortgage-based securities to investors -- and on the downside, thanks to the insurance.

"Bad news," a May 17, 2007, email began from one Goldman employee to another. A security the firm had underwritten and sold had just lost value, costing Goldman about $2.5 million.

Further down in the email, the employee, Deeb Salem, wrote "Good news...we own 10mm protection...we make $5mm."

The firm made $5 million betting against the very securities it had underwritten and sold.

Counterspin just interviewed someone that did a great analysis of this and how WaMu knew that the mortgages they peddled were fraudulent. Get you money local before it is too late! hahahaha

Goldman Sachs Emails: Firm Had 'The Big Short' As Economy Fell

Doug Bandow: Blowback: The Lessons of the Moscow Bombings for America

Incoming! Doug hits the nail on the head big time. Terrorists don't really hate America or it's people, they hate the American Government and the people who are behind all of "our" meddling. The US gov't meddles, the people pay. Wall street and the Banks meddle, and again the people pay. Big Corporations bent on maximum profit meddle, again, the people pay.

I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty damn tired of being stuck with the check...

Let the Flames begin ;-]

Doug Bandow: Blowback: The Lessons of the Moscow Bombings for America

Official Google Blog: A broadband catapult for America

Official Google Blog: A broadband catapult for America

Wow, this is amazing... Google is really behind Broadband for America, just like every one of you should be. This is the kind of economic stimulus that really puts people to work, and gee, there might even be some benefits. I urge everyone to run the FCC broadband test and let it report your numbers to the database. The FCC cannot justify projects like this unless people participate to show a need, We all know there is a need. I urge everyone to download and run the FCC National Broadband test. Information on the reasons why the test is important and instructions for running it are at: http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/about/ - do it! --egrep

KEXP 90.3 FM - Programs

KEXP 90.3 FM - Programs

A really awesome discussions going on right now on "Community Forum" - kexp.org The segment just ended on excessive corporate rights, and now there is a forum being broadcast on basic human rights as they relate to how corporations can basically do what they want to us, our environment, and our world. If you miss it, I will follow up with the archive link in a bit...

Live stream at: http://kexp-mp3-128k.cac.washington.edu:8000/listen.pls

Mark Shriver: How to Turn Banking Waste into a Bright Future for All Kids

The only way to keep my kids out of debt for half their lives due to student loans was to pay their schooling costs myself. Best damn investment I ever made. I am not sure what the fix is, but I urge everyone to complain, no scream at all their elected officials about these issues and problems. This is just another example of corporate interference in our government. Anything to make a buck, right guys?

I think my 401k would be better served by setting aside part of it to invest in an "educational bond fund". Government backed, and the money invested in the fund goes directly to students and institutions. NO BANKS. If enough people do it, it might send Wall Street a message. Payback is a bitch bankers... You have been warned... ;-]

Mark Shriver: How to Turn Banking Waste into a Bright Future for All Kids

The Best Ambiance playlist-March 8, 2010

A short playlist below as this is the week of the KEXP Spring membership drive. Thanks to all of you who supported our station, and kept us on track for the goal. Your support keeps this station and African music alive on the radio dial! You can check out the show for two weeks following the broadcast,  on our streaming archive at www.kexp.org. The concert and events calendar is found after the playlist below. -Jon Kertzer, "The Best Ambiance" KEXP-Seattle   Playlist Monday, March 08, 2010 (LISTEN TO THIS SHOW) Time Artist Song Album Label 6:05 Bibi Den Tshibayi The Best Ambiance The Best Ambiance Tangent(France) DJ Comments: theme music-Congolese soukous ---- air break ---- 6:07 West Nkosi Majava Java Jive Nation Earthworks(UK) DJ Comments: great South African sax player and producer 6:09 Mahotella Queens Kazet Kazet Marabi(France) DJ Comments: veteran female trio of mbaqanga singers 6:13 Busi Mhlongo Yehlisan'umoya Ma-Afrika (African National Calm) Urbanzulu M.E.L.T. 2000(S. Africa) DJ Comments: popular South African female maskanda singer ---- air break ---- 6:28 Habib Koité & Bamada Cigarette A Bana Muso Ko World Village DJ Comments: Malian's first hit, coming to Seattle in April to Jazz Alley 6:33 Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba Jonkoloni Segu Blue Out Here Records(Germany) DJ Comments: from debut of ngoni band, with Amy Sacko on vocals, coming to Triple Door on March 16th ---- air break ---- 6:47 Virunga Jaffar Feet on Fire Sterns(UK) DJ Comments: band from Kenya, led by singer Samba Mapangala 6:51 Abdul Tee-Jays Rokoto Kamilay Kanka Kuru Rogue DJ Comments: London based guitarist from Sierra Leone 7:02 Frank Ulwenya Safarini Safarini In Transit - Music Of African Immigrants Smithsonian/Folkways DJ Comments: Kenyan singer from Seattle, with Yoko Nzenze 7:08 Orchestra Super Mazembe Kassongo Giants Of East Africa Earthworks(UK) DJ Comments: East African hit of the early 80's 7:12 Mabulu Bula Bula Soul Marrabenta Riverboat(UK) DJ Comments: band from Mozambique ---- air break ---- 7:24 Ayub Ogada Wa Winjigo Ero En Mana Kuoyo Real World DJ Comments: music from Kenya on nyatiti harp 7:28 Béla Fleck and Anania Ngoglia Furaha Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions Part 2 Bela Fleck Prod. DJ Comments: just released, second volume from movie, Anania from Tanzania 7:32 Afel Bocoum & Alkibar Sambe Sambe Tabital Pulaaku Contre Jour(Belgium) DJ Comments: latest from singer/guitarist form Mali, and his band; formerly with Ali Farka Toure ---- air break ---- 7:45 Staff Benda Bilili Staff Benda Bilili Très Très Fort Crammed Discs (Crammed Discs) DJ Comments: parapalegic band from Kinshasa, Congo 7:51 Mahube Ziwere Mahube Sheer Sound (S. Africa) DJ Comments: group featuring Oliver Mtukudzi and Steve Dyer 8:05 Antibalas K-Leg Live @ KEXP n.a. DJ Comments: NYC afro-beat band live in our studios Feb. 19, 2002 8:12 Sir Shina Peters Yabis Nigeria 70-Lagos Jump Strut(UK) DJ Comments: vintage juju music from Nigeria ---- air break ---- 8:25 Shiyani Ngcobo Wayi Thathaphi Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo Introducing/World Music Network(UK) DJ Comments: guitarist from South Africa 8:28 Eric Agyeman I Don't Care African Moves Vol. 3 Sterns(UK) DJ Comments: highlife classic from Ghana, from early 80's ---- air break ---- 8:46 Bembeya Jazz National Yelema Yelemaso Bembeya World Village DJ Comments: band from Guinea, reformed  in early 90's, with this recording 8:52 Les Amazones De Guinée Wamato Wamato Sterns DJ Comments: all female band from Guinea TBA Events Calendar    Thursday, March 11, 2010   Afrocentric  night, with Sol Afrique, at the Musiquarium Lounge at The Triple Door, 216 Union Street in Seattle, 9PM, free.     Friday, March 12, 2010.   Soweto Gospel Choir performs at First Presbyterian Church in Seattle (next to Town Hall).  It’s part of the American Choral Directors Association Conference and a limited number of tickets will be available to the public.  8pm.   Sunday, March 14, 2010   African All-Stars, at Hidmo Restaurant, 20th and Jackson, Seattle, 8PM-10PM.   Tuesday, March 16, 2010   From Mali, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba, at the Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM.  info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx; then Kane Mathis plays in Musicquarium Lounge at 9PM.   Saturday, March 20, 2010   Andrew Oliver Kora Group- acoustic concert at Empty Sea Studio, 8PM, at 6300 Phinney Ave. Seattle;  info at http://kora.andrewoliver.net   Sunday, March 21, 2010   Lora Chiora with Danai and Draze Maraire, 7:30PM, at The Triple Door,  216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM.  info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx Tuesday – Wednesday, April 6 & 7, 2010   Habib Koite and Bamada at the  Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle; phone 206-441-9729; 7:30pm, $26.50. http://www.myspace.com/habibkoite   Monday and Tuesday, May 3 and 4, 2010   King Sunny Ade at The Triple Door,  216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM.  info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx   Support KEXP As a member supported radio station we depend on your ongoing contributions to support the music we present. So please show us how important KEXP is in your life and pledge now. For more information on the benefits and rewards of membership, check out our member section. Support KEXP with a contribution today and choose from one of the many great thank-you Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.  Tell-a-friend! If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for KEXP.

YouTube - The YouTube Interview with President Obama

Robert Scoble asked a great question about getting YouTube videos to feed properly into Buzz. Since I know feedburner will send blog posts to Buzz, I just have to try feeding this CitizenTube interview with the President that took place on Feb 01, 2010 and see what happens - wow, am I late to the game or what? ;-]

YouTube - The YouTube Interview with President Obama

Robert L. Borosage: All You Really Need to Know About Banking Reform

My simple solution to show my disgust at the banking industry is to walk the walk, and take my money to my local credit union. Just got off a telephone town hall with Senator Murray, and she opened with how hard small businesses have been hit because the big banks ignore them, and the local banks are replenishing capital to keep themselves from going under.

I don't know about you, but I am pulling all of my money out of the latest big bank to take over the one I just had [Wamu -> Chase], and putting everything into my local credit union; Kitsap Credit Union. I told them exactly why I was moving my my money there, and inquired if they had local investment funds I could stick some money in that focused on lending to local business. No definite yes or no, but hey, I let them know what I wanted my money to be invested in. Hey, the people who run credit unions are the people who bank there, not some capitalistic board of vampires.

Sure, you should join groups that work towards banking/investment reform, but you would be amazed at how hard you can get hit back when you walk the walk.

Robert L. Borosage: All You Really Need to Know About Banking Reform