Oh, hey, the State Senate passed a capital gains tax. The House has passed it in previous years, and Governor Inslee supports it. Still, you don’t want to count your chickens before they’ve hatched: So if you want the tax system to be a bit more fair, you can let your House members know.

Also, please wash your hands right now

I have some why am I up calls on the East Coast. So I’ll keep this short(er than usual). Do see if you’re eligible for the COVID-19 shot in Washington’s updated eligibility.

And wash your hands right now.

Teachers are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Grocery stores and other public facing jobs may become eligible too. Hopefully, this will help open schools safely.

In the meantime, wash your hands right now.

It has been a year since the first COVID-19 death in the United States. It has been a hell year, although the absolute worst is behind us (touch wood). I haven’t gone further than a bike can take a round trip from my apartment. Here’s hoping the next year is better.

It is the right thing to let felons who have served their time vote. It will help them be part of society once they have served their time. And a democracy should include everyone. So I am glad that a bill to do that has passed the state House. The article doesn’t really say what its prospects are in the Senate, so it couldn’t hurt to contact yours.

One thing I’m curious about, although obviously it’s the right thing to do either way, is how they will vote. During the 2004 election lawsuit they found some former felon voters, and many were Republicans. Not sure how much you can extrapolate a small sample size, but it may be that it helps Republicans a bit.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

The legislature is moving forward on police reform (first item, although the private prison story is interesting too). It would mean that police have to intervene when their colleagues use excessive force.

My favorite quote in the piece is Senator Jeff Holy complaining that it would make it tougher to hire cops. Good, my dude. Like, if it’s tougher to hire police who look the other way when other police are violent, it’s a better police force.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

The COVID-19 bill Governor Inslee signed on Friday is pretty good. I hope that the relief can get where it needs to go in a timely manner. People are hurting in the recession. Rent is behind for a lot of people, and many businesses are hurting. This bill goes a long way to help.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

Man, fucking Mercer Island. Homeless people should have housing. They are on Mercer Island for a reason. Maybe they’re less visible in the forested area than in Seattle or denser Eastside cities. Maybe they have friends and family on Mercer Island. But whatever the reasons, pawning them off to other cities isn’t helping them.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

What the fuck is Facebook doing? Zach is good people, and he should be able to do his job. But also, and more importantly, Facebook should follow the law. It’s sucking up so much ad money, it needs to just be transparent.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

There once was a fellow named Tim

Double dealing was what suited him

Another biggest lie of his life

Caused so much strife

See how his finances are grim

Anyway, please wash your hands right now.

The UK variant if COVID-19 was detected in the UW. So I am even more worried about reopening, especially indoors. Like we’re close. People have had both doses. Help is on the way for businesses.

Anyway, wash your hands right now.

Did it snow where you are? None for me in the urban core. Do you need shelter? Late last year, Seattle wrote about their emergency plans during COVID-19.

Anyway, stay warm, and wash your hands right now.

I love The Admiral Theater. But man oh man, am I worried that it’s reopening today. As more and more people get the vaccine, get the second dose, and wait long enough to have full immunity, it makes sense for businesses to open. But it’s not worth spreading the disease, or dying, for Wonder Woman (I haven’t seen it, so this isn’t a review).

Anyway, wash your hands right now.