Wiggles and other stuff

So, we named my car “Wiggles” this weekend, as the shocks have totally abandoned their duties and the damn thing dances around the road when I drive it. This morning, it shot oil through the vents and onto the windshield, which can only be bad, and probably means I will soon be mourning the late Wiggles the Car.

Lots of new laws take effect today (and it's filing week, hurray!). The new laws are like a progressive smorgasbord, and alcoholics everywhere can celebrate the ability to buy booze on Sunday. Seriously, I'm for anything that helps meet revenue shortages without adding taxes. Vancouver is going to test IRV for non-partisan races, which I think is brilliant; I look forward to seeing how that works! Other nice new changes: "Green" requirements for new public buildings, mental health parity in insurance policies, and two for the broads: One which bars judges from denying a divorce when a woman is pregnant (read the story and enjoy the comments) and one removing an old law that outlawed calling those damn slutty women tramps or other slanderous names. So all you hussy accusers out there are safe! (yes, egregious use of insulting terms intentional for ironic effect. Don't like it, find another blog to read)

It's political Christmas season, as candidates across Washington state have to file this week, and we find out who's running against whom. Will Christal Wood be able to raise enough for the filing fee, or will she step out and let Linda Averill run against His Majesty The Right Honorable Nickels? Will Jim West get a firm kick in the balls as he cleans out his office post-recall? (this is un-filing related, just some good fun kicking a bad man when he's down)

I'm going to this event in DC. Hubert Locke from UW is a speaker, and it's time for some serious effort from and with the religious left. I'm an atheist, but I simply don't have a problem with the church in all its forms or its' adherents, and I look forward to working on common goals with folks who have religious reasons for sharing my values.

I'll write more on the church later - I've been thinking about this for a long time.

Finally, is Horse's Ass jumping the shark? Goldy sure writes a lot, but you look in the comments and there's quite a bit more noise from Republican jackholes than folks agreeing with Goldy, or even debating the actual post on its merits. The argument du jour is about outing Republicans in the state Legislature who oppose the anti-discrimination bill. There's a lot of chatter that by threatening to out someone who Goldy insists he has information on, he's making the actual outing less believable. I think they're missing the forest for the trees - read his post closely; I think he's already outted his guy.