January 16, 2004

Kenny Hoefner is a veteran Seattle firefighter who knows how to hustle. In the 45 years he's been on duty, Hoefner's called in sick only once -- when he had the mumps 38 years ago. Since that time, he hasn't missed a shift, nor has he slowed down.

Last week, fire officials recognized Hoefner for his unflagging devotion to his job. He received a plaque, a service pin and a memorial book.

"I enjoy the job," the 67-year-old said. "I really dread the thought of retiring. It's like those I work with are my family. It'd be like leaving your family."

Gene Cowan's Website offers an informative bio page and a well-written Weblog, but what really hooked me was G-World, a personal theme park of opinions. Using the familiar graphic stylings of Walt Disney, Star Trek and Warner Bros., Gene reels in Internet users with humor and Flash. Be sure to visit The Conservative Manor and the Gallery of the Stupid, then take a leisurely ride on the Monorail.

January 15, 2004

The Secret Service is ordering local police to move protesters to "free-speech zones." These areas are far away from the President's line of sight. Only supporters of the current regime are allowed to speak to the media and line the commander-in-chief's route.

If you disagree with this violation of your First Amendment rights, you'll be arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell conceded last week that there was no evidence to back up the Bush administration's claims that Saddam Hussein had ties to Al Qaeda.

Last February, Powell told the United Nations that a "sinister nexus" existed "between Iraq and the Al Qaeda terrorist network, a nexus that combines classic terrorist organizations and modern methods of murder."

Lies.

The truth is...we went to war for nothing. Hundreds of coalition soldiers died, for nothing. And billions of dollars were wasted. For more of the same, vote Bush/Cheney in November.

January 14, 2004

Byungsoo Son rented a Ford Escort from Payless Car Rental. He and his family took a 12-day road trip from San Francisco to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon to Palm Springs, and then returned the car. Son expected to receive a bill for $259.51. Instead, Payless asked him to pay more.

The car company tracked Son's movements using a GPS locator gadget. Because he crossed state lines, a $1/mile fee was instituted.

Total bill? $3,405.05.

Robert Ligon, a health food executive who willfully mislabeled his doughnuts as low-fat food, will now have to serve 15 months in a federal prison.

Ligon said his "carob coated" doughnut had three grams of fat and 135 calories. The Food and Drug Administration did some tests and found that the chocolate glazed dessert actually had 18 grams of fat and 530 calories.

January 13, 2004

President George W. Bush says he's against allowing gays to marry because "marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman." Ellen Goodman of The Washington Post asks an excellent question in reply:

How sacred was Britney Spears' 55-hour Vegas marriage?

"My husband and I have never considered divorce ... murder sometimes, but never divorce."
--Joyce Brothers

January 12, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week, I discuss the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

American women make less money than men. Female gypsies in Slovakia were sterilized by doctors without their permission. And The Globe, a tabloid that isn't worth the paper it's printed on, published a slutty photo of Kobe Bryant's accuser. But 2003 wasn't all bad.

Read Katha Pollitt's wonderful column on what women accomplished last year.

January 11, 2004

Michael Arrieta-Walden of The Oregonian has penned a brilliant column on the 10 reader lessons every newspaper should heed.

I agree with all of his suggestions, but the second one hit closest to home:

"Show humanity: Readers continue to rave about the obituary feature 'Life Stories,' which highlight ordinary people. Hundreds also responded to the portrait of life and death on a hospital preemie ward. Humanity, and ordinary lives lived extraordinarily, resonate."

I am simply blown away by the Ask The Editors blog on The Spokesman Review Website. Readers submit questions and comments about media coverage, bias, new features, controversial comics, etc., and a team of editors respond with intelligent and comprehensive answers. What a glorious use of Web space!

Past Afterthoughts