My Soap Box

The citizens have spoken and Washington (state) has the nations toughest anti-smoking law. No smoking in public buildings or within 25 feet of a public building or vehicle. The ban passed by a fairly high margin, even in very conservative counties. I am shocked but pleased. I didn’t vote for it but... Sign in to see full entry.

By now, the elections of 2005 are in the hands of the ballot counters. Here in Washington (State) one of the ballot measures could ban smoking in any building or vehicle open to the public and within 25 feet of the entrance to said buildings or vehicles or within 25 feet of any air inlet into same... Sign in to see full entry.

They look down with disdain, hovering high on branches, content to wait. They are waiting for me to finish raking, then they will fall. Little do they realize, I don’t care. There are few left trembling in the biting autumn wind. As I rake a drop forms on the end of my nose, disgusting but it always... Sign in to see full entry.

Demonstrators in Argentina smashed storefronts and burned businesses because they are angry about president Bush’s policies. Just where does behaving like an ass prove that you are right? Demonstrating should involve some measure of demonstrating how the protesting group would like to see things go.... Sign in to see full entry.

Brouhaha over hallucinogenic tea hits the high court. Don’t bother looking for this tea in the aisles of your neighborhood food store. Known as hoasca which contains an illegal drug, DMT the tea is used in religious ceremonies by members of the O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao do Vegetal.... Sign in to see full entry.

Children taking candy from sex offenders? Forget the fear of eating too much candy and getting a stomach ache. The overriding fear seems to be limiting sex offenders contacts with children. In some areas sex offenders cannot hand out candy. This is a very worthwhile effort but in reality where are... Sign in to see full entry.

A few simple things you can do. Check your wiper blades. I like to change mine in the fall when it starts to get rainy, this way they are in top shape for the worst weather. I recently tried a pair of the Teflon® edged blades and they seem to do a good job and are they ever quiet. They cost a little... Sign in to see full entry.

That long held precept was kicked to the back of the bus in Montgomery Alabama in 1955. Not only was it kicked rightfully to the back of the bus it also was booted out of the emergency exit and trampled to death on the freeway of enlightenment. Many words have been written about Rosa Parks and her... Sign in to see full entry.

By now most voters have received their ballots in the mail. Our county is going all mail in this year. For my wife and I, it is not a change. We have been voting absentee for a couple of years. It has it’s advantages, lots of time to study the issues and mark them down after careful consideration.... Sign in to see full entry.

Take the work out of window washing. Well, not really, but the Mr. Clean car wash system that offers the no-touch drying works great for windows also. The job it does isn’t quiet the quality of the old squeegee but when your windows are hard to reach it is much easier if you don’t have to dry them.... Sign in to see full entry.