The Dirty Northwest

As a horse owner, I was quite disappointed at the tragic finish of the Derby on Saturday. I posted over on Kos:

I feel betrayed and embarrassed to confess that I watched the Kentucky Derby today.For those unfamiliar, Eight Belles – Hillary Clinton’s pick – came in second and was euthanatized on the track immediately following the race. After breaking both front ankles (per early reports) the vets felt it was too painful an injury and recovery.The favorite, Big Brown, won the race and while I’ll personally fare well financially I’m left with an empty and disgusted feeling. “Are we not amused?”

It’s a bucket of cold water that we still prescribe to such classless, immature acts as forms of entertainment.

Horses are amazing – I own a thoroughbred by Distinctive Pro who was injured in the gate and is now happily doing dressage - watching them match speed in a track race (their drive to be Alpha is an instinctive propulsion to the front of the pack) is sheer thrill. But now I feel embarrassed and base. Like a citizen of Rome. Amused by suffering not my own.

I should know better. We all should.

As a follow up, here’s a piece at NYT on the tragedies we don’t see.

I won’t let it go to my head but I’m in the new Kate Brown commercial.

I like Kate for her track record on Civil Rights, her leadership in the party, and the fact that she won her first election by 7 votes — she knows first-hand that every vote counts.

In addition to running elections, the SoS also oversees corporate auditing and there’s no substitute for knowing someone’s personal character when it comes to that thankless and important task.

But the coolest part about her is that she puts me as an extra in her commercial…

With election season in high gear, it’s often too tempting to resist for some churches to obey the law and not participate in campaigns. This is, of course, illegal with respect to their tax-exempt status.
Should you come across this sort of activity, info to bookmark below…

Filing a Complaint with the IRS:

A referral of an exempt organization may be made by submitting Form 13909, Tax-Exempt Organization Complaint (Referral) Form, downloadable from IRS.gov.

Form 13909 and any supporting documentation may be submitted in a variety of ways.  They can be sent via:
• Mail to IRS EO Classification, Mail Code 4910DAL, 1100 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75242-1198,
• Fax to 214-413-5415, or
• Email to eoclass@irs.gov.
Submission of Form 13909 is voluntary.

This tickles my subversive side: a clash of First Amendment practitioners. That’s what makes America cool.

Amazing article about my current favorite site, Pandora. I’m listening as I read the article and it makes me want to do all my online shopping via their ads.

I’m in San Francisco today for business, as is the Olympic flame (though I argue my business is more important than its).

It seems the local news here has been picked up “wide” but for those not following along at home the route of the torch was changed at the last minute due to dangerous free-speechers who are protesting the government of China — hosts to the Olympic Games — for their many human rights violations.

In a strangely ironic development, the local government of San Francisco apparently switched the route to confuse protesters — whisking it away in a van to an alternate route — leaving Olympic fans (which I am not) in a lurch; flameless:

“I am very upset,” said Rosie Salis, 51, who came in from Foster City to see the relay. “There were lots of people here with their kids. They had to wait for four or five hours, and it’s very disappointing.”

I say “a strangely ironic development” because doesn’t a last minute change to a propaganda ceremony in order to confound protesters sound like, gosh, I dunno — something the Chinese government would do?

Having the torch in town was already a logistical PITA with the original closed route, but the low-speed chase of the runners by news helicopters and the ongoing O.J.-ification on all TV channels mixed with pissed of parade goers have led to a surreal day in an otherwise chill, progressive West Coast city.

Ah. How… American to be forced to stay in a bad situation because of your mounting debt. Welcome to the middle class, Clintons.

Table top tap system lets people self serve beer. I sure hope the OLCC steps in to stop the fun.

Me: Good. I got a guilt trip from my parents.

You: Oh, because you’re a heathen?

Me: Yeah. “Did you miss going to church on Easter? I know you used to be so dilligent about it…”

You: Jeez.

Me: The candy is on sale. I’m filling my freezer with Cadbury Creme Eggs. Last year I saved 4 till October.

As ORLawgirl told me: I can’t wait for this [the Democratic primary] to just be over — Clinton vs Obama is like watching your parents fight.