The Brandon Ivey Show

Whatcom County voters rejected a 0.2 percent increase in sales tax to maintain the current level of bus service offered by the Whatcom Transportation Authority. The vote will result in reduced bus service. But to be fair, an extra two cents on every 10 dollars spent is an awful lot of money to pay to maintain public transportation.

WTA said it will likely have to stop offering bus service on Sundays because of the vote. “Nobody rides the bus on Sundays anyway,” said a person who voted against the tax increase.

More than 50,000 votes cast and the measure failed by about 1,000 votes. That means at least 25,000 people in Whatcom County think it is better to have pocket change than bus service.

Well they’re going to have to spend that pocket change somewhere other than the bus on Sundays!

The result of this vote is troubling. And that’s coming from someone who has never taken a WTA bus…those are for poor people.

“You can do it all. It is possible.”

- Mr Let’s Paint

A Vader city councilman was charged with meth possession shortly after he was elected. Some people celebrate by drinking and others celebrate with a little meth.

But more importantly: there’s a city named “Vader” in Washington?!? You really do learn something new everyday…

The new school in Seattle that was partially closed due to an odor is now completely closed until officials can figure out what is causing the smell. Some SMART kids go to that school, obviously.

And finally, a bestiality farm (aimed at tourists?) was raided in Whatcom County. How did authorities know that it was a bestiality farm and not just a farm? Mice.

(Seriously, authorities seized a cage full of mice, 13 of which had to be euthanized because of their physical condition or injuries…)

Here’s an actual chart with a breakdown of revenue from farms in Whatcom County:

I guess now we know what “other” is.

The new budget for Washington State includes tax increases on tobacco products, bottled water, pop, candy, gum and beer. Soon enough, nobody will be able to afford to pay to feel better.

Two guys were caught with $15 worth of quarters in their pockets as they “fixed” machines in a laundry room at a Seattle apartment complex. Sounds like me at the bulk food section at Safeway!

Seattle closed a portion of the new South Shore middle school after students and staff members experienced strong odors, itchy eyes, rashes “and other problems.” Officials are trying to figure out what caused the problems, but the school’s health teacher is pretty sure it’s STDs.

Headline in today’s Seattle Times: Microsoft uses teen workers to make mice in China

The story focuses on child labor, but the real news is that Microsoft is apparently manufacturing rodents…

From the SeattlePI: Is it really illegal to take grocery store carts?

First of all, this proves that the SeattlePI is so desperate for content, that it will publish AND answer ANY question.

Of course the answer is no, stealing a shopping cart is not REALLY illegal, it is just illegal.

Stealing a shopping cart then murdering a hobo with it, that would be REALLY illegal.

Not to be outdone, the Seattle Times has a Whale Attack map:

Awesome. (No rim shot necessary.)

Every salmon caught in Puget Sound costs Washington State $768. Sounds like a rip-off. Doesn’t Washington State know that salmon is much cheaper at Safeway?!?

Seriously though, $768 per salmon is a good deal…compared with how much it would cost for transportation and lodging to get fishermen up to Alaska!

Not much of not in this week’s Rant & Rave. Though apparently some people did not realize that I paid extra to keep my backpack next to me on the bus…

Randy Dorn, the head of the Washington state’s public school system, was released from jail after serving a one-day sentence for drunk driving. He said he was lonely there. It must be hard to make friends in jail if you are only staying for one night…

Dorn seriously said one of the reasons that he did not fight the drunk driving charges was “to tell kids ahead of prom night that it is just wrong to drink and drive regardless of little you have had to drink.” Well I’m sure now that a school administrator that most kids have never heard of went to jail for an entire day, nobody will drink and drive on prom night.

And I can’t imagine any other way he could have conveyed that message.

Remember, that was just ONE of Dorn’s reasons for driving drunk. He also wanted to prove that he does not have an “alcohol problem.” Maybe not, but driving while intoxicated is certainly a problem!

“I am a diet cola guy,” Dorn seriously said. As-in, “Alcohol can be fattening, so I like to mix it with diet cola…”

In other hypocritical news: parts for a new BMW electric car will be built in Moses Lake. City officials are happy but also a little annoyed, considering Moses Lake doesn’t even have a BMW dealership!

Cheap beer can no longer be sold in downtown Spokane. Just another reason not to go to Spokane, am I right?!?

(And I don’t even drink!)

Here’s a list of the banned beer:

Source: Washington State Liquor Control Board

Remember, drinking IS allowed in downtown Spokane, as long as you keep it classy.

(Because if Spokane is anything, it’s classy…)

Quasi at SXSW on KEXP:

Most of the set here, audio of full set here.

By Brandon Ivey:
(Click photo to see gallery of photos taken that year)

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Cellular photos taken other years

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The Hammering Man is hammering again. It’s nice to know that the recession is over.

Washington State lawmakers are considering increasing taxes on beer. Good plan, because people who drink beer have a lot of money.

A bonfire was started in the middle of the road near the University of Washington after the power went out last night. A large crowd gathered around the fire and threw bottles and cans at police offers attempting to get people to disperse. Just like at summer camp…

The mayor of Pasco resigned to move to Norfolk, Virginia and get married to a high school classmate she reconnected with last year. “I always said I would do just about anything to get out of Pasco,” she said.

Seattle’s Fourth of July fireworks show was canceled because no business wanted to pay $500,000 to sponsor it. Then individuals started pledging money to pay for the fireworks because apparently colorful explosions are more enjoyable than helping the homeless.

After Starbucks, Microsoft, Nordstrom and Paul Allen’s Vulcan realized that Seattle residents wanted a fireworks show, the corporations offered to pay for most of the expenses. The companies would have paid for the entire fireworks show, but remember, it costs $500,000. How could Starbucks, Microsoft, Nordstrom and Paul Allen POSSIBLY come up with that much money?!?

(Collectively, let alone individually…)

Police broke-up a cockfighting operation (event?, match?) in a barn near Bellingham the day before Easter, ruining my otherwise pleasant weekend.

Fourteen people were arrested. Others fled and a helicopter from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Division was called to help track them down. Seriously, a border patrol helicopter? Apparently police wanted the cockfighting enthusiasts to be dropped off in Canada.

King County garbage workers are no longer threatening to strike. They enjoy collecting garbage so much that they will continue to work for the measly wage of $26.29 an hour.

Not much of interest in this week’s Rant & Rave section, except that I made it into the paper!

Rant: To the arrogant person at Half Price Books who walked by the sci-fi section proclaiming loudly, “the last thing I’m going to read is science fiction — that’s for the lazy people!”

I stand behind that statement. Reading science fiction is for lazy people. I read romance novels.