This should be front page news, and it's not. Everyone should be scared shitless, and they're going about their daily business like nothing monumental has happened. Habeas corpus has been suspended.

msnbc.msn.com/id/15053727/

I had to hunt to find this article. Why aren't more people screaming about this? Even scarier, that there are those who think it's a good idea. We are ignoring history, I only hope enough people will wake up in time to keep us from repeating it.

My habitual route to work takes me through downtown Seattle. It's not exactly my favorite, but usually it beats the hell that is I-5 at the evening rush hour around the I-90 and West Seattle Bridge region. I usually end up heading east on Yesler from the waterfront all the way up the hill, ALL the way. If you know the area, 'nuff said. If not, let me give a brief description. This is the region of downtown known as Pioneer Square. It's home to a number of storefronts: art galleries, toy shops, the ubiquitous Starbucks, other retailers and a few nightclubs. A popular (and fun) walking tour on Underground Seattle starts here and you can catch ferries down at the docks. All in all, a popular place, populated by tourists, working class types and the crack-spun, meth-head or just down-and-out homeless. Sometimes my trek through down town is humorous, sometimes entertaining and sometimes just plain frustrating. You see, what I've found is no matter what the apparent intelligence, socio-economic or education level of the pedestrians downtown, for some reason the simple act of crossing a street strips everyone down to the level of low-grade moron, somewhat stupider than the gopher snake I used to have.

Downtown pedestrians habitually ignore the streetlights, signals and crosswalks carefully placed to aid them in their journey. Ok, I've jaywalked myself a time or two, but herein lies the difference, I look both ways, and wait for the coast to be clear. Downtown pedestrians seem to think they can blithely ignore the signals they so cautiously obey while driving when they're out walking and unprotected by their armoring vehicles. I've had to slam on brakes to avoid people who step off the curb because they're so completely enthralled by the screen of their Blackberry that they didn't notice the helpful, red DON'T WALK sign and big red light for the direction they're crossing. Then there's the next level of offender, the challenger, as I like to think of them. They're usually striding along at a good clip, and god forbid they should have to slack their pace simply because they have to cross a street. Oh no, like the Really Important People they are, they'll step right off that curb in full swing, giving me their best forbidding stare when I'm about 2 feet from their position and maybe, to emphasize their point, hold their hand up in a 'Stop' motion. This usually happens when there's a car about 10 feet ahead of me, and at least 3 cars behind me (hey, it was break in traffic, right?). Sometimes it's in the middle of the street, sometimes it's at an intersection when I have the green light. And lastly, there's the homeless. They typically shuffle to midway across the street, and then as I approach them, stop and wait, in my lane, usually with an angry look on their face. Let me be clear here, I don't roar up on them and screech to a halt, I see them from a good ways off and slow down, giving them ample time to finish crossing. Their anger is difficult to fathom. Are they angry because I have a car and they don't? Or because I didn't hit them and thus give them an opportunity to sue my ass off and earn more heroin money. Perhaps their mid-street pause is their way of giving me a chance to strike them, thus equalizing the obvious social inequity between their state and mine.

I guess this really goes back to what's taught as a kid. Anyone remember 'look left, right, left?' In London, they have painted on the crosswalks 'look RIGHT' for us silly Yanks who drive on the wrong side. Hell, even my dog sits and plants his ass when he comes to a curb and waits for the signal to cross. Believe me, it only takes a few more moments to stop, look and maybe wait for the light to be on your side. Try for a little more common sense. Or am I asking too much these days? I suppose that makes my dog smarter than the average downtown pedestrian. Not surprising.

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Stolen from Marie and Kassee...

I had a minor procedure done to my left foot this morning; I had several layers of skin scraped off the ball of my foot, then 3 (yes 3!!) different types of acid applied. Why? To get rid of something called plantar warts. Never heard of them? They grow inward and they make walking painful. Now the doc warned me that this procedure would hurt a bit, but, hell, I'm tough! I've been attacked by a wolf, by god! I figured I can take it. Well, shit! I have to work tonight and now my foot is screaming like a two-year-old that's had it's candy taken away by a bullying older brother. Shit! In 3 more hours, I have to be on my feet for 12 hours. I've asked for the night off, but I have no guarantees that that's going to happen. Dammit!

Ok here's a link:

www.flickr.com/photos/mrsdredd/

I've uploaded a bunch of pics of the outside of the house. Next time I get a chance to go in, I'll take indoor pics and put them up.