ITEM While most of the nation was stooped in silence on the morning of Sept. 11 to commemorate the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks of that day, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray was holding a $1,000-a-plate fund-raising breakfast in the nation’s Capitol. The event, which aides said raised $10,000 for Murray’s campaign against Congressman George Nethercutt, was denounced by Republicans as tawdry. Even some Democrats privately questioned the wisdom of holding a fund-raiser on what is still a mournful day.
COMMENT Well, it’s comforting to know that only ten people exhibited as poor taste as Senator Murray, who hasn’t been the perennial winner of the dimmest bulb in Congress title for nothing. She did offer that she felt sad when she woke up that morning. I guess so, with only ten people coming to the fundraiser.
ITEM Washington students improved their scores in reading, writing and math on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning last spring, but only about one in three children is meeting state standards. “We’ve got to do something about this, and it’s a shared responsibility,” said state schools superintendent Terry Bergeson. “If I were a parent, I would go to the school and talk to the principal.” She said parents should ask what their school is doing to improve and participate in the efforts.
COMMENT That’s if the school isn’t closed by a strike, of course. Education seems to be one profession where the worse job you do, the more you expect to be paid for it.
ITEM The state of Washington nets about $6 million a year from the sale of commercial geoduck harvesting licenses, money the Department of Natural Resources has come to rely on to provide a significant part of its budget for projects and staffing. In seeking future harvests, DNR insists its Environmental Impact Statements show that harvest in the waters around Kitsap County has “been conducted for over 30 years without significant adverse impact.” Kitsap officials want an independent assessment.
COMMENT If there is no adverse damage, why are there no rock fish, true cod, few ling cod and Dungeness crab? Where are the once masses of eel grass and kelp beds? Marine experts, and not just those who are in it for the money, have for many years decried the steady deterioration of the sea floor and marine environment. We do not know the effect the increased taking of geoducks, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and other bottom dwelling creatures has on the ecological system of our waters. Old timers say such practices have contributed to what now is a Dead Sea.
ITEM Sacrificing a game day tradition to ward off the distraction of bare adolescent thighs, Elma High School has banned its cheerleaders’ short skirts from its hallways and classrooms. The dress code at Elma High bans short dresses except for cheerleaders costumes on game day. Now the cheerleaders can’t wear them to school either, but only at the games.
COMMENT Why can’t they wear leotards with the skirts? They can still show off their legs without revealing any bare skin. You’d think they’d want a little insurance against showing more than they intended should they ever drop something and have to bend over to pick it up.
ITEM Television host David Letterman surprised his audience by announcing that at the age of 56, he was going to be a father for the first time. His longtime girlfriend is six months pregnant. They will “consider” marriage.
COMMENT I note he waited until the heir was becoming apparent before acknowledging it, so one wonders if the first consideration was deciding if the baby was to be or not to be. Prediction: Mrs. Letterman will deliver the baby. It’ll look better on the birth certificate, and eliminate the announcement of the birth as another celebrity bastard.
(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69, Hansville, Wa., 98340.). |
