(e:sbrugger) - I know the difference between Democrats and Liberals - unfortunately, however, liberals have been running roughshod over the Democratic Party, to its detriment. The only Democrats I can think of that resemble the Democrats I loved - JFK era to be precise - are Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman. My poor dad votes Democrat because he still thinks that Democrats fight for the little guy - thats 30-year old campaign rhetoric.

(e:ejtower) and (e:terry) - you'd be right in saying that a Larson would be thrilled to talk about government and free markets. I'm a junkie when it comes to these topics... just love it. So I hope you don't mind my intrusion.

As usual, my disclaimer - I'm a free market, limited government kind of person.

From the little bit of information that has been provided it seems like you both are interested in a revolution of sorts concerning our environmental future. You both are 100% correct in asserting that this type of change needs to be market based. When it comes to things like energy and transportation nothing gets done unless people demand it. If crude oil, for example, is priced reasonably then people have no interest in doing the right thing environmentally - most Americans aren't activists because they can't afford to be - people want to find the cheapest acceptable stuff that will allow them to live their lives comfortably. If a "green" change is going to happen it has to be feasible economically or else it simply will never get off the ground. Since there will be no draconian governmental oversight, the honus is on the activists and proprietors of the "green" philosophy to make it attractive to the marketplace. Big companies understand this - car companies are producing more and more environmentally friendly cars that rely less on petroleum-based products.

Since (e:terry) mentioned it, I have to mention Wal-Mart. I assume that Mr. T was referring to the recent legislation in Maryland requiring any employer in the state that has more than 10,000 employees to spend 8% of their money on health care for their workers. This is an example of BAD government. Why is that, you ask? Guess how many private employers in the state of Maryland employ more than 10,000 workers? Just one... any guesses on who that might be? This is a direct attempt by the state to regulate (or even harm) Wal-Mart because the state has a social agenda... THAT is why its bad law. Whether or not Wal-Mart does enough for its workers' health care is no business of the state of Maryland (even if you and I think it would be the right thing to do), and the only thing this law is going to guarantee is that there will be no more large scale investment in their state by the largest company in the world. Some may think this kind of regulation is a good thing because they "want to make a statement" but in reality its a bad thing, and imposing a social agenda via legislation on a private business like that can only backfire.

That being said, I'm not totally against regulation in some forms. For example, its a necessity to regulate safety concerns at airports, as well as ensure proper handling of investment dollars via the SEC. The free market system as practiced by the USA is the most successful economic system to have been conceived by humanity - we've generated an extreme amount of wealth in only 140 years time, and previous to that we were really kind of a backwater nation. There is a lot of debate as to whether or not the free market system's contribution to society is adequate but thats a completely different topic. This also ties into my view that government should be limited. Remember, rights are not granted by the state; they are conferred on people by people via representative government. I'm a Constitutional minimalist - in general I think that more authority should be granted to the states. Federal government, in my opinion, should provide for the military and some kind of safety net for the poor and elderly... but thats about where it ends for me. Our nation was originally conceived as a set of collective mini-republics with a set of federal uniform guidance that was minimally intrusive. Things definitely are not that way today.

I've heard the idea before concerning aboloshing government - usually that comes from conservatives! I think thats not practical because organized government is a necessity for a country as complex, wealthy and diverse as ours. Functions of government that we consider to be essential simply have no replacement without government. Organized civlization requires government - it always has, with the potential of a very few exceptions. That being said, I agree in spirit with what (e:ejtower) is getting at - people should be left alone to live their lives how they see fit. Government must reasonably restrict behavior if we want to call ourselves a nation of laws, but in general I'm against any federal legislation that either restricts or gives too much. Government shouldn't interfere against or provide for how people want to live their lives. It should just be a blank slate - however, the problem with that is that you end up with an "anything goes" society that most Americans want no part of. This is where "responsible" government comes in. Drug use should be regulated to an extent, how we behave in public should be regulated, how we conduct business with each other should be regulated, our educational standards should be regulated.

Hello again peoples - here is your not so humble travel correspondant washing away his fatigue and frustrations the old fashioned away - 11.5% Trappist monk brewed beers are the finest in the world, I assure you. I'd show you more of the drinking pics, but its just me getting more redfaced and unable of making normal facial expressions as it goes along.



Downtown Seattle - as seen from the top of the Space Needle.



The famous Pike St. Market - very cool place.





The original Starbucks - from here it spread like a cancer.



And finally, the last thing I looked at in downtown Seattle - a night view of the Needle - sorry for the blurriness.

Good afternoon, from the confines of the newly reconfigured Larson living room!

I'm very tired... the entire flight from Seattle to New York I sat next to a couple with a crying baby. The father politely suggested that I move, and I was like, "Um, no... I have an aisle seat and if you want your crying ass baby to lay down he better pull up a piece of lap."

I have pictures from Seattle, my new most favorite place I've travelled to. I'm just too exhausted to resize any of it, so I'll share it with you all later.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think its time for the return of (e:jason) strictly to post his views, which are less conservative than mine but still has the sting and hatred that has become the scourge of all libs on this site. I still can't believe that the fucking liberals are crying bloody murder over Abramoff and trying to pass this off as a "Republican" scandal, when BOTH sides had their hands in the cookie jar. Jesus Christ, its like the Dems are pretending that lobbyists didn't exist before Abramoff came around. HOLY SHIT! YOU MEAN THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY GIVE MONEY TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR FAVORS IN POLITICS? GEE, WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE AROUND HERE! Yeah, I'm bringing Clinton up again, because its the gift that keeps on giving - there hasn't been a more corrupt politician in the USA since Nixon. You don't like it? Go play in traffic. Can you name me ONE politician outside of Clinton who has had a best friend commit suicide over criminal activity done on his behalf? Yeaaaahhh, didn't think so. How drunk on stupidity and naivity can people be? For the record, I want everybody involved who did wrong penalized. However, every single last one of you hypocrites out there who think that corruption is a one-way street are embarassing yourselves.

The Alito nomination. Once again the idiots on the left failed in trying to paint a decent man as a racist bigot sexist homophobe. Who the hell came up with the idea of Ted *hiccup* Kennedy as the Grand Wizard of Morality for the Democratic Party... do you have any idea about how hilarious that is? Here's a guy who is responsible for the death of a girl a few decades back, who can't keep his lips away from the bottle, who made a Sen. Kennedy/Sen. Dodd sandwich with some girl in a hotel, who belonged to the Owl Club at Harvard - you know... the very club that Grand Wizard Kennedy belonged to that was in reality what GWK was trying to allege the CAP was about? I'm 138% convinced that somebody on the inside is trying to sabotage the liberal cause from the inside out. Personally I'm grateful.

Last - todays Supreme Court ruling re: the Oregon assisted suicide law. Did anyone see the USA Today article on this? I've never seen so many people grinning eagerly from ear to ear about having the right to kill themselves - its pathetic. FREEDOM!!! No Euthanisation without Representation! Euthanasia for all! Give me euthanasia or give me... um.. er... wait. What the fuck, do we really want to be like the Netherlands? Then again, likely these are the same people who believe that theres a Constitutional right to privacy... you know.... somehow somewhere if you cross your eyes, drink a quart of scotch and throw up on the Constitution it surely is in the 4th Amendment somewhere. Doctors that help people kill themselves are breaking the Hippocratic Oath, PERIOD.

Anyhow, that political rant was for the enjoyment of the Ho sisters, because they are the coolest chicks that are both here (Sarah) and not here (Jessica). Happy New Year to you both! Clinkie clinkie! When I hear the call for controversy I can't help but chip in.

Lets change channels to topics non-political. I fly home tomorrow on Ye Olde JetBlue Redeye (or the browneye as I like to call it, since everybody on the overnight flights smell like shit and make strange noises). The problem with being gone for so long is that when you come home you feel like a stranger in your own house... thats one of the hardest things about having the job I have. I'll be getting pictures of Mt. Rainier and Seattle proper tomorrow, so when I come home I'll be sure to post them. Until then, I have a couple from our trip through the mountain pass from Cashmere to Seattle. Enjoy! A special thanks to (e:matt) - thank you for tipping me off on GIMP for Windows - it was EXACTLY what I was looking for, and now hopefully when I travel I'll be able to update my journal with pictures!










The red bins in that one picture are the bins that the apples arrive to the processing plants in. I'm just saying... Washington state is very beautiful. This trip has been long and hard, but I feel glad and fortunate to have been able to go. You'll be seeing my face again soon, neighbors. I'll be around, but I most definitely want to drink this weekend.

(e:jenks) and (e:ladycroft) - for you. Or whoever else wants to see my extremely girly hotel room I stayed in last night!

I thought some of you might get a kick out of this.



I've got a wicked cold so I'm going to relax in the hotel today!

Hello from Seattle!



One of the apple producers we visited did something very unique - the place was run by a kid my age (not bad for a multimillion dollar business) and his mother is an artist. She wanted to do something for the workers to make their areas a little brighter and nicer, so she hung some paintings. I thought it was cute.






Here are some random scenic shots.

Hello again my friends.



We actually had some sunshine in Yakima today but just when I went to go take a picture the sun went away. It won't stop freaking raining here either.

We worked with one of the largest apple farms in the universe today - did you know that apples are given an acid bath in order to remove hard water buildup before they are rinsed? After that, depending on where you live and the store you buy from, a shellac wax layer is sprayed on... did I mention that shellac is produced by insects? Nummy. Still though, they have varieties of apples here that they simply don't sell in New York State due to lack of demand. I've been told to try Fuji, Pink Lady and Braeburn. You can read more here -

See you later!

Hello e-friends.

The flight into Portland was 4.5 hours from Chicago - Thats the same amount of time it takes to fly from L.A. to Washington, if your pilot is hauling major ass. It wasn't that bad of a flight... if you don't count Just Like Heaven. The best thing about that movie is Reese Witherspoon, of course. It is a terrible movie, however.

The weather here is in the mid to upper 40's, with more rain than I even could have imagined in a joke about how rainy this part of the country is. Its a gorgeous place though... the drive was very scenic.

Washington state is famous for its apples, and we are in the apple capital of the planet; Yakima, WA. Practically every single grocer in America sources its apples from here, and its interesting to learn how it is that they bring them to market from the tree to your grocer. There is far more involved than I originally thought. The worst part about seeing all of these perfect apples is that I'm bound by company policy and cannot try one. Go to the store and buy some of the Pink Lady variety, friends... they are one of the best apples for straight up eating.

As usual I'm learning more Spanish and am trying to dig up all of the Spanish I forgot. I think the best way to do this, besides watching Telemundo, is to listen to Spanish language songs, get the lyrics, and try to translate. I love the Spanish language... love songs in Spanish are absolutely beautiful. Somehow the Spanish language is able to say more than would be possible in English. My two favorites so far are an Argentinean band called Los Enanitos Verdes, and a Mexican group called Mana. Highly recommended. Here are the lyrics from a song called Luz de Dia, by Los Enanitos Verdes -

Destapa el champagne, apaga las luces
dejemos las velas encendidas
y afuera las heridas
ya no pienses más en nuestro pasado
hagamos que choquen nuestras copas
por habernos encontrado
y porque:
Puedo mirar el cielo, besar tus manos
sentir tu cuerpo, decir tu nombre
y las caricias serán la brisa
que aviva el fuego
de nuestro amor, de nuestro amor
puedo ser luz de noche, ser luz de día
frenar el mundo por un segundo
y las caricias serán la brisa
que aviva el fuego
de nuestro amor, de nuestro amor
El tiempo dejó su huella imborrable
y aunque nuestras vidas son distintas
esta noche todo vale
tu piel y mi piel, ves que se reconocen
es la memoria que hay en nuestros
corazones, y porque...
Puedo mirar el cielo, besar tus manos
sentir tu cuerpo, decir tu nombre
y las caricias serán la brisa
que aviva el fuego
de nuestro amor, de nuestro amor
puedo ser luz de noche, ser luz de día
frenar el mundo por un segundo
y que me digas cuanto querías
que esto pasara
una ves más, y otra ves más, y porque
Puedo mirar....
sin tu amor no se vivir
porque sin tu amor
yo me voy a morir de pena....

I can look at the sky, kiss your hands, feel your body, say your name, and the caresses will be the breeze that fans the flame of our love?!?!

I love those lyrics. And the song is killer too.

So I went to Sahara Grill today for lunch! Why the hell did I not make the time for this sooner.... I was very happy. I needed some humor so I brought the New York Times with me. I had the shrimp and falafel wrap, with a salad, some Pepsi and a pot of the Turkish coffee. DELICIOUS! The coffee impressed me the most - what a cool little serving pot they have. I'm making it back there first thing when I come back from Seattle.

I ran into (e:leetee) and (e:uncut) on my way - they were banking and so was I. Hmm... what else... no, thats about it. I enjoyed the day off. I don't remember the last unjustified midweek day off I had, so this was a nice diversion.

NYC Council elected its first openly gay speaker, and to be honest I'm a little surprised that it hasn't happened sooner. This lady has pledged to work with the Mayor on issues facing the city, but lets be honest... she's an uberliberal and he's not. Trust me, it ain't going to work out for NYC politics anytime soon. Thats like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi saying they'd work with the President after the past election. Its only lip service.

I want to eat healthier on the road. Any suggestions?