• Smoking and possessing pot is legal in Washington State as of Thursday, December 6. The question is, will our new state law lead to a wave of new stoners? Not according to a recent (unscientific) Slog poll of more than 2,300 people, with more than 27 percent of readers declaring, "I smoke pot rarely and this [new law] won't change my habits," and another 25.5 percent stating, "I don't smoke pot now and I sure as hell won't start." Only 12 percent of people admitted that they'd smoke more once pot becomes legal.
• On December 8, the charming yet challenged theater formerly known as Columbia City Cinema is reopening under new management and with the blessing of the Seattle Fire Department (hurrah for sprinklers!). The new Ark Lodge Cinemas will celebrate its soft opening this weekend with a screening of the Lord of the Rings trilogy marathon, followed by an official opening of The Hobbit on December 14.
• State senator Ed "Liberal Douchebag" Murray from Seattle got a call the other day from a man furious with Murray for his intention to sponsor legislation that would give low-income, undocumented high-school graduates access to state-funded college financial aid. "Hey you, liberal douchebag," Murray's caller said in a voice mail. "What's this shit I hear about you trying to take our, uh, hard-earned tax dollars and give it to these, uh, illegal immigrants so they can go to college? What do you got, your white guilt, you fuckin' liberal douchebag. I fuckin' better not hear you givin' one penny of my hard-earned tax dollars to these fuckin' illegal wetbacks, ya fuckin' douchebag." Conservatives are torn between introspection and hysterics because they've lost their grasp on American politics by alienating every voting base that isn't (a) rich, (b) white, or (c) male. The more they freak out, the worse it gets for their party. And the worse it gets for conservatives, the crazier callers like this guy become.
• According to the New York Times, Washington residents are supporting the state's business welfare queens—like Boeing, Microsoft, and Amazon—with $2.35 billion in incentive programs annually. That's roughly 15 cents per state budget dollar, or $349 for every man, woman, and child in the state. Imagine how different our education funding debate might look if our state had an extra $2.35 billion a year to spend on schools? 
