Pink Mustache Cars: Have you been wondering what those are about? Turns out those cars are part of a ride-sharing service called Lyft, one of several new companies offering ride shares that rankle local cab drivers who say it’s eating into their business.
C’mon Now, Don’t Be Evil: Those strenuous denials by Google, Facebook et. al. that they know nothing about huge government surveillance programs? Mostly bullshit.
Heroin Deaths Up in Washington: “Three different strengths of the drug are confusing inexperienced and younger users who may think it’s all the same. That inexperience is leading to overdoses.”
#OccupyGezi Continues: Demonstrations in Turkey are into their ninth day now, and—oh noes!—the tourism industry is starting to worry. See our man in Istanbul’s latest eyewitness dispatch for more.
Fucking Creeps: A convicted child rapist was caught and apprehended after allegedly taking pictures of little kids at a Tumwater Wal-Mart. In Tacoma, a 42-year-old who allegedly started soaping a 7-year-old’s back in the showers at the YMCA was swiftly investigated by police and had his membership terminated.
Nelson Mandela Hospitalized: The anti-apartheid icon is reportedly in “serious but stable condition.” Also in South Africa, a Somali immigrant was brutally beaten in the street and a video of his death uploaded to YouTube. I happened across local Somalis protesting this in front of the Federal Building downtown yesterday afternoon.
Never Listen to the International Monetary Fund: The IMF admits “notable failures” in the austerity plan it imposed on Greece. Unemployment is at 27 percent and the economy shrank by 5.6 percent in the first quarter of the year.
Terrorized By American Drones: Yemenis are sick and tired of sky robots bombing and killing them. And a former US drone pilot is “haunted” by the deaths he caused. He remembers sitting in Nevada, watching on his screen as one of his first victims bled to death.
Seattle Marathon Runner Catches Bike Thief: YAY!
Lot of shitty news this morning. Cienna says a bunch of her stuff got stolen last night. A respite from the madness: