If our fire summer is extra bad this year I know why: Sure, it'll be hard to tell whether it's just climate change ramping up, but Trump's shutdown is not helping the cause. Neither is his inaction on climate change for that matter, but that's a whole other thing. The government shutdown, which is still going strong, is making it so Washington can't hire and train new wildfire firefighters and implement forest restoration programs. Are you stocking up on your smoke mask now? It is, after all, the hottest August fashion trend. Senators Cantwell and Murray are sending a strongly worded letter to Trump today.
Welcome to the White House, would you like to Supersize that? Clemson University won the NCAA football National Championship. They're going to the White House.
Shot:
"I think we're going to serve McDonald's, Wendy's, & Burger King, with some pizza. I would think that's their favorite food." — Trump, on Clemson football team visit pic.twitter.com/QPQ5SFSZhQ
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 14, 2019
Chaser:
White House says President Trump "is personally paying for” event with National Champions Clemson tonight "to be catered with some of everyone’s favorite fast foods,” because "much of the residence staff at the White House is furloughed” due to the ongoing government shutdown. pic.twitter.com/qeMc4iSKmG
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 14, 2019
We're having a field day about it over at Stranger World Headquarters:
Exclusive Footage of @realDonaldTrump Welcoming the @ClemsonFB Tigers to the White House https://t.co/N0kdKGj8pw
— Kim Selling (@anxietykegels) January 14, 2019
Rich's last comments on the matter (that will be recorded, we know there will be more): "do you think this is a burn on Michelle Obama or do you think he found these burgers in the white house organic food garden?"
Here are some breadlines for federal workers: This one's for TSA agents. Meanwhile, Canada has been sending some U.S. air traffic controllers pizza.
Out near Phoenix Skyharbor Airport where @StMarysFoodBank is distributing a mobile pantry for furloughed TSA employees today as the longest government shutdown continues. pic.twitter.com/YXwLJYvQBn
— Casey Kuhn (@CaseyAtTheDesk) January 14, 2019
Yakima County had 32 homicides last year: This total includes 19 violent deaths in Yakima. I'm not sure what the difference is between violent deaths and homicides (Google is telling me a violent death is a death that is accelerated by human intervention). That's the highest number of homicides in 38 years. Officers made arrests in 70 percent of cases but have no idea what caused the spike.
Data proves that environmental health is a justice issue: A new map shows environmental risks each community faces in Washington. You can search it yourself. Seattle Times columnist Tyrone Beason found that lower-income and minority communities are drastically more at risk than whiter and wealthier communities. That confirms what we've known for a long time. Here's the map.
There are a lot of aliens in Washington: Washingtonians reported a lot of UFO sightings last year. There were 160 sightings, according to the National UFO Reporting Center, a place I found out existed today and where I would love to work (can I use any of you as a reference?). UFOs are tricky minxes, it seems, and come in a variety of forms. Some of these forms are as follows: "triangular- or cigar-shaped objects, spheres, lights, disks, fireballs and even formations of multiple objects." Thank you, KOMO.
No one seems to know what caused that boat fire last night: A Lakewood marina caught fire last night. Three boats were damaged. The cost is estimated at $200,000. A man was sent to a hospital. The cause of the fire is still unclear.
Year-round Daylight Saving Time on the table for Washington: I am going to be upfront and honest here, which is a very good quality thank you very much, and say that Daylight Saving Time endlessly confuses me. Anyway, the bill in front of the Legislature would propose staying on Daylight Saving Time year-round. That's what California voted for in November. No matter what Washington lawmakers decide, Congress has to approve the decision. For actual information on the bill, read this KING5 article.
First day of Viadoom wasn't so bad: My commute was fine this morning. There was some congestion getting to 520 and my bus filled up but I think that may have been more just UW students getting out of class than Viadoom-related congestion. Transportation officials are anticipating traffic to get worse, so don't get complacent.
Los Angeles teachers are on strike: 32,000 Los Angeles Unified School District teachers walked out of work today. They serve 600,000 students in the LA area. This is the first LAUSD strike in 30 years. The strike is about classroom size—teachers want more teachers to be hired, to lessen their load. Currently, class sizes are in the 40s and even the 50s. That's absurd. I love you, LAUSD. Stay strong.
Aerial footage shows massive teacher strike as tens of thousands of Los Angeles teachers walk out in what the union president says is a "fight for the soul of public education." https://t.co/9wms5kcUao pic.twitter.com/8Q0g3fzNyk
— ABC News (@ABC) January 14, 2019
Rand Paul, who doesn't support a socialized health care system, is having surgery in Canada: Paul won't say why he's going to Canada for a hernia surgery. But, nonetheless, Paul is getting sliced and diced in the Great White North, where universal healthcare is publicly funded. The hernia, he says, is from when he was attacked by his neighbor while doing yard work.
The most liked picture on Instagram is an egg: Just an egg. It surpassed Kylie Jenner's first picture of her baby as the most-liked picture on Instagram today. It got over 25 million likes in 10 days.
An impressive subway dance for your commute home: Hopefully it's not too trafficky. Or, hopefully it is so you can read Slog PM over and over. What more could you need?
Yo get these guys off a subway & onto broadway cuz this is lit. pic.twitter.com/8zHMsyi4PY
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) January 13, 2019
Because I (for some reason) love you here's another good video: This one is better than the last.
Note to self: Go to a UCLA gymnastics meet
pic.twitter.com/nrwXtjmBVN
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) January 13, 2019