At this writing, the Mariners are still, as they say in baseball, “mathematically alive.” But then again, as the old sports joke goes, aren’t we all? Let’s throw some curve balls and change-ups:
“Spokane sewage could be tested for marijuana level”: Toward what end? Especially without pre-legalization numbers for comparison. American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Alison Holcomb proposed the idea at a meeting of the Spokane City Council’s marijuana policy subcommittee. It’s especially meaningless since the concerns about marijuana are kids using it and drivers under the influence, which the sewer numbers can’t address, in any way, shape or form.
But while they’re mucking about in the sewer, why not test for opiate painkillers, heroin, and alcohol since those are the drugs causing problems in society, such as crime and death?
As Holcomb said: “Nobody can lie about what’s showing up in the sewage.”
“NCAA boss Mark Emmert: Domestic violence a school issue”: Emmert told reporters that he believes it’s the responsibility of individual schools to handle issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. Which is the problem. It’s the responsibility of police departments to handle cases of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“If a student-athlete engages in bad behavior, they have to be subject to the same standards of conduct as everyone else,” Emmert said.
Again, he illustrates the problem. Domestic violence and sexual assault are not “bad behavior,” they are crimes. Bad behavior is eating in the library, skipping practice or playing music too loud in a dorm.
Emmert summed up: “The most important thing to the NCAA membership has always been that students aren’t treated in any privileged or disproportionate fashion.” (Unless it means letting schools “handle” crimes rather than calling police.) Because being treated in a privileged or disproportionate fashion is reserved for Emmert and other bigwigs.
According to July news reports, the non-profit NCAA profited $32 million in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Emmert received a five percent increase on his base salary, from $1.2 million to $1.7 million.
That is enough to make even the most virtuous athlete cynical, and why more and more people believe they should share in the riches they produce for the NCCA, their school, and Nike.
“iPhone hoax: No, you can’t recharge it in the microwave, LAPD warns”: Gosh, who knew even dopes own aspirationally monikered “smartphones”?
“Poll: Confused by issues of the day? Join the club”: People who vote regularly, follow news about November’s election or simply feel a civic duty to stay informed are most likely to say that issues have become “much more complicated” over the past decade, an AP-GfK poll shows. That’s refreshing. It’s the opposite opinion of the people who reside in Online Comment Land, who are never in doubt that they know absolutely everything, are confused by nothing, and are always, always right, even if they didn’t actually read the article. If only those people were in charge, everything would be solved.
This week, given the news of the iPhone hoax, and confusing political issues, let’s start using “phony” again to describe people and things that are not genuine.
Carol MacPherson: 425-339-3472; cmacpherson@heraldnet.com
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