Washington State Ranks 11th For Best Tax Climate

According to the Tax Foundation, Washington State ranks 11th for best Tax Climate. Why is this important?

"""States with the best tax systems will be most competitive in attracting new businesses and be the most effective at generating economic and employment growth," wrote the study's authors."" (from Puget Sound Business Journal)

Which is why this year Washington came out as the 5th best state for Business according to a study by Forbes Magazine

Another great reason to live in Washington State

Top Pot is coming to Queen Anne

Looks like the very delicious Top Pot Doughnuts is coming to Queen Anne.

"The latest Top Pot will open late this year or early next on Galer Street, in the same brick building that's home to the newest Via Tribunali pizzeria. This Top Pot will be bigger than the original on Capitol Hill and smaller than the space in the shadow of the monorail on Fifth Avenue. It will be more along the size of the store in Wedgwood." (from the seattlepi)

Oregon Joins Washington with Domestic-Partnership Law

"State elections officials reported Monday that the effort fell 116 valid signatures short of the 55,179 needed to suspend the law and place it on the November 2008 ballot for a popular vote.

That means that as of Jan. 1, Oregon will join eight other states that have approved spousal rights in some form for same-sex couples: Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, California, Washington and Hawaii. Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay couples to marry." from the SeattleTimes

Students to Help Envision Climate Action Now

Seattle Press Release

SEATTLE - As part of the Seattle’s Climate Action Now campaign and the recently adopted Seattle School Board resolution to reduce greenhouse gasses, Mayor Greg Nickels and Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson are inviting students to put their art skills to use and help raise awareness of global warming at the same time.

A t-shirt design contest will challenge students to visualize what climate change means to them. Winning designs will be included in a 2008 Climate Action Now Calendar and one will be featured on t-shirts donated by Nordstrom. The contest is open to all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“This is a chance for young people - those who will undoubtedly be affected most by the issue of climate change - to start putting their talents to use now in taking action to stop global warming,” Nickels said. “We want to capitalize on their creativity; it’s art today, but it will be innovation tomorrow.”

Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson agreed, saying “This project is an excellent opportunity for students to translate their science knowledge into a visual design of environmental solutions.”

All t-shirt design contest submissions must reflect the theme, what can you do everyday to be part of the solution to climate change? Featured climate actions are walking, biking, using transit, carpooling, and conserving electricity and natural gas. The Seattle Climate Action Now website provides additional resources on these and other featured climate actions.

To enter the Seattle Public Schools Climate Action Now Contest, please call Nicole Riss, Seattle Public Schools, at (206) 252-0599 or visit http://www.seattleschools.org/area/conservation/seattlecan_tshirt.html.

Top 5 Rated Restaurants on Capitol Hill

These are the top 5 rated restaurants on Capitol Hill according to the Hillsters on Yelp. I live on the Hill and have never visited any of these places, I guess I should get out more.

1. Saley & Sucre
1361 E Olive Way
Seattle, WA, 98122

2. Piroshki On Broadway
128 Broadway E
Seattle, WA, 98102

3. Joe Bar
810 E Roy St
Seattle, WA, 98102

4. Kingfish Cafe
602 19th Ave E
Seattle, WA, 98112

5. Bleu Bistro
202 Broadway E
Seattle, WA, 98102

Mum at Neumos Oct 27th

Mum the experimental Icelandic musical group will be at Neumos on Oct 27th.

Múm, Green Grass Of Tunnel

An SCHIP rundown by Jon Stewart