UPDATE: 11:27pm

I must have been channeling the governor as I was writing this post earlier today. I just ran across her statement posted about two hours ago.

“I firmly believe Washington State—where innovation is part of our very DNA—will lead the way and serve as a model for the country… I’m happy to report that Washington innovators understand Code Green, and they are answering the call of a generation… We envision Interstate 5.. as the first green freeway in the United States from (Canada to Mexico.)”

Click HERE to read the whole statement.

There are lots of reasons why I love living in Washington State.  I can stand on the space needle, and on a clear day, I can see mountain top peaks covered in snow,

the calm waters of Puget Sound teaming with marine wildlife and serenity.

Drive from the ocean:

to a rainforest,

on to a desert,

and then stop to do a little snow hiking.

all in one beautiful day.

But the icing on the cake here is our eager use of technology.  Computer technology has been in wide use, in both the public and business sectors, for a very long time.  It seems the promise that computers would save us time, make us more productive, leaving more time for personal endeavors, has come to pass.  Maybe it just takes a little longer to get over the 'new computer smell' than people estimated, and Washington's early start in the game resulted in them reaching the goal first. I don't know, but it's clear to me Washington exhibits the signs of having the time now, and possibly the money, to consider the bigger picture, is willing to risk change for broader benefit.

This article recently caught my attention, and reminded me yet again how proud I am to be living in Washington:

MONSANTO UPROOTED

Germany has banned the cultivation of GM corn, claiming that MON 810 is dangerous for the environment. But that argument might not stand up in court and Berlin could face fines totaling millions of euros if American multinational Monsanto decides to challenge the prohibition on its seed.

The sowing season may be just around the corner, but this year German farmers will not be planting genetically modified crops: German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner announced Tuesday she was banning the cultivation of GM corn in Germany.

DPA

Monsanto Uprooted: Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

Above is a video 'The World According to Monsanto' released in France.  It's a bit elusive, as it continues to be taken down when it is posted.  Well worth the time to watch.

Here's a similar, shorter clip:

And I suppose you and I shouldn't be surprised by this one, but just in case there is still someone out there that is unaware:

Fox News Kills Monsanto Milk Story

WHEN: April 14th (10 a.m. PST) Telephone Press Conference *(888) 228-9795 ID: 95038152*
  April 15th (6 p.m.-9 p.m.)  Activist Gathering & Preparation
  April 16th (8 a.m.-8 p.m.)  Offshore Drilling Hearing
  April 16th  (noon)    Rally & Concert at UCSF

Please click here to view details including schedules and numbers to call to voice your opinion.

If you are on the fence regarding offshore drilling, please read up on the subject here and here.

Thanks, Sierra Club, for making this information available!

What Americans expect from Washington is action that matches the urgency they feel in their daily lives -- action that's swift, bold and wise enough for us to climb out of this crisis.

Because each day we wait to begin the work of turning our economy around, more people lose their jobs, their savings and their homes. And if nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.

That's why I feel such a sense of urgency about the recovery plan before Congress. With it, we will create or save more than 3 million jobs over the next two years, provide immediate tax relief to 95 percent of American workers, ignite spending by businesses and consumers alike, and take steps to strengthen our country for years to come.

This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending -- it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care and education. And it's a strategy that will be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability, so Americans know where their tax dollars are going and how they are being spent.

Please click through to read the rest of the President's post. Barack Obama - The Action Americans Need - washingtonpost.com