Well, for a few hours, anyway.... After eight long years of unrelenting misery, George Bush will be leaving office (and losing his legal immunity) soon, and we're celebrating! Join well-known local comic Peggy Platt, other amazing local comics, and the merry kitchen crew on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 for an Inauguration Day Comedy Benefit for ETS!

Bring in the Obama Era starting at 8 PM at the Comedy Underground, 109 S. Washington St. in Seattle's Pioneer Square. Tickets are $12 at the door ($6 with student ID), $10 in advance from Not a Number Cards & Gifts, 1905 N. 45th St. in Wallingford. Laugh at the last eight years, celebrate what we hope are good times ahead, and support your favorite cash-strapped independent local newspaper!

And mad props and thanks to Peggy Platt, who got the ball rolling on this, and to Yoram Bauman ("the world's first and only stand-up economist"), who has organized this and many other benefits for deserving nonprofits. For more info on this event and on Yoram's weekly benefit program at the Comedy Underground, check out http://www.nonprofitcomedy.com/.

Distribution note: Due to inclement weather (and the fact that Greg Nickels can't be bothered to plow the fucking streets when it snows), many folks were unable to see our Dec. 18 issue, including our fabulous, 13th annual overview of the year's most overhyped and underreported stories, the 2008 Media Follies. To find the issue online, go to http://www.eatthestate.org/13-08/index.htm.