I am by no means a communication expert. I sometimes get lost in discussions and I don't always listen as well as I'd like to. But, I do try.

I'm looking over Principles of Conflict Resolution, what the Navy and others use. The 9 points may look simple but there actually is a lot in them to chew over. I'm going to work on one at a time, and I encourage anyone who wishes to join in however they like.

1.Think Before Reacting

The tendency in a conflict situation is to react immediately. After all, if we do not react we may lose our opportunity. In order to resolve conflict successfully it is important to think before we react--consider the options, weigh the possibilities. The same reaction is not appropriate for every conflict.

Online, it can be so easy and tempting to respond in the heat of the moment. All the needed tools are laid out and our keyboards are on fire. What if we instead take our time, take a few deep breaths, look at something else, maybe even step away slowly from our computers?

The wood won't go to waste. The city plans to cut it into firewood and deliver it to low-income families who need help heating their homes this winter. About six families could benefit.

"That's utilizing the wood in a better way than just letting it go", McFarland said.

The free firewood program is a new partnership between the city and the Community Action Council, an agency charged with dispensing federal heating funds to low-income families. It's financed through a $28,000 state grant, that pays for removing hazardous trees in low-income neighborhoods and distributing the wood to low-income families, said Stacey Ray, with the city's urban forestry program.

What a perfect solution.

I heard a rumor of this bird and did some quick research, learned about a birder newsgroup and began following the stories coming in. People were really really excited. Reports poured in almost hourly. And it was all happening in my neighborhood. Surely I could see the critter myself.

That began my month of birding hell. I am not a birder myself, I don't know the official terms for things, I don't have a camera or binoculars. I do appreciate the natural world though and I thought, mistakenly, that I too could participate in this.

So the list would say that the bird had been spotted in this type of tree at this address doing this thing with these birds at this moment. I'd stroll out there and find a large group of people all relaxing after having just seen it. The bird that was now gone.

So it went for weeks. Other people saw the bird, I never did. Folks came from Seattle. Portland. From all over, and they saw it.

I never saw the bird, but I did see birders. Driving slowly with intent expressions. I saw a tall guy pacing energetically through the neighborhood with full camera gear including tripod over one shoulder. Jogging clusters of birders, solitary birders, birders with all sorts of nifty equipment.

Friends found out about my failure, they personally weren't that interested in chasing a bird through the cold winter, but they did help by making jokes. We discussed what would happen if a neighborhood cat left me a gift on my door mat and the gift turned out to be.....you guessed it......the bird.

I finally for my own sanity gave up the quest. Certain that very likely the bird was perched in a tree outside my window, laughing.

The rush to make energy from vegetable oils is being driven in part by European Union laws requiring conventional fuels to be blended with biofuels, and by subsidies equivalent to 20 pence a litre. Last week, the British government announced a target for biofuels to make up 5 per cent of transport fuels by 2010. The aim is to help meet Kyoto protocol targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

Who: The Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition (WROC) 701 Franklin Street SE Olympia, WA 98501 360-352-9716

WROC is a local nonprofit, grassroots organization made up of low-income parents and our allies. Our members organize for positive change in welfare policy, our communities and our lives.

What: ArtWROC An art and crafts sale that benefits and local artists.

When: Saturday, December 3rd, 1 - 9 pm

Where: Bryce's Barbershop 118 4th Avenue

Why: Find fabulous, affordable and unique gifts. Support a local nonprofit organization and local artists.

Enjoy fresh-brewed coffee and delicious desserts. Win an exciting raffle prize. Listen to live music all day long, featuring: Vince Brown, Jana Vitols, Dirk Ronneburg, Cera Impala, Jenny Jenkins, Scuff Acuff, Marla Elliot, LaVon Hardison, Tom Russell, Rich Sikorski and special guests. Don't miss the best party in town!

I don't even know where to begin with this. From The Olympian:

Roughly 18.5 percent of students who start as freshmen in the Olympia School district fail to graduate from high school, statis-tics presented at an Olympia School Board study session Monday show. That's equivalent to 640 students from the total student body of about 3,500.

School board member Rich Nafziger said he plans to ask the board to adopt a goal in December of cutting the district's drop out rate in half in the next three years -- a goal several other board members said Monday they would support.

"Olympia is an affluent district in a lot of ways, but there are hundreds of kids who aren't making it," Nafziger said. "Our drop out rate is higher than it should be for our district."

The fact that 55.3 percent of Olympia's low-income students fail to graduate from high school is especially alarming, school board members said Monday. That compares with 37 percent of low-income students across Thurston County and 31.6 percent of low-income students statewide who don't graduate.

The city has to choose between two proposals, a shorter study that would get things started sooner, and a longer study that would include more public input. From The Olympian:

Under both options on the table, an independent consultant would study the corridor's needs based on traffic counts and growth. The study would also take into account the possibility of a new Highway 101 interchange.

The difference between the two options boils down to the number of public workshops, how soon the city can apply for state grants, and the cost. The first option calls for one round of interviews with neighborhoods, merchants and other parties, and one public workshop to get feedback on the corridor analysis. Findings would come in June so the city can seek a grant by the state's August deadline.

The second option includes up to four public meetings as part of a more extensive public process, similar to what's being used to study Boulevard Road and Capitol Way. It would not be complete until December, meaning the city must wait until 2007 to seek grants.

Can we please take our time and do it right?