What bumper sticker has caught your attention in Oly recently?

One in my neighborhood that grabs me every time is: "Piss off a Liberal, Buy a Gun".

Washington State Democrats Support Retaining Olympia Postmark

Washington State Democratic Party Chair Paul Berendt released the following statement:

“This is a slap in the face to Olympia and Washington State government, and we are disappointed that the Postal Service didn’t consult people who will be affected by this change earlier in the process.

“If this plan takes effect, Olympia will be the only State Capitol without a first-class mail postmark. Good government relies on the easy exchange of information and resources. It is essential that mail to and from Olympia be as efficient and affordable as possible. There is no proof that mail will be processed more efficiently or at a lesser cost with this change. On the other hand, what could actually happen is that it will take longer for incoming mail to be delivered to Olympia residents, and it will be more expensive to process outgoing mail."

[via tesccrier]

On December Eighth, Student Educating Students About the Middle East (SESAME) will be hosting Stephen Zunes, professor of Peace and Justice Studies at USF and author of "Tinderbox: US Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism", to speak and answer questions about the occupations of Palestine, Iraq and Western Sahara. The event will be at six thirty in Lecture Hall 1 and free of charge. All are welcome.

-Riley, Karynne, Lee and all the other good folks at SESAME

[via tesccrier]

Featuring FIVE student directed/acted/written/produced one act plays and live music!

Presented by Über Theatre: 10 plays in 10 weeks and The Evergreen State College Performing Arts Friday and Saturday December 9th and 10th Communications Building Room 209 (TESC campus) 7:00 PM Absolutely Free!

[via omjp]

The Economics meeting is Tuesday the 6th at 7:30 at The Olympia Center 222 Columbia and begin working on Health Care.

The U.S. Postal Service response lately to concerns about our Oly postmark and about the well-being of local workers reminds me of Lily Tomlin's wonderful portrayal of Ernestine, the telephone operator. Ernestine works for the phone company, not the postal service, but the bureaucratic attitudes do seem to have something in common.

"Here at the Phone Company we handle eighty-four billion calls a year. Serving everyone from presidents and kings to scum of the earth. (snort) We realize that every so often you can't get an operator, for no apparent reason your phone goes out of order [snatches plug out of switchboard], or perhaps you get charged for a call you didn't make. We don't care. Watch this [bangs on a switch panel like a cheap piano] just lost Peoria. (snort) You see, this phone system consists of a multibillion-dollar matrix of space-age technology that is so sophisticated, even we can't handle it. But that's your problem, isn't it ? Next time you complain about your phone service, why don't you try using two Dixie cups with a string. We don't care. We don't have to. (snort) We're the Phone Company!"

-- Lily Tomlin from "Saturday Night Live: The First 20 Years" (1994 Cader Company).

From an article about McCloud Zicmuse in New York Magazine:

Do you always wear such bright colors? I used to live in Olympia, Washington. And when there’s clouds in the sky all the time, you learn how to be your own sun, to emit energy and light. I find color to be the most satisfying thing on earth. Not better than sex, but a great complement.

Back in the 90s there was a movement to create civic networks, online "3rd places" where citizens could come equaly and dialogue, etc... This seems to be what we're doing here at Olyblog, but we don't call it a civic network.

Anyway, I've been thinking a bit about this the last few days, and am interested in what you guys think. Read my much longer post at Olympia Time, and let me know. Thanks.

A 38-year-old man was shot to death in a south Marysville home early Saturday morning.

Residents of the home called police shortly after 4 a.m. and said a man who was trying to break into their house was shot. The shooter has not been arrested and is cooperating with investigators, according to Marysville Police Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux.

Lamoureux would not identify the shooter or victim but said the dead man did not have a permanent address but had been living in the Marysville area.

Link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002663403_dige04m.html

From the the Olympian

OLYMPIA — Dave Avolio gestured toward the 1,000 candles glowing on the steps of the Capitol.

“That’s an awful lot of needless deaths,