This is a forum for discussion about Olympia's daily newspaper: The Olympian. This is the place to track where they get things wrong, what they choose to cover, the staff comings and goings, etc.

[update]

I'm still working out the bugs on this. I'm trying to set up a threaded forum, but I just can't wrap my head around it tonight. It will have to wait for tomorrow and a clear head.

[update 12/9/05 - 7:00am]

Thanks to a friend for the technical assistance. We've got the forum up -- you can reach it through the link to the right. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.

[update 12/9/05 - 12:00pm]

Hmmm. Still not behaving as expected.

[update 12/9/05 - 11:00pm]

I think it is working now. You have to first open a forum topic -- say, about a particular story in the Olympian -- then folks can post under that forum topic. Ok, watchers. What's happening?

Olympian

Sylvester Park in downtown Olympia was cordoned off by the Washington State Patrol after a suspicious suitcase was found there this afternoon. The patrol’s bomb squad was dispatched to the area and x-rayed the item -- which turned out to be a typewriter. The suspicious item was reported just after 2 p.m.

Another View, from Corrugated Times-Dispatch

Everybody run over and check out the Thurston County Young Democrats new blog: Better South Sound. It looks like they're still putting on the finishing touches, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind some company. Good luck Emmett!

Awhile back, the public radio show Open Source aired a show on Hyperlocal Journalism. A mp3 is available as are some quotes and discussion.

I'm fond of these quotes by Lisa Williams:

A lot of functional small cities and large towns are actually comic operas with real estate taxes.

I have the same advice that The Ramones had: Don’t wait until you’re any good. Just dive in there, the water’s fine.

Women in Black - Olympia

Percival Landing Vigil continues every Friday, in front of the fountain on 4th, from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Come whenever you can, stay as long as you can.

Feel free to bring a chair if standing may be difficult for you.

I took a close look at the cover illustration I provided for Evergroove trivia pt. 50 and realized, to my utter horror, some caimanesque images hidden in there. Also, I found this magazine cover I drew in 1998. Anyone know where I can find a caiman deprogramming seminar?

It would be nice if there really was a BPOC to take care of business, i.e. protect the innocent and vulnerable people, and places of this world. We can hope and pray and dream. A better world is definitely possible.

What would be on your list for the BPOC look into?

I was told by someone before me that there are two ways government can get the people to surrender power at the ballot: Either promote it as "For public health" or "For the kids." Because surely nobody is against public health or, God forbid, against the kids.

"Nestor Traffic Systems photographed more than 2,600 alleged speeders this fall -- snapping as many as seven cars a minute -- in and around Akron school zones.

"The take in fines in that 19-day period: nearly half a million dollars.

"The tripod-mounted mobile cameras nailed the most drivers in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of Copley Road, near Erie Island Elementary School in West Akron. Nestor nabbed more than 1,000 drivers there and issued $182,000 in fines, nearly 40 percent of the total."

Continued: http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/13347408.htm