For Immediate Release
January 14, 2006
Contact: Hirsh Diamant
(360) 867-6736

Lunar New Year Celebration and Tai Ji Workshop at Evergreen

The Evergreen State College Longhouse Fri., Feb. 3, Tai Ji all-day workshop at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sat.., Feb. 4,
Lunar New Year concert and community celebration at 2pm
Open to the public
Campus parking $1.25 on Feb.3, free on Feb. 4

The Lunar New Year, one of the most important festivals in Asia, will be celebrated at The Evergreen State College's Longhouse on Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4. Tickets for the Friday workshop are $40 ($30 students and seniors) and Saturday concert and celebration $10 ($7 students and seniors). As seating is limited, advanced tickets are recommended and are available at the Evergreen Bookstore, Orca Books and at BuyOlympia.com

Internationally acclaimed master Chungliang Al Huang will lead a Tai Ji movement workshop on Friday, Feb. 3, starting at 10 a.m. Tai Ji is a dynamic moving meditation that enhances health, wellness, and cultural connection. Chungliang is one of the most talented transformational movement-meditation teachers working today. He is the author of "Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain" and other books. Beginners and advanced students are welcome to participate.

The Community Lunar New Year Celebration and Concert are slated for Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. in the Longhouse. It will feature a traditional Lion Dance, calligraphy with Chungliang Al Huang, Japanese music and dance with Midoro Kono Thiel, Kung Fu demonstrations, and music with UW Prof. Emeritus Stuart Dempster.

Contact Hirsh Diamant (360) 867-6736 for details.

125 -additional- logging trucks a day that is, on average, through town. I really don't see how our downtown can handle this or if it even should.

There is a lot more to this article Port's rail route may see trucks but I'm stuck on the idea of 125 more log trucks a day.

This along with the dredging plans all seem to lead towards using the downtown as one big funnel for the Port and Weyerhaeuser.

Via One Pissed Off Vetran. When Brian Baird tried to visit the troops from Taskforce Olympia in Kuwait, here's what happened:

He contacted the commanding general of Task Force Olympia and was told that they would not allow him to make an official visit as a congressman and not be able to ask questions of the troops because -- get this -- That fat bastard, the Squeaker of the Hose, one Denny Fat-boy Clogged-arteries Supersize-me Make-that-three-triple- cheeseburgers Hastert issued an edict that no Democratic congressman could speak to the troops without a Repugnican sewer rat being present.

From the Olympian:

Earlier this week, Intercity Transit launched its free shuttle service between downtown Oympia and the state Capitol Campus. Taxpayers can look at this new service and know that the tax increase they approved is being put to good use.

Given that the thing that one hears the most about downtown is the large population of homeless people, and how they discourage shoppers and suppress buisness, I wonder if a shuttle is really the best application of our tax dollars.

Intercity Transit bought the four buses for $1.2 million last year and moved quickly to put up shuttle stop signs in time for the legislative session, according to agency spokeswoman Meg Kester. Operating the shuttles will cost $629,000 a year.

Methinks this much money buys a lot of services and/or shelter for people who have none. Here's what the shuttle buys us:

Hungry state workers, shoppers and tourists are the most likely patrons of the free shuttle service.

The buses should make it easier for the 8,000 state workers on the campus and the 500,000 visitors to get downtown and spend their money, whether it’s for a quick lunch or a trip to the farmers market for fresh vegetables. Heck, workers who pack their lunch to work might even take the shuttle to the waterfront on a sun-splashed summer day to enjoy the scenery and smell of saltwater.

It’s also hoped that the shuttle will ease parking problems in the neighborhood south of the Capitol. That’s been a sore spot for years with residents unable to park in front of their homes because the streets are clogged with vehicles belonging to lobbyists and campus visitors.

Hmm. Let's see. What does the shuttle buy us?

• "Hungry" state workers can buy lunch downtown.
• They can enjoy the scenery and smell of saltwater.
• Homeowners in South Capital can park in front of their houses.

Anyone care to imagine what we could do if we applied that much money to taking care of people living on the street?

From WLTX.com:

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - An Olympia, Washington, man seeking conscientious objector status after being recalled by the military has reported as ordered to Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Mark Moore says he's still awaiting a response to his latest conscientious objector application.

Moore served three years in the Army before he left in 2003. He said his experience prompted him to not want to bear arms for his country.

Moore was placed on the Individual Ready Reserve, meaning he could be called back to active-duty before his eight-year commitment ends in 2007. He received orders to return to the Army in June.

From PRWeb:

DALLAS, Texas (PRWEB) January 12, 2006 -– Police in Olympia, Washington, are pleased with a new program that has reduced the number of false alarms by more than 30 percent while still allowing them to protect and serve their community.

Read about it here.