ASHLAND, Ore. — A couple with three children who say they make $30,000 to $40,000 a year as panhandlers say they are surprised by public attention to their lifestyle.

Jason Pancoast and Elizabeth Johnson, who describe themselves as "affluent beggars," say they are able to maintain a well-fed and well-dressed family by living off the streets.

Pancoast, who is outspoken in many of his beliefs, said Ashland is being run more and more by the rich who can't tolerate different lifestyles.

Continued

I wouldn't call it unable to "tolerate" another set of beliefs so much as that the taxpaying public is proabably angry that, a person making an estimated $30,000 to $40,000 a year panhandling, probably both (a) doesn't report a dime as income and (b) is still receiving monetary benefits from Uncle Sam.

Like last year's sold- out event, this year's Illuminate Ball will be an amazing, artful experience featuring a range of music, dance and performance art to benefit the 2006 Procession of the Species.

Of course, it is the fine people of our community that really make the magic -- Please buy your tickets early to ensure a spot (available at Rainy Day Records and Traditions).

This year's theme is A Garden of Light, so be thinking of what fun, illuminating formal wear will adorn your evening (and be prepared to stay late). Music in the Ballroom will include the 9-piece Seattle salsa band Cambalache along with Samba Novo and Ragadharma.

This year also features a Pageant with dance, puppetry and luminaria as well as a Jazz Lounge above the Ballroom. Our crew of volunteers are working feverishly to produce a quality event with superb beverages and hors d'oerves, fancy decorations, a photographer and artful door prizes (for an extra donation).

At least that is what those stickers around town tell me, they've been up for awhile, the two I most often see are on light poles in Sylvester Park and the Mall parking lot.

CrimethInc. Workers' Collective puts out the stickers along with books and posters and other material. Their primary distribution center is here in Olympia.

The New York Surveillance Camera Players have a lot of information on their site about surveillance cameras, including details on how to find and map them.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran threatened on Friday to block inspections of its nuclear sites if confronted by the U.N. Security Council over its atomic activities. The hard-line president reaffirmed his country's intention to produce nuclear energy.

France, Britain and Germany quickly responded that they were not demanding sanctions against Tehran just yet.

On Thursday the three countries, backed by the United States, said that nuclear talks with Iran had reached a dead end after more than two years of acrimonious negotiations and the issue should be referred to the Security Council.

Continued.

Britain is saying military action isn't being considered but I find that highly unlikely, even if it doesn't come from the US or Europe.

Should be interesting to see just how far the West is willing to go to avoid armed conflict.

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 14, 10:00 AM is our next General Membership Meeting

Join us at the Southwest Regional Archives located on Washington, just off 11th. It's tucked away next to the Old County Courthouse and in front of the parking for the Department of Natural Resources building.

It's time for Board Elections. Shanna Stevenson (secretary), Lois Fenske (treasurer), and Annamary Fitzgerald (president) are completing their three year terms. Each has agreed to be considered for reelection, but welcome other nominations.

It is also time to renew your membership. Regular membership is $25, Senior/Student membership is $10. Lois reminds you that you may pay at the meeting or download the form from our web page: www.olympiahistory.org.

Roger Easton will give a fascinating presentation about the wealth of information and research potential discovered in a Crosby Journal previously overlooked.

Hope you can join us! See you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Annamary Fitzgerald President, Olympia Historical Society (360) 357-6099

This is a group that I didn't know about (via net-squared):

The Olympia, Washington based Free Child Project engages in a large number of activities to support youth led social change. Their mission reads: The Freechild Project seeks to advocate, inform, and celebrate social change led by and with young people around the world, particularly those who have been historically denied the right to participate.

Check out their website here.