I went to see Capote tonight at the Capitol Theater with my ex-boyfriend. As happens so often on Thursday nights, the place was mobbed; I arrived at about 6:32 and there was still a long line stretching past the Tea Lady. My ex had volunteer passes for us both, so he was waiting for me in the lobby, talking to one of his many acquaintances. Why is it always so crowded on Thursdays? It can't be because people are desperate to win that coupon for free tea and shortbread. Is it because we're a community of procrastinators who can't be bothered to see a movie on Sunday or Tuesday if there's still a chance of seeing it on Thursday? Or maybe there's nothing on TV on Thursday nights? (I don't have a TV, so I always feel as if I suffer from a popular culture information deficit in this area.) In any case, the place was packed, but somehow the balcony managed to feel much chillier than usual tonight... I suppose that had something to do with the weather, something that even a throng of entertainment-seeking, blood-warm bodies can't affect much.

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Susan Christian is a painter in Olympia. She makes many beautiful paintings that you can see if you go visit her website. She also has a blog. Stop in and say hi.

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A number of Evergreen students are raising money to go to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort. They will donate ten days of their time during the upcoming spring break and will receive no monetary compensation. They have done extensive research to get the cheapest flight possible and they will be housed and fed for free by Common Cause while they are there. Much of the work will take place in New Orleans’ 9th Ward. Workers will also be helping people across the river in Mississippi, as well as the local indigenous population.

The number of students that can participate is limited by the amount of money they raise. At this time, they are about $1,500 short of covering the travel costs of all the students who have expressed an interest in going.

Please, if you possibly can, consider making a donation to the TESC N.O.L.A. account. It will make a real difference in the lives of people who were devastated by Katrina. To do so, go to the Cashier’s Office (1st floor, Library Building) or to WashPIRG (cubicle #19, 3rd floor, CAB). Please make checks payable to “TESC NOLA account

Due to the appearance of abusive comments on Olyblog, our crack team of specialists has been working 24/7 to get a fix up and running. So, here it is:

Comments can now be rated, and each user can choose what categories they would like to view. Here are the categories:

• Profound -- Comments that leave you speechless b/c they are so amazing and life-changing.
• Insightful -- The wisdom that we've come to expect from Olyblog users.
• Useful -- Gets the job done.
• Off topic -- Not really what the thread is about.
• Driveby -- Commenter has no context and crashes the party in a rude manner.
• Abusive -- Clearly focused on hate, violence, or degradation.

Some examples from recent comments:

Join us as we call for an end to discriminatory immigration and deportation policies that target people of color and Muslims in particular. We will start at the Northwest Detention Center on the Tacoma Tideflats and then march to the Tacoma Sheraton, location of the Pacific Northwest National Security Forum, which is bringing together military commanders to chart the course of US foreign aggression “beyond Iraq and Afghanistan.

Will the president win? What about on the UAE port deal?