The system has improved a great deal since I last used it. The buses are new, clean, and comfortable. The routes make sense and integrate well. The drivers are courteous. Not only that, but Intercity Transit does a great deal more than just run buses – they are involved in just about everything transport-related in the county. They have the Dial-A-Lift, vanpools, connections to Pierce Transit, Mason Transit, Grays Harbor, and Sound Transit, and the new downtown shuttle, the Dash.

I walk to work almost half the time and have been driving, alone, the rest. I think I can replace about half of those drives with bus rides.

I just wrote a post titled Why Olympia? on my other blog and it got me to thinking. Along with the questions entertained there I can ask myself a further question....why do I live in Olympia? And I am curious about other blogger's stories, including why people live in McCleary, Centralia, Lacey or elsewhere in OlyBlog territory.

On a day like today I cannot adequately put into words how much I enjoy Olympia. I'd have to grab the person who is curious, situate them in the sun partly under a shady tree in a slight breeze off of Budd Inlet, in sight of blue herons, with an appropriate picnic basket of local goodies. Nearby would be someone blowing soap bubbles, elsewhere some SCA members practicing sword fights. Oh and someone has to be playing frisbee with their dog.

Rhodies in bloom, of course. A gaggle of bicyclists would roll by (school of bicyclists? pack? herd?). Laughter would be most definitely be heard.

The One Peoples Project has put together a good overview of May Day events around the nation, including an article from Olympia. I'm extra impressed with the fact that they also got word out of Forks:

Just talked to an organizer in Forks, WA. --

More than 700 people marched in the small town, and for the most part the conservative town showed their support!!

Here is where I finally 'fess up that I have too much on my plate already research wise, that my idea was a fine one, and that I'm keeping the suggestion lists. Yet reading through the Wikipedia definition of Conservatism was helpful, as was the little bit of poking around I was able to do.

Even if we could convince Neo-Nazis to just stop doing anything for a full month, I'd still have all this historical reading to do. I can however still offer something: Political Compass. I took the test and I'm in the economic left - social libertarian direction of their compass.

Back to what I actually am researching, I like this quote from the book Denying History:

"The one thing an extremist needs more than anything else is an enemy. An external enemy clears away internal strife."

Extremism, no matter of what flavor, can make it easier for us to dehumanize another. Once we dehumanize a person or a group of people it is that much easier to harm them.

So, I'm not necessarily anti-conservative at all. Extremism is more specifically my concern.

From The Olympian:

Check it out. The city of Olympia’s Web site has a new look, links to all city services and a convenient means of tuning into City Council meetings.

The revamped Web site, at www.ci.olympia.wa.us, has a sharper look and is much more handy for users than the previous design. Pages are organized by category, with an easy-to-use drop down navigation system facilitating quick links to all city departments and services.

On the same day that city officials launched the new version of the Web site, the city kicked off its online services — live and archived video of City Council meetings, plus accompanying agendas, reports and minutes. City customers also are able to gain access to utility bill information.

Link.