The Poynter Institute, as a result of an August 2006 Conference, recently constructed an Online Ethics Wiki. As the audience is assumed to be professional online journalists much of the language seems inapplicable to a volunteer based citizen journalism operation; however, given that many of the issues we've already run into on OlyBlog are addressed if the assumption changes to include anyone reporting online, I think this is an excellent point of discussion for citizen journalism as a whole, and OlyBloggers in particular.

The reason given was that it would reduce payouts of false claims, and reduce vandalism. No figures were given for how much vandalism actually costs the system.

From the published data, however, this idea is nowhere near economic. Let's take the IT figures apart, shall we?

"He said the agency paid more than $84,000 as a result of 42 claims filed the past six years, according to written minutes from that meeting."

That works out to be $14,000 per year average. (84k / 6)

"Intercity Transit is considering spending up to $750,000 to install video surveillance on buses..."

Divide $750,000 by $14,000 annual payout for claims (assume they are ALL false and that the cameras would not raise the payouts): you get 53.57 years to repay the amount you would have paid in claims. And this also assumes that the cameras last that long, which they won't.

So - if this is their big argument, I have a question. Why not start out with just two cameras. We'll install them in Jim Merill's personal vehicle. One will look out his windshield to show us the terrified faces of the others who share the road with him, and the other will look at Jim's drivers seat to make sure it is him driving. That way we can document that he does not use the system he manages, and should have NO say over the conditions of those who do ride the bus.

This is management gone awry. It also happens to be a huge public document nightmare - the feed from 540 cameras has to be kept in the hard drive system AND RELEASED TO ANY AND ALL WHO ASK FOR IT - it is a public document, after all, for a period of how many weeks or months? Washington state has rules for retention of public documents, and if they don't archive this stuff then they are violating those rules. Take a peek at DVD prices and the system to dump all this video to storage, and then look again at that $750,000 they propose will be the total cost. I bet it will take more than 53 years to pay for itself once we've revised that figure!

The protests that took place across the country on Saturday may have been the largest demonstration of anti-war sentiment since the Iraq war began. But the older generation seems to be carrying all the weight. I believe it is crucial for the teenagers, the high school- and college-age people of our nation to take some responsibility for their own interests. It seems that as an age group we are too lazy and apathetic to participate in political discourse.

[via email from Cathie Butler, Communications Manager]

Olympia, WA. Applications for appointment to City of Olympia advisory committees and commissions will be accepted until March 1, 2007.   Terms of appointment for Olympia's committees take affect on April 1, with terms for about one-third of the appointees ending in any given year. 

Applications are being accepted for the following positions:

• Arts Commission (four positions)
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (three positions: one citizen-at-large; one walking/pedestrian advocate; and one representative for the disabled community).
• Design Review Board (one citizen-at-large; and one development community or business representative)
• Heritage Commission (five positions)
• Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (two positions:  one representative of agencies eligible to receive lodging tax funding; and one representative from hotels/motels that pay the tax)
• Parking Advisory Committee (two positions: downtown resident and alternate mode representative)
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (three positions)
• Planning Commission (four positions) 
• Utility Advisory Committee (four positions)

All positions are non-paid (volunteers), and the members are appointed by the Olympia City Council.  Residency or other requirements may apply.  Information, including the application form, is posted on the City of Olympia website:  www.olympiawa.gov.  Questions?  Call Cathie Butler at Olympia City Hall, 753-8361.