Camp Quixote could use some volunteers to staff the "Safety and Comfort Team." Write tucocamp@gmail.com to let us know if you'd like to take a three hour shift this weekend. Sunday help especially welcome.

(From original comment by Paul)

Duplex Carport Garage Sale

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I wrote this some time ago, and with some uninformed references in the comments of the last blog entry I made, I thought I would share this information with others.

Brownell 1

My son is a tall blonde precocious nine years old in the fourth grade at His school. Two or three times a year the students partake in the STAR testing, which evaluates the reading level of each student, shows their current level, and suggests what grade span of books the child should be reading. My son is rated at the twelfth grade in the third month currently. The books at the school library go as high as the thirteenth grade in the second month [Potter]. Books that reach this grade level make up perhaps less than one percent of all the books in the library and are generally very old and may not hold much interest for forth and fifth graders. My wife Heidi, a former school teacher, and I had to beg, pester, cajole and prod the school and district administration to allow our son into the Program for Academically Talented Students, or PATS. Although this program is a sort of honors class it only meets once a week. If we could Heidi and I would place all three of our children into private school in an effort to give them every advantage in their education, however a major drawback to this is cost. Our family can not afford to send one student let alone three to private school. We would pay tuition for private or parochial school and we would be paying taxes to support the school and the

Brownell 2

Well, its official. I am done posting on the Olympian online chat forums. I have no idea what was said and I only saw the aftermath of:

Banned. (Personal jabs at other commenters are not acceptable.) - Aaron Mason, Online Production
Emma | 08.31.07 - 8:06 am | #

So, Emma gets banned today for allegedly taking personal jabs at other commenters. Let me restate that one more time becuase it deserves repeating. EMMA GETS BANNED FOR TAKING PERSONAL JABS AT OTHER POSTERS??????? Come on Aaron, you are kidding me right? Is this some sort of personal vendetta for you? Since WHEN is taking a jab at another poster a bannable offense? In just 3 minutes of looking through the comment sections in other articles, these are some of the other "offenses" that went unpunished by our friends on the right.

"Now the question is who protects the military from your arrogant ignorance?"

"Oh sorry I forgot the trustifarian code...evergreener's bones turn to dust if the sun hit them before noon."

"Thank god you are one boring dude."

"Did your parents stutter?"

Given more time, I am sure I could come up with some doozies. I, personally, have been called some very colorful metaphors that somehow go unnocticed but when one of the left leaning persuasion dares come close to the line, its off to banned camp for them. WHAT GIVES??

DISCOVERING THE CLOWN WITHIN
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRED FOOL

Fall workshops in Olympia

September 21-22 or December 7-8
Friday 7-9am
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Pay by donation: value $80.00

For information contact: dawn@thesimplefool.com or 360-705-2506

Come and discover your INNER CLOWN - In the spirit of Artivism (art and action for social and spiritual transformation)!

Clowning is a state of playfulness that brings us to experience a child-like, naïve and vulnerable state of being. Paradoxically we grow, learn and are strengthened through reconnecting playfully with what makes us most vulnerable. This approach to clowning is not a technique (tricks, gags and routines) but a personal journey towards finding one’s own unique way of being a clown, by listening and being receptive, essential skills for any creative and imaginative expression. It is only when we let go our control over things that we begin to be surprised by the depth of what reveals itself to us.

During the workshop we will be doing very basic and deep work with the inner clown, developing presence and authenticity, emptiness and listening through exercises, games and improvisations. This is the foundational work that leads towards training the clown as an artivist (one who participates in art and action for social and spiritual transformation).

Facilitator: Dawn Stratton is a student of the Nose to Nose Clowning School in the UK (see http://members.aol.com/nosetonose/ for more info) and founder of The Simple Fool School.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER CONTACT: dawn@thesimplefool.com
or call 360-705-2506
www.thesimplefool.com

"There is a still quiet place within where you are filled with unlimited creativity. This is the world of the clown. It is your birthright as a human being and it manifests in laughter and tears." <^_^>

Apparently there was a walkout down at OFS over the firing of the long long time operations manager. From the OFSVolunteers wiki:

The OFS Board of Directors fired Operations Manager Jeffrey Bartone on August 21st, 2007 after 21 years of service to the organization. His termination was based on complaints of "rude, abrasive, and uncooperative behavior". It is our opinion that the recent decision was not a true representation of the OFS community's wishes, due to an inadequate number of participating board members. We further feel that Jeffrey's termination was the result of the personal agendas of a few board and staff members through a calculated and opportunistic effort. Furthermore, the move included no contingency for filling the extensive job requirements of Technical Director, further highlighting a lack of responsibility on the part of the board.

...

We the projectionists, along with many other volunteers, view Jeffrey as the human face to OFS. He has personally welcomed us into the organization, appraised our interests and skills, and found us our place here. In firing Jeffrey, the board cited a number of complaints about his behavior. Many of us would not be a part of OFS today had it not been for Jeffrey. We are now willing to walk out on our volunteer shifts and to possibly end our involvement with OFS. We propose this gesture in contrast to any complaints he may have received.

"To promote the spirit of an active volunteer society among the membership" -OFS Goals