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.
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
School Vouchers Will Improve the Education of Our Children
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
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."
<^_^>
Submitted by emmettoconnell on Thu, 08/30/2007 - 9:06pm.
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
In the summer of 2006, the City of Olympia commissioned eight Thurston County artists to create temporary public art for downtown Olympia. The most ambitious of these projects was Diane Kurzyna’s HERE TODAY project entitled “Ephemeral Folks,” an installation of four archetypical figures that roamed the city in a variety of ways. Created from humble materials such as unwanted plastic wrap, used bubble wrap, and tape, these sculptures became a metaphor for the transience of life, their presence a reminder that even commonplace moments may possess a quiet magic.
The Observer appeared in various storefront windows, holding a mirror towards the viewer, blurring the distinction between who is the observer and who is the observed. The store owners were encouraged to have an interaction with the figure, and all were disappointed that she could not stay for more than a few days. She was transported to each new destination via wheelchair, which, to the delight of passersby, became a mini-performance. She was on view from the start of HERE TODAY on July 15 until its finale on September 15.
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Bye Emma. You'll be missed.
