I've spent the day going through myspace pages, starting with my oldest daughter's and checking each of her "friends" myspace pages for any current pictures or messages from her in hopes of finding out how and where she is.

In doing so, I came across one's page who had a video called Downtowners on it.

Downtowners is 47 minute documentary film that shares the voices of young people who are homeless in Olympia Washington, as they explore issues such as sexual violence, public space, gender roles, street culture, and community perceptions. These voices inspire a connection and understanding seldom experienced by those who lack direct experience with the streets. Often referred to as "at-risk", "marginalized", or "disadvantaged", these youth and young adults live on the fringes of society, and their struggles include uncertainty, instability, barriers to resources and lack of support in creating solutions. In an effort to raise awareness by deepening the dialogue about issues of youth homelessness and sexual violence, Downtowners introduces street life from the perspective of the young people who live it.

I know most of these kids personally, having met them through my oldest daughter. They are her family. I'm sure some of you have come in contact with them or may possibly even work to help them. I had no idea a video on their lives and lifestyles had been made.

I never did find anything out about my daughters well-being or whereabouts but found this video to be very profound and worth watching. To hear the dreams and goals of these kids broke my heart. I always heard how they liked their life, didn't want to ever go to another school again. To hear the child in them come out in the video is a side of them I never knew or saw. Now I know they have to act and be tough in order to survive but it really isn't the way they are.

This is from Philadelphia.

In mid-2007, the city was at a rate of one murder per day. The year prior, 406 people were murdered in Philadelphia.

"Do something!" District Attorney Lynne Abraham admonished Mayor John Street at one news conference.

Two years prior was no different. From USA Today (04 DEC 2005):

Three months ago, Terrell Pough was pictured in People magazine, the proud father of a 2-year-old daughter, Diamond. At 18, he shouldered work, high school and single parenthood. He was, the magazine said, an exceptional young man.

Last month, his story took a too-familiar turn for young black men in this city: He was killed by a gunshot to the head Nov. 17 as he walked to his car after his shift as night manager of a restaurant.

As homicide figures in other big cities fall, Philadelphia will once again experience more than 300 murders this year.

Here's the broad reality of the situation:

Philadelphia has experienced more than 300 murders annually since 2000.

Last November, Officer Charles Cassidy was killed after interrupting a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts, where he usually got his coffee (Story).

Police released portions of a chilling videotape that shows the hooded robber pushing aside two customers and waving a gun as he approaches the counter. It also shows him grabbing the fallen officer's pistol as he fled.

Press release via email:

Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles responded to a report of two people in the water in the vicinity of Steamboat Island ten miles north of Olympia, Wash., today.

A Good Samaritan called 911 and reported seeing two persons wearing life jackets and in need of assistance.

The report was then forwarded to Air Station Port Angeles, which launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to respond. Before the helicopter crew arrived, a Good Samaritan brought the people to shore. 

Members of the Thurston County Fire Department reported that the two individuals were responsive but hypothermic.

The helicopter crew transported the individuals to St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

It was reported that the two were aboard a work barge that sank.

There is no pollution reported and the cause of the sinking has not been determined.

 God speed Coasties.

(Not including dogs on leashes)

• Cats. This morning I saw a black cat & a big orange and white kitty. The most "OMG ponies!!!1!" (cute) thing I've ever seen on the trail is a guy with some sort of harness/carrier thing on his shoulders with a cat perched in it.
• Birds. Mostly, I just hear them or only see them out of the corner of my eye, but one day last week I had to dodge around a pair of ducks who just weren't going anywhere. And a few weeks ago, a pair of (???) swooped across the trail right in front of my face. I swear I saw a belly and underside of wings on one of them.
• Bunnies! Have already seen a few this spring; they dart across the trail and are gone almost by the time you realize they're there.
• Deer. Last winter (December?) a deer and I startled each other in almost-dark on the trail west of Fones Road.
• And this morning I saw raccoons for the first time, between Boulevard & Dayton.

Four of them, off in the distance, and I went through one of those mental checklists as I got closer: too big for bunnies; wrong behavior for cats; wrong shape for dogs.

As I approached, they dove off into the bushes, then 2 came back out and did a perfect imitation of old-style highwaymen. One stood up on hind legs, drawing himself very tall, while the was on all fours standing across the path. But I zipped by them, leaving them turning their heads to look at me, then scampering away.

Yep, I guess it's a gun thread. So sorry.

It has been reported that an undercover police officer pulled a weapon in downtown area during the Mayday event.

TFI mentioned it this way.

Both The Olympian and Seattle IndyMedia said an undercover officer pulled a firearm on a crowd surrounding him.

I am pretty busy and haven't been able to read all the news, so I know only a little about this.

But, for those of you who think that packing a weapon and being ready and prepared to pull it to defend yourself and others when a shooter suddenly appears in front of you:

• how would your self-defense work out in this kind of event? 
  
• Would you be able to spot and discriminate an undercover police officer pulling a weapon or would you just lay the undercover person down with a round?

Ground rule: Only discussion of the idea that defensive use of a personal weapon would be good for the public in the manner that has been discussed with regard to the Virginia Tech shootings and others like that. Let's stay focused on that single question please.

I attended the City Council meeting last night to speak for the sanctuary city proposal. I was signed up to read the Olympia Friends Meeting minute on support for war resisters but the public comment period was short and I did not get to the podium so I made the comments in written form.

Saw a few of you there. Jeff Brigham was articulate. A little off the mark on a few points I thought, but I found myself shaking my head in agreement with some of his comments. Bauermeister was engaging and entertaining and I think the plaid pants will work in his stand-up routine, well done, I say.

Bert was there taking pictures, so there may be art available from the event along with Bert's usual persistent peaceful, leftist take on things (I will read and shake my head in agreement I suspect).

But here is the thing I woke up thinking this morning: Apparently vandals broke windows on Joe Hyer's business and somebody else's business. There was thought that this was coercion and attempts to essentially extort political decisions through the targeting of the city council business. I think Olyblog and OMJP and the Port Resistance Movement and the community in general should collect funds to repair any damage. Let's dig into our own pockets and share the cost. None of us should be targeted in this way.

I have a $20.00 bill to start the donations for the repair fund. Anybody care to join me?