Law enforcement employees and firefighters raised over $10,000 yesterday at Big Brothers Big Sisters "Bowl For Kids Sake" at Westside Lanes.

Thanks to all for your efforts

Today, Saturday, April 26, 2008, Employees from DSHS (HRSA) and from local financial institutions (banks and credit unions) raised over $22,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters during Bowl for Kids Sake events.

DSHS employees raised $13,425 and the Financial employees raised $8,600.

When available, I'll post the exact totals and award winners, but I just wanted to pass along an immediate thanks for this great effort on the part of people in our community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides mentoring services to children in Thurston and Lewis Counties.

A great segment of Bill Mahr last night.

People have accused him of being prejudiced in reference to his comments about the Catholic Church and the issues of sexual indiscetions.

Mahr:  "I didn't PRE-JUDGE, I JUDGED.

We often forget the root of words.  There is a difference between judgement and prejudice.  We'd all be for the better if we learn and practice the difference.

As LOCAL discussion blog was closed before I got a chance to respond to something.

 "there is no comparison, the Quran is way worse. But don't take anybody's word for it, read the damn thing. Make your own direct comparison. The only way you will know what the Quran is about is by reading it. Eveybody that writes a book about Islam and the Quran has their own biases and puts their spin on it."

JT - first, you admitted in another post that you had not read the Quran, therefore challenging me to read it is strawman at best.  My comparison of what I have read is that almost all religious material is the same - other than the names were changed to protect the dogma. 

For instance, are you aware that there are several "virgin births' in religious history? This is but one example of the point.  Everyone has complete knowledge of God's will for those that don't follow the laws they way their god says so.

This type of conversation take place in churches all over Olympia every Sunday and many Wednesdays.  It divides our community.

This getting up early has some benefits.

I woke, this morning, to a report on KING 5 TV about the cost of asphalt paving. As you probably know, this is the preferred method of paving and repair for roads in our communities.

The former rule of thumb for the cost of paving one mile of roadway was $41,000. That has now risen to $88,000 due to the cost of you know what.

Meanwhile, candidate for Governor Dino Rossi is unveiling his plan to cut transportation budget recenue "needs" by re-routing sales tax from vehicle sales. Of course whenever you take money from one part of the budget to move to another, something gets cut - say social and health services.

We are ready facing a dilemma in our communities to keep roadways safe and in manageable conditions. Can we afford to have someone try to garner favor on the "less transportation taxes" platform, when the cost of doing business has more than doubled?

Our communities can ill afford less funding for social and health needs and our roads must be maintained to handle the ever-increasing traffic as people move to available and affordable housing in rural areas

This is not the time for knee-jerk political moves as an emotional ploy for votes Monday morning quarterbacking of the budget is not sound governing.

Recently, in another thread, there was a statement about me posting in The Olympian again.  I'll confess.  I'm guilty.

Now, before I lose my Olyblog card and decoder ring, allow me to explain a few things.

While it's true that The Olympian still has a rather "liberal" policy on the quality of some of the posts, I have to hand it to the webmaster(s) for allowing discourse on a wide variety of subject matter.  It has become the venue for discussion on subjects of interest on national politics and other issues. I've learned to recognize subject matter that won't interest me or that I know will contain some of the more ignorant posts, so I avoid them.  If I see a thread heading down that road, I'm welcome to stop anytime I want.

Toxic?  At times, and yet, remembering what a friend shared with me long ago, in a conversation about racism - "words can't harm me".  I guess I'm adopting the theory that if I'm not part of the solution, I'm part of the problem.  My posts can add a bit of sanity to an insane world, as long as I control me and don't fall prey into the games of others.  It's an art called "ignoring" and I've found that it can be exercised on Olyblog also.  Of course, AOL perfected the art with their ignore feature, which removed offensive posters from your screen, leaving only those with which you want to converse.

Sorry, folks, I've remained as quiet as I can be on this.  After reading the docent mail, I finally have decided to put in my two cents.  It is my understanding that opinions are still allowed (I had to correct a Freudian typo, I had written "aloud" - now THAT is funny)

I posted a blog on the anniversary of MLKs death.  A part of it WAS a comparison to Reverend Wright - not my idea, something that a TV journalist (sorry, his name escapes me, but he's not a screamer) presented.  It reminded me that King was demonized for his activities by those that opposed him.

A docent threw the caution flag that my blog wasn't "hyperlocal" enough.  I'm not going to pretend to have a clue where the word "hyperlocal" came from as the dictionary responds "No results found for hyperlocal' when I seek a definition.

Thus it becomes a pool of subjective thinking that, in this man's view, seems to ebb and flow with emotional tides.  This reminds me of playing football at the park as a kid. One goal was the flagpole, but considering that there wasn't another point of reference, goal line stands became the subject of controvery due to the constantly moving imaginary line.

I'm not sure why Olyblog's community has sought to sterilize conversation to the point of avoiding the slightest controversy.  Is this the only way we can survive differences of opinion?  I think not.

African American Pastor

Angry with the challenges society has placed upon his people.

Speaks out against American Foreign policy

Becomes media target and political target

Finally, becomes a real target, 40 years ago today.

Names change, but situations sometimes remain.

In Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey, Thurston County and all over the United States, take a moment and reflect. Then don't stop thinking.

We, the people, control our destiny.  Will it be anger and violence or peace and harmony.

It's up to us.

There are those that speak without saying a word.

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