What just happened?? The donuts are great if you don’t mind choking down a heaping portion of racism first. We were regulars until today. When my husband smiled and said we’d be getting a small box of donuts, the man behind the counter (who we know to be the owner) smirked and asked if we were Arabic. My husband responded, “Could be”, and calmly continued to order. The owner laughed and awkwardly explained that he asked because my face was covered. I wear a carbon fiber inside a bandana as a mask because I have MCS, a disability that causes all sorts of health problems from exposure to chemicals, fragrances, exhaust, woodsmoke, etc. Any place I go, which isn’t many, people ask or look inquisitive and my husband or I are happy to explain. Why would he ask if “we” (including himself in a childish joking way) were Arabic? A joke? What is the joke? What is the purpose? Would he ask “Are you- anything else?” My best friend is Armenian and right after September 11, his uncle was attacked and beaten inside a record store. This is the context in which we live. I wanted others to know and I want to know, WHAT JUST HAPPENED???

I had a great time celebrating the election at the Citizens for a Responsive Local Government party tonight: more about that later. Right now I want to share an interesting bicycling related interaction that I had on my way home.

The following story is made all the more interesting because of a conversation about bicycling I had at the Election Party. The person I was listening to had just returned from a visit to Europe, and she told a wonderful story about the friendliness toward bicycles in the area she visited. She told of not riding in a car for the whole duration of her stay. She said that car drivers customarily expressed an attitude and behavior of respect toward bicyclists. It sounded to me like car-drivers made a general point to give bicyclists the right of way.

Now, what a contrast that is to here in Olympia, where every time I get on my bicycle I feel like I have to fend for my life. And I worry about those cyclists amongst us who are less defensively minded. And I really strongly wish we had a safe environment to ride bikes around here.

After having a delicious cup of Sleeping Universe at SIZIZIS ($1 off tea on Tuesdays...) I stopped by the new City Hall in order to graph some photons (pictured). After that, la-dee-dah, I got on my bike and started riding East on 4th Ave toward home. I was on the left side of the street, and since I turn left off of 4th Avenue, I stayed in the left hand lane the whole way from Cherry Street until my turn-off. One-half block from where I turn off 4th (on Quince) I heard a loud voice behind me saying "Get in the bike lane." So I yelled back, "what am I supposed to do if I am turning left?"

Turns out the loud-voice was that of an Olympia Police Officer.

I was pissed. I mean I could understand it if was a private citizen. Someone just trying to give a guy a hard time - after all people do need ego reinforcement, and our society doesn't provide a whole lot of healthy ways for people to boost their self-esteem. But this was a cop.

So I stopped.

Description from Official White House Flickr Photo Page:
"President Barack Obama, Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sergeant James Crowley toast at the start of their meeting in the Rose Garden of the White House, July 30, 2009.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza"

I just took an interesting poll about drug policy in Washington State. The poll was produced by the ACLU. It's mostly about marijuana. Check it out; it is informative.

You Can Go to Jail for That?

Here is a link to a series of topical videos. Included are several interviews, and a conversations program with Rick Steves.

Interviews | Marijuana | It's Time for a Conversation

found at The Poor Man Institute