Olympia Time

• Rhenda Strub's response to people thinking she's a big meany

  Via email, her response to a constituent who asked her about the incident:
  
  I appreciate your concern. There is much more to the exchange between Mr. Segal and myself than is apparent to the public. I have a history with him. He does not like me and I [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 3:33pm EST
  

• Lets not talk back to people, so they can feel brave enough to talk to Rhenda Strub

  Janine Gates' thoughts about how Olympia city councilmember Rhenda Strub can be a meany sometimes are posted up at Olyblog early this moring. Here's the important part, I'd say read the whole thing too:
  
  ...I feel compelled to comment on Councilmember Strub’s inappropriate tirade against a Mr. Steve Segall [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 8:16am EST
  

• How to download Olympia city council videos

  Spurred on by a report of some fun stuff at the city council meeting last week (turned out to be a yawner, but that's for later), I went to the city website looking to download the video. There's actually a feed for a podcast, but content hasn't been put' [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 8:41am EST
  

• Here comes Olympia Power & Light

  Which is a pretty cool name for a newspaper, especially one that strives to "bridge the gap between big media coverage and blogs." Which you will do how exactly, Matt?
  
  Well, here are some friendly ideas:
  
  1. Be like the Portland Sentinel. Put your content online [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:26pm EST
  

• Is running a primary opponent against Baird (or any other Dem who voted against health care) a bad idea?

  In the last week or so, I've heard some amazement about Rep. Brian Baird's vote against the health care package in the house. This is amazingly similar to the shock that local Dems felt over two years ago when Baird announced he was going to support a Republican plan in' [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:03pm EST
  

• Jim Anderson live blogging an education forum

  This quote from Jim's live blog gives you a great view of the sort of legislators we have locally. See if you can find the coastal caucus Dem, the suburban Dem, the rural Republican and the leadership Dem.
  
  From the 5/17 blog:
  
  Kathy Haigh: "I think it's'" [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:56pm EST
  

• Why should Olympia support the Economic Development Council?

  A little while ago, following some bad press that the Economic Development Council was behind on writing a big plan, I wondered whether the EDC should broaden its view to include representatives beyond elected officials and business owners.
  
  I still think that, but I'm also wondering this morning,' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:18am EST
  

• Lacey election results: I don't care who started it, you're both in trouble!

  My coworker recently on Facebook:
  My new thing is I will not pick "winners..." in "She hit me - he threw something at me" fights. "Everybody loses!" No T.V. (which they already have two days of that a week) Tuesday EITHER!!The city of Lacey and the Lacey Fire District [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:24am EST
  

• Bullies on being bullied ( Roy and Valerie Hartwell on the west side of Olympia)

  So, were Roy and Valerie Hartwell able to get into the private, no mean people who disagree with us allowed, celebration for R-71 going down in a ball of flames?
  
  It's one thing to try to make a run around state disclosure laws and act extra careful' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 7:58am EST
  

• Report: anti-71 protesters bully on the westside

  We were on our way to dinner tonight, and thought it was strange that dozens of "No on R 71" folks were out in force on the westside of Olympia (a pretty liberal part of even Olympia). But, after reading this it make a lot of sense.
  
  Via facebook:
  [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 10:07pm EST
  

• whitehouse.gov and my recent government website rantings

  Just a short one today: Whitehouse.gov runs on drupa. Drupal, a free and open source CMS.
  
  co.thurston.wa.us, olympiawa.gov, trlib.org don't.' [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 1:35pm EDT
  

• Elaine's take on the ENA city council candidate forum

  For me (I dropped off my ballot this morning) this is an interesting read, but unfortunately came too late to help me make my decision.
  
  This is especially interesting for the candidates I didn't vote for. Take Tony Sermonti:
  
  Sermonti in a snazzy suit. (Note to Sermonti:' [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 12:42pm EDT
  

• If there is no surge in shipping in Puget Sound, then what "overflow" would Olympia catch?

  One of the reason's the Olympian supports Jeff Davis is his understanding that Olympia would catch some extra work from other ports:
  
  Where Davis tops Peeler, in our estimation, is his optimistic vision for the Port of Olympia – from the shipping operation to the marina, and from' [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 9:11pm EDT
  

• Push poll out there against R-71

  Literally just got a push poll against R-71 on the phone a few minutes ago from an organization called "FPIW Action" (their phone number is 888-314-9416).
  
  Here are my quickly taken notes from the poll:
  
  The opening statement was negatively couched description of the state law, that [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 9:00pm EDT
  

• In the case of Veldeer v. Rogers, it comes down to attitude

  It makes total sense that most of the people who weighed in on this question did so in private. Because in the case of the two Karens up for one seat on the city council, its all about personality.
  
  Instead of responding to the post, most people found [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 8:57pm EDT
  

• The Thurston County political campaign kiss of death

  What's the best way to lose an election in Thurston County, even if you have more resources than your opponent?
  Run over a dog during a parade? No.
  Yell at someone when you're out doorbelling? I've actually heard about this happening, and that person didn't win, but still no.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 7:41pm EDT
  

• Thurston County chamber off track (more copied forum thoughts)

  Ahem. AHHH Hem!!!
  
  Why are candidates for the Olympia City Council, appearing at a forum in sprawling Lacey at the Worthington Center sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce? Do they really expect Olympia residents to attend?
  The Thurston County Chamber still doesn’t understand that [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 10:29am EDT
  

• Sermonti's billboard and ugly politics in Olympia

  City of Olympia by Dreamjung at flickr:
  
  
  I'm technically violating the rules over at facebook by pointing this out, but someone tore down Tony Sermonti's billboard Thursday night. From what the Sermonti posted up on his account last night, the police are [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2009, 10:02am EDT
  

• Telford withdraws endorsement of Davis for Port

  Via email:
  
  I made a mistake. This is to announce that I have rescinded my endorsement of Jeff Davis for the Port of Olympia Commission.
  
  From the beginning I was uncomfortable with how independent Jeff could be as an active member of the Longshoremen's Union. [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 2:36pm EDT
  

• Ken Balsley says firemen, cops abandoned posts during an earthquake, fireman shoot back

  In this post outlining what he calls a new aristocracy (apparently making sure front line government workers don't get sick during a pandemic is not a good thing) Ken makes this seemingly off-hand reference:
  Government was unable to function because its employees had gone home - - fire' [...]
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  Posted: October 03, 2009, 10:29pm EDT
  

• The big reason why Thurston County doesn't have the website it needs

  This could have been one long post, but I think three posts (here and here as well) is better.
  
  So, the big reason for the lack of a decent (but lets not confuse that with uninformative) website is governance.
  
  Like most Washington state counties that have [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 9:07am EDT
  

• The website Seattle didn't have (and Thurston County needs)

  Additional thoughts from my post below. From Capitol Hill Seattle:But the weather wasn't really the problem. The problem was information. Seattle was hit with a situation that required systems of communication and information distribution that it did not have. The city's dying newspapers couldn't keep up and City Hall's [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:45am EDT
  

• The website Thurston County doesn't have

  Recently I was part of a group that met twice to discuss redesigning Thurston County's currently horrible website. To put it shortly, the website is a reflection of a lack of technical progress (the pages are still manually built from an html editor) and the disjointed governance of the county.[...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 9:10am EDT
  

• Good old R. Scott, still not being able read and such

  R. Scott, chair of the local loyal minor party, is mad at Karen Valenzuela and a copy editor at the Olympian because he can't read. He's mad because he thinks the commissioner's campaign used incorrect language in a fundraising notice to the Olympian.
  In the top part of' [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 9:10pm EDT
  

• Sounders vs. Colorado back in June (soccer gameday report #2)

  This summer I had a handful of equally unique soccer watching experiences. From Colorado to Bremerton, PDL, U.S. Open Cup and MLS, they made me think about soccer clubs. Like how they succeed, how they promote the sport and how they work as sporting organizations.
  The first delibertaly written report [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 8:55pm EDT
  

• Why I haven't been blogging (why I haven't been feeling it)

  For at least the last eight years or so, in various forms, I've blogged pretty regularly. There have been times I've closed old blogs, stopped blogging at other people's blogs and consolidated posts on this blog. Anyway, there have also been times I haven't blogged for awhile, but since about [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 8:07pm EDT
  

• Lacey residents don't go out at night, don't travel beyond city limits

  Ken of Lacey has a problem with a political forum being held at night in a neighboring city by a countywide organization.
  
  Much better for residents to take a long lunch to hear another forum in the middle of the day.
  
  So, let me get [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
  

• Precincts that vote low in primaries

  One of the most interesting parts of the primary election cycle in Olympia for me is the difference between the folks that vote in the primary and those that vote in the general a few months later.
  
  While I was really wrong about my original assumption about low [...]
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  Posted: August 21, 2009, 10:07am EDT
  

• Shocked! Shocked! Lewis County Republicans would never call anyone a Nazi!

  Unless it was like last year.
  
  In response to Rep. Brian Baird's unfortunate, yet seemingly accurate, "brown shirt" comment, Lewis County GOPer gets all huffy:
  The reference to Nazism and the equating of his constituents to Brown Shirts is very offensive, not only to the brave veterans' [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 7:35am EDT
  

• R. Scott, ILLITERATE

  R. Scott (birther and Thurston County Republican chair) can't read. Or, when reading, can't process information.
  
  When he reads this:
  
  Mah also urged the audience to consider the timing of his proposal and said that because of the slower economy, "property (for purchase) will never be" [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
  

• I agree with Karen Veldheer, homosexuality is not a sin

  A much better answer to the question Rob and I raised earlier:
  
  WIP: There’s been some discussion on the local blogs regarding your faith, and the possibility that it will affect your position on equal benefits for city employees with same sex domestic partners. Could you [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 12:34pm EDT
  

• Accoustic Olympia WA

  This is one of several acoustic versions (mostly guys in front of cameras, not concert footage) of Olympia, WA. There's something about them, something closer to what I think is the real meaning of the song, in these versions. Probably closer to get to that sad-to-be-in-this-shitty-life-I-had-a-good-time-in-Oly feeling without electricity.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 03, 2009, 9:59pm EDT
  

• Will Stakeline, Pat Beehler benefiting from government largess

  At least their campaigns are.
  
  It is a sad situation for conservative local candidates. They want to be against big government, but when it comes to finding places for their campaign signs in a town where hardly anyone will put one in their front yard, options are short.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 03, 2009, 9:36pm EDT
  

• Turning the corner of the isthmus (Joan's first try)

  For the candidates that are carrying a sort of isthmus vote around with them this year (Amy Tousley on the planning commission, Jeff Kingsbury and Joan Machlis), its probably important to address the vote in a way that puts them past it. Machlis makes a good effort in her piece [...]
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  Posted: July 17, 2009, 8:01am EDT
  

• Comment to usopencup.com (citizen media and the USOC)

  My thoughts to here:
  
  I would like the new website to include opportunities for fans around the country to be able to submit their own stories, game coverage, pictures and movies.
  
  This could include a "diary" system that is available through Drupal, Scoop, or a similar content [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 2:56pm EDT
  

• Pat Beehler makes the debate for the organization that already spent $1,347.50 on him

  Pat Beehler couldn't show up for the debate hosted by the non-partisan organization. But, heck, the Olympia Master Builders are hosting a forum, hells yes Beehler's showing up!
  
  
  
  Oddly, Karen Valenzuela didn't show up to the forum hosted by the organization with closeclose ties to [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 8:16pm EDT
  

• Pat Beehler fails to show up for League televised debate

  Candidate fail:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 8:08am EDT
  

• Olyblog hickup, not Fail

  From Jay Stewart, who knows a thing or two about the back-end of Olyblog (since his business hosts the online community gratis):
  
  All,
  DNS server failure forced a reload of software. Backup DNS zone file was out of date with old address. I thought I changed it back, [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 7:45am EDT
  

• Honorable mentions of what made me love the US Open Cup

  Other things I ran into after David Beckham nudged me back into soccer fandom.
  
  1. Franklin Foer. I accidently picked up his "How soccer explains the world" weeks after Beckham signed to spend some Christmas gift card money. It helped me think of soccer in a much [...]
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  Posted: July 11, 2009, 2:14pm EDT
  

• David Beckham made me love the U.S. Open Cup

  If there two opposite poles of American soccer, they are the media circus in 2007 over David Beckham (and this year's) and an early round US Open Cup game between a PDL team and a USL team, neither of whom you actually follow.
  
  But, if David Beckham had not' [...]
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  Posted: July 11, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• Does the chairman of the Thurston County Republicans think the President is foreign born?

  Or lied when his campaign supplied a copy of his birth certificate to the media?
  
  That looks like exactly what R. Scott thinks. Surprisingly, for a county organization that once prided itself with not being completely insane, they're new leader wants to advance conspiracy theories rather' [...]
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  Posted: July 11, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
  

• US Open Cup and citizen journalism

  Jason Davis at Matchfit had a great post letting out a lot of frustration about how the US Open Cup is treated by MLS, USSF and the media in general. I can't speak for MLS or USSF, but the frustration with the media (maybe not Jason's, but the frustration [...]
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  Posted: July 09, 2009, 9:07pm EDT
  

• Local government blogging issues "unresolved"

  This is way better than "resolved and you better the hell not blog." Ramsey over at the Open Local Gov't Blog:
  
  Last month I had the pleasure of teaching two classes to city officials at the Association of Washington Cities Conference in Spokane. One hot issue raised by' [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 3:03pm EDT
  

• Last (last) word from me on Veldheer, gay rights and OPC

  Ok, now I see what you mean. For OPCers, there is a strong line between church and state:
  
  Thus, it is not only important to distinguish between the institutions of church and state, but the source of each institution's guidance, and the definition of the purposes of each [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 8:17am EDT
  

• Last word on Veldheer, EBO and those Catholic bishops too

  JLW over at Olyblog has the last good word on Veldheer:
  
  When the Citizens for a Responsive Local Government were considering Karen's candidacy (by the way, she did eventually receive the CRLG's endorsement), we were aware of Karen's religious affiliation, and speculated about whether it would impact policy [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 12:47pm EDT
  

• I came here for an argument

  This one goes out to "p-man" on the original Veldheer thread:
  
  M: I came here for a good argument.
  A: No you didn't; no, you came here for an argument.
  M: An argument isn't just contradiction.
  A: It can be.
  M: No it can't. An argument is' [...]
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  Posted: July 05, 2009, 8:06pm EDT
  

• More on Veldheer and the Equal Benefits Ordinance

  I didn't go far enough and actually email Karen Veldheer about her views of the EBO, just Rob Richards did just that and got this response:
  
  I believe in the separation of Church and State, and that city ordinances must be supported by elected leaders. I support the' [...]
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  Posted: July 01, 2009, 2:59pm EDT
  

• New city council blogging (and general social web) handbook

  Walter asks: how do we lash this together, a wiki?
  
  Yes, a wiki on social web guidelines for local elected officials in Washington State. [...]
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  Posted: June 30, 2009, 9:18pm EDT
  

• One more thing about Karen Veldheer

  How weird is it that she links to her family businesses on her campaign website? [...]
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  Posted: June 29, 2009, 8:24am EDT
  

• Karen Veldheer, orthodox Presbyterian church, and domestic partner benefits

  I don't think there is a huge connection between religion and local politics or partisan politics and local politics (two lenses you could view this post through), but I think there are a few things worth discussing.
  
  Karen Veldheer has twice now sought a seat on the Olympia City' [...]
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  Posted: June 29, 2009, 7:57am EDT
  

• The secret key to why city council members are told not to blog

  I'm one of those annoying people who will always tell elected officials I run into "man, you should blog." Sometimes they shrug me off, but I've had at least two long back and forth conversations with local electeds that got down to specific reasons why they don't blog. Basically, they' [...]
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  Posted: June 27, 2009, 11:12pm EDT
  

• Best histories of Olympia, Part 2 (the ones you can read online)

  Where the Potholes Are on scribd. This is a personal history Mary Ann Bigelow, and a great one at that. The best part about this book is that it covers in personal detail the portion between about 1920 through 1960s.
  
  There are a lot of well written passages, [...]
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  Posted: June 26, 2009, 8:13pm EDT
  

• "What is up with Steve Buxbaum?"

  In a completely innocent context that question was asked of me this morning. In answering I said "seems like a good candidate on paper" (I'm supporting JK btw), but, wow.
  
  Stop being weird Steve Buxbaum (from jusbytheclown.com):
  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 26, 2009, 9:14am EDT
  

• "Olympia comes east," not good Walla Walla

  From their Union-Bulletin: Olympia comes east for tour.
  
  They might not have been able to tell, but that was actually a group of legislators not from Olympia and not Olympia itself. I wasn't there, we didn't send a delegation of our city council. [...]
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  Posted: June 25, 2009, 2:36pm EDT
  

• Olympia as "an arm pit," Olympia as a "Best City"

  You can't please everyone and generally speaking you can't please Andy at Thurston Pundits. The same week Olympia celebrates being number 6 on some national list (yawn, I'm so tired of being honored so), Andy rips out with this one:
  I avoid Olympia proper as much as I' [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 9:57pm EDT
  

• Best histories of Olympia, Part 1 (the ones I already wrote about)

  This is the first part of a series of undermined length about the best written histories of Olympia. This part deals with two books that I've already blogged, so will be really easy for me.
  
  The best, the most complete (up to the 1960s or so) is "Rogues, Buffoons'" [...]
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  Posted: June 14, 2009, 2:55pm EDT
  

• Over at Olyblog: Stonehenge in the roundabout

  Given the recent url issues at Olyblog, thought it would be a good idea to link to my stuff over there, just in case you were wondering where it was. This is a post about new art in a nearby (to me) roundabout. [...]
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  Posted: June 14, 2009, 2:43pm EDT
  

• I miss Pat Beehler's old R. Scott centric banner

  When you go to Pat Beehler's website now, you'll see this perfectly acceptable banner that not only features the colors of the American flag, but a picture of Pat himself. Totally professional.
  
  But, you know what I miss?
  
  This:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 13, 2009, 10:46pm EDT
  

• Who wants a general election challenge (from HA)

  Back in the day David Goldstein didn't like the Top Two primary, though he probably still doesn't:
  
  Supporters of the top-two primary, like Sec. of State Sam Reed, keep arguing that it offers voters more choice. Well, in the 36th LD, the district highlighted in the article, voters [...]
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  Posted: June 13, 2009, 10:15pm EDT
  

• Twittering the who voted in the Library vote last February

  Mark Messinger of up Steamboat Island way had a great series of tweets last night on who voted in the library special election last February. Very interesting results?
  
  Olympia city councilmembers Jeff Kingsbury, Joe Hyer, Rhenda Strub, and Thurston County administrator Don Krupp did not. [...]
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  Posted: June 10, 2009, 7:57am EDT
  

• Joan Machlis, you're doing it right (Mathias is the man)

  Great post from Joan, let's hope she keeps it up beyond the campaign.
  
  Not to take credit away from Joan and Karen Rogers (mentioned earlier here), but if anything Mathias said got them going in this direction, good for you man.' [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 1:55pm EDT
  

• One of my favorite local treasures: StevenL

  From the beginning of OlyBlog, he's been a constant positive force over there. Not in the least because of his ongoing "where was this" sort of local history quiz (like today's). Here is my contribution to the current discussion on lost neighborhoods and the Capital Apartments. I found [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2009, 7:44pm EDT
  

• Janine Gates journalist, non-profit president and city council candidate

  First off, I think Janine Gates if a very worthy council candidate. I happen to support one of her opponents (Jeff Kingsbury), but this post isn't meant as an attack to dissuade anyone from supporting Janine. Actually, it is a credit to Janine that she is so involved in her' [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 8:01pm EDT
  

• Steve Buxbaum will spend quality campaign time in the classroom

  On the Friday and Saturday before the August 18 primary, Steve Buxbaum is teaching a class on "doing the public's business out at Evergreen." Now, that is weird scheduling.
  
  FYI, I'm supporting Steve's opponent.' [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 2:38pm EDT
  

• Ok back to making fun of Pat Beehler

  From the Pat Beehler "I'm signing paperwork to run for county commissioner event" this morning.
  
  "I'm so excited"
  
  
  
  "I just can't hide it"
  
  
  
  "Can someone pass me a donut, so I can find a'" [...]
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  Posted: June 01, 2009, 7:34pm EDT
  

• Karen Rogers, you're doing it right

  Just in case you were wondering if I was picking on Pat Beehler for being creepy just because I don't like him, here's what he should have done. There might be a few too many items in this particular post from Karen Rogers (for Olympia City Council), but this [...]
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  Posted: June 01, 2009, 7:19pm EDT
  

• Dude. Over the top (more Pat Beehler stuff)

  I really wouldn't have pointed this out, but meh. Here goes. Here's more over the top Beehler (Jamie Bariekman's description of Beehler's kick-off event):
  
  I have been to these events before but this seemed different. There was something in the air that gave me the sense of patriotism [...]
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  Posted: May 29, 2009, 8:38pm EDT
  

• Pat Beehler, your press releases are just a bit creepy

  I thought it was just me, but I confirmed it with independent and knowledgeable sources, whoever is writing his press releases has a touch of the creepy in his pen:
  
  Thurston County Commissioner Republican candidate Pat Beehler joined a crowd of community leaders to help support the 7th [...]
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  Posted: May 29, 2009, 8:34am EDT
  

• Ken Camp at metonymic trouble maker

  I feel like the guy that Ken Camp motions to in a crowded room and says to his buddies, "Watch this, I'm going to get Emmett all riled up." Then he walks up to me, says something, and steps back and smiles as I start yelling at random people.[...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 7:56am EDT
  

• humble Pat Beehler walks on water (and nets $4k)

  Boy, the prose just paints the picture, doesn't it?
  More than 100 local Republicans arrived early Tuesday morning to trump support for Thurston County Commissioner District 3 candidate Pat Beehler’s Campaign Kickoff breakfast at the Tumwater Tyee Center.
  
  With only 10 days of planning, the high attendance exceeded' [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 7:53am EDT
  

• Rep. Brendan Williams as a metonymic traitor

  Rep. Brendan Williams (who I like in a lot of cases, but not in some) is blogging at the Seattle PI nowadays, and his new column starts out well in the metonymic sense. "What's the Matter with Washington" (not Olympia) this and "Democrats in Olympia" that.
  
  But, then' [...]
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  Posted: May 27, 2009, 7:41pm EDT
  

• Save Jane's Chickens (Home-owners' association vs. neighborhood association)

  Jane Johnson has the horror stories to beat all of local neighborhood organizations gone bad. I'm glad she shared it (treat yourself, read the entire thing):
  
  His latest complaint was that my 2 hens -- Lucy and Ethel, kept in a coop in my backyard, out of sight' [...]
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  Posted: May 20, 2009, 8:24pm EDT
  

• From my own Mariners memories, to inappropriate SI reference, to building heights in Olympia

  How many steps does it take to get from the 1995 Mariners run still etched deep inside my mind to the political battle being waged right now in Olympia over building heights? Not far enough. It is actually scary close.
  
  Step 1. One of my favorite afterglow memories of [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2009, 8:01pm EDT
  

• Meet Pat Beehler, your Republican candidate for county commissioner

  
  So, what do we know about this guy? Not a bunch.
  
  The Thurston County Republicans announced his kick-off in a few weeks, implying his has the "right hands" to run the county. Of course, winning one-third of the commission won't exactly mean' [...]
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  Posted: May 13, 2009, 12:42pm EDT
  

• Why does Olympia = Capitol Dome?

  If these candidates are any indication, Olympians are ok with being associated with the government for the entire state:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: May 12, 2009, 3:42pm EDT
  

• What I wish would change with Sounders FC (and soccer in general) media coverage around here

  I was a bit too harsh in the comment threads of the TNT just now, but generally, I think I'm spot on. Something needs to improve in soccer coverage around here. The problem generally lies with reporters that are coming to the game now that MLS has entered the' [...]
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  Posted: May 12, 2009, 10:47am EDT
  

• Here's to some hot Olympia on Olympia action

  As Olympia (in one sense) seeks to lead Olympia (in the sense I prefer).
  
  A kind, knowledgeable correspondent this afternoon reminded me that with Jeannine Roe in the mix, two people off the list of staff at the state senate Democratic caucus.
  
  I wonder why this [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 7:36pm EDT
  

• Jeannine Roe in against Joan Machlis

  Via email, from Bonnie (Jacobs?) (important parts in bold):
  
  WHO ARE CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT?
  Citizens for Responsive Local Government, CRLG, formed after the Council's isthmus rezone vote, and after various public records requests revealed what Councilmember Kingsbury and some others were doing on their laptops during Council' [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 4:07pm EDT
  

• Thurston County is Obama County (and what it means)

  
  John McCain only won 31 of the nearly 300 precincts in Thurston County.
  
  Just a few thoughts:
  
  1. The Republican ticket won just two precincts in urban northern Thurston County, one in Lacey and one in Tumwater. Those should be written off because [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 3:48pm EDT
  

• Lacey is chickensh*t if it doesn't annex

  The looming invisible city, which Ken addresses well here.
  
  Here's the money graph:
  

  Lacey City Manager Greg Cuoio told the group that the City of Lacey comprises 38,000 people in 16 square miles. The urban areas around Lacey hold 30,000 people in their 16 square miles. Cuoio' [...]

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  Posted: May 08, 2009, 3:13pm EDT
  

• Hold a special legislative session in Ellensburg

  The Other Side blog got me thinking just now.
  
  With the news that no special session will be forthcoming, this is a bit of a non-starter anyway, but what would prevent the governor from calling a special session somewhere other than Olympia?
  
  Logistics, for one. All the [...]
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  Posted: May 08, 2009, 1:02pm EDT
  

• Karen Valenzuela wins Democratic nomination for county commissioner

  The most interesting part of the nominating convention for the county commissioner position up for election next fall was that it was boring.
  
  Barring Erik Landaas running into the room saying he changed his mind, no one expected anyone to challenge Karen for the nomination. This doesn't' [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2009, 8:52pm EDT
  

• Olympia wroughting all over your stuff

  (The metonymy will not die)
  
  As I just emailed a friend, wroughting all over Austin J's front yard turned out to be a big mistake, because, guess what guys. He freaking noticed: What hath Olympia wrought?
  
  I guess its time to go over there and clean things' [...]
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  Posted: May 01, 2009, 9:37pm EDT
  

• Oh how Redmond is not like Olympia, eh Andrew?

  Because you shouldn't use the metonymy when talking about oh holy Redmond, but you sure as hell can when talking about Olympia.
  
  So, just to double check. Redmond does not equal Microsoft.
  
  Olympia does equal state government. Gotcha.
  
  And, bite me.' [...]
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  Posted: April 30, 2009, 8:59pm EDT
  

• Ken Balsley forgets his Spanish Lit

  Newsflash! from Ken of Lacey:
  Lacey Community Church voted recently to house the homeless tent encampment called Camp Coyote sometime in July or August.That's Camp Quixote, not Coyote. Of Cervantes.
  
  Seriously though, information from that particular congregation and hosting Camp Quixote will be posted here.[...]
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  Posted: April 29, 2009, 10:05pm EDT
  

• Sounders game day experience (why ECS left early)

  From GoalSeattle boards:
  
  Yesterday, why did the ECS leave the march to the match before everyone else (i.e. the rest of the fans and the band)? Aren't we all in this together? I've been hearing that the ECS has an elitist attitude but didn't really buy it until' [...]
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  Posted: April 27, 2009, 3:06pm EDT
  

• Sounders (vs. Earthquakes) gameday experience

  I took in my first game of the (MLS) Soudners (FC) this weekend, and thought before hand I should shoot some video from the phone to illustrate my thoughts on the whole gameday experience.
  
  I left Olympia at just around 2p for the 730p game, so that gave me [...]
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  Posted: April 27, 2009, 2:25pm EDT
  

• Olympia WA (Rancid) by a band that's never been

  Well, I'm just guessing that the three fellas of Fitchburg Punx have never been to Olympia. But their straight-through but not so bad rendition of Olympia, WA lacks that sort of loneliness and homesickness that really makes this song worth it.
  
  
  
  Like I said, not bad,' [...]
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  Posted: April 27, 2009, 8:52am EDT
  

• What is not metonymy of Olympia

  What, expecting only one blog post tonight about my crazy pet peave? Sorry, I have time on my hands and links to link to.
  
  I thought I'd point out the use of Olympia in regards to state government that is not metonymy. Basically, the rule is you're safe if [...]
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  Posted: April 27, 2009, 9:18pm EDT
  

• Worst metonymizer of Olympia digest

  Rich Roesler was top of the table, many points clear as they say in the soccer world in the race for worst metonymizer of Olympia. Even Rich's blog name and url were metonymy. But, in the last few days, Steven Gardener of the Bremerton Sun's Kitsap Caucus blog has [...]
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  Posted: April 27, 2009, 9:10pm EDT
  

• I always knew the "Seattle chill" was bull shit

  Depending on how you want to view it, Eric at Sightline's piece about the "Northwest Personality" will either reaffirm your belief in the Seattle Chill or convince you still it doesn't exist.
  
  From Eric:
  
  Northwest states are among the most open and least neurotic places you can [...]
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  Posted: April 24, 2009, 2:21pm EDT
  

• High time for metonymy (can't wait for Sunday baby)

  When the legislature folds up the tents on Sunday, I have hope my terror will end. But, as the engine of democracy begins its high pitch squeal towards sine die, the metonymy is getting way out of hand.
  
  1. #olympia misuse on twitter continues.
  
  2. From [...]
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  Posted: April 24, 2009, 10:32am EDT
  

• On shorelines of statewide significance (which one of these is not like the other)

  Which one of these just isn't the same? Five actual shorelines of statewide significance and one proposed from here (pdf).
  
  Birch Bay:
  
  
  View Larger Map
  
  Nisqually:
  
  
  View Larger Map
  
  
  Skagit Bay:
  
  
  View Larger Map
  
  Hood' [...]
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  Posted: April 21, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
  

• Driving the local in civic dialogue

  Walter Neary, Lakewood's blogging city councilman, conducted an experiment via twitter and facebook and got no comments from the locals:
  
  The news was that the city of Lakewood's collection of traffic fines is up 40 percent for the first three months of 2009 compared with the first three [...]
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  Posted: April 21, 2009, 8:44am EDT
  

• Rediscovering Archie Binns

  Dan in Bremerton:
  
  I was in 8th grade and was becoming interested in sailing. This book told a story of six teenagers from two families on a voyage around the San Juan Islands in a thirty two foot ketch. Even though the plot is a bit corny, the [...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 1:22pm EDT
  

• Keeping the #olympia twitter hashtag local, not metonymic

  The metonymy of Olympia in twitter terms: As Mathias would say, in twitter #olympia means something that actually is about Olympia, not state government in general (as used here, ironically by a locally focused twitter feed). [...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Metonymy of SonraK's Lympians

  As much as I assume Sondra knows her geography, I hope someone from Federal Way wouldn't be considered a Lympian.' [...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 8:43am EDT
  

• Better to Brendan Williams than it is to rust

  I'm not sure what to think about my own Rep. Williams living out his second to last year in the legislature by leaving everything he has on the field.
  
  Calling out his own leadership in the Seattle Times and... well.. other stuff. You should read the guys' [...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 10:31pm EDT
  

• Shallow freedom blogging (stopping the next invisible city)

  The Trent at EFF makes the development moratoriums we've been going through around here sound like a local government government sitting on top of any sort of progress across the entire county.
  
  Of course, the actual truth is a bit more complicated than that.[...]
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  Posted: April 20, 2009, 10:04pm EDT
  

• Jim Hightower, Pierce County Dems and IRV

  Should be interesting to see if the topic comes up between the Texan who likes the voting system and the local political organization which isn't exactly a fan when they break bread together.' [...]
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  Posted: April 17, 2009, 10:06am EDT