Two links about us still talking past each other

Washington or Oregon are the most politically polarized states.

And, red and blue talk past each other on sex:

Social liberals in the country's "blue states" tend to support sex education and are not particularly troubled by the idea that many teen-agers have sex before marriage, but would regard a teen-age daughter's pregnancy as devastating news. And the social conservatives in "red states" generally advocate abstinence-only education and denounce sex before marriage, but are relatively unruffled if a teen-ager becomes pregnant, as long as she doesn't choose to have an abortion.

No matter what happens next week, the people that disagree with you will still exist, will still be engaged, and will try to make their political world happen.

Shoe, meet other foot (part 2)

Olyforum notices the original post, and responds:

Here, all opinions are welcome, despite whether you agree or not and are never shut down. The ONE thread that did get shut but was never deleted because the poster verbally abused others. It wasn't just MY decision, it was put to a collective vote and ultimately, the final decision to lock the thread down and leave it that way wasn't even mine, it was somebody elses. (I love getting all the credit for their decisions though!) Another reason that thread was locked down was because we actually have real advertisers here and I didn't want the locked down thread reflecting on their businesses.

If Emmett wants to make an example of something, he should think it through and know all the facts before he goes off and ruins his own credability. I'll pray for him at church this morning.

Say, think & write what you want, in the end, I know the truth and that's all that matters to me!

M'eh, I knew there was a reason I didn't put it up over there in the first place:

I read it. I thought it was rude, and posting it on a blog was mean.

The discussion on moderation over at Olyforums continues here:

I'm doing what I can. If I take stuff down I get yelled at. If I don't take stuff down I get yelled at. If I say I'm trying to keep things flowing, I get yelled at.

Let's talk because I'm getting pissed.

Re: Sonics fans can turn south

NEVER!

Its bad enough that the Olympian carries the Jailblazers in their daily game calendar now.


If all I cared about was the geographic proximity of a major league sports team when there wasn't one in that league nearer, I'd be a Canucks fan too. And, why support a league that would take away the Sonics in the first place?

Olympia is a city, a community, not a metonymic device

Randy Neatherlin's new newspaper insert:

Randy says that Olympia is to blame. Well, not literally "Olympia," as in the city I live in, but rather the place as it represents some other out there for citizens in the 35th LD.

Yes, I understand the point of metonymy: the press is not literally a printing press, but the news media in general.

But, in the case of using smaller city state capitols to signify "state government" is wrong. It lets voters off the hook for the decisions they make, who they decide to sent to Olympia during the legislative session to represent them. It isn't Olympia's fault, its your fault.

In this way, even the Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election is more accurate than blaming your troubles on Olympia, because it is literally urban King County voters trumping rural conservative voters.

KUOW's weekday will cover this topic tomorrow:

The Olympia Culture

You've undoubtedly heard gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi saying that he's wants to change the culture of Olympia. What is that culture? Does it need changing? If there is corruption, what kind? We take a look at the culture of our state capitol. What is true? What isn't?

There's a problem in the way that we talk about state government, because its not the culture of Olympia that's the problem, its the culture every legislative district that elects representatives to the state legislature.

Happiest rss of the month: Karen F is back on the reading list

A great local blog that I failed to read for the last year or so because my blog reading habits revolved around google reader.

But, for some reason I checked over there tonight, and guess what: Flummel, Flummer, Flummo is now with rss.

Where's my "I'm Cindy the beer heiress" sign?

They must have someone watching this thing. h/t: B&P

Thurston County ballot drop off sites (save that stamp)

As provided by the state Dems:


View Larger Map

Dino Rossi Corporate Predators Running Loose Unchecked

By artistdogboy

Shoe, meet other foot (on being a moderator)

I was a lazy comment moderator when I had the power at Olyblog, but I sure did respect those who did wade into the fray to try to keep things civil. And, I rolled my eyes at the folks who claimed bias on the part of the moderators (imperfect as they were).

JstPlnOnry (just plain onry) was one of those who chafed at moderation:

I just figure I'm an adult, no matter where you are, you're going to run into somebody who says it like it is whether it's a heated comment or moment or not! I can choose to engage or choose to walk away! Here, I can choose to engage or choose not to respond!

I guess because I am an adult who knows how to make wise choices, deleting posts and banning people from commenting really saddens me. They have a right to their opinion just as much as I have a right to mine! I'm not always going to like their opinions but it doesn't mean I have to silence them over it. And I certainly wouldn't like being silenced for my opinions! (Which is why I call Aaron Mason out for his stupid ban button and criteria so much!)

A handful of the folks who didn't like the moderation policies at Olyblog went off and started their own effort. Hurray for them (though I still hate not having rss feeds over there), but it looks like JstPlnOnry is learning that life is hard as the moderator, even if Olyforums has a more wide open set of rules:

In my defense, and I stand by my decision, I did not "prevent" you from posting. I prevented you from verbally abusing & belittling other posters here. Your original post is still up, but your ability to continue to post your anger at those who didn't respond to you has been shut down.

If somebody would like to respond to you, they are more than welcome to PM you. Had you not attacked non-responders the way you did, the ability to comment would still be available.

Shorter conblogs on Reichert/Burner

Eric Earling: Reichert is the candidate of old media.

Mark Gardner: Burner is the candidate of new media.

And, all from the same editorial.

Bill Gilbert is the "real" Republican choice for District Court Judge

So little actual information out there on the crowded district court judge race, so I'm passing this along (even though the original blog that posted it decided to take it down).

If you're a Republican in Thurston County, according to the anonymous person who wrote this, you're vote should go to Gilbert:

Regarding Greg Rosen and Bill Gilbert

1. Bill Gilbert knows the County's District and Superior courts well as his experience as a deputy prosecutor here and a defense lawyer give him the required knowledge and working of the District Court. He knows what works well and what doesn't. He wants to make a difference and that's why he's stepping up.

2. Bill Gilbert is endorsed by many crucial people at the Attorney General's office, i.e. those on the 7th floor where McKenna's office is located. These are the people whom McKenna hired. However, there are three strikes against Rosen I'd like you to know:

a. Greg Rosen was hired by Gregoire.

b. He is supported by maybe a couple other career attorneys at the AG office, who are not known to have Republican type of commitment to the Constitution.

c. Greg Rosen is also one of the four endorsed by the Democratic Party. I would not trust his judicial philosophy.
Judicial Race should not be a Popularity Contest (A letter to the editor from a fellow republican)

The County’s District Court Judicial race seems to have degenerated into a popularity contest like electing other politicians. A massive endorsement list does not reflect the quality of a judicial candidate and should NOT be the criteria for voters’ decision. In fact, attorney is a profession which ally themselves more together than any other professions. When was the last time you hear a lawyer testifying against another for legal malpractice? Endorsements from other big legal names actually make me more suspicious of ‘collusion’ within the legal community.

Instead, I urge voters to cast your vote based on the candidate’s ability to make sound judicial judgments (jurisprudence), which is directly related to a candidate’s length of time as an attorney and variety of experience in various areas in the legal field.

A few big names in this race have relatively short experience as attorneys. Sam Meyer, who was endorsed by The Olympian and other big names in the field, has been an attorney for only 13 years. Likewise, Jodi Erickson-Muldrew has 13 years & Laura Murphy has only 8 years.

Bill Gilbert has over 20 years’ legal experience with variety as deputy prosecutors in two counties, pro tem judge in various capacities, and a business owner in private practice. His variety of experience at various levels and capacities in Thurston County courts lend him the most relevant insight into what voters deserve at the District Court.
http://www.billgilbertforjudge.com/

Bill gets my vote.

Why don't they just start blogs? (student free speech)

This story is about the harrowing tale of student journalists in Pierce County bumping heads with school administrators over what to publish in the school paper.

I sort of had the same experience at my high school, but with a literary magazine, and not a newspaper. Instead of working in the system, I got together with my friends and with $20 and 90s home computer put together a 8 page literary magazine that we distributed around school for the better part of a year.

Today, I would have put up a Ning social network to allow any student to put up stories. I would email out links to everyone I know with an email address, and republish on facebook and myspace. I'd also pass out photocopies of articles for anyone who wants one.

By continuing to work through a school district funded publication, we're teaching student journalists the exact wrong lesson for the media environment today. You don't need someone else to let you or to pay you to be a reporter. You should just be one.

Ann Rule and Archie Binns

She was his student at UW:

Quick Note To Kathy W.

I remember your grandfather, Archie Binns, very well, indeed. He was one of my professors in Novel Writing at the University of Washington. He was a very interesting man who shared many traits with other writers who taught at the U. in those days: Dylan Thomas, Theodore Roethke, Richard Eberhart. His personal life was very dramatic and exciting, too. We were all in awe of him because he was a PUBLISHED AUTHOR!

I would write to you in private, but I have no way of knowing anyone's email address when they post on my weblog.

Ann

Not enough of me blogging for you?

Subscribe to my link blog, which I'm trying to use more often and that I just learned tonight you can view and subscribe to.

Anyone know what's going on up at Cascadia near Orting

Inspired by this.

Cascadia is a mega-planned development near Orting, that as far as I can tell, has hit a big road bump. I haven't been able to find anything newsy on whether construction on the project has halted or not, but evidence is mounting.

Their news page has been silent since April and totally dead since July.

As far as I can tell, the three builders (Bennett, Centex, and Shea) that have bought into the project (one for $12 million) aren't selling homes there.

Has the largest planned community in Washington fallen to the axe of the housing bubble?

Son of Roland, what say you?

Either way, I'm up there every so often for work, so I'm thinking of driving by just to take a look.

Orca Books, the place to buy books online (who knew?)

Aside from spending bookstore gift cards, I've found the best new way for me to buy books.

From now on, I'll fill out the order form from Orca and exchange emails with the nice staff down there and pick up my book in a few days.

The process was amazingly like getting a book from the library, minus actually having to pay for the book at pick-up and a couple of emails.

Now that I think of it, the emails (and one phone call) were actually a very pleasant addition to the process. Made ordering a book a human process, rather than pulling out my credit card and punching in the numbers. I felt a lot better spending the money waiting until the book was available downtown.

I'm not too familiar with the plight of independent book stores against the giant book sellers, but I'm sure there have been some discussions on how to use the web to fight against amazon.com, B&N and Borders. While efforts like Booksense and Indiebound are commendable, it turns out (at least in my case) the best thing to do is to make it simple and pleasant to order a book for pickup.

Have nice and responsive staff and an email form that works. By making interacting with customers online a priority, Orca has secured me (again) as a loyal customer.

Fact checking Ken Balsley on "Chris" Gregoire

Ken this morning:

When did Christine Gregoire become Chris Gregoire? When her political handlers decided she needed to become more friendly and approachable. In her first run for governor she ran as Christine Gregoire, in an effort to appear professional and in charge. This time around, she wants to be seen as just one of the girls.

This is a nice little myth that the governor has tried to repackage herself as a kinder, gentler version of herself. Convenient for a subset of folks that think a strong female leader should be "kinder and gentler."

Poor Ken though, these internets sure are tricky for him, because he's 100 percent wrong (from Internet Archive circa September 2004):

Chris Gregoire was raised in Auburn by her mom, who made a living as a short-order cook. She worked her way through college with a job at a print shop and earned a teaching certificate before attending law school. Chris shares our views and values. She'll lead Washington in the right direction.

I guess in 2004 she wasn't interested in packaging herself as "professional and in charge."