We found this extremely adorable creature climbing around our dining room window. =)

But __________ said he defends Marlette's "right to ridicule anyone."

"This is an honored American tradition," the editor said. "Granted, good comedy like his often depends on exaggerations. But he does have some fair basis for satire in this case. While the vast majority of Muslims are a peaceful people and preach a peaceful religion, there are some who have subverted the message of the prophet Muhammad for their own violent purposes.

"So to anyone who was offended by Doug's cartoon, I'm sorry," _________ wrote. "But I do not apologize for his right to make a point, even if it makes some people mad."

Correctly fill in the name of the person and win a cup of coffee at Artisan's, compliments of yours truly.

The further away I am from something, usually I have trouble seeing it.

As I've viewed our Daily Newspaper from afar for a week or so, I've noticed a theme. It seems like most "major" stories have the ability to pit political sides against each other, religious sides against each other or sexual sides against each other. And to think I was as caught up in that.....

Wow! I think of myself as a pretty worldly guy with a couple of brain cells still left to jingle around up there, but I was buying it hook, line and sinker.

Yesterday, instead of finding myself fending off attacks for supporting the rights of a lesbian woman to spend the last living moments with her partner, I found myself almost physically ill at reading the posts that spewed venom at this poor individual. Now a couple of the absolutely off-the-wall-so-blatant-you-can't-avoid-it posters were canned, but for the most part, the thread was a free for all. Of course, those that understood this woman's pain were unmercifully attacked also.

I've admitted that I worked in newspapers for about 20 years. I believe in freedom of speech and the press, and yet, until yesterday, I've never been so ashamed of said media. Maybe I'm getting soft, but I still believe in dignity, although I've fallen away from my own at times.

Almost 20 years ago, I came to grips with something that I had never realized and it took me to remove myself from the picture and to look at myself through others eyes, to recognize my faults and failures.

As I watched yesterday, I know that I have been part of the problem.

photo by Chaney

photo by Chaney

photo by Chaney

photo by Chaney

photo by Chaney

photo by Chaney

agathafrye lists 25 things she'd like to say to others including:

3. Please don't chew gum loudly, or touch it, or clamp it between your teeth when talking to me. It's foul.

Go forth and tell them what you think.

Background here and here.

Jim Lazar, a local economist, wrote the state treasurer about our city's idea to use 63-20 funding to fund our city hall:

Hi, Mike.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, the Olympia City Council has a study session on the proposed financing for City Hall.  The City Staff is recommending a 63-20 strategy.

I found it interesting that the City Staff provided the City Council with the entirety of the 3-page letter rebutting the study your office published, but only a link to the Treasurer website to access the underlying study itself.

...

I think it would be VERY interesting if the State Treasurer showed up at the meeting, prepared to respond to any questions that the City Council has about the report.

I did a simple spreadsheet, showing how the City could spend about 7% more using conventional financing than a 63-20, due to the higher issuance costs (3% vs. 1%), higher interest rates (30 basis point premium), and higher management costs (1% per year) of a 63-20.   The same annual cost to the City that would support a $38 million construction cost using 63-20 financing would support $40.5 million if financed through City LTGO bonds.  A copy of this is attached.

It would seem to me that the burden would be on the advocates of 63-20 funding to show how evading public contracting laws is likely to produce an 7% cost savings.

...

Turns out the State Treasurer can't come tonight, but he does write back: