I'm closing down my Oly public Bloglines project. I've enjoyed the time I've spent following local bloggers but I'm just not able to tend to it anymore.

Plus wonderful Bloglines is now not so wonderful - feeds don't always update correctly and many people are switching over to Google Reader.

Links to local bloggers can be found on the blog roll here on OlyBlog and often in our posts. Emmett on his own blog Olympia Time keeps a good watch on the local blogging scene too.

I found a very strange news article in the Sept. 19, 1940 Montesano Vidette and felt it was OlyBlogworthy. Enjoy:

STALIN PHOTO OFFERED ROAST TURKEY

WEIRD CEREMONY REPORTED IN COURT

An account of a weird ceremonial, said to have been staged by Grays Harbor communists in Cosmopolis to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Josef Stalin, was given in superior court here last Friday, during the course of a hearing on the application of Vilho Myllymaki Ketola, Aberdeen longshoreman, for citizenship papers.

Testifying before Superior Judge J.M. Phillips, Capt. Bob Schmidt of the Aberdeen police said he had been told Ketola had attended a Stalin birthday dinner at which a photograph of the Russian dictator was the center piece. During the dinner, roast turkey was proferred to the photograph, Schmidt said he was told.

Ketola denied he attended such a dinner. While admitting he had sold subscriptions for two Finnish language newspapers said to have been communistic, he declared he had not read them and did not know their contents. He was also reported to have said he was going to be "a good boy" until he had obtained his citizenship papers.

Other evidence was given to the effect that he was a good worker and had been in no trouble since he came to the United States from Finland in 1907. He has lived on Grays Harbor since 1910.

Judge Phillips deferred action on Ketola's case until January.

While walking along State street past Les Schwab this afternoon I heard one of the workers singing a Johnny Cash song - Ring of Fire.

I fell in to a burning ring of fire
I went down,down,down
and the flames went higher.
And it burns,burns,burns
the ring of fire
the ring of fire.

I love this town.

Following up on Tezzer's post, I called the Thurston County Auditor's Office. No Sylvia is employed at the Auditor's Office and the Outreach position is not currently filled.

The circumstances surrounding verification requests may differ from voter to voter. Some may not have filled out their registrations properly, others may have changed addresses, while others may be involved in a reported "error." I'm waiting to get confirmation of whether an error has occurred or not.

Regardless, the consequence of sending verification requests the day that ballots are mailed out is that some legally and properly registered voters will not receive ballots. This is indeed a purge of voter rolls, whether malicious or not doesn't really matter.

Twelve candidates in a general election race is way too many to make an educated choice, especially in a low profile race like district court judge. That is, unless someone passes along some first hand perspective to you.

The guys over at the local dad's rights blogsosphere apparently (can't really tell because they took the post down) like Bill Gilbert:

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.

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.

Yodelling Lama (an actual member of the legal community) likes Sam Meyer:

Because I’ve met Sam, and I know a lot of other lawyers and court-certified interpreters and the like who have met Sam, and we all seem to agree he’d be a fantastic choice. Fair. Consistent. Knowledgeable.

Rolandovich over at Oly Ost also says Meyer:

I-985 is the most backwards approach to traffic control I've seen on a Washington state ballot. This initiative would open car pool lanes to all drivers discouraging car pooling and bus riding. It would also steal funds from local cities that have red light cameras and forbid the use of transportation funds for bike lanes, transit, and trails.

This initiative is from the same joker that brought us the $30 car tabs that cut funds in half for intercity transit. What is wrong with encouraging public transportation through efficient service and lower rates. What is wrong with encouraging biking and walking with a quality and safe infrastructure. Doesn't Tim Eyman appreciate that when people find alternatives car traffic is reduced.

The best way to avoid being stuck in traffic is to avoid driving. Ride the bus, bicycle or walk when you can and you won't have to sit behind the wheel of a car stacked up behind hundreds of other vehicles. These options need to be encouraged and improved upon if we are to reduce the traffic on our highways as well as conserve energy.

I just got off the phone with Sylvia, the new outreach co-ordinator for the Thurston County auditor's office. What is happening with student registrations is not some attempt by right-wing wackos. The same process occurs every election cycle. Nothing new here.

When someone leaves home to go to college (TESC, SPSCC, St.Martin) they have to send in new address form so that mail-in ballots can be sent to the correct address. The auditor's office folks sends out voter ID cards prior to the mailing of ballots. If your ID card comes back, they will not mail a ballot to that address; to protect ballots being used by other than the legitimate person.

Sylvia also said that students often don't fill the registration form out correctly, or leave out vital information. This also causes the person to be put on an inactive-voter list.

So, if you are a student and have not received a ballot, call the Thurston County auditor's office.

Evergreen - SEM II E1107

Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and Muslim Student Association at University of Washington (MSU-UW) speak on how their communities are fighting anti-Muslim propaganda on their campuses and in their communities. Join the conversation and discuss our communities response to Islamophobia.

For more information contact sesame@evergreen.edu , 360-867-6724 or visit http://sesame-evergreen.blogspot.com