Phil Owen brought up an interesting point elsewhere.  All the talk of reforming police in this town, but given some of the problems fringe activists have caused, what about reforming activism?

My particular breed of activism is a bit different than that practiced by others,and I am still forming opions of the local activist community so I mainly want to sit back and listening.  Just thought this deserved it's own conversation. 

Then swimming at Brigg's. Trish went to exercise. Nick and I watched Orion in the activity pool.

Nick wore Trish's goggles and a spare suit of mine.

Now we don't know where her goggles are. She loved them so. They were my winter solstice gift. 

Afterwards, Nick and Orion shared a pizza from Brewery City.

Nick had Olives and Mushrooms on his half.  Orion had plain cheese!

 Then we left them to have our romantic evening.

Okay, everytime there is an act of "civil disobedience" or simple mean spirited rioting and the local cops use acceptable levels of non lethal force to restore public order a certain group has to whine.  Why?  Do you find all levels of authority odious?  I just don't get it.

Would you allow the mob to simply riot out of control and make Olympia into another Watts riot? 

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What would you do if while out enjoying yourself around a lot of people - suddenly everything goes to hell in a handbasket?

Crowds that turn into mobs, especially when fueled by alcohol, can quickly become ugly and unsafe. We live in troubled times and I think it is very wise for us to educate each other about safety.

Something to be mindful of during a riot is to not blindly follow whoever in the crowd yells the loudest. At best the person might not be thinking clearly, at worst they might purposefully want the adrenaline rush of stirring shit up.

Remain calm. Riots bring intense emotions boiling to the surface, but if you want to survive one you'd be better off keeping yours in check. Your adrenaline and survival instincts will kick in, but try to think rationally and pursue safety methodically.

Stay on the sidelines. If you're caught up in a riot, don't take sides. Try to look as inconspicuous as possible, and slowly and carefully move to the outside of the mob.

The more time you spend in the midst of a riot, the greater your chance of being injured or killed. That said, in most circumstances it's better to move out of a riot slowly. If you run, you will draw attention to yourself, so it's usually best to walk. It can also be dangerous to move against a crowd, so go with the flow until you are able to escape into a doorway or up a side street or alley. It may also be advantageous to stay with the crowd until you are certain you can safely escape because it will help you remain inconspicuous and improve your odds of survival if shots are fired.

More ideas from How to Survive a Riot

also helpful: How to avoid being shot by a Police Officer

Given all the thought going into policing this week, I thought this one deserves its own post. The city council is looking at its Police Auditor program this week. To that end, they got a report.

Here's a summary:

• 14 total complaints, with 28 seperate allegations in 2007, compared to 28 compaints in 2006 with 50 allegations. In 2005 12 complaints, 27 allegations.
• 3 complaints of racial profilling, none sustained.
• 4 excessive force complaints, none involving Taser, OC spray, batons or firearms. Most common included handcuffs. None sustained.
• One unlawful arrest, which was unfounded.
• The only sustained complaint was one count of "Improper Driving."

Here's some background information on the police auditor program.

Here's the full report, scroll down for the full counts:

Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

1. Craig Ottaveli wants to change the Rules of Procedure, the ominously named rules by which the Olympia City Council lives by. I'm assuming from the minutes of the council retreat that the one he really wants to change is the "No Surprises" rule. That rule means that a councilmember has to give fellow members 48 hours warning before broaching a new topic.

An infringement on conversation with the public? A violation of the open meetings act? I don't know, but the General Government committee will take it up on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

2. The city is also considering spending $50k on more thought about tall buildings near water. From the staff report:

On January 15, 2008, the City Council reviewed preliminary applications for Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals and, with the exception of this item, approved the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Amendment docket. The Council referred this item to the Land Use and Environment Committee so that the staff request for additional resources could be discussed.

...

If you were to take five days off in late March, where would you fly? I'd probably take my neglected camera with me, so consider that during your deliberations. The winning recommendation gets a prize. I am indifferent to domestc or international destinations.