There are gobs of funny kitten pics online, often with humorous captions added to them.  I love cats, just have no room for them on the boat.  If you ever want to see this big dude packin' heat get all soft and squishy hand me a cat or kitten.  :-)

So here is my pic to start off the thread...

Ken Balsley, who I'm pretty sure used to write for the Lacey weekly newspaper when there was a weekly Lacey newspaper, reflects on the recent happenings at the Olympian:

Layoffs at The Olympian means that effective control of the local newspaper has been transfered to Tacoma and will operate out of the The (Tacoma) News Tribune offices.

Not only have 17 Olympian staffers been layed off but several others have been transfered to Tacoma where they will operate out of that sister publication.  Those transfered from Olympia to Tacoma include the Advertising Manager and the Classified Advertising Manager, thus moving those operations out of town.

...

Since its acqusition of those newspapers in April 06, the company has been consolidating its operations.  A significant piece of the action is controlled by The (Tacoma) News Tribune which staffers at The Olympian refer to as “the mother ship."

Read the entire post, its pretty good.

Since Ken doesn't enable comments of at his blog, I'll leave them open here. 

Some 10 months after I made a down payment and paid the title prep fees, I have now received a purchase contract from Alaska for 4.7 acres of land.  I have to notarize it and send it back.  My monthy payments are a whopping $54 per month for the next 5 years if I drag it out that long.  I owe about $2660. 

Now I can seriously start plotting some things.   

So, yeah, on the Trader Joe's thread (what a silly name, it that like "Panama Jack"?), there was talk of dumpster diving, and other than reminding me of a funny episode of Ren & Stimpy, I had no recent connection (having spent alot of time d"-diving"  as a bored youth growing up in the PacNW and not so much now that I'm older)...until last week!

I dunno, but cruising on the bicycle around I found all kinds of stuff (esp. at this pet store), and actually had to call a buddy with a truck so we could give stuff away...

...I was kinda blow away at what was in the dump-

-anybody have any "good scores" while dumpster diving lately?

Benjamin Franklin Hill was something of an invisible candidate in 1924. However, he did help prevent the Democratic Party from becoming yet again a third place loser in the gubernatorial race. Had he not died such an untimely death at age 50 in 1929, it is probable he would've become a major player in Washington State politics after the Democratic sweep of 1932. As it is, if he is ever mentioned in history books at all he is usually assigned the tag of being the "token opposition."

Ben Hill was born Apr. 21, 1879, the son of Ben and Sarah Jane (Cross) Hill. Sources conflict on his birthplace. According to his obituary he was born in Marysville, Iowa, "Five months later he moved with his parents, by wagon train, to Kansas where he spent his youth and attended the state university." His death certificate states he was born in Wellington, Kansas, about 30 miles from Wichita.

Ben came West in 1909, first settling in Pendleton, Oregon for a couple years. On Mar. 3, 1911 he moved across the border to Walla Walla and engaged in the undertaking business. He quickly became politically active and was elected as a Democrat to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1912 and in 1914. In the 1913 Session, the House comprised of 48 Republicans, 30 Progressives, 1 Socialist, and only 18 Democrats. The 1915 Session had 78 Republicans, 6 Progressives, and 13 Democrats. Governor Lister, a lonely statewide elected Democrat, counted on Hill as one of his few legislative supporters. While in office, Ben developed a special interest in improving Washington's highways.

The Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee is pleased to announce the implementation of a waiver program at the Evergreen State College, collaboratively designed by the ISSC and a college workgroup. We have been working since October to make tuition waivers available to students from Iraq whose educations have been disrupted. This tuition award will help to make an education available to Iraqi students and many others. The following description is also available at the Evergreen Financial Aid site.

Displaced Student Tuition Waivers

The Displaced Student Tuition Waiver is a fund offered to international and domestic students attending The Evergreen State College whose educations have been interrupted by military conflict or natural disaster.

• Displaced Student Waivers are contingent on the availability of funds.
• Waivers are renewable up to four academic years.
• Recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving the waiver.
• Financial need may be considered.

Many thanks to all of our supporters throughout this process. We are continuing to raise money to cover all non-tuition costs for a student from Iraq to attend Evergreen in the fall. Please consider attending "A Night in Solidarity," a dinner on June 27th to benefit the ISSC's fundraising efforts. The dinner will be prepared by Miranda Crone, former executive chef of the Dockside Bistro and Swing! Wine Bar. Follow the link for more information and RSVP instructions- seating is limited!  This event has been canceled.

Two crows dancing to the cooing of a dove,
        dark wings gleaming in the light—
In circles they spin, silent and sleek,
        honoring all things divine.

I look to the heavens, past wind, trees and clouds,
        and know you’ve found what we seek—
The white light beyond our last view of life
        and freedom from pain in sweet peace.

As the sun sinks below skies blue as your eyes,
        and spring yields to summer again—
I feel the tears flow, unbidden and slow,
        from wellsprings of sorrow unsaid.

AB Christie 6/21/08

Seems like it has been a while since the hyperlocalize or you get dumped rule was put in effect.  I am curious what that change has done to the number of threads posted, the number of comments, the number of commenters, the number of users and guests. 

Is it an easy thing to run those kind of numbers and give comparison numbers for the same calendar month the year before the change? 

I believe it has reduced my time and posting here, but maybe that's just me.   

photo by enpen