How well do you know Olympia? Here's the game: Each Saturday I post a picture from somewhere around Olympia and people try to figure out its location. The first person who gets it correct gets a Creative Commons Winner photo. If that doesn't get you excited then the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

I was at The Pride Parade shooting some material about PFLAG. That isn't done; but this short segment of video I shot that day features Hottie Dogs and Pussy Cats for Pride.

Sadly, when I got home I found out that comedian George Carlin died that day. In relation, when I was 14 I played the album "Toledo Window Box" on my school bus and that was fine with the powers that be until the track "Gay Lib" came on. At this point the angry bus driver, an ex-cop, felt he had to put a stop to the dangerous pro-gay language emanating from the speakers. The album was old at the time, recorded in 1974, now older still, yet his work continues to hold up remarkably well.

photo by enpen

Since we're getting all community oriented with our senses (see the earlier "What's That Smell" post), does anyone know what that sound is? I mean, that sound that is resonating from somewhere downtown and is loud enough to be heard all over the lower Westside, if not beyond.

It sounds like one of those flexible tubes you can swing over your head, that make 3 tones or so, changing with the speed it's swung at. Don't know the name of those instruments, but I hope you know what I mean.

I've heard this sound on and off for a few weeks, in various locations on the Westside and on the west side of downtown. Anyone know what it is?

Our neighbors to the WAY south, and by that I mean Ashland Oregon, may have a somewhat 'blue' was to attract more people downtown. From the Mail tribune: Ashland city ordinances allow nudity anywhere in town, but genitalia must be covered in city parks and the downtown commercial district.

Yea, yea, no local content. Just thought I'd share. 

OK, so we are off into the wilderness to find a spot on the river for some relaxation...

...E found a spot on the bike trail (due East of Lake Offutt) that is right on the Deschutes, so if it rocks I'll be sure not to tell anyone ;-)

...OK, well here is E's route

Have a nice day OlyBlog~

(on days like this I wish OlyBlog was solar-powered...maybe we can talk Zhonka into a fun DC/solar project, or at least get some DC/solar mesh nodes up around downtown soon?)

I thought I'd try my hand at fooling the locals, although I think this one is easy, let's see how many of you get it right away.

photo by enpen

After an interesting conversation with another business owner this afternoon, (who doesn't share my view on the development of downtown) I had a thought...

What are the underlying issues with the Triway development on the isthmus?

Yes, there is the view and the history and there is the luxury condo-problem and the tax breaks, ...

But, I have a view questions floating around in my head I would like to get some answers from you Olybloggers:

Is downtown good the way it is?

Should it stay the way it is?

Do we need change? Do we mean by change development?

Does development mean more housing? If housing, where and who could build it?

So, if you followed me so far, let's get down another few questions:

How much does it cost to build a multiple story building in downtown.

Who could take on a project like that, finance it, fund it, etc.

Are all developers evil?

If so, who else could build a project like that? 

Let's find a solution to those answers and we can come up with a masterplan of how we want Olympia to look like in 10 years - hey, it's Olyblog2018?!?!?

And, then write a "buisness plan" of how we can achieve that.

That's what I did when I wanted to open my business:

Answer all the questions I could think off, write the answers down, answer more questions and write them down and before you know it, you got a working business model.

If we could create some synergy (gotta love that word!), perhaps we could shop the idea to a view developers around town/state and see what they say and perhaps we can come up with an alternative plan/solution for downtown. Usually it's much easier to convince people that they should consider your voice, if you have a plan...

So, with those words I shall leave you for the night to ponder...

cheers,

mathias