After punctually showing up for the Democratic Legislative District Caucus at Capital High School this morning only to find the doors locked and a message that said the Caucus will be in two weeks from now instead of today, I went downtown to get some coffee and hang out. I stopped at the usual location and chatted with a couple of old timers. We talked a little about the financial market, the Bear Stearns bail-out and the Port of Olympia.

The prevailing consensus was that the Bear Stearns bail-out was the wrong move, and that it would have been better to let the mortgage industry experience the consequences of faulty lending practices. We also talked about other politics, including about the Port of Olympia. $400,000 profits via a shipment to support an illegal occupation in Iraq. The Port makes a little profit while the rest of the community is sucked dry by federal government spending on an act of aggression [images from Iraq]. It's also good to see hints of the broad-base of opposition to an oppressive foreign policy of global dominance, militarism, and violence.

I would like to see the Port of Olympia embrace a mission that is life-sustaining, rather that one that is based in the model of growth based economics. The industrial growth based economic model is in the basic service of the financial bottom line without adequate and appropriate consideration of consequences to society and health, to side-effects and externalities, especially as they relate to future generations. I would like to see more green space at the Port, more focus on ecological remediation and commerce that is prerequisite on ecological / economic sustainability. For example, I have no problem with log-export, except as the logs might be sourced from environmentally destructive clear-cuts. Clear cuts are harmful to soil health, biological diversity, and overall forest health. Some amount of clear cuts might be okay, but even then are they aesthetically desirable? Considering an expanding human population and subsequent increased resource demands, where is the sustainability line on clear cutting?

Some ideas for changes in Port management/mission: It would be encouraging to see the Port take the lead on ecological reparations and remediation considering the current state of pollution in Budd Bay... Another idea is for sustainable and benign economic development: it would be great to have a focus on recreation, education, and local consumption: fishing, sailing and kayaking, imagine if we could swim in and eat from the waters of Budd Bay in 30 (or some amount of) years!

[On the flip side: Farmer's Market Open, Oly Photos slide show, and a short review of last night's Actors' Gang performance of George Orwell's 1984.]

Onto another topic, yet fittingly enough with my café chat was last night's excellent rendition of Orwell's prophetic fantasy novel, 1984. Winston and Big Brother came alive last night in downtown Olympia as members of the Los Angeles based Actors' Gang re-enacted the torturous journey of a 39 year old dissident in the absolute totalitarian society of Orwell's 1984. The book, where "War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery," and "Ignorance is Strenth" (and 2+2=5) is so apt and relevant to our current society. The prospect of perpetual war not only looms starkly upon our horizon; it has actually become our reality. Reading the book is great, but seeing the Actors' Gang's portrayal of the two-minute hate was fantastic. It's too bad if you missed it. Although the performance was well worth the ticket price, it's too bad that more seats weren't made available at a more affordable rate; $30 for the cheap seats seems like a lot, especially for a performance like 1984, which bears such striking relevance for those who suffer from chronic economic depression (as well as for those who are simply unable to afford it). See below for a slide show of some recent Olympia photos that includes a few shots from the performance.

After having some coffee, I stopped by Oly-Bikes to get a bolt for a rattling rear fender on my bicycle and I ran into a friend who told me that she had just been to the Farmers Market. I haven't yet stopped in at the market myself (have you?), but it's great that the Market is re-opened for the season. She was happy that the market is open for 2008, because Saturday mornings, during the three months winter season closure, just hadn't been the same for her.

Do you enjoy the Olympia Farmers Market? Is there anything that you think the Market could do better? What does the Market mean to you? Are you a regular shopper?

Well, here are those pictures, as promised, yay Oly!:

In case the slide show embed doesn't work for you, here is a direct link to the April 4th photoset: www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157604391335500/