Happy Mother's Day!

California Taco Truck on Harrison

They asked what I wanted.  I said, "Chipotle!"

I ordered the Mexican Sausage Burrito instead and waved at the traffic while they cooked it.  It was delicious.  It took two sittings to finish.

Meet my little guy, Meredith.  He never knew his birth mother.  He's adopted.

Law enforcement employees and firefighters raised over $10,000 yesterday at Big Brothers Big Sisters "Bowl For Kids Sake" at Westside Lanes.

Thanks to all for your efforts

Historic Photos of Tacoma / text and captions by Nick Peters. Nashville, Tenn. : Turner Pub. Co., c2007. x, 206 p.

Another one in a series of photo books based on a geographic place by Turner Publishing. T-Town native and historian Nick Peters loves his city and that is communicated in his brief chapter introductions and photo captions. Yet, his historian side does outweigh any civic boosterism as he didn't pretty up some of the less admirable aspects in the City of Destiny's past.

His captions are well written and serve as an excellent support for the over 200 black and white photographs. The daily life of the city is captured, as well as some big events such as the press frenzy during the Weyerhaeuser kidnapping and the collapse of Galloping Gertie. He provides solid dates or takes an educated guess at most photos, which I appreciated. I also enjoy the little bits of human interest he frequently added to help spice up what could be a boring photo. For example, page 43 has a photograph of the Berlin Building. Interesting if you are into Tacoma historic buildings, but how many of us really care that much? Here is Peters' caption, adding some color:

German immigrant Henry Mahncke, with partner Charles Muehlenbruck, built the Berlin Building in 1892 at 1021-23 Pacific Avenue. It was a dream come true for Mahncke, a Tacoma baker since 1882, but a dream short-lived. He lost everything in the Panic of 1893, becoming a janitor and elevator operator in the building he had owned. Mahncke later built a successful career in real estate, dying in 1927. The Berlin was demolished in 1920 to make way for the Washington Building.

Come on down to the Urban Onion bar tonight for the OUTrage at the Onion! A fundraiser supporting Capital City Pride.

There's an auction, drag show, raffle, Power Punch giveaways and an all-around good time. 7 p.m., a $3 dollar cover.

www.capitalcitypride.net for more info.

In addition to my attempt at building up the wildfood wiki, I also want to be able to identify the plants in my own backyard, edible or otherwise. I've got a couple of plants that have come up this year that have a very strong smell -- some kind of herb smell, but I have no clue what it is.

Any ideas?

ConspiraZine presents Jeff Rense interviewing chemtrail researcher Clifford Carnicom, who provides in-depth analysis of the devasting disease known as Morgellons. Also featured is Mike Adams from the Health Ranger Podcast interviewing Fred Baughman, who reveals the many horrors of psychiatric medicine, along with the current chemical abuse of children by Big Pharma. ConspiraZine can be heard on Free Radio olympia at 98.5 FM or via mp3 stream at www.frolympia.org ConspiraZine - more conspiracy, less theory!

Rodeo Kill is almost over...
Catch one of our last shows at the 4th Ave Tav in Oly this Saturday
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Benefit
May 10th
4th Ave Tavern
$5 at the door
Lots of great bands

• Grim Smiley
• The Pothetx
• Storm Creek Band
• 99 Men
• Brown Star
• Rodeo Kill

Come out for this benefit show and to see Rodeo Kill for possibly our last public show.

In 1965, Sylvia and her sister Jenny were left by their parents in the care of a woman named Getrude Baniszewski. This woman lived in extreme poverty and had seven kids of her own, but she agreed to board Sylvia and Jenny for $20 a week. Less than four months later, Sylvia was found dead, with over 150 bruises, scars, and burn marks over her body. She had been the victim of months of torture and abuse, overseen by Gertrude and carried out by a gang of neighborhood kids (including several of Getrude's own).

There were two books written about this case (John Deans's "The Indiana Torture Slaying" and Kate Millett's "The Basement"). When I first read about it, I found it hard to forget. I learned that there was a movie in the works, so I visited the board at IMDB. I found out that many others were haunted by the case, as well.

A few people at the boards wondered why O'Haver would want to put a story like this on film. I think it's an important story to tell, especially considering that incidents similar to Sylvia's are still happening far too often today.

On Sunday, you can hear O'Haver talk a little about his film and what it was like to work with Keener and Page. Tune in to KAOS at 89.3 FM (or online here). The interview should start at about 11:30, and run for about 11 minutes.

Richard Carl McKinnon, longtime resident of Olympia, passed early on the evening of May 7th at Capital Medical Center. Rick is survived by his beautiful wife, Susan Christian, sons Mark McKinnon, Joel Martell, Rick McKinnon and George Wauchope, and daughters Marla Canning and Melissa Mercer. He was also father to Ian Patrick McKinnon, who preceded him into the hereafter in 1990. Rick is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rick often welcomed people into his home who didn’t have a safe place to go. Thus, he has a large extended family of people that have lived with him at some point in their lives.

Rick was born in Johnson City, NY during the depression, and grew up in Niagara Falls and upstate New York. He served in the Marine Corps from 1952-54, and while he did not enjoy his time in the Corps, he loved this country passionately and encouraged everyone to participate in the democratic process. He took great pride in his education, earning a BA from the Evergreen State College, and an MA from the Leadership Institute of Seattle. He was also immensely proud of his sons Joel and Rick S. for completing their Ph.D.s.

Rick moved his family to Olympia in 1972 in order to find a new way to live. He loved the natural beauty of this area, and lived for the last 29 years on Totten Inlet in a renovated oyster factory. Rick considered his most valuable contribution to the Olympia community to be co-founding the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties with his previous wife Kathy Jordan.

Rick liked to go fast and retired from racing motorcycles at the age of 71, building and rebuilding (and rebuilding and rebuilding) every component on his racing bike. He was known to suddenly disappear on his motorcycle, taking marathon trips to California. Rick was a craftsman who was drawn to many media, especially metal and wood. This work gave him great joy.

Aptly nicknamed “Old Gnarly Rick” by his family, he was a man of powerful, complex emotions. A gentle person by preference, he was friendly to strangers and fiercely loyal to his friends; all babies trusted and loved him. He was known for his ferocity in confronting impoliteness, disrespect or injustice.

He was a defender of the defenseless and unhesitant in challenging oppression - often at high volume and with much cursing. He was curmudgeonly, generous and kind. As he edged into his later years, we saw the sweetness become his defining characteristic. He died too soon, the victim of a lifetime addiction to smoking. Do not smoke; do not allow your children to smoke. May our darling rest in peace.

I have a sci-fi blog that I am working on, I am attepting to create a universe there. Something very unique. If anyone is really intrested they can follow the stories development at:
http://tomorrowlander.wordpress.com/