Northwest Progressive Conference 2007

After the fantastic Borah symposium this week in Moscow, Palouse residents can look forward to the upcoming 2007 Northwest Progressive Conference in Pullman, Washington over the weekend of April 19-21. See the tentative schedule for details on the workshops and films and presentations that will be happening, but be sure to keep your schedule open on Saturday afternoon for the workshop I'll be presenting on the subject of blogging.

I'll keep posting as I learn more, but at the very least, this will be an excellent opportunity for area progressives to connect and brainstorm.

PS: Volunteers are needed - write info@wsuprogressive.com if you're interested.

Sad news from the Northwest

Yesterday, a University of Washington employee was murdered by her ex boyfriend while at work, as part of a murder-suicide. It's a horiffying reminder of the fact that homicide is the second-leading cause of death of women in the workplace. The victim, Rebecca Griego, had obtained a restraining order against her stalker, and had warned people in her workplace that he'd been threatening her, but even doing everything right wasn't enough.

There was also upsetting news from Moscow this weekend - a UI senior was found shot dead in his apartment on Saturday night, and his death is being investigated as a homicide.

It's been difficult to read the newspapers around here lately, and my sympathy is with these victims' loved ones.

The Pataha Flour Mill

Living in the same area for twenty years makes a person sort of cocky. Here I sit, day after day, bored in the knowledge that I've done all there is to do around here. I've been to all the theaters and museums (even the boring ones, like the McConnell Mansion). I've been up Kamiak Butte and Moscow Mountain, and sensibly refused to swim at Spring Valley.

But, of course, I'm wrong. There are streets in Moscow I've never walked and parks I've never visited, and I even have a little secret: I'm not sure where Idler's Rest is.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise to me when I find out about things like the Pataha Flour Mill. Pataha is a tiny town that sits to the East of Pomeroy, Washington, not too far South of the Snake River. On the outskirts (such as they exist for towns as small as Pataha) of the town exists an old flour mill - from the late 1800s, which has recently been bought and is currently being restored by a local pastor. The flour mill has been converted into a museum and restaurant. There are no prices on the menu - you pay by donation - and then you get to wander around the museum looking at old curios (there's an impressive camera collection dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, and a cool cattle-brand collection too) and fearing somewhat that the whole thing might collapse in on you at any moment.

My camera chews through batteries like you wouldn't believe, so the only pictures I got were of the food, which was delicious. Andy and I both had BLTs and caramel apple pie for dessert (if you're curious, we wrote a check for $35, and the service was excellent). I'll have to go back sometime for more pictures, but for now: doesn't this pie look good?

That's more like it

Washington State is offering the HPV vaccine to girls for free. In the article, Gov. Christine Gregoire says:

Addressing the Washington State Medical Association's annual legislative assembly and again in a news conference Monday, Gov. Chris Gregoire said such action [requiring the HPV vaccine for entry into school] seemed premature.

"I told the medical association that I was reticent to dictate when I think there is a lot of public education that needs to go on," Gregoire said. "To go out and start just saying everybody mandatorily has to have this is a little bit troublesome for me.

If I were Merck, I'd be scrambling to get the takers to participate in a study on the long-term effects of the vaccine. If, in 2 or 5 or 10 years the country decides to buy into requiring the HPV vaccine, Merck will still stand to make a mint. If they really believe in Gardasil's potential, they can wait.