December 2014

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Discovery Shop
4535 California Ave. S.W.
206 937 7169
We still have holiday decorations, clothing and housewares and it's all half priced through December 21, then goes to 75% off on the 22nd but, remember, when it's gone, that's all there is! All items with pink tags are reduced 75% starting Sunday, December 21. Early bird shoppers get double stamps on their customer appreciation cards every Monday until noon. When you shop with us, you support important cancer cure research. The American Cancer Society shop will close at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve and, of course, be closed Christmas Day. When we re-open on the 26th, our store wide clearance sale starts and everything is 40% off, except items tagged "no discount." The shop is open Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and all other days 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow our blog at www.discoveryshopwestseattle.org and LIKE us on Facebook.

Medicine Songs from the Time of Chief Seattle
by Native Storyteller Johnny Moses

OLYMPIA...Sen. Joe Fain hosted the Leadership Institute of South Puget Sound on Wednesday at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia where they heard from elected officials and legislative leaders, toured the capitol campus and experienced how an idea becomes a law.

The program prepares local business people, government officials and community members for civic and professional leadership opportunities throughout South King County.

“Every year I’m impressed by the many talented people who are interested in sharing those talents and passion to better our community,” said Fain, who represents South King County in the state Senate. “Whether they’re involved in a community group, business or serve in local government it’s helpful for them to know and be able to teach others how to navigate state government."

During the morning session the group heard from Senator Fain who was hosting the group in Olympia for the fourth consecutive year. They also had the opportunity to visit with multiple officials who oversee the many steps required to pass legislation.

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

To be special is to be at the right place at the right time. Every famous person had the intelligence and ingenuity to stand out from the crowd in some special way. It was the person who found themselves in the headlines that gained fame and notoriety. In centuries past, it was the warrior in battle who was lauded. Women were rarely thought to be worthy of fame. It was only when a woman was the only heir in a rich family hierarchy that she could attain power. The early kings established heralds who shouted out their glory. Now fast forward to modern times. Those who controlled the printing presses were the ones who decided what was newsworthy. Many women were forced to take pseudonyms in order to get into print. I was entranced by the woman who had to take the male name of George Sand to function in the mainstream of life. She even dressed in traditional male clothing so she could go out in public alone and associate with men who were allowed to meet at the local pub and discuss politics and the like. My own name, Georgie, gave me more status when those who read my name thought it represented a male.

by Kyra-lin Hom

The term 'groupthink' was first coined in 1952 by William H. Whyte, Jr. to imply a type of rationalized conformity. Twenty years later, Dr. Irving Janis published the first compendium of early research on the topic. Since then, with the popularization of layman's sociology and psychology, 'groupthink' has become a social buzzword. But what exactly is it and why should any of us care? Let's explore.

Groupthink is what psychologists and other fancy-pants people call a logical or formal fallacy. In other words, it is an invalid pattern of reasoning. Usually a logical fallacy is something that seems true but isn't. For example: all girls drink tea; Nancy is a girl; therefore, Nancy never drinks coffee. This fallacy in particular is called the fallacy of the inverse. There are several, and they're pretty fun to play around with. Then again, I am a self-admitted nerd.

Burien, WA– A three-year educational programs and operations replacement levy will go before voters on February 10, 2015. Levies pay for educating students and operating schools above the costs covered by the state. The levy is not a new tax. It replaces the previous levy passed in 2011, which is due to expire at the end of 2015.

The proposed levy would be an estimated $180.9 million. That is 21 percent of the district's operations budget. The levy would pay for all or portions of basic, day-to-day operations of schools, such as:
• Student programs
• Teacher pay, for additional teachers above the state minimum
• Instructional assistants in classrooms
• Textbooks, curriculum, and teacher training
• Additional course offerings for students
• Athletics
• Arts and music
• Special education
• Bus transportation (not fully funded by the state)
• Building and grounds maintenance (not fully funded by the state)
• Computers and technology
• Gifted education programs

By Tim Clifford

On Dec.12 the SPD blotter webpage announced that 12 officers from the east precinct will begin wearing body-worn-video cameras (BWV) while on patrol. The Seattle Police Department will evaluate the results of this pilot program with the goal of implementing BWV’s in all precincts throughout the city.

Two different brands of cameras will be tested, one by Arizona-based tech company TASER and the other by Seattle-based company VIEVU. The technical differences between the two come down to the TASER camera recording solely in standard definition and coming with the ability to be worn on clothing and sunglasses while the VIEVU camera will record in both HD and standard definition but is only wearable on uniforms.

Both cameras are currently in use in New York and Los Angeles police departments. Each camera will be tested for 60-90 days at a time to determine the best fit for Seattle.

by Rob Ketcherside

In 1888 Thomas Ewing had the good fortune to invest in West Seattle. His industry was mining: big, million-dollar mines. He had a corporate stake in mines in Nevada, Colorado, California, Utah and Arizona, and lived in all of those states over the years. His background was groceries and general stores. Somehow though this 48 year old widower ended up buying the entire West Seattle Elliott Bay waterfront and a good chunk of the hill in 1888.

With partners he immediately bought a ferry and built a dock just south of where the West Seattle Water Taxi lands today. They wereset up just in time to attract home buyers dispossessed by Seattle's Great Fire in 1889 and all of the newcomers drawn by the reconstruction boom.

Their marketing slogan could still be used today, "Because it's cheap!

Because it's beautiful! Because it has a Great Future!"

by Pat Cashman

A few years ago, I stopped at a little convenience store. My then-teenage daughter wondered why.
“Because I like stores that are little and convenient,” I said.

She shot back. “Well then you must also like stores that are little---and expensive. “

Before I could reply, she quickly threw another punch: “And as long as people like you will pay those high prices, I guess that makes it very convenient for the guy that owns that little convenience store.”
I tried a weak counterpunch. “I’m willing to pay more for service,” I said.

She came back with a vicious upper cut: “Right,” she said. “The clerk rings you up for FIVE DOLLARS on your small bunch of bananas and then tells you to have a ‘nice day.’
Now THAT is service!”

She had me.

But first of all, I should point out that that particular store doesn’t even sell bananas---or any other fresh foods---unless hot dogs and Twinkies are considered such.

By Tim Clifford

Man brandishes gun in front of children
At an academy located on the 9400 block of 18 Ave. S.W. on Dec.8 police were called regarding an unknown man pointing a gun at students and shouting profanities. The principal for the academy called the authorities after two frightened students came to him.

The students explained that the suspect had come up to the fence surrounding the academy’s courtyard to talk to them around 1:49 p.m. during a recess period. The suspect immediately began cursing at the children, using as they explained the “A”, “B” and “F” words. While shouting these expletives the suspect pulled out a handgun and began pointing it at the playing children saying “I’m going to kill you”. After this the suspect put the gun away and walked off southbound down 18 Ave. S.W.
All of the child witnesses claimed to have never said a word to the suspect during the incident. They described the suspect as being a 20-year-old male with a light brown complexion (possibly mixed-race) and wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

A City of Burien police car was on the receiving end of a T-Bone accident Sunday night shortly after the Seahawks game ended around 6pm.

According to the King County Sheriff's office the car was enroute to call, with lights and sirens on but then came back through the intersection at 106th SW and 22nd SW when a passenger car came over the crest of the hill and hit the police car.

No one was badly hurt, everyone was wearing seat belts, but both cars suffered significant damage.