Sleep deprivation can only hurt legislative process

posted 05:53 PM 04/16
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If you surveyed state legislators, legislative staff and registered lobbyists about their perspectives on the legislative process, you might expect to receive some insider, wonky responses.

You would not expect to learn that most legislators are sleepdeprived.

Two researchers from Washington State University’s division of governmental studies and services, Nicholas Lovrich and Francis Benjamin, conducted such a survey in 2009 and again in 2012. They discussed their findings last week at a lunchhour panel discussion sponsored by Secretary of State Kim Wyman and the governor’s office.

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Perspective changes when matters get personal

posted 11:48 PM 03/30

It was my father, an old, small-town Minnesota newspaperman, who taught me the concept of “news.” It was the early 1960s. I was a freshman in high school and eager to write for the school newspaper.

The best gift from a father? More time spent with the kids

posted 12:02 PM 06/17

Dear Kids – I thought about letting you write my annual Father’s Day column this year so that you could tell the world exactly what you think of me. In a rare moment of rational thought, I decided that wouldn’t be a good idea.

Olympian’s new Sunday business page is something worth celebrating

posted 07:53 AM 05/21

During a conversation with a business colleague the other day, we reminisced about how much fun we used to have when the economy was booming. There were plenty of expansion opportunities and no shortage of ideas how to upgrade our products and services for customers.

Choosing how grass gets cut is one of man’s last rights

posted 08:34 PM 05/22

This week, we’re continuing the ongoing series of examining deep questions that have confused guys for ages by discussing the topic, “What is the actual point of mowing a lawn?”

Cat bites son-in-law, whose hand swells up like a Zeppelin

posted 11:42 AM 05/02

I own two cats, which, if you do the math, works out to the following number of animals over which I have any influence whatsoever: zero. And that includes the dead lizard they brought into the house, leaving me to notify the next of kin.

We weren't about to let the Olympic Committee take away our history

posted 08:22 AM 04/16

Here at The Olympian, we don't promote the racing of ferrets, market our own brand of wine or stage contests between athletic pole dancers. We simply publish a newspaper every day as we have since 1890.

New City Hall exercise room prepares staff for heavy lifting

posted 07:04 AM 03/27

When Olympia Mayor Doug Mah invited me to the new City Hall for a pre-opening tour, my first thought was, where would I park?

Pets can be annoying, but they can bring us great comfort, too

posted 07:21 AM 03/20

I've been thinking about pets lately. A couple of weeks ago, employees of The Olympian, the Olympia Downtown Association and others sat down to begin planning the 2011 Pet Parade. It will take over downtown Olympia on Saturday, August 20.

Mideast protests likely to spread, South Sound expert says

posted 07:44 AM 03/13

Steve Niva, a professor of international politics and Middle East studies at The Evergreen State College, was talking about big, surprising waves on Friday.