Curious as to how we make all this magic happen? I bet you are given how magical it is. Here are the tools powering CHS Capitolhillseattle.com's headquarters -- I'll let the other contributors sound off on what tech they're putting into play.

• Laptop: Panasonic Toughbook CF-W4. That's right. It's tough.
• OS: Vista Ultimate. Thanks Microsoftie neighbor for the company pricing!
• Browser: Firefox 3.0.1
• Fancy phone: Nokia E-70. Don't buy it. Sucks. Keyboard rows YUIOP and NM<>? stopped working months ago. Tired of paying $75 to outsourced hardware support company.
• Dishwasher: Asko D1716. Gets em clean.
• Analytics: Google Analytics for hardcore, Clicky for day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.
• RSS: Feedburner, of course.
• Neighborhood Blogging Platform: Neighborlogs, of course.
• Advertising, inbound: Google Adwords. Don't click on it. Costs us a nickel when you do that. Stop.
• Advertising, outbound (where we make the big, big, big money): Adsense, Project Wonderful, and our own amazing Neighborlog system.
• Ice cream maker: Cuisinart...

Seattle City Council newbie Bruce Harrell is proposing the creation of a new city Web site designed to harness the power of the city's 'silent majority':

With the available web technology, Councilmember Harrell will call for the implementation of an online gateway incorporated with the current Seattle.Gov website that allows every citizen the opportunity to provide their input in a structured, electronic polling format.

We like ourselves a poll here and there. And other greats of the Seattle Internet have put them to good use, too. So we're not surprised the city wants in on this online democracy thing, too. This, of course, warrants a poll.

IMG_7003.JPG Originally uploaded by picatar

I may finally be receiving the punishment I deserve for my ongoing bitching about the Blue Angels' annual assault on Seattle.

I've been asked to play the part of liberal douchebag on KVI 570-AM's conservative cranky pants talk show The Commentators Thursday afternoon.

Unless I get bumped for somebody more douche-like, tune in around 4p to hear me serve as the progressive punching bag for angry windbags Ken Schram and John Carlson as we talk Blue Angels, Seafair and the American Way.

Any advice? Not sure who to root for tomorrow, are you?

I'm a big fan of neighborhood blogs. I was lucky enough to work on a project to help develop sites in every neighborhood in the country. That project ended but the buzz is still there -- this is an exciting time for local, community-driven journalism and activism. The most amazing elements are independent and homegrown. For the most part, they are unaffiliated with large, corporate entities. Some are businesses. Some are run by nonprofit organizations. Some are simple but productive hobbies.

Below, I've listed the Seattle place blogs that best represent this latest generation of community journalism. As a rule, I've tried to only include independent efforts -- so, the Seattle PI's blogs aren't in the list despite a few ongoing, quality efforts. For the most part, I've also included only sites with a multi-month track record of consistent posting. I've focused on sites that are updated regularly and are, for all intents and purposes, logs of the neighborhood's days.

These, basically, are blogs. But a few shows signs...

Like we've said before, summer means an increase in crime. Want a head's-up on what to watch out for around Capitol Hill? Just take a look at the crappy things that are happening in other neighborhoods. If this kind of stuff isn't happening around here yet, just wait.

• Burglaries in the Central District
• Graffiti in Greenwood
• Bank robberies in West Seattle

Consider this your summer preview. Now go visit the CHS Good News Map to make yourself feel a little better.

KUOW's Weekday program is doing something very cool on Monday -- well, almost very cool. West Seattle Blog reports that they and some other notable Seattle 'hood sites will be on the air Monday talking placeblogging. Our own Final Answer will be part of the show (I think -- unless the other 1/2 of Hillku got the nod).  Alas, I will not. Got snubbed. No call. No e-mail invite. No radio talky talky for me.

For this, I can offer the following possible explanations for what KUOW was thinking leaving us out of the mix. Feel free to add your own.

• From blurbs in the Capitol Hill Times, Seattle Time, and the PI to appearances on Northwest Cable News and KING-5, CHS is overexposed.
• CHS doesn't check its voicemail.
• CHS mumbles.
• CHS sucks.
• CHS makes fun of us.
• CHS is likely readying its own public radio broadcasting capability and will soon compete head to head with KUOW for advertising day sponsor dollars.
• CHS is a jerk.
• CHS talks too much.

We'll probably never really know. But hopefully KUOW will do something like this again --...