You might not have noticed but another large media entity has geared up to offer a 'hyperlocal' site for Capitol Hill. The Seattle PI has had a Cap Hill blog forever but they recently gave it the same upgrade they've rolled out in a few other neighborhoods in the city. You can check out the Seattle PI site here. Or just enjoy this fine screen grab and save the click.

Like the PI's effort in other neighborhoods, the Hearst-backed online news outfit isn't committing any dedicated reporters or photographers to Capitol Hill and its posts come from unpaid community members. Contrary to what you might think, CHS is happy to have more people writing about the Hill -- we just wish they weren't doing it in a way that lines the pockets of a big corporation. Why not start your own site?

If you would like to help line our pockets, however, anybody can post an article to CHS. You just need an account -- then click the Post link in the menu and let it rip. And if you're serious about it, drop us a line and we can add you to our revenue sharing program. Yup -- unlike the PI, we pay. We're a community site, full of community voices. We welcome you to join the conversation.

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?

The Aloha bike vs. car incident has blown into a big ugly thing. Reminds me, sadly, of how I felt about the coverage of the the Kyle Huff massacre. Amid all the questions about human beings, violence and hope, you also need to ask this:

Why did it happen on Capitol Hill?

The reductionist answer is because this neighborhood was on the way. Coincidence. Critical Mass was just passing through the core of the city.

You could also blame the neighborhood's affluence -- people so rich and entitled that they can't be bothered by a cyclist on their bumper. Sure, the driver was from the University District, but he was the kind of person you see on this part of the Hill all the time, no?

Or, perhaps, blame the liberal politics of the area for creating a warped environment where people believe their cause justifies civil disobedience without consequences. Easier to stand in front of cars when you believe the drivers are really on your side.

So, why Capitol Hill? The answer is probably parts of all of the above. And what that...

It would be ridiculous for this little site to declare The Stranger's online behemoth, The Slog, dead. But some part of what we once called Seattle's best blog definitely bit the big one last week -- and it happened right here on Capitol Hill.

On Friday, Slogger Lindy West posted this photo of a remarkable patron visiting Liberty. The post was a typical Slog job, setting the Segway man up for ridicule. The Slog comment crowd, as usual, went for it: I wonder, if the bartender were to - as one might expect he would do - punch this person in the face repeatedly, would he just keeping popping up for more like a Weeble? Because I would love to see that.

Typical Slog stuff, really. But this time, the nastiness got shoved right back in our Slog-loving faces. Out of the comment cesspool, came the actual story:

i met this guy at cal anderson park a few weeks ago while i was with a quadraplegic friend who uses a wheelchair that untilizes the same technology as this man’s segway. i also thought this man a lazy fool until...

A short bit of self promotion -- I'll be taking part in a live interview with Dustin on Rain City Radio today at 4p Seattle time. The real estate folks will be grilling me for the secrets of community neighborhood blogging success and I'll be providing rambling, incomplete answers. You can listen and ask questions here.

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 --...

If you are not getting your fill of opportunities to share your thoughts about the neighborhood here on CHS, looks like The Stranger is about to give you more. Scott over at CDN noticed some curious traffic to his site that led him here -- yousaidit.com -- site says it's about to debut soon on "The Stranger" (whatever that means)

What is it? Domain is registered to this guy, Charles Borwick, a tech start-up and marketing guy here in Seattle. Linked In says former Jobster-ite Marty Unger is the brains part of the fun. According to their privacy policy, HQ is right here on Capitol Hill over on 14th Ave E.

So, we're guessing Slog on human growth hormone emphasizing the community element (loose term!) currently found in the comments of Dan Savage's penny groundlings. Should be good times and hopefully more interesting than Seattle PI Webtowns. Could bring CHS to its knees (we'll never sell, Savage).

Remember when media outlets used to write stuff and you read it? Switched that around on you, didn't we!