Seattlest’s Olympic correspondent Mark Siano has been hard at work in Beijing getting the stories that you won’t hear about anywhere else. Protesting: Having the protest sign on the back of a map was the perfect distraction to get it past the Chinese sensors. I just folded it up with the "USA out of Iraq" part hidden and slid right on in. Layer after layer of security let me and my giant map go......

Last night, as we were making some Niman Ranch sausage, some Critical Mass bicyclists were almost turned into sausage in the street outside. (We mention the kind of sausage because had it been cut-rate, we might have poked our heads out to take a look, but it wasn't and we were hungry.) At around 7:00 p.m., about 100 Critical Mass bikers were riding down Aloha on Capitol Hill, blocking traffic as usual. One driver didn't......

If this was politics, we'd be calling spin all over King 5 for their story "Beer and candy booming in struggling economy." According to the piece, while the rest of us may be making less than usual to be taxed more than ever, folks who make and sell beer and candy are doing just fine, thanks. While we drown our woe in a beer (or three) and gorge ourselves on candy, these businesses enjoy......

A couple of weeks ago, Consumerist relayed the story of Eric Drew. While Drew battled leukemia, a lab tech figured he didn't have enough problems and stole his identity, bringing the fury of creditors scorned down on the head of a man at death's door. Eventually, Drew sued the major credit bureaus and won. It was an interesting story, but Discover Magazine posted an even more compelling version, complete with horrifying medical details and......

ENVIRONMENT: Down at the Aquarium, KC Golden, policy director of Climate Solutions, talks with KING 5 meteorologist Jeff Renner about the innovative work the state is doing to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and the history of the struggle to get global warming on the public's radar, concluding with the obligatory list of "things you can do." There's a reception with light refreshments beforehand. 7-9 p.m. // Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way // Tickets: $20......

Mayors hate potholes. In fact, today Mayor Greg Nickels announced an "aggressive" pothole-filling campaign to fix more than 1,300 potholes this week. You can visit the online form or just call (206) 684-ROAD. Says KING 5: Six crews are ready to get to work with two on standby. The city promises if you report a pothole, they will fill it within 48 hours. In addition to pothole patrol, crews will also be resurfacing 30 miles......

Courtesy of King5.com: "Insane Killer could be Released to Mother in Lakewood" Reads more like a plot from the latest B slasher movie than a news headline. Not that we're not all for hysteria inducing headlines.........