Is this a sign our economy is in a recession? I think many of us would appreciate reading about your most effective haggling techniques, so please share.

As always, if you have information about someone taking advantage of consumers or something that can help them, shoot me an e-mail anytime. whavrelly@kgw.com
Happy Haggling!

What is a total lunar eclipse? It's a bit tricky, but I'll try to explain it. Think of three different balls - one large, one medium, and one small. The large ball is the sun, the medium ball is the Earth, and the small ball is the moon. The light from the large ball, the sun, shines onto the Earth, the medium ball. And our medium ball has a shadow. Every once in a while, the moon's orbit takes it into that shadow of the Earth. And when that happens, a total lunar eclipse occurs. This picture may help.

Photo Courtesy mreclipse.com

A lunar eclipse can be viewed without worrying about taking any safety precautions. You can look directly at the moon, and can use a telescope or even binoculars if you'd like. (A solar eclipse is the type of eclipse that you need to protect your eyes from.)

So what time will all of this astronomical excitement begin? =) The moon will start slipping into the Earth's shadow at 5:43pm PST tonight. The moon will be completely dark - completely in the Earth's shadow - between 7:01pm PDT and 7:51pm PDT. After that, the moon will slowly re-emerge from the Earth's shadow until, at 9:09pm PDT, it will be completely illuminated again.

Enjoy! Feel free to e-mail me with any questions you may have.

Joe

I've covered a fair number of political campaigns and the results of various polls. But I've never been able to get the raw questions that go into polls---until now.
Read excerpt from poll questions
Monday I came into possession of the questions created by Portland company Moore Information, as part of a series of calls made November 11, 2007 to 400 New Hampshire voters.

We've included a link to those questions below:

Pollsters I talked with in Portland said they do not believe the questions are part of a "push poll" a sort of dirty politics way of planting bad---and sometimes false information in the mind of the voters.

They point out that a classic push poll involves two or three questions or statements which are read to thousands of potential voters. The company conducting the push poll does not typically gather demographic information or even record the response. The effort is not geared at data gathering. Its to plant information.

While that may be the definition of push polls amongst pollsters---its not the definition used in New Hampshire.

Under that state's law, a push poll is defined as having all three of the following:

1. The call is on behalf of, in support of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
2. The recipient is asked questions relative to opposing candidates which state, imply or convey information about the candidate's character, status, record, or political stance.
3. The call is conducted in a manner likely to be construed by the voter to be a survey or poll to gather statistical data for entities that are independent of any political party, candidate, or interest group.

It also has to be aimed at the general election.

Today (1/16/08), a member of the AG's office will be in Oregon, asking a Multnomah County judge to force company owner Bob Moore, and one of his employees to fly back to New Hampshire and answer questions in front of a grand jury.

Specifically---the AG wants to know who hired Moore to form those questions. Moore won't say.

Under New Hampshire law, if the AG can prove that the questions were aimed at the general election (Moore has said they were aimed at the primary) and that a candidate or campaign paid for them (as opposed to an independent 3rd party trying to gauge who to support) then it would qualify under state law as a "push poll".

What do you think?

A few ways to prevent a stroke include exercise, eating healthy, don't smoke and keep your weight down.

I love my job.

But when it cuts into big Blazers home games, like the one against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon, well let’s just say it can be tough to punch in the ole time card.

So imagine my delight when my manager called me up Sunday morning and said, It’s Blazers Heritage Night, you’re covering the game!

I put on my red shirt.

The assignment could not have fallen on a more grateful reporter. I grew up in Portland and some of my favorite memories are of cheering for the Blazers, when their shorts were short, and their winning streaks long.

I sang Rip City Rhapsody with the best of them (and might be coaxed into rapping a few lines for the right Blazers ticket), but to me, the Blazers were more than the hottest franchise in the NBA. They were a group of great guys that brought my family and friends together. And they just happened to give us a reason to cheer and believe.

I believe in this team, too. and at most games I have been lucky enough to attend, I have believed from the 300 section. On Sunday, I believed from the floor underneath the Blazers basket, as they dunked all over the 76ers.

I was REALLY loving my job, then!

And this is just the beginning. There are still many months ahead to watch these guys dive for the ball, fight for every WIN and play with class.

But come June, I hope to be cheering for the Blazers at the Rose Garden, in much the same fashion my parents did at the Memorial Coliseum, June 5, 1977. The day the Blazers beat Philly for the NBA Title.

After all, this season is all about celebrating the Blazers Heritage-- let’s keep the theme going!

Oh, one more thing… and this is the ultimate complement here… I think this team is so cool, they should get their own set of Dairy Queen drinking glasses.

Enough said.

Candid talk and original music.

That's what you'll find during the New Year's Day special on KGW-TV, called Behind The Lens.

Sure, you can catch a newscast almost any time you turn on your television.
But few really know what photojournalists go through, to capture those images for a newscast.
At 6pm on January first - you'll find out. In candid language.

Every year one of our KGW Photojournalists takes over this massive project.
During the one hour special, he or she literally takes you behind the scenes, gives you the view through the camera lens.

It's a lot of work. This one hour special takes more than one hundred hours to shoot, write and edit. Just ask Alex Lynch. He's the Photojournalist who took on the annual project in 2007. In fact, he was here until 3:30 Saturday morning, fine-tuning, editing.

One cool feature Alex added -- original music. From someone you may recognize. Since 1984 Joe Becker has been reporting and anchoring KGW Sports - now you'll hear his music. Yes, my friend JB shares some original tunes on his bass and acoustic guitar. Alex thought it'd make a great addition - and it does.

I took a peek at Alex's work before it was done. In fact, he asked me to be a small part of it. Honestly, I think he asked me because everyone else was on vacation, but I'm honored nonetheless. It's a cool project.

I hope you'll set your DVR, VCR or make a note to turn on your television at 6pm on January first.

Ten children are making Christmas merrier for 135 other kids. Way to go!

Here's a cyber high-five to the children of the Portland Quarter Midgets Club.

I met the group Saturday, December 15th, at Cedar Hills Crossing. My husband and I were collecting toys for the Newschannel-8 Great Toy Drive. While we met many generous souls as they dropped off new, unwrapped toys to be delivered to children in need -- I won't forget the children in this group. They piled out of cars, arms weighed-down with shopping bags, all smiles. It was a great moment.

That moment took a year's worth of work. They raised $500 dollars - to spend on toys for other children! They sold snow cones, in part, to raise the money. That's a lot of snow cones!

Think back to when you were eight years old. Now - imagine you've saved $500 dollars. Now - imagine taking that HUGE sum of money to the toy store and spending it all on people you will never meet.

Way to go Racers!

If you visit the Portland Quarter Midget Racing Association website, you'll read it's a volunteer based sport for children aged 5 to 16. From what we saw Saturday, it promotes more than volunteer work. It teaches about giving to those in need.

The club dropped off 135 toys. Meaning 135 children in the Portland Metro area will have a little merrier Christmas.

Thank you!

A random thought -- even with the failure of M50 , health care remains at the top of the list of issues most Oregonians want their government to solve...that means even more focus on the Health Commission recently appointed by Governor Kulongoski...and a tricky political question for the Governor and Democratic leadership of the Oregon Senate and House as to whether or not to bring a childrens' health care funding measure to the short legislative session in February -- such a measure might appeal to the Democratic base but might underscore a split between more liberal and more moderate democrats, influence the internal battle to replace speaker Merkley and give Republicans a fresh "no new taxes" mantra leading into the 2008 election so that they have something to talk about other than separating themselves from national Republican politics

Interesting to think about what legal maneuvers will follow on the victory of M49...assuming that there are issues about the wording of certain sections of the measure as it relates to how much "loss of a property right" must be shown by property owner in making a claim, I would expect Oregonians in Action to seek a show-case to challenge the new law relatively quickly...

One bittersweet personal moment -- just got off the phone with our son who is attending GWU in Washington DC and working at a political firm that is handling the yes campaigns on M49 and M50...so a split victory/loss night for him...

For those watching AP wire service, there are laerts on both M49 and M50 -- AP calling Yes on 49 and No on 50...

Just talked to a reporter at The Oregonian -- they are showing very updated numbers which have M49 winning substantially and M50 being defeated...I am not in a position ot dispute their numbers but i was sckeptical to hear the size of teh NO on 50 margin...it wouldhave to mean that so much of the late breaking vote broke to the no column, which if true means that as good and smart as the field effort was that the yes campaign put together, they couldn't hold up against the size and quality of the No TV ad campaign...

Watching for new AP numbers -- earliest returns showed M49 with yes winning 67-33 and M50 No leading 53-47...no new numbers since first returns

M49 is showing strong support in ealy returns...this is a testament to a favorable ballot title and a smart campaign which tapped into Oregonians' fear of losing "what's secial" about Oregon...using rural, farming families to carry the images offset the "property right" appeal of the No campaign...and the Yes campaign organized an effective outreach/coalition effort that was missiong last time around [M37]...because this is another chapter in the on-going debate oregonians have been having about land use, most observers doubt that this will be the final word -- expecting alegal challenge, a fight in the next legisaltive session and possbly another ballot measure as soon as 2008.

So a little background while waiting for the next round of number...50 started off with a huge margin -- reflecting the number of nonsmokers to smokers...then $8 million later the No campaign had controlled the messages and moved the dial on the issue of putting the tax in the constitution....by the time the yes campaign came on TV they were able to stop the movement form yes voters to undecided....and that's where the votee sat for awhile -- No campaign had the advantage of ad budget and some very compelling ads, but were unable o close the deal...then the yes campaign turned up the intensity ontheir field campaign and found a receptive audience in democrats and women-- the key for the Yes became how much they could get out that vote to above 50% and resist the huge TV buy by the No....

Campaign to make Clackamas County a 5 member Commission will probably be one of the more interesting stories after people digest 49 and 50 results...interesting mix of personalities and politics for this metropolitan County....

First votes shown...as expected 49 leads and should lead through thenight....surprise will be how well Yes on 50 campaign was able to use an effective "field campaign" targetted to specific voters [fem/dem] to offset the paid media campaign at $12 million plus...

For more than two decades the debate over climate change and global warming has raged. Is global warming happening? If it is happening, are people to blame? Questions like these have swirled about the scientific community for years, often with murky or inconclusive answers. Over the past couple of years, those answers have become much more clear.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the United Nations back in 1988, has become the authoritative source on information about climate change. And their most recent report – issued earlier this year – was the most conclusive one yet. It stated that warming of the climate system is unequivocal. In other words, the planet is warming up, and there is no longer any doubt about it. Even the cause of that warming has become clearer. According to the IPCC, there is greater than a 90% chance that this warming is because of people, and the amount of carbon dioxide that we have released into our atmosphere.

So what to do about it? Aggressive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to try to reverse climate change. And even though many countries are tenaciously working to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, it will still take time to reverse the climate change trend. More than likely, temperatures worldwide will continue to warm throughout all of our lifetimes. It’s simply a matter of how warm temperatures will get. But by reducing our emissions, we’ll lessen the impacts from climate change and global warming.

If you have any questions about climate change, feel free to shoot me an e-mail. You can also click here to visit The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s website.

Joe Michaels

As the sun rose over southern California this morning, once again it revealed the damage left behind. As you walk the streets of Rancho Bernardo, you now see red notices everywhere. As if the charred ash didn't say enough, the notices officially designate home site after home site unsafe.

I have been on the ground here in San Diego county with photojournalist Scott Williams since Wednesday morning. It's now Friday and we are just a few hours from returning to the Northwest. We will return to our families and be thankful for all we have. Those who live here, will start to move forward. Many are turning to their faith.

The spirit in this area is impressive. Already homeowners are vowing to rebuild. Already they are filing insurance claims. Already they're talking about the modern day features that they want built into their new homes. Already they are looking forward to another sunrise and another day.

The damage estimate for home destruction here in San Diego county is over 1 billion dollars. That's just to rebuild the homes and just here in this one county. It's going to be a long road ahead.

Soon the around-the-clock media coverage will end. The satellite trucks will move along. But this will remain.

As much as Oregonians love to pick on Californians for the elevated home prices, the added traffic and the bad driving....keep these Californians in your thoughts.

If you should have the chance just tell them...."I'm so sorry"

With the neighborhood still closed and few media up as early as we were, it was eerily quiet. The morning breeze swept small funnels of ash into the air. You could hear embers still popping as you walked through the remains of what was once a multi-million dollar neighborhood.

Street by street, the damage was everywhere.

At the site of one home, you could make out what was left of their kitchen.

Cars remained in place in many driveways. According to neighbors here, the fire raced through in the early morning. Most were still asleep. Families packed into the first vehicles available, leaving other vehicles to burn.

As sunrise turned into morning, media from around the country began to fill the hilltop streets of this Rancho Bernardo neighborhood. Satellite trucks filled the curbs, cameras and lights lined the driveways.

Looking down from the top of a nearby hillside, you can see how random the flames moved through this area. One home is incinerated while another is completely untouched.

This is Rancho Bernardo, California. This is now the reality that this community faces. Much rebuilding lays ahead.

Off the coast of Los Angeles we looked down towards Catalina Island. Normally a picturesque tourist destination clearly visible from the air, Wednesday it was barely visible. The smoke was so thick you could hardly make out the island at all and you sure couldn't see the ocean.

As we moved south and began our approach into downtown San Diego, the smoke remained just as thick. I went to college here at the University of San Diego. I love flying into this city. I couldn't see a bit of it as we landed. The famed Cornonado bridge didn't seem to exist. I could barely even see the downtown skyline.

Once on the ground we headed north to the La Jolla Indian Reservation where the Witch fire was about to merge with the Pamoocha fire. As night fell, the wind picked up and the flames shot into the night sky. I had never seen a fire pick up so quickly.

This morning (Thursday) began with liveshots from the town of Ramona. Here a water boil order is still in place, power is out in parts of the area, and many are still under evacuation orders.

We're working out of a satellite truck supplied by KTVK-TV of Phoenix. They have been down here since Monday. They started in Malibu and have been chasing these fires ever since.

We're about to head to Rancho Bernardo. It's one of the hardest hit communities here in San Diego County. Home owners are just beginning to return to their neighborhoods. I can only begin to imagine the emotions that must be running through their minds as the sun begins to rise.

By Pat Dooris
The question of where Snowball the deer should live out her life will likely be decided this afternoon.

Clackamas County Judge Eve Miller will hear arguments from both sides and could rule at the end of the hearing.
Geordie Duckler, the attorney for Jim Filipetti will argue that state agents wrongly took the deer, essentially property, from Filipetti and should return the deer immediately. Attorneys for the Department of Justice, the lawyers for ODFW, will argue just the opposite.

If ODFW wins, Snowball will be sent to the Rossi Posse elk ranch sometime next week.

I will be in the courtroom and will have full details at 5pm and 6pm on KGW Northwest Newschannel 8.

By, Pat Dooris

I don't know about you---but I don't really like confronting people. It makes me uncomfortable---and I worry about how they'll react---will they say or do something they would not ordinarily do and make themselves look like something they are not?

Which is not to say I won't do it if I have to.

Tuesday I began a second day of trying to get a comment from Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski. I wanted him to respond to a complaint letter filed with the Oregon State Bar which basically charged the governor had lied to the public about what he knew and when he knew former Governor Neil Goldschmidt had sexually abused a 14 year old girl.

He'd told us on tape in 2004 that he did not know anything about that until it became public in 2004. But Goldschmidt's former speech writer says that's a lie---that he personally told Kulongoski about the abuse in the early 90's---because Kulongoski was about to run for Attorney General and Goldschmidt was going to be part of the campaign team.

I thought the public deserved an updated answer in light of the bar complaint.

I'd talked to his press secretary Monday and she said he was not available because he was taking part in the Top Off drill.

I called and talked to her twice Tuesday and was told the same thing. My assistant news director and I called one more time on Tuesday and made it clear that if the governor did not make time for us, even five minutes, we would have to ask him about it during a news conference scheduled to talk about Top Off.

We suggested talking about it a moment before or after the press conference to keep the two separate. His staff refused.

So, after the news conference began, and after the Governor and others had a chance to say their piece about top off---I waited. I wanted other journalists to get a chance to ask the governor or others what they wanted about the drill. But I also worried his staff would whisk the governor away without giving me a chance to ask my question.

After three questions to the federal guy running Top Off---I asked my question. " Governor---the state bar is reviewing a complaint that you lied to the public about the Goldschmidt abuse---is that true sir?"

Half way through the question the moderator, who had warned us twice that they would not allow any questions off the topic of Top Off began to cut me off. He told me to refer my question to the press secretary. I cut him off---stating this was the only place the governor was available. There was no other time.

With that the governor turned on his heel and said "lets go!" and walked off the stage.

The reason I ignored the "no questions off the topic" rule is because I had no choice. I believe the public has a right to hear from the top elected official in the state on this topic. I personally like and respect Ted Kulongoski and expected him to easily brush off the question---noting he'd answered it before and the answer had not changed.

I have no idea why he walked off without answering.

I hope he answers the question soon.

It’s a rare story that takes off like the one involving Snowball the deer and her offspring Bucky.
I'm not quite sure where it will end.

Viewers have shown incredible passion about these two black tail deer.

As the reporter assigned the story Wednesday morning, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about the entire thing.
I suspected the animals were not well cared for and the conditions not the best.

I was surprised to find quite the opposite. Jim Filipetti and his long time companion Francis Mantei obviously love their animals---and seem to have worked hard to keep all their animals (they have 20 to 25 including dogs, pigs, llamas, turkey, cats, peacocks, pigeons and others ) healthy and living in what appeared to be good conditions.

Francis told me how she'd gone on the internet to learn what to feed deer when Jim first brought home the crippled little one they named Snowball.

While I was their, the family's 4 year old and their handyman brought over clipped apple branches to feed the deer.

It was the beginning of an emotional rollercoaster ride for everyone at the home on Wednesday. When we arrived---Francis was sad and angry and resigned to the fact the state was going to take both deer from their home.

Her daughter walked by and asked me in a very serious 4 year old voice why I was taking away her deer. I explained I was a reporter from the tv station---she was not impressed.

Around 1:30pm the state seemed ready to make a deal. They offered Francis a compromise. They would take Bucky…the year and a half old buck and see if he could be released to the wild. Francis seemed fine with that---although later Jim said he was not.

The state also offered to not seize Snowball..but instead let the family release the white deer on the family's property. It seemed like a perfect solution---until they delved into the details.

The family learned they could not contain Snowball in anyway. No fences, gates etc. could be used. The family didn’t think the doe would wander far, but then they realized they could not protect her from predators either.

They also read the document the state wanted them to sign, which included a provision to search the property at any time.

Suddenly they began envisioning their beloved animal being ripped to shreds by neighborhood dogs and they would not be able to do a thing. They were also told they could not take Snowball to the vet if she got sick---and state agents showing up when ever they wanted.

Jim Filipetti said--- no way.

Eventually the animals were drugged and taken away by state vets.

The family's four year old, who had been kept away at a friend's during much of the drama, returned.

She walked up and asked me---"did they take my deer?" I pretended I didn’t hear her. "Did they take my deer?" she insisted. I looked down at her and said, "yes they did honey." Why? She wanted to know---

It’s a long story.

And its not over yet.