reminder for the locals...

Sunday Sunday Sunday !

they're back...and holding out for a hero !

1,500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines dance to Bonnie Tyler.

Loveable Losers hit 10K !

With a 10-inning game win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, the Cubs became the 2nd team to reach the 10,000 win mark. Only the New York/San Francisco Giants have previously reached the 10k win mark. GO CUBBIES !

Getty Images Photo by Doug Pensinger

Happy Earth Day !

In celebration of Earth Day, Billboard magazine published a list of 10 music acts who have tried to make a difference to the environment over the past 12 months. Pearl Jam made that list ! Drummer Matt Cameron last year played a January benefit for flood victims in Central Washington, while guitarist Stone Gossard helped plant vegetation in a Seattle park ravaged by English Ivy. Way to go, boys ! The other nine acts can be found here.

snow in April = BOO

This is what was going down in our front yard 10 minutes ago:

By the time the video uploaded, the snow had stopped. I really hope our weather improves soon. And we don't have another crappy summer. Hope it's nice wherever you are !

speaking of the Dalai Lama...

the Dalai Lama...

Dan DeLong/P-I

I was one of the lucky people who filled Hec Ed pavilion this afternoon to hear the Dalai Lama speak to a capacity crowd. We stood in line for a long time, but it was well worth the wait. The Dalai Lama is in the fourth day of the five-day Seeds of Compassion conference, an event intended to nurture compassion in children and those who influence them. He was presented an honorary degree from the UW, then spoke for about an hour. UW administrators invited students to submit written questions to the Dalai Lama that focused on compassion and other topics that were not overtly political. A few of those were presented by students from across the state. He was gracious in answering the questions - even funny at times. He picked on one gentleman in the front row who was a bit lacking in the hair department. He said they looked alike. His laugh was infectious. What an experience to hear him speak.

No photos from inside, but here's one of the Chinese protesters outside the event:

Official photos from the UW here.

not a list we want to see the Viaduct on !

Popular Mechanics recently listed the top 10 worst infrastructure problems in the US and our very own Alaskan Way Viaduct just happened to make that list. Oh goodie. Although we're definitely proponents of fixing the old creaky structure, we dread the day it closes for construction. It's our main thoroughfare through town. But its deficiencies absolutely need to be addressed soon. NO TUNNEL !!

Happy Friday everyone !

all is forgiven....

AP Photo/Steven Senne, Pool

The outstanding hitter known for a famous costly World Series error 22 years ago threw out the ceremonial first pitch to a loud standing ovation before the Red Sox home opener today. And it was a strike. Bill Buckner was cheered continuously as he walked from the Green Monster in left field -- draped with an American flag, waving to the full house along the way. The capacity crowd welcomed Buckner back to Fenway for the first time in years with a long, roaring ovation that brought the former first baseman to tears.

Getty Images

don't work TOO hard...

...look what happened to this poor guy

not just April Fool's Day...

...today is also Asbestos Awareness Day. The Senate passed the Asbestos Awareness Day Resolution (RES108) designating the first week of April as “National Asbestos Awareness Week.” ADAO, a non–profit organization dedicated to serving as the voice of asbestos victims, first proposed the resolution in 2004.

In like a lamb, definitely out like a LION...

Uuummm....last I looked, it was the end of March. And this is what it looks like here in West Seattle this afternoon:



and at work:


The Mariner's Opening Day is Monday !! The weather forecast gets better after today - this is only a temporary thing. At least that's what I'm telling myself...

right in my backyard...

...and I didn't know about it. Eddie Vedder played two "secret" shows the past two nights at a small community center in West Seattle, only a couple miles from my house. Small crowd too; around 100 people. Lucky buggers. The setlists were fantastic - a good warmup for his upcoming solo tour. I would have loved to have been there.

cherry blossoms...

Since the kids are out of school this week on spring break, I thought I'd take the opportunity to try to photograph some of the cherry trees that are blooming on the quad. I think a bunch of other people had the same bright idea.

Happy Easter !

We spent the afternoon at our friends' house with their two awesome kids. A fantastic Easter for sure...

Peeps in ways you never wanted to see...

Here are some of my favorite applicants to the Chicago Tribune's International Peep Diorama contest:

Peep Fiction

Vincent VanPeep's Bedroom

Peeping Tom

Peepanardo Davinci

Peep Show

The Peepy Bunch

and I thought my animals were talented...

Slainte !

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My lunch at Finn MacCool's :

top o' the mornin' ...

We had a reservation this morning at the Space Needle restaurant for brunch at 10:00 - Dan's brother and family got him a gift card last July for his birthday. But we forgot about the St. Patrick's Day dash this morning and the closing of the viaduct, so we decided to go another time.

We ended up at Mick Kelly's in Burien instead. I thought about starting the St Paddy's celebrating a bit early by having a pint of Guinness, but it was 9:00 am and I opted for a stout cup of coffee instead. I forgot how good the breakfast was here.

Ever see the movie "Uncle Buck" ? That's what these monster pancakes reminded me of.

Walgreen Field ???

from the Chicagoist 3/13/08:

The Tribune reports that multiple companies might be involved in partial naming rights deals for Wrigley Field, which combined could bring in the same amount of money as a single deal for naming rights.

Tribune officials have met recently with executives from the New York Yankees, who have chosen to keep the Yankee Stadium name on their new park while generating revenue from smaller deals.

In such a scenario, a presenting sponsor might have its moniker applied to the stadium itself, but in a way that keeps the Wrigley Field name as well. Additionally, corporate names might be applied to sections of the park.

For the first time, we're also getting some idea of the companies who might be interested in associating with the historic ballpark. State Farm Insurance and Walgreen's are both rumored to be involved in negotiations.

So would it be Wrigley Field Presented By State Farm? State Farm Stadium at Wrigley Field? We're not sure exactly how Wrigley will remain in the name. We can also expect to see names applied to sections of the park. They've already got the Bud Light Bleachers -- we can now expect something along the lines of the Walgreen's Upper Deck. Chicagoist was all for section naming rights when Mark Cuban proposed such a measure in order to cut ticket prices. Now it looks like a similar deal may simply help fund the state's purchase and renovation of the park.

At the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. annual meeting on Wednesday, company chairman William Wrigley Jr. fielded questions about his company and any interest in ponying up for what it's gotten free since the 1920s. He indicated that while he wouldn't entirely rule it out, that it didn't fit into the company's brand-based marketing. Wouldn't it be ironic if Wrigley did pay, only to change the name to Orbit Field?