Observe the evidences of humanity. And then clean it

For the last few months, I've been working with the People's Belltown Republic. It's a small group of people who care about our neighborhood and want to invest in it. We meet on Sunday's near 3rd and Blanchard and pick up trash. Occasionally we do things to effect some environment goodness in an urban environment. However, I'm not the environmental studies extraordinaire in the group so I just do what I'm told.

There are days when I pick up things hidden in bushes and in corners that really make you realize that life is not peaches and cream for everybody. Whether forced into a lifestyle or by choice, people often leave evidence of themselves in the trash we pick up and it sometimes breaks my heart.

If anything, it moves me to compassion and compassion moves me to action. I have quickly come to love Seattle and this little crockpot of people we call Belltown. I'm really excited to see our little group grow. Moreover, it's a lot of fun to see Belltown striving to make a community of itself and to support all the groups that want to be a part of that.

This really isn't an epic post with deeply insightful meaning. I think I'm too tired right now to be epic. However, I really like what I'm doing and I think it's worth sharing. If you ever want to come check it out sometime, come join me on Sundays at 3.

You'll find a group of really cool people. You'll get to have a few beers with us after. You'll be a part of a neighborhood you may come to love as much as I do.

POST COMPLETED!

Like a kid again

I'm a bit delayed in writing about this, but last weekend I wandered into a place in South Lake Union that quickly became one of my favorite places in Seattle.

Jillian's Billiard Club is a pool hall, an arcade, a place to hang out, and overall the place elicited a sense of unbridled excitement I hadn't felt in a long time.

I went with a few friends and everybody started nerding out right away. They have many of the old school "shoot zombies, mutants, and aliens" games and all the knock-offs of the same. There are more of the myriad racing games than you can shake a stick at--including one where you can drive a semi-truck around.

There are pool tables all over the place, as well as a few ping-pong tables upstairs.

We wandered around for a while and forgot how busy we were trying to grow up. By the end of the night, the collection of guys that went spent about an hour battling out over foosball.

Overall, it's a solid place to check out and I'm sure I'll be going back.

For this reason, I like Seattle

I just saw this on TV and it turns out the commercial is also on the web site. I love that this is real. I love that this is Seattle. I love weird things.

At the Movies

You know how at the movie theater they have that big sound to show off the Dolby sound system or whatever it is they happen to use? I really think more movies should start this way instead.


Eye Poping Lemur - For more amazing video clips, click here

Making it easy to find the 'lol'

I'm usually a fan of simple humor. I like it when things are dumb and I don't have to spend too much energy to enjoy it. In fact, with most of the complexities and challenges I face, sometimes not thinking is a huge relief.

So it is with my latest StumbleUpon find: 5 second videos
This is corny, simple, and dumb. Aka, right up my alley: