One last thing... experimenting with advertising

Ok, ok, I'm really leaving. Last post before we get on the plane. You'll notice that we've hung tacky Google links all over the place. The hope is that these will produce a tiny trickle of cash to pay for advertising this very blog. Why advertise this blog? We don't know -- it's fun, we guess. But boy does Google have a nice scam going! It's worse than Shaklee! The likelihood that the ads will do anything besides annoy you are pretty low given the volume requirements Google puts down before they'll even think about cutting a check but we thought, what the heck, let's check it out. Let us know if you hate em and maybe we'll just start a tip jar or something.

Library getting short end of mayor's stick?

Jeesh, we should get on with our vacation already and forget all this blogging crap but we keep thinking of yet another item we need to post. Can't leave town without putting this on your radar. Restlessreader points out that the mayor might have forgot something in his budget plan:

-snip-
The Mayor has released his proposed budget for 2006. However, it does not include any increases in operating hours or funding for book collections for the Seattle Public Library. The Seattle City Council made a commitment to restore the cuts that the Library has experienced over the last four years once the budget improved. The City Council will be conducting public hearings on the budget on October 12th and November 3rd. This is a key opportunity for citizens to let the city government know what they think.
-unsnip-

If this bugs you like it bugs Restless, jump over to her blog to use her hand-dandy-auto-matic - 'I'm mad as hell' - email-the-powers-that-be mail generator to send a friendly note.

--j

Viaduct to close, you to wake up to strange whistle

AlaskaWyViaduct020
Originally uploaded by Dugfresh.

Your attention please. This is a test... FYI, not only is the earthquake-tender Viaduct closing down this weekend for inspection, but the powers-that-be will use the opportunity to test out a fancy pants emergency system. Saturday morning, it is reported, sleephyheads will be awakend by the sounds of 'Westminster Chimes.' Sounds charming!

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, viaduct, waterfront, thisisonlyatest

One less dinner spot on Seattle's 1st Ave.

The bad news: There are now fewer places to grab dinner in uptown Seattle to the tune of one. The good news: Dinner at Cherry Street Coffeehouse wasn't that good, really. At least, we didn't think so though The Stranger (headline writer, at least... Axis of yummy?) disagreed. Anyhow, a sad little computer printout in the window is announcing the imminent cessation of Cherry St.'s dinner service at this location. Do they serve dinner at the other ones? Stop it! Just kidding. It wasn't that bad -- it just wasn't something we'd recommend. Coffee's good though.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, restaurants

2 good things about smoking but 901still rocks

When it comes to arguments surrounding Initiative 901, there are only two good things we can think of regarding cigarettes:

1. Finding one in fingers is leading indicator that we have already had much, much too much to drink.
2. Dry cleaners love em!

'Sides that, we agree with the dreamer in this vigorous Stranger Forum debate who contends that smoking is tantamount to pooping in public. Amen, brother.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, initiative901, smokingisnasty

Something to tide you over while we're gone

We just stumbled on this one today so hang an asterisk on our recommendation, but Belltown Bent might be enough to hold down the fort while we're gone.

It's the kind of blog we like best -- amateur (it's his hobby, not his job, we mean) but looks pro, has lots of pictures, well written, short posts and mostly on theme (that theme being, per the name, Belltown).

Recent topics inclue Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and, one of our favorite fascinations, the Olympic Sculpture Park.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, belltown, blogs

Germans, we come in peace

We're going on a quick jaunt through Europe next week so we won't be posting very often. We know, we know -- you'll miss us terribly. But we need a vacation! We start in Paris, drive to Dresden and then take a short train trip into Prague. Along the way, I'm hoping to stumble upon a few things Seattle to post from the road. In the meantime, we're hoping the Germans don't feel the need for an eye-for-an-eye.

-snip-
Woman struck as man, police fire weapons
By Sara Jean Green
Seattle Times staff reporter
A 19-year-old au pair from Germany was injured early yesterday in a shootout between a 21-year-old Seattle man and police officers outside a popular Belltown bar.
-unsnip-

--j/k
(Sara, is your name really Sara Jean Green? Or are you just pulling a Capt. Kangaroo?)


Tags: uptown, seattle, vacation

Redmond sends Uptown Seattle $761 million

The real story is getting lost in all the techno hub-bub surrounding the Microsoft-Real Networks settlement. Real is right around the corner down on Elliott and lots of Realies live in these parts. Expect cash-flush tech geeks to flood the streets any minute now and the price of recreational drugs to skyrocket.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, realnetworks, microsoft

Caught on tape: Mechanical monster strikes Seattle

In keeping with our supernatural theme of late, here's footage from today's destruction. Crank your volume to 10 for full effect.




-- j


Tags: uptown, seattle, demolition, video, kindacompelling

Do we really need the Viaduct?

Cascadia Scorecard, one of our favorite enviro-blogs, has a vigorous debate going on regarding the future of our Viaduct. If you live in the city, you need to read this.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, viaduct

6 mysteries of Seattle's Starlite Lounge

BTW, to further investigate the alleged haunting of Belltown's Butterworth Building (as documented in this very same blog) we stopped into the Starlite on Friday night and witnessed the following paranormal events:

1. Decently cool, mixed demographic crowd not making too big of asses of itselveseses on a Friday night in Belltown
   
2. Balloon bouquet suddenly and mysteriously rising into the air, to ceiling
3. Many females' shirts rising mysteriously high while jeans rode mysteriously low
4. Gin and tonics mysteriously disappearing only to be replaced by melting ice cubes and lime wedges
5. Freakishly cold draught of air periodically eminating from bathroom hallway
6. Ugly man with pretty date (saw 3 of these events)

We recommend you assemble a team of investigators and check it out youselves.

-- j/k

Tags: uptown, seattle, starlitelounge, ghosts

My Own Private Beirut

Fall05 068
Originally uploaded by jseattle.

With this destruction/re-construction across the street and all the action nearby at the Olympic Sculpture Park, things look a little messy here in Uptown these days. Word is that the destruction/re-construction is going to be yet another mix-use condo building. For now, it's giving our humble little apartment some extra light -- until they build the sucker back up and obliterate our view of the north and, sadly, the soothing blue glow of the ever-watchful PI globe.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, construction

Today's most-popular Seattle blog posts

The 'Most Popular' page on the new Cityfeeds service seems to be a useful way to stay on top of a filtered list of top blogs about your city without having to manage your own RSS feeds (whatever those are). We're still partial to the old-school stylings of Seablogs but definitely appreciate something that requires even less manual labor like Cityfeeds. We're not sure how Cityfeeds will scale and to be able to decide what blogs make the cut and what blogs don't but, for now, it's a step in the right direction. If you're looking for new info sources or just like the idea of seeing a lot of good posts in one place, Cityfeeds could be worth a visit.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, cityfeeds

Top 5 ballot initiatives you've never heard of

To be perfectly honest, there are only *five* state ballot initiatives this year -- but we're betting that you, like us, haven't exactly studied up on the issues yet. Of all the items on the ballot, initiatives can be the most frustrating and complicated votes to cast because, even if you have studied the issue, it's not always clear what happens when you vote Yes or No. Did I just approve spending that money or deny it? Don't guess. Guessing in the voting booth is bad. Fortunately, the League of Women Voters can get you all the facts and, best of all, give you points to consider both pro and con for each initiative.

• LWV's Ballot Issues 2005
• LWV's Simplified Ballot Issues 2005 (our favorite -- the Cliffs Notes version for voters with busy lifestyles!)

BTW, these are the fascinating five this year:

1. Initiative 330: Limiting Recovery for Malpractice Claims and Imposing other Restrictions
2. Initiative 336: Medical Malpractice Reform, Health Care Provider Licensing and Consumer Rights
3. Initiative 900: Relating to Performance Audits
4. Initiative 901: Prohibiting Secondhand Smoke in Public Places and Places of Employment
5. Initiative 912: Repealing the Gas Tax Increase

Right now, we plan to vote Yes 3 times. Once we study the LWV guide a little more, we'll decide on which ones.

-- j

Tags: uptown, seattle, 2005election, initiatives, leagueofwomenvoters