Important Message

Via an urgent email I received today from...MY MOM:

FYI,
CNN aired a live news briefing from a team of credible scientists from the Paradigm Research Group at the National Press Club today around 11:30 am today. We watched it on the computer because our TV cable didn’t air it. This is not a joke – it’s for real. Here’s a summary of what I can remember from their report.

1. Over 2% of the world’s population has experienced an alien abduction.

2. The implants that have been recovered from some of the abductees have been studied and here are some of the findings:
a. No trauma is visible at the insertion site.
b. The device is usually covered with a substance of unknown (metallic?) origin, that binds with tissue growth and the device is not rejected by the host.
(1) reverse engineering could provide our medical science with important information, especially for patients undergoing transplants
c. When examined under electron microscopy, carbon nanotubes are apparent – that is something that does not occur naturally and is difficult to manufacture.
d. Some crystalline structures have been changed.
e. The device emits very high frequencies (in the GigaHz range).

3. They are 95% certain the implants are extra-terrestrial in origin

4. They are 90% certain that the implants are utilitarian in nature (for tracking, or sending or receiving information)

The group is asking President Obama to hold to his promise of increased transparency in government and to release UFO information. If he doesn’t respo9nd within the next few months, they will begin to relentlessly use the press to push for the release of the classified information.

Stay tuned for more exciting information and encourage your government to tell the real story!!!

Best wishes,
Sarajane

The newest edition . . .

The Irony of Satire

Ohio State University released a study titled The Irony of Satire: Political Ideology and the Motivation to See What You Want to See in The Colbert Report in which they found that "conservatives were more likely to report that Colbert only pretends to be joking and genuinely meant what he said while liberals were more likely to report that Colbert used satire and was not serious when offering political statements. Conservatism also significantly predicted perceptions that Colbert disliked liberalism." This might explain why the Bush admin thought Colbert would a safe bet for the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner...

Passion Pit

Passion Pit - The Reeling from Smoke My Tabaco on Vimeo.

I feel in love with Passion Pit when I heard Sleepyhead and now they have fully consumed my heart with this new cut and video. Album drops 5/19!

Scavenger Hunt!

On Saturday, May 2nd, starting at 1pm, Seattle Inner City Outings will lead Search Party 2009 a witty competition of strategy and fitness exploring the hidden secrets of Seattle's South Lake Union. Beginning at Denny Park, prepared with a search map and clue book, participants will puzzle, roam, perform, race, and ponder throughout South Lake Unions landmarks, businesses, and novelty locations on foot. All proceeds from the event benefit Seattle Inner City Outings (ICO), an all-volunteer community youth program of the Sierra Club. ICO is dedicated to providing opportunities for urban youth and adults to explore, enjoy, and learn about the natural world.

Black Lips - Red Stripes

Up On the Roof

The Met has another amazing rooftop exhibit in the works. Roxy Paine (the artist behind Split at the Olympic Sculpture Park) has created a thicket of metal branches to grace the Met's most fantastic space. If the experience is anything like seeing the works of Jeff Koons on this same roof last spring, it is most definitely a trip worth taking.

Shoes!

Remember a few years back when Liam Show put out the Shoes video on youtube? (Those shoes are miiiine bitch) This video seems like the appropriate progression. Tiga always seemed more comedy than hit (except for Sexor's Your Gonna Want Me) this proves it. And I'm totally feeling the chick's jumping cholla dress.

On a sunny afternoon

a drink on La Isla's patio is where it's at.

Denim Day April 24th

In 1999, the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the victim was wearing jeans. The Justices stated that since removing jeans "...is impossible if the victim is struggling with all her might," the victim must have assisted the attacker in removing her jeans, which they felt implied consent.

Denim Day began as a heated response to this verdict. However, it has now evolved into an internationally celebrated day to show your support for ending sexual violence, honoring survivors and raising awareness of the issue.

Very Thin Ice

What are you tryin to say about Iowa?

Caprica?

How compelled will BSG fans be to watch Caprica, the prequel series to Battlestar Galactica (the pilot was released on DVD today)? I think I prefer the Adamas in space (although the trailor kinda got me with the Adams/Adama differentiation, might have to watch long enough to find out what that's all about).

Seattle Lake Myths

Having grown up in Seattle I have heard many a horror story about the lakes of our great region. There was the alligator in Green Lake, the long rods ready to spear Arboretum bridge jumpers in Lake Washington, and dead babies in Lake Union. Well it looks like there might be truth to at least one of these stories: Police Divers Recover Bottled Fetus From Lake Washington.

Que Viva!

Michael Casey, the Buenos Aires bureau chief for Dow Jones Newswires, has a new book out, Che’s Afterlife, discussing the evolution of the infamous Korda image of Che, used to market products and ideology across the globe for decades:

It is a book about how ideas travel and mutate in this age of globalization, how concepts of political ideology have increasingly come to be trumped by notions of commerce and cool and chic, and how the historical Che Guevara gave way, post-mortem, to a host of other Ches: St. Che, said to possess the ability to perform miracles; Chesucristo, a Christ-like figure revered for his ideals, not his advocacy of violence; an entrepreneurial Che, promoting the lesson “that individuals should honestly strive to produce their utmost for the good of all”; and the Rock ’n’ Roll Che, more representative of youthful anti-authoritarianism than of any political dogma.

I'm going to start incorporating Chesucristo into my vocabulary immediately.

Nothing to do Wednesday????

What: Public Hearing on Proposed Budget Cuts
When: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall, 600 4th Avenue. 2nd floor

City Council schedules 2nd budget hearing this Wednesday, April 22nd
The good news is that Mayor Nickels' plan to balance the 2009 budget includes NO CUTS TO HUMAN SERVICES! This is recognition of the critical reality that there are more and more Seattle residents in need of these services.
But we cannot just let this process ride out, thinking the decision has been made, because it turns out that City Council is viewing the budget hearing on Wednesday as a way to educate themselves for the 2010 budget cuts.This quote from Councilmember Jean Godden, "Comments will help inform councilmembers as they begin to develop their annual budget priorities resolution. The resolution will offer Mayor Nickels guidance on areas of interest to the Council as he works to prepare a revised 2010 budget over the summer. The Council will review and ultimately adopt a revised 2010 budget later this year in November."
And more cuts will be needed to balance the 2010 budget. The total deficit for 2010 is now projected at $51.7 million. If they repeat the cuts made in order to balance the 2009 budget this reduces the deficit by $12.9 million, leaving $38.8 million of additional cuts that the mayor and council must make in 2010.

Human service advocates must also be there telling our stories, so that Councilmembers and the Mayor keep these realities in mind.

Testify at Wednesday's hearing. Make these points in 2 minutes or less:
Economic downturn has increased the needs of Seattle residents: Give examples from your experience of increased numbers of people who need services, or increased stress that families are under, making them less resilient and in need of more depth of services, however it is showing up for you.
We commend Mayor Nickels' plan to make no cuts in human services in order to balance the 2009 budget. At least maintaining this funding is absolutely crucial as we try to address these unprecedented needs. In fact, more funding is needed to help Seattle residents get through this deepening crisis.
Thank you, Councilmembers, for your leadership and commitment to making the services needed for the basic safety, health and well being of Seattle residents your top priority.

Show up early to get an earlier testimony spot, some get there by 4:30. Sign up sheets will be available at 5pm outside the door to Council Chambers. There will be a long line by then. Hearings can go on until 9:30 or 10pm, but this may be a shorter one. Reduced rate parking is available in SeaPark garage between Cherry and James Streets for $3.00 - just tell the cashier that you were there for the public hearing as you exit.

If you absolutely can't be there Wednesday it is better to send Councilmembers an email than not to raise your voice at all. Scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Hell Yeah!

I told you . . . .

Puzzle:
Two men are found dead in a room, there is a table and 53 Bicycles on the floor. What happened to the men?

Probably late to the game. . .

but iGoogle has changed my work life.

Need to restock on invisibility paint?

Program your transporter to 372 5th Avenue Brooklyn NY 11215 United States, the Brooklyn Superhero Supply is ready to answer all of your superhuman needs.

Intro to grad school

UW students hang out at the College Inn Pub.

MUP students hang out in the clubhouse.

Pet Shop vs. Rescue Shelter

From the people who brought us Sea Kittens, breast-milk ice cream and a controversial Super Bowl ad...Rescue Shelter Boys! And unlike a PETA staffer I am not posting West End Girls to celebrate. It's just a killer song...killer.

Thanks for the what what Mena!

Too much

So, I have many loves, today the internet gave forth the goods on some of them:

Design: Architecture for Humanity

Dogs: Honda Dog Car (ruff rider? really?)

Urban Planning: GOOD Love What a good street looks like and why

Bikes: Been doored lately?

You could also say cars made a heavy appearance. However, I'd say they are just the vehicle on which the stories were delivered.

What?! No hoverboard?

So I decided to delete the video because getting the stupid "download Quick Time" pop up everytime I checked up on the blog got super old. So visit the link and check the video, pop up free.

Check the video out here.

By Supermarché.

I'm in love

with GOOD.

My block...

I'm thinking someone driving a murdered-out mini cooper might be asking for this...but then again what good are mini-wheels to the common thief?  

Knew it!

Surfing the net at work for pleasure actually increases our concentration levels and helps make a more productive workforce, according to a new University of Melbourne study.

They even made up a nice little acronym: ‘Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing’ (WILB)

People who do surf the Internet for fun at work - within a reasonable limit of less than 20% of their total time in the office - are more productive by about 9% than those who don’t.

Key point: less than 20%...

The rest of us are still just unproductive.

Weekend wisdom at 83

My abuelita is gangsta.

Egyptian Lover this Saturday

I'm super bummed I'm going to be out of town for this. I had a big thing for Egyptian Lover not too long ago, and by big thing I mean I really liked the line "tell'em what I am!":

Chop Suey Saturday 4/4
Egyptian Lover, Jamie Jupiter, Truckasauras, DJ Sean Cee

NIN April fools

track list:
intro skit
everybody's doing it (featuring chris martin, jay-z AND bono)
black t-shirt
pussygrinder (featuring sheryl crow)
coffin on the dancefloor
this rhythm is infected
slide to the dark side
even closer (featuring justin timberlake and maynard james keenan)
on the list (she's not)
clap trap crack slap
laid, paid and played (featuring fergie of the black eyed peas and al jourgensen)
feel like being dead again
still hurts (featuring alicia keys)
outro skit

Produced by Timbaland

The glasses, the Chris Cornell dig, the track list...perfection

Wall of Sound

Introducing the 'Flat, Flexible Loudspeaker'

Lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture, the speakers are slim and flexible: they could be concealed inside ceiling tiles or car interiors, or printed with a design and hung on the wall like a picture.

Sidenote: I just learned that Phil "the Wall of Sound" Spector produced the Ramones End of the Century...I'm seeing life a little clearer now.

Sometimes I wish the Onion reported the truth...

Obama Depressed, Distant Since 'Battlestar Galactica' Series Finale

"I'm a little concerned," first lady Michelle Obama was overheard saying at a fundraising event Tuesday. "When Firefly was canceled, he walked around like a zombie for a week, and Serenity was the only thing that snapped him out of it. Last night he said he felt like he had just discovered David Axelrod was one of the Final Five, whatever that means."

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G