For the second time in 8 months, the streets of my neighborhood are blocked off for a presidential visit. Oh, thank God, the president is on his way to inner-Seattle. Surely he’s coming to save lives, right wrongs, and fight for the rights of the average citizen. Right? Wrong, and … see, that’s the thing. That’s why I, and some of my neighbors, are none too happy this...

I had my doubts, but it looks as though Target really is planning to open a Downtown Seattle store in the near future. The windows are being prepped and everything. Apparently, it will be called “City Target”, although how this will differ from a regular Target is not entirely clear. If I had to guess, I would speculate that regular Targets mean that Girl Scouts beg for money out...

I spent most of yesterday in Westlake Park, hanging out, observing, and talking with people. For the most part, it was actually quite enjoyable. Say what you will about the Occupy folks, but 99% of the people I encounter at their gatherings are really nice, intelligent people. I don’t necessarily agree with everything written on their signs, but the corporate greed and government...

What started out as peaceful has taken a turn for the, well, less peaceful. There are several splinter groups roaming Downtown Seattle breaking things, while the crowd in Westlake Park has swelled to around 500. Niketown: American Apparel: More photos from May Day in Westlake Park:...

I love the SLUT. I love the SLUT so much that I ride it at least once a week, and usually more often. The SLUT is so fun and satisfying, that I have a huge smile on my face each time I get off. I also ride the South Lake Union Trolley on a frequent basis. South Lake Union Park, The Guitar Center, Scoot About, Whole Foods … it goes to a lot of places that I need to go, and at $0.00 for...

In honor of the Space Needle’s 50th Anniversary, the owners of the famous landmark have taken it upon themselves to paint the roof of the structure “Galaxy Gold”. Why Galaxy Gold? Because this was the color the roof was painted when the Space Needle was first introduced to the world during the 1962 World’s Fair. While I think the retro theming is pretty cool, I do realize...

Remember this article? http://www.seattlerex.com/the-reddest-of-states/ Well, I just learned that the “Rob the Poor to Feed The Rich” film initiative has passed. Christine Gregoire, the woman who is slashing assistance to the working poor and just-plain-poor across the state, just handed the wealthy film industry a 30% rebate of our hard-earned tax money. She actually signed it into...

After being called upon to investigate abuses by the Seattle Police Department, four months ago, the Department of Justice released a report which excoriated the SPD over its civil rights violations. This week, Mayor Mike McGinn finally issued his response — a response which consists of a 20-point plan designed to address the DOJ’s concerns. Those 20 points are: Protecting...

On Friday night, I fell asleep with the TV on. Early Saturday morning, while still in twilight sleep, I heard a news story being repeated over and over from the talking picture box that I had left running. I must have heard the same piece three or four times in the course of an hour. Figuring that I was missing out on something very, very important, I finally turned on the light, turned up the...

Two weeks ago, the Seattle Weekly ran an article which I thought was possibly their best piece … ever. It’s called ‘Ripped Apart’, and you can read it here: http://www.seattleweekly.com/2012-01-18/news/ripped-apart/ Not long after that article was written, today, Josh Powell, a man denied custody of his two children, a man who clearly had a psychotic break, killed himself...

Remember the shooting referenced in this post? Well, as it turns out, the man who was shot by a Federal Way police officer last week did not have a weapon. Supposedly, unidentified “drug paraphernalia” was found in the car, but no actual drugs or weapons. Another civilian has died because an officer supposedly “feared for her life” in the absence of a tangible reason for...

First King County, and now The Feds. Federal prosecutors said Friday that they will not prosecute a Seattle Police Department officer who was involved in the August 30, 2010, fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver in downtown. The woodcarver, John T. Williams, was carrying a knife and a piece of wood in Seattle. He was ordered to put the knife down by Seattle Police Officer Ian Birk....

“Bitch, give me some water!” “Don’t you dare speak to me like that!” I turned around to find a man and a woman yelling at each other, mere inches from each others’ faces, like two boxers before they touch gloves. “Ah, yet another lover’s quarrel”, I thought to myself. On this morning, last Friday morning to be exact, I stopped by the Queen Anne Dick’s to procure a chocolate...

Nearly a year ago, the Department of Justice was called in to investigate allegations of abuse and civil rights violations at the hands of the Seattle Police Department, and today the DOJ released its report: http://www.king5.com/home/related/DOJ-press-release-on-Seattle-PD-civil-rights-investigation-135742463.html Their conclusions? • Seattle police officers too quickly resort to the use of...

Today, security at Westlake Center committed assault and battery upon a man photographing today’s Occupy Seattle Rally. Please read the following account: http://rippdemup.visibli.com/share/wgJF7F I am a person who lives mere blocks from Westlake Center, and I spend a fair share of my meager disposable income in the place – but I will not spend another penny in that property unless...

I just heard the news. As the owner of three Macs and a metric buttload of Apple-branded peripherals, I got to know Steve’s handiwork over the years, and I grew to be one of his biggest critics. Steve was a “genius” because he learned quickly how to run his company like a religion, and in a P.T. Barnum kind of way, he’ll go down as the greatest tech visionary ever. While...

This is where it all started. On September 28th, 1851 … nearly 160 years ago to the day, the Denny Party landed near this statue, and two years later, the area was named “New York Alki” or “New York, Someday”. Since West Seattle was surrounded by water and was hysterically penis-shaped just like Manhattan, the settlers had aspirations to build a west coast version of...

For the majority of the morning and afternoon, I was prevented from leaving my home. Why? Because the president of the “free” world, Barack Obama visited Seattle today, and lucky me … I live behind one of his stops, the Paramount Theatre. Early in the afternoon, I made my way down to Pike Street, at which point I was immediately scolded by a Seattle Police Officer to go back...

Yesterday was the 25th Birthday of Pike Place Market’s official mascot … Rachel the Pig. Ever since Sally Clark poisoned the well with what could possibly have been bribe money, Rachel just hasn’t been the same to me.  She’s no longer the sweet, smiling, innocent virgin she once was. Now, she’s had things inside of her.  Filthy, dirty things. Sure, it wasn’t...

This is a short update on the Hit-and-Run of Michael Wang. The driver of the SUV has not yet been found, but a website has been set up to take leads from the general public, and to memorialize Mr. Wang. If you know anything, or can help in any way, please visit: http://fatalhitandrun.webs.com/ It’s very easy for us to forget about this, as our own problems overwhelm us and the 24 hour news...

This afternoon, a short march and a rally was held at the Seattle City Hall by opponents of Proposition 1 a/k/a The Downtown Seattle Deep-Bore Tunnel. I went over to get some shots and to show my support. Now, I’ve gone over why I am against Proposition 1 in probably half a dozen articles, so I won’t go into it again at this moment. I would, however, urge you to take a look at this...

Well, you certainly can’t say that I didn’t call it. I reference this post from some 8 months ago: http://www.seattlerex.com/clemency-for-a-tree/ On July 18th, Borders announced its bankruptcy, and the store in Century Square (1501 4th Ave – across from Westlake Park) is in its final few days. I stopped by to pay my last respects earlier this week, and when two employees near...

The Radiation Helicopter has been repeatedly spotted over Downtown Seattle today, and yours truly finally got a photo of said vehicle. This particular aircraft has been commissioned by the Department of Health to map radiation levels in the Puget Sound area so that we may use those measurements as baselines in the event of an emergency. For instance, if Downtown Seattle typically gives off 10Wm2...

In the past few days, I’ve received maybe a dozen emails and as many text messages about this story: http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/06/28/ar-15-left-sitting-on-trunk-of-seattle-police-car Basically, a Seattle Police Officer left a huge assault rifle on the back of his car, and he apparently drove all over downtown without noticing the thing sitting on his trunk. Of course, once...

About 15 minutes ago, I was walking up Pike Street. As I was crossing the I-5 overpass, I heard screeeeeeeeeech THUMP! I ran to the railing, looked over, and saw a driver jump out of a damaged car, at which point her dog also jumped out and ran across the freeway. I did not see the accident actually occur, and I hung around long enough to observe that all of the occupants seemed to be okay. It...