Where Have All The Good Dives Gone?

One comic strip artist traces the "evolution" (or devolution) of dive bars in historic Ballard, specifically Hattie's Hat. Even if you're unfamiliar with the Seattle area, I suspect the following excerpt speaks to most of us, bringing waves of nostalgia for bar days gone by:

These Bukowski clones could barely even squeeze INTO Hattie's anymore, let alone punch people in it, what with all the sudden throngs of black-clad 20-somethings and their dot com dollars hogging up the joint. Soon many of them were taking their business elsewhere, only to have their other homes-away-from-home pulled out from under them time and time again

*** flash forward a couple of panels ***

The windbreaker clad 50-somethings sitting at the Smokeroom's bar hate what's happened to Hattie's and the rest of the Row. They'll gladly rag on all these johnny-come-lately yuppies and hipsters at the drop of a hat. "These young kids spend money like it grows on trees! They never ask what a beer costs. They just order it and drink it! So of course all the bars want to cater to them." Good point! In fact, I'm surprised the Smokeroom's management hasn't 86'd all these cheapskates as well by now, and put a sign in the window saying "Yuppies and Hipsters Welcome!"

No? Then, clearly, you haven't lived. Plus, you just have to love any website called suck.com.

Bush's Hotmail - I swear, Mr. Homeland Security, it wasn't me who hacked in . . .

What do you bet his password was "1234?" Anyhow, enjoy a view of Bush's Hotmail Inbox - most revealing. (Okay, okay - we all know it's a joke - a real Hotmail account would have hella spam, too.)

Ya Snooze, Ya Lose: eBay auction - Buy Social Security

Well, it finally happened. Billionaires for Bush have decided to take care of things once and for all. In their own words:

Due to the surprising failure of carefully staged "conversations" across America to convince the American Public that Privatizing Social Security is a good thing, we have decided to take matters into our own hands.

What You Get: $ Winning bidder (to repeat, you must be a Wall St. Firm (see note below) may immediately begin charging ordinary Americans: Brokerage fees! Deposit fees! Management fees! Service fees! Early withdrawal fees! Fees to process fees! New owners will be allowed to invent any new fees we haven’t thought of yet!

It's only the best eBay auction EVER! No - really. Ya gotta admire folks who invest so much time, energy and creativity just to make us little folk happy. Check out the Lottery Scratch Cards low on the page. And don't miss the invite to the April Fool's Day Billionaires Ball ("dress to oppress!") near the bottom.

And, yes, you need to view it at the link I've thoughfully provided because eBay pulled the ad quicker than you can say, "capitalist." Once again, we thank the witty folks at whitehouse.org for providing a free laugh to lighten our overtaxed Democratic souls. [wince - sorry, I couldn't resist] Think we're giving Bush too hard a time? Check Factcheck.org for an enlightening article on the statistics used to convince us of the Social Security "crisis" [/finger quotes and eye-rolling] and then make up your own mind.

More Homage for Lilek . . . this time, Regrettable European Interiors of the 70's

Horrifying doesn't begin to describe 'em . . . and for an added bonus, check out the fashions on the models lounging around oh, so naturally in their hip and happening living spaces. I now bring you . . . Eurobad '74!

Avocado green, burnt orange, faux brick and (buckle your saddle for this one) a combo kitchen/stable! Beats hell out of the subsequent kitchen/garage in neon green - what's with the kitchen/transportation theme? The early days of fast food as a design inspiration?

I must admit, though - the most disturbing image is the high school age girl in the bathroom (with knee high socks, no less) swatting her much younger brother's hand away as he tries to flip up her jean mini-skirt for a peek. Ewwwww . . . and if it's not her brother, what the hell is the neighbor doing in the bathroom while she's getting ready for school? Never mind - I don't want to know.

Wow . . . I mean, wow! An homage to "Regrettable Food"

I was told that James Lilek had retired his inspired site Gallery of Regrettable Food (oh, the horror!). However, it appears rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated (and we all breathe a collective sigh of relief).

Not only is he still going strong, but his influence is spreading. We now present Candyboot's Weight Watcher Recipe Cards from 1974. Be afraid . . . be very afraid.

You're Richer Than You Think

And if you don't believe me, visit Global Rich List. Enter your annual salary and find out where you rank on the list of worldwide wealth. I guarantee you're doing better than you think you are. Kudos to Poke, a creative agency based in London that specializes in interactive media (and recent winners of a BAFTA award for their work on Alexander McQueen's fashion website).

As they note, three billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day. Seventy percent of those living on less than $1 per day are women. So in their own words:

• WHY ARE WE DOING IT? We are obsessed with wealth. But we gauge how rich we are by looking upwards at those who have more than us. This makes us feel poor. We wanted to do something which would help people understand, in real terms, where they stand globally. And make us realise that in fact most of us (who are able to view this web page) are in the privileged minority. We want people to feel rich. And give some of their ‘extra’ money to a worthwhile charity.

You can't beat that with a stick. Bravo - now go spread some of your own wealth (if not cash, then time and energy - we all have some of that to offer).

Evite - Social Crack . . . but with colorful templates

Evite has me hooked something fierce. At any given time these days, I have 6-8 invites on my list. And half of 'em are ones I've sent. It's gotten so that my social engagements don't feel quite real if they aren't on my Evite list. [sigh]

But I'm using my Evite powers for good - I've just helped Linda, the volunteer coordinator for Friends of Francoise, set up the volunteers on Evite. Now we can keep track of who is volunteering for the four big holiday meals for the homeless (New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas) as well as the monthly meals. Plus, Evite provides a sign-up/survey feature that will let us parse the volunteers across transport, cooking, serving and clean-up. The transport part is because, while we cook at St. Mark's kitchen, we often serve downtown or in other areas where homeless folks congregate. It's too hard for them to come to us, so we bring the food to them.

So, yes, somehow I've been shanghai'd into cooking the Easter Dinner at St. Mark's - don't have all the details yet, but something to do with the usual chef needing to leave early and trouble getting the kitchen. I think it's partially due to St. Mark's hosting Tent City during March and April. So the only way we could have the kitchen was if we agreed to cook for two other events - oh, Lawd, what have I gotten into this time?

Anyhow, here's my Evite list for first quarter 2005 (so far):

• Mike & Shari's First Annual Dance Party - 1/22 (they didn't Evite, but told everyone to invite friends . . . so, of course, that meant via Evite for me - live band and lots of fun)
• NWR Knit-In - 1/23 (almost finished my first hat)
• DigitalEve Seattle Potluck - 1/28 - (co-host/Chapter Leader)
• Girl's Movie Night - 80's Guilty Pleasures & Vegan Mexican - Yum! - 1/29
• Super Bowl at Casa de Carne - 2/6
• Chinese New Year Bonfire - 2/12 (had to pass at the last minute - it was raining and I was struggling with a cold)
• Third Annual Casa de Carne (Debi's) Housewarming & Game Night - 2/19 (damn, that was some good jumbalaya, red beans and rice)
• Movie Madness: Ray & brunch at Portage Bay Cafe - 2/20 (hosting)
• Movie Madness: Million Dollar Baby & Dinner at Lotus Thai - 2/21 (hosting with May Leong)
• Movie Madness: Finding Neverland & dinner at The District Lounge - 2/23 (hosting with May Leong)
• NWR Knitfest (aka Toasty Noggins - a cancer charity for which we knit hats) - 2/27 (had to decline due to . . . )
• Ladies Slumber Party - 2/23-24- my contribution was dinner for 8 (roasted vegetables, grilled chicken seasoned with Adobo, and crudites for days). Remember - what happens in Bellingham, stays in Bellingham. 'Nuff said.
• Animation Festival 2005 & Dinner at Chipolte's - 3/2 (Hosting)
• Women's Writers Group - 3/6 (Hosting)
• Spring Happy Hour/Sabra's Birthday - 3/10
• May's Birthday Bonfire - 3/26
• "Surviving the Big One" Earthquake Preparedness & Shake Yer Booty Party - 4/3 (Hosting with Jennifer Johnson)
• Coming Soon: Wylie & the Wild West at the Tractor Tavern - 4/15 - my chosen birthday gathering. Separate Evite for a smaller group for dinner first - maybe at Carmelita? TBD
• Coming Soon: Women's Writer Group - 4/29

Some Kind of Wonderful

Heard a slow jam today - "Some Kind of Wonderful." Love a fresh take on stuff . . . and, mmmm, that was a good one. Slow it down . . . make it tease . . . it rocked. All girl band - Pam Grier (aka Foxy Brown) and Betty (the hot band from The L Word). Definitely fresh - download it from iTunes - for that matter, get one of their CDs (available on their website, not iTunes). More than worth the investment.