Sports-Darrell Jackson On His Way Out?

There have been various reports that Darrell Jackson is being shopped around the NFL. It’s a little sad, Jackson has been a good player for us for years now. I do understand that we’re paying out big money to Deion Branch and Nate Burleson, so D-Jack may be the odd man out. And with D-Jack coming up on a contract, he may be used for good trade bait. But nonetheless, he’s been a good Seahawk. Now, we could use a safety, defensive or offensive lineman. So, if we can find some good value, we’ve got to make the trade. I guess we’ll see what happens, although I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson is gone before or on draft day. I’m predicting we trade him for picks.

Good for Gore

It was nice to see Al gore win two Oscars. His movie, An Inconvenient Truth, was very good and very unique. It was a fresh break from all of the other fluff that was being offered at that time. And his movie also made us think. Not too many movies out there do that to people. And better yet, it made us think about an issue that may be the most derided and passed off serious issue affecting us to date. I like Al Gore, it's good to see him get a little credit for shedding some light on an issue. When was the last time you could say that about a politician?

Northwestern Growth

When I speak about housing prices with anyone else who doesn't live in the NW, there's sort of this confusion that enters the discussion. Thankfully, many of us in the NW haven't really been hit with a hard housing slowdown. The economy really hasn't been affected either. Apparently in other parts of the country, things have been a little more rocky. I knew WA was looking particularly good for 2007 being that we were still experiencing job growth and the we still had an influx of new residents expected to continue to come our way. And this article from Drew DeSilver at The Seattle Times helps reiterate those earlier predictions. Life is still good here in the NW, as well as the economy and housing. If you do live around here, the article below is an interesting piece discussing some of the other areas of growth that you may not know about. And for our friends outside of WA, yes, there are other growing areas here outside of Seattle. Overall, a positive piece of writing good for your Sunday read.

The Seattle Times

Giving

Think about how much different our communities would be if everyone gave 10% of their income to a worthy cause. Think about how our world could change. You can decide where to give. If you're a Christian, you're instructed to give a tithe to your church. If you're not a Christian, you can choose a worthy charity or outreach program. You could even choose to give your money to cancer or AIDS research. And why don't we do this? We give 10% to malls, bars, restaurants, car dealerships and to people we're trying to impress or chase into bed. And what has that gotten us? Disappointment, emotional letdowns, heartache? All of these things are solved by merely living outside of yourself and giving to something other than yourself. Give something, even if it's time or a little extra effort. Let the guy merge into your lane. Open a door. Just do something. Give.

Resource-Dave Ramsey

I just finished reading Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover. It’s a pretty good book. Dave gives some good practical money and financial advice. Dave also has podcasts and a radio show that complements his books. Dave won’t dazzle you with any breakthrough ideas, but he does help reiterate common sense; and that alone is highly valuable in this world of excessive, bad information. Unless you’re a complete financial know-it-all, I’d recommend checking out Dave Ramsey and what he has to offer. You may learn a thing or two and that alone is worth the cost of admission.

Dave Ramsey

Business Questions Around Sports

The Sonics are staying here for at least another year. And if they get $300 million in funding, they'll build a new arena in Renton and stay for a while. If they don't get these public funds, they're probably off to Oklahoma City. There have already been some cranky politicians claiming that this proposal is already dead. There is the claim that the deal (like other stadium deals) are bad for the public. And maybe they are. But when I read the articles discussing the deals, it seems like there is a lot left out when considering. For instance, no one really knows or adds the added revenue from all of the business that specifically target stadium traffic. And I mean ALL of the businesses' revenues from the peanut vendor all the way up to a place like the Pyramid Brewery or FX McRory's. No one is really quoting how much these businesses make or how many jobs are added on gameday. Also, much of this money comes from entertainment taxes such as dining, bar or sometimes hotel taxes. The local resident isn't hit all that hard if at all from those taxes. And if you implement those taxes within the specific radius of the stadium, county and state residents aren't hit at all. And lastly, can anyone really quote the benefit that sports adds to a community? Face it, in America professional sports IS our culture, performance art, and passion. More people attend and frequent these stadiums than any art gallery or exhibit. And whether you, I, or politicians like it, these stadiums and teams represent more of we are as communities, cities, and states. No one seems to be able to quote that added benefit either. When was the last time you shot the breeze over two pieces of art at the water cooler? I didn't think so.

Worthy Goal-Fair Share Housing

There’s been some discussion in my circle of friends and family about Tacoma, crime, and certain neighborhoods getting the brunt of violent or dangerous felons residing there. I’ve been a little bit involved in working towards “Fair Share” agreements where certain areas of the city no longer accept halfway or transitional housing due to an oversaturation of felons in that neighborhood. And due to my observance, I’ve noticed that unfortunately, there are still people out there who would rather victimize poor neighborhoods and dump felons there as opposed to spreading out transitional housing so that no particular area is completely inundated with a high-risk population. It’s the typical “not in my backyard” mentality except that those without a political or strong financial voice don’t get any say. Instead, those residing in nicer areas push their representative council members or politicians to reject any such fair idea. In their minds, senior citizen housing is a burden enough in their neighborhoods (not to mention that Fair Share housing would be taking up valuable real estate and driving their land values lower). How dare anyone in lower neighborhoods reject any more housing opportunities? After all, don’t the residents of those lower income neighborhoods have the sense to move if there is any issue with the establishment of more half-way houses? Somehow I don’t think that train of thought was supposed to be the original design of local American politics.

Week in Review

Hmmm, kind of a ho-hum week. Other than the bizarre celebrity news, not much happened. The British are beginning to pull out of Iraq, there are some inflation worries in the economy, and supposedly North Korea is willing to strike a deal concerning their nuclear program. Nothing all that amazing although I'm sure it won't be long before something weird happens. With the presidential race beginning so early, it looks like it could get quite competitive shortly. The Obama and Clinton camps appear to be on a collision course that may happen sooner than later. And the Newt is even beginning to appear doing his own brand of self-promotion. Non-eventful, but interesting times indeed.

On The Web-Ben Stein

Good advice is hard to find. And good financial advice may be even harder to find. But thankfully we have Ben Stein. While you can no longer win his money, you can still keep up with him; he writes a great column that many people still don’t know about. Below is a link to one of his articles. Ben is featured on Yahoo! Finance. I would strongly recommend reading his column regularly, especially if you don’t consider yourself financially savvy. He gives simple, straightforward advice that is pretty darn good. It’s wise to take advice from someone smarter than you. And chances are Ben Stein is smarter than you.

Yahoo! Finance

Interest Rates and Condos

It'll be interesting to see if interest rates go up this year. We've been sitting in a pretty stable spot for some time. The economy is doing well and I'm not sure that inflation has gone anywhere. But if rates do go up, I wonder what will happen to housing. With quite a bit of supply on the market, I'm not so sure that sellers will be getting what the going asking prices are at present. What I find interesting is the current boom in condos. I'm not quite confident that the market will continue to be a good one being that there are so many condo projects in the works. I'm feeling like there's a little bit of a condo glut. If rates go north, I think that portion of the market could get worse. I guess we'll see.

Britney in Rehab? Headlines Gone Wild!

I don’t often write about celebrities, but I couldn’t help myself. The pink and checkered pop culture elephant has been sitting idly by in the room long enough. What’s up with all of the weird celebrity headlines? Old Jerry Springer episodes don’t even come close to all of the funk hitting the airwaves and print now. And we thought we were going to hell then… At least on Springer they had panties, hair and shoes (although the shoes came off if you wanted to fight). And in reality, who gives a crap? Why does any of this matter? What are most celebrities good for now other than a disposable, forgettable song and some bad acting? How many truly talented artists can you name? It’s sad, we’ve gone to a less than disposable culture. We’re practically cheering for people to fall off the wagon. It’s like The Sims but not as fun. I’m not sure where it happened, but something has gone terribly wrong. And no, I don’t just blame the media. If people didn’t truly pay attention, the media would find something else that people are paying attention to at that moment. And in some part these celebrities have sold themselves out so often and for so long you wonder if this is really what they have been asking for all of their lives. And to some extent, I think it is. In a weird, sad way, they are getting what they deserve and have been seeking. Britney or _________ (fill in teen star’s name here) could have just as easily went to college/or got a regular job/or not gotten caught sleeping with so and so and so and so (Get the video for $19.95! But wait! There's more!). But no, they wanted to be famous. And so now they are. And what’s the prize? A degenerate lifestyle/name/reputation/situation spiraling out of control. And I think we all know where they land. In obscurity after the next big “artist” comes along. So does the bad/tragic Shakespearean-type play ever end? Or do we start all over again when the current group of befuddled stars dies off and Court TV stops reporting about the funeral/royalty/custody battles? Ugh, I'm disgusted.

Needs Less Gas

Below is a pretty interesting article about how hybrid cars are a little easier to purchase now since supply is catching up with demand. A little bit of good news to start off a shortened week. Author Rick Popely of the Chicago Tribune writes how Toyota is now pushing the hybrids with some financing incentives. Cool, you get an efficient car with good financing. This is exactly the direction America needs to be going. Less oil dependent, more efficient and more environmentally sound. And yet another example of why Toyota is head and shoulders above their competition.

The Tacoma News Tribune

Republican Low Blow?

I'm not a Republican. But I'm still a little put off after reading the article below (click link). Is Senator McCain simply trying to toot his own horn and separate himself from his own party's mismanaged war agenda? I'm not sure, but McCain has long been in the Republican fold tooting the collective party horn for some time now. What's with the Rumsfeld blast? I'm not saying that Rumsfeld did anything noteworthy, I'd argue the opposite, but I still do not appreciate where politics has been in recent history. The low blows and name calling need to stop. Even Senator McCain needs to realize this and if he doesn't appreciate his party's war actions, a viable and clear solution would be much more appreciated as opposed to the verbal jabs (even with Democrats and certainly Rumsfeld).

CNN.com

Hoops-All Star Weekend

So did anyone watch much of the NBA's All Star Weekend? I didn't. I saw about 2 seconds of the All Star Game, noticed it was a blowout and changed the channel. Is there a bigger waste than the NBA's All Star game? There's no legitimate value. Everyone is playing halfheartedly and nothing is at stake. At least in baseball the All Star game decides home field advantage in the World Series. And in football, it really looks like the guys play hard as a matter of pride. Watch some of the hits (especially Sean Taylor's special teams hit) and tell me that the football players don't take it seriously. But hoops? C'mon, I want to like everything about the NBA. And when I was watching MJ, Magic and Bird, I did. But after MJ left, somehow it feels like the league lost its way and never quite returned. I must admit, there's been some good playoff series with the Pistons, Lakers, Spurs, Mavs and Heat. But overall, it's just not the same. Maybe LeBron will take us back there, but I'm not holding my breath for him or Pippen (He's returning? What the hell?). When do we get to see good teams again? Not a marquee player against another marquee player (like Kobe vs. LeBron). I'm talking Lakers vs. Celtics. I'm talking Vinny Johnson coming off the bench and torchin' ya for 20. Coop coming in to lock someone down. Hell, I'd take Spider Salley and some ugly rebounding. Where's that stuff? The Pistons were there for about a second and then poof!, nothing. Help me, I want to like the NBA again.

Ichiro Leaving?

There is already speculation that Ichiro will leave the M's once his contract is up and go to a contender. And here we are just getting ready for spring training. It would be sad to see the guy go, but I'm not so sure that having a bunch of high priced guys on a crappy team going nowhere is the turnaround strategy for us. It really seems like we need to blow the team up (including the front office) and start over with some young prospects. The team is willing to spend money, so supplementing that young talent with some good high-value free agents would seem wise. Now, whether we do that or not is doubtful. But trying to compete with the rest of the division currently in our state is daunting. It already looks like it might be a rough season for us. We need to be realistic and decide whether we really have any chance with the team that is in place. Unfortunately, it just doesn't look promising. But then again, we still have to play the games and see how it works out. And to see Ichiro leave would be sad, but it may mark the beginning of a turnaround that is much overdue.

Resource

I like to be able to speak about things that I think are helpful. Firefox is one of them. Firefox is an internet browser that allows you to surf the web with different tabs. Basically the tabs allow you to have many pages open at the same time. The more tabs, the more pages open. The beauty of it is that it allows you to switch back and forth between pages quickly. So, if you're like me and like to read the news and check all sorts of things out at a pretty quick pace, the tabs allow you to be all over the web in an efficient manner. With so much information out there, it's nice to be able to get through it quickly. Life isn't always meant to be in front of a computer. But if you're going to get your news and get it quickly, Firefox is a nice alternative.

Will the Sonics Get Better?

How long has it been since we've had a decent NBA team? It feels like ages since the Sonics had a legitimate chance to do anything. Since Nate McMillan left, we've been piss poor. And the front office didn't even want to spend money on the teams Nate coached. I miss the days when I could sit and watch an NBA game. It's sad, some of the other teams have some very exciting players. Our team? A bunch of mismatched and forgotten players with the exception of Ray Allen. Maybe the best shooter in the game, Ray is stuck on a lost island of defeat. This team is about as exciting and hopeful as the M's team coming into spring training. When do the Seahawks start playing again?

President's Day

President’s Day is almost upon us. I actually forgot that it was coming up. Nice bonus I suppose. So what do you do for President’s Day? I don’t think people have President’s Day traditions, but maybe I’m wrong. It’s not quite the same as Independence Day or Memorial Day; it seems like it gets the short end of the patriotic holiday stick. But in case you do something traditional, indulge us; I’m not sure everyone is on the same page with this one.

Taxes

I wanted to write a post on something that affects all of us. Taxes. Yeah, I said it, taxes. Before you act bored or bothered, give me a minute. Sometimes I think about how there are certain inequalities in America and what is done to fix these problems. And in some of these cases, appropriate funding is the underlying issue. And in many cases, the main funding vehicle is taxes. I also think about all of the tax loopholes and how it appears that the wealthy have at their disposal, professionals for hire that only help them escape their taxes. And I also continually think about how America can help its citizens become prosperous and in turn allow its people to have the freedom to give more and contribute more both in time and money. Money isn't and shouldn't be the end goal in life. But to say that money isn't important is living in a denial that could be quite harmful in this day and age (financially, personally, maybe even spiritually). So what else is there to say? Well, I've got more... Now let me also say that my beliefs are based on experience and what I've observed over time. It doesn't mean that I'm some big tax guru or that I've ever been employed by the IRS (I haven't). But I also believe that it is my right and in my ability to say what I think is right or believe. And, if at the very least, someone else out there begins to ask questions and search for their own answers, I think something worthy has been accomplished, so here we go.

I think part of the issue of taxes should be what does a citizen or resident owe the society in which the person lives. In other words, what is my cost to be a member here? Does that cost vary on whether I earn more money? Does the cost change if I'm a good person and contribute my time to worthy causes? Is my cost more if I'm a jerk or a felon? Honestly, I think the basic cost should be the same for everyone. I don't someone should be punished and forced to pay more simply because they have toiled when others haven't and as a result, have become financially successful. I also don't think the poor should pay a greater percentage of their income because they couldn't afford to hire the best accountant or attorney to help them ease their tax burden. And I don't think trying to reward good people or punish bad people would work since that is such a subjective issue. So in a roundabout way, I think flat taxes are a good thing. In other words, everyone pays the same percentage of their income to their state and federal government. Think about the fairness of it. The rich guy can't sneak through some loophole and only pay 5% of his income while someone living hand to mouth is figuring out how to live after the government takes its cut. Everyone pays a fixed percentage. No questions asked and the tax forms get really simple. Think about it. Every April is all of a sudden much less stressful. And think of all of the government beuacracy that would be eliminated? Somehow I think the savings would be enormous.

So what about the taxes on investments? I think they should go away. That's right, what you make selling your stocks or real estate should be yours. And why not? The government is already taking a percentage off the top of your total income anyway with the flat tax. Why should there be any other tax on what you rightfully make when you've already paid your tax? Think of all the people that would suddenly become more industrious or begin to study real estate investments, stocks or personal finance. With Americans saving less than 0%, the government should be thrilled at this. The government wouldn't be on the hook for Social Security or have to bother itself as much with what people will do when they retire. If the government gives back huge sums of money (which it would effectively do if capital gains taxes were repealed), all of a sudden Social Security can go away and there wouldn't be the same issue if senior citizens are selling their homes for possibly hundreds of thousands if not a million more than what they originally paid for their home or property. All of a sudden there is some serious incentive to get on the ball and become an owner of property, land, stocks, companies, investments, etc. People of all backgrounds have incentive to get back in the capitalist game. It opens the gates for all people to compete in the free market system. Essentially it brings us back to the roots of what America originally was in the beginning.

Again I think I should say something about the fairness issue. Everyone is paying the same percentage of their total income into the system. There would be no loopholes. And if there was to be a loophole, it would only be allowed if the issue went to a vote by the people. And to make matters more simple, only one loophole or issue could be presented to the people at one time. That is, there would be no pork barrel issues bundled into the proposition. Again, I think this may be the most democratic taxing strategy available. No loopholes, you pay what you owe, and you're free to make some serious profit if you've got the inclination or determination to do so.

And last but not least, the only other issue of taxation that I can think of is the estate tax. I do think (besides the flat tax) that the estate tax should remain. I don't believe that America was meant to be an aristocracy with rich ruling families. But if you take a look around, it does appear that this is in fact happening. How many Senators and representatives are currently serving whose father was a prominent figure in business or politics? It seems that there are quite a few. With an estate tax, wealth redistribution would occur on some level. How much the tax should be could be decided or altered at a later date. But, wealth should not passed down from one generation to the next unimpeded. That in itself could threaten the free society in which we live. An estate would remain as some form of protection against an elitest society.

So there you have it, my thoughts on taxes. Hopefully you'll begin to question the randomness and ineffectiveness of the current system. If so, maybe positive change could someday become real.

Book Review

I have to let you know that I'm reading this book called Moneyball by Michael Lewis. The book is great although I'm only half way through it. Remember how I said I was stuck in McCarren Airport for half a day? Well, I had some time on my hands and bought the book at one of the little airport shops. Needless to say, I couldn't put the book down and am now on the second half of the book. If you didn't know, the book is about a guy named Billy Beane. Billy is the GM of the Oakland A's baseball team. You're thinking wow, a book about the slowest sport in America, yay. But the book is infinitely more interesting than that. It's about how Billy is an amazing GM with a huge disadvantage in the big money world of sports. It's about how a guy can take true data and numbers, apply it to a world that is inundated with "gut feeling" and it's own set of urban myths and false beliefs. And, as a result, Billy ends up showing an uncanny ability to battle the big money teams like the Yankees (whose payroll of one or two players is sometimes greater than that of the entire A's roster). Really, the book is as much a commentary on life and how people fail to apply real information to a problem as opposed to just using "common, everyday" knowledge that really isn't knowledge at all. And in many cases this accepted knowledge is flat out wrong. Trust me, if you can't stand sports but are a true learner, this book will still be very interesting. It's less about sports and more about how people can be wrong so often for so long because they don't want to apply true knowledge or science to their situation. Great book (so far).

Back in Town

It feels good to be back in town. Vegas is like some fantasyland where the carnival is always in town. I have fun there but it feels "normal" coming back to a town where not everything is a glorified nightclub or bar. Heck, when I got back it wasn't even raining (that has to be a good sign in these parts). I feel good and it's time to take Hilltopia a little further. Hopefully you'll notice and we'll all have some fun on the journey.

Weekend in Vegas

I saw Prince and Elton John perform this past weekend. They were both great. I would highly recommend seeing both shows. So, if you are ever in Vegas and have the chance to attend, definitely do it.

Prince

I went to see Prince perform at The Rio last night. It was a great show. Prince is always a really good performer and he's worth seeing if you ever have the chance. Elton John was there watching the show last night and even went on stage and performed a song. Overall a great show to see if you're ever in Vegas. Tonight we're going to see Elton John at The Colleseum. It should be another great performance.

Weekend Events

I just got into Vegas. The flight was ok and we finally got out of baggage claim. McCarren may still be my least favorite airport. It takes forever to get out of that place. I think we're going to see Prince perform tomorrow, it should be fun. Hopefully my luck holds up and the big money flows my way. Or, hopefully I just don't lose my last dollar down here.

Vegas

I'll be in Sin City for a few days, so I'll let you know what I come across. The posts here may become a little erratic, but I'll try to keep everyone updated. Wish me luck.

Business Question

As Tacoma grows, everything is on the up and up. But I do occasionally think of other areas in Tacoma that seem to have potential but are not seemingly on the way to greatness, goodness, or fairness. South Tacoma Way (practically all of it) is such a busy road but it just looks like Aurora Ave. South. Between the ugly power lines, miles of parking lots, and buildings built a quarter mile back (because of the parking lots in front), the road looks like a depressing wasteland. It looks like the place where bad asphalt goes to die. But with so much traffic, you would think that there would be some commercial value there. What does it take to get some big time commercial development going that will not only bring in business, but will also get people excited to get back to parts of the city that many would most likely want to forget? Is that a job function of the city or is that something that happens randomly when a private commercial developer decides that they want to set up shop? Or is it a partnership between both? If someone could explain this, I would be most appreciative. It seems like there is still a lot of potential that is not being realized in our community. I have an easy time believing that if nice, clean, safe, practical, and inviting commercial spaces were built, people would take some time, get off the road and do some good ‘ol money spending. We Americans are world leaders in blowing cash, so why not do it in a presently dumpy area that everyone (except for maybe prostitutes and drug dealers) wants cleaned up? And, people could do their shopping instead of sitting in traffic during rush hour. With only one mall in Tacoma and virtually no shopping district in downtown Tacoma, I think there is enough space and demand to set up something that adds value and brings some different businesses and unique shopping elements that the city does not currently have at present. With so much space, I think development could be unique, fun, interesting and still provide value to the community; especially the community that has had to be it’s patient neighbor for all of these years.

On the Web

I'm not sure how many bloggers read my blog, but I do want to make mention of a great blog resource. Darren Rowse at ProBlogger has been a huge help to me in setting up this blog. His information is right on and very helpful to anyone just getting started with their blog. His articles are easy to understand, straightforward, and quite insightful. If you've thought about putting something out there on the web and are just a little unsure about it, you should review Darren's site and then make your decision. Happy reading!

ProBlogger.net

Not Completely True?

I'm going to disclose upfront that I'm a Christian. That may be relevant to what you think about this post. But read on friends. I realize we all make mistakes and thankfully we can all be forgiven. But let's get to reality on a news story that I read today (to get some background, read the article in The Seattle PI, link below). I think most guys would agree that if one guy sleeps with another guy, (with or without meth) that guy could be considered a homosexual. Maybe even bisexual if you didn’t want to claim or say definitively that someone was a homosexual. And to take this further, maybe you wouldn’t say either but you probably wouldn’t say that the guy is "completely heterosexual". Common sense and logic, are you still with me? Good. Alright, so someone is homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual. Who really cares, right? We're all people and we all matter. And maybe you even wanted to be kindhearted or civilized and say that maybe what people do in their homes and bedrooms is really their business (a diplomatic and fair answer at that). And maybe you even say that sexuality is something between yourself and God if you wanted to be spiritual about it. But who emerges from the debacle that Ted Haggard created for himself and claims that he's "completely heterosexual"? C'mon man, you've been caught. We get it. You partied with meth and handled some of your private business with another dude (on more than one occassion). Most people don’t even care except for maybe those in your congregation and a certain portion of Christians (ok, and maybe some D.A.R.E. reps). Just admit that you're not "completely heterosexual" and most people will give you a pass. You say sorry, I was misguided in what I previously thought/believed/felt, maybe I’m a little confused as to what I am now but I’m willing to try to figure it out and when I do, maybe I’ll get back to you. Or maybe I won’t get back to you and decide that it’s my business as to how I go about it. Maybe I even live my life differently as to what I find out. Maybe I'm gay/bi/unsure. Most people would think that’s cool; get back to us or not and that’s that. But to deny any homosexuality, or even worse, use the term "completely heterosexual" is trying to take people for another ride while trying to sell some snake oil to the public. And who knows? Maybe that's even more insulting to the gay community (as if the evangelical right and gay community were in so much agreement before). Could he possibly be gay? Say it ain't so! If you're a little dense, I was being sarcastic there. My general beef with this is that yet again, some (not all) Christian fundamentalists are so consumed in their own denial that they can’t even admit that one of their own is quite possibly gay or bi. It’s not like the guy got drunk and said “I love you man!” to a buddy. And really, who hasn’t done that at least once? But to act like this guy isn’t possibly gay and that homosexuality couldn't possibly be in the midst of the Christian right is completely silly. You can have your own view of the situation and homosexuality in general, but to say that somebody is completely hetero (and yes, the term used was "completely heterosexual") when you’ve admitted to having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex is well, lying (yet another sin). So really, if you’re trying to bring more people to Christ, quit playing politics and look at the situation for what it is. Maybe then more people would take a harder look at our faith instead of dismissing it because of the few evangelicals who refuse to see the reality that we all live in. The reality is that yes, there are homosexuals out there (maybe they're even in your congregation). Trying to deny a probable reality is insanity or on a lesser scale, dishonest, or on an even lesser scale, not completely true. The dishonest or not completely true part is something Jesus would have a problem with. Ultimately what should be the moral of the story is this: be honest, kind, forgiving and forthright; no one (who really knows God) will hate you for it.

Seattle PI

Local Stuff

I am really noticing that the restaurants are beginning to set up shop here in Tacoma. It's no secret that there were a ton of condo projects starting up, but now the restaurants and bars are following. And that's good, any resident knows that there just aren't a whole lot of good options around here. Hopefully soon we'll have options for more entertainment and shopping. You practically have to leave town for anything like that. But, the town is really coming into a second wind. Now if I'd just have a place to walk to downtown; I'm thinking late night coffee shop, diner, bookstore, techie store, yeah, that would be cool.

Blog Feature

You'll notice in the upper right hand corner a FeedBlitz space. You can get Hilltopia updates via email if you use this feature. So if you're one of those people that really likes to get email, feel free to get updates via FeedBlitz. The sign up process is easy, so sign up!

Looking Ahead in Local Politics

There is continuing news on the fight over whether Seattle needs a tunnel or another raised viaduct along downtown Seattle. What disturbs me is the political bickering and lack of willingness to take the issue to the people. What the people want should be paramount and of utmost importance. But how is it that foolish and arrogant politicians continually ignore the prevalent demands of the people and continue on their wasteful ways? How much time has already been wasted by all of the bickering? I think a raised viaduct and tunnel both could have been built by now had the politicians gotten around to acting instead of spouting off more hot air. And who gets the benefit? No one, the viaduct is about to fall into the ocean and the citizens get stuck sitting in traffic on this thing for hours a day. A vote should occur immediately (asap, now, yesterday, last week, last month, etc.) and the outcome should decide what goes where. And that’s it, no recount, no complaining, just action. We would all appreciate political efforts had this been the plan as opposed to bellowing about plans not happening. In my humble opinion, more politicians need to lose their jobs mid-term if action doesn’t occur. No one is clamoring for more noise in this too-loud, too-little action world.

Sports

It'll be interesting to see what the Bears are going to do with their quarterback. Grossman didn't look very good yesterday. I think the Bears will look at bringing in someone to compete for the job. In other news, Husky football recruits are getting ready to sign letters if intent to join the Dawgs. The class isn't a spectacular one, but it's supposed to be solid from top to bottom. This class is supposedly one that reflects what Coach Willingham wants and looks for in his guys. There does appear to be some depth, so that should be good. Overall, the Dawgs appear to be on the right track. It would have been nice to get a couple more stars though.

The Super Bowl

I enjoyed The Super Bowl. I'm glad Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning got the monkeys off their backs. They both seem like good guys and it was nice to see a classy organization come out on top. The speech Tony made as he was receiving the Lombardi Trophy was really nice. Unfortunately, there's just too few Tony Dungys in sports and in the world. But thankfully, we got so see the original work his magic to perfection tonight. How great is it that he is the first victorious black head coach to win The Super Bowl? He's been such a great example to all of us throughout the years on how someone can win in that cutthroat world and still maintain the values that helped propel him to success. Tonight couldn't have happened to a classier guy.

Hilltopia Widget

If you have a blog or MySpace page that you want to add Hilltopia's headlines to, click the black "Get My Widget" button. This will allow you to add Hilltopia's content to your page. A great way to add useful and insightful content, in my humble opinion. See ya!

Stuff We Already Knew

Do you get irritated when the news spouts off new findings from studies that really just restate what you've thought all along? For example, all week there have been articles and news clips re: global warming. Their point is that man is responsible for it. Well gee, who was thinking that the chimps or fish were responsible for global warming? That cult has got to be fun if they've found a way to blame some apes. I mean really, when does it get to be insulting when the media has to try to prove a point that most people already agree on? I don't know, I guess I find it trite or wasteful when media conglomerates have the opportunity to really attack issues and enlighten people and here we are discussing why Britney is so trashy. Does it really matter? Will her trashiness save humanity from ourselves? I doubt it.

There Are Good People in the World!

This is a follow up to a story that I referred to a few days ago. Reading it was a nice surprise to an otherwise problematic situation. Check it out.

The Seattle Times

Worthy Goal

I’ve been thinking a lot about politics lately. I think the American people should come up with a worthy goal affecting our political situation. And I don’t think the goal has to based on an affiliation with a political party. But I do believe that people have to do a much better job of getting the necessary information in order to make more informed choices. I think everyone needs to realize that we can’t elect people based solely on religious or political rhetoric. Certainly people have voted in the recent past and have been completely duped based on words with little backing or meaning. We should demand that the next wave of presidential candidates really explain a plan for domestic and international affairs. Of course, the war, health care, jobs, the economy, education, Social Security and taxes need to be a part of this explanation. But simply running on a Christian, “good ol’ boy” platform cannot be considered adequate for election. Thankfully, with blogs (like this one), technology and the dissemination of information, things are changing, but I’m not convinced times will have changed enough to rid us of the responsibility of getting to the truth.

Super Bowl

Super Bowl Weekend is here. We finally get to see if the Indy offense can move against the Bears' D. We get to see the overpriced ads, eat junk food, sit back and relax on a couch (any couch will do), and maybe even see a football game. The sad thing about Super Bowl Weekend is that after the game, football goes away for a while. Of course the college game is back in Sept., but when your baseball team and the Sonics suck, that's a long ways away. So for many of us, it's a bittersweet event. But afterwards, we look forward to sunny days at Safeco Field and the Pyramid Brewery. Yes, I can see the $7 beers now...

Does Joe Biden Stand a Chance?

I like Joe Biden. The Senator from Delaware has some interesting things to say. Besides being interesting, he’s running for President. Does he have a chance? The longtime Senator from Delaware looks solid when doing interviews and he puts out tough (and sometimes brash) quotes. It appears that he had a quote regarding Obama that got taken a little out of context. He made a reference to Obama essentially praising him, but said something about Obama being a clean, storybook candidate. The “clean” reference got some people offended. I got the gist of it and it really wasn’t a racist comment; people are really looking for something that isn’t there. I think we’re splitting hairs being that the guy was giving a true compliment. But that’s beside the point. The media likes Biden because he’s a good interview. But did he wait one election too long to run? With the likes of Obama, Clinton, and Edwards, the Democratic pool is quite full. Believe me, I like having choices and I think it’s good for the country to have numerous people to choose from. But does this Senator stand a chance? I personally am not so sure that he does. But, I do think he would round out a ticket as a VP candidate. He’s experienced, knowledgeable, and savvy. Sometimes he comes across as a politician (not a good thing) and a little confrontational. But, he has good things to say. Let’s see how things go. The race only becomes more interesting.

CNN

Business News

Is there or is there not a housing bubble? I’ve heard reports of soft landings, future drastic drops in demand and price and the typical doom and gloom. Unfortunately, all of these experts are contradicting themselves. Which leads me to the question, “Who’s right?”. And if you’re not right about something as big as this housing bubble, are you an expert to begin with? It just goes to show that so many so-called experts are nothing more than people with an opinion that happen to be a little louder than the next person. So what to do? I think ignoring the noise may be the best possible solution for most people. Thank God for mute.

Mass Transit Needs

Traffic has sucked around here lately because of all of the highway construction and changes. A small price to pay for improvements so I try not to get too pissy about it. But what does bother me is that it really does seem like many in Western WA want more mass transit. And although there are some options, it's just that, some options. It's impossible for me to go to work via bus or Sounder if I wanted. I'm sure it's the same for many others out there who may work in an area other than downtown Seattle. My question is, why isn't more being done? I get it that Sound Transit has this board of executives who are reviewing everything and that there is a budget that confines them to some degree. But this is one of those things that I think people would pay for if they knew that they were getting a useful, quality product. Unlike a road tax where you don't know where or if that money helps road construction or maintenance in their area, if people could vote on train routes or bus lines, I think people would be more inclined to vote yes. Maybe once or twice a year, a vote is put forward on maybe five or six new mass transit options. The voters get the price tags and timelines for completion and debates are held discussing all of the merits of the options. Somehow if something more comprehensive was presented to the people, I think that we would have more options and mass transit sooner. To the detriment of us all, I feel like the voter is being underestimated on this issue both in sense and financial generosity.

Poor Health Care for the Poor

I was reading an article written by Kyung Song in The Seattle Times today discussing the lack of adequate dental care for the poor. It was quite distressing being that in the most powerful, wealthy, and prosperous country we still cannot give adequate health care and dental care to our own needy. Thankfully, addressing health care is becoming a more visible issue with both political parties attempting to come up with solutions. What worries me is the idea that politicians can come up with a quick fix and not a real solution. I don’t think that there is a system in another country that we can take and mimic just at face value, but I do think that there are models out there that we can observe. The answer will have to be custom and uniquely American to address our unique needs, but nonetheless, the answer needs to be on the table in the very near future.

The Seattle Times

Blog Features

Just to give you the low down on some of Hilltopia's features. The Chatterbox in the right side scroll bar area is a pretty cool widget you can use to leave random messages that have absolutely nothing to do with any of the specific posts. The Google Search Bar allows you to search for Hilltopia articles using keywords. It also allows you to search the web using good ol' Google.

Week Ahead

This week is Super Bowl week. All things football (or slightly related) will be blown out of proportion. In politics, the presidential hopefuls will probably be stumping everywhere. The question is, can we keep track of all of them? And, in Iraq, it just sounds like more bad news after the grim news. Quite the hornets nest, we'll see how it proceeds. Maybe it is time for the Iraqi government to step up and try to quell some of the fighting. A dire situation that appears to have a less than happy ending.

Hotels Galore

I just read a pretty interesting article in The Tacoma News Tribune (click below). The article summarizes the different hotel projects planned and in discussion throughout Tacoma. It is interesting to read about all of the different possible projects. One of the questions I had was the possibility of over-saturation. There seems to be quite a few projects on deck. Not that there is a definite problem, but if Tacoma has had only a few hotels in the past (and done ok), will so many new projects coming open create too many options for too few visitors? Just a question to ponder as we go growing along.

The Tacoma News Tribune

Healthcare

The President is working at making changes to healthcare in the US. But can there be a real solution to healthcare by tinkering with a system based on employer benefits? We are the only major country that provides healthcare in this fashion. One of the obvious problems is the issue of employers reducing coverage because of cost. So what happens then? And with the nature of jobs changing in the US, how do we accurately predict where healthcare will go in the future? I'm not so sure that there is a real fix until we look at a blank template and start from there. America is ready for a New Deal again and I think it would be worthy to include healthcare in that package. For that matter, mass transit, fair taxing and education reform would be good to include as well. Some things just aren't working as well as they should be. Our politicians should recognize this and instead of applying patchwork politics, promote real innovation and change.

MyBlogLog

For those of you who blog or are into the blogging scene, I wanted to point out MyBlogLog. Many of you are already familiar with what it's about and how it works. So this is mainly for those who are new to it. MyBlogLog is a community site for bloggers and those interested in it. You can find all sorts of blogs and sites that you may not have stumbled upon otherwise. There are other sites that pretend to be somewhat communal, but this one really has lots of great people and lots of interesting sites to check out. I've found that the vibe on it is great and that most people are very helpful and encouraging. So, if you have a blog and want to show it off, or you just want to connect and see what other people are doing, I would highly recommend it. Use the link below to get there. And again, tons of stuff, info, sites and people to see.

MyBlogLog

Recommended

Sometimes I get asked about certain things that I really like. So, instead of rambling continuously, I figured I would occasionally start up a conversation on things that are worth recommending. I think you get the idea, so tell everyone what you are recommending. Ok, something that I really dig is my iMac. I have an iMac G5. It's a newer Mac with the Intel Dual Core Processors. Essentially it can run most PC stuff too. The Mac really is a far departure from a PC in many ways. The way it feels when you work with it, the way it reacts (and in many cases, doesn't react poorly), the way it updates itself, the way it reboots and so on. Pretty cool machine, you begin to see why people get so fanatical when talking about their Mac. I think the Mac feels a little more like an appliance whereas a PC feels more like a business application. I think both are still necessary, but if you can go the Mac route, you may be very surprised and pleased in the end. And even if you don't get a Mac, visiting an Apple Store is always very fun.

Housing Slowdown

There have been numerous reports that housing sales have slowed in the region. But, there is no indication that sales will greatly suffer heading into 2007. Sales will not be at levels seen in the past few years, but they will remain positive and steady. A sort of sustained, steady, slow growth. I think this is good for a few reasons. There may be more deals for those looking to invest. Many unwise, speculative investors may have already bailed from the market. Inflating prices will not drive sales to any type of bubble. Tacoma as a whole can step back and reevaluate where we are going and what is really needed (besides assuming that the need is for more vanilla flavored condos or flipped houses). Investors and developers can use this time to become more creative and offer the public something other than the typical fare offered in the past few years. With Tacoma having architecturally interesting buildings along with beautiful views/landscapes, developers can and should do more to add interest to the area. I don’t think it will be enough to simply build. There are too many projects currently available that do that to a tee. It also won’t be about granite countertops and fancy bathrooms; not all of the time anyways. I think people want something that creatively reflects what is in or a part of their local environment. For instance, housing and commercial spaces that can uniquely showcase Tacoma’s character (both past and present). That creativity will stand out and be rewarded both in positive public opinion and with voting dollars.

Gym

I’m thinking about getting some home gym equipment. I have a gym membership, but there is no gym in downtown Tacoma or Hilltop. So, I figured it would be nice to have some good equipment that I can use when I don’t want to drive to my gym. I’ve observed a couple of things thus far in my search. First, home gym equipment can either be really cheap in price and quality (usually they coincide). Second, really nice home gym equipment can cost what a used car costs (and sometimes more). Why is there such a disparity? What if someone wants a good setup consisting of one piece of cardio and one piece of strength equipment? And, to top it off, what if that person wants good quality at a reasonable price? I mean really, Bowflex sells two adjustable 50 pound dumbbells for approx. $300 (and without the stand!). Are you telling me that Bowflex is barely breaking even on producing this piece of equipment or that this is somehow reasonable? You would think they were trying to prevent people from working out. I also saw an adjustable dumbbell bench for $200. We’re talking about a flat bench that can swivel upward. I would be embarrassed to tell someone the price of that stuff and still try to keep a straight face. This all leads to one thing. The home gym niche is ripe for someone to come along and blow all of these ripoff artists out of the home gym waters. Are you telling me that I can spend a couple hundred bucks on crap or $5,000 for something that I would want to use? Someone can do better than this and I’m anxiously awaiting to see the results. I won’t feel sorry for the losers in this upcoming battle either. By the way, if you have any recommendations on stores or equipment, let me know.

Benchmarks, Great!

CNN.com is reporting that John McCain is suggesting benchmarks to measure progress for the Iraqi government during the war. Gee, benchmarks to measure success? Revolutionary! Why is it just now that we're talking about benchmarks? Shouldn't this have been a part of the discussion, oh, a few years ago? I still get disturbed when I see politicians trying to use logic after the fact. In the private sector, this is a tool that would have been suggested by someone in the planning stages of whatever big initiative was being proposed. Now don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that Sen. McCain is suggesting this, but c'mon, we're a day late and a dollar short on the common sense in Washington. Next, politicians should begin a class discussing how to work with a budget.

CNN.com

Second Home

With so much development going on in Tacoma, I thought about all of the condos and the prevailing thought that many of these condos will be a second property for many families. I'm a middle class guy working his way up through the ranks, but honestly, I don't know that many people that have more than one home. I know people that have a few properties, but I'm talking about someone that calls two different buildings home. If you were going to own a second home, where would it be? Would it be somewhere pretty close so that you could go there and relax during a long weekend? Or would it be somewhere warmer or more exotic? Or even still, would you just own two homes (like Tacoma and Seattle) and stay at the home closest to where your work is for that week? Help me understand this because I'm not sure if I know what people do with two homes or a second home per se.

Edgar gets into the M’s Hall of Fame

Edgar Martinez will be inducted into the M’s Hall of Fame. Certainly the MLB Hall of Fame will call for him soon after. When I think about Edgar, I think a great time for the M’s and a great time for Seattle sports. Edgar is what is right about sports. The best DH of all time was a hard-working perfectionist who was excellent, humble, understated and a great citizen. Edgar is all of those and then some. There weren’t headlines about Edgar getting arrested or ripping his coach a new one in the press. He quietly hit the hell out of the ball and lumbered his way to greatness. When I reflect on his career, I think about how excited the state was when the M’s put together some of their great seasons. A great baseball team in the most beautiful place in the perfect summer season playing in a beautiful park (or rowdy concrete dome) is what baseball is all about. It’s easy to forget about baseball with the Super Bowl looming, but it becomes easier to remember when I think of all of the games I’ve been to with my friends watching Edgar, Randy, Ken, Jay, Dan and Lou (if you’re an M’s fan, last names aren’t necessary; you know who I’m talking about). It’s never been the same without Edgar stumbling his way to first base. And the ads, can anyone forget his rendition of “geoducks in Puyallup”? Pure vocal artistry…Anyways, if there’s one guy who I enjoy watching getting his just due, it’s Edgar. “Geoducks in Puyallup”, I absolutely love that.

Week in Review

Wow, what to say about the week in review? Politics is a continuous debacle, the economy is moving along (although it appears Ford is tanking further), and everything else appears the same as it was. Not much happened in sports, we know who's going to the Super Bowl now. This little period for sports (in my opinion) is a little dull. After the Super Bowl, we're not at March Madness and baseball isn't beginning quite yet. Not that baseball or pro hoops will matter, the M's and Sonics both suck. So what the hell is going on? Not much, it appears we're in a holding pattern until spring.

State of the Union

How did you feel after hearing the State of the Union Address? I admit, I was eating and talking during most of it. But, from what I can tell, it appears that all of the politicians are a little leary about the way things are going. Republicans are careful not to appear too chummy with the President and Democrats want to appear dignified, but willing to work with Republicans wanting dramatic change. It's an interesting time in politics. Was it just me or did it seem like half of the room was filled with presidential candidates? I thought the response by Senator Webb (from Virgina) after the President's speech was very good. Senator Webb appears to be someone who I'll like in the coming years. A strong Democrat who appears to be concerned about the middle class. Senator Webb has been known to be an "Andrew Jackson Populist" who views the health of the country not by the successes of the upper class or business class, but by the middle class. That is a far departure from the Republican viewpoint on economic health or the general health of the country. Another really interesting fact about Senator Webb is that he actually worked for Ronald Reagan during his presidency. Who knew? I know that the State of the Union Address is really a lot of political banter and a presidential wishlist, so I'll reserve my judgment for actual political and civic results or outcomes. I'm glad that we're also beginning to turn back to something of a domestic agenda. With so much focus on the war, I think the domestic issues have gone unattended. Not that the war is unimportant, but there are matters to be tended to here as well. Now about that war problem that's developed...

Good Food

This past week I had the chance to eat at two really good ethnic restaurants. If you're in the neighborhood or around Tacoma, you'll have to stop by. To start off, I'm really into going to unique places for food, so I was quite happy. The first restaurant is Gateway to India on 6th Ave. That place has such unique foods that it's a small adventure just going there. The garlic naan and chicken dishes are awesome. The food is great and the atmosphere is usually good since the place packs out. The other place is It's Greek to Me on 6th Ave as well. It's Greek to Me even has a drive through so you can get a gyro or sandwich and hit the road. The place has some really good chicken gyros, so feel free to check it out. And, it's a quick stop so you can get something and get back to what you were doing. By the way, what was I doing? Well, those are my two recommendations, so stop by and have a bite.

Gadgets

With the iPhone, Wii, PS3, and everything else out there, what really gets you excited? Some of it, none of it, any of it? As cool as the iPhone looks, I think there could be even more improvements. There could be more emphasis on games and gameplay. With a machine like that, cool games would definitely be fun. And the ability to play someone wirelessly with the phone would be cool too. As far as the game consoles go, they look pretty good but there still isn’t a killer game that really shows off the hardware. And what’s with the hassle of trying to buy the stuff? If you have the money, why is it so tough to buy these products? There’s crowds, lines, waits, pre-sales, etc., etc. I wish these companies would figure out that many of the people who can afford this stuff don’t have the time to waste putting up with the extra hassle of making the purchases. And, can we just make a console that can have the guts replaced when there is an upgrade? Why do I have to buy an entirely new console that’s a different size and color, and, has to find a place on my shelf with the other stereo, video, and game equipment? To buy any more of this stuff is going to require some furniture upgrades too. It’s getting to be too much work to make these purchases. Since when did making an upgrade become such a pain? And what if a company found a way to take the pain out of upgrading? Would you buy? You probably would. You would buy just on principle (and exasperation).

Tacoma Changes

With Paddy Coyne's opening up on Pacific Avenue, the area down by Drake's is certainly beginning to pick up. Now, there are a few choices for food and drink. The Matador is very busy every time we go there or drive by. And if you haven't gone yet, it's certainly recommended. Good food and drinks for sure. Meconi's is definitely a fun place as well. You can almost walk all the way down Pacific Ave. now and have something interesting or fun to go to on every block. Big improvement from just a few years ago. I don't think there's a coffee house that stays open late in downtown Tacoma, but hopefully one is on the way. But overall, the time spent on Pacific Ave. is nice. Get there and support the local businesses in downtown Tacoma.

Blog Changes

You may have noticed a couple of changes to Hilltopia. On the right there is now a recent reader section and a top 5 link section. Both are widgets run through MyBlogLog. So, if you're a member at MyBlogLog, you and your clicks may show up here on Hilltopia. Pretty cool eh? And, it introduces some other readers to other bloggers out there (which is pretty cool too). So check it out and enjoy!

Video Games

I was thinking about buying a Wii this past weekend. Stores are still sold out everywhere. I was amazed, I figured I’d have no problem getting one this weekend. Man, was I wrong. That’s it, if I have to give a random kid the sharp elbow to move up in line, that’s just how it’ll have to go down…or maybe not.

Super Bowl

So who will win the Super Bowl? I’m not sure, but I’ll go on the record and say that the Colts will come through and win. The Colts have consistently proved me wrong, but now I’m a believer. Their defense will do enough to stop Rex Grossman and contain the run. If the Colts can contain Larry Johnson, I think they can do the same to the Chicago run offense and fluster their hit-and-miss quarterback. The interesting part will be how the Colts offense will stack up against the Bears defense. Manning will have to keep the turnovers down and make some big plays if they are to have any chance of winning. But, I think the Colts offense will get enough points and the Colts defense will be adequate to win the game. This could be a great Super Bowl.

Week Ahead

I'm taking a look at the week ahead and there's a few things out there. Iraq is quickly becoming an even bigger mess. Since my last post, there have been even more deaths and the situation is apparently going from bad to worse. In other politics, the pool of both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates grows even larger. I can't remember a time when there were so many people either committed to running or were considering it. There will be plenty of choices, so don't act like you've got no one to choose from this go 'round. It may take some work to sift through all of the hopefuls. And other than that, I'm not so sure that I can think of anything else really noteworthy to mention at this time.

Iraqi War Update

I just read a report on CNN.com that says that 25 US troops died yesterday in Iraq. It's one of the worst days for US troop casualties since the beginning of the war. Why is it that I don't feel like we're almost out of this mess? And if we're not close to being out, how close are we to a satisfactory outcome? And maybe even more importantly, will Republicans start facing reality and force a clear message and plan from the current Administration (I'm not so certain Democrats are capable of that)? What do you think of the report? Click the link below to read the story.

CNN

Football Today

We've got some big football games today. I personally think the Patriots will win. And although I originally thought Chicago would go to the Super Bowl, I'm starting to think that maybe New Orleans has the mojo to do it. We'll see, it should be interesting. What do you think and who are you rooting for?

iPhone? Sweet!

Okay, so the iPhone looks like the complete, super-sweet bomb. But will you get one? And will having a device that will more than adequately work as a phone, iPod, and internet browsing device make your life much more productive and better? I would like to think so, but that may be wishful thinking. It's not really a burden to have one or two of these devices at hand when someone is out and about. And are these people much more productive? Not so sure about that. Now don't get me wrong, this phone has some drop dead gorgeous features. And it appears that it's worth the hype (unlike so many other products with buzz). But will you get one and do you think it will dramatically make things better for yourself? Leave a comment as to why or why not. Click the link below if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

Apple

Blog Recommendation

Hello all, I'm going to take a minute and pass along another great resource. It's a blog from a lady by the name of Paula Mooney. I've had some correspondence with her and I think we're quickly becoming friends. I discovered her blog and I haven't been able to say a bad thing about it. Paula is insightful and very encouraging. If you're a Christian, it's even better. I always thought it was weird when people got to know each other online (and I've even joked about it). But, by reading her work and emails, she's right on in her thoughts and work. With Hilltopia being such a new blog, it's been a pleasure getting information and encouragement from someone who I think is in many ways, light years ahead (not just ahead of me, but of most of the blogging community). So please, check Paula's work out, it's tremendous and you would be hard pressed to find anything else better.

Paula Mooney

Create Buzz in Hilltop

Living in Tacoma, you hear quite a bit about the city’s renaissance and redevelopment. And with the exception of the city’s civic and business leaders, who else really contributes to the process? We can all say that it’s the people that make this happen. And maybe that really is the case. But, how do the common people take this idea and push it even further? Is it up to the local residents, who wouldn’t ordinarily start businesses, start businesses? And if these businesses are successful, does that create enough buzz to gain some economic momentum and traction? Does that in turn make it an easier decision for big business to then come in and set up shop? And then what happens to the home grown businesses when the big companies come in to compete for the same local dollars? I guess I’m inadvertently running into the “Wal-Mart in a little town” quagmire. But in some sense, I think it applies to Tacoma and in a more personal way, Hilltop. How do we create a fine balance of supporting the local businesses while still keeping ourselves open to positive outside investment? Is this really a delicate balance that capitalism has addressed?

Tacoma Moving Forward

With Tacoma and the South Sound growing, it’s time to start thinking about how people can better entertain themselves and where they will do this. Of course I’m biased and want to think of downtown Tacoma becoming that place. And maybe it can to a certain extent. But, I’m not so sure that there has been enough planning and ground work done to make sure that this idea becomes a reality. What I am seeing is numerous cities and towns building their own version of what a downtown or retail and shopping core needs to be for their residents. But, I don’t see anything that really gets people excited. I don’t think there are many out there who are really thrilled at what Federal Way or University Place has done in attempting to build a downtown core. I think most would agree that there have been worthy improvements, but I’m not sure that people who don’t live in those areas are going out of their way to frequent those places. What a great downtown core needs is enough excitement and worthy attractions that bring in the local residents, but also has enough pulling power to attract people who otherwise wouldn’t be there. And, many of these improvements are beginning to look the same. If creativity was at a premium before, it’s an invaluable commodity now. To find that happy place where creativity, artistry, commerce, work, life and fun all collide; that’s where we need to be.

Iraqi War Update

The New York Times ran an article by John Holusha that sent more shivers and disappointment through my spine. Basically, a bunch of retired generals met with Congress and discussed the problems associated with our involvement in the Iraqi War. Essentially the message was, we're screwed and unless the present Administration changes the way they actually preceive the war, we'll continue to flounder. There was an interesting statement made that said that a big problem is that our Administration sees this war as a military problem and not a political one. I would have to agree with that statement. Are we really fighting terrorists or are we just caught in a terrible case of crossfire (this is a civil war after all)? I'm not so sure that this is any different (although more insidious and complicated) than the police actions taken during Viet Nam. The one good thing we have going for us now is that Republican politicians are trying to save face/their jobs and in doing so, must now question the direction of the war. This inherently forces Republicans to question their leadership up to this point. I'm happy that this questioning is taking place. It's time to stop playing politics and start doing what's best for the country and our troops. I don't know the right answer to this problem, but I'm afraid that our leaders don't either.

The New York Times

Weekend Events

The weekend is almost among us and I'm happy about that. With the weather calming down, I should be able to leave my house. But, it'll be tough with some good football games taking place. It doesn't look like there's a whole lot going on in the area. I think people are trying to get acclimated again after being in hibernation for about a week. It's beginning to look like maybe it'll be the Saint and Pats in the Super Bowl (but I could be wrong).

Food on Pacific Ave.

For those of you that live in Tacoma, do you ever wonder why there aren't more diners around here? I'm a big fan of Knapps and The Harvester, but why isn't there anything like this downtown? There is good food downtown, but it's prissy, upscale and not comforting. Sometimes a guy needs a good burger and a milkshake. Or a pile of pancakes and coffee that's strong as hell. If Grit City is so gritty, where do all of the gritty non-banker types go downtown?

More Apples

I was thinking about how cool the iPhone sounds and what it'll really be able to do. I love Apple and the products they bring to market. Apple is innovative and the products are so well thought out in their function and design. I feel like someone had really spent some time working out the kinks. With other products, I feel like the entire push was not on quality or thoughtfulness, but on getting the product to market. Thus, recalls, bugs, exploding batteries, mass confusion, weekly updates, etc. all happen and make our lives that much more frustrating.

But why does Apple get to be the only company with this mythical reputation? It's sad really. With so many compnaies out there, and Apple is one of the very, very few that "gets it". A problem that arises is Apple products really aren't cheap. Not everyone can afford an iMac (maybe an iPod) and not everyone will have a reason to make the fabled computer switch. This isn't necessarily Apple's problem per se (outside of economic terms, but not in moral terms), but it is a problem in our corner of the world. You would think that with so many MBAs (and other business types, analysts, finance people, etc.) out there that there could be more than just one company that people get excited about when a new product hits the market. But I can't really think of any other company that gets that type of hype and respect. That's not to say that there aren't hot products, but no company consistently puts out product that creates excitement. For example, the Playstation 3 is hot, but Sony won't release Playstation 4 for another 5-10 years. So until then, see ya later. With the exception of a new game, the console is hum drum before it's even out of the box.

Are there not enough visionaries in our world to create companies that people can really identify with and promote with the vote of the dollar? Is it that there are too many "qualified" people running these companies and not people who are "unqualified" but "creative and full of ideas"? Or maybe we need more CEOs who like "to work with people". After all, every company usually still has people working in it. I don't get it, but I don't think they get it either. And, I don't think that the "qualified" people are any closer to "getting it" than me. As a matter of opinion, I think I'm a lot closer to "getting it" than they are. Heck, you're probably closer too.

Politics (Hopefully Not As Usual?)

I was thinking that maybe medical insurance will become an issue now that the Democrats have already gone down the minimum wage road. Really, what is it going to take before America and it's politicians wake up and proactively address the issue? I can't think of much else that has to happen before we have to begin to disect this problem. Healthcare is simply too expensive in this country. You shouldn't have to be upper middle-class before the pain of paying for this need (yes, it's a need) subsides a little. Where are all of the pissed off poor, elderly, sick, middle and lower class people? Or even the well-off compassionate people? Hell, I would think I would hear the pain every time someone looks at the deduction being taken out of their paycheck. But strangely, things are silent. Can/will someone become a champion of the people and do the right (and not necessarily popular) thing? Will we hold the presidential hopefuls accountable (for once)? When will this battle begin (we're already starting late)?

Will Life Return to Normal?

Again, more snow! I heard that there wouldn't be much snow today. Well, it's been coming down steadily. It's odd, once you've been home for a while and life has put on the brakes, the whole cabin fever thing begins to act up. I'm ready to get back to the regular, real world. The funny thing is, the rest of Western WA is in the same boat. It's forecast to get above freezing today so we'll see if the snow and ice lets up. It's harder to write good stuff if I'm not leaving my house. I can always count on someone doing something so odd that it makes writing about a specifc point that much easier. Oh well, I am going to try to get to the office today, we'll see if I can get there. Talk soon!

Darn Good Blog

Wow, I saw this this blog and I have to tell all of you about it. This is a big deal because I don't endorse garbage.
It's http://vanessabyers.net (or VanessaByers.net if you will). This lady does good work. If you're into the scene, I think you'll like it. Click the link below. Leave her a nice message and tell Vanessa that I sent you (Peter from Hilltopia). Encourage someone you don't know, it makes the world a better place.


vanessabyers.net

New Condos in Tacoma

Exit133.com had a quick little blurb about The Roberson Condos that should be interesting to those investing in real estate in Tacoma. Check it out (click link below).


Exit133.com

This Week

Will we ever get rid of the ice and snow? Man, I'm completely sick of the stuff. Getting from point A to point B in Washington is difficult enough without the snow and ice. It's a little past noon and I don't think we've cracked 32 degrees yet. I never thought I would miss the rain this much. Being snowed in for a day is fine, but the weeklong stuff is wearing on me. I need a vacation and soon I think.

2007 Resolutions Revisited (Or Maybe Just Goals)

So again I'm thinking about 2007. Are you really sticking with your resolutions? But more importantly, are you doing something that will create positive change for the better? I don't necessarily think the change has to be economical, but maybe personal, educational, spiritual or downright typical (but needed). It's so hard to stay focused on what I (or you) need to do. Once somebody comes along and pisses me (or maybe you) off, all the good stuff goes right out the window. And then once everything is settled, what was it that I was trying to do? People are funny that way. We try to be so focused, but then something (or someone) comes along and then the crap hits the fan. Well, once the fan is clean again, we're right back at square one (but now maybe with some regret). Such a battle! How do some people stay so good? I think of Mother Theresa or the Pope or someone as peaceful as Gandhi and it's like, "They're of the same species as me?" Amazing really when you think about it.

Happy MLK Day!

With MLK Day here, hopefully people are thinking about Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Thankfully, we've come a long way from the America of the past in regards to civil rights. Unfortunately, I think we'll never be completely past our own prejudices and ignorant beliefs. There are just so many people out there who refuse to give their biased beliefs much reflection and thought. But, the fight must go on. It's easy to get caught up in political and everyday rhetoric that can mar your thoughts and ideas about people. Hopefully you'll take a day to at least think about how to change any of those beliefs in yourself and maybe even give a good word to those around you.

Bird Soup

Well, I'm a little bummed about the Hawks. Chicago gave us the opportunity to win and we just couldn't do it. We had our chances and just couldn't decisively take control. Overall, we had a good season considering we won the division and made it to the second round of the playoffs. I think if we make some good offseason moves, we'll definitely be a better team than this year. Well, hopefully the Mariners can do something because I doubt the Sonics will.

Warm Places

With such cold and snowy weather, I've been thinking more about sunny places. I'm not sure if we're going anywhere exotic this year, but I wanted to see what everyone else is up to this spring/summer. My dad mentioned getting some of the family to go to Europe, but I'm not sure where that's at as far as planning. I'm definitely going to Vegas to see some family in a little bit, but other than that, I don't think we have big plans. We went to Mexico and Hawaii last year and that was pretty fun. I'm definitely a fan of the warmer climates. Although, I did go to Europe a while back and that was really fun although it certainly wasn't tropical. But what about you out in cyberland? Tell us a story of somewhere exotic or out of the way that was: 1. fun, 2. different, 3. worth recommending. Hope to hear back real soon!

Troop Surge/Escalation

I was watching Headline News this morning and there was a bit on Bush's plans to send approximately 20,000 more troops to Baghdad. I'm not necessarily against that, but I hope there is a little more cohesion in planning and not another reaction to more bad news. The Democrats seem to be opposed to it, but I'm not quite sure what I think of the plan. If sending more troops helps keep our deployed troops safe, then I'm for the surge. But, if this is just another poor decision piled on top of the others, then I would believe that we need to think about this in order to prevent adding to our losses. With so much rhetoric, it's hard to justify what is needed and what is simply a political ploy to save face. Unfortunately, I'm not so sure that any politician out there has the fortitude to speak about not only the reality, but also what is really needed. That would be welcome from either a Democrat or a Republican.

Stuck!

I hope everyone out there is staying warm and safe. I kid you not, but there is an inch thick sheet of ice on our street and throughout much of our neighborhood. We're talking cold folks. Yesterday we had to fax something, so Sheila and I (with Sheila's friend Danielle) hiked down to The UPS Store at The Tacoma Convention Center. It was about 1-2pm and we were the first customers of the day. So obviously, life is not at it's usual pace. We then went to Starbucks for a drink and then proceeded to hike back up the snowy neverending hill to our house. The hike back was pretty, but I had forgotten how much harder it is to walk in deep snow. Accumulations were probably 6-8 inches. Well, we got back safe and I proceeded to do very little the rest of the day.

Snowy Days, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Tacoma Changes

I was thinking about Tacoma and all of the changes taking place. I was also thinking about what else the city needs. The big one frequently mentioned is a grocery store closer or near downtown. I would certainly agree with that. But what else is needed? With all of the condo construction, I think a shopping/retail area would be nice. This wouldn’t have to be large, just something that would allow downtown and Hilltop residents a place to get the basics, i.e. a bookstore, clothing/dept. store, coffee shop, good take-out, etc. I was thinking that something similar to The Broadway Market up in Seattle would be nice. Or maybe we could squeeze in a smaller version of Northgate North by the Northgate Mall. I hate to leave my neighborhood only to drop off my hard earned money in a “nicer” neighborhood that has these businesses. I’d appreciate the chance to vote with my dollars, but that opportunity hasn’t quite worked itself out yet. I think a commercial, urban, contemporary space offering these features would be very much appreciated. If this was located near the hotels, visitors could have a place to shop in case they needed anything. I can’t imagine what an out-of-towner has to go through just because he/she forgot a dress shirt or socks. What do you think?

Going Green

Here we are again in another weather pattern that has more snow on it's way. The past six months have seen some crazy weather conditions. We've had record rainfall, flooding, snow storms, ice sheets, wind storms and then the cycle repeats itself once you think you're in the clear. These past few months have really made me think about whether or not humans have drastically changed the environment. I'm not sure if you saw An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore's movie), but it was really interesting. It (and the current weather conditions) make me wonder if there is enough being done to preserve our planet. I'm not so sure that the answer would be yes. We as Americans are more than happy to boast about our economic, military, or political status amongst the other countries, but could we do the same in regards to our past agenda on the environment? A funny part of this whole argument is that big business is beginning to realize the value of "going green". There's more proof that becoming more aware of energy and material conservation pays really big dividends. If that affects the bottom line, then companies become more willing to listen and act. But, has this mode of thinking even begun to permeate our government? I'm not so sure that it has and I think we may need to kindly nudge this way of thinking into the forefront of our political leaders' minds.

New Democratic Agenda

With the new Congress convening, I’m interested to see what new domestic agenda will be put forth. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the current president, it isn’t much of an argument to prove that there has been little or no domestic agenda since the Iraqi war started. There has been virtually no action on reform affecting health care, education, infrastructure, job creation, or anything else. With Social Security and Medicare deficits surpassing 70 trillion dollars, it is ever more evident that action needs to be taken. And no, it’s not fair that future generations of Americans have to pay current living Americans' bills. Education budgets have been dashed (to the tune of 20 billion plus) in order to create more funding to keep the federal budget afloat. With globalization (and the lack of qualified and skilled American workers), jobs are floating overseas. Take a drive to any big town USA, and you’ll be quickly frustrated getting there as a result of zero planning and work done on infrastructure. Instead, the current administration has “bravely” attacked the issues of gay marriage and flag burning. Heck, on my way to work I could’ve swore that I saw a gang of gay married bandits burning heaps of American flags (ok, I’m getting a little out of hand but I’m trying to prove a point on irrelevancy in politics). But again, I’m hopeful more work will be done on creating an actual plan for the country itself and not necessarily on what we can do to control matters overseas. And besides, I didn’t know that creating deadlines was such a bad thing. Everywhere else (besides politics), you would expect that there be measures to dictate whether a task has been completed and to what extent was it successful. Why can’t that be done and applied to something such as war? Is the current administration so poorly organized and disheveled that it cannot accurately predict when any of their measures of success can be preeminently and easily demonstrated? Is it the American public’s duty to not question progress but still be on the hook for the credit card bill coming our way? And at what point does the public say that we’ve paid enough? I’m not so sure any CEO would have that power and I’m not so sure that the President should as well. What was I saying about that domestic agenda again? I got sidetracked…but that big bill is still coming your way, thank the President for considering your well-being.

Apple Excitement

There’s quite a bit of speculation as to what new products Steve Jobs and Apple will introduce to the public. I’ve become an Apple fan and would like to see a phone and possibly some new gadgets. I think the iPod is one of the coolest gadgets around and I use it daily. I love being able to listen to podcasts while driving. It allows me to bypass morning and afternoon radio shows (which I think generally stink) and listen to shows or programs that I feel are much more worthwhile. An iPod Phone would be pretty cool. No one has yet to effectively integrate all of the small phones, games, gadgets, Bluetooth, Blackberries, and laptops into a small, useful, fun and functional device.

There may even be word that a device to watch downloaded video podcasts on tv’s may be getting introduced. The device would effectively break down the barrier between iTunes and television. How sweet would that be? To be able to watch or listen to iPod material in your living room would be a very nice addition. I love Apple products, but I almost feel like they could do more to introduce products that can be used while away from the iMac. Thankfully, it looks like they’ve caught on and are getting around to addressing the need. I would also like to see more integration with other third party programs or products out there. Even with the dual core iMac, I’ve still experienced some compatibility issues with certain internet downloads and programs. To truly be able to go PC-free, more compatibility issues need to be solved. Going all Apple (and not ever needing a PC) would be a great miracle in and of itself.

Presidential Race

Joe Biden is running for president. He announced it today on Meet The Press. I like Joe. I think he's good with the media and he has some interesting viewpoints. If you're unsure, Joe Biden is a Senator from Delaware. He's one of the more prominent Democrats and he's quite interesting. I think he brings good insight and ideas to the table. I'm not sure that he'll be able to win the Democratic nomination, but I like him as a Vice-Presidential candidate as well. He's a strong presence and yet another solid option amongst the star-studded cast of Dems out on the campaign trail.

Seahawks

Hopefully you saw the Seahawks game on Saturday. If not, you missed a classic. It wasn't as high scoring as I thought it would be, but it was good nontheless. I can't believe that we won it in the fashion that we did. A botched kick wasn't what I thought would win it for us. I was also surprised that Dallas couldn't capitalize on our injured and depleted defensive backfield. With the injuries that we have, we are vulnerable to the type of offense that Dallas likes to run. Thankfully, we prevailed. Well, hopefully everyone can catch the next game and enjoy that as well.

Weekend Misc.

Sheila and I went to The Matador and The Melting Pot last night with some family and friends. The Matador was so packed that we bolted for The Melting Pot. It was good to see a new place in downtown Tacoma doing so well. Hopefully even more businesses sprout up around that end of Pacific Ave. I'm still hoping a live music venue goes into the old Drake's building. An Irish Pub is setting up shop just a few steps away so that's definitely a cool thing. The Melting Pot was good. I'm not really a fondue person, but we tried some new things and it was pretty good. I'm not quite sure that guys in general dig the whole fondue concept, but there's worse things to endure out there. Well, we're headed up to Everett to hang out with some friends and catch a hockey game, so I'll have to fill you in on the details later. Stay out of troube this weekend. Prediction, Hawks win 34-31. Go Hawks!

New Year's Forecast

So along with Pat Robertson, we’re going to try to make some predictions for the year. I don’t think I’ll make any tsunami predictions caused by homosexuality, but let’s see what I can come up with now. I think the political world will be much more interesting than what we’re used to seeing. With politicians getting more publicity due to the news, news spoofs (a la John Stewart and Steven Colbert), the internet, and general interest, politics will move a little more to the forefront. I think that’s good, the public was meant to be involved in the political system (despite what some politicians may believe). Debate over beliefs, ideals and who is to represent us will become more heated, interesting and prevalent.

I think consumerism and commerce will be interesting to watch. People are voting with their dollars and that’s causing some disruption in our society. Things that are innately democratic are becoming very popular. Things such as Google, YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, and blogs in general are allowing people to view, read, buy and discuss things that they are interested in as opposed to watching what marketers are putting in front of the collective public eye. I think people as groups will grow more into niches and pockets based on specific interests and beliefs as opposed to everything becoming more homogenized. Technology is actually allowing people to get into groups more specific as opposed to getting everyone together into larger, more general groups. Social disruption based on technology and innovation is becoming almost commonplace. The trend will continue as people flock to things, areas, products that more completely align with their interests, hobbies, and beliefs. What do you think will happen in the new year? Are you willing to put it out there for debate? C’mon, don’t be a chicken, chickens can’t swim in tsunamis anyways.

Goals and Pushing Further

With the new year, resolutions and goals abound. But beyond that, what do people do to grow? I know I’m a voracious reader/learner and I’m continually evaluating my situation and setting new goals. I’m a total information hog. I listen to podcasts, audio books, read books and whatever else I feel will help me grow. That works for me thus far, but how do other people set goals or push themselves further? I guess I’ve never really asked the question before, so here goes. How do you push yourself further in life? Is there a specific thing or process that you go through/do to force yourself out of your comfort zone? And has it worked for you? Share you ideas with everyone else; maybe you’ll be a great help to someone and not even realize that you could be with what you know.

Blog Reference

I've been somewhat vocal about my appreciation for Exit 133. That blog always has some good information and is quite insightful. Well, today there was some interesting information regarding Tacoma and what some college students put together as far as what could be conceptualized in the future. You should take a look.

Football

Is this a great time for football or what? We’re right in the middle of bowl season and the NFL playoffs are getting ready to start. I didn’t see the Oklahoma/Boise State game, but I did watch the highlights. It looks like I missed a classic. Too bad for Boise State, they aren’t going to get much consideration for a national title although they went undefeated. Still we don’t have a college playoff, when will the pain end? Not having a playoff really screws the underdog. I did watch the USC/Michigan game. Is USC scary or what? This was supposed to be a rebuilding year and again they’re in the Rose Bowl (and win). I initially didn’t think Florida should be in the title game, but after watching Michigan lose, I think the right decision was made. I don’t think Florida will beat Ohio State, but I’ve been wrong before. I was quietly hoping Arkansas and Wake Forest would have won, but I’m not losing any sleep over it. This part of the year is one of the best times if you’re a sports fan. Football, hoops and baseball coming soon; it doesn’t get much better.

Politics

With President Ford passing away, I was thinking a little bit about politics and where we are today. The big topic now is who will run for president and who has the best chance. It really does seem like the field is wide open. The Vice-President is not running and the President is in his last term. And, both parties do not have their clear choice to push forward to the American public. Of course many out there are already proclaiming the greatness of Hilary and Barack. But if recent history has any sway, we're still early in the running and recent victors did not really have great momentum this early into the race. We're talking a marathon and not a sprint. John Edwards has declared his intention to run. He's interesting as well. There are other names out there such as Giuliani and McCain; some others not as well known, but worthy candidates that need to be looked at. This is an early prediction, but I will say this. I think people are looking for a moderate and an overall good package. With the redefinition of the Vice-Presidency and the First Lady (or Man), I think it's now more important than ever to look at the entire package that will get elected. And thankfully, I think the American people will know that and get that right this time around. I think people will vote according to not only who they like as President, but also who they like as Vice-President, First Lady (or Man) and so forth. Because there are some big names out there, I think two or three big names competing against each other will be a wash. I don't think Barack or Hilary alone will make much difference. People are over that and get the name recognition thing. What will drive this election is who teams up with who and who gets the best team and endorsements in place. I also think the majority has spoken and the political pendulum has swung back to the middle. The Republican Party cannot go the Rove route and push politics (and their base) further to the right. That initially worked, but ultimately it cost them Congress and may end up costing them the Presidency if they think of running that way again. Overall, I think the Republicans understand that and will move their agenda and sales pitch back towards the middle. It will be classical politics in that the race will be who can get to the middle first and gather the moderate or "purple" vote if you will (I heard that term used by Donny Deutsch and I think it's brilliant). Much remains to be seen, but it will be really interesting this time around. Who do you like and why? Tell us in your comments.

Miser at Lowe's

Sheila and I just got back from Lowe's. She wanted to buy some new light fixtures for our house. I thought the light fixtures that we had were fine, but what the hell do I know? Apparently good working light fixtures aren't good enough, but that's not the point of my story. Directly in front of us in line at Lowe's was this older couple buying some various items. Amongst those items were two packs of plastic suction cup hooks. Let it also be known that this couple had just come from Starbucks (evident by the Starbucks cups of course). During their checkout, the older guy stops the cashier and begins to moan and groan about the price of the hooks. I think there is a disagreement about what the 5% discount should be. So, of course the cashier has another co-worker run around and double check the prices. We get the pleasure of waiting for the dispute resolution over the price of plastic suction cup hooks. Seriously, I think we're talking about a difference of maybe 50 cents to a buck. Anyways, the guy gets a little pissy and decides that the hooks are just too expensive for him and his wife to purchase. They finish their business and leave. During all of this I'm thinking that this couple probably paid a 200-300% premium on their coffee beans and now they're pissy over a 5% discount on suction hooks. Are you kidding me? Maybe it's just me, but I think that if you have Starbucks cups in hand, you lose your right to bitch about a 5% discount (or any price for that matter). Now, if they had walked in with 7-11 coffee cups, maybe I would have been sympathetic. But upper class taste and lower class purchasing habits don't sit well with me.