Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Where Are They Now Dep't

A former teacher of kung fu at the Phinney Neighborhood Center has written a beautiful article about what it is like being a transplant to the Northwest.

You can read the piece in the
Smithsonian Magazine.



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Monday, August 18, 2008

I WON! I WON!! I...LOST?!?!? hahah, it's ok...

Howdy folks:

Recently, i entered into the video contest for the Gumshoe/Mystery Week.

At first, my submission was the only one and on the final day of submission (August 6th), there were no other video entries so I thought I'd win by default.

Not so. Apparently, there was a submission but we no one noticed that it was submitted at Red Mill Burgers.


Let me tell you: it was a very superb submission. The whole schtick about "disappearing food" in Red Mill was cleverly done and quite funny. Excellent editing, acting, and script writing.

Mine, however, is an incoherent "quasi-trailer" that barely made sense. In order for it to make sense, you'll have to watch the full 8-minute short film for it to make any sense.

So yeah, my "rival" or "opponent" won the video contest. I just heard the news this morning when I was commuting to work. It's ok, though. I'm not mad or sad. I think I tried my best and I humbly accept the vote of the crowds for this video contest.

If there's gonna be something like this next year, I encourage all of you with video/filmmaking skills to participate. And yes, if this is gonna happen next year, I shall come back and enter that contest...to redeem myself.


hahahhaha, oh well, maybe next year, yes?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Perspective

Although I've been a correspondent for the PNA blog for a while, I've been waiting until now for something truly important to write about. I've been living in the Phinney neighborhood for all of my eighteen years of life and I feel that its time some of us rethink our transportation and how we go about our daily lives.

For a middleclass neighborhood filled with energy and earth conservation minded residents, I find it appalling that I can walk down the street and see the parking lots of Ken's Market and Red Mill Burgers filled with cars, while not seeing a single bicycle locked to a bike rack. Sure, It’s easier to throw the groceries into the back of your brand new minivan- but is it really necessary? How much effort would it take you to break out your old bike, run down to Gregg's Cycle and buy a front and rear grocery rack? I guarantee it will not only be cheaper than your next seventy-dollar fill up, but it will also have a positive effect on not only our planet, but also your very own neighborhood.

I'm not advocating the complete annihilation of all cars- yes I drive, and I rather enjoy driving, but I also bicycle, or walk, or take a bus. I would just like to ask that the next time you’re out buying organic groceries or supporting some "green" organization, that you think about the options you have yourself to make this world a better and cleaner place.

I hope that Phinney residents will soon realize that you can be cooler on your retro ride from Recycled Cycles, then you ever could in your BMW X5 and will take to the streets. Caring about the environment doesn’t have to be about spending extra money or buying into product labeling. Alternative transportation wont always get the job done, but let's start to realize that it will work for many of us.

Some links to help you get started:
Gregg's Cycle
Recycled Cycles
Cascade Bike Club

Friday, August 8, 2008

I Want to Believe...in Phinney Ridge (uncut version)

Here's a link to the DIRECTOR'S CUT of my video submission for the "What's So Mysterious About Phinney/Greenwood?" video contest. Imagine: an 8 minute short film whittled down to a bite-sized 40 second quasi-trailer. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZAvOQ9UfPQ

Decorate a Zucchini

We are holding the Zucchini 500 here on August 29. Kids will be decorating zukes, attaching wheels, and racing them then down a ramp, similar to those used for pinewood derby cars. I'm collecting fun stuff (already got some weird stuff) that can be used for decorations - stickers, fancy toothpicks, pipe cleaners, etc. If you've got materiel lying around your house that you'd like to unload, just bring it to me and we'll add it to our supply. The fun will take place in the Community Hall from 3:30-5 and I'm also looking for volunteers if you'd like to help out that afternoon. Set-up will begin after 2 and we'll be done by 6.

Judith Wood
Director of Volunteer Programs
Phinney Neighborhood Association

206/783-2244
Best times to reach me are Tuesday,
Thursday, or Friday from 9 am - 2 pm

6532 Phinney Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98103
www.phinneycenter.org



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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Just wondering…

Have you noticed that when you type PNA into a famous web search engine the Phinney Neighborhood Association comes up fifth? A few months ago we were further down the list. I wonder what it would take to get us to the top of the list.

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