Well kids, I've decided to engage in an act of narcissism. (It IS all about ME, isn't it?) I was trolling about the web the other night and decided to set up a wish list at J-Box. As if that wasn't enough, I also decided today to update my wish list over at Think Geek. In an attempt to justify such self-centered acts, I'll add that my birthday is in a few weeks. ;) [Flip ducks and covers...]

Be Well
-UF

I've gotten one comment to my post about scenarios for the toppling of Than Shwe's junta by cyclone Nargis:

What sickens me, several days after your posting, is that based on what I'm hearing from NPR it appears that none of the three possibilities is happening. The government appears to be preserving face at the expense of the people. I'm not surprised.

I'm not surprised either. But based on reports I've read, I don't really think that's what's going on. The military would allow aid in, but not aid workers. Soon as I heard this, I knew a lot of that aid wouldn't be getting to the people. That was confirmed in an Associated Press article that quoted a foreigner living in Yangon. He said a member of the military openly told him that the 'good' relief supplies were being hoarded by the military, which was instead sending out inferior supplies to the people. To me, that sort of thing is not saving face. It causes the people to realize they're second class in the military's eyes (though we already knew the military in Myanmar puts itself first). It also shows the world community that the military in unable to properly manage disaster aid, in addition to not making that aid a top priority.

Granted, I've not been on top of Reuters or the Guardian or some other usual haunts, but from what I've read so far, I can say this: If proving you're incompetent and worried more about yourself than your people is saving face, they're doing a bang-up job.

Be Well
-UF

I've been following events in Myanmar (which I prefer to still call Burma) for about fifteen years. I consider Aung San Suu Kyi a personal hero of mine, and have help high hopes that her National League for Democracy can unseat the military regime of Than Shwe. The events of the last week, while tragic, have given me a new hope for the end of the country's military government. I see three major scenarios. We'll start with the best case and go to the worst.

International aid shipments (and workers) will be allowed into the country, causing the regime to back off a bit- and causing the public to be a bit emboldened. The masses will speak up and use the international community as a springboard to rise up against the military. It the same effect as when the Buddhist monks spoke up to reporters a few weeks ago when the Chinese government escorted media in to show that everything was just fine. I actually see the beginnings of this possibility. At this writing, the government is starting to let some aid in, but saying there are visa issue with letting U.N. and U.S. workers in. (Tourists on the other hand, can pay a small fee to get a visa on the spot. I nearly did this a few years ago- but on trying to leave Thailand, we found the border closed.)

Another possibility is that the junta will be busy enough trying to help the people of the country, that their dictatorial tendencies are weakened- making an uprising easier. Cyclone Nargis hit down in Irawaddy- but the Karen hill tribe and other resistance groups are strong in the north, and could use the opportunity to mount new offensives.

The last scenario is one I don't want to think too much about. That's the military doing relatively nothing to help- thereby collectively pissing off the country, causing heightened resistance, and a mass uprising. I think even the soldiers wouldn't let this happen. Even though they work for the government, they are still family members of people across Burma.

Whatever happens, I do hope Nargis will serve to bring new international attention to Burma. As was said in the film Beyond Rangoon, the actions of the brutal regime in Burma haven't been televised- so for most of the world, they just didn't happen.

Be Well
-UF

Had a fabulous time Saturday at Dark Lord Day (which is, of course, when Three Floyds releases Dark Lord Imperial Stout). Photos are coming soon...

I did my usual bit of driving up overnight to get to the brewery about 9.30am. This time, I had two copilots- so I actually managed to get a little shut-eye on the way up.

I was a bit surprised to see a line formed when I got there. Usually, there's a big mass of people doing beer trading and tasting- and about 11.00am, they head for the big brewery door for the 12.00 opening. I got in a little tasting and trading before the doors unexpectedly opened at 11.00am. I was in the first 100 or so to get their Dark Lord, and I quickly returned to tasting.

I managed to latch onto some guys in a group called the League of Strange Beer Drinkers. I felt I;d fit right in- even though the reference is to strange beer, not strange drinkers. One of the guys has started a meadery, and I sampled quite a few of his wares. I plan on ordering some from him.

I also managed to meet up with The Brew Dudes. They're two nice guys who do a video blog featuring beer tastings, brewing lessons, and more. I hope to meet up with them at next year's Dark Lord Day! (Maybe also at Alabama's future 'Drinks Pretty Good Day'...a joke I may have to let you in on later!)

My kilt got a good bit of attention at the fest- most of it good and from women. ;) I hope my other two kilted friends had the same reactions. It seems we've started a tradition! (My kilt was even dubbed a 'beer pouch' when one woman saw I had three bottles in one side pocket...)

When I left the brewery at about 3.30, there was still a line down the block to buy beer. It was sad that some of those poor souls wouldn't get any Dark Lord.

After the brewery, we stopped by a package store nearby, and found Dixie Blackened Voodoo on the shelf! It has apparently gone into production again, and I am very happy!

I spent a fun evening with other members of Free The Hops, first going to Gino's East, then back to the hotel for a beer tasting. (This is where I tried Horse Piss beer...) I was so tired at this point, I was falling asleep in my chair.

The ride home with my friends Stuart and Hilary was fun....partially due to playing dueling GPS. We had plenty of laughs, and made a few plans for next year's Dark Lord Day! Those should be interesting blog posts...........

Be Well
-UF

Today I went to an ATM to withdraw some cash for my road trip this weekend. I'm often amused at how my bank's ATMs communicate in the first person- but never so much as today, when I forgot to enter the amount I wanted to withdraw before I hit the 'OK' button. I got the following message:

I'M OUT OF $20.00 BILLS RIGHT NOW...SO LET'S WORK IN MULTIPLES OF $20.00 OKAY?

Until today, I had no clue ATMs could get dementia.

Be Well
-UF

Sorry to leave you all hanging again! (By 'all', I mean the one or two people who actually read this...)

My dear friend Dave came to stay with me for a few days, and we had a good visit. Friday we also met a very strange and fabulous young waitress named Tyndall. I think I'll be dining in her section again. She was just insanely fun to dine with.

Speaking of dining, the meeting that wasn't going to happen (see my last post) actually did happen. I had lunch with Match maiden Kim.....and will be meeting her again tomorrow. Wish me luck. She seems cool enough that I wonder what she sees in me.

Finally, a bit of amusement. South Park (via Engadget) has declared that the Internet is a giant Liksys router. Enjoy.

Be Well
-UF

Apologies as always for taking a long time to check in.

Last time around, I was in Seattle. I met Alison face-to-face for the first time, and in person, there was no attraction on either side. We're still friends, though- and right now, I'm a bit worried as I haven't heard from her in a while.

There hasn't been too much excitement since I got back. I spent a weekend up in Raliegh, and was supposed to meet another friend face-to-face for the first time- but somehow, we didn't manage to make it happen. I did have quite a fun time with SUUSI board members, and even wound up bitten in the chest twice. I will not tell that story here, to protect the guilty. Another fun bit from that weekend is that a friend is interested in setting me up with a friend of hers- but that friend lives in Japan. I was hoping for someone slightly closer to home! ;)

Just this week, I've been in contact with someone I met on Match.com- and we'd hoped to have our first in-person meeting tomorrow. Unfortunately, our schedules won't work together to make it happen. More on this as it develops...

Be Well
-UF

Sunday was, to say the least, more enjoyable than Saturday. At least it was once I got up for the last time. (I had accidentally set my phone alarm to go off at 5.30 instead of 7.30, but went back to sleep once I realized what I'd done.) I struck out to find Espresso Vivace, which had come highly recommended. The feel of the place is sort of like it's in a converted school classroom, but with 50's style formica-topped tables. (From the outside, it doesn't look at all like it used to be a school.)


The latte I had was fabulous, as was the dill and cheese scone. You can tell I was more interested in ingesting than photographing. ;)


I took a leisurely walk back to my hotel, and spotted the Zip Cars along the way. I think this is a pretty cool idea that should be expanded. Granted, there are problems of getting people to catch on, and raising the capital. I still love the concept.


I checked out of Max, and only had to wait a short time for my friend Alice, her roomie and her dog to come pick me up. We went down to Pike Place market to browse around a bit, mostly dwelling on ethnic and gourmet foods. we finally stopped at a fabulous corner stall that had some fabulous Filipino stuff. It has a bit of motion blur, but you might just be able to make out the rest of the gang chowing down:


We then went to take the dog to a huge off-leash dog area in a park near Redmond. She loved it, and frolicked quite a bit with the others. Aurora is at left.


Realizing time was short, we rushed over to my hostess' home to drop me off, so she and I could head into town for a Seattle Thunderbirds game. Alison and I both enjoyed the game (it was her first hockey game), and were pleased the home team won 5-2.

We headed back home through the rain, then watched a film, talked, and played with her dog. It was an enjoyable evening, and a good start. (For those who don't know, it was my first time meeting Alison face to face!)

Be Well
-UF

It's been a terribly long day, and I'm ready to just sit in bed and drink a beer. We'll get back to that in just a moment...but first, my fun day getting this point.

I got up t 5.00am so I'd be ready for my downstairs neighbor to take me to the airport at 5.45. She offered last night to do it, saving me a bit on taxi rides or parking. My flight was set to leave at 6.50, but was held up first by weather, then by rearranging people on the plane. It seem the jigsaw puzzle was fueled by two major things: there were some largish family groups on the plane (the flight attendants didn't want to separate parents form their young children), and parents traveling with their children are not allowed to sit in exit rows. after a failed attempt to get in place for a takeoff form runway 6, we taxied all the way to the other end to take off from 24. I got to Memphis just in time to see my connection to Seattle still at the gate, with the jetway still plugged into it....but with a closed door an no gate agent around. I'd not be getting to Seattle before noon. I'd be getting there at seven on my new flights.

I had about five hours to kill before my 1.45 flight to "Larry Craig Field" (that's right, I got a surprise trip to Minneapolis!), so I thought I'd catch a few more minutes of sleep, having gotten little the night before. I woke up a few times to the sound of an alarm I kept running back later and later. At one point, I looked up bleary-eyed and read the clock as 1.28. PANIC! I thought I'd missed my new flight. There was no-one at the gate. I might have missed boarding! Some folks sitting on the floor playing cards reassured me clock actually said 11.28. I was safe by nearly two hours. I made the flight.

There's not much eventful to say about Minneapolis, so we'll flash forward.

I was happy to be out of 15 hours of airplanes and airports- and happy with Sea-Tac, finding a 747 nose-in next to our dinky little 757. I couldn't resist the shot.


I got lost at SeaTac, but eventually found the pickup point for the downtown shuttle, where a fun eastern European fellow helped me load my bags and get on my way. On the ride into town, I realized what a friend meant when he said Seattle reminds one a bit of my hometown of Birmingham- though it has some names foreign to Alabama: Viking, Totem, Cascade. Getting into town, Seattle actually reminded more of the love child of Birmingham and Boston.

I'm very happy with Hotel Max. All the doors on my floor (I haven't looked at other doors) are decorated with pictures of local street performers, shot by a local photographer. I like mine....


..but I like "Darth Fiddler" on 318 better.


My room is small and cozy and has neat things such as the Hotel Max Intimacy Kit, which contains two antiseptic towelettes and two condoms for the honor bar price of eight bucks...


...and the Spiritual Menu, which makes it easy for you to get a variety of religion-related texts sent to your room.


The only thing I'm not that crazy about it the overwhelming feeling that the hallway decor was done by someone who's color blind *and* ADD.


After checking in and freshening up, I went out for dinner. Along the way, a guy asked me for first a penny, then a nickel, then to buy him a beer. I was so amused that he couldn't make up his mind, that I almost did buy him that beer. I ended up and Bambuza, and was very happy with it. The waitress made a fabulous recommendation for my dinner, and when I told her I wanted nothing more than to sit in bed and drink a beer, she directed me to a few shops, then offered to get me a bottled one from the bar to take with me. I declined, saying I'd like the walk. It turned into a much longer walk that I thought, as all the shops were closed- except one that didn't sell singles. Defeated, I headed back to my hotel. around the corner behind the hotel (with a lovely view of the Space Needle, I found a specialty gourmet type shop run by a very nice Asian fellow, and I picked up a bomber of Alpine Oktoberfest. It seems local- made in Oroville. I just hope the beer is as enticing as the young dirndl-clad lass on the label. ;) Off to drink it now, as I had towards much needed sleep.

Be Well
-UF

Some of you have probably heard of Aaron Stanton, the guy behind CanGoogleHearMe.com. I got an e-mail from him today to tell me he's now launched BookLamp, which is the idea he had for Google, but on his own terms. I had no idea Aaron remembered me. It turns out, my e-mail to him when CanGoogleHearMe.com went online was his first contact from the media. (It got international attention....probably not due to MY story!) I'm happy he contacted me on the launch date for the new site. If nothing else, I'm going to put him on the air again. ;)

It was an interesting weekend. Saturday night, there was a big brawl in our back parking lot. It turns out some of my neighbors got into it with some folks partying down in my 'hood. I spotted the ordeal out my window just as a guy was hurling a bottle then a large rock at our building. This was followed by a police officer running into our lot with his gun drawn. All was eventually worked out.

This came as I was still tired from a 19.5 hour day watching for the snow that barely came. We DID get some icy conditions, which caused a little excitement. Ever since we started using Department of Transportation traffic cams in some of our shows, I'd joked that I wanted to catch an auto accident live on the air. I got TWO Saturday morning. We punched to the I-65 at Oxmoor (looking north) camera to show icy conditions on an overpass- just in time to see a car slip on the ice and go nose first into the concrete median divider. As our meteorologist was talking about it, another car spun out and was t-boned by a pickup truck. I'm just happy everyone was OK. It was still pretty cool. ;)

Be Well
-UF