The League of the Underemployed

Happy Trails, amigos!

2007-08-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

This is my last post as moderator of this blog for The League of the Underemployed (formerly the Not Just for Moovies blog).

This blog started as an outgrowth of a practice I began when I returned to Seattle from Spokane. I wanted to capitalize on the ability to see lots of interesting movies, and I wanted to reconnect with my local friends, so every time I went to the movies (which was more often then), I sent out an email saying that I was going and inviting anyone to come along.

Well, that practice turned into a Moovie Group mailing list, and then an events calendar, and then this blog. It has been a lot of fun to watch the connections be made among people who met and established friendships through the gang.

However, I have been reconsidering how and to what extent I am going to be active in the blogosphere and in socializing; this reflection began in the context of my new job, but is informed by other factors as well.

At any rate, I will no longer be publishing a social agenda or taking point on activities. I'll leave the site active for use; everyone on the sidebar can post, and if anyone wants administrator status, let me know.

So, I'll be seeing you all in the funny papers!

Mark those calendars!

2007-08-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

This note is a sticky! It will stay at the top of the page all summer; any individual new notes will appear below it. You can bookmark the page or this entry to have easy access to the summer calendar - updates will appear in garish colors. You can join in with any event by emailing me, or the point person, or by just showing up.
Original intro:
The poll machine has been a-calculatin’ away and we here at the League of the Underemployed Social Activities Office have been listening! It’s a pretty busy summer this year, with more planned out-of-town travel than the usual, so even though it's still early days, there are some clear trends, and I gave in to my OCD side and decided to start penciling stuff in.
So, here’s a bunch of stuff that I plan on doing, and I hope that as many people as possible want to come along! Circle those days on the calendar now!
There’s still time to make your voice heard – make your own suggestions now. (I'd love to do another Geek Quest, but I think someone else is going to have to take point on that one.)

05/31: I have added some updates - planned dinners from the Full Belly Project.

Update 06/11: Stella and Della will certainly be at Bon Odori on Saturday July 22.

Update 6/18: Stella has added some details to the Olympics Day Hike

Update 6/28: League Picnic Invitations have been sent out and separate post created.

Update 7/11: Hiking trip postponed!

~~Tuesday June 12: The Capitol Hill Art Walk. Otis has a pal who is showing some pieces, so we’ll be out and about on the hill in the evening.~~ Cool!

~~Thursday June 14: Rising Bird Art Show. You should have received your invitation to the art show Otis is having as a part of the Roosevelt Art Walk to celebrate her first year in massage practice!~~Nice night!

~~Friday June 15: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer opens.~~ ~~I don't even know where yet, but I’ll sure be spending 89 minutes there with this legacy of Jack Kirby.~~ Crappy movie - great night!

~~Saturday June 16: The Solstice Parade starts at noon. Maybe we can do a low-impact excursion to the Stone Way and Northlake Avenue area.~~ Great day!

~~Saturday June 30:~~ ~~Spring into Summer Dinner~~ (~~Full Belly Project).~~

~~Saturday July 7: The First Official League of the Underemployed Company Picnic!~~ ~~Details posted above.~~

Postponed: Let’s hike on the Olympic peninsula. But first we need to figure out the details. Johnbai has left some ideas in the comments. Stella says we might could piggy-back on a trip she is making the same day with her Irish Club. They are going here. The Irish Club, is of course, still going on July 15.

~~Friday and Saturday July 21 & 22: What do you get when Buddhists rock out?~~ ~~Bon Odori! Got to the~~ ~~Seattle Buddhist Temple website and click on Event Calendar for a link to a description.~~ Stella got rained on!

~~Saturday July 21:~~ ~~French & Moroccan Mid-Summer's Night~~ (~~Full Belly Project).~~ Check the FB Blog!

~~Sunday August 5: Plan for an urban hike, maybe from Carkeek to downtown via the waterfront, with at least one meal stop along the way.(Yeah, I’m copying Linda S.)~~ Done for a ducat!

~~Saturday August 11: Fremont Outdoor Movies are having a twisted flick~~ ~~– Cat Women on the Moon. The movie starts at dusk, but there’s a typical local DJ comedy/audience participation deal earlier.~~ No one showed!

Friday August 24: End of Summer Barbecue (Full Belly Project).

Space alien night at Fremont Outdoor Movies

2007-08-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 11 is our night out at the movies - the Fremont Outdoor Movies, that is!

The details on how the outdoor cinema works can be found here, and the details on Saturday's show can be found here, but here's the short version:

When: Saturday: show starts at dusk, lot opens at 7:30, we line up about 7:00 or so.

Where: Phinney Ave and 35th in Fremont

What: An outdoor screening of Cat-Women on the Moon, overdubbed live by a bunch of comedians (sort of like MST3K).

Who: You!

Why: It's great fun! At least it was last year, and I quote: "we went to see Manster at the Fremont Outdoor Theater with the Invisibles (both Adam and Karen), J-Force and MaryBee. The improv actors who were overdubbing the dialog for this z-grade horror flick were pretty funny; all of us were laughing out loud at one point or another during the night."

So, come with cushions, blankets, food, drink, photos to share or a game to play (before the show begins) and meet in the line on Saturday night!

Urban Hike!

2007-08-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

The urban hike is on!

We’ll meet at Johnbai and O’s and Carole’s building in the morning and set out for a ten-mile walk to Discovery Park. Here’s the route:

You should have received an email with details – email or call to let us know you’re a walkin’ dude!

Impromptu: Bardishness

2007-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Dingo happened upon the schedule for the Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival in Volunteer Park and wanted to pass it along:

Saturday the 14th
Twelfth Night Noon (Last Leaf Productions)
Two Gentlemen of Verona 2 PM (Last Leaf Productions)
The Merchant of Venice 7 PM (Wooden O Theatre production)

Sunday the 15th
King Lear 11 AM (Young Shakespeare Workshop production)
The Merry Wives of Windsor 2 PM (Wooden O Theatre using songs set to Shakespeare’s words)

Also on Saturday and Sunday:
The Reluctant Dragon 5 PM (Lela and David Szondy’s adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s play, presented by Theater Schmeater)

Anyone up for some culture al fresco this weekend? The heat wave has broken so the weather should be just about perfect. Let the digital (or other) communications begin!

League of the Underemployed Company Picnic

2007-06-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

(We interrupt this blog to bring you this important invitation.)

You’re invited to the

League of the Underemployed
Company Picnic!

Saturday, July 7th
2:00 pm until the middle of the night
Putnam Compound – Lake Forest Park

Whether you are a charter member of the league or a gainfully employed worker bee, please join us for the first annual League of the Underemployed (Good) Company Picnic: have all of the fun of a real company picnic without any of the office politics or butt-kissing!

Featuring ~

The thrills of the three-legged race!
The chills of the limbo contest!
The spills of the water-balloon toss!

Will you ~

Dare to enter the sack race!
Brave the challenge of the tug-of-war!
Experience the drama of musical chairs!

Who will be the one to smash the piñata?!

Tentative schedule of events:

2:00 to 3:00 pm – Icebreakers and getting-to-know you
3:00 to 5:00 pm – Snacks and games
5:00 to 7:00 pm – Barbecue!
7:00 to 9:00 pm – Games and snacks
9:00 to 11:00 pm – Outdoor Movie
11:00 to midnight – Late night refreshments and hot-tubbing
After midnight – Ghost stories

Extra-special treat: U-Pick-Em raspberries all day!

Tasty Treats!

League Headquarters will provide veggie burgers, veggie dogs, buns, condiments, chips, corn-on-the-cob, and soft drinks! Please bring anything else you would like to drink and something to share:

If your last name begins A - F: Green salad, picnic salad, fresh fruit, ice cream, or dessert.

If your last name begins G - K: Picnic salad, fresh fruit, ice cream, dessert, or green salad.

If your last name begins L - P: Fresh fruit, ice cream, dessert, green salad, or picnic salad.

If your last name begins Q - R: Ice cream, dessert, green salad, picnic salad, or fresh fruit.

RSVP!

See you there! Come ready to party!
RSVP!
Call or e-mail me to get directions!
RSVP!

Division managers are responsible for arranging car pools or use of company vans. Overtime will not be paid for attendance at the party except as approved by regional manager. Attendees are responsible for compliance with standard operating procedures and state and federal laws. Offer void where prohibited. Your mileage may vary. No animals were harmed in the creation of this digital invitation.

20 QuestionsV 2.0

2007-05-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

I realized that in my posts over on HKC, I haven't mentioned how wonderfully warm and summery the weather has been of late. I hope I'm not already taking it for granted; on the other hand, I hope it stays this way so long that I can.

In any case, thinking about summer weather has gotten me thinking about summer per se, and just about a year ago we conducted a poll here on the League Blog about what we wanted to do in those hazy, lazy days. herewith, we do it again, with slight updates.

In the sidebar is a poll listing twenty possible diversions. Which do you want to do? You can vote for as many choices as you want to, but you can only cast one ballot. If there is commitment on any particular activity, I'll be happy to take the lead in making reservations, getting tickets, &c. Here's some information on and links to places about the choices, and dates when appropriate:

1. Forget the dull soap opera that was Spider-Man 3; the most significant comic book movie event of the millennium (so far, at least) is coming our way: who's up for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer? (June 15)

2. The Solstice Parade is always a big hit; we're all talk when it comes to getting a float together, but it has always been fun to go. (June 16)

3. I still would love to see a minor league ball game somewhere around here. (AAA (Tacoma) is already underway, and A (Everett) starts June 17.)

4. The Fremont Outdoor Movies was great last year, with a so-bad-it's-good Japanese horror film. It's a nice venue, too, and pretty low stress. (Series starts June 23)

5. The Pride Parade may have moved downtown, but it's still the Pride Parade. (June 29)

6. Two of the biggest events last year were our own Homegrown Outdoor Movies, with the Big Wall Spectrator projecting in the backyard of the Putnam Compound in LFP. Shall we do it again?

7. In what could be an adjunct to #6, I would really like to have a company picnic, without the company. That is, I'd like to do a big outdoor event and barbecue, and have sack races, and three-legged races, and water-balloon tosses, and that kind of stuff. Does that sound like fun or am I weird? (Or both?)

8. Does anyone even do anything for the Fourth of July anymore? Last year we had nothin'.

9. Stella, I am sure, remains fond of mounting a caravan to a drive-in movie; here are some possible choices to investigate. (Images are broken in the link but the info is there.)

10. Stella also suggested a walk in nature in the Olympics last year. We didn't do it them, but we could do it now.

11. The Scottish Highland Games are a favorite of mine, but they can get pretty darn hot. That might be why we skipped it last year. But this year it's in July, not August, so maybe... nah, it'll still be hot. (July 28 & 29)

12. Hey, if it is hot, maybe Enchanted Village and Wild Waves is the ticket. It's almost as expensive as Disneyland, but Seattle Parks and Rec had deep discount tickets last year.

13. It's been ~~two~~ three years without a Geek Quest; are we game for a game?

14. We could stick with the PB&J Ride concept, or there are some regular organized bike rides in town. I sure need the miles - I've been doing a lot of walking and not much riding.

15. Of course, if we prefer walking, the PI has a list of urban hikes here. I like walking in the city, so I'd be up for just about anything.

16. The Putnam Cabin up in Chinook Pass is primitively odd (or oddly primitive), but when it's hot, the river is sure fun. And we can head into Yakima for some good Mexican food while we're there.

17. I've never been to a Renaissance Fair; has anyone? Do we have a desire to just see what it's all about? (Most of August)

18. Bumbershoot is expensive, but maybe we can find some things worth investing the time / money / trouble in. (September 1-3)

19. I haven't been to the Puyallup Fair in many years now - it's awful big, but it's got food, and rides, and might be a fun excursion. (September 7 - 23)

20. Your idea! What do you have in your bag of tricks for a League Adventure this summer? Tell us in the comments!

So make your voice heard and bring the fun!

Events calendar round-up

2007-05-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

The calendar is filling - here's a summary:

Category A: For Sure

Michael Chabon Reading
Tuesday, May 15
7:00 pm
Lake Forest Park Third Place Books

Check out the details in this post. Link.

On Wing Art Show Artists' Reception
Friday, May 18
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Edmonds Conference Center
201 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA

Otis is showing a piece in this juried art show being held in connection with the Puget Sound Bird Fest in Edmonds. This is her first juried show and she hopes it will be the start of the next phase of the art thread of her creative career. There is a gallery and an art walk and all that associated with the fest, but Otis will be attending the official Artists' Reception, which might be a good time to go if you're interested. (There's also a bird photography presentation at the same time.)

Link. Link.

Thoroughly Modern Millie
Thursday, May 24
7:30 pm
Roosevelt High School
1410 NE 66th Street
Seattle, WA

Check out the details in this post and this post. Link.

Category B: Maybe

Rocky Road to Dublin
May 11 through 17
Friday through Thursday at 7:oo and 9:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 pm
Northwest Film Forum
1515 12th Ave. (at Pike)
Seattle, WA

Stella highly recommends this 1968 film about social issues in the Irish Republic. A politically powerful film in its time - it was actually banned in Ireland - the documentary uses the aesthetic of French New Wave cinema to tell its story.

Link.

Also:

On the subjects of things Irish, does anyone want to see The Wind that Shakes the Barley?

And what about Spider-Man 3? Are we going to bother seeing it, or will we wait for the really important super-hero movie this summer: Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer?

And yet ANOTHER Millie Announcement!

2007-05-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Roosevelt High School's theatre and music departments are proud to present this year's spring musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie!

We're going to the show on May 24 at 7:30PM, but here are other dates:

May 24, 25, 31, June 1, 2 @ 7:30 PM

June 2, 3 @ 2:30 PM

PRICE: Adults $12, Students $8.

To buy tickets, contact the Roosevelt H.S. BOX OFFICE at 206.252.4967

Please join us at our place afterwards for coffee/tea and Millie debriefing! -Walaka & Otis

Upcoming Events

2007-05-04T16:40:00.000-07:00

Book Reading/Signing:
Tuesday, May 15, 7:00 pm
Lake Forest Park Third Place Books

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon

What if, as Franklin Roosevelt proposed on the eve of World War II, a temporary Jewish settlement had been established on the Alaska panhandle? Roosevelt's plan went nowhere, but Michael Chabon brings the idea to life in The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, his first full-length novel since his Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. He blends this alternate history with a recreation of 1940s-style detective fiction, melding mystery with a blackly comic, existential examination of identity, purpose and cultural longing. With the purchase of the book at Third Place, receive a limited-edition autographed broadside poster while supplies last.

High School Theatre
Thursday, May 24, 7:30 pm
Roosevelt High School

Thoroughly Modern Millie!

Roosevelt High School's theatre and music departments are proud to present this year's spring musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie! Taking place in New York City in 1922, Thoroughly Modern Millie tells the story of young Millie Dillmount, who has just moved to the city in search of a new life for herself. It's a New York full of intrigue and jazz - a time when women were entering the workforce and the rules of love and social behavior were changing forever. Based on the popular movie, the stage version of Thoroughly Modern Millie! includes a full score of new songs and bright dance numbers. Filled with frisky flappers, dashing leading men and a dragon-lady of a villainess audiences will love to hate, Thoroughly Modern Millie! is a perfectly constructed evening of madcap merriment.

Check Walaka's blog posting for more details of tentative plans for our madcap merriment.

Event Invitation: Salsa Saturday, April 28

2007-04-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hey, since Flapjack Friday was so much fun, let's ratchet it up the action with

Salsa Saturday!

Here's the deal:

We'll have lots of chips, tortillas and quesedilla fixin's, and cheap beer and pop.

You will bring anything else you want to drink* -and- a container of salsa!

The salsa can be homemade or store-bought, but it should be fun and interesting! We'll have taste tests and award a prize to the favorite salsa.

The Spectrator will be fired up and we'll be screening Santo and the Ghost of the Strangler (or some other great lucha libre film).

So come jumpy, but don't come grumpy to Salsa Saturday!

Here's the details:

Saturday, April 28
6:00 pm
Our Place in the RD
RSVP

Call or email if you need the address or directions

*A blender and ice will be available for fancy drinks

Sunday matinee?

2007-03-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

Howsabout this:

Tomorrow, Sunday, March 11

The 2:20 showing of The Rules of the Game (matinee prices!) at the Varsity theatre in the U District.

Lunch beforehand? I would suggest Araya's but they are not open for lunch on Sundays. Apple Thai? Thai-ger Room? Pizza Brava? IHOP? Cedars? Give a call or a text or an email.

Art Show this Thursday!

2007-03-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Courtney Putnam’s Art Show
at Rising Bird Healing Arts

As a part of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Art Walk, I will once again be opening up my massage studio to the public to showcase my bird-inspired mixed media collages. Some pieces will be for sale and I will also be selling prints of a few of my pieces in the form of greeting cards.

Thursday, March 8, 6:00-9:00pm

Drop by to view art, eat some delectable snacks, and then view the other art in businesses around the neighborhood. I’d love to see you!

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Rising Bird Healing Arts
Massage • Reiki • Holistic Healing
Courtney E. Putnam, MFA, LMP, CRP
(206) 228-9124 • cputnam@rising-bird.com

My website: www.rising-bird.com
My art blog: oriart.blogspot.com
My healing blog: healingnest.blogspot.com

Flapjack Friday!

2007-02-21T06:34:00.000-08:00

Come on over for film, flapjacks, and fun this Friday!

We'll be warming up the spectrator, heating up the griddle, and offering an evening of pancake and movie goodness. We're not sure of the menu details yet - we'll likely offer buttermilk, coconut, and buckwheat pancakes, plus soysages - or the programme - the only movie I know in which pancakes are pivotal is Imitation of Life, and that'd be an unusual choice - but we're sure of the fun part!

So, maybe a little earlier than usual, closer to six? RSVP for all the usual reasons!

CANCELLED Spectration Friday 2/16

2007-02-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

CANCELLED

Hey! We haven't fired up the Big Wall Spectration unit for a movie night in way too long, so let's do it this Friday, February 16! Come by about 7:30 pm and we'll screen something good - who knows what!?

As usual, we'll have pop and popcorn and something else yummy. Bring something to share only if you want to.

RSVP for furniture-moving purposes -- and to suggest / offer a DVD for us to watch. We are currently holding Sullivan's Travels and Battleship Potemkin, along with a bunch of Hitchcock. Do you have something weird or wonderful to share?

Moovie nite note: Friday, 1/26

2007-01-24T21:32:00.000-08:00

The Oscar nominations came out and I have hardly seen any of the nominees. The heck with it.

Stranger than Fiction, the Will Ferrell comedy, which I don't think has been nominated for anything, is playing at the Crest this Friday. Let's go the the 7:00 pm show, with coffee-an' afters at the LFP Third Place Books.

If you want to to dinner beforehand as well, let me know. Otherwise, see you there!

The Crest Cinema Center.

Stranger than Fiction: precis; website.

Lake Forest Park Third Place Books.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Oscars 2006

Speaking of Oscar: For three years running, I have hosted an Academy Awards bash, watching the show on big and/or multi-screens. Maybe it's because I don't have much connection to most of the nominees this year, but I'm wondering if we don't want to mix it up a bit. We could do an alternative gala, or even an anti-Oscar party. Just wanted to let you know that I'm open to suggestions - let 'em fly!

Two Poetry Readings

2007-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hey folks ~

My brother Chris has two poetry readings coming up that look pretty strange and interesting. I'm thinking of going to the first one for sure -- dancing, poetry, and music. And unrehearsed!

Both readings should be quite entertaining.

~ Courtney

______________________________

READING 1
He'll be reading from a new series of Lessons, Tales,
& TimeSpace Travelogue entitled "This bunny is making
me happy."

APOSTROPHE 6:
Saturday, January 27, 2007 @ 8 p.m.

gallery 1412
1412 18th Avenue (at Union Street)
$5-15 sliding scale

JASON E. ANDERSON - music
EZRA DICKINSON- dance
C. E. PUTNAM - poetry

A POSTROPHE. (A series in which a musician, a dancer,
and a writer all perform for 20mins w/o introduction
or intermission). The whole thing is over in about an
hour (come early if you want a good seat).

______________________________

READING 2
He'll be reading from Frolic (Selected CosmicSex
EarthlyLove Poems 1994-2007). Copies of this very
limited edition book will be available on the night
of the reading.

WHAT: SUBTEXT READING - Lindsay Hill (Portland) C.E. Putnam (Seattle)
WHERE: HUGO HOUSE, located at 1634 11th Ave
WHEN: 7:30 PM, WEDNESDAY February 7, 2007
TICKETS: DONATIONS, at the door
GENERAL INFO: Hugo House, 322-7030

______________________________

P.I.S.O.R
(Putnam Institute for Space Opera Research)
http://www.pisor-industries.org

See the details below or check out the web version at:
http://www.pisor-industries.org/readings/

Moovie nite notice: Friday, January 12

2007-01-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

Hey! In honor of Johnbai's incomplete yet brave best movies list, let's go see For Your Consideration up at the Crest! There's a 7:15 pm show this Friday (1/12). We can hit Third Place Books for coffee-an' afterwards. Whattaya say?

The Crest

A precis of the movie

The movie website

If you want to get dinner beforehand or carpool, lemme know. Otherwise, see you there!

PS: We were going to do a Samuel L. Jackson Big Wall Spectration, but decided an event of that nature needed further deliberation. We'll do it soon, though.

Isaac Newton's Birthday breakfast?

2006-12-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

So, I guess Monday, December 25th is some sort of holiday or something, besides being the 363rd birthday of Sir Isaac Newton, because it seems that everything is closed and people are all doing stuff. I was wondering if anyone wanted to get together for a little brekkies/brunchies/elevenses kind of thing at the 13 Coins downtown? Maybe before you have other things to do, or instead of doing other things, or in addition to other things being done? Send me an email and let me know!

Linkie.

Art Show!

2006-12-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

You are cordially invited to
Courtney's Art Show

Host
Courtney Putnam, MFA, LMP, CRP

Location
Rising Bird Healing Arts

When
Thursday, December 14, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

As part of the monthly Roosevelt Neighborhood Art Walk, I will be opening up my massage studio to the public to showcase my art.

I am presenting my "bird series," a collection of my mixed media collage art. Some pieces will be for sale and I will also be selling prints of a few of my pieces in the form of greeting cards.

You are welcome to stop by anytime between 6:00 and 9:00pm on Thursday, December 14. I would love to see you!

Several businesses in my neighborhood remain open from 6:00-9:00pm on the 14th to showcase the work of local artists, so be sure to visit the other collections. Maps will be provided.

Call or email if you need directions.

An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt-12/01

2006-11-30T15:04:00.000-08:00

CANCELLED CANCELLED CANCELLED

So, there's this guy, Clay Jenkinson.
Those of you who had something to do with Lewis and Clark College may know of him because he's a scholar-in-residence there. Those of you who've had something to do with the Public Access or Institution-Affiliated Channels may know him, as he provides fodder for any number of Seattle channels (including "the Seattle Channel!").
He likes to get up on stage and play dead white guys, most famously as Thomas Jefferson--he was one of Ken Burns' talking heads in Burns' documentary about Jefferson. But he also has donned pantaloons to portray Sir Francis Bacon, buckskins to appear as Merriwether Lewis, chopped off an arm to be John Wesley Powell (who may have not been the first person to navigate the Colorado River, but was certainly the first white, one-armed, half-mad Civil War veteran to do it...in a canoe), and shouldered a lot of guilt and weltschmerz to play J. Robert Oppenheimer. Jenkinson knows how to keep the talk lively, the points pithy, and he doesn't hedge the facts by making his people more of "our time" to make them go down more easily. In fact, he's been known to piss off a few "enlightened" individuals, and when he does his Library shows, there's always some blowhard who wants to "debate" the character (He's dead, guy, go sit down). The talk consists of a presentation by the character...the character doing a Q-and-A...and Jenkinson dropping the guise to answer questions as himself, and smooth over any ruffled feathers.
Jenkinson's doing his yearly tour through the Northwest...and he'll be at our lovely Town Hall (Eighth and Seneca) on Friday December 1, at 7:30 pm as 26th President Teddy Roosevelt...of whom his daughter Alice once said "He wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral..." No doubt there'll be some discussion on self-actualization, the role of America in the world (*cough*), and the appreciation of our Great Outdoors. And...bears.
It's Free. But tickets are on a first-come-first-served basis, so that'll involve some line-waiting. I'm going. Wanna wait with me? Details of pertinence are right HERE.

Bring your own Big Stick.

Moovie nite notice: Fast Food Nation - Friday, November 17

2006-11-15T19:33:00.000-08:00

Hey - Fast Food Nation, the Greg Kinnear/ensemble drama based on the book by Eric Schlosser, opens this Friday! Here's a note from our pal lower-case b:

This Friday night the movie Fast Food Nation opens in theatres nationwide. Fox Searchlight (the distributor of the film) will be looking closely at the money the movie brings in on opening weekend. As with all movies, to be a success the movie has to do well in the first three days it plays. Fox Searchlight is NOT doing any major promotions of the film and the movie didn't have a lot of financial backing in getting made, we believe because of its controversial nature.

Fast Food Nation is a movie based on the non-fiction book written by Eric Schlosser. This is one of the most influential books of our time.

So, let's go! The film is playing at the Harvard Exit on Friday, November 17, at 7:15 pm. Maybe we can meet at 5:30 or 6:00 for a decidedly non-fast-food dinner at Pho Cyclo beforehand; email or call if you want to make plans.

Hope to see y'all there!

Big Wall Spectration: Friday, November 10

2006-11-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

Gosford Park

So, I think we all heard about this Upstairs,Downstairs-period-piece- murder-mystery-all-star- international-cast offering from Robert Altman a few years back, but I don't now how many of us have actually seen it. Netflix has come through, and we're going to watch it on Friday night, November 10. Here's the IMDB page, and here's a review. All I know is it's got man-babe Clive Owens in it, and that seems to be a big draw for many of the ladies and a few of the men in this little community of ours.

As usual, the show will start about 7:00-7:30 pm, and we'll have pop and popcorn; bring whatevers to hoard or to share!

RSVP if you can!

Halloween Spooktration Tuesday 10/31

2006-10-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Although it's a mid-week holiday, we want to mark Halloween with a special Big Wall Spectration, so come on over on Tuesday 10/31 for a classic filmed-in-Seattle, George C. Scott haunted house horror flick, The Changeling.

Here's the IMDB entry on it, and a couple of reviews, if you're into that.

So, we'll have the usual popcorn and pop, as well as some seasonal treats, such as Otis's special "Bat Pee" (hot spiced cider). You can bring something or not, as you are so moved.

Get here by 7:00 pm or so; we'll want to start the show early, since it's a school night. RSVP so we know what to do with the furniture!

See you here - spook-a-doodle do!

Impromptu Big Wall Spectration: Friday, 10/20

2006-10-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hey! We've got Dear Frankie from Netflix and we're gonna watch it tomorrow night - anybody want to join us? We'll have pop and popcorn, as usual - you can bring or not bring anything else. We're thinking about 7:30 or so.

Drop an email or a phone call if you're coming.

Event notice: Scotty's stuff, this weekend and next

2006-10-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Hey, our favorite spiv has two big shows coming up:

On Sunday evening, October 22 at 6pm, he's doing a cabaret act in Columbia City.

On Friday night, October 27, at 8:30 pm (going late), he's recreating Houdini's Water Escape (for reals, folks) in the market area.

Check out Scotty's blog for more details. Anyone want to get a group together? Let me know.

Moovie nite notice: Friday, 10/6

2006-10-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Let's go see Jet Li's Fearless at the Majestic Bay Theater in the heart of bustling Ballard. There's a 7:30 pm show on Friday, October 6 - maybe pho before and something afters? Do the email or mobile thing, or just be there!

Big Wall Movie Night This Saturday! (9/30)

2006-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

The ol' Netflix account has come off its summer hiatus and the first film up is Zatoichi, the hip-hop samurai epic from "Beat" Takeshi Kitano. Some folks may have seen it, but the too-cool-for-words swordplay, the poetic CGI gore, and the snappy soundtrack and score will make it a fun centerpiece for a night of fun and friendship.

We'll provide the spring rolls, edamame, and green tea soda; you bring whatever else you might want to snip or snack.

Let's say 7:00 pm on Saturday? As usual, email for directions if you need them. (Parking will be free on all neighborhood streets and that time.) And RSVP so we know if/how to move the furniture!

Here a link to a cool trailer.

Anyone want to get down and get funky?

2006-09-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

I'm in the mood for going dancing, but I have no idea where to go (I've been a dancer in my own living room for years, but I've never really made a go of it on a crowded dance floor!). I'm looking for something low key and groovy (not a meat market for sure) and very free-form and funky. 70s or 80s music would be great. Any ideas? And, is anyone interested in shakin' their groove thing some night soon?

Let me know!

Courtney

Moovie nite notice: Saturday, 8/26

2006-08-24T20:00:00.000-07:00

UNCANCELLED!

CANCELLED!

For three bucks, I'll go see Wordplay. It's at the Crest Cinema Center, at 7:00 pm on Saturday 8/26. For sure, coffee-an' afters; if ya wants dinner before, make some calls, send some emails, and see what develops.

Event notice: Outdoor movie!

2006-08-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

At the instigation of Invisible Adam, we are heading out to the Fremont Outdoor Movies on Saturday night, August 5, for The Manster, a film in their Twisted Flicks (think MST3K) series. The lot opens at 7:30 pm; the movies start at dusk; anyone up for a take-out al fresco supper before the show? Lemme know!

Event invite: Yakima Cabin

2006-07-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

The weather is apparently going to be moderating a bit over the next week, but it’s still going to be plenty warm and summery, so Otis and I are going to head for the hills this next weekend, and we’d like to invite you to come along. Here’s the deal:

We're going to the Putnam Cabin in the Wenatchee National Forest, just past Chinook Pass. It's a beautiful 2 1/2 hour drive (out Hwy 410) with great views of Mt. Rainier along the way. We’ll be heading out on Friday (7/28) to make sure everything is set up; why don't you join us for a wilderness get-away on Saturday? Come up for the day to play in the woods! We’ll have plenty of sunshine during the day, with a nice, cool cabin to retreat to, and a cool, refreshing evening.

It's an easy ride on the weekends, and it would be best to head home before dusk (8:30 PM or so) as the elk and deer cross the highway to drink at the river then and it can be a very treacherous time. If you'd like to stay Saturday night, just let us know (we'll be able to accommodate 5 - 6 additional overnighters). We’ll be heading back on Sunday after breakfast.

About the cabin: It’s in a private heritage campsite (there are about a half-dozen cabins in the vicinity, and a state campground about a mile away). There is no running water at the cabin, so we bring in the bottled stuff, but there is electricity and plenty of ways to cook things (stove, microwave, BBQ). The bathroom is a conveniently located outhouse!

What to bring: food (for you and/or to share), some water, a lounge chair (if you have one that’s easy to haul – there are some there), sun protection, a swimsuit, a hat (it may still be tick season), games, toys, shoes to get wet in, etc.

Things we can do: eat, sit in the sun on lounge chairs, sit by the river, sit in the river, play in the river, make rock pools, mountain bike, hike, walk (like hiking but less strenuous), play cards, read.

Post here if you want to go and wish to carpool!
Email me for directions or additional info!

Please RSVP ASAP por favor, so we can get a handle on what will be going on
– and last minute arrangements are impossible since the cell phones don't work up there!

Volunteer Park Badminton Picnic

2006-07-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

Come to Volunteer Park (east slope, just south of the Conservatory) for badminton fun this Friday evening July 21, 6pm to---.

Bring food and drink to sustain you, your playfull & competitive spirit, and most of all just bring yourself!

Outdoor movie night redux!

2006-06-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun this last weekend watching the outdoor movies, that we're going to strike while the weather is hot and have another Summer Outdoor Spectration in LFP this Saturday, July 1.

The basic plan will be the same: come around 6:30 - 7:00 pm, we'll have the grill fired up, bring comestibles to share, and we'll start the movie when it gets dark, after some selected shorts. (Don't forget to bring warm stuff!)

We will have a new and improved screen, too - even bigger and better than before.

All we need to do is pick the flick. We're going to break from tradition here, and instead of so-bad-it's-good, we're going try for so-good-it's-good, with maybe a positive spin.

So here are the candidates - vote in the poll box to the right. And RSVP, please!

The Wedding Banquet

Forgotten Silver

Dear Frankie

Elling

The General

Enlightenment Guaranteed

Wilde

Abigail's Party

Mirrormask

Outdoor movies - sooner AND later!

2006-06-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

With the weather getting somewhat summery, it's time to start planning some outdoor movies!

First of all, you're invited to a Potluck and Outdoor Sceening at the Putnam Compound in LFP this Saturday, June 24.

Come around 7:00 pm or so; we'll have the grills fired up and veggie-dogs for everyone! Bring a salad or chips or drinks or something else to share, and we'll do the barbecue-picnic thing.

Then, when it gets dark enough, we'll set up the screen in the backyard and make like a drive-in (except we'll all be in comfy lounge chairs). We'll be showing a double-feature from 1988:

First, They Live,
John Carpenter's classic anti-Bush (I) sci-fi/horror flick,
with Rowdy Roddy Piper in the lead role, and then...

... in honor of the backyard setting, Slugs, a weird quickie horror flick.

So, drop me an email if you wanna come and enjoy a movie under the stars. I'll send directions if you need them.

::::::

Secondly, our good frined Invisible Adam has made the following suggestion:

Would you guys care to join us at this on August 5 to see The Manster [at the Fremont Outdoor Cinema]? American journalist goes to Japan and is injected with serum that turns him into a two-headed monster! We should invite as many people as possible to up the fun factor.

So, pencil Saturday, August 5 in your datebooks now.

Okay, so here's the plans(s)

2006-06-11T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Solstice Parade is this Saturday, June 17; this page has a map of the route. The local streets are closed at 11:00 and the parade starts at noon. Since we are not focusing on the Fremont Fair, but just on the parade, it seems we would get a better viewing area in the less-congested east end of the route, so here's the deal: Otis and I are going to go out to breakfast and then scooter down with the intent of being in place by 10:00 am. Plan A will be to take over one of the pedestals for the supports under the Aurora Bridge. We scoped them out last night; they are about four feet higher than the sidewalk and have plenty of room. If we can't get one of those, Plan B will be to stake out a space along the route to the east, somewhere near Stone Way. We'll bring a blanket and a couple of small chairs. Anyone else can either join us early-ish and play games while we wait, or late-ish and just show up for the parade.

Superman Returns officially opens on Wednesday, June 28. Otis and I will be going to the 7:15 pm show at the IMAX theatre in the Pacific Science Center. (The IMAX version of the movie includes twenty minutes that are in 3-D; early reports are that it's great.) I am going to buy tickets early in a week or so. Let me know if you are coming and I'll pick your up as well.

Time to make plans

2006-06-05T21:58:00.000-07:00

The Solstice Parade is in 12 days. Are we going en masse? Do we want to have brekkies and mimosa beforehand? Our place is available, but we're not walking distance from Fremont anymore, so maybe an alternate plan would be wiser. Any ideas?

The opening day for Superman Returns has been moved up to Wednesday, June 28 (?!). (According to Mr, MovieTime, it looks like there are even sneak preview openings in the exurbs on that Tuesday, but I don't think we want to schlep out to the sticks.) Do we want to see it on opening night? Or do we want to see it at a drive-in? I have a nostalgic preference for the latter, since that is where I saw the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie, but I can go either way.

Moovie nite notice: Tuesday 5/30

2006-05-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Scotty Tuxedo wants to see V for Vendetta, so we are going to see the 6:30 pm showing tomorrow, Tuesday, May 30, at the Crest Theatre. Wanna come? Prolly coffee-an’ afters.

Yeah, yeah, I know it came out a while ago, but I haven't seen it, and I don't have the excuse of having been in Egypt. I also have never read the comic, so there.

20 Questions

2006-05-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend is, by some reckonings, the start of the summer season, so I thought that perhaps we could actually make some plans in advance this year, instead of watching the days slip by with great intentions unfulfilled.

In the sidebar is a garish green poll listing twenty possible diversions. Which do you want to do? You can vote for as many choices as you want to, but you can only cast one ballot. If there is commitment on any particular activity, I'll be happy to take the lead in making reservations/getting tickets/&c. Here's some information on/links to places about the choices:

Tuxedo Man is a one-man show that dar-Dar Binks highly recommends.

The Solstice Parade was a big hit last year; the real question is whether we will just be observers or start participating fringely.

The Fremont Outdoor Movies have both good stuff and so-bad-they're-good stuff.

Dingo ~~has a front-row seat for~~ still wants to go to the Pride Parade even though it has been moved downtown; ~~pot-luck~~ interested, anyone?

Superman Returns actually looks good, and we had a blast at the last Blockbuster opening. let's make an event out of it; maybe a midnight show or something?

If the weather is good, we can try an outdoor movie of our own, with the Big Wall Spectrator in the Putnam backyard. Suggestions?

Any alternatives to another Fourth of Julivar's?

Mighty Mel suggests a caravan to a drive-in; hiding in the trunk optional. here are some possible choices to investigate.

Mel also wants to walk in nature (and chase goats?) in the Olympics.

The Scottish Highland Games are a lot of fun, as we can attest, and also usually very hot.

I would love to see a minor league ball game somewhere around here. The dates I listed in the poll are premium/fun nights, but there are a lot of options.

It's been two years without a Geek Quest; how the heck can a tradition start like that?

Otis loves rides and wants to do the amusement park thing. Enchanted Village is just a little cheaper than Disneyland.

There are some organized bike rides in town, or maybe we could just mount an expdition of our own.

Linda S. has done these long walks in town (like from Magnolia to Downtown along the water), and the PI has a list of stuff like that here. I just like walking in the city, so I'd be up for just about anything.

The Putnam cabin up in Chinook Pass is rustic, but when it's hot, the river is fun. And we can get some good Mexican food in Yakima while we're there.

I've never been to a Renaissance Fair, and have a desire to just see what it's all about - maybe Maggie's influence.

Bumbershoot is getting a little pricey, but maybe we can check out the schedule and find something worth investing in.

I haven't been to the Puyallup Fair in years - it's awful big, but maybe it's an alternative source for the rides thing.

So, vote, comment, mark your calendars, and let's have some fun!

X-citement

2006-05-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

So, here's the deal:

Johnbai wants to go see X-Men 3 : The Last Stand on this Friday, May 26, at the 6:00 pm show at the Cinerama. Most of us who are going are buying tickets in advance online, but I think that we should prolly figure to be in line at least a half-hour or so early anyway.

For those of you who want to catch up on the saga before jumping into the latest chapter in the blockbuster history of America's favorite mutants, Otis and I will be watching X-Men and X2- X-Men United on the Big Wall at our place tomorrow night, Thursday, May 25. We'll start the showing promptly at 7:00 pm. You can come when you like, but the order of business will be to get the movies watched (so Otis can know what the heck is going on!). Pop and popcorn will be provided.

The mother of all garage sales

2006-04-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Not that none of us doesn't have too much stuff already, but there is a great garage sale coming up: Saturday, April 22, is the Greenwood Garage Sale Day up on Phinney Ridge. MaryBee is raving about this, and it does sound like a sweet deal. It could be fun to meet somewhere up on the ridge - perhaps at Val's? - for breakfast and then do some sailing. If you're in, drop and email.

Event notice: SPL stuff

2006-03-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, the Seattle Public Library started a deal called something like What If Everybody in Seattle Read... [fill-in-the-blank]. The idea was to generate a community literary experience by having lots of people read and discuss one author's work (or works) at the same time - sort of a giant book group. Although they have shortened the name to Seattle Reads, they do it every year. This year, the book they are reading is a graphic novel: Marjan Satrapi's Persepolis, and thanks to the kind offices of JJ, I will be participating in one of the events:

Persepolis Read-in/Readers' Theater
2 p.m. Saturday, March 11
The Seattle Public Library
Fremont Community Library
731 N. 35th St., Seattle

Here's the main page for Seattle Reads.

New Resource

2006-02-26T06:21:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, I've just come across this Seattle-scene site that looks quite informative and also seems fairly interesting, and thus it might be something to be added to the sidebar. If you think it's worthy, leave a comment so Walaka will know to add it to the sidebar.

Moovie nite tonight?

2006-02-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

The Varsity is showing all five of the live-action short films nominated for the Aacademy Award this year. Films from USA, UK, Germany. Ireland, and Iceland.

7:00 pm show.

Meet you there?

Coffee-an' after.

Movie alert

2006-02-21T18:26:00.000-08:00

The totally awesome film Howl's Moving Castle is playing right now at the Crest. Go see it on a big screen while you can. You won't be disappointed... especially if you only paid $3!!!

Invitation: Impromptu White Wall Spectration

2006-02-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

Our Netflix stash currently comprises Hotel Rwanda, Control Room, and Seven Samurai.

We're going to watch one of them on the wall tomorrow night (Friday), prolly about seven or so. Anyone want to come by? Post or email and let me know.

Blogging Moment of the Year

2006-02-08T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am a little late to the game of suggesting an Award of the Year but while I was having a sleepless night last night, I came up with the idea of:

Your Favorite Blogging Moment of the Year!

For me, it was the post I did on women's rights where I wondered who was more exploited: a woman who was forced to wear a burka or a woman who made her living as a pole-dancer. As part of the post, I found opinions on the burka from women on both sides of the argument. The reason that this became my favorite blogging moment was when I got a comment from a friend of one of the women I quoted who also lived in Toronto and had also experimented with wearing the burka voluntarily. It made me feel that my blog did get beyond my faithful readership and could in a very small way contribute to discourse in the world.

P.S. Guess I won the

Housekeeping: New photo

2006-02-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Check out the new version of the header photo - Soapy made it all bright and sparkly and stuff.

Event notice: Academy Awards March 5

2006-02-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

Oscar Night is March 5.

If you haven't received an invitation to the The Third Annual Academy Award Evening Wear Extravaganza and Pajama Party! (tm) and you want one, drop me an email.

Official site of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Official site of the 78th Annual Academy Awards

Event notice: Jean Mann House Concert

2006-02-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

This comes from our pal Linda S:

Feb 4 - Save the date!!!

On Saturday evening, Feb 4th, we are hosting a "house concert" and we'd like you to come enjoy it. Join us in a cozy venue to listen to the wonderfully talented Jean Mann and her accompanist Bill; We guarantee that every seat will be acoustically terrific and the parking (for bikes OR cars) will be a breeze!

Family members, neighbors, kids and colleagues are all welcome. Just let us know how many in your party are coming so we can be sure to have enough chairs!

A donation of $10 (put directly into the artists' cookie jar) is suggested. We'll supply the wine and some snacks.

When: Sat, Feb 4, 2006

What time: We'll start pouring wine at 7:30, the music will start about 8:30pm

Where: Mike & Linda's Ballard Fiesta Spot

Why: Why not? We love Jean & Bill, and we enjoy their music. We think you will too!

To RSVP and get the address email Linda

Hope you can make it!

Linda Schwartz

Otis and I will be going - here's a review of the last concert we attended.

Moovie notice: Saturday 1/28

2006-01-25T21:35:00.000-08:00

Theatre: The Crest

Movie: Breakfast on Pluto

Showing: 7:10 pm

Coffee-an' afters?

Film Notice: Northwest Asian-American Film Festival

2006-01-23T15:20:00.000-08:00

Mighty Mel has forgotten her password, so I am posting this but it is from her:

Have you heard about the Northwest Asian American Film Festival this weekend? Amongst the plenthora of wonderful choices is a gem called Dick Ho: Asian Male Porn Star ...isn't that a great title? Not only have I already bought tickets to see it, I am hoping they have a t-shirt!

Event notice: Scotty Walsh Magic Show!

2006-01-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

Here's some info from our good friend, Scotty Walsh:

I just wanted to send out a quick invitation out to you guys and let you know that I am doing a show on this Wednesday, January 18th in the Jewel Box Theatre which is located inside of a bar called the Rendezvous located on 2nd and Bell St. Rumor has it that this theatre used to be a 20th Century Fox screening house and at any rate it has a very prohibitiony feel to it.

The show will be one to remember, I imagine. It will be me doing some comedy/magic/juggling type stuff. Fellow Market Buskers Jake and Annie also known as Slim Pickenz will be doing their banjo, fiddle, guitar, cajun thing. Also the crazy and legendary Artis the Spoonman will be playing his spoons and, most likely, proselytizing.

The cover is only 5 dollars and all of the money will be going to the Feed the Hungry Street Performers During the Winter Fund (FSSPDWF). The show starts at 9pm and will go until about 11pm.

Also, since I will be leaving to spend a year in Cairo on the 20th [WTF?! - ed.], this show is also going to be my going away party so Step Right Up, this is an Extravaganza you're not going to want to miss!

Scotty's website for more contact info.

Event notice: Firefly marathon: Saturday 1/14

2006-01-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

Doing the best we could to make it work:

FEVER (see below) will begin at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 14th.

BYOA*

There's still plenty of cheap champange.

I imagine we'll order a pizza for dinner.

*(Bring-your-own-anything-you-want-to-eat)

Movie reviews: best and worst lists (ish)

2006-01-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Whelona kicks it off.

Johnbai's lists.

Walaka's list.

Event notice: Firefly: discussion needed

2006-01-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Although many of us are all still recovering from the all-night New Year's Eve dogtacular, there are those amongst us already clamoring for another white-wall spectration marathon: to wit, the Firefly Every-episode Viewing Event and Remembrance (FEVER).

Some background:
The Serenity science-fiction movie that came out a few months ago was actually a coda to a short-lived Fox television series, Firefly. Twelve episodes aired between September 20 and December 20 in 2002; three other episodes were made but never aired.

FEVER will include a viewing of all fifteen episodes of Firefly in one sitting. Why? Um, cuz it sounds like fun? Anyway, IMDB says the episodes clock out at 40 minutes, so were looking at an even ten hours of viewing. (For comparision, LOTR is either 9.3 or 11.4 (extended versions) hours for three movies and Star Wars is 13.2 hours for six movies.)

Discusssion:
In early days, we decided it might be best to do this over a three-day weekend, so people's other-than-work stuff is impacted less. The next one up is January 14-15-16 (MLK holiday). It would be unseenly to do it on Monday, I think, so:

Question one: Is Saturday 1/14 or Sunday 1/15 the day for FEVER?

If we want ten hours of viewing (twelve if we want to watch the Serenity movie again), how do we want to schedule it? I think if we start at 10:00 am, we can get get it in without pulling another all-nighter, and even take breaks for, like, eating and stretching and breathing fresh air and stuff.

Question two: What should the viewing schedule be?

Have at it. When we get it decided, I'll send out another notice.

Movie review: Brokeback Mountain

2005-12-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

Here's one from Bummerman.

Movie Reviews: King Kong

2005-12-27T14:06:00.000-08:00

Here's one from Bummerman. (Scroll down from Brokeback Mountain.)

Here's one from Walaka.

Event notice: New Year's Eve Movies!

2005-12-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

The All-Star, All-Night New Year's Eve White-Wall Spectration Spectacular is a go!

The short of it: Big-screen movies from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, with a break for ringing in the new year!

The long of it: You should have a .pdf invitation in your e-mailbox already!

From Whey-over-there-lona

2005-12-18T03:33:00.000-08:00

Here I am, but as (one of?) the European contributors, my job will be to cover the ...and even more!/review/otherwise interact socially department. To kick it off, here's an Otherwise Socially Interactive question for da Etcescadrille:

What was the Best/Worst film you saw this year? Of course, this is the it's not just for moovies anymore blog, so I fully expect you to make up your own categories, like the Best Film I Hated or the Give Me Back My Money! film of the year, but cleverer.

My submissions, though keep in mind my memory is crap and I have only a vague idea of what I saw this year:

Least Irritating So Far: This goes to The Island and hits two irritants at once; not only was this the least irritating Michael Bay film, it was also the least irritating Scarlett Johansson performance I've seen.
Awfully Glad I'm Human: Thanks to The March of the Penguins for reminding me how good I have it.

What say you?

Here's Jon(nie)!

2005-12-17T15:19:00.000-08:00

With all the news that's fit to print from the Willamette Valley and beyond. Thanks for the invite. Couldn't pass that one up now, could I?

Joining Up

2005-12-17T02:09:00.000-08:00

As a person with a pre-existing blog, when I accepted the invitation, I got evil messages about cookie and java security settings. And then the acceptance process froze. But, lo and behold, here I am. I guess it was just meaningless PC gibberish... like when Windows tells me I have *critical* updates. Hah.

Now I guess I have to post a link to this blog in mine other.

Links galore

2005-12-16T23:03:00.000-08:00

So, I posted some links over in the sidebar -- please send me any others you think would be good to have up there for one-stop shopping excitement!

Yippee!

2005-12-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Movies, and parties, and more--oh my!

Mel has entered the building

2005-06-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Walter and other [bloggers],

Alright, this is fun.....now what?

Mel

Here we go...

2005-06-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

So, here's an experiment: let's see if we can get a team blog going. Even as some of us have established individual blogs that are still looking for unique identities, positionings, and intentions, let's explore the blogosphere as a communal experience as well as a personal one.

I'll keep adding folks as this goes on and we'll see what happens here.

Excelsior!

Bound and determined to drag everyone into the blogosphere!

2005-06-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

[Actually posted December 2005]
Now that I am sort-of sliding into break, I have all kinds of projects to follow up on. One of them is getting this group blog out for its first tentative steps. I originally started HKC to keep "the moovie group" in contact; as I have implied in some recent posts, I am going to remodel HKC and chnage the focus a bit. But I still want a place for all the social announcements - and even more!

So, here's the deal: I am sending out invitations to anyone who has ever posted in our little blogosphere, inviting them to become members of this blog. If you have been a longtime lurker and want to come out of the blog-closet to join this blog, let me know. The more the merrier.

As a member, you will be able to post your very own entries, rather than just comment on existing posts. Guaranteed front-page, above-the-fold exposure. This way, everyone can publicize, invite, review, notify, and otherwise interact socially.

If you have a blogger identity already, the invitation acceptance is a snap: merely a click or two with a mouse. If you haven't a blogger identity, it will take you a minute or so to create one (it looks like you are starting your own blog, but don't worry, you don't have to do anything with it). In either case, it starts with an email from me.

So, be on the lookout for you inviation, and excuse the dust while we pretty this place up.
(I've cheated this entry so it will stay pinned to the top; take a look below for newer stuff.)