Tuesday, January 25, 2011

New Years in Seattle


Downtown Seattle

Tanker and Westward Island




Seattle Aquarium




Seattle Sunset

Waterfall Garden



"Hammering Man"/Seattle Art Museum

Light Fixture at Pike Place Market

Harbor Steps Fountain




Saturday, January 22, 2011

Some Photos from Christmas

Folly Beach Pier


Folly Beach Jellyfish

Ashley River Hawk

Dad's Purple Pride

Mom's Unwrapping Skills

Riverfront Park

Riverfront Sculpture Garden

Mom and Dad at the Aquarium

Mom and Dad at the Fire Education Center

Post Christmas Snow

"Rules of the Juke"

On my way to my parents house for Christmas I picked up a Portland Monthly magazine to read. This months feature was on great bars. Throughout the article there are these little sub topics like "Bar Basics", "How to Buy a Lady (or Gent) a Drink", "How to Drink Alone", and "Rules of the Juke". I thought the rules of the Juke are pretty funny and very valuable, so here you go:

Rule #1: "A jukebox is not about you. A jukebox implies a social contract that's unfashionable in today's earbud era, but still very real; you should not impose yourself. That vexing day you had at the office does not give you license to assault the pleasantly groggy happy-hour mood at say, the Red Fox with Sonics' raging early-'60s classic 'The Witch.'"

Rule #2: " Life is short. Edit well. Here again the juke rebels against the age of iTunes and Pandora. A good juke is defined by limits-it's someone else's library-and the average machine doles out just four songs for a dollar. So no "shuffle"
randomness allowed-i.e., do not attempt to transition from the Sonics' squally Northwest proto-punk to the slow burning Curtis Mayfield. This move desperately screams: Look at me! I have eclectic tastes!"

Rule #3: "You may choose one-and only one-long, wanky jazz track. Also applies to opera, classical, and anything you might describe as 'experimental.'"

Rule #4: If you go with a theme, have the courage of your convictions. Nothing's worse than, say, three songs from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath followed by Joni Mitchell. Repetition isn't good; coherence is."

Rule #5: "Jukes are demanding, but also forgiving. If you screw up your first four songs, the next four songs could save your reputation. Where else can you buy redemption for a dollar?"

Written by Zach Dundas
Portland Monthly
December 2010

Now you know.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

From My Portfolio:


"Goleta Beach Sunrise"

Cute and Cuddly

A little something for Mom and Dad