"Look at this place," University of Washington student Devon Hampton said as he entered the backroom bar area of Historic Victory Grill in downtown Austin, Texas. Through the diffused blue lighting, we could see the walls were covered with yellowed photos of African-American singers and songwriters. The room was empty except for a few worn tables and chairs. The sign outside read, "Austin's first home of the blues." Hampton was searching for a man named Clifford Gillard, a Barack Obama supporter who needed volunteer help for the evening's Early Vote Party.
The widely promoted Sound Transit survey has more bugs than bang, say critics. My blog linking to the survey gleaned excellent critiques posted by our Crosscut readers. I just got word that Will Knedlik, state-rep-turned-transportation activist, has asked Sound Transit to shut down the survey, charging that it constitutes push-polling and calling for disciplinary action. This happened at a Sound Transit board meeting on Feb. 28, and you can watch the action here. (It's about 15 minutes in, after a Link safety report.)
Live Mariachi music rang from the stage, mothers danced with their children on their toes, and onlookers gazed from outside the fenced park prior to Senator Hillary Clinton's taking the stage last night in San Antonio.
Far from the quiet milling and hum of country music in the background last month at Pier 30 in Seattle, the Clinton supporters in San Antonio seemed lit with a new drive. It wasn't quite desperation, but the volunteers at last night's event seemed to understand and carry with them the critical importance of doing well here in Texas. Groups organized with homemade t-shirts and ran around the rally gathering people together and speaking about their support for Clinton.
Seattle Center's Fun Forest will most likely shut down before the end of the year. It's the city's only amusement park, and in losing it we risk taking ourselves too seriously.
An article in the February 19 Singapore Straits Times (registration required) makes the striking observation that Seattle alone has produced approximately the same number of leading global brands as the combined population (3 billion) of Asia.
On the Seattle list are: Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Boeing, UPS, Nordstrom, Washington Mutual, Costco, and Safeco. The list from Asia (excluding Japan) is: Singapore Airlines, Lenovo, Samsung, Hundai, San Miguel, Arcelor-Mittal, Oberio, Cathay Pacific, Acer, and Thai Airways.
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