January 2009

Jack Monroe has a good friend in Buddy. At 8 and a half years old that's a really good thing. "He's Jack's dog," said his mom Kim. Jack saved half his money to pay the fees associated with bringing Buddy home. Buddy was a rescue dog. "He was a $400 rescue dog," said Kim who noted that they saved him from a 'Puppy Mill'.

So now Buddy sleeps next to Jack's bed, in his kennel.

They think he is 2 or 3 years old and he is a Papillon and Chihuahua mix.

Directed by Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath

Rated PG

(Two and a half stars)

"Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" opens with the back-story of Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller). Baby Alex wanders away from his father Zuba (Bernie Mac), and is captured by hunters. Zuba sets out in a desperate chase but he can't rescue his son. It's a touching bit of storytelling and the last piece of well-crafted narrative we're going to see in this film.

As we watched the snow pile up higher than it had for many years, we worried about getting out to the supermarket and we cancelled our holiday parties. But after everything settled down we began to notice what was really important---that the sky was no longer hanging with smog from cars rushing past and the trees and shrubs were glistening like diamonds.

Driving through White Center this week I saw and felt the jolt of 17 chuckholes on Ambaum Boulevard between the city limits with the county at Roxbury and 116th Avenue Southwest where the highway becomes Burien.

From there to Southwest 152nd Avenue, the main street in downtown Burien, I counted none. Zero, zip. Amazing. I suspect there are some pits but not on that busy highway and hats off to Burien for that.

County Executive Ron Sims has made no secret of his disdain for that North Highline territory.

Washington State government was formed to conduct the business of the state, nothing else. Those who allow Christian symbols in our rotunda are in violation of our state laws. Puget Sound country represents a unique representation of many religions and similar organizations. State government has too many problems, with no end in sight, to defend ideological graffiti in the rotunda.

Let there be joyous music and trees of universal unity without offending at ancient and sacred winter solstice, celebrated long before Christ.

Kudos for Mr. Mariconda! Having looked at North Jersey, the land of high taxes, in my rear mirror 40 years ago, I concur with his assessment of individual homeowners, many businesses and the city.

As for our 'esteemed' Mayor and his self-anointed 'B'; well, that is a clear case of grade inflation and insult to all those hard working students in the Seattle School System.

This is just another failure on the part of our city leadership in the last seven years.

This is a really really long shot...

The better part of 40 years ago my wife and I were married in West Seattle and had our wedding photos taken by Lucille's Photographic Salon that was located at 4214 S. Genesee. Now while our marriage is still vibrant, our wedding photos are not. Lucille's went out of business quite some time ago, but I am wondering if her negatives might be stashed in someone's closet. I tried Googling her with no avail.

Re: An open letter to West Seattle residents

This may not resonate completely with Mr. Mariconda's comments, but I'll use this space to vent at our esteemed mayor over this issue. I find Greg Nickels' perspective on snow removal and mitigation rather inept. It reflects the simpleton, PC way in which he has managed his administration.

Let the snow "pack down" and cars drive over it? Funny - like a crutch...

With the election eight weeks past and the inauguration in three weeks this West Seattle Conservative wishes to say...

Though I opposed Obama and don't agree with many of his policies. I WILL NOT do what so many Democrats/Liberals/Progressives did, and say "He is not my President."

As an American, Obama IS my President. I will support him when I agree with him. I will speak out when I don't.

Splitting up the thriving, healthy, and cost-effective community at Lowell School makes absolutely no sense, not by any of the criteria spelled out by the District for this process.

The parents and children of Lowell are united in our emphatic, heartfelt desire to keep our community intact. Our children should not be the backs upon which the District carries itself out of the latest budget crisis.

The proposed split will, in point of fact, end up costing rather than saving the School District money.