Come On Down to Kate's Pub and Meet Some Friends of Mine

My good friend Gloria has thrown together a little informal weekly shindig at my all-time favorite bar ever Kate's Pub (Lost in Seattle | Yelp) near where I currently live at the time of this writing in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. We head over every Wednesday after South Park, arriving at about 11 to 11:30pm and staying until they close.

It started when, one Wednesday night a couple years back, we decided to go over to the nearest bar to our house for a drink. Little did we know that Wednesday is karaoke night at Kate's Pub, and for most of us going that night once we manage get a few stiff shots of Irish whiskey down have the courage to sing in front of a small audience of people that we can fancy are at least as wasted on alcohol as we are.

After a few weeks of this Glo had gotten together a few colleagues from Seattle Hempfest and some other assorted friends sympathetic to the causes of ending the drug war specifically and the maintenance and advancement of our civil liberties in general. Glo's little group, now called 'Happy Hempy Hippies,' had started a new tradition.

Now normally I am not a bar person. I may be known have a drink or two on occasion but I cannot stand most bars or the so-called 'bar scene.' I hate the cheap rickety tables, the black pressed-board walls, and the spent pull tabs everywhere. I find the meat market, crystal meth-esque vibe of most drinking establishments extremely white trash-tacky and beyond depressing.

Kate's Pub is something else entirely. While not overbearing, both the interior and exterior are warmly lit and inviting. The real stained-wood tables and careful attention to detail regarding interior design give the place an authentic, original feel. The food is inexpensive and of high quality and the barkeep doesn't skimp on the drinks. If that isn't enough, Kate, the bar's namesake, is often there to add a genuine human face to her establishment, greeting her customers warmly and in the trenches with her employees. Kate's Pub's presence does a phenomenal job at complementing the atmosphere of the Wallingford neighborhood.

For about US$15-$20 you can have a complete night with a few drinks, a good meal, tips for the waitstaff and DJ's, and still buy a drink for that hottie sitting at the table over there.

Happy Hempy Hippies may not manage make it happen every week, but if you're in the neighborhood you can drop in anytime for a good meal and a drink in a friendly, down-to-earth place. If you're not in Seattle but you ever have a chance to make it out this way for a visit, you would really be missing out on a lesser-known local treasure if you didn't put my favorite bar, Kate's Pub, on your itinerary.

Kate's Pub
309 Northeast 45th Street
Seattle, Washington 98105-6133
(206)547-6832

How To Stop The Next 9/11

"...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
—Galatians 6:7

In December of 2002 US Sen. Patty Murray hit the nail on the head when she addressed students of Vancouver's Columbia River High School. It was the first time I had even heard of anyone bringing up what I believe is the real reason why America was attacked.

In a nutshell, while her opponent obfuscated the message, putting his political career above our country's security, she got to the core of the issue of why terrorism exists by addressing the broad economic disparity experienced between people in the West and those in the Middle East.

While too many Americans' biggest concern is getting to the the mall on time with a heretofore unparalleled level of indifference for their fellow human being, many who live in terrorist heartlands not only survive in squalor that wouldn't be considered suitable for the poorest of Westerners, but also have no reason to hope for a better financial outlook in the future.

If you live in conspicuous opulence while your next door neighbor eats out of a dumpster and lives in a cardboard box, and it seems to them you couldn't care less about their plight, expect intruders! And don't expect me to feel sorry for you when they come through the window.

It is not 'therapy for terrorists' to take an interest in why people who are not terrorists become terrorists, and wanting your country to take steps to keep that from happening. It is a no brainer that the greater the financial desperation someone is experiencing—the more someone feels they have already lost all they can possibly lose—the more they are willing put themselves in harm's way for the possibility of a change of circumstances, even if they will be sacrificing themselves for it to leave their survivors in a better situation.

In order for the tide of terrorism to turn, it will take more than just condescending, dependence-fostering foreign aid packages. All people of the world deserve the dignity that comes with being empowered with the tools to create their own prosperity. As with everything, it is up to the citizens of developed countries to require their governments to be good neighbors in the global neighborhood. Only then will religious extremists be unable to find their next recruits to do their dirty work.

Singing My Drug War Heartsong

I just got done writing the 'About Us' page of my anti-drug war website. My objective was to get down everything I could think of about why I believe what I believe. At the Rainbow Gathering they called the passionate expression of one's feelings and opinions 'heartsong.' Well this is my heartsong:

Drug Policy Reform Movement/About Us

If I left anything pertinent out please let me know.

Discount Roofless Homes

I wrote this copy for a brochure we had to do in real estate tech class with Office 2007's Publisher.

_____________

Discount Roofless Homes
“It Ain’t Got No &#$%!* Roof!”

What if I told you that 99% of all developers needlessly flush thousands of dollars down the toilet with every project? What if I told you that you could virtually save money in the construction of your next dream home? Now you can with Discount Roofless Homes! Did you know that a lot of the money that goes into building a home is wasted on the ceiling and roof? That’s right! The two least essential components of a house can account for as much as a third its cost!

Now lots of whiners come up to me cryin’, “How will we stay warm and dry during those endless Pacific Northwest cold seasons? They last for ten months out of the year fer cryin’ out loud,” or “I have small children that probably shouldn’t be exposed to the elements all the time like that.” God these people make me sick! Step out of the Matrix for a sec Neo or Neil or whatever your name is, take the red pill! Think of all the waterproof blankets you will be able to afford down at the army surplus store because you were smart enough to forego having a roof put on your house. Did you know Jesus once lived in a roofless home? My good buddy Jesus from Mexico City??? And he saved all kinds of money.

Just look at our list of over six great benefits to owning a roofless home:

• People come and go by simply climbing over the wall—never deal with those mind-boggling keys and locks again!

• Finally be able to enjoy meteor showers year-round with the grandkids!

• Simplify things for police raids!

• Catch all the water that falls into your home’s footprint—now that’s good for the environment!

• Finally have that excuse you’ve always been looking for to research waterproof products!

• No roof? Duh. The concept virtually sells itself!

• …and much more!

Me? Just as soon as I recover from a particularly nasty case of pneumonia and get discharged from the Discount Roofless Hospital where of course the savings gets passed onto me, I’ll still have enough money I might have a mind to go down to Discount Roofless Ferrari and buy myself a luxurious, fine (albeit roofless) automobile.

When I park my roofless Ferrari in the garage of my roofless dream house, who’s gonna be laughing then?

New Children's Book Raises Eyebrows

I've no idea where this came from or who originally did this, but I found it at my friend and fellow Dr. Ron Paul supporter Ryan Phillips' blog.

Hempfest Heats Up

Seattle Hempfest • 16-17-AUG-2008 • Myrtle Edwards Park

It's that time of year again. To me Seattle Hempfest is about a lot more than just smoking pot, it is about being a part of humanity's awakening and realization of freedoms lost and freedoms heretofore never realized.

We value every body that happens to make it down to Myrtle Edwards Park during the third weekend of August, and even those that can't make it but send good thoughts our way, but it really is an entirely different experience to volunteer for this great event. No matter how humble your tasks are, you'll feel a greater sense of connection to what I believe to be our worthy cause.

Regardless of your level of involvement, even if you can't participate at all, I hope you'll send some good energy and prayers for a sunny, beautiful weekend that is successful not only for Seattle Hempfest but, more importantly, for the cause of freedom.

Seattle Hempfest • 16-17-AUG-2008 • Myrtle Edwards Park

A Stroke of Luck

My good friend Pedro sent me this video. Anyone who has taken a beginning psychology class knows that the brain's patterns of failure give tremendous insight into how it works (this actually goes for most things, I think). It is fascinating to hear a neuroanatomist, someone with a lot of academic training on how the brain works, describing in great detail the breakdown of her own mental functionality.

The best part is her descriptions of the overwhelming feelings of harmony with the universe she experiences in the course of her stroke manifesting itself, which remind me of my first experience with LSD back in the mid-90's. However you feel about her ideas, it is quite inspiring to hear someone talking about having reached that pinnacle of divine contentment that I believe we all are seeking.