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I've begun my last work week at PRWeb, and the hunt begins for my Seattle job. Actually, I've applied to approximately 15 companies, to no avail, within the last couple weeks. While I'm not fresh out of college, I don't have the "preferred five years agency experience" that most places are looking for. I'm hoping by the end of September I'll have a job set up. If not, I'll be serving food, I'm sure.

I did get everything moved into the "Ballard Burrow" over the weekend. Moving is a bitch. I basically almost killed myself getting my furniture into the U-Haul on Friday. Thankfully, Nina was there to help with some of the larger items. I was suprised by how much she could lift. What a beast.

Moos drove the U-Haul after she loaded her furniture and I followed her to Seattle. Katrine, Matt and Wes helped us unpack late Friday night. I went on a late night walk with the guys to explore the neighborhood that night. What a location! A 24-7 QFC is just around the corner. Market Street, two blocks away, is loaded with restaurants, coffee shops, banks, gyms, a movie theater and lots of night spots. Katrine's new shop, Cafe Fiore, is within walking distance, too.

I spent most of the day Saturday unpacking and setting up. The Ballard Burrow will dominate.

Saturday night, focuspoint had a gig in Tacoma. We came. We played. We conquered.

I drove back to Ballard Sunday morning to unpack and hang out with KaMoos (Katrine and Moos). I'm really happy with how much we accomplished in such a short time. KaMoos are excellent interior decorators and our place looks like a rainforest with all of the plants they loaded into the place. Pictures will come soon, my dears. I'll be down in Ballard for good late Thursday night or Friday, just in time for Bumbershoot!

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The media jumps on and off stories like its playing hopscotch, and, just when I become interested in a story, it gets dropped. I'm left hanging like the storyline at the end of a "Lost" episode.

This leads me to ask, "Whatever happened with..."

  • ... the Avian Flu. Weren't we all supposed to be dead by now?
  • ... Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Aren't there people still living in FEMA trailers?
  • ... government wiretapping. Did I miss out on some prosecutions?
  • ... Valerie Plame and anonymous sources. Is is safe for me to publish an article yet?
  • ... Sadaam's trial. How does this receive less coverage than the O.J. Simpson trial?
  • ... Mexican immigration. Did anything happen with border security? Can we sing the national anthem in Spanish now?
  • ... Dick Cheney. Did he shoot another friend recently?

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The producers of "Survivor" are reintroducing a taboo that is rarely even discussed in history class: racial segregation. Call it bigotry or call it bait for record-ratings.

According to a hot AP story, "Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups."

In the past, "Survivor" has divided groups by age and gender, but those divisions don't controversy like race does today. Comedians Dave Chappelle and Carlos Mencia have earned attention poking fun at race, but that's much different than dividing competition by race. Success will be earned by the individual, but most likely and unfortunately be attributed to and measured by race. "Survivor" will instigate the debate, and America will tune in.

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I know that some people who check this blog actually don't like my band ("You sound like a bunch of fairies!") or might not even like me ("Keep your friends close and your enemies closer -- by reading their blogs"). Still, I'm obliged to inform the rest of you that my band, focuspoint, is playing a show this Saturday night at Shakabrah Java in Tacoma. The show starts 8 p.m. It's free and all-ages. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel.

I was planning on going to California this weekend to pick up a new car, but I decided that wasn't such a great idea in between jobs. Thanks to Scott for his availability and guidance in trying to make the trip happen. Special thanks to Dad for helping me focus financially. I hope to see you all on Saturday, or at the new apartment in Ballard soon.

in

Rarely am I captivated by a headline, but when I read "Psycho killer raccoons terrorize Olympia" I knew I found something special.

That sensationalized AP story is a condensed version of The Olympian's story, "Cat-killing raccoons on prowl in west Olympia." The article says, "Raccoons have killed about 10 cats in a three-block area near the Garfield Nature Trail at Harrison Avenue West and Foote Street Southwest... Five raccoons actually ganged up on and carried off a little dog, who survived."

"You've got to watch which ones are bad," says Kari Hall, who started a neighborhood Raccoon Watch. "It's not all of them. We just have to arm ourselves with pepper spray."

Resident Lisann Rolle was bitten when she tried to save her cat from an attack by three raccoons. "I'm afraid of them," she says. "I carry an iron pipe with me when I go out at night."

The Olympian suggests the following tips to keep raccoons away:

  • Don't feed them.
  • Don't leave any food out that they can get to.
  • Clean your grill. The odor can attract them.
  • Don't put your trash can out where they can get to it.
  • Keep your lights on. Raccoons like to avoid being seen.
  • Keep gates closed to make it harder for them to get close to the house.

I personally like a solution proposed by "Tyler," who left the following comment in the article's comment section online:

"A .22 injection keeps both raccoons and possums from bothering cats -- takes the fight right out of them..."