A Red Light District in Seattle?

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Forget Amsterdam. The city of Seattle is working on creating a "Red Light District" south of Safeco Field. It'd be Mecca for silicone enthusiasts.

For years, the city enforced a policy that amounted to just short of a ban on new clubs. This policy was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts. As a result, Seattle's commercially zoned areas became fair game to strip clubs. Late last year Mayor Greg Nickels proposed the city establish a club district in the largely industrial area in South Seattle.

This, of course, angered South Seattle residents who are already working toward a "Southside Revival." They logically fear that the proposed "Red Light District" would turn the area into a slum.

City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck hears these South Seattle residents and has stalled a vote for the proposed 310-acre strip club district. Steinbrueck would like to explore an alternative that would allow such clubs city-wide, with some restrictions, according to the Seattle P-I.

The city of Seattle should allow adult entertainment venues to be dispersed throughout the city, rather than try to create a concentrated location for these businesses. Creating this "Red Light District" would be detrimental to surrounding South Seattle neighborhoods, including Beacon Hill, South Park and Georgetown. All areas of the city should be eligible to shoulder the "burden" of hosting strip clubs. If anything, North Seattle strip club patrons would be happy to avoid a commute.

Working on Easter

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Those were the good old days - hunting for plastic, primary-colored eggs filled with candy, all while being chased by parents snapping photos like paparazzi.

This Easter I'm working, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to be exact. It's my own fault. I need to gain some vacation days. You may all feel bad for me at this time and can call me if you're bored because business is slow as molasses. Grant it, people should be spending time with their families today, not writing 300-word press releases about their start-up businesses.

Congratulations to all of you who made it through Lent without whatever vice you gave up. I don't know if Jesus died for this particular aspect of Easter, but kudos to all of you who played the game anyway. You may now proceed to eat chocolate, drink Diet Coke, resume swearing, etc.

Happy Easter everyone!

Conflict in Italian Politics, Just the Norm

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As everyone's favorite, handsome, dashing, token Italian friend, I feel obliged to report to you all what's happening in the motherland.

Premier Silvio Berlusconi (pictured left) says everything is A-OK (see hand gesture) and does not concede defeat to center-left leader Romano Prodi, who won the election by a "razor thin margin," according to the AP.

This is Italy's version of W. vs. Gore in 2000.

Berlusconi, alleging irregularities, demands a recount, a process that could take weeks. Prodi won by a margin of about 25,000 over the 38 million votes cast. Approximately 84 percent of registered voters got the polls -- compare that to the 60 percent voter turnout for the 2004 U.S. presidential election.

According to the AP, "Prodi says his government would pass a new conflict of interest law but added that it would not be to punish Berlusconi, who is Italy's richest man and the owner of a media empire that includes the country's largest private broadcaster as well as insurance, real estate and publishing interests."

Conflict of interest is one of many factors that have resulted in the political instability characterizing post-WWII Italy. There have been 60 governments in about as many years since the end of the war and it gets worse: Italy has only won one post-war World Cup (1982).

A Few New Photos

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I posted some family photos in a new album at Yahoo! Photos.

Also, I've been using Flickr to host my high resolution, artsy/cool photo gallery. I've been uploading new pictures there often, and you can always click the new Flickr link in the right sidebar to view my newest images. Enjoy, and feel free to comment on the photos using the Flickr comments links.