Andy Oakley

With a quiet day today I finally got the chance to process some of the pictures that have been sitting on memory cards for several weeks. Here’s a set from Fort Worden State Park:

Fort Worden State Park pictures

Sometimes it is important to challenge the status quo and force change but that invariably lead to resistance and confrontation. Other times, it is so much more effective to embrace the constraints or unquestioned ‘truths’, take steps that no-one cares about within that existing framework and watch desired outcome emerge naturally.

As a means of effecting change and reducing poverty, my belief and commitment to organizations like Unitus that offer microfinancing solutions remains strong. This initiative also shows promise.

The Girl Effect:

The powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.

Because there’s poverty, and war, and hunger, and AIDS, and because when adolescent girls in the developing world have a chance, they can be the most powerful force of change for themselves, their families, communities, countries, and even the planet.

But while those 600 million adolescent girls are the most likely agents of change, they are often invisible to their societies and the world.

So what can you do about that? Help make girls visible. Stand up and be counted by becoming a fan of The Girl Effect, and getting your friends to do the same. Tell the world that you think the 600 million girls in the developing world deserve better – for themselves, and for the end of poverty.

That’s a start. Ready to learn and do more? Head over to girleffect.org.

After what seems like months on the go, we’ve finally had a couple of weekends in town and a chance to catch up on a few things on the home front.

First order of business has been to get a major bathroom overhaul under way. The bathroom in this house was in a rather sorry state when I moved in a couple of years ago, and various discoveries since have turned up ‘concerns’ like rotten floors, deep cuts into the joists, water leaking from the shower and tub and other surprises. I replaced the old, original plumbing last winter with PEX (story for another time) but that was really only the beginning.

We spent this weekend touring home improvement stores and finished with resounding success, having picked fixtures, fittings, flooring, tubs and a toilet that can flush a bucket of golf balls. Really.

Work on the prereqs should begin this week (trenching to the street water main, electrical panel replacement), with the real construction starting after the holiday. Exciting times.

Tuesday was a very important day; there was a tense mixture of excitement and apprehension everywhere - on the bus, at the gym, at work, even walking around Seattle in the early evening where Amy and I planned to meet for dinner.

After a fine main course at Palomino, I couldn’t resist but to check the count on my phone and it was right there: 333 electoral votes. All over before 9pm and I couldn’t resist a subtle high-five.

As we made our way over to the Westin where the local Democrats were camped out watching the gubernatorial race, cars were honking horns driving up fifth avenue and people openly cheering in the street. We arrived just in time to be swept up into the excited crowd that filled the main ballroom to watch Obama’s speech. And a great speech it was.

Making our way out through the lobby, there was a great contrast of ecstatic supporters and exhausted, passed out campaign staff. While the crowds were spilling out into the street with more shouting and celebration, I think deep down everyone realizes this is only the first step in a monumental task. But it has to begin somewhere.

Reminds me of Lost. Sign reads “CALL SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AT 206-684-3000 WHEN LIGHT IS ON”. What if it’s flashing?!

It’s that time of year again, when grown adults dress up and show the kids how it’s really done.

Full Halloween set of Flickr

What better way to break a hiatus than with a bit of nostalgia.

Even after seven years (this Wednesday) away from Britain, this video makes me inexplicably homesick.

A few photos from their wedding at the Lake Union Cafe

And earlier, from the bachelor party at Lake Chelan (courtesy of Ethan):

I wish I had a good photo of their ‘joint’ Halloween costume this year which was inspirational.

Your Digital Lifestyle: Girl from Mars

It really isn’t summer without a trip out to The Gorge Amphitheater in George, WA. We left Redmond last Friday afternoon and headed straight out on I-90. Just time for a single drink tailgating party and we headed in to the venue to listen to some live music. The setting against the awesome backdrop of the Columbia River gorge, sunset, and mellow tunes never fails to impress.

The youthful days of joining the debauchery in the adjacent campground are probably behind me and this time we were led to ‘little known’ spot on the way back toward Cle Elum. About 20 minutes drive out of civilization (swerving past a couple of deer on the way), we drew to a halt at the side of the road. Camping gear in hand, we walked through a small opening at the roadside and emerged on railway tracks. A hundred yard walk down the line (bearing in mind it’s after midnight and very dark) and we are again led down into a dark, flat, sandy hollow next to what sounds like a river.

We set up camp and called it a night. We had been warned about what to expect next, but I have to say it is mighty impressive to hear the sound of full-speed freight train passing in the dead of night only yards away.

A leisurely morning, a fine breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe in Cle Elum and an easy drive back into Seattle for a late lunch.

On review: Turns out this post had little to do with music and not all that much to do with anything else either.