Monthly Archives: May 2017

Of the 46th NW Folklife Festival, 2017

Photo May 29, 3 36 10 PM

This Memorial Day Weekend, I took a little time out to check out the 46th annual Northwest Folklife Festival. The event is a wonderful combination of music (mostly) and artists gathering for free (donations highly encouraged) performance for the thousands of visitors present.

All located in the Seattle Center by the world-famous Space Needle, there was something extra special added to the grand mix of delights. That, being a full weekend of warm weather, supported by the blue sky and the sunshine. After nearly half a year of wet, cold, and gloomy weather, such kindness felt deserved for the locals and an extra bonus for incoming tourists.

I meanwhile did not spend as much time as needed, being that I had many errands and some projects to work on. Still, there were some good hours I got at the NW Folklife, checking out a nice variety of international sounds. Here, are some highlights in pics (with some video links)…

“3 Play Ricochet, ” bluegrass band.

Photo May 29, 3 33 03 PM

The”New Genesis Gospel Choir,” I think. I forgot to write this one down, but the schedule I believe matches the time I took the pic.

Photo May 27, 5 24 07 PM

“The Debaucherauntes,” a Jewish fusion folk band

Photo May 29, 3 16 31 PM

“See Beeze,” sidewalk performance

Photo May 29, 3 09 08 PM

The “Bollywood Stars”

Photo May 29, 3 20 15 PM

Greg Youmans, of the “Not Quite Full Harmonic Orchestra” one-man band

Photo May 29, 3 45 30 PM

A picture from my cellphone, showing the great Space Needle, with some reggae band playing. Sadly, I could not stick around to enjoy the entire show.

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That’s all for this year’s 2017 Northwest Folklife Festival. The past years, I covered more time, but at least I discovered some new music with a nice international variety. This year will likely not be last, and I look forward to checking out new acts, and hopefully more pleasant weather.

-Orion T

Picture of Today 5/25/2017, “Don’t call me a mindless philosopher”

Photo May 25, 9 17 34 PM

40 years ago on this day, a cinematic vision appeared detailing interesting conflict in a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. That was the first the world would truly know of the STAR WARS!

You may have heard of it. If not, here is a trailer.

I would know of it a bit later in my childhood, initially through the first sequel. But its presence was clear, and ingrained into my constant pop-culture appreciation for all things that involved dueling space wizards, weird-looking spaceships, bizarre aliens with mundane lifestyles, and robots that beep or speak with English accents.

My favorite character in the original is C-3PO (See-Threepio), a humanoid shaped droid with fluency in over six-million languages yet still seems to know so little of the universe around him. He discovered much but with hesitation, guided by his beeping, short astromech droid companion. His journey is not center through the film, and not very useful. But his humorous observations and interactions give the story a much needed dimension from someone less familiar or interest with galactic conflicts and strange religions. He just tags along, and provides funny comments.

My favorite Threepio line of the 1977 classic:  “Don’t call me a mindless philosopher.you overweight glob of grease!.”

 – Orion T

Picture of Today 5/24/2017, The Excessories Odd-Yssey, Parked

Photo May 24, 10 07 26 PM

A curious minivan remained parked around the corner from home, covered in fashionable accessories and dazzling decorative art.

I admired much but had little time to study further (very busy evening). I did shoot some pictures but regret not getting much further on the close details.

I just did a bit more research and found that the car is named the Excessories Odd-Yssey, decorated by local artist Kelly Lyles. Her website is http://www.kellyspot.com, and definitely worth a look if you would like to see more of this awesome car, and the creative mind behind the wheels.

Photo May 24, 7 22 43 PMPhoto May 24, 7 22 05 PMPhoto May 24, 7 21 44 PMPhoto May 24, 7 21 57 PM

http://interactive.tegna-media.com/video/embed/embed.html?id=2395426&type=video&title=The%20Ultimate%20Minivan%20VIDEO&site=281&playerid=6918249996581&dfpid=32805352&dfpposition=Video_prestream_external§ion=home

Picture of Yesterday 5/20/2017, Bees Together

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The above shot is from a moment past noon at the 5th Annual West Seattle Bee Festival, yesterday at the High Point Commons Park.

From behind the glass, I and others watched a beekeeper in action, demonstrating the inner workings of the man-made Langstroth hive box. Here, bees are inside and produce honey inside the hive frames, which are eventually raised and managed (from what I understood, please comment if I am wrong or leaving something important out).

Such activity was fun to watch and interesting the countless little worker bees in the process.   Here are some fun facts obtained from the Utah County Beekeepers Association:

  • Honeybees are the only insect that produces food for humans.
  • To make one pound of honey, the bees in the colony must visit 2 million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles and will be the lifetime work of approximately 768 bees.
  • A single honeybee will only produce approximately 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
  • Honey bees’ wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.
  • Bees communicate with each other by dancing and by using pheromones (scents).
  • Honeybees never sleep!

For more bee facts, visit www.utahcountybeekeepers.org.

– Orion T

 

Pictures of Today 5/16/17, Scattered Showers

The quick walk to work this morning had to slow down…

So, I can take a moment to appreciate the quickened beauty of the developed Spring, where after the heavy rains have produced the greenest of results.I often go through the Jim Ellis Freeway Park in Downtown Seattle. Seemingly recently, I am astounded by the sprout of extra fullness and vibrant greens of the surrounding trees, the epic height of this Pacific Northwest wet Spring.

Of which, I have yet to take pictures. Soon, I will snap and share the green views for another posting.

But for the earlier today, I focus more on two lone trees by the often used walkway, not as green but more white in distant sight. I am unsure of their kind. I think these are Sakura trees, but different from the larger prominent Sakura Tree clusters bloomed and shed in the early spring.

Here is one young tree, just after the recent rain of yesterday’s end….

and here is the nearby other…

I enjoyed the sight of both trees while nearly late to the next hour, letting the moment of this in-between display stay still, which shall come to pass very soon. Just one more look for then, and I leave for the day…

– Orion T

Over the Weekend, Reading and Relaxation

The partly sunny, warm weather this weekend with no minimal plans meant two essential things for me, to read and relax.

And so I did, after a visit to a couple of comic-book stores (Comics Dungeon in Wallingford, Seattle and Zanadu Comics in the Downtown area). On Saturday, they and many other stores of its kind took part in the annual Free Comic Book Day event. This special day is meant for promoting the still existing physical comic stores with the sequential art they promote and sell.

For me, I did partake. From both, I got a nice stack of new reads and purchased some ongoing favorites. Such purchases were Flintstones #11 (a brilliant satire and very different take on the classic cartoon), Eternal Empire #1 (interesting new sci-fi fantasy from a favorite writer/artist duo), Paper Girls #14 (paper delivery girls from the 1980s displaced in time, discovering weirdness), Extremity #3 (a fresh sci-fantasy action drama, with war and revenge themes).

With those and free comic curiosities (too many to list), I read some at Gas Works park in Fremont for Saturday, then others at Olympic Sculpture Park on Sunday; while taking breaks to nap and take notes on ideas and thoughts. An overall good productive time, that would be wasted in doing less.

– Orion T

The picture above is from Gas Works Park in the Fremont district, while reading the latest Paper Girls comic. Here is the view without the pages…

Picture of Today 5/4/2017, May the 4th be with you..

“You will know (the good from the bad) when you are calm, at peace. Passive.” – Yoda, Jedi Master
…

Picture by me at Kobi Park in Seattle. Figurine obtained at a yard sale many years ago, for one dollar.

– Orion T

Picture of Today 5/2/2017, a stillness

Photo Apr 30, 4 14 52 PM (1)

“Learning how to be still, to really be still and let life happen – that stillness becomes a radiance.”  – Morgan Freeman, actor and continuing inspiration

I took this picture in Belltown with my phone, on the way home.

– Orion T

Picture of Today 5/1/2017 – May Day

Photo May 01, 5 25 51 PM

Today was a calm May Day, for nothing too troubling happened here in the Emerald City of Seattle (or so I heard). There were many small marches throughout the day, and no riots.

But, I did happen to observe heavily some evening happenings in the Westlake Center Park of Downtown Seattle. Some pro-Trump supporters arrived and verbally clashed with anti-Trump supporters. Also among them, the usual anti-capitalists, religious promoters, climate-change activists, self-made superheroes,  anti-war groups (some were war vets, I was told), anarchists, and curious tourists. From a close distance and ready, were many armored police officers standing around with batons in hand.

But, most of the local attention circulated around the various tense confrontations between the pro- and anti- Trump groups. Though I heard much childish banter and expletives being thrown about, there was some intelligent talking and debate that occurred. Such civility was strangely refreshing. If we all can’t along, then lets at least talk.

– Orion T