Dr. Hans Blix - a PeaZeMaker

Dr. Hans Blix, the somewhat famous Swedish diplomat (and Bush' nemesis during the buildup to the Iraq war) arrived in Seattle today for a few days. Already signed up for the lecture at UoW long time ago, I also got invited to a great little private reception and buffet before his speach. Dragged the wife and dad since I thought they'd enjoy it as well (they did).


Over a glass of red, I got a few minutes with Dr. Blix, commending him on his work for "detent" and disarmament specifically and world peace in general. A really nice guy (well, he is actually 79, maybe gentleman would better suit him...) and I feel sad that I never sort of paid any attention to him until my time in Texas when he was the face of the IAEA and later head of the UN WMD inspections team in Iraq. He has had a very long career in both the Swedish Foreign Office, as well at UN "before" Iraq. But I guess that that's the way they work most efficiently, in the quiet, in the background, never getting any recognition until they sort of retire - and then it all comes at once, proven by a large number of standing ovations tonight.

Apart from a very interesting lecture, very fitting the culture and general approch of people here in the Pacific NorthWest (where neither support for Bush or any Iraq - or Iran - war is very strong), he also pulled of a few good jokes, and a some memorable phrases, most notable probably being:
"The United Nations is not there to take us to heaven, but to help us avoid going to hell." (Dag Hammarsköld)

So apart from a nice dinner buffet, a nice one-on-one chat with Dr. Hans Blix, a good lecture, most amazing was probably to see how increadibly well respected he is (a true Statesman) and how highly his work is regarded here in the U.S. He is likely more of an international "superstar" here, outside his native Sweden.
In any case, an evening when you're proud of being Swedish!

And, almost forgot. First fall storm hit just as we were leaving home. Camera in the car, I took this picture crossing the SR-520 bridge. You could actually feel the shaking when up at the East highrise. Down on the pontoons, it was pretty smooth, but it looks sort of weird. Such a contrast between the south (angry) and north side (calm and relaxed). No windsurfers out today, though they normally have a field day during these few storm events.

Some people are MooronZ - at moorings

Kirkland has a great little marina downtown. It is always packed in the summer, many times by moorons with more money than brains, and their boats sort of show it. But, with big boats come babes, and with babes also boobs. So, I'd guess it is not all bad...

New rules were implemented this year, so in the off-season, you can actually moor your boat there for longer periods than the usual "no more than 5 days in any 7 day period". Since moorage in Lake Washington is both expensive and hard to come by, people tend to jump at "deals", dropping of the boats that they maybe never should have bought otherwise.

The drawback with the marina is that is exposed, EXPOSED! Westerly or southwesterly winds have free range across the lake. The docks are also of a bit weird design with cleats in not the smartest positions, and some pilings are "flexible". Hence, this is not the best place for when the winds kick up.

Forecast calls for stronger winds today with at least a storm arriving both Thursday and Friday. So wind is expected.
Dad and I took the dog for a walk this afternoon. We neded up at the marina. What I saw was sort of appauling:
A couple of perfectly nice boats, tied up so poorly that the boats are likely not going to make it in the little wind we have this afternoon. One boat was already cracked open, and with one stern cleat precariously positioned, I'd say that this boat will be grounded in the next few hours. Too bad, because this was a neat 22' cuddy cabin just a few hours ago, and it would have been fine with the bow into the wind tied up in the empty spot next door... Not even with a need for any crappy fender.
The other boat was a 42', a nice one, but tied up by someone that really has no idea of the forces wind and wave can exert on a hull and the dock. Apart from already having pnctured a few fenders, it was also starting pulling the dock apart.
Yet another small bow-runner was hitting the dock from UNDENEATH at every wave. What a beating, and it has not even started blowing yet...

The best moored boat today, was a small 18" that was tied up in all four corners and with enough slack in the lines so it could move freely, w/o tugging at the cleats and eventually pulling them out of the deck.

So, at moorings, people are moorons!

Dad iZ arriving

Dad arrived yesterday from Sweden. Good to see him again. Been since last time he was here in April of 2006. Time flies fast! Wife and I have been "working them" for long to get them (mom and dad) over here again, but mom just HAD to stay home for birthdays and other committments. She hints that she'll be coming in the spring, but I know the story. At that time all the "worry" is about the plants and the garden "back home". so we'll see. They should travel now when they can, and we have familiy in Hawaii just waiting to see them.

But, since mom "bailed out", this was dad's first "solo" air-line trip ever. Not being very proficient in English, and not used to international air travel, one can sort of get lost along the way. just gate numbers can be confusing if you do not understand the instructions you are given.

Due to late booking, and SAS having horribly high prices with such short notice, my brother helped him book the trip. Ended up being on LuftHansa/AirCanada with a layover in both Frankfurt and Vancouver.

But, he made it! Some confusion in Vancouver, but he had a couple of hours and eventually got directed properly and seated on the plane for the short jump across the border and down to Seattle. Of course his bags did not make the last flight, but they were delivered to the house around 1.30 AM this morning. Good, because there were the usual "treasures" (Swedish Coffee, Cloudberry and lingonberry jams, Kalle's Kaviar, Vasterbottens Ost, etc). Nothing confiscated this time so all is well!

After getting a good night sleep her i nthe guest room (or should we call it the family room after all?), he is pretty well rested and not as pooped as a long transatlantic trip with little or no sleep can result in. Especially for a 76-year old.

Annexation WoeZ

I've never met Rob Butcher, but he is engaged and has done a good job in raising his voice in opposition to the potential annexation of more land into the City of Kirkland.
Check out his web "Save Kirkland - Stop Annexation".

Personally, I'm still undecided on this issue but likely leaning towards a no as well, although I and others (apart from the City Council) cannot vote on it.
We know where we have Kirkland today and we like most of what we see. However, with City Hall having to serve an additional 33,000 people, it is very likely that the small, friendly, and very caring staff at City Hall will no longer be the same. It will be more of a large administration, and no good will come out of that.

One of the things that really defines "Kirkland" today is that it is easy doing business, or having business, with people at the helm. Everyone (few expections of course) at City Hall is very service minded, have a good "feel" for their city, and knows the neighborhood. they are more "residents" than "public servants", even though I really don't know how many of them that are actually living inside the city of Kirkland.