Paul Constant Reviews Twitter

Historically, very little has been accomplished by being cynical (maybe some broken hearts have been prevented, but at what cost?). via thestranger.com There’s a lot to like in Paul Constant’s “review” of Twitter in 140 character-length paragraphs. I especially like the quote above.

The Bygone Bureau’s Tacoma Sign Survey

via bygonebureau.com The Bygone Bureau (winner of best blog at SXSW this year!) has a great survey of interesting signs around Tacoma. Some are historic, and some are just made to look historic. There’s some cool stuff in here.

“Dirty Harry on a pension”

That’s what Ebert called Clint Eastwood’s character in Gran Torino, and it’s pretty accurate, although I don’t remember Dirty Harry being a bigot. Clint Eastwood plays “mean” better than anyone I can think of, and his growl is consistently good for a laugh. Gran Torino is a very good film. It’s engaging, interesting, and–since it’s a Clint Eastwood movie–well-directed and shot. It often borders on the implausible, but it never quite crosses the line. Certainly one of the better movies of 2008. I’m glad I caught it.

My Own Private Idaho (Codeword)

This is a random note, but I thought a useful one that I will share with my readers. So. Have you ever been in a situation where you’re at a restaurant with your girlfriend, and you start eavesdropping on another table, and then your girlfriend starts talking to you, and suddenly you can’t hear what the other table is saying, but you can’t tell your girlfriend that you’re eavesdropping because you don’t want the other table to know that–while meanwhile, your girlfriend is starting to wonder why you aren’t answering her? It happens all the time, right? Mary and I Read more…

Trifecta Indeed: Grocery, McMenamins and the Elks

From the Tribune: Two developers are crafting an ambitious plan that could accomplish three goals high on downtown Tacoma’s wish list in a single swoop: restoring the historic but crumbling Elks Temple building, attracting a McMenamins brew pub-hotel and opening a new specialty grocery store in the central city. Tacoma developer Grace Pleasants and development partner Rick Moses of Southern California on Tuesday unveiled plans to buy the 93-year-old former Elks Temple at 565 Broadway and a large tract of undeveloped land north of the temple from Portland developer Williams and Dame. That was what I was going to do Read more…