Stephen Colbert went on an hilarious Bing binge last night

Stephen Colbert went on a hilarious Bing binge last night, with the comedian earning a $2,500 charitable pledge from Microsoft each time he uttered the name of company's search engine. CNET's Ina Fried notes that Colbert managed to mention Bing some 40 times, earning $100,000 for the Colbert Nation Gulf of America Fund. Here's the opening clip.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Charity Begins at 11:30
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

I am sure Microsoft wasn't too happy about this zinger from Colbert: "By the way, Bing is a great Web site for doing Internet searches. I know that because I Googled it." Later in the broadcast, the show's producers bleeped out a Colbert cuss word with a "Bing" and then showed the Bing logo numerous times as an actor playing BP CEO Tony Hayward gets tossed off a building and run over by a SUV driven by a sea turtle.

Read More

By John Cook
Tech Flash

"Up, Up and Away" with the Randalls

Over Memorial weekend, I enjoyed a fun day watching the Randall family of Redmond, WA. and his club launch hobby rockets up to 7,500 feet into the air.  Dave Randall, a Microsoft Program Manager, was one of two staff running Washington Aerospace Club's "Fire in the Sky 2010" event. Every year Dave & Linda and their sons Thomas and Josh drive their RV to the wheat lands of Mansfield, WA. for club launch events. (The next Mansfield launch is 6/26-27). At 60-acres South, the rockets are limited to 2,000 feet; in Mansfield the ceiling is 7,500 feet.   Watch John Norris's humongous "hobby" launches here.

Linda Randall, introduced me to Mansfield's Mayor Snell and his dog. Snell has been mayor for 20 years and he runs the show in Mansfield, as "strong mayor". (pop. 300) He is pleased eight seniors graduated this year from their K-12 school and is grateful 3-4 launch events are held in his city every year.  Linda works for the LWSD. 

The Randalls' are active outdoor volunteers in the Redmond community. Josh, Thomas and their BMX friends have played a key role in the early development of the Redmond Bike Park. They attended the clay-modeling design workshops, went on BMX field trips with the city, attended Steering Committee meetings. The whole family pitched in to help restore the forest surrounding the Park during a Cascade Conservancy event.  Both boys are active scouts.  When they are not "Up, Up and Away" you can usually find the Randalls' on Thursday at Oddfellows Grill's  "Trivia Night".

Reported By Bob Yoder
Slides by Yoder

Some related announcements: 

The Cascade Conservancy invites Redmond citizens to a Land Steward sign-up meeting on June 12.

"Brighter" -an exciting movie premier and fundraiser for the Redmond Bike Park
June 10, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Final Draft Design Input Meeting  for Redmond Bike Park on June 30 - open to all.

Hartman Park - Redmond Bike Park area forest restoration work-party:  September 25 - 17300 NE 104th Street

8th-Grader Stephen Patterson wins Eagle Scout Rank

Stephen Patterson of the Boys Scout’s Sammamish District Troop 509 recently received his Eagle Scout award at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor held at Beaver Lake Lodge in Sammamish. In attendance were over 45 friends, neighbors, family and fellow scouts.

Stephen has been actively involved in scouting since he was 8 years old and quickly worked his way through the various scouting ranks earning 21 merit badges to date and has accumulated over 23 nights of camping – he is currently serving as his troop’s Senior Patrol Leader. His Eagle Project was coordinated with the City of Sammamish to reclaim and restore an area along the Illahee Trail in Sammamish with new trees, shrubs and mulch.

Stephen is currently in 8th grade attending Inglewood Jr. High School. His interests are aviation, model building, music, camping, and helping his younger brother, Joseph, an 11 yr. old scout, to become an Eagle Scout.

Congratulations to Stephen and all those who have helped him along the way in achieve this monumental goal in his life.  For more information about Scouting, please see the Chief Seattle Council website at http://www.seattlebsa.org/ .

Submitted by Paige Norman
Pictured are Mike Patterson, Scoutmaster and Stephen Patterson, New Eagle Scout

Sammamish Slough crow with snake

The attached photo was taken on May 30 along the Sammamish Slough, just south of the rust colored footbridge here in Redmond. It was definitely a "shoot from the hip" photo, and I only partially succeeded in getting the crow in the frame.

I couldn't figure out what it had in its beak, until I looked at the photo later. Initially I thought maybe it was a stick or branch. It's a pretty good sized snake. The crow was evidently hunting in the grass as I approached it, and then it suddenly flew up. I was lucky to catch the action.

John Reinke
Sammamish Slough photographer
Education Hill neighborhood

A collection of John Reinke's Sammamish Slough nature photographs will be on display at the Redmond Library thoughout July.

Liquor Control Board and Police do a "liquor sting" on local estabishments

A joint enforcement operation conducted last night between the Redmond Police Department and the Washington State Liquor Control Board found that 22% of establishments weren't doing their job correctly.

Officers and agents worked with underage informants in an attempt to purchase alcohol within the City of Redmond. Of the 103 businesses visited with liquor licenses, 23 sold to the informants, a 78% compliance rate.

Violators were cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor. The Washington State Liquor Control Board will follow up with offending businesses with administrative actions. At all locations, when ID was requested of the minor, a valid Washington State ID showing actual date of birth was presented.

“The good news is that an overwhelming majority of establishments and employees are doing things correctly,” commented Lt. Erik Scairpon. “We will work with those in violation along with the Liquor Control Board in hopes to educate them and bring the number of violations down in the future. At the end of the day, we want people to be safe.”
 
Locations busted:
Redmond Way (4) - City Center (16),  Avondale (2),  Education Hill (3)  
 
Source:  Jim Bove
Redmond Police

Food & wine | 'Top Chef' tour bus pulls into Bella Bottega on Saturday

Food & wine 'Top Chef' tour bus pulls into town Seattle Times Newspaper

The wildly popular "Top Chef" tour bus — yes, these Bravo channel reality-show contestants are like rock stars now — makes its first-ever stop in the Northwest this weekend.

Season 6 contestants Ash Fulk and Eli Kirshtein will offer cooking tips, dish on the behind-the-scenes stuff and answer fan questions about host Padma and whatever else is on your mind. Fans get to sample food and compete in a Quickfire Challenge, one of the show's popular contests.

The tour bus will stop in the parking lot of QFC Bella Bottega, 8867 161st Ave. N.E. in Redmond, on Saturday, 6/5, and in Seattle at University Village on Sunday.

The demo times for both days: 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the event.
Tan Vinh, Seattle Times staff reporter

KOOZA Opens at Marymoor Park!

KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

"KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning.  The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement."

Order tickets

Lake Washington Schools Foundation funds academic summer school

A grant of $63,000 from the Lake Washington Schools Foundation will enable 115 elementary students who are academically at risk and in financial need to attend Core Academic Summer School at no charge.

Read More.

By Kathryn Reith
LWSD Website

"Staying Close While Standing Back" - For junior and high school parents

"Staying Close While Standing Back: The Art & Science of Parenting Your Increasingly Independent Adolescent"

Presenter Julie Metzger, RN
Monday, June 7th from 7 – 9 PM
Location: Redmond Senior Center Multi-purpose Room (8703 160th Avenue NE, Redmond)  Next to City Hall. 

Don’t miss this outstanding presentation for parents of junior high & high school students
Practical information as the summer approaches & your teen will have more unstructured time

One of the greatest balancing acts parents face in today’s world is knowing when to step forward to help and guide their teen’s lives and when to let their teen make independent decisions and choices for themselves. These moments can be as simple as what they wear to school that day to a decision to not attend college. How do families work together in a partnership of trust and respect as children and parents encounter new experiences? What are specific ways we can encourage our teens to be resilient, accountable, and inter-dependent people in a fast-changing world? This presentation will also include how to communicate with your child about potentially risky choices. You will learn - What are the right questions to ask? What information do your students need? How can you assess the risk?

Julie Metzger, RN, the Co-Founder of Great Conversations, is a well respected presenter on a wide range of parenting issues. She has developed and taught classes on puberty, sexuality and decision making for pre-teens and families for 20 years and has worked with tens of thousands of families in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Palo Alto, and throughout the Puget sound region. In addition, she has developed health curriculum for middle school students on decision making. Julie is a Nurse Consultant at Children’s Hospital and a parent to three adolescents. She and her colleague, Rob Lehman, MD have a website reflecting their work with families – www.greatconversations.com

Recommended for Parents of Junior High & High School Students

Sponsored by the Lake Washington PTSA Council

Questions? Contact Joanne Hall, Chair, Parent Education at jjjahall@juno.com or lwsdparented@gmail.com

Submitted by Beth Angelo
PTSA Council

OPINION: A truthful perspective of Mayor Marchione's "Budget By Priorities" process

When I read the following "Redmond Reporter" headlines on May 2, I never laughed so hard! 


"City asks citizens to help prioritize next budget" 

"Public input will help drive city spending for 2011-12." 

Why is this so funny?  

Only two public budget meetings were conducted by the John Marchione Administration and only 18 total citizens showed up!   Six attended the March 1 meeting and twelve attended the May 3 meeting -- both held on a Monday close to the dinner hour.   Could you pick a worse day?

Redmond has a night-time, resident population of  ~50,000 citizens and only 18 residents turned up?   This year's  "Budget By Priority" process is more than a belly laugh, it's much worse.   Six of the 18 residents were lobbying a special interest.  Businesses were invited but none registered.  Six citizens were hand selected by the Mayor to participate in the process with staff,  but never engaged with the Public.   

John Marchione's "Budgeting for Priorities" process asks four basic questions"

1. What priorities matter most to our citizens?
2. How much revenue will we have and what price of government will we charge our citizens?
3. How much should we spend to achieve each priority?
4. How can we best deliver each priority to achieve the results the citizens expect?

What citizens?   (Read more).  
  
When you compare the 0.0004% citizen turnout to the Reporter's headlines, it's apparent citizens weren't empowered by the "Budget By Priorities" process.   The program didn't have legs -- certainly, not enough legs "to help drive city spending and prioritize the next budget".  

This is just one example of why I write this blog....to disclose a truthful perspective and cut the P.R.

OPINION By Bob Yoder

The City stalls on landscape maintenance at Camwest's "Perrigo Heights" development.

Updated 2/28/19:  Trees and shrubs were planted by Group Health for off-site mitigation from their development project.  Irrigation was installed.  Everything's grown up, it's all green and you can't  see the vault now!

Opinion:  The cement box photos show a "wet vault" (tagged with graffiti).  Vaults are designed to remove stormwater sediment and polluting chemicals.  This vault was built by Camwest Development, Inc. over two years ago as part of a 24-home "Perrigo Heights" urban forest housing project in Redmond. The vault was tagged with red graffiti in mid-January of this year.  This small photo was taken from the popular Ashford PED-BIKE Trail that connects 6 neighborhoods and two parks to three nearby schools.

VAULT SCREENING:  The city removed the graffiti (right photo) four weeks after it was reported to Mr. Fischer, a city development planner.  The deciduous saplings planted next to the vault by Camwest (see photo) will give no visual screening seven months of the year.   Furthermore, small deciduous trees create no physical barrier to graffiti vandals.   In response to citizen feedback, the city administration established a vague plan to install evergreen screening, as follows:

City Planner Steve Fischer said in a February email:

"I am working with other city staff to implement the planting of some evergreens between the trail and the vault. The response that I have received has all been positive so I am hopeful that that we can enhance the screening of the vault. This is still early on in the process so I do not have information about quantity or type of plant materials or when planting might take place. I am hopeful that I can begin to obtain answers to those questions in the coming weeks."  February 10, 2010. 

Test drive a Ford this Saturday and raise funds for Redmond High athletics!

The Redmond High School Football team has an event at the high school this Saturday, June 5 between 9:30 and 4:30, where Ford Motors will have cars there to test drive!

Ford will donate $20 for every test drive given!  There will be other prizes given away as well. If you are looking for a new car or interested in seeing the newest line of Ford cars, come to Redmond High School this Saturday and help benefit the football program by test driving a car!

The NW Mustang Club will be showing off their cars from 11:00 to 2:00 as an added attraction.

Joe Kirsch

President - Redmond Jr. Mustangs

facebook.com/driveone4urschool
Submitted By Paige Norman
Education Hill neighborhood

Redmond students whip up healthful dishes

Redmond students whip up healthful dishes

MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Brothers Cole, center, and Blake Roberts make a family favorite, the Monte Cristo sandwich, for a competition at Redmond Junior High to prepare nutritious meals.

Redmond junior-high students competed Wednesday to see who could make the healthiest and tastiest food in a cooking competition called  "So You Think You Can Cook."

Inside the commercial kitchen at Redmond Junior High on Wednesday, kids wearing aprons and tall paper chef's hats wrangled mangoes, toasted tortas and, under the sharp eyes of food- service employees, rushed past each other with hot pans....more.

By Nicole Tsong
Seattle Times Eastside reporter

Posted by Yoder
Seattle Times News Partner

Constantine extols farm-fresh produce available in 41 King County neighborhoods

May 28: Constantine extols farm-fresh produce available in 41 King County neighborhoods:

"Constantine extols farm-fresh produce available in 41 King County neighborhoods. May and June signal King County farmers market season kicking into gear.

Locating fresh, healthy, locally-grown produce is becoming easier and easier for King County residents.

In fact, two new farmers markets are opening in King County in 2010, bringing the total to 41. That is roughly 30 more than were available in the county only a decade ago."

Read More.

Posted By Yoder
Photo By King County
Index for:   Neighborhood Farms,  Farmer's Markets, Harvest Schedule, Farm Recipes

Have you been to the Redmond Saturday Market?   Lots of entertainment now.  Find out what's up?  Redmond Saturday Market Newsletter

Washington State Dept. of Ecology tracks State assistence in deepwater Gulf of Mexico spill

This Washington State Ecology site has been established to track what's happening in the Gulf of Mexico and provide information on how Washington State is providing assistance:

GO TO:  Washington Department of Ecology's Deep Water Gulf Spill page  - find  incredible photos

What can we do?    

Posted By Yoder
Photo By AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

UPDATED ON JUNE 7: Evidence of Bear damage to birdfeeder and fence is reported on Novelty Hill Road

Evidence of  bear foraging on Union Hill Rd. near Ames Lake was reported on May 28, 2010.  (Awaiting further reports.)   This photo was allegedly taken on May 19 and may, or may not, be the same bear.

"Here's a nice picture of a bear (and broken bird feeder) allegedly taken by a neighbor on May 19, 2010 on Near NE 80th and 245th Way NE (about a mile from Redmond Ridge)."

Documentation:   http://www.flickr.com/photos/50666115@N07/4651436571/

A popular place to report bobcat and other wildlife sightings has been on this page.  When reporting, if you don't want to leave your name,  please send me an email  so I can update our Readers and guests with your news. Unverified comments and updates will be posted anonymously under "comments"  Documented news will be posted on this page.

Tracy Stein said...on June 7
My daughter and I were riding our horses at the neighbors on Monday June 7th and saw a black bear. Location is 50th and 260th Ave NE close to the fire station. The same neighbor allegedly saw a bear last night, June 10, 2010 three houses down on 260th Ave NE and 50th.

Anonymous said...on May 28, 2010 10:58 AM  
We had what we think was a bear push down the 4ft wire fence, bend a 2 inch galvanized metal pole at a 90 degree angle at the ground and destroy our bird feeder on Friday May 22, 2010. This happened in the night. The pole was approx 8ft tall. The animal had to be pretty strong, my husband couldn't even bend the pole back. 47th and 272nd AVE NE on Union Hill Rd near Ames Lake.


 Anonymous said...May 22, 2010 11:31 PM
I saw one (bobcat) crossing Redmond/Woodinville road from the eastside to the west, into the new construction at NE 106th street.

Any documented news of the possible May 28 bear sighting on Novelty Hill  Road will be posted here:
Anonymous said...on 5/28/10

Here's a nice picture of a bear (and broken bird feeder) allegedly taken by my neighbor on May 19 on Near NE 80th and 245th Way NE (about a mile from Redmond Ridge).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50666115@N07/4651436571/

"Drugstore Cowboy", James Fogle, arrested in Redmond, WA pharmacy.

Movie Trailer "Drug Store Cowboy", with Matt Dillon
James Fogle — whose life of crime and addiction became the basis for an acclaimed film, "Drugstore Cowboy" — is back in jail again.

By Christine Clarridge
Seattle Times staff reporter

Some old dogs really don't learn new tricks.

James Fogle — who immortalized his life of crime and addiction in a book that became the basis for an acclaimed film, "Drugstore Cowboy" — is back in jail again.

Fogle and another man, 45-year-old Shannon Benn, were arrested on Tuesday while attempting to rob a Redmond pharmacy, according to police

He's 73 years old and this is probably the only thing he knows," said Jim Bove, a spokesman for the Redmond Police Department.

Read More

Do you know what Redmond pharmacy Fogle allegedly tried to rob? 

Posted by Bob Yoder
Seattle Times News Partner 

5/2012: OPINION: Mayor Marchione sits on 20-day Notice from Washington State Liquor Board

This post is dated

OPINION: Updated, 6/1/2012:  As you travel on Redmond Way, just past Key Bank in the center of town, you'll see Redmond's new State liquor store - a beautiful, large brick building with high beam ceilings, built in the 1920's by Mayor Bill Brown. It's a city Landmark.

Passing the liquor store, you can't miss the loud, large red signs that stick out from all angles. Even Mayor John Marchione agreed during Tuesday's Council meeting saying the "sign is ugly". Mayor Marchione explained the signage by stating:

"Like any other developer, they pushed back the letter of the law without having to make any other expense."

I spoke 4 minutes to the Mayor and council about how upset I and some of my neighbors were with the signage and it's location in a city Landmark building.  It surprised me a State could relocate a liquor store and not give public notice or allow comment. Unbeknown-st to the public, John Redal, Dir. of Retail Operations, State Liquor Control Board said "Mayor John Marchione received a 20-day written notice on October 21, 2009 from the State Liquor Control Board." (click photo to enlarge the complete letter). The notice said:

"....This new store (on 16839 Redmond Way) is tentatively scheduled to open in January of 2010.... If you wish to comment on the proposed location, please notify us within 20 days from the date of this letter, along with a statement of your concerns."

At the council meeting (starting on minute 10), Mayor Marchione admitted: "I did receive a letter giving me 20 days about the location of the liquor store, only asking if it was a good site or not." The Mayor commented: "I did not respond because it's an appropriate use of the building".  The Mayor never called the Liquor Board to ask for signage considerations or ask for a location different from the 90 year old Landmark.

I asked John Redal if a call from Mayor Marchione would have made a difference. He said the Mayor never called but "because no lease was signed at the time of the letter" he could probably have given some consideration to a change in sign color.  Mr. Redal went onto say, "In hindsight, I wish I'd known because green colors on signs were a possibility."  I don't recall if Redal commented on options for number of signs, their size or design.

Mr. Redal said that one Contract Liquor store location "was changed due to community concerns with the location being too close to a school."  He went onto say, "As a responsible retailer we are, we would always consider the communities input, prior to the location being established, thus the reason for our notification process".

Mayor John Marchione summarized, in council chambers: "The History of Redmond is colorful because Mayor Brown DID own liquor stores and saloons. So, I actually find it kind of an inside joke that his garage became a liquor store. As Councilmember Myers says, it's the use that counts..."

Opinion By Bob Yoder
Photos by Yoder
6/1/12, Rev. for clarity.

Sources:  Redmond Council Meeting, 5/18  2010. (scroll to minute 10 to watch audience comments)  This meeting tape is in city archives.
Agency Policy #680  "Siting Liquor Stores"

Washington State Liquor Control Board   "achieving a 95% compliance record on sales to minors"

"Old is the New Green"  City of  Redmond campaign connects green house gases to historic preservation. 

Redmond Historical Society
"Redmond Reflections: from settlers to software", with over 800 images, by Naomi Hardy (click to order)

Bond issues alone wouldn't solve LWSD growth problems:

Local News Growth forces Lake Washington School District to shuffle students Seattle Times Newspaper:

"The district will likely try to pass another bond issue or a levy to accommodate the growth, but wants to have public forums, most likely this fall, to figure out what type of ballot measure is most likely to win support, Reith said.

And a bond issue wouldn't solve the underlying problem: that the junior highs and high schools in the west end have low enrollments, while the east-end schools are crowded.

The district receives impact fees from developers when new homes go up, but those fees account for less than half the amount the district needs to build new schools for the students who will move into those houses, Reith said.

For example, the developers of Redmond Ridge, in unincorporated King County, must pay the district $7,040 for each new home they build, Reith said. But the district estimates it would need to collect almost $20,000 for each new home to make up for the cost of constructing a new school to accommodate the development's students.

Read Complete Article

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com. News researcher Gene Balk contributed to this report."

Making bike connections from Fremont to Redmond | Seattle Times Newspaper

Seattle Sketcher Making bike connect

In the summertime, Caitlin Kehoe enjoys commuting from Fremont to Redmond taking bike trails around Lake Washington. But most days she does a combination of bike and bus commute, riding 3.5 miles to Montlake Freeway Station on the west side of the S520 bridge and continuing her journey on the 545 bus.

"At peak times there are a lot of people waiting," said Kehoe, 24, when I caught up with her at the stop Wednesday morning. She said sometimes it can take half an hour until a bus with empty bike racks arrives.

Read More

Seattle Sketcher
An illustrated journal of life in the Puget Sound region by Times artist Gabriel Campanario
Illustration used with permission of The Seattle Times

Queen of Jordan and scores of CEO's at Microsoft campus May 19

Queen of Jordan and a number of corporate titans are on Microsoft campus today, Wednesday
 

So a queen, a secretary and a salesman walk into a conference room ... and how does the rest of it go?

More than a hundred chief executives will find out Wednesday, at Microsoft's 14th annual CEO Summit in Redmond.  (Photo:  Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer)

The attendee mix includes the Queen of Jordan Rania Al Abdullah, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a number of corporate titans: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO James Dimon and IAC CEO Barry Diller.   Read More.....

Report By Sharon Pian Chan
Seattle Times Technology reporter