Red Tail Hawks

Portland has a family of Red tail Hawks nesting on the Wells Fargo bank Building downtown.  Here is a link to the KGW-8 webcam. 

Portland Convention Center Hotel

Letter to the editor from PSU Architecture Professor Jeff Schnabel.  

There is nothing sustainable about a convention with thousands of individuals flying on airplanes from distant points to a monstrous new building that remains heated and cooled, even when the throngs of conventioneers are absent. Is this really a form of economic development consistent with the goals and identity of Portland?

If we can justify promoting Portland as a convention destination, at least let's capitalize on our values and existing assets. Instead of putting incredible natural and financial resources into a new hotel, let's network all the existing hotels in the city to work together to accommodate large groups. In addition to increasing the occupancy of established businesses, visitors get to choose from a range of Portland experiences. They can reside at the stately Heathman, the eclectic Ace or the sleek Modera.

Read it here. 

Here is one I missed

Missed this Portland bicycling article in the Times.  Yes that is Portland State on the bike gear.  

David N. Seelig for The New York Times

Today's Bike Ride

Today was one of those days that makes up for about ten rainy windy ones.  Absolutely beautiful views of the mountains on my way to school.  And when I arrived...no crazy cristians in the Park Blocks.  Nice.  They usually show on hot sunny days so as to ogle the students while riling them up.  More later.  I just really wanted to move that teabagger off the top of my column.  Here is a picture of the Land.

Oregon Tea Bag Party

There were two protests in my area.  The one in Portland was at Red Square.  The one in Salem was at the state capitol building, attended by the gentleman at left.  I was unable to attend either one, but spoke to one of my students who went to the Portland show.  He said is was no fun to even punk these people as they were too serious, and too ignorant.  Other photos show these people are not even affected by the taxes they are protesting!  They're pissed because the Oregon Legislature raised beer and cigarette taxes.  Photo by Doug Beghtel/ The Oregonian Other photos here.   

Sandpines Golf Links

Played a practice round for the OGA Publinks at Sandpines in Florence Oregon. Conor had a work party at the Fair, so we picked up Finley in Eugene, dropped them off at the Fair site, and I continued on to the coast. Quite a blustery day when I arrived, always reminds me of that day with Stan & Tim at Portmarnock. The weather was the worst right in the middle of the round, on some of the hardest holes, but I started good and finished good, so felt great. Nice to get some bounce and roll on my teeball after soggy Portland, but I was past the pin on every wedge approach shot. Even in the rain when the putting slowed down the full shots bounced, very fast greens until the water beaded up.

Saturday 04/11 Sandpines Par 72 Blue Tees

Par 4-4-5-4-3-4-5-3-4 36 4-3-5-4-4-4-4-3-5 36 72

Brian 4-3-5-5-4-5-6-4-5 41 5-6-5-5-5-5-5-3-5 44 85

Grateful Dead

Brian & Margo in the New York Times. Picture taken at George, Washington. We will go and see the Dead again this May. All day event with Allman Bros. and Doobie Bros. I have never seen the Doobie Bros, but have seen the Almanns many times, and once with Dead in Springfield Mass Civic Center. That concert was in the $7.50 ticket days. The Doobies were allways a little pop for me but I've seen some great openers through the years: Warren Zevon in Boulder comes to mind, and Chuck Berry at Portland Meadows, Jimmy Cliff at Autzen, et cetera. At the concert left, The Dead played two four hour sets and two encores (a good thing to catch the last show of a tour). As the sun was going down I realized that this was my first outdoor at night Dead show-amazing!

Chinese Lecture

Went to Confucious Institute lat nite. More Later