Being John Malkovich

Written by Charlie Kaufman

Directed by Spike Jonze

1999

This classic flick is inspired by the current Kaufman creation, 'Synechdoche'. 'Being John Malkovich', Kaufman's first big screen writing credit is perhaps the most, uh, original film of all time.

The movie doesn't work for all, but if you are reading this blog, and you haven't seen it, you'll likely enjoy the ride.

'Synechdoche' has been reviewed as being depressing - personally, I thought it was quite funny, the writer/director making fun of himself presumably, in a Woody Allen post modern kind of way. It's not monumental, but it is still original entertainment - for those with a healthy self esteem.

Now, if I can only figure out to get the same rate for myself that Keener and Cusack got for providing entry into the mind of Malkovich...

Charting the Unknown

How Computer Mapping at Harvard Became GIS

By Nick Chrisman

2006

This review is a bit like a post-modern piece of art, dangerously self-referential, but, hopefully, also 'true'.

I chose to work in the field of GIS, Geographic Information Services, shortly after completing a Senior Thesis on the subject of Higher Education and Economic Development. I chose the field upon becoming aware of some of the, uh, public-private 'business' practices around the economic development career track - I think a good choice, especially as I'd already had some exposure to the GIS field through government land use internships.

I wasn't actually aware that the software package I worked the most with, ESRI's ArcGIS, was a product of the same factors, and place, I studied as an Undergraduate. A such I found this book particularly interesting. This, also, is the first bit of dangerous self-reference.

The author, Nick Chrisman, was one of two GIS professors at the University of Washington Department of Geography a program I attended for a year - so this made it doubly dangerous, but also multiplied the personal attraction of this book.

With Obama still filling out his cabinet level appointments it will be awhile before the next US Attorney for Western Washington is selected. This, in my opinion, is a crucial appointment - the recent history has given us folks who are more interested in serving the legal community than the citizens of Western Washington.

I'm not current with the legal scene in Seattle these days, but still some speculation on some long standing names:

Jenny Durkan: At first glance Durkan would appear to be the top choice - long standing Democrat, counsel to Gregoire amd just about the right profile. Personally, I hope she doesn't pass the vetting. At some point I should do some work on her involvement in KC Elections, I have commented a bit on her before in the context of other pieces. Durkan, unfortunately, is very much part of the relationship network that has been a problem in this office in the past.

Former US Attorney Mike McKay has just made headlines locally in his Port funded audit of contracting practices, done concurrently with a Bush administration DOJ criminal investigation.

Seattle Times Story

I'm going to be critical of McKay, and draw inferences on problems in the office from his career, including those of his brother's tenure in the same position of the authority more recently, and famously. The trajectory of McKay's life may well be the best indicator of the degradation of the once fine tradition of moderate conservatism in this State, including his former boss King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and former Governor/Evergreen College President Dan Evans.

McKay's moderate Republican credentials have a foundation worthy of pride.

This is the Esplanade, in progress along Downtown Tacoma's Waterfront. For orientation, I-5 is located between the Tacoma Dome and the hill in the background. I live on that hill, just back from the edge, to the right of what's visible, but still within the boundaries of the frame. This Esplanade/Trail is a work in progress, maybe half a mile at best right now. I'd definitely recommend a bit of exploration, in combination with a visit to Chihuly's Museum of Glass - or a shorter walk near the Foss Waterway Seaport, to the North.

Signs are good for this project to be completed, hopefully some day leading to within a block or two of my house, in future phases.

Click through for a couple more pics.

I Know Where I'm Going

Written and Directed by the Team of Powell/Pressburger

1945

Beautifully set in the Hebrides Isles consider this romantic comedy a Scottish partner to Braveheart. The movie was shot in 1945 during the closing days of the war. The heroine is forced to choose between a local officer returned for leave and her fiance, a corporate military industrial titan renting out his own island. The early portrayal of a strong, positive, female character is also notable.

This quote from IMDB, a source I use a lot, says it all:

Let's face it ... they don't make enough movies like "I Know Where I'm Going." Sweet but dry as scotch; scratchy as thistle. Mystical as an ancestral curse but clear-eyed as the first clear day after a storm breaks. How many romantic comedies ask you if you know how to skin a rabbit, and then show you a golden eagle eating one, quite graphically, on camera?

The video clip below introduces our heroine to the journey ahead, including a nicely done dream sequence.

I've just finished my conversion to Digital TV, and it was quite the journey. The picture I'm receiving is fantastic, but it took more than the spectrum auction covered converter coupon to cover the cost.

Here in Tacoma we're 30 odd miles from the Seattle broadcast towers and this makes a difference - traditional rabbit ears don't work, at least on my ground floor. I researched this a bit, including checking each of our local stations websites. Digital TV is all UHF and rabbit ears work poorly for this band, somethin I was not aware of till ust ow. Local affiliate websites explain this with varying usefulness. I emailed each station, and only KIRO and KCPQ (13) responded - both quite helpful.

The crucial website is antennaweb, which does a great job at showing exactly what you need at your specific address. It is a bit conservative, but very useful at explaining and ranking the various antenna options - costs range from $10 to well over $100 - without installation.

I chose a medium sized directional antenna from Radio Shack, at $30.00 (they stock them, but they aren't on display, you have to ask). I played around with it on my downstairs antenna with poor results. I was also quite surprised at how sensitive the 'directional' is - probably around 10 degrees. My location is relatively good - on the ridge above the Tacoma Dome, but I've also got aluminum siding and new e-glass windows, possibly negatives.

I researched amplifiers and tried the one they sold me at Radio Shack rather than having something shipped to me. That one did nothing - what you need is a pre-amplifier, not a typical cable booster - go figure. Cost for quality pre-amps runs $50-$70, and I decided it wasn't worth it.

What I did do was set up the antenna in the attic - at the correct angle, set up by mounting closet dowel between the rafters and joists - this allows precise rotation for best reception. I set it up inline with one of my cable runs with a splitter combiner so it will still work with cable - although only for about 2/3 of the house. At about ten feet of coaxial run from the antenna the reception is great. I haven't tested drop off down the cable installation, but for now, good enough.

Confidential to Comcast - I'm not particularly interested in paying $40+ a month to get advertising supported TV AND for you to pay for broadcast commercials urging cable as the DTV solution. Broadcast News and Netflix does me fine.

This week the Hunter Douglas window blind company announced it was shutting down its Renton manufacturing facility, laying off 166.

This facility in 1997 was the recipient of $7 million in tax exempt economic development funds. The current result is typical of such financing - the business operates for a few years after the subsidy, than closes - either seeking another subsidy from another community or outsourcing offshore. This practice has evolved somewhat, this, for example, was financing, not a direct giveaway. We shall see if they pay it back though.

The bailout deal for the auto industry, now being finalized has some better conditions being bandied about - removal of the CEO for one. Further, speculation as to whether all three firms will continue to exist is continuing. Chrysler, without an engineering staff, has been mentioned as the most likely to disappear.

But still accountability within the very powerful and legally authorative finance industry continues unabated - even with talk of limiting executive pay we are still bailing out a bunch of fraudsters for their crimes and thefts. For a good a detailed explanation of this, see this story (thanks to WashBlog for the heads up)

Tea House of the August Moon

Starring Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford, with Eddie Albert and Harry Morgan

Written by John Patrick and based on his Tony Award winning Play

1956

In the spirit of the 2008 bailout a Hollywood movie that chronicles the restoration 'bailout' of post WW2 Japan. Culturally, this movie wouldn't fly today - casting Brando as an Asian is still funny. But as a statement about the economic forces at work 'Teahouse' is very relevant, and also very funny. The roles played here would typecast all of the cast junior to the great Glenn Ford. Brando's Sakini is as profound as his Colonel Kurtz gone native from 'Apocalypse Now', Eddie Albert, the gardener, would be sent off to the TV show 'Green Acres', and the old army calvary soul Harry Morgan would be promoted to head a 'Mash' unit.

In hte movie Ford is assigned to a small village, charged with setting up a municipal democratic government, building a school, and re-starting industry. However the charming peasants, very experienced at dealing with occupying cultural forces work their magic. The '"Ladies Democratic Action League" votes that they all want to be trained as Geishas, all the villagers shortly thereafter decided they'd rather have a Teahouse with a performance space than a school, and the only business that they can find is a home brewed sweet potato Brandy.

The brewing operation is organized as a community cooperative, much to chagrin of Ford's superiors - accusing him of being a communist. Curiously, the proceeds from which are 'banked in Seattle'.

The Shock Doctrine
-The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

By Naomi Klein

2007

This U.S./Multinational economics book looks at conservative business practices from Pinochet to Iraq. It is definitely written to be supportive of acurrent nti-war efforts. The unintended relevance of the book, published just before the last election cycle, to this current crisis is quite large, and the basis of my recommendation.

The usual Downtown Seattle suspects are blasting at Frank Chopp's proposal for the Viaduct replacement, but, as usual, aren't coming up with the money for their preferred alternative. Chopp's ideas might be just the way to get them to put up or shut up.

Chief among these proponents is Tayloe Washburn.

Being only 45 minutes from Seattle, and having lived there for fifteen years, I enjoy going back It seems my perspective changes for each visit and this immersion is a big part of the allure.

My purpose this day was a picture of a UW Law School Factory adjunct Professor, who also practices locally.

Viridiana

Directed by Luis Bunuel

In Spainish, with Subtitles

1961

I'm on a Bunuel kick, having just discovered the prolific multi-lingual director this summer. So another one of his great ones - this time the 1961 Cannes winner.

Viridiana is a devout novice just about to take her lifetime vows as a catholic nun when she is ordered to visit her rich uncle patron by Mother Superior. This trip back into the real world is a spiritual challenge for the absolutely stunning nun, spitting image of the uncle's former spouse.

Viridiana does decide to leave the nunnery, but also continue her own good works. She decides to use the reclusive uncle's estate as a homeless shelter. Her playboy cousin doesn't think it is a good idea, but does not interfere.,

Yes, Viridiana, there are still many lessons to be learned about life, and you will learn them well, and with class.

BTW, I know subtitles are tough for some, but it is also not a bad way to get some language practice in. I maybe get a third of the dialogue, but it's still a bonus. Bunuel, born in Aragon, also did work in French and English.

Twas in Seattle for a bit of a December regional conniviality (sp?) at the Puget Sound Regional Council. The PSRC is just completing another volume of their decade by decade planning document for the bookshelf, and, more importantly, making decisions on funding for the next few years of Transportation funding, both road and transit.

The PSRC does not have real authority, but it is mandated by the Feds as a condition for their dollars, so, the influence is substantial. They attract some of the region's finest electeds, and, unfortunately also, some of the the easiest to manipulate on financial matters. They well may end up being the brokers on the viaduct deal and the approvers of 'economic recovery' monies, the first phase of which is in the pipeline. (500 million for the State, 150 million for the region, tops, if I recall correctly.)

This is the chair of the Transportation Committee, Julia Patterson - she got her start towards the end of my five plus years as an active friend of the group. Patterson doesn't look to happy, she's reacting to a bit of a play by Mark Weed, chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce's Transportation Committee, in the tone of their recent efforts to push through their preferred alternative for the Viaduct, without paying for it.

President elect Barack Obama must begin to address the economic situation quickly. However the most 'experienced' hands in this arena are the very source of the problem, on both the right and the left. These problems go to the very core of our capitalist democracy.

The corporate welfare left and the public asset thieves on the right are all currently salivating for an infusion of new funds, yet, curiously, it is exactly these same folks that have created the melt down in the economy. Funding these individuals is, in my opinion, guarantee the failure of America - likely within the decade.

With Bush II's attempted rescue of Wall Street under former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson the debate between FDR Keynsians (New Deal) and Reagan Friedmanites (Supply Siders) is over. This abusive alcohol fueled ideology has collapsed in a pile of corrupt public officials who treat the authority and importance of government like Ted Bundy treated his penis.

But this does not mean the right wing criticisms of government are wrong.

The sad story is that both sides are right, as you know, Washington D.C. is corrupt and it's sub 20% approval ratings - both Bush's Whitehouse and the Democratic legislature is ample evidence of America perceiving, and knowing, this fact.

But the failure of the Bush federal Republican crew does not say that there is not a role for the free market, and, in fact, in certain areas, including labor, it could atill work a whole lot better. The question though is the form of the balance between government and business. This is, and should be, a source of endless debate.

As case in point, consider the Western Washington Law firms of Foster Pepper Shefelman and the former firm of Preston Gates Ellis.

Funny Ha Ha

Written, Directed, and co-starring Andrew Bujalski

Starring Kate Dollenmayer
(An Animator in Richard Linklater's Waking Life)

2002

An IMDB reviewer identified this move as a 'quarter-life' crisis of the female lead, played by Kate Dollenmayer. Dollenmayer got her start working for Richard Linklater as an animator for 'Waking Life'. This movie has a strong slacker vibe and the semi-pro production values enhance the message of the movie, the challenges of work and romance immediately after college graduation.

My first impression was that this was a Christian rock type version of Linklater's first movie, Slacker. The topic of religion comes up, but only very briefly. It is definitely a modern and realistic moral tale told well by those living it.

Bujalski does a great job at playing the failed suitor of Dollenmayer, as a nice but nerdy co-worker starting an alcohol problem.

Seattle's Satan, Mark Sidran is leaving the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission - apparently to little notice by the media. By my quick survey his 12/16 press release only made the Daily Journal of Commerce, Bellingham Herald, and the online blog of the Tacoma Pierce County Tribune.

I speculated in the comments of that TNT post about Sidran's reasons for leaving - wondering if, perhaps, it was due some political ramifications from white collar criminal defense lawyer Mike McKay's rather duplicitious 'defense' of the Port's actions - masquerading his defense as an 'investigation'.

The reason for the concern is that Sidran, with some UTC influence over the Port, once worked for McKay, so, professionally their relationship is tight. Relationships are something to never underestimate in the legal profession where unspoken history often trumps any articulated rational legal analysis. I was taken to task for daring to so speculate in that comments section (linked above). Don't forget also that there is a history of problems associated with public dollars and white collar crime locally - including the assasination of US Attorney Thomas Wales. As a prominent white collar defense lawyer chances that the perpetrator is only one step removed from McKay are quite high. But I digress.

The Devil's Playground
(Documentary)

Directed by Lucy Walker

2002

The fundamentalist Amish culture in the United States has an important rite of passage - 'Rumspringa' where 16 year olds are given the chance to run free in the 'Devil's Playground', the subject of this documentary.

This period is a crucial feature of the Amish religion - they believe one must be an adult and freely choose to take the vows of the church for it to be valid. (Which, curiously, evidences the 'fitness for survival' of this particular religous practice.)

According to the non-scientific documentary 90% of the Amish children (often ten or more to the couple) choose the faith. Go figure!

Mike Connell, IT guy for Karl Rove and numerous other Republican operations died in a suspicious plane crash after death threats and before testifying in an Ohio election case.

Curiously, his companies, among other things, was also involved in the US Attorney controversy that included Seattle area lawyer John McKay.

Besides the speculation on possible dirty play, the resume is interesting - FWIW, not all that different from the resume of Jack Abramoff, employee of the Seattle firm Preston, Gates, and Ellis.

Our society has thousands of ways of biasing in favor of families with children. This is a good thing, but, frankly, it's not explicitly done, and therefore, easily subject to manipulation. Perhaps it is time to remove those implicit subsidies, 'flatening' the tax struture, while adding explicit subsidies for families raising children.

There's a tax target here - married folks without children currently have the highest discretionary incomes. Part of this reason is their ability to tag along on some of the implicit ways our society favors families. And this is where I start when deliberating on my own personal conclusions about gay rights. Please note as a single person these ideas would also mean a small rise in the amount of taxes I would pay(mortgage deduction) - though hopefully also less societally allowed discrimination in the workplace.

Marriage, family, is the institution society has created to raise children, though partnerships can exist without kids. Family is also the basis of many religions, and that's fine. Personally, I think we should take current debates on gay rights as an opportunity to clean up some of the implicit practices and biases we have around these building blocks of society, as well as in our tax structure.

Marriage should be considered 'religious' territory on which the state shall not tread.

One of the crucial issues in the de-facto bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler is that of so-called legacy costs. Old Union benefits, including health care, which are a major drag on those companies viability. (and, for that matter, every company in America's)

As such, a modest proposal for Barack Obama on structuring the his domestic economic agenda. How about 'bailing out' the private sector for health care costs for everyone, rather than leaving it to negotiation?

FWIW, if done right, this would also mean a drastic reduction in administrative and overhead costs. Sure, that does mean some jobs lost. But preserving the jobs that should have been re-structured due the economic collapse only guarantees the continuation of that collapse.

'Doing it right' is of course the big question. The current effort to automate medical records (hopefully with strong privacy safeguards) is the place to start. Constructive involvement of the private sector in the creation and ongoing management of this simplified system will be the way to finish it - as opposed to previous right wing corporate efforts at undermining same.

Corporate co-pays, anyone?

This phrase, other people's money, is resonating with me. As you know, much of this blog is dedicated to exploring various aspects of societal responsibilty, including fiscal. I'm also a legal critic believing that much of the current problem we face goes to the lack of responsibility in the bar, to, you guessed it, other people's money.

Kent Kammerer, convenor (sp?) of Seattle's most diverse (best) civic forum had a recent piece on Crosscut regarding money and leadership in the City of Seattle which brought this all together for me.

I used the term in my comment on this piece - and coincidentally, heard it on the radio just that same day by the author of a book by the same title, Nomi Prins, published in 2004. Though Ms. Prins rose to the top at Goldman Sachs she is not a fan of Wall Street's excesses and her tales remain relevant.

But why am I blaming the legal profession for the sins of the financiers?

Pennies from Heaven

Starring Bing Crosby with Louis Armstrong (first top billing for a Black Perfomer in Film)

Directed by Norman McLeod
(also known for two Marx Brothers films)

1936

No White Christmas in this flick, but perhaps an even more timely weather metaphor. Bing Crosby plays a jailed busker from Mukilteo, Washington (Crosby was actually born in Tacoma and raised in Spokane). A death row inmate makes a final request of Crosby to assist the family of his victims, a young female 'orphan' and her grandfather.

Like many successful depression era movies it is upbeat, and a window into the time. It is no wonder that Crosby would go on to inspire many, including just about every American GI in WW2 and Frank Sinatra.

Below is the title song. The film's piece by Louis Armstrong is every bit as good and not to be missed.

Is Downtown Seattle still a healthy commercial real estate market? The Puget Sound Business Journal thought so back as recently as Friday, December 19.

But things can change quickly.

The next Tuesday, the 23rd, the online paper announced that JP Morgan was vacating over 700 thousand s.f. in downtown Seattle.

Curiously, the very next day, based on pre-WAMU meltdown statistics, Downtown became 'distressed', making a top ten list of worst off cities....

Perhaps it's just me, but I'm smelling a Pike/Pine Parking Garage style bailout play. Such a pity, these poor oppressed commercial real estate folks.

“We hope to do to this industry what Wal-Mart did to theirs, Starbucks did to theirs, Costco did to theirs and Lowe’s-Home Depot did to their industry. And I think if we’ve done our job, five years from now you’re not going to call us a bank.”

Kerry Killinger, CEO of Washington Mutual, 2003

This is the lead quote from the front page of yesterday's Sunday New York Times.

Understanding what happened here is important, both to the region and to the country.

It's amazing how much local business history remains a mystery. Consider the question of who actually controlled Washington Mutual. Was it the shareholders? - no. Was it CEO Kerry Killinger? - perhaps. Was it their law firm? - I think so.

That firm is Foster Pepper Shefelman, whom I've often railed against.

The law firm, like the bank, has been around for quite awhile. The 'Pepper' in the name is Louis Pepper who was actually CEO of the WAMU through the savings and loan crisis until Kerry Killinger took the reins in 1990.

Consider also Downtown Seattle's Washington Mutual Tower. Although you'd think a bank could afford to own its own headquarters, it does not. Instead it is owned by a company called Wright Runstad. That company is controlled by the couple Jon (who inheirited it) and his wife, Judy.

Guess what? Judy is a senior Partner at, drum roll please, Foster Pepper...

Even though there is a shareholder class action suit still going forward FPS and the other clients it controls (via marriage or otherwise) seem to be doing okay.

Heck, they were even able to keep nearly 200,000 s.f. out of the hands of the FDIC.

In the case of Washington Mutual Tower, owner Wright Runstad & Co. has worked out a deal in which JPMorgan assumed WaMu’s lease on 180,000 square feet of space and then immediately turned it back over to Wright Runstad, said Greg Johnson, president of Wright Runstad.

That move prevented the space from being turned over to the FDIC and allowed JPMorgan to continue to lease about 7,000 square feet in the tower that’s used for a WaMu branch. WaMu’s space was also 70 percent subleased, so it allowed those tenants to remain in the building without disruption, said Johnson.

From the Puget Sound Business Journal

To be honest, I don't completely understand how these deals work and what the FDIC's claims would be, but I bet it's interesting. And I'd also bet it's not the only such deal around this bank, it's law firm, and its other 'clients', many of them in real estate.

Other People's Money

Starring Danny DeVito and Gregory Peck

1991

As entertainment this movie misses the mark - it is however very relevant, including in how it misses. Personally, I enjoyed analyzing these flaws, both as a production and in the Hollywood presentation of the Wall Street ethos. It is not a movie of good and evil, of black and white, but the moral conclusion the producers intend from that balance definitely falls short.

The biggest failing of the movie is Danny DeVito as a romantic interest, sorry, but it just doesn't fly. There are certainly power couples though not all that different from what Devito and his prey's representative signify.

The 1980's were famous for corporate raiders and this movie is a part of the cultural reaction. That history is all the more relevant today - and, personally, I'm wondering if perhaps some of the protections for corporate boards enacted in this time actually reduced the accountability of corporate boards to their shareholders.

This speech is very, very good - but it's about as true as a George Bush election promise:

Governor Christine Gregoire is expected to announce her decision on the single biggest civic discussion and capital project within Seattle proper in decades before the end of the year. Given the players involved and their involvement in national financial scandals her decision will perhaps reveal more about her than anything else.

This is turf that certain folks in Downtown Seattle claim as their own, even though the money they want to spend is not theirs. We don't know who all of them are, but the Greater Seattle Chamber Board is a good place to start looking.

Note that the chair is a partner at Foster Pepper, long time 'counsel' for Washington Mutual, whom I, and many others, have recently wrote about at length. He's backed up on the board by Judy Runstad, also a questionable character with a history.

Foster Pepper's original solution was the seawall tunnel. Frankly, after ten years or so of seemingly credible folks claiming this work, contrary to recent history of such 'big dig' projects I was begining to think that maybe it was the way to go.

Washington Department of Transportation engineers though just finished their analysis and that alternative didn't make the cut. I'm gonna be blunt here and call these downtown naysayers control freaks - presumably stemming from the work environments that formed them. And, in my opinion, that's exactly what's involved in the latest media blitz.