The Skinny on Seattle City Council Candidates

The Seattle Human Services Coalition surveyed Seattle City Council and King County Council candidates (in Seattle-based districts) on their positions on ending hunger and homelessness, undoing institutional racism and other human needs/human services. The results of this "2007 Election Education Project" (which was co-sponsored by Solid Ground) are illuminating! You can find the SHSC Voter Guide at http://shscoalition.org/votersguide07.htm .*

*I know Joe Szwaja from his days as a Madison City Council member. Plus, I once went to Costa Rica with his ex-partner and son.

I am a Great Aunt

After a grueling 27-hour labor, my niece Cassie had a C-section to bring baby Jalen Hudson into the world at 11:50pm on Monday, August 6th, 2007. Jalen weighed 7lbs 13oz and was measured at 20.5 inches long. Mom, Dad and Baby are all doing well, and although I haven't met the little one yet, by all unbiased accounts he is a beautiful baby! Welcome to the world, Baby Jalen!

While we're talking birthdays, best wishes go out to my nephew Bon and my friend Susan (both 8/7) and my husband Graham (8/9).

Storm 111, Mercury 101

Last night I watched the best basketball game I have ever seen. Not the best women's game, or the best WNBA game, but the best game, period.

And although I had already seen my beloved Storm beat the very physical Mercury once this season, my hopes were not high for this particular game. Phoenix (18-10) was 1st place in the West, having just won six games in a row, while Seattle had lost three in a row, for a dismal 4th place in the West and 13-15 overall record. The Storm exceeded all our expectations, however, and I'd like to share a few highlights/favorite moments/photos of this record-breaking evening:

• My favorite player, Iziane Castro-Marques, made four of four three-pointers in the first quarter and finished the game with 22 points. Go Izzy!
• The Storm shot 76.2% to end the first quarter with a WNBA record 40 points. The Mercury had only 17.
• The Storm missed more free throws than I've ever seen them miss in all the games I've watched combined, but they still finished 77% for the game.
• Five Storm players (Izzy, Lauren Jackson, Betty Lennox, Sue Bird and Katie Geralds) finished in double digits.
• Every time the announcer shouted "Aussie!Aussie!Aussie!" after an LJ score, instead of the traditional "Oi!Oi!Oi!," the crowd answered "M!V!P!"
• Clarence, B-Money's brother and staunchest sideline supporter, wore all pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Night at the Key Arena.
• The Storm's 61 first-half points and 111 game points set franchise records for points scored in a half and a game, respectively.
• LJ made every one of the six free throws she got after being fouled by girlfriend (and unbelievably intimidating player) Diana Taurasi. Taurasi, who was nice enough to pat LJ on the butt each time she helped her up after knocking her over, only made five of six reciprocally earned free throws.
• Best of all, our friend Jesse, who is hands down the biggest women's basketball fan we know--and a font of inside information, as you can see--did not have an aneurysm despite being unbelievably excited!