http://ignoregon.com/rss/happy valley Aggregated Blog Posts From Happy Valley Thu, 17 May 2012 18:38:32 +0000 en http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/design-recycle-bocce-balls-here-please.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/design-recycle-bocce-balls-here-please.html Wed, 16 May 2012 15:26:00 +0000 2818.Well, it's either this interpretation …… or it's a Bocce ball recycling station. What english on that ball! http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdxliff-democracy-in-action-may-15th.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdxliff-democracy-in-action-may-15th.html Wed, 16 May 2012 15:23:00 +0000 2817.Dateline: Midland Branch of the Multnomah County Library, ballot drop station, volunteers hard at work, 7:57 pm (three minutes before poll closing time) on the 15th of May 2012.They are volunteers, and where would we be without them?And now we have a run off race between Smith and Hales, and the fun really begins here. http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/2816.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/2816.html Tue, 15 May 2012 15:29:00 +0000 2816.The new Google Chrome, Chrome 19, is in the stable channel, and what got my attention was that they have apparently brought tab synching to the browser. This is supposed to mean that no matter where you are, on what computer, whenever you use Chrome you have the same tabs on any session on any computer you use. Your browser follows you everywhere.This'll probably have two reactions depending on how you see Google; for those who aren't down with the seemingly-ever-increasing amount of information Google collects on you to make your online experience as unified as possible, there will be a search on how to turn that off; to those who don't mind or don't care … and judging by how well Google still seems to be perceived or how popular Chrome seems to be, that's an ass-ton of us … it'll be a boon.And here's TechCrunch's article: http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/15/chrome-19-launches-now-features-built-in-tab-syncing/ http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/design-how-many-fonts-do-you-have.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/design-how-many-fonts-do-you-have.html Thu, 10 May 2012 23:37:00 +0000 2815.Looks like I'm running behind. http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdxliff-are-there-mutant-ducks-in.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdxliff-are-there-mutant-ducks-in.html Thu, 10 May 2012 01:27:00 +0000 2814.Well, no … not if you don't feed them, anyway.Earlier today we repaired to the park to take in the waning day and enjoy a light lunch. The money the City's spent to rehab the pond in Laurelhurst Park has been well spent; ducks enjoy it mightily, and clouds of tireless swifts clear the air of irritating bugs. It's a very pleasant place.But as you may or may not know, the City's concerned that we keep the Pond clear of everything that we don't need there; feeding the ducks will bring in matter they don't need, and threaten the rehab that's been accomplished there.This is what it looks like these days …But wait … what's that sign here?Either we've got a freelancer working there, or the City isn't being forthcoming about what they're doing over there.Either way, we took a longer look. Swimming a short distance away were two of the Ducks Whom Must Not Be Fed:And here's a closer look:Well, they don't seem mutated.Yet.The truth isn't out there.The truth is in there.Unless it isn't, of course. http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/zehnkatzen-portland-marquam-bridge.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/zehnkatzen-portland-marquam-bridge.html Tue, 8 May 2012 16:39:00 +0000 2813.When a particularly beloved progeny goes on TV, there's always a moment of swelling pride. Now, some know this photo, and it has gone round the world a couple of times (sadly, not always permitted). Back in January, though, I reached an agreement with the Jefferson Smith for Mayor campaign to license the photo for use.This, of course, is that photo:It went on a few posters, which made me rather extremely happy. But in the latest campaign spot for Jefferson, my happiness meter pretty much pegged. Not just because it's a darned fine spot, and Jefferson looks very good in it, but the graphic backing up the titles going in and coming out should look very familiar.Here they are in freeze frame:… there was the intro, and here's the outro:Jefferson Smith is a great candidate, and will make a good Mayor. I did license this photo to the campaign, but when it comes to politics, I don't just license these things out to just anyone. http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/netliff-mahtab-zargari-and-yoda-soda.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/netliff-mahtab-zargari-and-yoda-soda.html Sat, 5 May 2012 21:16:00 +0000 2812.I've rhapsodized at length about Mahtab in the past. If you've not been introduced, let me explain.Mahtab Zargari is this precocious little 8-year old girl who has a passion for food. Yes, I know, what kid doesn't? But, unlike most kids, she makes the greatest little show out of it.Mahtab's Big Kid Cooking Show is now at 11 episodes; she's covered things like making hummus wraps (yes, and "Yoda Soda") in the little-kid way but with a big-kid approach and a comfortability with the camera that is unmistakable. It's hard not to be sweet on young ladies, but I say, sirra, if you don't fall for Mahtab and her food act, then you must have a heart of stone. You must.Here, after a too-long wait, is the anticipated 11th ep of Big Kid Cooking Show, where she assembles a glass of Yoda Soda from the Star Wars Cookbook.It's easy to use gentle terms to describe her act … adorable, sweet, cute all come to mind, and they're all, in their way, true. However, Mahtab's got more going for her than just being a charming young lady. It's also easy to dish off a term like passionate, but how many 8-year-olds have you heard of that are still starring in such a charming series of Internet shorts that they've been doing since they were four?She's literally been doing this for half her life. In this ADHD world, that's not just an achievement, it's a minor miracle.And that's why I'm still sweet on little Mahtab. Assisted by her doting dad, she's a picture-perfect example of someone who's lucky enough to find her passion early. She plainly enjoys what she's doing, and when she speaks to the camera, it's like a friend is speaking to you.We know not what this bespectacled gem has up her sleeve for the future, but we presume that what she wants, she'll pretty much get.If you want to see the previous 10 episodes in the series, look here: http://bigkidcookingshow.podbean.com/ . She has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mahtabzargari, and yes, you should like it.  http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdx-animated-gif-for-jefferson-smith.html http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com/2012/05/pdx-animated-gif-for-jefferson-smith.html Thu, 3 May 2012 15:33:00 +0000 2811This is as close to political I'll get on this blog, however, I do have an animated GIF supporting Jefferson Smith, If you're supporting Jefferson, you're welcome to help yourself to it and spread it around.I do like Jefferson, and he is eminently quotable.Download the GIF as a GIF, remember. If you download it as JPEG, there's no animation. Click on it to embiggen (it'll look better that way) and then you can download.There ya go, buckos. Share away.Thanks to Carla Axtman (http://twitter.com/carlaaxt) for the quote and the graphic, and Jefferson's campaign on the Book of Face is at (https://www.facebook.com/forwardwithjeffersonsmith) and on Twittah at (http://twitter.com/Jefferson4PDX)