Who knew that elections for state Supreme Court justices could be so funny? Yesterday, a Seattle lawyer called Michael Johnson jumped into the race, along with incumbent Susan Owens and conservative challenger Steve Johnson [times].

The story is even better when you are reminded that there are already two Johnsons (Charles & James) on the court [wa.gov].

(see also, northwest progressive institute [#])

DSC01487.JPG
Originally uploaded by Aaron O..

Located just outside of Leavenworth, WA, the Enchantment Lakes are one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. But the hike to them is not for the faint of heart. Lake Colchuck, pictured above, is an approximate four mile hike uphill with variable degrees of steepness.

The rest of the lakes, however, are a little over a mile past Lake Colchuck. The kicker is that you’re going to have to make your way through Aasgard Pass, a climb of 2200 feet in three quarters of a mile. If you remember how to calculate the slope, you’ll soon realize you’re looking at a 55 degree angle. The picture below does not do justice to the fury of Aasgard.

DSC01488.JPG
Originally uploaded by Aaron O..

Is it worth it? Absolutely. See all of my pictures to the Enchantment Lakes here, taken in August 2005.

I walked a few extra blocks up the street today after work to grab an iced coffee and say hello to my fantastic baristas. I strolled past what I think is an office building just as the man out front, in a suit and loosened tie, said into his cell phone, “I’m in Los Angeles at the moment, actually.” I looked around, but nope–Lake Union was right there, down the street, and through the trees I could see the Space Needle. Definitely Seattle.

He caught me looking around and shrugged a little bit, making a face, and then said into the phone, “I’ll be back in Seattle by the end of the week.”

image, via imdb

What, you didn’t get enough of Ed Wood last week? Well, lucky you, then: this week’s midnight movie is Tim Burton’s 1994 film Ed Wood. Johnny Depp is kind of a crackpot himself, so he fits perfectly into the title role, with all of its angora sweaters and mania.

Everyone shows up in this movie eventually. Martin Landau is here, Bill Murray, Sarah Jessica Parker, Vincent D’Onofrio. (Ok, fine, maybe not everyone, but Martin Landau did win an Oscar for his turn as Bela Lugosi.)

Roger Ebert said of Wood, “It takes a special weird genius to be voted the Worst Director of All Time, a title that Wood has earned by acclamation. He was so in love with every frame of every scene of every film he shot that he was blind to hilarious blunders, stumbling ineptitude, and acting so bad that it achieved a kind of grandeur.” Johnny Depp does a pretty good job of being as completely manic as Ed Wood himself must have been. It’ll be just as much fun as last weekend, just in a different way.

The daily agenda returns from its July=overheated dullsville vacationtime slumber to remind you of a few noteworthy events for your tuesday:

• Are the Raconteurs a supergroup or a side project? Sort of depends on how famous you think Brendan Benson is, doesn’t it? Either way, they’ll be at the Moore tonight [#] being rockier or poppier than their usual bands, depending on your perspective. If you can’t get a ticket, you’ll need to satisfy yourself by watching their new video, which features a school full of really attractive deaf girls and a whole lot of sign language [stereogum].
• Metroblogging hometown indie/folk/rock favorite [mb], Laura Veirs drives all the way up to Ballard for a show at the Tractor Tavern [#].
• Out in Woodinville [Ed: where?], they will be playing the best movie of all time on an outdoor screen. Get a map, steal a car, and pack a picnic: the Princess Bride is tonight’s feature at the Redhook Brewery’s Moonlight Cinema series. In addition to the movie [Ed: as if that wasn't enough], there’s beer and Amy Stolzenbach, who will play some music to bring on the dusk. [upcoming]

other suggestions? invitations? hit us up with suggest a story or seattle.metblogs (at) gmail.com.

This Saturday at Lucky’s Choppers, the Infernal Noise Brigade will be having their final party. You may recall the INB from the WTO and the G8 Summit protests. Maybe you’ve caught them playing around town. Either way, they’re always incredibly awesome. Plunk down your dollar (or five) and pay your respects. I have a feeling that this last show will put the “fun” back in funeral. (I can’t believe I just typed that.)

R.I.P. Infernal Noise Brigade
Sat, July 29
Lucky’s Chopper
5813 Airport Way S
9 p.m.
$1 donation ($5 suggested)

The Stranger has written about an issue close to my heart: the growing feud between the Alki Community Council (ACC) and local businesses [stranger]. Further proof that if you sit on a blog idea long enough, someone else will beat you to it. Oh well, better late than never, I suppose.

…

A few weeks ago, I overcame my sadness that my favorite bartender had left, and returned to the Celtic Swell for a much-needed Bloody Mary. The Swell is a staggering half block from my apartment, so I was really punishing no one but myself by avoiding it. And, quite frankly, I didn’t feel right not supporting it against the ACC, who by the way are a very small number of people who claim to represent the entire Alki community. I’m sorry, did I vote for you to be my voice? Yeah, not so much, especially since you’re clearly not representing me or my opinions.
(more…)

Zach Triesman, the Critical Mass bicycle rider who unknowingly got into a tussle with an undercover King County deputy [mb], won’t face felony charges [Seattle P-I] after prosecutors admitted that “there existed substantial issues about precisely when and under what circumstances force was being used against the officers.” In other words, too many eyewitnesses contradicted the cops’ version of events. There’s still a possibility Zach may face a far-less-serious misdemeanor charge, but this is unquestionably good news.

Zach apparently isn’t planning to press countercharges against the officers. Josh Feit over at The Stranger chided him for not doing so, claiming that Zach is exercising white privilege by not bothering to sue the cops. [slog] Josh, seriously, I realize you’d have preferred a juicy long running get-the-Man court battle to fill column inches with, but dragging race into this is a load of puerile, baiting crap. The bicyclist community ain’t too happy with you either. [point83.com]

The next Critical Mass ride is tomorrow beginning at 5:30 at Westlake Center. [Seattle Critical Mass]

Less than a day after the big Lance Bass Coming Out Story [bwe], Chop Suey has already made the most of it, incorporating Lance into their weekly promo list for this month’s Comeback. Not up to their usual pornariffic standards [mb], but they get points for timeliness. After all, it’s not every day that a 90s boy band superstar wannabe cosmonaut reveals that he’s gay.

(image, metrokc [#])

It’s not quite a middle school teacher shacking up with her underage pupil or a man getting fucked to death by a horse, but it’s time for another creepy Seattle sex scandal. Don’t worry, animal lovers, rather than another equine encounter, this one is of the inappropriate power dynamic genre.

The P-I reports [#] that yet another authority figure has succumbed to the temptation of having sex with her young charges. Juvenile detention center guard Lydia Korolak has been accused of using threats, favors, and candy to get seventeen-year-old detainees into her pants.
Among the litany of depressing allegations and icky details, the closing sentence of the article is remarkable for its sad and delusional desperation:

Korolak asked him to be her boyfriend and said she would kick her mother out of the condominium they shared if he would move in with her. [p-i]

Why does it seem like Ms. Korolak should be played by “Trudy Wiegel” [comedycentral] in the inevitable television movie?