At first listen, Fire Island AK is the highlight; I like Ultimatum a lot too, but vastly prefer the less-rockin’ version released on last year’s Ultimatum EP. What do you think?

The word is that the band will “be playing some secret special shows in certain cities in the next couple of months” — odds are that one of them will be Seattle, so you might want to join their mailing list to get your invite.

* And, um, the rest of the Long Winters mailing list …

Why go to the Fremont Fair this weekend? Yes, there’s tomorrow’s Solstice Parade and Pageant, sure to be wild and wonderful.

But the fair is more than crazy costumes and nude cyclists. There’s also an art car show, skateboarding exhibitions, and a kid’s area. Then, of course, there’s live music — and lots of it, from bluegrass to punk to indie Metroblogging darlings Central Services (Sunday at 12:45) and Math & Physics Club (Sunday at 2:15).

The Fremont Fair is this weekend, Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 11-7.
The Solstice Parade starts at noon on Saturday.

Sounds like the aftermath is going to last for hours. So much for our dinner plans.

Do you have a phone? Then you should have an opinion about last month’s allegations that various telecommunication companies have been secretly turning over customers’ usage data to the NSA.

Last week, in response to ACLU’s requests for an investigation into the matter, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) issued a call for public comment on a set of specific questions. Comments are due by June 30th.

Perhaps you have no idea about whether telecom companies sharing customer information with the NSA would constitute a violation WAC 480-120-202. But do some research, write a comment, and send it in. This is important, and shouldn’t just be swept under the rug. At the very least, the public deserves to know what’s being done with their records so that they can make informed decisions as consumers. The more comments the WUTC receives, the better that will come across.

Apparently, what used to be called “being on the Bumbershoot email list” is now called “being a BumberFan.” I am, therefore, grudgingly a BumberFan, and am able to share these exciting! lineup! additions!

Badly Drawn Boy • Zero 7 • Great Big Sea • Lady Sovereign • Rogue Wave • The Veronicas • Alejandro Escovedo • Sonya Kitchell • CocoRosie • Rock Kills Kid • Luther “Guitar Jr” Johnson • Blue Scholars • The Living Jarboe • Jose Gonzalez • Particle • Lila Downs • Rishi Rich Project • The Fall of Troy • Jeremy Enigk • Gokh-Bi System • Cloud Cult • The High Dials • Bitter:sweet • Rocky Votolato • mewithoutyou • Common Market • Crystal Skulls • Jacqui Naylor • Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands • Mountain Con • p:ano • Erase Errata • The Epoxies • Brett Dennen • Sera Cahoone

I’m largely underwhelmed by the exciting! lineup! additions!, frankly … except for a few (Rogue Wave, Jose Gonzalez, Blue Scholars). What about you?

It’s a tough time of year: the weather is beautiful (some of the time) and the great outdoors beckons — but hiking in the Cascades may still be a snowy undertaking. Apparently the snowpack is melting fast but you may want to wait a while — a savvy native informs me that there are no good hikes below 3000 feet. (If you know otherwise, please enlighten us.) In the meantime, might I suggest a trip to the Olympic Peninsula? There are many beautiful trails in the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic National Park, and many of them are relatively low-elevation. Case in point: last weekend I went camping near the Elwha River, hiking a trail that didn’t get above 2000 feet. We didn’t get any big vista views, true, but the riparian zone was beautiful in its own right, with mossy trees and rushing water and dappled glades.

Finally! — a new Thai restaurant in the vast Thai-less desert between Thai 65 (4214 University Way) and Thaiger Room (4228 University Way).

Sheesh.

But hey, it’s called AppeThai – get it?

May is Bike to Work month. Two recommended events this week:

On Wednesday, cyclists nationwide will participate in the Ride of Silence in honor of those killed or injured by motorists. The Seattle ride starts from Gasworks Part at 7; there are also rides in Everett, Renton and Tacoma.

Friday is Bike to Work Day: cyclists can stop at one of 37 commuter stations on their way to work, for free snacks and maps and mystery schwag.

While browsing around Frank & Dunya in Fremont a couple of months ago, I circled back again and again to Matthew Porter’s pieces – straightforward, engaging paintings on wood and prints thereof. (I think I need to have Monkey Pogo.)

I don’t have kids, but my hypothetical kids-to-be will have a copy of Porter’s new ABC book. The book release party is tonight at the Bluebottle Gallery (415 E Pine), from 6 to 9.

Today, class, we’re going to take a little trip to Mount St. Helens, which is erupting …. albeit verrrrrry, verrrrrrrrrry slooooooooooooowlyyyyyyyyy.

It’s nothing like the 1980 eruption, but what’s going on at Mt. St. Helens these days is astounding in its own right. A fin-like slab of rock is rising from the dome, growing 4 to 5 feet per day. You can’t climb Mt. St. Helens, but apparently there’s a great view from the Johnston Ridge Observatory, which is now open for the season.

Links:
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Munument (Forest Service).
NASA feature (large image & lots of links).
CNN article (with image gallery).