Tacomarama

Seattle Sonics, Ray Allen, Howard Schultz (in that order)

AP — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:53:50 GMT

Today, The Oklah.. errr.. Seattle Sonics' attorney ripped a sports economist hired by the City of Seattle a new one in court, Ray Allen got himself a championship ring with the Boston Celtics, and Howard Schultz is still a pathetic piss-ant.

What is going to happen with the Sonics? The city of Seattle wanted to demonstrate to the court that the Sonics' economic impact on the region is immeasurable, and that they should be required to fulfill the final 2 years of their lease with Key Arena. I would sure like to see that happen, even though people don't seem to believe in contracts any longer in the sports world. The fear in Seattle is that the new dipshit in charge of the Sonics (Clay Bennett) will find a way to buy out their end of the contract and scram as early as next season, back to Oklahoma City where the current ownership group has wanted to move them from the beginning. In a story lacking anything positive for residents of this region, we did have a note of comic relief today. The nu Sonics attempted to discredit an expert testifying for the city that they had previously attempted to hire for their side of the argument. I guess that's how they roll in Oklahoma - if you can't buy em, slander em! Yee-haw!

Ray Allen was traded out of Seattle last offseason because he didn't fit their plan to disengage the fan base, ultimately making the team easier to move. You will remember the Mariners and the Seahawks almost left Seattle in the past 20 years, but the fans and/or local government stepped up to keep them here. Clay Bennett and company knew better than to let the same sentiment capture their new team. So they began slicing off piece after piece, reducing the team to a bunch of people we don't even know. The master plan of deception started with the release of David Locke, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen and finished with a couple new rookies courtesy of high draft picks, as well as a stodgy coach from the east coast. These "strangers" were then kept away from local sports TV and radio stations, so as to maintain the severe disconnect in the local area over the course of the past season. You want to know how the hell a fuckstick group like this got ahold of our team anyway?

That's where Howard Schultz comes in. Aside from trying to sink his first love, Starbucks, he is solely responsible for the Sonics' current situation. Out of nowhere, he appeared to rush the sale to a group known around the league for wanting to bring a team to Oklahoma City. To make matters worse, they exchanged public handjobs with the commissioner of the NBA, who miraculously offered ZERO support for keeping the team in Seattle, their current home of over 40 years. That's great branding, everyone. Nate McMillan, aka Mr. Sonic, must have seen some serious writing on the wall when he left town a couple years ago to coach in Portland. We were all shocked at the time, and Nate was too classy to give us the real reason for his early departure: Howard Schultz.

You can change your coffee logo to look like a brown Rohrshach inkblot, discontinue your immensely successful line of breakfast sandwiches, and even switch your default milk from whole to 2%. It's easy for me to switch to Tully's. Howard, when you fuck with the Sonics, you really piss people off. I believe you deserve every ounce of public ridicule and verbal abuse you endure when visiting your [once] hometown. Cheers to your new summer home in Oklahoma City, asshole.

Almost forgot.. congratulations to Ray Allen and happy birthday to me!

Red light cameras in Tacoma, part II

AP — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:32:26 GMT

Things have gone completely downhill since we last visited the topic of Tacoma's shiny, new red light cameras. More of these little buggers are popping up all the time. Kamerakrieg is well underway around town and I'm much more pissed off than before. The dipshits over at traffic central are rumored to be enjoying the view from inside each other's asses; meanwhile red light camera revenue is piling up at a huge cost to local taxpayers.

Timing these intersection cameras with the downturn in the economy, outrageous gas prices, the sinking dollar, real estate crisis and stagnant wages appears evil and calculated at first glance. Alas, I will have the politicians' back on this one. It was not entirely evil calculation that got us to this point. It couldn't possibly have been planned this way because they are too inept over there to be directly responsible for such accurate timing.

What can you do to help fight the war on red light cameras? I would like to recommend that you avoid these camera-enforced intersections at all cost to avoid contributing to this diabolical revenue stream (not to mention sitting through green lights while waiting to turn left, for fear of being fined $100).

Don't we realize this is just the first step toward infinite public surveillance? Is that where we want to be in 10 years? I sort of like the idea of not being on camera everyfuckingwhere I go. Who's with me?

Wednesdays on the Water

AP — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:23:03 GMT

Here it goes again (sorry, Rock Band is still on my mind). Wednesday is upon us. The weeks are flying by, and summer is almost underway. You're going to blink and suddenly it will be fall. You bitch about the weather all year long and even question why you live here at times. Summer is your season. It's time for you to get off your ass and DO SOMETHING. Yes, YOU.

Around here, Wednesday means taking a couple kayaks down to Ruston Way, dropping into Commencement Bay, cracking a cheap beer and casually paddling around behind Harbor Lights while the sailboat race plays out. The degree of inner peace you will experience is staggering. Just 50 feet from shore lies your Zen zone. Your phone should stay home or in the car. Did I mention the beer?

Not 30 seconds after you set adrift, you will be untouchable. Nobody can bother you, and this, you'll realize, is just what the doctor orders, week in and week out. No traffic, no text messages, no jerks, no sibling rivalry, no parental guidance, no responsibility (especially if you wear a life jacket).

The growing sentiment appears to be that many people do not have boats at their disposal. Relax. We can fix that. You can either step up for a really nice kayak from NC Kayaks, or Backpackers Supply (not worth linking their awful website - although, the retail outlet does have a great selection of high-end kayaks), or you can find more affordable options at places like Sports Authority or Joe's Sporting Goods.

I looked into kayak rentals for you as well. Backpackers Supply seems to be your best bet. Rates are $40/day, $85/weekend or $175/week. Ruston Recreational Kayak Rentals can be a good option for some of you, but their boats are primarily for launching at Owen Beach on Point Defiance, and they close at 6pm. While this is a fine place to paddle, it doesn't help much with Wednesdays on the Water, because the sailboat races across from Ruston don't start until 7 and we don't usually get going until after 6.

See you tonight.

BACKPACKERS SUPPLY
5206 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA
(253) 472-4402

JOE'S SPORTING GOODS
5831 Main St SW
Lakewood, WA
(253) 722-5506

NC KAYAKS
2911 S Chandler St
Tacoma, WA
(253) 476-8582

SPORTS AUTHORITY
1905 S 72nd St
Tacoma, WA
(253) 572-9900

Floater plays Tacoma on June 21st

AP — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:58:19 GMT

FLOATER! FLOATER! FLOATER!

The summer solstice party to end all summer solstice parties is almost upon us. June 21st, 2008, Hell's Kitchen, Tacoma, Washington. Floater. I'm so flippin excited I just might have to change my pants.

Eugene/Portland's finest trio is on the road again. They've been playing a lot of shows, releasing digital acoustic albums, collaborating on side projects and continuing to improve. It's gross, really.

Call it coincidence that my birthday happens to be 4 days prior to the show. I would like to thank the band in advance for my belated birthday gift. Don't even worry about getting me a card. Playing right down the street is plenty.

To hear samples and buy CD's, visit Floater's Official Website. To get involved with other Floater fans, try Exiled. Last but not least, you can hear a Tacoma acoustic Floater show from 2003 by visiting Floater Live.

Knapp's Lounge

AP — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:27:02 GMT

Right here in the Proctor District of Tacoma lies an old world community staple. It is a place where legends go to die, and rock stars are born. Or something like that. Just as a mission provideth shelter, a judge provideth order, and a teacher provideth knowledge, Knapp's doth provide as well. Not unlike any other public trust, Knapp's is there for any of us to use whenever we should need it. However, we try to use it as infrequently as possible, for the sake of appearances, logistics, etc. The comparisons could certainly go on.

How many of you out there have never been to Knapp's Lounge after dark? If this is you, please get it in gear and get down there. Watch a little TV, dial up the jukebox, have a couple see-throughs (if you please) and just relax. It's dark. It's clean. The bathrooms are nice. What more do you want?

Tacoma residents, I summon thee to partake of the essence. Having been in there a couple times per year for several years, I always expect to see more people. The Proctor area is pretty good size and full of people, so I will be expecting to see more of you out after midnight in support of your best neighborhood lounge scene.

Just my opinion.

Let's hear yours...

Knapp's Restaurant & Lounge
2707 North Proctor Street
Tacoma, WA 98407
(253) 759-9009

Do you take sex with your coffee?

AP — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:05:33 GMT

So it's been awhile since local coffee bars around Tacoma introduced scantily clad baristas into their workforce, and we still aren't hearing much about regulation on this sort of thing. I guess this has a lot to do with the fact that the trend has slowed recently, rather than the opposite which I had expected. It seemed every non-Starbucks coffee drive-thru was going bikini there for a minute, but that trend looks to be on hold.

Especially given the current, poor economic situation, businesses are trying anything to get your nickel, and half-nakedness is just one of many strategies being deployed. Although I haven't seen half-naked grocery clerks just yet, I still worry that it won't be long. Tight Cuts has taken this concept and run with it, providing haircuts with a sexual theme for a premium price. At least they charge that premium.

The coffee stands that bundle sex with their product at no extra charge are really operating unfairly, IMO. What is going to stop every struggling small business in town from putting half-naked people at the cash register in hopes of scrounging up a few extra pennies and staying afloat? Think about half-naked plumbers.. smutty door-to-door salespeople.. decadent doctors?!

Is this really the path down which we are heading? If not, what is going to stop all this nonsense?

Metropolitan Market, put up your dukes

AP — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:52:21 GMT

Although unassuming in shape, cost-effective, and green, the cucumber should be considered, at best, as an option among many for a variety of things. Salads, sandwiches, wraps..heck, even sushi. It can provide the crunch and refreshing blast that, I don't know..someone must really enjoy - perhaps even often.

That being said, I would like to personally tell the dumb motherfu@%er in charge of the sushi over there at Metro Market to stop fu@%ing putting god-damned cucumber in all the motherfu@%ing sushi rolls you prepare there by hand every god-damned day. Groundbreaking idea: substitute avocado, or just leave it out! If you must keep putting that sh!t in there, then don't be such a fu@%ing a$$hole when I, or anybody else asks you to make custom rolls in the future.

It looks neat to have your little booth setup so we can watch you chop up your cucumbers, but we might also expect something from you on occasion, being that you are so accessible.

Thank you.

Viaduct

AP — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:48:45 GMT

The Viaduct is the latest all ages club to pop up in my radar and it happens to be one block from where I spend much of my working life. As I rarely go to random all ages shows that don't involve Floater, I will probably not find myself at this venue anytime soon. Obviously, I will have to rely on others to curb my current curiosity.

Kane Hodder is playing the Viaduct tonight, I believe. They will draw a crowd that knows a thing or two about music venues. As Kane Hodder opened for Floater not long ago, I respect them and their fans. Please, somebody, chime in with an account of the May 16th, 2008 Kane Hodder show in Tacoma.

Specifically, how is the club's sound system? And if you are a wee youngster, did you feel safe in there? Any riff-raff ooze in from the surrounding, industrial wasteland neighborhood? I would like to see more businesses succeed here, and it's great for kids to have hangout options other than bowling alleys, movie theaters, and malls.

Diversity appears to be at the core of Viaduct; I see they have a hip-hop show and a dance party scheduled in the near future to complement the expected rock shows on the calendar. They've even booked bands as far out as September! Good for them.

The Viaduct
5412 South Tacoma Way
myspace page

Tacoma: Scootertown, USA

AP — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:03:48 GMT

I recently bought a scooter. Originally for neighborhood travel only, it quickly became about much more than just the post office, the bank, and the grocery store. Within a week I'd traveled the freeway and traversed the Narrows Bridge. In an instant, the scooter became my preferred means of transportation. If it's not raining, I'm scootin. I can't afford to drive my car any longer, seeing as how the gas gauge on my scooter doesn't seem to move. So far I've filled up twice with supreme unleaded gasoline (currently over $4 per gallon in Tacoma) and it's set me back a grand total of $17. How does 75 miles per gallon sound?

With events like 4th of July and the Tall Ships Festival on the waterfront, the Taste of Tacoma and Zoobilee at Point Defiance, or anything you can think of downtown, in the Stadium district or 6th Ave, a scooter just makes so much sense. Parking is never an issue. Traffic is never an issue. If you can stand to leave the dog at home and you aren't happening by Home Depot for a home improvement haul, life is surprisingly doable on a scooter. Recent advances in technology even made it possible for me to safely transport a fresh iced latte 12 blocks in an earlier, controlled experiment.

Time to shake up your spring and summer! If you need something to perk you up in the morning, to send you to work with a smile and bring you home with an ear-to-ear grin, stop into Northwest Motor Scooters near 56th Street & South Tacoma Way and have Shana show you a scooter or two. They sell Vespa, Aprilia, Piaggio and Kymco scooters. I bet you find something in there that fits your style, your needs, your wants, your dreams...

Floater plays Vega$

AP — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:47:33 GMT

"Saturday night I drove down to Fremont street in the heart of Vegas to The Canyon Club at the Four Queens Casino with one of my buddies to catch Floater. We got there a bit early so I could get my swerve on before the show, which I promptly took care of, and made sure we were some of the first in the door so we could secure seats at the bar next to the stage. The Canyon is a small venue with a couple of bars on either side of the stage, some tables and chairs and little sofas are spread around the place and it also comes complete with a dance floor in the center for those who want to get their boogie on. It's dimly lit and fairly cozy, so all-in-all, a pretty good place for a show.

First up was Red Hot Radio. Now, I should say that my expectations for any opening band that I've never heard of is always very low and I would usually pass it up altogether, but this being my first Floater concert, and after the build up hypin' the band so much and their live performances, I was anxious to get in and get it on. I'm glad I did; Red Hot Radio kicked ass. I should point out that the drummer was a chick and damn good at beatin the skins. I thought they had a Dinosaur Jr./Screaming Trees feel, although the lead vocal sounds like neither, but whatever the case, they were a great start to the evening.

Next up was Slow Children. Again, never heard of em, but I'm glad I know who they are now. These guys had a cool sound and I definitely hope to catch another one of their shows in the near future. Unless you're some bubble-pop, TRL lovin' beotch then you gotta dig this band. They are badass, plain and simple; nice and heavy. Apparently the big guy in the band with the glasses, I think he was the bass player (I had a bit to drink that night), is a big Floater fan. I had the privilege of buyin him and one of his bandmates a beer after their set and as I recall they were triple and quadruple fistin it, in beer terms, which only endeared them to me that much more.

Topping things off: Floater. Now, I heard all the yappin about how great they are; I got the CD you sent me and downloaded some stuff off the internet and definitely enjoyed every bit of it, but nothing really prepared me for just how awesome these guys are live. You never really know a bands mettle until you see them on stage. I mean sure, most music is always better live, but for all you know that band whose CD you've been listening to repeatedly sucks donkey dicks when they hit the stage (without all the technology to digitally tune their sound). Not Floater; no sir. They are one of those glorious bands that sound a million times better from the stage, and they already sound awesome on their CDs. Words cannot describe the boner-ific experience of getting my Floater cherry popped that night.

I get it. I understand why they have the following they do and am surprised that it isnt greater than it is. I feel sorry for all the poor bastards that missed out on the show that night. It just got progressively better and better as each band came on. Collectively, it was one of the best shows I've seen in quite some time, and if anyone knows what's what they'll be sure to catch any one of these bands next shows. I know I will. Props to the unsung hero who put that show together. I must say, Im very envious of the fact that you will be at Floater's February 29 show in good ol' T-Town."

J-Man

New Text Messaging Law: The Equivalent of Legislative Projectile Vomit

AP — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:03:55 GMT

As if the new red light cameras in town weren't a big enough joke, our lawmakers have made themselves look even more pathetic than once believed possible.

It's finally here -- the subjective law to end all subjective laws.

Apparently screaming at your children in the backseat, masturbating, smoking, changing CD's, picking your nose, applying lipstick, spilling a hot latte in your lap, flipping the bird, needlessly honking your horn, scarfing cheeseburgers and fries, reading a book, singing along to 93.3, operating on less than an hour of sleep, playing air guitar, scanning radio stations, fighting with your better half, writing your next blog entry, cleaning spit off the inside of your windshield, gazing into the rearview mirror at yourself, reaching for the loose change under your seat, cleaning out your glove box, banging your head to Hannah Montana's latest tracks, talking on a cell phone with a wireless headset and thinking of new ways to be rad are some of the things that are perfectly legal to do while driving.

I am not a frequent text messager. I am a cell phone driver. I do not own any stock in any tech, automotive, donut or traffic ticket paper making companies. That being said, people should either be able to do anything they wish or nothing at all while driving, and the latter seems a bit Fahrenheit 451 for this writer. If you want to be guaranteed safety, stay off the roads entirely. While I certainly don't feel that text messaging while driving is a good idea, I've been unsuccessful in trying to convince myself that this law makes sense. On the contrary, I have moved from casual support to stout opposition in 3 days flat.

Somebody please try to convince me otherwise. I'm in the mood for a good debate. In the meantime, I'll be the guy avidly plucking my nosehairs in traffic... That is, if I'm not busy slamming on my brakes at poorly timed yellow lights that I used to run habitually.

Oh, no... Jake Locker hurt.

AP — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:52:27 GMT

Jake Locker took a vicious hit to the helmet in the 2nd quarter of tonight's game at Oregon State in Corvallis, OR. This was an absolutely devastating moment for any member of Husky Nation. He lay motionless on the field for a couple minutes before they rolled him over onto his back and removed the face mask from his helmet. They took him away in an ambulance and hopefully more information on his condition will be released soon. For now, all thoughts are with Jake and his family.

Pray For Snow

AP — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:44:38 GMT

PRAY FOR SNOW!!!

Calling all skiers and snowboarders of Tacoma; there is a mandatory meeting Thursday November 8th at Harmon Brewery. The annual Tacoma Pray For Snow party is back, and with it come the usual pranks, prizes, super strong beer and overcrowding. I am focused on the prizes - this year the raffle is mine.

If our collective prayers are answered, I may realize my plans to be near the snow gods on Thanksgiving.

Wear your finest ski sweater. Can't hurt.

Sludge Monsters

AP — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:49:22 GMT

As I continue down this windy path we call life, bits of my innocence are recycled on a daily basis and converted to cynicism. If I don't keep this process in check, I will turn into my grandfather in less than 5 years. Often times I realize the only true way to stop or reverse the cynical evolution of me is to ignore people and the way they behave. The more attention I pay to people around me, the more I lose faith in the human race. Never could there be a better example of this than in politics. I didn't like elections or the people running for office in my 4th grade class, and the same goes for our local, state and federal levels. Popularity contest after popularity contest, it just gets more and more tired to me. We run around deciphering between the evils that are lying to us across the board.

What kind of person dedicates their life to appeasing people around them and winning elections? And why is the general population continually surprised when these folks consistently turn up shady goings on in their private lives? Open your eyes people!!! Politicians are slimy. I suppose there is a component of wanting to help make the world a better place (I can't help but hear Jon Bender scolding Brian Johnson in the library) but this is less than half the story for these people as far as I am concerned.

The votes are currently being tallied. I better sit down before I pass out from excitement.

Halloween Candy Surplus

AP — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:14:30 GMT

Halloween has come and gone. Everything has returned to normal around here except for the 6 half-full bags of candy on the counter. Since moving to the North End in 2001 we have had an absolutely erratic Halloween experience, year over year. One year we get 50 trick-or-treaters, the next 10. Is there a way to predict with any degree of accuracy the turnout one might expect to see any given year? For last night's poor turnout, I blame the cold temperatures coupled with the Proctor Business District trick-or-treat extravaganza.

One year I had to run to the store around 8:30pm to re-up the chocolate stash, but last night I don't think we had 20 kids at the door. Did anybody have a strong turnout last night? Anyone else harboring a massive supply of leftover candy this morning?

Kids these days... I just can't figure 'em out. Especially the really tight pants..

Miniature Bugs EVERYWHERE

AP — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:27:13 GMT

What in tarnation are these things?

Anybody else seeing hundreds upon thousands of little blue and white, slow-moving, fuzzy bugs in the air at night lately? The entire 36th & Mason nation was swarmed by the harmless critters again last night, warranting me to get on here and ask for others' feedback on the issue.

Interesting note: these bugs would not enter our garage, for whatever reason. It was as if an invisible barrier kept them out. Interesting thought: anyone jogging near 36th & Mason last night was guaranteed two lung-fulls of bugs.

Are they simply attracted to something near our house, or are they everywhere in Tacoma? Insect experts of Pierce County, we may need your assistance here. I'm no entomologist!

Bring On The World

AP — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:19:30 GMT

Tacoma restaurants continue to improve and impress. I could have 3 squares per day at Tacoma restaurants I've never been to for at least a month straight right now. 5 years ago I had been to just about every relevant restaurant in town. Of course, that was before they started multiplying like rabbits on ecstasy. Whether you are looking for upscale latin, gourmet sushi, or authentic Thai food, the decision is no longer an easy one; there are now several options for each of these within Tacoma proper.

Where am I going with this?

Seattle continues its reign as Tacoma's big cousin to the north, but little cousin is growing up fast. I was born here and have lived the majority of my adult life here as well. I don't need stats, charts, articles or anybody else to tell me what is going on. Every day, everywhere, I see growth. The rising job markets, swirling restaurant scene, skyrocketing (still affordable) real estate, college campuses, and ever-desirable geographical location make Tacoma a no-brainer for many living in the Puget Sound region.

As Seattle continues to grow, the byproducts are more business and more people operating within a shrinking, finite supply of actual space. This effectively moves Tacoma closer and closer to Seattle. Will we be ready for it? Can we truly be the destination for multinational corporate headquarters and an unlimited supply of cutting edge employment opportunity like we were promised 10 years ago?

I hope so.

What do you think?

Train Derails South of Tacoma

AP — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:17:38 GMT

Train Derails in Steilacoom

South of the new Chambers Bay golf course, at the McNeil and Anderson Island ferry dock in Steilacoom, a freight train derailed sometime after 3am, tearing up a section of train tracks and scattering over a dozen train cars along the shoreline below the old Rogers Mansion.

Hours later, floats were in place to contain whatever might have spilled in the Puget Sound and the area by the ferry dock was under repair. Where the track's metal rails intersect the ferry dock car ramp, something went terribly wrong. I witnessed asphalt work being done, I believe inbetween ferry runs. I heard the ferry was running again, so they must cover their work with metal plates during the unloading and loading and then get right back after it during down times.

It was pretty impressive, at any rate, to see that the situation had most definitely improved significantly by the time I visited around 11am. Assuming nobody was badly injured, the potential for injury could have been staggering, as the whole thing appeared to have taken place in an area that could have a lot of people around, had it occurred during the day.

The overgrown bluff from which most of the wreck could be seen was less than ideal for snapping photos, but I did my best. Have a looksee:

Murray Morgan should be proud

AP — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:11:59 GMT

I've now been to The Red Hot on 6th Ave a few times and it has been a treat each time. In order of appearance, I devoured a Murray Morgan Bridge Brat, a Destiny City Slaw Dog, and then another Murray Morgan Bridge Brat. Aside from having the best name of any brat I've encountered, it is the perfect snack when you're on the go. I add cream cheese to my brat to complement the existing sauerkraut and mustard. The slaw dog was perfect as is. For 3 or 4 dollars you can't beat it. They have a dozen or so different choices to suit a variety of tastes.

After many years, someone has finally done it. I'd always wondered why nobody had launched a Starbuck's/McDonald's calibre dog chain in the US, and I used to dream about opening a double drive-thru dog stand in Tacoma. I wanted to call mine Schwank's and it was going to be awesome. The Red Hot has taken everything I had envisioned, moved it to a swank sit-down bar atmosphere, and added a bunch of beer. Brilliant.

THE RED HOT
2914 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA
(253) 779-0229

Tacoma Gas Explosion

AP — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:20:04 GMT

Every time I leave Tacoma, something important goes down. This time it is a huge propane explosion at Atlas in the Nalley Valley. If anyone has pictures of the explosion, this Tacoma guy would like to see them. I just can't picture a 1000 foot flame on my own. Pictures would be very interesting, if any of you happened to be photo-ready at the time. If not, any firsthand accounts would be appreciated. We are 3 time zones away and wondering what on earth happened? Propane explosions don't happen often in Tacoma, although something about it seems fitting. Please send any info ASAP. Thanks.