Man runs almost naked from Al Star Fitness

I went to the gym early this morning and saw a man run out through the fire exit in the pool area wearing only a small towel. When I was in the shower two employees were asking someone in the showers to come out or they would call the police. It must have been him leaving. I never got a good look at him, just thought it was odd.

to survive

So I was reading this article on MSNBC about people turning to survivalism because of the economic climate. I have never been one to "be prepared" as the Boy Scouts say, but you never know it might be a good idea pack some beans and rice, a propane stove, pots and pans, some first aid supplies and be ready for the collapse.

Then again it could all turn around. I just can't decide.

Working for the news must suck.....

This is a shot of the news van outside our house at 9:30pm. I watched the news at 10pm and they were doing a live shot from next to the car the crazy guy busted up with an ax. They had to wait 5 hours for a 30 second new piece. That van must be real comfortable to hang out in for 5 hours to do 30 sec. worth of work. I can remember wanting to work the technical side of the TV news back when I was in high school. Now it doesn't seem so glamorous, watching them out my window. Its 10:15 and they still haven't left yet. Boring van. It seems like a office cubicle on wheels. Its has a cork board like some one might have in their office. But its cramped and there are 4 people in it. Its like a stakeout in the movies, but you can see inside, and they are bored. They are getting ready to leave now, 10:18pm.
As they drive off I look at the plastic shrink wrap advertising that covers the outside of the van and remember the van that Immortal Records gave Goodness when we were on the Candlebox tour. It was covered like that with the names and faces of all the bands on Immortal at the time, Korn, Incubus, Goodness, and others I can't remember now. When we started the tour we felt real stupid. As time went on we got used to it, sort of became a running joke. Then the bass player from Candlebox started tearing off pieces bit by bit. By the end of the tour the van looked like a patchwork of half names and faces, some sort of crazy collage done by the deranged, (or any korn fan for that matter).
I bet I know what its like to sit in that news van. It feels like hurry up and wait.

Standoff at Brandon St.

Well my wife called me this afternoon when I was still at work and as we were talking she looked outside and said something must be going on. She saw lots of police in the road. Thinking nothing of it we continued our conversation and said our goodbyes.

A little later she called and said something weird must be going on because they were talking on a megaphone telling someone to come out. Being the sound freak I thought, "honey get it on tape", "Use the camera record some video". She wasn't too into that idea, but I coaxed her into it a while later. I didn't get any megaphone of use, but some good sounds of her bitching at me. (note: save for later)

When I got home I took some photos. these aren't in chronological order. The first is the S.W.A.T. team vehicle in front of the house

This on is out our window of a police officer looking at the house.

This is the police loading the tear gas gun.

This is the smashed car that the man barricaded had allegedly busted up with an ax. I saw the ax sticking out on the new report. You can watch it here: http://www.kirotv.com/video/13208135/index.html

As I watched from the street dr called right when they started to launch tear gas into the house. Not long after the police told us they had already taken him into custody and he was no longer on the scene. It felt anti climatic, like waiting for a rock star to emerge from the backstage door, only to be told they have already left after you have sat for an hour.

I felt bad for the guys who were working on the houses next door. They had to finish after the cops left. The standoff lasted from around 2:00pm to 5:30pm or so. Kind of surreal to come home to. Its after 9pm now and the news trucks are still on the scene.