• Does anyone there smile? Or does Eddie from Pearl Jam forbid it?
• Blazingly simple and beautiful architecture. The missus took some nice pictures – she always does – but as looked at them on the computer at the airport, we were stunned. If I knew what I was talking about, I would say the concrete and steel lines all flow into the landscape and the people.
• With one disclaimer, we were not real impressed with the food. If I’m dropping a Benjamin on supper (something I do every twelve hundred years or so) , it better be all I can do to keep from standing up and chest bumping someone.
• Disclaimer: extremely stupid on our part to not seek out more local, small, restaurants where simple love of cooking is the driving force behind every dish.
• Blown away by the quality of Washington state wine. I don’t drink Merlot, yet two of the wines we tasted were in fact Merlot and they were awesome.
• On the people side of things, you’ll be the one to start the conversation; everywhere, every time. Folks will speak to you, but won’t kick it off.
• Nearly impaled/crushed/killed dead by a huge curtain rod that fell off the wall in our hotel room. Postmortem reveals only one screw and anchor in the wall, though there were three holes. Tricky!
• We all need to do some research and learn about one of the deepest music wells in the entire world; Seattle and surrounding area. I’ll bet you have no idea how much talent – music industry-altering talent – has come from this area or had an initial impact here that changed music time and time again.
• More geniuses per square mile in any number of disciplines than anywhere else? There are some brilliant folks who’ve settled here or are from here.
• Surprised by the amount of and aggressive nature of the panhandlers, addicts, etc.
• “San Francisco Lite” a woman who’s lived in both places called it. Perfect description.
• Don’t know official statistics or anything, and maybe the four days we visited were exceptional, but that may be the cleanest air I’ve ever breathed. 
• Keep your Space Needle; I’ll do Smith Tower anytime.
• Stay downtown, walk everywhere (with eyes open, see above), plenty to do.
• Pike’s Place Market – the great stuff is truly fabulous, the rest lacks personality.
• Standing in the lobby of the first Starbucks, feeling a fair amount of awe.
• It’s not nearly an exaggeration when I say you could spit on another Starbucks from the front door of the one you’re in, whichever one you’re standing in.
• And what goes with all that caffeine? Tons of nicotine. 
• 52 degrees, shorts and a t-shirts on everyone…other than us tourists.
• The Gum Wall (or Wall of Gum)…pretty cool. Just the back wall along an alley of buildings that folks have hurled gum against for nearly 20 years. 
• A functional, safe, and useful downtown rail system that gets you to and from the places most folks want to go. *Sigh* It’s not real hard to do. Wouldn’t it be cool if Flo Mo, Grapevine and Lewisville had one?
• All told, most certainly a place to visit again.

"Researchers have found with a single genetic altercation they can turn up a natural metbolic furnace in mice so the animals brun more fat.  Experts said people might be able to control their weight by doing the same thing, or by explotinging related processes." So said an AP article. 

That genetic stuff fascinates us, doesn't it? The article continues,

"But even more impressive, the genetically altered mice can eat a high fat diet without ill effects."

Yes, buddy. Here's my Nobel winner right 'cher. This is science for the good of all people. Let's get these Ph.D.'s to work on even more useful lifestyle stuff. Can't you see it now. . . .

"Scientists have identified the gene that makes laboratory mice use their turn signals on their little laboratory cars. Researchers found that with a single genetic alteration, the mice - the so-called 'skinny mice’ - will put down their double Big Mac's and actually flip the blinker on one hundred feet before making a turn. The team now begins work on finding the elusive gene that makes them turn the thing off sometime within two mouse miles."

Or how about his?

"The University of Whosits announced today they have isolated the gene that forces doctors to store their examination equipment at Absolute Zero. Skinny mice, after finally making a right turn into the doctor's office four driveways after slowing down while their blinkers remained on, were surprised to find all utensils in the exam room were no colder than room temperature. The university says its next project involves trying to isolate the gene that would help the patient mice understand their health insurance."

Maybe this. . .

"Endocrinologists at the Greater Midwest Hospital today announced tremendous progress in identifying a memory gene in laboratory mice. Skinny mice -- those French fry gulping, can't make a left turn unless traffic is clear for half a mile, HMO wizards -- were found to have their memory increased by 324% after a single electronic stimulus to certain points in their DNA chains. Even more astounding was the increase -- ranging up to 584% -- that male mice showed.

In closely supervised testing, the males remembered mouse garbage day was the next day and took the garbage out the night before, they recalled PTA meetings were on Tuesdays, and showed great skill at remembering even that time a female skinny mouse told them about. . . .this thing . . . or whatever. Something.

Dr. Mark Johnson, head of research, said the gene alteration was a. . ."simple matter of . . . of . . . it’s somewhere here in my notes. Under all the real tiny chicken fried steak to-go containers."

Can't you just see it, these and other possibilities? So, contribute to your local college, and let's get these people fully funded. And, oh, pass me that electrode, please. Over there, right next to the chocolate cake.