2026.1.27. Pamila Jayapal speaks at Town Hall.

1/27, Tuesday, 6pm. Congresswoman Jayapal held a town hall at Town Hall Seattle. She's very energetic, clear spoken. Very likeable. She talked about what project she's working on and will be taking on. I'm surprised that there was no security check when I entered. Quite lot of people, many photographers walking around (are they also security guards?). Long queue during Q&A. She's very courteous, noting down the questions and answered them one by one. I very much appreciate the effort that she and her team made to connect with her constituent.

2025.10.20. November general election - candidate debate

10/20, Monday. One of the candidate debates throughout the region for the upcomming general election. This one is now on Youtube for King County Executive seat. My first time attending to a debate. Didn't do any preparation, so didn't ask any question. Both candidates are excellent speakers. Their objections are very similar. However, I like Claudia Balducci much better. She has experience and answered questions with concrete examples. Looks a bit tired. In contrast, Girmay Zahilay looks more like a show man, a good actor. His answers tend to be more general. Looks freshly woken up, full of energy. He asked for the Mariner result and made very exaggerated reaction. He drank from a 250ml plastic water bottle. Definitely not someone who'd care for environment or minimize waste. I think Claudia should be the executive, and hire Girmay as her PR person.

This debate was held in an old building, the Josephinum Apartments, owned and operated by Christ Our Hope Catholic church, where the worship space is on the ground floor. My first time ever in this almost 120 year-old building: New Washington Hotel.

I recently listened to Seattle Mayoral debate. Again, I very much support the incumbent Bruce Harrell, who was born and grew up here, has the experience and tract record. It's easy to poke holes at someone who does many works. The young Katie Wilson is a new comer from New York. No experience. Have rich parents who help out financially. Supported "defunct police". Even though she now changed her mind, it shows that she's irrational, can get agitated and easily make bad judgement.

Update: Both of my choices were defeated by the new comers. I guess people are not happy, just want a change, didn't care if the change could be worse. NYC's mayoral race also ended in the victory of a 30-yo new comer - which is now the talk of town.

2025.10.18. No King rally + Diwali Celebration of the lights at Seattle Center

10/18, Saturday. Drizzle. I went to the Diwali festival at Armory. More people outside than inside. I wasn't aware of the rally today. Quite a turnout at the No King rally. Many fun signs, Trump balloons, blowup suites. Colorful on this grey day.

Inside of Armory, it was dry and warm. There're booths selling snacks, clothes. They dished out a free vegetarian meal (rice, gabozo beans, veggie, a purple desert), all afternoon. Henna, face painting, roti making, with a small fee ($2). A fresh flower tribute (which was swept into garbage/compost afterwards - what a pity).
On the 2nd floor terrace, a large 3D model of Temple of Vedic Planetarium, and multiple smaller dioramas telling the legend of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and emphasizes on his golden complexion.
In the classrooms on 2nd floor are art work display, half of it is from kids and they are very good. In the middle is a story teller. I actually sat down and listened to her entire story on a monkey and a crocodile, and on traditional story telling (weaving one moral into another). Spent some hours(!) on painting this mandala coasters. You can pick a few designs, mix your own colors. I didn't expect this to be so slow. Definitely a calming excercise. I'm not all that pleased with my handywork.

In the middle of all this was an earthquake evacuation drill, which I only found out later that it was a drill.

2025.5.6. A Conversation at Seattle U with Washington Attorney General Nick Brown

5/6 Tuesday, 2-3pm. WA state's new Attorney General Nick Brown talks in Seattle U with President Eduardo Peñalver, and journalist Joni Balter. The event is recorded, available on Youtube.

I really enjoyed this discussion. Nick Brown was clear and determined to withhold the law, protect WA state and residents. He is well spoken, logical, clear thought. He discussed what his office is in charge of, over 800 lawyers (one of the largest in the nation), why WA joined or lead some of the 15 lawsuits against the Trump administration. I learned:

• WA AG is voted in by citizens. Other states' AG may be apointed by the governer, or voted by the legislative house.
• Nick Brown was a contestant in the reality TV show Survivor in 2020.

Brown also commented on the seriousness of our current federal attorney general, who claimed to fire anyone in DOJ against Trump, and who has been flagrantly removing obstacles that could hinder her personal and political benefits.

2024.6.6. Anida Yoeu Ali at Seattle Asian Art Museum

6/6 First Thursday of the month. I went to see Ali's exhibition of Buddaist Bug and Red Chador at Seattle Asian Art Museum on this lovely sunny day. Even since I hear Anida Yoeu Ali speak at Town Hall on March 2nd, I became interested in her "performances".

When I arrived ~3pm, I was told that Ali was give a tour of her exhibits. Perfect. What led me to her exhibition is the bright orange loop that she calls Buddhist Bug. I found her in front of the guillotine of baguettes. She talked about her past performances in the Red Chador, and its disappearance at Ben Gurion airport. There's an altar and a red newspaper dispenser with an obituary inside. Large prints and videos of some of her performances on the wall. Then she talked about her "genesis project", the resurrection of the chadors, more colors, with others who joined her in her performances in the chador. Very politically charged. She's a muslin artist, promoting acceptance, diversity and harmony. She's well spoken, easy to talk to.

2024.3.13. Pacific Technology Policy Conference

3/13, a full day event hosted by National Bureau of Asian Research, this time co-lead with Korean Foundation, whose president KIM, Gheewhan gave a speech. A large Korean presence. Most participants are burearates, very few like me. I liked some of the points and questions asked by one of those random folks like me, a business man started out as an F1 student, when immigration was discussed. China is the enemy nowadays, one of the emphasis the Koreans are making is that they cannot sever the economic tie with China. AI is also discussed, which I asked a question (between sessions) to the Microsoft guy, regarding to the licensing of their AI products.

In the afternoon breakout session, I listened to the 2 K&J lawyers (Jamie Jackson, Ryan Carney) discuss technology policy developments in Congress. I'm quite impressed by these two, how young they are, and how familiar they are with the congress in and out. Today's event is held at and sponsored by K &J Gates LLP. Last October, I attended Pacific Security Forum, with similar agenda, at a different location.

Speakers other than I've already mentioned above are (chronically ordered):

Roy Kamphausen   - president, NBR
Tami Overby      - senior advisor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Mireya Solis     - Knight Chair, Japan Studies, Brookings Institution
Lotta Danielsson - VP, US-Taiwan Business Council
Linsay Gorman    - senior fellow for emerging technologies, German Marshall Funds of US
Ahram Moon       - Korea Information Society Development Institute
Owen Larter      - director of public policy, Office of Responsible AI, Microsoft
Jonathan Roberts - founder, Ignition Partners
Nigel Cory       - associate director for Trade Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Jake Bernstein   - partner, K&J Gates
Khalil Gharbieh  - Trade Policy Counsel, Microsoft
Kendra Schaefer  - head of tech policy research, Trivium China
Nelson Dong      - counsel and co-head, National Security Group, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Adam Lysenko     - director of intelligence, Strider Technologies
Jungmin Pak      - partner, Lee & Ko
Carol Anderson   - senior corporate counsel, Global Trade, Microsoft
Michael Wills    - executive VP, NBR