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Friends and family: Facebook is no longer making the world better. I'm out.

Break in the weather!

Seems like it was a different person who wrote this.

Updated Oct 18, 2019, 9:10 AM

Updated Oct 8, 2019, 9:58 AM

What a 🤡, eh @[564571196:2048:Russ Granger]?

Updated Oct 8, 2019, 9:36 AM

Shannon kills it again.

Updated Oct 2, 2019, 6:02 PM

Happy birthday, Adam! Welcome to the 50 club!

The funniest thing I've seen all day.

Happy birthday Suzanne!

Last sunny day for a while. Nice.

It is sobering and dismaying to see from this article that so much of our local and regional healthcare is in the control of the Catholic Church, and that the Church is trying to expand its control even more.
https://rewire.news/article/2019/09/25/miscarriage-catholic-hospital/

Updated Sep 26, 2019, 9:01 AM

Next Spring my high school band director is retiring (Hi Joanne Mizutani-Neuffer! And yeah, I’m Facebook friends with my high school band director; want to make something of it?). She’s inviting alumni to play something, so I got my horn out of figurative mothballs and was shocked to find out that I have no embrochure anymore.
Well, at least I’m starting early!

Updated Sep 24, 2019, 2:45 PM

Happy birthday, Sarah! Hope it's a good one! 😀

I believe that this president is unique among all US presidents in disregarding the public good, in flouting laws and norms, in causing serious harms to our institutions of government, and must be impeached. Even if the Senate doesn't remove him, that shouldn't stop us from pursuing the process for these reasons:
1. If we don't impeach for this behavior, then what behavior would we impeach for?
2. If we don't impeach him, then aren't we tacitly accepting this behavior?
3. I get that the Republicans don't care about truth or the institutions of government that impede them, but we do care about those institutions. If we don't impeach, then we are not truly valuing the institutions.
4. The only way to move the Senate, however unlikely, is to sway public opinion. Impeachment is the only way to bring out all the dirt that could do this; we've seen such stonewalling over the past months that shows we need more legal pressure.
5. This case is more like Nixon than Clinton. Nixon was misusing the office, acting against the public good for political gain. Clinton was sullying the office but didn't go against the public good in his misbehavior which is why public sentiment went against the Republicans. Trump is arguably doing both, but is clearly not acting in the public interest.

I thought that things were moving along at a reasonable pace, but I've changed my mind; our representatives need us to push them harder.

I've just called my three representatives, and said something like this: "My name is David Hirsch and I live in Bellingham, WA. I am calling to voice my support for the impeachment process, even if the Senate is not going to remove the President. Regardless of the politics, it is the right thing to do for the country."

I didn't have to wait. They all picked up on the second ring. Very quick and easy - faster than an email, even.

Please consider doing the same.

Here's how to find your senators and reps:

https://whoismyrepresentative.com/

Updated Sep 23, 2019, 1:45 PM

There is no bottom

Updated Sep 22, 2019, 10:58 AM

Amidst the daily drumbeat of horrible statements and illegal actions by our President, it's easy to overlook or miss some. This was one that I hadn't fully noticed, and it's a big deal.

Updated Sep 19, 2019, 9:14 AM

First time back after six weeks off. Feeling fat and slow, but better than not running!

I have absolutely gotten calls from users who hit error messages just like this one in my own geology code (Mine were shorter, more like "Should never get here. If you see this, then Dave screwed up.") https://xkcd.com/2200/

Updated Sep 12, 2019, 1:26 AM

A big Happy 12th Birthday to Sawyer, who is the most fun, silly, enthusiastic kid! He is always trying to make the world around him a better place. He gets cooler every day, as you can see.

It’s a good day to be in Bellingham

This is my new favorite tool! How did I ever live without it?

To all my friends whom I might see in person again someday: This is excellent, but you are not allowed to buy this. I must be the only one who owns one of these.

Soon...

https://topatoco.com/collections/oglaf/products/og-upright?variant=20349818634351

Updated Sep 7, 2019, 1:04 AM

First coat of base is done, with Laurel working hard! (Plan is to sponge a bluish color on top as a texture)

Finished mudding and sanding last night. Primed today. Painting tomorrow!!

As usual, @[42903446:2048:Shannon] gets to the heart of what is wrong with Trump.

Updated Sep 1, 2019, 10:59 AM

First day of 6th and 8th! Both going to same school for the first time in a few years.

Finished hanging all the drywall! This weekend is all mudding and taping!

Before-project, fully demo’d, and current: adjusted electrical, new ceiling, and insulated. Next: wall sheetrock!

Excited to use my new tool and drywall this ceiling tomorrow!

Just saw Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, partly because Hannah Schell called out the Chatsworth connection, which made the movie particularly resonant. It definitely took me back to my childhood! All my Chatsworth High people, you have to stay for the KHJ radio jingle at the end of the credits.

And it was a good movie, too, with interesting ruminations on the struggles associated with growing older in one’s career, struggles that I had to imagine Tarantino has experienced as he grows older, and which I suppose we all deal with eventually.

My brother-in-law helped make a movie! Check it out: it’s playing in Seattle (and other places around the country) soon!

Updated Aug 10, 2019, 1:16 PM

Laurel is at LAX after flying from Italy and is apparently very jet-lagged and punchy, because she texted this:
“My mind has descended beyond stress, beyond hysterics, I am untouchable, but if one more person asks me why I have socks on under my sandals, I will completely lose my shit.”

Happy birthday, Beth! Hope it's a great year.

So *that’s* why this room was so cold last Winter! Who builds a house like this?

The view from my backyard, where Sawyer and I are having a “camping dinner” around the fire pit (foil dinners). Pine, fir, and cedar. Living here doesn’t suck.

Not too bad. App says it was longer but the race folks say 13.1. Now cake! And burritoughnuts!

Here I go again. Wish me luck!

Laurel is having a great time I’m sure, and the time difference makes communication tough, but I do love seeing this kind of thing in my iOS Find Friends app.

Last run before Beat The Blerch half-marathon.

Last good sized run before Beat The Blerch half-marathon on Saturday. Hills!

So sore after my long run Tuesday.

Finally got too frustrated with MapMyRun.
This was a 12-mile pre-race training run but got leg cramps at 11. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My girl is off to start her Italy adventure! So proud of her and excited to see how it goes. Thanks to Judy Greenberg Hirsch and Ed Hirsch for taking her and her cousin Max on this trip.

First step: her first solo plane flight!

Dropped Sawyer off for a week of sleep-away camp. He was a little anxious until he saw that a cabin mate of his is a friend!
Adam Resnick & Kathryn Resnick: Oz being so welcoming made a huge difference! Great kid you’ve got there. 😊
Laurel hugged him goodbye; she won’t see him for three weeks: the longest they’ve ever been apart.

A nice haul of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries yesterday! (Laurel vetoed being posted here)

My Claim: the average raspberry is better than the average blueberry, but the best blueberry is the pinnacle of all fruit. Fight me.

Updated Jul 21, 2019, 8:51 AM

@[1514442927:2048:Whitney Klein]!!

Updated Jul 18, 2019, 9:44 PM

Updated Jul 16, 2019, 6:49 PM

Nostalgia run: haven’t done this trail in over a year. Really good for long-distance training; getting ready for the half marathon in September!

Updated Jul 14, 2019, 2:27 PM

Happy birthday Adam! Hope it’s great!!

BSA summer camp run! Bear poop! Deer bounding through meadows! Fun!

Updated Jul 12, 2019, 7:13 AM

Updated Jul 8, 2019, 6:40 PM

We are ready for some fireworks fun tonight!!

Kids these days! Well, at least he’s doing it!

Since Friday I've been working on running new power to the workshop underground. Dug for 15 hours over the weekend to make about 40 feet of 18" deep trench through rocky, tree-root-laden ground, bored under a sidewalk, and the kids helped pull cable through conduit tonight. Getting close to a completed project!

I'm pretty sure I haven't been to the home store more than about 11 times altogether.

Updated Jun 25, 2019, 7:06 PM

Quick run before taking kids to first day of summer camps.

Fifth Annual Hirsch Winthrop trip was a great success! 30 mile bike trek, tour of Smokejumper base, good food, campfire songs, and fun in town, including the requisite Sheri’s ice cream!

Drizzly last day of 5th (and elementary school), and 7th, and sunny comparisons from last summer. Oh, how they’ve changed in a year, especially Laurel who gained over 2 inches and an attitude 😆.

I think you would appreciate this: https://www.oglaf.com/fog-o-war/

Updated Jun 17, 2019, 9:29 PM

Beautiful evening in Fairhaven. This does not suck.

Happy Father’s Day to my Dad, always great to be with. (Picture from last year)

Great Father’s Day activity with the kids!

My friend @[1395246971:2048:Mathew] started this. UCLA friends, please give it a read. http://chng.it/4vpD6vvm98

Updated Jun 15, 2019, 8:55 AM

Looking for something good to watch with my two choir kids, we just watched the Glee pilot. A couple of observations:

1. It seems like it wasn't that long ago, but I definitely watched it with commercials, on broadcast TV, which is something at this point I haven't done regularly in years.

2. Having an iPhone was mentioned offhandedly as a prestige / status symbol. Oh, how the mighty hath fallen.

3. The social media that was important at the time was, apparently, MySpace. Just wow.

4. Makes me sad for Cory Montieth.

This is a great perspective. I think that Warren is probably my favorite candidate at this time, and this crystallizes why. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/opinion/elizabeth-warren-america.html

Updated Jun 5, 2019, 2:36 PM

As the sun sets on my Palm Springs visit, I am sending a huge Thank You to
Morgan Rumpf and Richard Chic Gasparotti for being AMAZING hosts! I had a fantastic time with them showing me the best parts of the Palm Springs region, feeding me the best food, and being the best company!

I cannot wait to visit again!

Excited to see my folks and then (finally) spend the weekend with Morgan Rumpf and Richard Chic Gasparotti!!

I just saw the first in-app advertisement that I actually appreciated. A trailer for this movie. Looks so fun!

Updated May 27, 2019, 10:42 PM

It’s a beautiful day here at Folklife!

Hey peeps. One of Laurel's friends' family is having some trouble and I've helped out a little. Maybe you can, too.

Updated May 23, 2019, 9:35 PM

Nice sunrise run!

Updated May 22, 2019, 6:29 AM

Updated May 19, 2019, 7:13 AM

Updated May 16, 2019, 6:09 PM

Hope you’re having a fantastic day!

First long run in a while. First Outer Padden Loop in years.

Forgot how much I like this run! Great weather for a run, too.

Updated May 12, 2019, 3:03 PM

Happy Mother’s Day and much love to my mom, my kids’ mom, and all the moms out there. Where would we be without you?

Updated May 9, 2019, 6:23 PM

“...the loneliness of parenting, which is the loneliness of memory — to know that she connects a future unknowable to her parents with a past unknowable to her child.” (*The Immortalists*, Chloe Benjamin)

Running barefoot on the wet sand is easier than regular running! Especially in a place like this.

Updated May 3, 2019, 9:34 AM

I just realized that although I often cannot recall where I put my phone 15 seconds ago, I know my grandparents' phone number that I last dialed when I was in high school. Weird.

(This revelation was brought to you by a one-time passcode with similar digits).

Beautiful warm run! Scudding clouds and an occasional sprinkle of rain.

Updated May 2, 2019, 12:22 PM

Working hard at the conference

Updated May 1, 2019, 4:56 AM

I have to go to Puerto Rico this week for work. 😢

Updated Apr 23, 2019, 5:58 PM

This is amazing, and could lead to things like coolers, refrigerators, and air conditioners that operate with little or no electricity input (maybe just to run a fan)! https://www.media.uzh.ch/en/Press-Releases/2019/Thermodynamic-Magic.html

Updated Apr 22, 2019, 8:44 AM

Much of my trail is gone due to logging. That’s okay though: at least it’s not developed!

Updated Apr 20, 2019, 2:26 PM

Happy birthday, old friend!

And I do mean OLD
(but not as old as me!)😄

Happy birthday to this newly minted teenager! So proud of her and glad to join her on the journey to who she is becoming.

Happy birthday Joumana!

Happy birthday, Beth!

Happy birthday, Jennifer! Hope you are well and that you have a great day!

Excited to see another Cirque show! No Laurel photos because I made her dress up and she’s bashful; Sawyer looks sharp though!

Notes from Vegas, Day 2:
Today was mostly hiking at Red Rocks. Fantastic weather, even a little cool. Had one of the best visitors centers I’ve seen! Great design, interesting activities, good geology, ecology, and biology. Plus live tortoises!

Had a few kid attitude moments, but the hike ended up being great, with a nice little spring at the end as a reward.

This evening we saw some cool sights at Caesar’s, including the spiral escalators and the Atlantis show.

Finished off the night with an impressive milkshake that included cotton candy, rock candy, a lollipop, and more.

Tomorrow’s plan: fun activities and a show!

Notes from Vegas, day 1:

Kids were upset and scandalized by the roaming packs of semi-clothed “showgirls” pestering tourists to take pictures with them. Made the first hour of walking the Strip difficult.

Highlight of the day was the last thing: getting custom-printed M&Ms at the M&M store. Also: tried weird new (proposed) peanut M&M flavors: coconut, English toffee, and jalapeño!

A billboard had a jokey “Today’s safe word is ...” and I got to explain safe words and had to stray into the existence of BDSM in the world. ;/

Sawyer wasn’t into the amazing Bellagio display, but really wanted to get a picture of the super-stretch limo.

Today: hiking Red Rocks!

We are off on our Spring Break trip. Vegas, BABY!!

I love my job, and I love my life doing this job, and I get appreciation from my peers and those I help. That said, I do miss having this kind of impact on people's lives.

Updated Apr 3, 2019, 3:01 PM

Beautiful weather today!

Updated Apr 1, 2019, 6:13 PM

At adult leader training. It’s been about 30 years since my last Scout trip.

This was a fun talk to give! Glad to participate, meet cool folks, support TAG, and represent 3D.

Updated Mar 26, 2019, 2:03 PM

Trying out Nike+ Run Club with my new Apple Watch. Had a good run!

I love this dog, but I don’t always love his choices.

Thank you to all the folks who wished me a happy 50th birthday! And a special thanks to the friends and family who helped me celebrate, whether or not you were at the party! It was one for the books.

Updated Mar 17, 2019, 5:54 PM

The new jump spot rocks!

Giving myself a gift today for my 50th birthday - a silly and fun half-marathon in August. Anybody want to join me? Dave Brogan? John Ellingsen?

Watching Time Bandits w/ the kids. Found Ian Holm, Sean Connery, & Jim Broadbent!

Proud of my middle schooler who is participating today in the School Strike for Climate. https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article227697929.html

Updated Mar 15, 2019, 8:25 AM

First after-work run of the year. Thank you, DST!

Updated Mar 15, 2019, 8:00 AM

Getting an email from my former career is like a visit from an old friend.

Damn but I love Daylight Saving Time.

Updated Mar 9, 2019, 5:06 PM

Happy birthday Megan!!

Updated Mar 2, 2019, 12:30 PM

We're Number 8! We're number 8! We're...number...
...
Well, shit.

Updated Feb 24, 2019, 9:16 PM

Out with Brady for a lovely walk in the snow.

Happy birthday Todd!

Seriously, Bellingham? More snow?

Updated Feb 18, 2019, 9:55 AM

Superman was busy but I think we saw the Wonder Twins!

This place is awesome and weird! Such strange quirky stuff!

Happy 80th birthday, Ed Hirsch! What a great party!

Great long run in the LA sun!

Updated Feb 16, 2019, 10:35 AM

It’s a beautiful day for a run here in sunny Los Angeles! Eat your heart out, Bellinghamsters!

On our way to L.A. to see the family! Got first class for the first time ever (long story). Kids are stoked!

Updated Feb 15, 2019, 2:26 PM

Valentines Day show with the Brogan-Schuster’s!

And the hits keep on coming!

Bellinghamsters: We are hiring for a Tier 1 techie. Send me all your people! I need binders full of them.

This coming weekend is going to be epic! https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-major-snowstorm-will-hit-region.html

Happy birthday, Jeff! So good to see you this year.

Happy birthday to the coolest brother! I’d love hanging out with you even if we weren’t related.

Mostly had to work this snow day but I did take a break to go sledding with Brady and the kids! 😊

Dave!! Still a youngster. Hope today is fun!

Updated Jan 31, 2019, 4:48 PM

Happy birthday Jenn!

Happy birthday man!

Happy birthday to my favorite Sister-in-law!

This is a good one. Clever and funny.

Updated Jan 28, 2019, 7:01 AM

Honestly glad that wiser folks have prevailed upon Trump to give in on the wall, at least in the short term. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/us/politics/trump-shutdown-deal.html?action=click&module=Top+Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Updated Jan 25, 2019, 12:15 PM

Updated Jan 20, 2019, 10:02 PM

Updated Jan 20, 2019, 11:56 AM

This was originally posted as being a statement from Dan Rather, but appears instead to come from a commenter on his News And Guts page. I've adjusted the graphic accordingly.

Happy birthday, Josiah! Love you, kiddo.

So happy to spend an unexpected hour in person with my old friend Jeff Aalfs!

If you’re looking for a good book, “Everything I Never Told You” is the best thing I’ve read in ages.

This is really good: https://youtu.be/koPmuEyP3a0 (h/t @[821280009:2048:Jennifer Armstrong Werner]). Go Gillette!

Updated Jan 14, 2019, 4:31 PM

Updated Jan 13, 2019, 12:08 PM

Updated Jan 12, 2019, 12:25 PM

entertainment
Contact Seller - Bellingham, WA

Give: Large entertainment center is in two pieces that stack. It's in good shape, but is too big for my house. Top is 60" wide x 50" tall x 18" deep. Bottom is 60" wide x 27" tall x 18" deep.

Happy birthday, Russ!

I’m having too much fun with the iOS Messages photo filters.

Updated Jan 5, 2019, 1:06 PM

Proud of Sawyer and the rest of the troop, who blazed through the Christmas tree pickup! (This is only one of the many truckloads)

An image of household peace for 2019.

But on the other hand, I recall that Dr. Peter Venkman had something to say about this situation, and he wasn’t so sanguine about it.

Happy New Year run!

Updated Jan 1, 2019, 12:10 PM

@[564571196:2048:Russ Granger] - Didn't we argue about this a few years back? Some interesting new data. Not conclusive, but interesting.

Updated Dec 31, 2018, 9:51 AM

Weather is great up here at Baker and the company is stellar!

Crazy that somebody is using the throwaway app I wrote to help Todd Koetje with sailing stuff:

Updated Dec 27, 2018, 1:07 PM

Science jokes!

Having a great time with amazing conditions!

Señor gato gruñón wants you to try harder to achieve your resolutions next year.

Happy solstice! Happy finally starting to get more sunlight in our lives each day, not less.

Updated Dec 15, 2018, 8:34 AM

Looks like a tall truck snagged the Comcast cable that used to connect my house to the utility pole. Now that cable as well as small bits of house, are on my lawn.

Someday my home will be welcomed back to the sweet warm bosom of the internet...

This comment from two years ago seems prescient today. (For those mystified, it's an allusion to The Manchurian Candidate).

Updated Dec 10, 2018, 9:17 AM

Nice rainy day fun with the kids!

Updated Dec 8, 2018, 5:44 PM

Updated Dec 8, 2018, 1:55 PM

Out on a date with my best girl!

Morgan!! Love you, man!!

After a long hiatus, I am once again a dog owner! Welcome back to the family, Brady!

@[1076441898:2048:Jeremy Hirsch]: https://www.businessinsider.com/teacher-bike-pedals-desks-concentration-2016-9?r=UK&IR=T

Updated Dec 4, 2018, 3:21 PM

Updated Dec 2, 2018, 1:09 PM

Updated Dec 2, 2018, 8:46 AM

Bruins are down but coming back!

Back at a tailgate! But not playing with the band this time.

Updated Nov 24, 2018, 8:37 AM

Tailgating! Excited to see the Bands! And I suppose there may be football in between the band performances.

Excited to see the clan!

Damn, but somebody is a huge douche!
These were really cool. 🙁
https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article221904445.html

Updated Nov 20, 2018, 2:08 PM

While I think Trump is wrong to revoke Acosta's pass, and I think the judge is right to revert that while the court case moved forward, I don't actually think that CNN should win this case. In what way does any journalist have a right to access the President or any events held in the White House? I don't see what law guarantees such access.

If Trump wants to give a cold shoulder to unfriendly news outlets, he should be punished by the political process, not a legal one. It's not as if anything useful is said at these events anyway.

And the Due Process argument is off-point. As I argued strongly when my conservative friends suggested that Kavanaugh was somehow being denied Due Process rights, the Constitution only guarantees those rights in criminal proceedings, when the person is subject to denial of life, liberty, or property. Not when they don't get to do their job in the room they want to do it in.

That said, I fully support any pressure the political process can bring to bear on Trump to keep all the major news outlets in the room and participating equally.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/16/media/cnn-trump-lawsuit-hearing/index.html

[EDIT/UPDATE] - I was convinced by wiser folks that I was wrong about this. I stand by my position that no journalist has a right to access the White House press room, but it turns out that they do have a Due Process right to not have such access revoked capriciously. Thanks, @[1363731332:2048:Gerry Coleman]!

Updated Nov 16, 2018, 5:10 PM

Cirque du Soleil - Mystere. I got to be in it!!

Sunrise run on the Vegas Strip, and off it.

Updated Nov 14, 2018, 6:56 AM

Off to Vegas for a few days for business. Poor me.

Movie night!!

From our prevaricator-in-chief (11/9/18): "I don't know Matt Whitaker"

Also from our prevaricator-in-chief (10/11/17): "I can tell you Matt Whitaker's a great guy. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker."

https://youtu.be/_CI6dPvi2bY?t=2105

Updated Nov 9, 2018, 11:16 AM

Had a great time at the protest! Thanks to Heather Good for bringing the kids out!

Come and protest, Bellingham!

It's time to act! Protest Sessions' firing!
Thursday, 5 pm, Bellingham.

Notes below.

Updated Nov 6, 2018, 9:43 AM

I voted (last week - here's to full mail-in voting!)

Updated Nov 6, 2018, 7:04 AM

This is a good one. Not super snarky but I love it! @[1514442927:2048:Whitney Klein], @[605895632:2048:Andi Zamora], @[100005137276289:2048:Ed Hirsch] check it out!

Updated Nov 5, 2018, 10:31 AM

This is despicable. As I've recently stated, I wish the Republicans would get back to trying to win on the basis of their policies, and stop trying to suppress voting of their opponents. It's almost as if they don't think that their policies are convincing enough to allow them to win fairly.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/georgia-governor-candidate-brian-kemp-attempts-last-minute-banana-republic-style-voter-manipulation.html

Updated Nov 4, 2018, 10:56 PM

CONGRATULATIONS Americans!! The 2018 ACA (Affordable Care Act) enrollment period is OPEN (Nov 1-Dec 15). You're not seeing advertising about the enrollment window online or on TV because the Affordable Care Act’s advertising budget was cut by 90 percent. Fortunately, your friends are posting this and using the word "congratulations" so it gets posted more frequently in Newsfeed by FB algorithms.

Please copy and paste (don't share) on your own timeline, if you want to help spread the word. When they say "let Obamacare fail on its own" don't think for a second they aren't using every underhanded tactic they can to MAKE it fail. This year, there are many plans that will have lower premiums for those that receive subsidies. Unfortunately there are higher premiums for others because of moves by the administration to sabotage the ACA.

Oakley would fit very nicely!

Updated Nov 4, 2018, 9:50 PM

Updated Nov 4, 2018, 9:13 AM

Oh, I love this! It is so good! Hmm...Julie?

Updated Nov 2, 2018, 5:11 PM

Happy birthday, Scott!

Ready for trick-or-treaters!

They finally got my ballot in the system from Friday! Don't forget, people!

Sawyer with his Troop. Looking forward to his first outing, in December! (The event just happened to be in a church.)

Updated Oct 29, 2018, 11:09 PM

Can I send out a big F*** YOU to conservatives for making our country a place where this is a thing that our kids have to do?

Updated Oct 29, 2018, 10:04 AM

Seventh grade. Got a good one this time!

Sawyer doing community service with his class (removing blackberry) and being photogenic. Love this kid!

Updated Oct 25, 2018, 5:51 PM

You know how you can tell when the President is lying? His lips are moving (or in this case, his fingers).

He claims on Twitter that he rarely uses a cellphone... which he posts from his iPhone!

https://twitter.com/saraecook/status/1055465922805317637/photo/1

Updated Oct 25, 2018, 11:52 AM

It’s almost like they don’t think their policies are good enough to win without cheating...

Updated Oct 23, 2018, 6:17 PM

He's not even trying. Vote to constrain the damage this bullshitter can do to us all.

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1054503698334969863/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1054503698334969863&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fslate.com%2Fnews-and-politics%2F2018%2F10%2Fthe-crushing-dumbness-of-donald-trump-lying-lies-middle-easterners-caravan-tax-cut.html

Updated Oct 23, 2018, 9:07 AM

Updated Oct 23, 2018, 7:08 AM

Happy birthday, Joel!

Updated Oct 20, 2018, 1:07 PM

Updated Oct 18, 2018, 5:36 PM

So, I decided to try and re-create Twinkies, for fun. Followed this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD2OOTx2G9k), and they turned out pretty good! These are version 2.0; tweaked the filling recipe.

You're welcome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHBcVlqpvZ8

Updated Oct 16, 2018, 8:42 AM

Looks like your Facebook account got hacked.

Updated Oct 11, 2018, 5:42 PM

Updated Oct 10, 2018, 7:22 AM

Washingtonians, we've just ended a big registration push, but registration is not enough - we must actually vote! So, let's make this a thing: go to https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/history, take a screenshot and post how awesome you are for voting!

Books and cocoa with Laurel while Sawyer is at Scouts.

Updated Oct 6, 2018, 3:11 PM

Updated Oct 6, 2018, 2:03 PM

Updated Oct 5, 2018, 7:28 PM

Dan Rather is the wise elder we need in these dark times.

Updated Oct 5, 2018, 7:24 PM

Laurel's finally getting her own cell phone. Her mom and I wanted a usage contract to make sure she knows the expectations. Here's what we are using:

PDF one with blanks to fill in: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zdc3uu8wjp1kh8y/Cell%20Phone%20Contract%20blanks.pdf?dl=0

Pages document that can be edited: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qnnw106rnn5nrqz/Cell%20Phone%20Contract.pages?dl=0

Thanks to @[605895632:2048:Andi Zamora], who put me on to a great document from https://joshshipp.com/ from which ours was modified.

Updated Oct 5, 2018, 10:59 AM

Updated Oct 4, 2018, 6:24 PM

Updated Oct 4, 2018, 9:00 AM

Family & friends: Sawyer is raising money for his school in the annual Fun Run. They run around the track as many times as they can and the idea is that we pledge money for each lap or just give a fixed amount.
You can send me a check, PayPal me, or donate online (http://www.happyvalleypta.com/fun-run). Sawyer's info for the online form: 5th Grade, Ms. Eckert.

This is a long read, but it's really well done.

Now I just need to condense it into < 500 words to post on my conservative friends' pages. 😄

https://www.currentaffairs.org/2018/09/how-we-know-kavanaugh-is-lying

Updated Sep 30, 2018, 10:46 PM

Having a great time in Leavenworth with my folks and the kids. Happened to be here during the Autumn Leaves festival and parade. Tons of Marching Bands, which I love. Two from Bellingham!

Updated Sep 27, 2018, 6:09 PM

Updated Sep 27, 2018, 5:56 PM

Updated Sep 27, 2018, 3:39 PM

"Did you puke from drinking?"

"I was captain of the basketball team."

The Republicans are making a process argument. Ask Merrick Garland how that works.

Oh, wow. The FBI investigation question is killing him.

"Tell us about the yearbook."

"I ran track"

Kavanaugh: "I'm not questioning that Dr. Ford may have been assaulted"
"may"=question

Wow. This is the real Kavanaugh: political attack dog for Ken Starr.

This is a major and horrible national moment. It will define the parties for years.

Oh my god. This poor woman.

Teaching Sawyer to use a sewing machine so he can sew his Scout patches onto his uniform.

After my run, I biked back out to the clear-cut near the trail to take some sunset photos. These are the least-bad ones.

Great fast Fall run!

Updated Sep 25, 2018, 5:48 PM

Maybe this will brighten your day; it made me smile.
https://i.imgur.com/DcyWshN.gifv

Updated Sep 25, 2018, 12:07 PM

Updated Sep 24, 2018, 10:04 PM

Happy birthday Leland! Hope it's a good one. :) \

Updated Sep 20, 2018, 6:04 PM

I found this, and I love it way too much. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKtIunYVkv_RezN3GB12YA8orYOScQUdA

Updated Sep 19, 2018, 7:40 PM

Updated Sep 18, 2018, 5:40 PM

Had a very fun birthday party for Sawyer today. He did a great job trying wrangle 9 other 5th grade boys to explain the games and contests, and in so doing, got a taste of the medicine he and his friends feed his teachers all the time. 😁

Outside playing and running games, inside Minute-To-Win-In-Style contests, tons of pizza and cake and gummy candy! There was even some swimming during a break in the weather, and we got a rainbow to see us off at the end!

Birthday ice cream! Chocolate, chocolate, and corn(!) flavors.

Happy birthday to Sawyer, a kid with a ton of energy and personality. He makes friends wherever he goes, drives the adults crazy, and is enthusiastic about all the things!

Taking Sawyer to visit a local Boy Scout troop meeting to check it out. It feels strange but good, Jeremy, Ed, Judy, & Whitney.

Updated Sep 10, 2018, 7:14 AM

A nice little September surprise from the previous owners of my house.

Updated Sep 7, 2018, 7:15 AM

This is amazing, sad, and horrifying, all at once: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/opinion/trump-white-house-anonymous-resistance.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

Updated Sep 5, 2018, 12:47 PM

First run on my “home” trail. Love it!

Updated Sep 5, 2018, 7:17 AM

Have you seen this lame astroturf campaign? 😠 Don't be suckered.

GROCERIES are not being taxed, and there's no move to tax groceries. This is a push by the SODA manufacturers to keep us from taxing soda. The farmer in this picture and quote is either lying or duped, because he isn't producing soda. (Shady Grove Farm - any response?)

Vote NO on 1634.

From their own website: "Top 5 contributors: Washington Food Industry Association; The Coca-Cola Company; PepsiCo, Inc.;
Keurig Dr Pepper and Red Bull North America"

Major Team Hirsch project today! Kids and I dug out the rest of the crawl space; probably moved 1.5 cubic yards or dirt out a small opening, over a five hour period. So proud of these two troopers!

Interesting finds: part of a cow(?) femur, a knife blade, newspapers from 1978, some cool rocks, and a desiccated squirrel.

Updated Aug 31, 2018, 7:22 AM

It’s too bad we live in such an ugly place.

Paypal should probably not be trusted. They use SMS-based two-factor authentication, which is not secure. All financial entities should support strong MFA, which Paypal does not. As convenient as Paypal is, I think I will be disconnecting it from my other accounts to prevent compromise of Paypal leading to compromise of my credit card and bank accounts.

Zelle is no better (sorry, Dad).

Looking at other options. It's crazy that with the heavy competition in this area, nobody appears to be competing on security features.

Update: Google Pay is the right way at this time. It supports good 2FA, location tracking to deter fraud, and other security measures.

First run in a while, due to smoke, trips, and, let’s be honest, laziness.

Updated Aug 26, 2018, 8:50 AM

😂

Bellinghamsters: I have some moving boxes, free to a good home. Interested?

High-school English class!

From: https://www.oglaf.com/crimson-queen/ (Warning: others on the site are very NSFW)

Took Laurel to see Eighth Grade in advance of her starting 7th. So good!

I'd been hearing about him for a while, and when I read this (https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1032017750829531142), he reminded me so much of Obama! I just made a donation. @[1147284285:2048:Judy], @[100005137276289:2048:Ed], @[1076441898:2048:Jeremy], @[1514442927:2048:Whitney] - check him out.

Updated Aug 22, 2018, 12:49 PM

Today’s orange light, haze, and limited visibility have me feeling nostalgic for my childhood in smoggy Los Angeles...

Today is a good day! Manafort and Cohen, both guilty!

"Cohen ... paid a pornographic actress “at the direction of the candidate ... for the principal purpose of influencing the election” for president in 2016."

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/nyregion/michael-cohen-plea-deal-trump.html?action=click&module=Top+Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Updated Aug 21, 2018, 2:19 PM

@[1514442927:2048:Whitney Klein] this is a new one, and I like it a lot.

Updated Aug 21, 2018, 6:57 AM

Just returned from the Fourth Annual Hirsch Ross Lake Canoe Trip! It was a great success, with almost no bugs, almost no wind, easy paddling, good swimming, but a lot of smoke/smog from the BC fires. At one point, we had to navigate by compass because we couldn't see either bank of the lake!

We’re Fairing it UP!

Anybody need a certified babysitter?

Look who was highlighted by the YMCA today! Go Sawyer!

Updated Aug 7, 2018, 10:43 AM

Still having fun hiking! Sawyer brought that same bandanna on the hike this weekend, and he's still a cute goofball.

Updated Aug 6, 2018, 7:58 AM

Today was the bribe for yesterday’s hike.

In other news, Trump finally admits water is wet.

President Admits Focus of Trump Tower Meeting Was Getting Dirt on Clinton

Updated Aug 5, 2018, 2:13 PM

After three attempts over the past few years, I finally got these kids up Heliotrope Ridge Trail! It was a perfect day: great weather, no bugs, clear views, and good attitudes!

Please join me in sending thoughts and prayers to the NRA in its time of need.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/nra-financial-trouble-706371/

Updated Aug 4, 2018, 11:27 PM

Happy birthday, anya!

This is perfect.

Updated Aug 2, 2018, 7:25 AM

Bellingham rocks! Downtown Sounds, baby!

My mom was there ringing the NYSE bell opening the day today! What a unique experience for Judy Greenberg Hirsch! Video: https://livestream.com/accounts/1160789/events/8312042/videos/178361191

First day of “Leaders in Training” camp at the Y for Laurel included a Meyers-Briggs test. Apparently she’s an ISTJ. 😄

Happy birthday, Megan! Hope you are having a great day / year / life!

There were no signs prohibiting climbing the water tower...

Go Bells!

Ready to see a fun movie!

Berries!

This is a very good, well-reasoned argument. Let's find terms other than "treason". "Collusion" is a good one: it clearly gets under the President's skin, and is supported by the evidence. By siding with Russia against the US, he is colluding with them to help them accomplish their aims of harming our democracy and our national interests.

Updated Jul 18, 2018, 11:11 AM

Here's something to make you laugh, and/or wryly shake your head at the silliness of it all. https://www.ciedenim.com/shop/Nancy

Updated Jul 17, 2018, 9:53 AM

I knew there was something pithy I wanted to express based on Trump today, and this was it.

Somebody should tell the immigrants in detention camps that they just have to say, in the strongest possible terms, that they didn’t break the law, and then Trump will believe them and let them go, right? Doesn’t matter what law enforcement agencies say, so long as they claim innocence strongly enough, it appears.

Updated Jul 16, 2018, 11:02 PM

Updated Jul 14, 2018, 1:18 PM

This is too good / awful. I love / hate it.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/07/russia-targeted-clinton-same-day-trump-asked-russia-to-hack-her.html

Updated Jul 13, 2018, 1:01 PM

Happy birthday to the best brother-in-law I have!

Laurel is on a girls backpacking expedition, so Sawyer and I had a picnic dinner at the park! Steaks, swings, and frisbee! Love this kiddo!

Happy birthday,Rose!

Thanks @[1147284285:2048:Judy Greenberg Hirsch] and @[100005137276289:2048:Ed Hirsch]!

Updated Jul 4, 2018, 11:30 PM

Bellingham friends: I need a recommendation for pest control people (carpenter bees 😤).

Voting matters; the parties are not equally evil.

Updated Jul 2, 2018, 10:02 AM

Happy birthday, man! Hope it’s a great day!

Dear Hawaii: our visit was wonderful but too brief. Aloha and mahalo!

GODDAMN it Kennedy! You couldn't wait until Fall?

Last night in Hawaii. We’ll miss it.

Updated Jun 25, 2018, 6:29 PM

Highlight from yesterday: swimming with manta rays! We were all holding onto surfboard/PVC floats at the surface. There were scuba divers down below, and the lights bring the plankton into the water column at night, luring the manta rays to the site. In this video, Ami (LoLo) and Jeremy are on one side of me, and Laurel is on the other. The rest of the family except Dad were on the other side of the board, or on the other board, getting essentially the same experience.
For scale, the main manta ray doing rolls in the video was probably 8-10 feet in wingspan.

Remembering another tropical vacation from a long time ago...

Updated Jun 24, 2018, 10:54 AM

What a great day we had in Hilo today! We volunteered at the donation center and then went on a speedboat ride to view the lava entering the ocean: lava, rainbows, dolphins, floating car-size scoria boulders still glowing with magma inside, not to mention the thrilling ride out there and back!
There’s a ton of footage to go through but here’s a taste.

Sawyer and cousin Josiah jumping off the fishing / snorkeling boat today.

Jeremy and Josiah landing a couple of wahoo (oni) today. We’re eating some of them tonight, and giving the rest of the meat to a distant family member displaced by the lava.

Snorkeling and jumping off the boat!

Warm tropical rain is the best rain.

Laurel and her cousin Max going parasailing in Kona.

Parasailing with Sawyer

Off the resort, off Maui, in Kona for the next week, with this place as our base camp. Also not sucking.

Spotted at Hawaiian Airline check-in. 😄

What a cutie!

I’ve been sitting this debate (child separation for migrants) out because I didn’t have time to do my own research on the conflicting claims. Here is what appears to be exhaustive good data with citations.

Updated Jun 20, 2018, 10:19 AM

Had a great day today in Maui: Jet Skiing (even Grandma Judy!), Olivine Pools (with some actual olivine, but more orthopyroxene overall), Nakalele Blowhole, then later a lovely sushi dinner out with the family. This doesn't suck.

I will be there! I’ll bring a tomato cucumber salad, unless you need a different kind of side dish. How many people?

Cliff jumping at this cool grotto!

Friends: prepare for a 10-day onslaught of Hawaii pics. Consider unfollowing me now. 😄

Easy drive to SeaTac and an empty TSA Pre✔️ line (skipped right past the *giant* regular line, basically worth the $80 right there) and we are excited to be starting our Hawaiian getaway! Excited to see the family, and celebrate Judy and Ed’s 50th Anniversary!!

Birthday buddies! They were so little. How time flies.

Updated Jun 14, 2018, 9:10 AM

Excited for a female heist for once! Teaching my kids that women can be charismatic and felonious just like men.

This is my favorite one in a while! It's whimsical and fun (some of his recent ones have been more bitter). Plus it's the Avenue Q tune, which is great.

Updated Jun 8, 2018, 8:34 AM

Sawyer rocked his rap solo at choir today! (He’s at 2:50)

Here's one chain thing I will get on board with. Mine was "BIllie Jean", which I'm pretty sure doesn't define me at all. So there.

Updated Jun 5, 2018, 4:57 PM

Best pics from fourth annual Winthrop trip @ Winthrop, Washington

Happy birthday, Ashley!

Happy birthday, Ruth; hope you are well and and enjoying life!

Happy Birthday, Judy!

First highlight of the new house: enhanced movie nights with ceiling-mounted projection! (We watched Buster Keaton’s The General)

Happy birthday, Megan!

Happy birthday Whitney! Hope it’s a good one!

More pics from a great trail ride with Quinn from Early Winters Outfitting. Including the rattlesnake!

Annual horseback riding trip!

Great little hike with the kids! Fantastic view at the top!

Starting the annual Winthrop family camp out!

These great kids are helping clean the old apartment. Doing their share, spackling and vacuuming!

Needed to replace the wax ring... turns out previous folks had installed particleboard over laminate and it was wet and turned to mulch, so Sawyer and I are digging (not cutting!) up the subfloor.

Hope this year brings you great things, all the best things, believe me, nobody deserves them more than you. Everybody knows that you’re just a very very great person — tremendous really — and a great person like you deserves all the best things. Anybody who says different is just fake news.

Found this in my new house. Got to be pretty darn old with that phone number!

Happy birthday, Matt!

Happy Birthday, Andi! I hope it's the best one yet, and represents the start of a great year!

This live feed with audio and video of fissure 17 in Hawaii is cool. (Thanks, @[564451932:2048:Jackie]!) https://www.facebook.com/civilbeat/videos/1949323195100399/UzpfSTU2NDQ1MTkzMjoxMDE1NTIwNzQwNTE2MTkzMw/

Updated May 15, 2018, 11:26 AM

Spent the first night in our new home after a picnic in the park (which I recommend when you have neither food nor dishes handy).

Happy Mother’s Day to Judy Greenberg Hirsch, a great woman: smart, kind, tough, generous, and above all, loving. We all love and appreciate all you do for the family and can’t wait to see you again soon!

Bellinghamsters: Last call for moving helpers. Boxes and bins only (no furniture). Saturday 9:30-12:30. Pizza and beer/soda after. Meet at 1932 18th St. (Padden Creek Apartments) #J202 (http://map.davehirsch.com/) Park on street.

You thought that Skynet was going to evolve from military tech?

Nope.

So much winning, it's jaw-dropping.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/05/trump-iran-nuclear-deal-withdrew-out-of-spite-or-ignorance.html

Updated May 8, 2018, 12:32 PM

I have a helper/mascot for my computer work tonight.

Can now re-add "homeowner" to my description! Although "mortgagor" is more precise.

This is so succinct and good.

Updated May 4, 2018, 8:25 AM

Bellingham friends: Going to be moving into our new house on May 12. Want to help? Show up any time from 1-6. Stay after to eat pizza and drink beer/soda.

RIP Bob Dorough

"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union..."

Everybody around my age just sang that in their heads, thanks to him.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/24/us/schoolhouse-rock-creator-died-trnd/index.html

I'm on the roster for this. 5:40 pm tomorrow, doing my thing.

Updated Apr 24, 2018, 8:55 PM

Updated Apr 24, 2018, 8:49 PM

Welcome Chloe, new newest and fuzziest member of our family!

It would suck that your kid was this disobedient and rebellious, but wouldn't it be kinda cool that they were this resourceful?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/23/boy-12-steals-credit-card-and-goes-on-bali-holiday-after-fight-with-mother

Updated Apr 23, 2018, 10:50 AM

Swimming party cake for a friend. I suck at sculpting little people though. And there’s the fact that either the people are giants or it’s a very small pool.

Wow. Jonathan Pryce, Terry Gilliam, that guy from Star Wars... This ought to be good! https://youtu.be/PkRo5l8679g

Updated Apr 19, 2018, 9:56 AM

Hard to believe she's 12 now!

Updated Apr 19, 2018, 9:18 AM

Happy birthday, Mat! Hope it's a good one!

Happy birthday, old friend! Keep paddling along!

Laurel asked me to make her a birthday cake. I decided to challenge myself. Three-layer chocolate cake with chocolate-chip pastry cream filling, swiss meringue buttercream ombré frosting, and fondant seascape with 12-tentacle jellyfish holding the candles. I hope she likes it (the buttercream isn’t as sweet as my usual frosting). I found edible glitter to use on the top, too!

I realize this post is obviously fishing for likes, but I’m honestly proud of this one!

Oh. My. God. I sure hope this is false. "Mr. Ron" cared for both my kids for many years at Blossom daycare. We never had any reason to suspect anything bad about him. I feel actually a bit physically sick right now. Please let this be wrong. FYI @[1471832598:2048:Heather Good]

Updated Apr 13, 2018, 1:37 PM

Hard drive died last weekend. Replaced the drive tonight, and restoring from backup now. Yay Time Machine! So easy, even without an operating system installed! (This is actually my first time I’ve had to restore a whole drive from a Time Machine backup).

Remember this: There are two types of people: those who run backups and those who will run backups after they lose their shit.

Happy birthday Beth! Hope it’s an awesome year!

Teal hair and aviators. They get cooler every day.

One of my favorites, from Randy Rainbow!

Updated Apr 9, 2018, 8:53 AM

What a great Spring weekend! Trampoline zone, Farmers Market and Mindport with new friends, a nice hike on the new Chanterelle Trail, and now Isle of Dogs!

This is one of my favorite memories of all time. Thanks for reminding me, FB.

Updated Apr 2, 2018, 8:27 AM

The new downtown park is so close to completion! Happy to see revitalization after all these years.

Excited!!

Just got tickets to go see Ready Player One Wednesday with my co-worker co-nerds!

And so it begins...

Updated Mar 25, 2018, 9:06 PM

Happy birthday Gary!! Hope it’s a great one.

It’s looking more and more likely that Trump will fire Mueller. That cannot stand. We cannot have business as usual if that happens. I will take to the streets (peacefully) protesting. We must all make the country grind to a halt in order to keep this man, who has such affection for despots and dictators, from turning our country into his own private piggy bank.

Here’s a link to a rapid-action event, just in case (h/t @[1425034503:2048:Joel O'Connor]): https://act.moveon.org/event/mueller-firing-rapid-response-events/

Updated Mar 18, 2018, 11:31 PM

The hypocrisy is amazing!

Updated Mar 18, 2018, 8:34 PM

If you are feeling down today, take a few minutes to watch this; it made me smile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=313&v=FblvOiaoWwA

Updated Mar 14, 2018, 1:29 PM

Updated Mar 13, 2018, 9:12 PM

Happy birthday, Megan!

Updated Mar 5, 2018, 6:57 AM

While cleaning out my folks’ garage, we dug through my grandfather’s tool chests and found his old metalworking tools from when he was building submarines, including a notebook from the early 40s with sketches of things to build in particular ships that were used in WWII and are still around today, according to Adam Klein.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Crevalle_(SS-291)
So cool!

Made a ton of progress on cleaning up my folks’ garage, along with my siblings Jeremy and Whitney, and Adam. This is our gift to them from Chanukah.

This is fantastic news, assuming they don't make a hash of it: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2333693