Floaters

Bunched up water floaters. Not sure what they are really called, but they are used to block boat access to docs and other areas.

ISO 400 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160s sec

Apple Inspiration

According to a recent study, the Apple logo is supposed to inspire creativity. So here is my attempt at being creative. I guess I probably maybe failed. Perhaps working at Microsoft makes me immune the power of the Apple logo. Actually, I think I'm not just that creative with pictures anymore (if I ever was). I used the back-light apple on the back of Martha's laptop and moved the camera around.

ISO 400 | 50 mm | f/5.6 | 2 sec

Lenin in Seattle

A few months ago I was in the Freemont area of Seattle for the Red Bull Soap Box derby. After the derby and walking around the neighborhood, I was surprised to see this tall statue of Lenin right smack in the middle of a US city. I took a picture and forgot about it. So as Martha and I walked around Freemont today, I shot another picture. If you are wondering why and how this sculpture made it's way to Seattle, you can find out more about it in Wikipedia.

Surfs Up!

I took this series of pictures while I was in my honeymoon in Hawaii. I needed to adjust the lighting on the pictures so they would all match, but I'm tired and need to go to bed. Maybe some other day.

Jumping a wave.

Happy in the Sun

When I got home from work, there was just a glimpse of sunlight on the flowers. I had to hurry to take some pictures before the sun hid behind the tall pine trees.

ISO 400 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160 sec

Fire Escape

The side of a building in downtown Seattle.

The Geese Are Back

The geese are returning from their vacation down south.

Drive Carefully

A funny sign somewhere in the Seattle waterfront.

The Last Sunset

Today is Ili's last day in Seattle with us. It's been fun having her here for the past several months, so we are sad to see her leave. When Ili arrived back in May, we went to the Kirkland Marina to watch the sunset. So, we thought it appropriate to go there today and enjoy the sunset with her one last time. We wish you the best in all of your travels Ili!

Sunset reflection on Lake Washington

Where am I?

This cool welcome mat is at the entrance of a neat little map store in downtown Seattle. Quite appropriate for the store.

Now I know exactly where I am...

A Hint of Spring

A few of the tulips that we bought the other day at Pike's Market.

Year of the Rat

February 7th was Chinese New Year. But part of the celebrations were done today. My beautiful wife Martha and I went to Chinatown to see as a Lion dance group went around evicting evil spirits and bringing in the New Year.

Pair of Lions dancing in front of a business

Fruity Art

An idea I got the other day with an apple. Just that this time, it's a plumb.

ISO 320 | 18 mm | f/4.0 | 1/125 sec

Balancing Act

Martha, Ili and I went for an afternoon walk to Kirkland before Thanksgiving dinner. This funny seagull kept trying to balance on buoy.

City Fish Market

Ah... Good old Pike's Market. I know, I know, another picture of a place I've taken several pictures of, but it's been a while since all the neon lights work. See this location in Live Maps.

ISO 500 | 26 mm | f/4.0 | 1/60 sec

Stick Man

If I were a stick man, this is what I might look like. I've only played with light drawings once before. I acknowledge I'm not good at it, but at least it's fun. I drew the figure with the back light of my bike.

Stormy

Storm clouds over the Puget Sound.

ISO 250 | 31 mm | f/4.5 | 1/13 sec

Splash of Pink

Came across these flowers a few weeks ago. Not your typical Fall color, but stunning nevertheless. Please enlarge, as they look a bit faded in the thumbnail.

ISO 500 | 45 mm | f/5.3 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160 sec

Casualties of Fall

The beauty of Fall is almost over. The fading colors lie scattered across the ground defeated by the inevitability of life.

ISO 500 | 38 mm | f/5.0 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 35 mm | f/4.8 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 31 mm | f/4.5 | 1/160 sec

Banking for the Poor

Today, Ili and I had the privileged of going to see last year's Nobel Prize winner Dr. Yunus. Dr. Yunus was invited to Microsoft to talk about his work on microcredit and how he was inspired to create the Grameen Bank which gives loans to the poor without expecting any financial gain. It truly is a great idea that has now helped thousands of people across the world to come out of poverty and improve their life style.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus

Dr. Yunus was invited to fit in with Microsoft's annual Giving campaign. Employees are encouraged to donate throughout the month of October to nonprofit organizations in the US and across the world. Microsoft will then match the employee donations dollar for dollar. Besides donating money, we are also encouraged to donate time and help with local organizations. Last year's Giving campaign raised over $72 million.

It's good to work for such a large company that is also socially minded and recognizes it's ability to help across the world. Social responsibility is something that is usually ignored by companies and I certainly think it's something more companies need to do.

The Grameen Bank, which Dr. Yunus founded in the 70's is a purely social-business; it doesn't seek to make a profit, only what it needs to exist. It's not a charity it doesn't give anything away, therefore it doesn't create a dependency, yet it helps people raise themselves out of poverty and lead a better life.

Answering employee questions after his talk.

To find out more about microcredit, Dr. Yunus, the Grameen Bank and the Grameen Foundation, follow the links scared around this post.

It was Bill Gates' mom that suggested he start the Microsoft Giving Campaign in 1979.