We've donated $50 to the sea otter fund each year since it was added
to the California state tax return. Please consider making a donation,
however small. Everything helps.

From the Monterey Bay Aquarium…

> March 9, 2010
>
> Sea otters are remarkable animals but their struggling population
> needs our help.
>
> Won't you please join me in making a contribution to help sea otters
> when you file your California state income tax form this year?
>
> You need only watch Kit, our three-month old pup and newest addition
> to our sea otter exhibit, to feel inspired to protect the oceans and
> ocean wildlife.
>
> We will never know how Kit became separated from her mother, but we
> do know that females of prime breeding age are dying in record
> numbers. That's why the California Sea Otter Fund is so important–
> it supports critical research needed to help these animals survive.
>
> Your contribution is urgently needed. Last year, the fund fell
> $13,000 short of the $250,000 minimum target. We must meet the
> minimum this year to keep it on the tax form.
>
> Please take action for sea otters when you file your income taxes
> this year.
>
> In 25 years of helping sick and stranded sea otters, we've learned a
> lot but there is much more to do. Please also consider making a tax-
> deductible donation to the Aquarium to support our work on behalf of
> California's sea otters and advance our mission to inspire
> conservation of the oceans.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Julie Packard
> Executive Director
> Monterey Bay Aquarium
>
>
> *****************************************************************
>
> Did You Know?
> Four years ago, a young boy visiting our sea otter exhibit learned
> about the threats facing sea otters and felt compelled to do
> something. He enlisted help from his dad, who happened to be
> California Assembly member Dave Jones. Jones co-authored a bill that
> allowed people to make a voluntary contribution to sea otter
> research when they file their state income taxes, and the California
> Sea Otter Fund was created.
>
> *****************************************************************
>
> The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a non-profit institution. Our mission
> is to inspire conservation of the oceans.
>
> View our Privacy Policy:
> http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/sg/sg_policies.asp
>
> We welcome your thoughts and comments.
> (Send your e-mail to: aquarium@mbayaq.org.)
>
>
>
> Monterey Bay Aquarium | 886 Cannery Row | Monterey, CA 93940 | US

During our recent trip to Vancouver, BC for the 2010 Winter Olympics, we tried lots and lots of different restaurants. One of the highlights was Incendio, a pizza place in Gastown.

Jennifer's pizza and my chicken calzone were both terrific. I tried a Stanley Park Amber ale which I enjoyed very much. Service was super friendly (a clear trend at almost every place we went) and they happily changed the big-screen's channel to the snowboard cross event we wanted to watch (though there weren't too many other people in the restaurant at the time).

If we'd been in Vancouver any longer I'm sure we would have gone back at least one more time. Highly recommended.

We saw *seven* hockey games (two womens', five mens') at the Olympics, including the USA vs. Russia womens' game and the Canada vs. Germany mens' game. The energy level was incredible, even at games with less local interest like Norway vs. Switzerland. I had historically not been a big fan of NHL hockey though I did enjoy Olympic hockey, but after seeing so many NHL players live at the games I'm now starting to find some interest in the San Jose Sharks.

Please re-authorize me in Y!IM. Thank you. That is all.