Not living in Seattle proper, I didn’t give this much thought. I went to Seattle Saturday night, and in a front wheel drive car without chains, I was able to get around just fine using some common sense driving skills, like slow down, no sudden starts, brake gradually etc. Sure, some of the hills were closed, but we did managed to go up Cherry between 3rd and 4th successfully (it was a one way street going up so we had no choice, really), then down Columbia from 4th back to 3rd.
The roads were awful, and the snow was coming down hard, Yet we made it home to the foothills without issue. The freeway was moderately scary. But not impassable.
But apparently there is a lurking issue here that I was unaware of, and that is Seattle’s strategy on snow control. They are deliberately allowing the snow to pack the roads, and they are not using the time test combinations of salt and deicer to clear the most dangerous areas. Just some sand for the high traffic areas and occasional deicer. And behind it is Seattle’s legendary Eco-Nit Wit mentality.
For years the Washington State Capital has had a Christmas tree in the Capital rotunda. yes, they wimped out years ago and labeled it a “holiday tree”, but for all the political correctness, it is a friggin Christmas tree.
A Jewish group added a Menorah to the display, then another religious group petitioned to add a nativity scene, and won.
That brought us to the present debacle.
An atheist group placed a “winter solstice” sign that denounced all religion.
And the fun started, as local groups expressed outrage. The was transparently intended to be insulting and it worked.
It even made Bill O’Reilly’s show, featuring local horses ass David Goldstein (who also has a blog called horsesass)…
…twice, as it made his show again when he went head to head against Megyn Kelly of Fox News.
And the two latest news stories are that someone took the sign, it conveniently turned it in to a radio station, and it is back in place; and that a local pastor is seeking to place a clear anti atheism sign nearby
U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has survived a second Democratic-wave election, bucking a national trend that flipped at least 24 Republican congressional seats to Democrats.
His opponent, Darcy Burner, conceded tonight after The Associated Press determined that Reichert’s lead for the 8th District seat was insurmountable.
In an interview this evening, Reichert said he believed he won because people in the district knew that “what you see is what you get.”
“I think that there’s no rebranding that had to be done here in this campaign,” he said. “My years of public service have built a record that people in this community recognize.”
Burner did not call Reichert to concede tonight and could not be reached for comment. In a statement, she said: “It is likely at this point that Congressman Reichert has won re-election, and while we will certainly ensure that every valid vote is counted, we accept the decision of the voters.
No jokes, this is a tragedy. Darcy Burner, the democrat nominee to the 8th District Congressional seat, lost her home to a fire this morning.
The Burner’s and their dog escaped injury, and their cat was lost.
As I said, this is every family’s nightmare. To be woken up at 7am by your child telling you his room is on fire is an experience I am happy to avoid. Thank God they did waken and escape.
Now the cause is under investigation, with rumours off a gas main blowing and a faulty light in the child’s room running forefront.
The fact it started in a child’s room might lead to other speculation, as it would not be the first time that a child has done something tragically stupid.
Hopefully not.
What I was curious about when I read this story this afternoon was how long it would take our local loony left to blame this on the republicans.
I didn’t have long to wait, nor was I the first to wonder. Browsing to Horsesass.org, the local den of rabid liberals, and a stronghold of Burner Support, I was not disappointed.
I have been to one game at Qwest Field. I can say this with all assurance: It is loud. Every beer swilling loudmouth within ten rows of me was screaming his (or her) lungs out. Don’t get me wrong, I was beer swilling and screaming too. It is infectious. And loud. I am use to being hoarse after a game, but not deaf. My ears rang for hours.
So no, I am not buying the constant accusations of loudness being artificial. Which made another appearance before todays game, when the ‘Skins running back Sellers had this to say:
Like very loud broken record, rumors that the noise supplied by Seattle Seahawks fans at Qwest Field may be artificially flavored is starting again.
The latest volley in the controversy comes from a member of the Washington Redskins, who play the Seahawks this Saturday. It’s a rematch of a playoff game two years ago which the Seahawks won 20-10 on their way to Super Bowl XL.
Jackie Brooks has smoked for a half-century and figures she consumes a pack a day inside her Auburn apartment.
The 74-year-old doesn’t want to quit and says she has a right to smoke in her own home.
Not anymore. The King County Housing Authority is banning smoking in all units at Plaza 17, the 70-unit apartment complex where Brooks has lived for 14 years.
In addition to the Plaza 17 in Auburn, the authority banned smoking at its 70-unit Northridge 1 in Shoreline and its 82-unit Nia Apartments at Greenbridge project under construction in White Center. The ban starts next month.
Nice. Let’s ban smoking in homes. I don’t smoke, I quit in 91, so I would never be affected. But people should have a right to privacy in their own homes.
My exit question remains the same: If smoking is so bad, then why not ban cigarettes.
This is like electing a pop star president of their own fan club. Big Shock.
Not content with telling kids Santa was going to die, now he is the head cheese for the biggest waster of tax payer money in western Washington. I am speaking of the Light Rail project that was billions overbudget before it broke ground, does nothing to relive traffic problems, and doesnt go where the people need it to.
And as Greg is a HUGE fan of transit and wasting money, this should mean lots of new taxes and even more waste.
Hoorrah!
This is just one more reason to oppose Sound Transit.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was unanimously elected chairman of the Sound Transit board for a two-year term.
Nickels, 52, is a longtime advocate of the light rail system the agency is building.
As chairman, he will preside at meetings of the agency’s 18-member board of elected public officials and will be its chief link to Chief Executive Officer Joni Earl. His two-year term will include the scheduled December 2009 opening of the 15.7-mile light rail system between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport.
Thank you for taking the time to write us with your concerns. We certainly understand you are not happy with the recent changes that have been made on KVI.
As we continue to evaluate our programming on KVI, please know this was a difficult decision for us. Ultimately, we needed to look at the strongest programs on KVI from a ratings and revenue standpoint and make some hard but necessary business decisions.
Bryan Suits is one of the most brilliant, quick-witted people we know. But unfortunately his wisdom, experience and side-splitting humor failed to gain ratings traction against his competitors. We believe the local, political talk show The Commentators will have a better chance competing during the important afternoon drive time period (it will be the only show of its kind on the radio in that timeslot).
(Not anymore, it is now up against David Boze…)
We wish Bryan all the best and thank him for his service to the station, and more importantly, his service to our country.
With the Seattle area still reeling from the firing of Bryan Suits (KVI has still not responded to my request for comment) we now learn that rival KTTH has also dropped a morning favorite.
The Sytman and Boze show ran against Kirby Wilbur, but now it is the David Boze show and it is running at 3-6 against the commentaters, and was replaced in the 5-9 slot by Glenn Beck
Like Bryan, Dan has been excised from his radio station’s page, with no notice I can see.
Dan’s website says:
Being the ridiculously blessed person that I am, I have a little extra time off this November. I hope to talk with you soon. In the meantime I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from President Ronald Reagan:
“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.”
Dan Sytman
November 16, 2007
Now, knowing that his severence likely depends on an an anti disparagement clause regarding his former employer, I don’t take his light hearted attitude too seriously.
“Good blog from a new reader." ~ Lars Larson, Syndicated Talk Radio Host
"I really was blown away by the depth of your writing -- do you write for a living? If not, why not? Count me among YOUR fans." ~ Melanie Morgan, Syndicated Talk Radio Host
"One of the best Northwest Blogs" ~ Bryan Suits, Radio Talk Show Host KFI 640am
"Not trying to blow smoke up your butt, but you turn a nice phrase - even though we often disagree!" ~ Ken Schram, Northwest Radio and Television Commentator
New blog recommendation: ST reader Karl’s blog Leaning Straight Up
~ Sister Toldjah, Nationally recognized blogger
"It’s a well-written blog and it was enjoying to read through."
~ Jon Fredkove, Strategic Name Development
