Thu - January 12, 2006

What the hell happened to Alaska Airlines?


Man, I remember when they were the airline to pick if you wanted good food, friendly service, ontime schedules and new planes.
Suddenly, they're in the news every week or two for something bad.
Yesterday on the news I saw this story.
A woman travelling to a dog show in Florida is watching as they're loading her crated pooches into the cargo hold and one of the baggage handlers picks up a crate, tips it over his head and chucks it into the plane!

Later, when questioned about it, they claim it was a different dog/crate, like that's okay!

My favorite quote from the linked story:

She had been on her way to a dog competition in Florida. She's now taking only <her other dog> because she thinks he's too heavy to be thrown.

It's worth noting that the baggage handlers aren't Alaska Airlines employees, but they are employees of the company that Alaska hired to save them >$13 million/year, but after punching a hole in that jet and not reporting it and now this pooch toss, you gotta figure they're costing them something more than money.

[Dog tossed aboard jet]

Even Alaska Airlines maintenance has been contracted out and according to this story, they can't seem to get it right either.

Half million dollar fine for flying a jet for 2 months without proper safety lighting for emergencies, then not discovering it wasn't properly fixed until it had been back in service for 2 more weeks.

[Alaska faces FAA safety fine]

Posted at 12:27 AM     |

Wed - January 11, 2006

Day 24 of Seattle Rain


Rain in Seattle isn't usually newsworthy, but I guess we're closing in on a record. (I don't think it's actually rained 24 days here in Lakebay, but I could be wrong since there were a couple of days where I didn't make outside until the afternoon.)



If the weather keeps up for another nine days, we'll break the record set in the winter of 1953.

There have been some mudslides in this part of the state and I guess there are a few rivers under flood watch, but for the most part, it hasn't been too disruptive. Most of the water on my property runs down into the beaver pond at the bottom of the hill I'm on and the pond doesn't seem to be getting any higher.
There always seems to be some sunshine mixed in pretty much every day, so it's not as bad as they make it sound on the news and in the paper. The worst thing is my car needs a wash and I haven't mown the lawn since forever. (Maybe this rain isn't so bad after all...)


Posted at 10:45 PM     |

Wed - November 16, 2005

New Ski and Ride License Plate for Washington


Here's the new design for the Washington state ski and ride license plate released yesterday:


Available January 3, 2006 for $40 or win one here (before November 21, 2005):

http://www.skiwashington.com/ski_ride_licenseplate_form.php

Posted at 07:30 PM     |

Wed - November 9, 2005

End of the line for Seattle Monorail Project



Seattle voters pulled the plug on building the nation's longest monorail line. We'll still have the little one built for the 1962 World's Fair, but no extension line from Interbay to West Seattle. Good news, though, Seattle residents (that drive, anyway) will get to keep paying the extra car tag tax for a couple more years to pay off the debts that the project has already run up.
Looks like Marge Simpson was right.

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?
Ned Flanders: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: What's it called?
Patty+Selma: Monorail!
Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!

Posted at 10:11 AM     |

Wed - November 2, 2005

Ski Season Coming Early This Year


Crystal Mountain is opening this Friday and Mt. Baker is going to open next week. The Halloween storm dumped about 2-3 feet at local resorts and the forecast is for more snow throughout the week on both sides of the Cascades.


Wednesday at Crystal Mountain

The Summit at Snoqualmie wasn't reporting their conditions on their site yet.

Posted at 10:08 PM     |

Tue - September 27, 2005

The Best Idea in the World


Outside the entrance to Sea-Tac Airport:


So you don't have to circle the terminal repeatedly, getting hassled by 'the Man'.

Why doesn't every airport have one of these? It's the kind of common sense idea that makes you want to kick every other airport's ass for not having a cell phone waiting lot.

Posted at 11:16 PM     |

Sat - September 10, 2005

Toughest Guy - UPDATE




Posted at 01:50 AM     |

Fri - September 2, 2005

The Toughest Guy in New Orleans Underwater



...according to Warren Ellis

Posted at 03:19 PM     |

Thu - September 1, 2005

When the Levee Breaks, I'll have no place to stay


Satellite picture of New Orleans (post Katrina)


You can see pretty much every street/road is under water in the larger version.

Hi-res version here

Posted at 06:34 PM     |

Tue - August 30, 2005

Hi-res Satellite Photo of Hurricane Katrina




Posted at 12:04 AM     |

Wed - May 18, 2005

Yosemite Trip Cancelled


Damn you, Mother Nature! Because of flooding closures caused by the recent rain and the heavy runoff from the snow pack, RJ's annual Yosemite trip scheduled for this week had to be postponed.


Upper Yosemite Falls

Here's a link with pics of the highwater and mention of some of the closures:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/news/highwater/
Hopefully the trip will happen later this summer. It's such a blast, it'd be a shame if we had to wait another year.

Plan B: I'll probably head up the Tahoe since the truck is already mostly packed.

Posted at 04:16 PM     |

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