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Jury Duty in King County has CHANGED.
Today was my first schedule day of Jury Duty. I was told not to go to the courthouse. Instead, I was emailed a survey for the initial part of jury selection. The next part of jury selection is on Monday, and I am willing to do this over ZOOM. Part of the survey included if I'm considered high-risk for COVID (yes) or had other limiting factors (I use a mobility scooter due to limited stamina) and would I have issues with a service dog in the room (yes, I'm not sure how many benadryl I'd need now, and do you want me on benadryl?)
Apparently some trials are completely remote these days. But mine would involve going to the King County courthouse downtown. I'm...expecting to be excused or struck.
Today was my first schedule day of Jury Duty. I was told not to go to the courthouse. Instead, I was emailed a survey for the initial part of jury selection. The next part of jury selection is on Monday, and I am willing to do this over ZOOM. Part of the survey included if I'm considered high-risk for COVID (yes) or had other limiting factors (I use a mobility scooter due to limited stamina) and would I have issues with a service dog in the room (yes, I'm not sure how many benadryl I'd need now, and do you want me on benadryl?)
Apparently some trials are completely remote these days. But mine would involve going to the King County courthouse downtown. I'm...expecting to be excused or struck.
"Amid growing homelessness and the high costs of both renting and owning a home in Washington, Inslee is proposing the state raise $4 billion by issuing bonds outside the state’s debt limit to build thousands of new housing units over the next few years." Source https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslees-budget-proposes-major-push-to-build-housing/
On the one hand, WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
On the other, the funding mechanism requires getting this through the state legislature AND a referendum.
On the one hand, WE NEED MORE HOUSING.
On the other, the funding mechanism requires getting this through the state legislature AND a referendum.
Oh this is just peachy
Apr. 30th, 2017 02:07 pmThere's going to be major marches in Seattle tomorrow near my office building on 6th & Lenora. Specifically the main May Day march is going down 6th avenue this year, not 4th. And TWO "March on Amazons" at 11am and 2pm that will likely cause traffic silliness. Oh, and I've heard about a Trump rally at Westlake Park at 4pm.
Worse: I have a dentist appointment at 10am in Bellevue, so I can't just get to the office before it all starts. While it would be fun to watch the march down 6th from above...I think I'm going to work from home tomorrow.
Worse: I have a dentist appointment at 10am in Bellevue, so I can't just get to the office before it all starts. While it would be fun to watch the march down 6th from above...I think I'm going to work from home tomorrow.
Storm watch update
Oct. 14th, 2016 01:11 pmKOMO is suggesting tomorrow's storm will be like the storm on Dec 14, 2006. I remember that - nearly got marooned in my office, power out for days, etc.
Stay safe, folks.
Stay safe, folks.
So, a member of the Washington state legislature resigned after it was pointed out that he 1) no longer has a permanent address in Washington and 2) registered to vote in Ohio last year. Per the Everett Herald,
I find it difficult to believe he didn't know that he'd moved out of state when he got a driver's license in Ohio. But what's also odd, to me, is the photo that the local ABC affiliate KOMO ran of the Rep Hope:
That photo isn't on his legislature page or his official flickr. So...why?
Update: Turns out Mike Hope is also an aspiring actor!
Hope, who last lived in Mill Creek, became a registered voter in Lake County, Ohio, in August 2013 through the state's motor-voter law. He doesn't recall doing it and has never voted there.
“I had no idea that I was ever registered somewhere else,” he said. “I had no clue that's what I did.”
Hope is an Ohio native and his mother lives in the state. He said Thursday morning that he intended to settle there when he completes training for a career in financial services.
If Hope had not resigned, he could have been forced out by state and county election officials who were considering the process for canceling his registration.
State law requires an elected official remain a registered voter in the district or jurisdiction that they serve. If they are not a registered voter, they are immediately removed from office.
Hope is still legally registered to vote in the 44th Legislative District that he's served since 2008. However, he's been on inactive status since last year.
In the meantime, Hope could be pressed to reimburse the state for the money he's earned as a state lawmaker since he registered in Ohio.
Deputy Chief Clerk Bernard Dean said Thursday that House lawyers and the state Attorney General's Office have been asked to determine whether Hope became an unqualified lawmaker when he registered in Ohio and, if so, what actions can be taken in response.
I find it difficult to believe he didn't know that he'd moved out of state when he got a driver's license in Ohio. But what's also odd, to me, is the photo that the local ABC affiliate KOMO ran of the Rep Hope:
That photo isn't on his legislature page or his official flickr. So...why?
Update: Turns out Mike Hope is also an aspiring actor!
Steve Ballmer spent 2 billion dollars for the LA Clippers. Which kinda puts the Chris Hansen / Steve Ballmer partnership that asked for $200 million in public money to pay for a new Seattle NBA stadium and buy a team in, shall we say, perspective.
For the amount Ballmer just paid for the Clippers, he could have built a new Sodo basketball arena all by himself, plus built the Safeco Field baseball stadium, plus built the CenturyLink football stadium and still had more than $600 million left over for buying a team.Ballmer, at least, didn't need public money. He (or his partners) wanted public money so they could face less risk themselves. This is a reasonable choice, but doesn't mean they're entitled to it.
The city of Seattle, which is slated to put a hundred-plus million in bonds into the arena, has not given final approval to that plan. What they passed two years ago was an agreement to do the studies while [the group, including Ballmer] pursued a team. But many council members have told me that their “yes” votes back then do not mean they’re necessarily going to be “yes” votes for a final go-ahead.I don't have a problem with sports per se, but I do think the city has more important things to put its tax dollars into - like education, transportation & infrastructure.
Driving to work
Feb. 18th, 2014 10:29 amOh spacious lanes, Oh clear sightlines
We miss you now you're gone
Oh empty shoulders, trees beside
And 3rd lane is all gone!
Construction zone
Construction zone
One day you'll all be done
And we will drive the same path twice
And relax (but not for long)
(NO WE DON'T TAKE 520 TO WORK WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT.)
We miss you now you're gone
Oh empty shoulders, trees beside
And 3rd lane is all gone!
Construction zone
Construction zone
One day you'll all be done
And we will drive the same path twice
And relax (but not for long)
(NO WE DON'T TAKE 520 TO WORK WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT.)
(no subject)
Jan. 18th, 2012 07:57 pmFrom a local comedy show in 1993 comes....COPS in Redmond.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxGDSucCEI
Redmond locals
Jan. 17th, 2012 11:33 amRedmond has a traffic cam pointed up 166th at 80th.
Also at Red-Wood Rd (SR 202) & 124th.
And: Plow priorities http://t.co/8mYdYVDz
Also at Red-Wood Rd (SR 202) & 124th.
And: Plow priorities http://t.co/8mYdYVDz
local: not looking forward to Tuesday
Jul. 1st, 2011 10:10 pmFYI, it looks like downtown Seattle traffic on Tuesday is going to be a bit hairy. In particular, there will be a parade down 5th Avenue from the Space Needle to the Pine Street.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015487364_lions02m.html
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Largest-ever-parade-comes-to-Seattle-next-week-1444502.php
Altogether, some 12,000 members of the Lions Club — known best for its programs that help the blind and improving eye care around the world — will march from Seattle Center to downtown Tuesday morning. Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau believes it will be the largest parade in city history, said David Blandford, bureau spokesman. [...] The parade and convention will have a big impact on traffic, too, with some 20 bus routes to be rerouted to make way for the marchers on Tuesday. There will be 90 private buses shuttling conventioneers around the city throughout the convention.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015487364_lions02m.html
If you don't like crowds, consider yourself warned. Officials are telling residents to expect heavy traffic and swarms of tourists in downtown, where the event will be held at the Washington State Convention Center and KeyArena.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Largest-ever-parade-comes-to-Seattle-next-week-1444502.php
If you're interested, info is at: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ppgnw/take-charge-23291.htm
Must sign up by Feb 28, 2011.
Must sign up by Feb 28, 2011.
The chart that made me think that the state income tax initiative (1098) should pass:
I first saw it, along with others, in The Stranger. I already thought that having a more diverse income stream would make state government easier to manage, but this brought home the unfairness of our current consumption-based state tax structure. It's harder on those who have less income.
(Yes, currently I wouldn't be subject to the income tax established by 1098. But there were a few years with MS "ordinary income" stock options that I would've been, so this isn't totally academic to me.)
I first saw it, along with others, in The Stranger. I already thought that having a more diverse income stream would make state government easier to manage, but this brought home the unfairness of our current consumption-based state tax structure. It's harder on those who have less income.
(Yes, currently I wouldn't be subject to the income tax established by 1098. But there were a few years with MS "ordinary income" stock options that I would've been, so this isn't totally academic to me.)
- 10:14 Washington's primary is August 17, 2010. Too sooon! I don't wanna think about politics! (Mail registration/updates due 7/19 bit.ly/kcvotereg)
Seattle, in April?
Apr. 8th, 2010 10:56 am... is not where you expect to wake up to a light dusting of snow, with a forecast of "possibly more snow" in the evening.
What do you wear for possible snow / possible spring weather? Layers! In my case, black lycra/spandex leggings under black cotton slacks; purple 3/4-sleeve jewel-neck top; big acrylic long-sleeve v-neck sweater; green and blue plaid polar fleece coat. At the moment the coat is in the car, the sweater is on my desk, and I am comfortably sipping "Lemon Lift" tea.
What do you wear for possible snow / possible spring weather? Layers! In my case, black lycra/spandex leggings under black cotton slacks; purple 3/4-sleeve jewel-neck top; big acrylic long-sleeve v-neck sweater; green and blue plaid polar fleece coat. At the moment the coat is in the car, the sweater is on my desk, and I am comfortably sipping "Lemon Lift" tea.
(no subject)
Apr. 7th, 2010 09:54 pmFrom the local paper's article on tracking down the person leaving recorded death threats for Senator Murray (emphasis added):
Why do I think that somewhere, volunteers are arguing about who sent whom the new phone number and who should've been sent the new phone number (or press release or what-have-you)? Or that some FBI agents are arguing about who should've tweaked the name a bit to make it fictional?
The FBI got the phone number that coincided with the calls through a search warrant served on Verizon. Another agent called the number, posing as a representative of Patients United Now, a group that has called for the repeal of the Health Care Reform Act, and identified Wilson by his voice, according to the charges.
The use of that group, which is affiliated with the pro-tea party, anti-tax, anti-big-government organization Americans For Prosperity (AFP), caused some concern among AFP officials.
[...]
[Special Agent Fred Gutt] said the agents needed to talk to Wilson to verify his identity, and they wanted a ruse to get him to the phone. They found Patients United Now on the Web, and called the contact number to ask permission. However, the number was disconnected.
"They presumed the organization was defunct," Gutt said. "It wasn't."
Why do I think that somewhere, volunteers are arguing about who sent whom the new phone number and who should've been sent the new phone number (or press release or what-have-you)? Or that some FBI agents are arguing about who should've tweaked the name a bit to make it fictional?
