Monthly Archives: August 2012

Buoy ID

Next time add an email address.


The latest addition to my buoy collection has almost enough information for me to commit identify theft. About the only things missing are a social security number and a date of birth. In the photo above it’s the one covered with black Magic Marker writing.
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Cleaning Out the Basement

Securing a heavy load


If you list a free item on Craig’s List that people want, keep a close eye on your email inbox. Within 30 minutes of posting an ad yesterday morning to give away a 1955 Chevrolet engine and transmission (see photo), a half-dozen people responded. One man offered to pick it up right away. At that point I deleted the ad.
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About Those Missing SR 16 Miles

SR 16, the busy Washington state highway that connects I-5 in Tacoma and SR 3 in Gorst, is missing a couple of miles. I don’t mean that it’s not all there, just that there isn’t as much of it as you might think if you go by the official state mile posts alone.
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Golfing in Manette

Concentrating like a pro


There’s no place to play golf in Manette. But depending on your range of thinking, there’s a place to practice. At least there is for the man in the photo.
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Cooling Off on Paper

I would rather be in Bellingham.


I’m sure it’s hot where you are too, so if you want to dismiss this as just another post by a heat wimp, go ahead. You’ll have even less sympathy when I admit that the extended forecast is for cooling temperatures and a chance of drizzle (see weather graphics above from the Seattle Times). However, it will be HOT today in Bremerton. Stick around if you want to cool off—at least on paper.
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Delayed But Perfect

Seattle’s Felix Hernandez retired all 27 batters in yesterday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, won by the Mariners 1-0. A perfect game! Although I caught the last few innings of the contest on the radio, I’m not sure whether to count it as my first perfect game.
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A Creative Car Show Ballot

Lots of ways to win


I haven’t been to the Taste of Hood Canal Car Show for several years. Since the last time I attended the show, the organizers have expanded the ballot for voting on what used to be a simple people’s choice award (see illustration). It might be the most creative car show ballot around.
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Hide the Deals

In case you haven’t spent enough already…


You expect to run into lots of advertising on web sites run by for-profit companies. Still I was surprised to learn that Bank of America allows online vendors to promote themselves while you are reviewing your banking transactions. (Is no area free from commercials?) The above screen capture shows an example. Directly under the entry for my credit-card purchase from the Orvis Company is a message to shop at Sports Authority and earn 10 percent cash back.

Bank of America benefits of course. First they probably charge the vendor to post the message. Second the offer is only good if you use a BOA credit or debit card. You learn this if you click the offer to get the details. In fairness to the banking giant, you can opt out of learning about additional ways to spend money by clicking the “Hide Deals” link. But I wonder which way the screen was set by default. I’m not sure how long these “helpful” messages have been there. The Orvis/Sports Authority deal is the first one I have noticed.

Jury Wait

The big wall clock in Room 110 at the Kitsap County courthouse runs so slowly it seems to carefully weigh the evidence before clicking off each second. As the old joke goes, I spent a week there yesterday morning before learning that I would not be part of a district court jury that would hear whatever trial was to begin that day.
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