I live on Mud Bay. My old pickup truck has advertised my place of residence via a personalized license plate for almost two decades. However, it was only about two years ago that I was able to swap it for a license plate that spells Mud Bay correctly (see photo). That meant dealing with the Washington state Department of Licensing, never an easy task.
Continue readingPosted in Government, Mud Bay & Rocky Point
Like many (mostly older?) Americans I’m bummed that penny production ended this month. Just because pennies cost several times their value to make doesn’t mean the United States should stop minting them. Lost in the coverage of this issue in both mainstream and social media is what Victor D. Brenner, the Lincoln wheat penny designer, might say if he were still around.
Continue readingPosted in Government
The cost of Washington’s annual Discover Pass (see screen capture) went up from $30 to $45 on October 1. The price of a daily pass stayed the same. While this is the first increase since the annual pass debuted in 2011, not surprisingly the 50 percent hike affected sales, at least in the first month. This post has a few thoughts on the increase and Discover Passes in general.
Continue readingThe big news out of the nation’s capitol today is that the Senate reached an agreement that will lead to the end of the government shutdown. This post would have been more timely last week when there was still no end in sight. However, Congress is so polarized, and so clueless, that while the current shutdown is the longest in history, it won’t be the last. Can anything be done to send Congress a message that future lengthy shutdowns are unacceptable?
Continue readingJustice Delayed, posted in September 2025, described a check forgery case that I’m in involved in as a witness. Today I learned in an email that the criminal part of the case is all but over, at least for me anyway.
Continue readingPosted in Government
Chico Creek is in the early stages of another great fall chum salmon run. It may not match the abundant 2024 run, but it won’t disappoint anyone interested in seeing lots of migrating salmon up close. That’s my observation after checking several good viewing points along the creek yesterday, including from the bridge at Taylor Road (see photo). The salmon there were already about a mile inland from where Chico Creek flows into Dyes Inlet and seemed to have enough energy left to continue their journey further upstream.
There were no salmon in Chico Creek just a week ago. Perhaps they waited for the creek to rise from last weekend’s heavy rains. Or maybe it’s the lure of being the star attractions in tomorrow’s Kitsap Salmon Tours, an annual fall event that kicks off the celebration of salmon returning to Kitsap creeks and streams. Whatever the case, the fall salmon run has begun and their timing is perfect.
The price of a first-class stamp is 78 cents, up 5 cents as of July 1, 2025. But that’s only if you buy your stamps from the USPS. As I found out this month while looking for additional Halloween stamps (see screen capture), there are ways to buy stamps for less than the latest Forever rate.
Continue readingDIY Exercise: Use your favorite graphics program to design a USPS-style Forever stamp depicting President Trump. Whether you save the file is optional.
Continue reading
Last week I received a letter from the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (see screen capture) scheduling yet another trial date for Alice L (a pseudonym). That makes five so far. I’m a witness in the forgery case against her, which involves check washing. While I would like to put this ongoing saga behind me, it will be mid-November before I’ll know if the trial will take place.
Continue readingPosted in Government
Like many career politicians, Washington Governor Jay Inslee has a history of using an elected position as a springboard for seeking higher office. In 2012, then-U.S. Representative Inslee resigned before his term was up to run full time for governor. In 2019, after announcing his candidacy for president last week, he has no plans to quit his day job. Are there differences between 2012 and 2019?
Continue reading
Mud Bay Blog 