The 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?
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Justice Is THRIVEing
Justice 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.
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Salmon in Chico Creek
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.
First-Class Stamps for Less
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 readingWe Have Forever for a Trump Stamp
DIY Exercise: Use your favorite graphics program to design a USPS-style Forever stamp depicting President Trump. Whether you save the file is optional.
Continue readingJustice Delayed
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
What’s Different This Time, Jay?
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?
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The Closest Fire Station
Site of the former Westgate Fire Station
I felt a certain degree of safety when the old Westgate Fire Station operated out of the building at 1550 Rocky Point Road. The photo shows the cinder-block structure as it looked before the new tenant, Olympic Mountain Rescue, painted and reroofed it last summer. Although I have never made a 9-1-1 call in my life, living a mile from a fire station was reassuring, even one staffed by volunteers.
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Posted in Government, Mud Bay & Rocky Point
Le Grand Orange
DIY task: Please supply your own color photo of President Trump.
This morning, while watching his Rose Garden speech about the “deal” to end the government shutdown, I wondered, again, if it would be appropriate to recycle former Major League Baseball player Rusty Staub’s nickname when referring to President Trump. With his carrot-top hairdo and tanning-salon-hued skin, the president clearly fits the bill for the third word of the wondrous French phrase Le Grand Orange. He falls short, though, when you consider the true meaning of the second word.
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Posted in Current Events, Government, Sports
Forever Due
Return to sender.
Last week, in a senior moment, I mailed in my final 2018 quarterly tax payment with one big omission. Yep, I forgot to stick on a Forever stamp (currently $.50 in postage), thus denying the letter a smooth flight to the IRS office in San Francisco. And now forever is due (see photo).
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Posted in Current Events, Government
Mud Bay Blog 