V-Bucks

Posted on April 4, 2012 | 2 comments

Reminds me of the trunk of a 1959 Chevrolet


Tallbucks, posted last month, showed a picture of the new Starbucks that’s under construction in the Walgreens parking lot at the intersection of Kitsap Way and National Avenue in Bremerton. A better title would have been V-Bucks (see construction photo taken last weekend).

At least we now know what the architect had in mind for the metal posts that extend up from the masonry pillars on the building’s north and south sides—they support huge beams that in turn support the building’s V-shaped roof. In addition to attracting attention, the roof might be a great place to store extra cartons of venti cups.

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Posted in Business Beat

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March Lion

Posted on March 29, 2012 | 2 comments

Wet cold days, colder nights


March roared in like a lion and then apparently we pissed him off. With a nod to the ancient proverb about the weather, it’s apt in some places, but not here in Western Washington. Not this year anyway. By the calendar this bad boy is just about outta here, but he’s one angry cat—soaked, snarling, and with claws unsheathed (see weather graphic). There’s no word on whether he ate the lamb or just scared it off.

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Posted in Weather

March Madness: Intrastate Rivalries

Posted on March 15, 2012 | 1 comment

New Mexico vs. New Mexico State for the national championship? That’s a long shot given the rest of the field in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament. However, the intriguing possibility made me wonder whether any intrastate college rivalry, like the Lobos and the Aggies, will be settled during “March Madness.”
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Posted in Sports

A Brief Complaint

Posted on March 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Complaining by picture


It has been said many times that a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to complaining, the savings might be even greater. Instead of bitching about the miserable March weather we are having, including seven straight days of rain*, showing a picture of Rocky Point pond (see photo) should get the point across. That way I don’t need to mention that spring, due next week according to the calendar, seems as far off as it did on Groundhog Day.

Despite a wetter than normal winter, this is the first measurable accumulation this year in Rocky Point’s informal rain gauge. And that should be worth some sympathy—at least until you compare the size of the pond to a picture published a year ago in the Mud Bay blog.

* Catchall term used in short complaints for rain, sleet, snow, hail, and rain blowing sideways.

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Posted in Mud Bay & Rocky Point, Weather

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Pi’s Room

Posted on March 7, 2012 | 3 comments

Did you just get home?


Until yesterday I have been ashamed of the condition of the upstairs guest room. But after receiving an email from my San Diego cousin with photos showing the destruction some pets do while their owners are away, I decided my cat’s efforts (see photo) are worth a blog post. They represent months of work and, in my view, surpass many of the messes attributed in the photos to a series of guilty-looking dogs and one pair of large tri-colored cats.
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Posted in Home, Pi

Tallbucks

Posted on March 3, 2012 | 5 comments

Are they building a venti?


Do we really need another coffee place on Kitsap Way in Bremerton? That was my first thought when I read that a Starbucks will be located in the Walgreens parking lot at the intersection of Kitsap Way and National Avenue. As the new building began to take shape this week (see photo), another question arose: does it need to be so tall?
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Posted in Business Beat

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Market Price

Posted on March 1, 2012 | 2 comments

This sign can be simplified.


The Mud Bay blog should know better than to make predictions or write about a trend. In Springing Ahead I observed that the slow torture of steadily climbing gas prices started early this year. Forget slow torture. This year it’s more like waterboarding. The price for a gallon of regular hit 4 bucks today at my local Shell station (see photo)—up 46 cents per gallon since February 11th.

The oil companies ignored my earlier suggestion about just making one big price increase in mid-April. That’s OK as I’m offering a new suggestion to save them some work. Instead of posting a new price every couple of days why not just put “Market Price” on the sign? That’s what some seafood restaurants do when they don’t want to reprint the menu every time the price for lobster or fresh fish changes. I mean, at this point do you really care what the sign says? The tank of gas you buy today is going on a credit card. By the time you get your next statement, today’s price could well be a bargain.

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Posted in Business Beat, Economy

Cheeseburger Deal

Posted on February 24, 2012 | 4 comments

Almost a free lunch


The coupon (see illustration) came in the mail this week with a pile of advertising circulars. “This can’t be right,” I thought, “Surely it’s the drink that’s free and not the sandwich.” I stand corrected. After all, who am I to questions “Jack”? In fast food circles many consider him to be a marketing and culinary genius.
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Posted in Business Beat

Dancing Man in Silverdale

Posted on February 20, 2012 | 3 comments

Just in time for President’s Day


First Silverdale took much of Bremerton’s retail business away. Now they are copying our advertising ideas. Today I noticed a new dancing man (see photo) boogying for business in front of Mattress Depot on Silverdale Way across from Arby’s. Judging by the dancing man’s enthusiastic moves and the like-new condition of his svelte balloon body, I don’t think he’s been on the job for long.

Silverdale is by far the biggest retail center in Kitsap County. And it’s growing. But a business needs to do more than just open its doors there to make money. With at least three other mattress stores in Silverdale—one of which advertises itself with a giant cow—Mattress Depot has plenty of competition. Plus it’s in a retail sector where success is based almost entirely on marketing. The dancing man is going to attract the attention of some passing motorists. Whether they will return later for a mattress upgrade is another question.

For the record I bought my last new mattress at Arnold’s Home Furnishings in Bremerton. A dancing man was not involved. You would probably see the pope in a tank top before you saw a dancing man at Arnold’s.

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Posted in Business Beat, Other Local Places

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Springing Ahead

Posted on February 17, 2012 | 3 comments

A price that's oh so 6 days ago


Officially, spring isn’t due in rainy Western Washington for more than a month, but you might think it is already here if your only data point is the cost to fill your gas tank. Along with all of the welcome things that are coming soon like longer days and warmer weather, there’s the slow torture of steadily climbing gas prices. My local Shell station (see photo), starting a bit early this year, hiked its prices four times this week. As of today, it is charging $3.619 for a gallon of regular, up $.08 since last Saturday.
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Posted in Business Beat, Economy