Encouraged by projections from signal-locator tools available at several web sites, I have been trying to get free local TV at our Treasure Island vacation place in rural Mason County. That’s right, tvfool.com and antennaweb.org tell you how to receive high-def digital TV signals without paying a monthly cable or satellite bill. Take that, WaveCable! Buzz off, Dish Network! So far, the actual results are disappointing as there’s a large gap between them and what’s theoretically possible.
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Free TV
Ghosts in Port Gamble?
I like visiting Port Gamble, the restored lumber mill town on Port Gamble Bay in North Kitsap. I drove my old Chevy there today—a gorgeous Sunday in May. There are acres of open space, a couple dozen historic homes, stunning views of Hood Canal, an old post office and general store, antique shops, a summer car show, and an annual Civil War reenactment. If that’s not enough the town’s promoters have scheduled several ghost-related events for the coming October.
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Managed Service Points
Location barcode
Is your mailbox a managed service point? Until a few months ago I had never heard of a managed service point. That’s when I noticed the white barcoded USPS sticker on the inside of the door to my mailbox (see photo). Yesterday I asked my mail carrier why it is there.
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Posted in Government
Home Improvements
Better than the old TV stand
“Never buy a cabinet on the Internet.” The advice was supplied by my neighbor, who doesn’t know a lot about purchasing things online but does know about cabinets. Judging by the quality of the materials and hardware in the corner TV cabinet I ordered recently (see photo), I now agree with him. Fortunately, the remedy offered by the vendor, Home Improvements, turned a depressing experience into one I can live with.
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Banishing Fair Share
A committee at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) publishes an annual list of words banished because of misuse, overuse, and general uselessness. Entries for 2010 include “shovel-ready,” “tweet,” and “teachable moment.” Until now I haven’t felt the need to submit an entry for their consideration. They get thousands of nominations each year. But when I browsed their web site last weekend, I noticed that “fair share” has never been officially sanctioned even though the committee has been performing their invaluable service since 1975.
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Posted in Government
Random Thoughts on April 30th
Random observations about taxes, cycling, Lowe’s, and car names as my favorite month comes to an end. There is no unifying theme.
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Posted in Biking, Business Beat, Cars, Government
A Lot of Dough for the Dough
Ever have an idea that bogs down when it gets to the implementation details? Like when some person or organization doesn’t do what you had expected or hoped? Last Saturday my friend R. B. and I thought of a great way for him to save time and effort while creating masterpiece pizzas at home. But our brillant plan was derailed by a real-world issue—cost.
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Posted in Friends & Family
I Shouldn’t Have Bothered
On Thursday I posted an entry about the strike against Waste Management in King and Snohomish counties. I had no inside information about the walkout. My knowledge of it was based on reports in the local media. Still that didn’t stop me from writing more than 500 words expressing my observations. Later that afternoon, after Waste Management agreed to return to the bargaining table, the union instructed its members to return to work on Friday. That doesn’t mean the two sides will reach an agreement, but it does get the strike off the front page. It also made me question the wisdom of commenting on fluid breaking-news stories.
Posted in Current Events
Waste Management Strike
Yesterday trash haulers walked off the job in King and Snohomish counties affecting about one million Waste Management customers. The union had been working without a contract since April 1st. The company made its final offer on April 2nd, and since then hasn’t offered any substantive changes to its proposal. The work stoppage is intended to force Waste Management back to the bargaining table. After reading a Seattle Times article about the strike, I have a few observations:
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Posted in Current Events
Another One for My Collection
Look at me
On the way home from Port Orchard last Sunday, I added the photo shown above to my collection of pictures of rooftop mascots used by local auto dealers. This one can be seen atop the dealer showroom at Peninsula Subaru in Gorst. I don’t quite get the connection between Subaru and a giant eagle (wasn’t the Eagle made by American Motors?). Perhaps Subaru has a new slogan: “Buy a Subaru, as American as an eagle.”
As colorful as this eagle is, I rank it only third in my collection. My favorite photo is of a giant anatomically correct bull used by Poulsbo’s Courtesy Auto Group when they have their annual auto sale-a-bration (or whatever it is called) at the Kitsap Mall. In second place is a giant gorilla. The eagle does beat out the oversize basketball used at the West Hills auto complex during this year’s March Madness sale. I asked my friend R. B., who used to sell used cars, for a quote about rooftop mascots. “Look at me” was all he said. I guess it’s that simple.
Posted in Business Beat, Cars
Mud Bay Blog 