Interbay

Today marks the openning of the short lived Interbay Post Office, called Boulevard when it openned in 1891.  It 1894, it became the the Interbay Post Office.  It closed in 1898.  The point of interest here is that Seattle did not include Interbay in 1891.  Interbay these days is mostly the BNSF's Balmer Yard and Red Mill Burgers.  I lived on Queen Anne a stones throw from Interbay, I always found it an interesting place, maybe because there were so many hobos.

Change...The Good, the Bad and the Greedy

Well, they said that government does work anymore and that nothing can be done.  Well today proves that wrong, the Census Bureau has voted to cease referring to African Americans as Negros on census forms.  Again proving that the government is a step ahead of the curve, I think that this change in terminology might just catch on.  On another note, change isn't always good for everyone, the big coal magnates have tapped the greener PR firms in the Northwest to convince us that coal is good and that sending it to China is liking leasing it to them, after all the prevailing winds will bring the stuff back to us after they burn it.  Coal does look greener when there are a lot of Benjamins covering it.  Since the United States has become too green for coal, maybe our exports to China can also work off some of our indebtedness with that nation.  Anyway, a coal train is tonight's photo.  Note that is photo is 15 or so years old so coal has been transported through the Northwest for years, heck we mined the stuff way back when. 
Dan

A Ferry Ride

On this date 34 years ago, a ferry ran for the first time in 40 years, it was the Edmonds to Port Townsend run.  The run returned due to the Hood Canal bridge sinking in a wind storm earlier in the month.  That is another story all together, I remember being woken up by my Dad in the middle of the night as the wind howled outside, I remember lighting too, but that probably didn't happen.  Any back to the ferry, I remember taking that ferry during spring break with my Mom, sister and some friends.  We spent the day in Port Townsend, climbing the stairs and hills of the town, which is probably the most exercise I can ever remember my Mom doing at one time.  Tonight's photo the ferry dock that we used.

The Post Office

Today the Post Office turns 221.  One must consider how many more birthdays it may have, before it is put out of it's misery.  The Post Office has of course, given us the term, "Going Postal," the forever stamp, the worst customer service on earth and a book by Bukowski.  It really isn't all that bad, think about life without it.  I remember at YMCA camp in the 5th grade, the Post Office was threatening to strike, we wondered how we would get our letters from home during our eight days of camp.  Lucky for us, the Post Office didn't strike and we all got letters mailed probably the same day we were all dropped off at camp.

Old Times

I have spent the last two weekends at Gas Works Park and as I stood in one spot or another I could remember other trips to the park.  Some, as a kid, I remember a thunder storm ruining a day at the park.  Some, when I was there to take photos, or a birthday eating dinner watching the sailboats.  Tonight a couple of my favorite Gas Works photos.
Enjoy
Dan

My Valentine

Well, it would be all together improper to not mention my wife on Valentines Day.  She is a beautiful, strong and loving woman and mother.  I really enjoy our time together and in the last couple months have realized just how great it was to have her near at both work and home for 12 years.

More Really!?

I just read an article that says that kindergartners are lacking in math skills.  Being a father of a kindergartner, I wasn't shocked and I wasn't shock by the statement in the piece that noted we expect more from kindergartners than ever before.  What did perplex me some was the statement many kindergarten children are scoring at 3 year old math levels.  By using the term "scoring," this implies someplace that 3 year olds are being give math tests.  That seems wrong on many levels.  The article also suggests more "school" be involved in preschool.
I am old fashioned, I am out of step, I am apparently completely insane, because I have this idea that children should be given at least sometime in their lives to be children.  I have a hard time believing that the human race will be better off giving 3 year olds standard math tests.  I say this even though I know, various high tech manufacturing and software companies in the state want more more math, science and computer skills taught to our kiddies.  Which on it's face is a nice idea, however if you want a forth grader to learn more science, I would suggest that instead of replacing social studies or music, or art or PE to teach it, how about we find actual teachers that can teach the subject properly.  After all, what good is four and half hours of science taught to you by a person that is better suited to teach you spelling, Palmer cursive and potato stamp art.  Other than the cost, won't one hour of really good science taught by a person that gets it and can teach it, be better than four and half hours of the other?
Cost of course is the problem, those higher tech companies that are pushing for the publicly funded K-12 vo tech for their job pool, really don't want to pay for it and a more disciplined structure of math and science first, will possibly create a better employee that doesn't think for to much for themselves.  This whole thing seems rather like A Brave New World to me, as if we will only stand for free thinking for the very elite or the those too inferior to take tech jobs.

First

On this date Boeing marked the sixth anniversary of the maiden flight of the 727 with the maiden flight of the 747.  This of course is important to us in Western Washington since Boeing is so much apart of the our lives.  Here are a few photos of 747 number one.

Pancakes Anyone?

Tonight's photo is of Alaskan Way on the Seattle waterfront.  It is here on this date in 1947, that good ol' Ivar Haglund took full advantage of a tank car spill to become the "prince of corn."  A tank car of corn syrup had ruptured and began to spill on the street, about 1000 gallons of the stuff.  The action all took place in front of Ivar's Acres of Claim restaurant.  Ivar being Ivar, had some pancakes made and he then pull on hip waders and grabbed a box and sat down in the middle of the street and began spooning the syrup on his stack of pancakes.  Of course the news photographers ate it up and the photo was picked up by the wire services.  
My photo was taken from the sky bridge at Pier 66, the cruise ship terminal looking south toward the sticky scene of the 1947 spill.  It is hard to believe that our waterfront was once a functioning working waterfront, not just a tourist trap. 

So Absurd That He Must Work For Them

So, I read an AP article about rising gas prices today, it contained the usual reasons for price increases, the improving economy, refinery maintenance and a million barrel drop in gasoline supplies, which sounds like a big number until you find out that we use 87 million barrels a day.  The article then got real good, it quotes an oil and gas analyst that noted gas was 32 cents a gallon when the first Super Bowl was played and ticket to the game was about $10, now gas is $3.42 nationally and a ticket to the big game is about $2200, the according to this analyst fuel really hasn't increased in value that much.  I know I feel it each time I stop on my way to work to pick up a ticket for the big game.  Really, I am astounded by comparison.