Full Steam Electricity Diesel? Ahead: Washington wants its ferries totally emission free by 2050, but we’re way off course. By 2040, we need to convert six ferries to hybrid-electric power, build 16 new plug-in boats, and add shore charging to as many stations. The Washington State Standard reports that we’ve converted one ship so far (the Wenatchee, which returns to service tomorrow, over budget and a year behind schedule) and we’re not going to get any new big bath toys before 2030. The first new ferry from Florida arrives in five years. Is it dangerous to speedrun ship building, or should we just round up the Orcas and run them like sled dogs?
Heart Comes Home: Heart, *Seattle’s best rock band, cancelled its August 8 show at the Gorge. Instead, they’ll play at Climate Pledge this November. Venue presale tickets go up Thursday (use the code “CRAZY,” writes The Spokesman Review). *In my book, Nirvana is an Aberdeen or Olympia band before it’s a Seattle band.
Baseball: Our Mariners did something special as the Yankees kicked their asses. They kicked their own. With his 36th homer of the season, Cal Raleigh broke Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1998 franchise record for most home runs before the All-Star break. I have only one thing to say, Cal.
Weather: I got what I wished for. I hated it. It was too hot. Too sweaty. So I wished for rain. There’s a 40/60 chance we might get it today. This Friday, when I’m ready to complain it’s too cold for summer, the sun will come out for a nice hot weekend.
Door Dash Price Hike: The company blames increased service fees on the “extreme regulations” in Western Washington. I’d blame the unprofitable business model built on a foundation of worker exploitation so shaky that paying a living wage is an existential threat to its being. Or maybe that delivery apps are vampiric middlemen that never needed to exist and we were better off before they “disrupted” the space and restaurants paid their own delivery people. But sure, it’s those goddamn Seattle communists and their “extreme” policies. I spent my early twenties barely surviving on gig work and my middle twenties seeing apps take a cut from the restaurants I worked at. It’s untenable. Apps like DoorDash have no choice but to pass the cost to consumers and continue screwing their gig workers, small restaurants, and by extension restaurant workers, in the process. The problem is you, babe, but people depend on you now!
Some Real Sigmas (IYKYK): The exact cause is undetermined, but officials say a University of Washington frat house “likely” went up in flames this Saturday because of, you guessed it, fireworks. Nobody was hurt, but investigators say the building is uninhabitable. If I know frat houses, that was probably true beforehand, too.
It’s Still Amazon Prime Day, Which Is Four Days Now: Celebrate by throwing a stranger’s Kindle in the lake, or by tripping a bald guy in a bad tux (sorry bald guys, stay casual today or slip into Trendy Wendy for a hot new look). Sidenote, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sold nearly 3 million company shares yesterday. He made about $666 million (to court conspiracy theorists), more money than you, your family, all of your friends, and maybe even your friend’s lazyfancy tech boyfriends, will see in your lifetimes. But I suppose he was turning the couch cushions after that opulent, $50 million Venetian wedding.
I’m At The Earthquake, I’m At The Volcano, I’m At The Combination Earthquake-Volcano: Don’t listen to those fear-mongering assholes on TikTok who say Mount Rainier is gonna blow this week, or next week, or the week after. There has been a “swarm” of earthquakes at the summit, but they’re no cause for concern, the US Geological Survey said. The alert and color code for Mount Rainier is GREEN/NORMAL, which is fine obviously. If something changes, they’ll let us know.
The Shoes Stay On During My Invasive Pat Down: You can keep your shoes on in the TSA security line. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a weird and incompetent person even by the standards of this administration, says the agency is fully confident in this new policy.
Boyboss, Dismantle, Destroy: The Supreme Court of the United States issued an order allowing President Donald Trump to disassemble his agencies and fire tens of thousands of federal workers. Technically this order is only temporary, and the court is not ruling on the legality of specific firings, but for the time being he’s free to act like a kid with a fork and an interest in outlets. Unfortunately, we’re standing ankle-deep in a puddle with him and wearing our best metal longjohns.
A Safe and Normal Agency: ICE agents drove a van through a crowd of protesters in San Francisco trying to stop agents from taking a man away from the city’s immigration court on Tuesday. ICE agents have routinely arrested asylum seekers after their hearings, including those with no criminal record.
More Safe and Normal Agency: ICE abductions are leaving a “growing inventory of deserted belongings” around Southern California, reports The Los Angeles Times. Cars with broken windows left in the middle of the road. Lawn mowers are still running. Tools tossed helter skelter in a yard. Ice cream carts abandoned on the sidewalk. The Times reports there are now grassroots efforts to inform families of raids and return these belongings to them.
Infinite Tact and Wisdom: Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paused weapons shipments to Ukraine without telling the White House. Yesterday, when reporters asked President Donald Trump who approved the pause, he said “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” Jesus Christ, man, you’re the fucking President. It is your business. It’s the second pause on shipments to Ukraine since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Can I suggest another country to pause weapons shipments to?
Like Father, Like Son: Elon Musk has said Grok, the AI chatbot on X™, the everything™™ app™™™, is the alternative to “woke AI”. The proof is in the pudding, folks. Yesterday, Grok posted antisemetic tropes, praised Hitler, and called itself “MechaHitler.” That’s a reference to Wolfenstein 3D, a Nazi hunting game where being Hitler is still bad. UPDATE: Grok denies it praised Hitler and made antisemetic comments. I get it. It’s a lying Nazi chatbot.
Dreamboat Annie Rocks: It’s just true.
Bonus: I’ve wondered if “Crazy On You” was quoting “Anji,” an instrumental by the brilliant British folk guitarist Davy Graham (later popularized by Paul Simon, but perfected by Bert Jansch). Email me, Ann Wilson.
Two stupid blurbs about ICE, and still fails to mention the attack on the ICE facility in Alvarado Texas, where 11 ANTIFA militants were arrested for attempted murder and one Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck with an AR-style rifle by one of the ANTIFA turds. Way to go, Slog, you’re so “progressive”.
Heart is a Canadian band.
Was not expecting a Wolfenstein 3D deep pull this morning, but here we are and now I want to play again for the first time in 20+ years.
Bezos selling stock isn’t newsworthy. He does it every year to fund his giant dick measuring contest of a company, Blue Origin. Who knew sending D-list celebs to space cost so much??
Whether speed-running building boats is a bad thing depends on what you’re building. If you want to have the yard punch out more copies of the first few boats you’re already having them build, then you can get them relatively quickly and cheaper. If you’re building “exactly the same except [a long list of changes]” it leads to delays and expense.
It wouldn’t surprise me if it would be cheaper to have Eastern Shipbuilding build more copies of the current contract of three 160-car boats on an extension of the current contract than to switch to smaller 130-car boats that would replace the Issaquah class boats.
I see we are still doing the “waste a fuck ton ferry electrification project” which will not improve ferry service, will not reduce ferry rates and will have absolutely no measurable impact on the environment. Smart! It’s also sad to see these new boats built in Florida when we used to have a strong ship building industry of our own. But of course, Florida is a state which actually wants heavy industry to grow while we do everything in our power to run them off.
The folks at the Stranger are still butt hurt about Bezos decamping WA for Florida. He was an early adopter. Many more millionaires and billionaires will abandon this state as our tax system becomes more and more confiscatory.
Of course Trump can fire executive branch workers. Only nutjob Jackson voted against Trump. The remaining justices understand that the President controls the executive branch.
I’m glad the ICE agents were able to get through the crowd without injury to themselves. Obviously they are entitled to drive away when being accosted by protestors. Don’t get in their way because the law will not protect you.
There hasn’t been a single ICE abduction. There have been many legal and prudent arrests for immigration violations however. It almost seems like folks could avoid their deportations simply by choosing not to invade the US. But what the heck do I know?
@1 – eat shit
@1 crying helps so keep it up you’re doing great
@6 – right back at ya
@7 – eat shit
@5 We had a strong shipbuilding industry, then the suits got involved. Vigor got out of the newbuilding business because newbuilds only make 10% profits and they wanted 30% profits like their conversion and repair business lines get. Incidentally, that’s why the Wenatchee was late and way over budget–Vigor does that every time. Dakota Creek in Anacortes doesn’t do state government work because of bad experiences in the past. Also, they’re in the process of being sold after the longtime owner died. Nichols on Whidbey Island can’t really build this size boat, though they claim they can. Nobody else in the area (Lake Union Drydock, Stabbert, Hansen) has the capacity to build that scale of boats.
And the shipyards weren’t run off by the state. They’ve been killed by strings of bad contracts (Marco, Martinac, Foss), industry busts (a number of fishing boat yards) or being bought by larger competitors (ahem, Vigor).
I guarantee that none of you naive Seattle “progressives” were even aware of the attack in Alvarado until I I started posting about it here yesterday.
@11: Yes, you get all the credit. None of us Naive Progressives read any other news sources but Slog AM.
@12 – Like I wrote. I do notice that you totally failed to actually dispute my statement.
If the bros from another frat launch their skyrockets into an upper-floor window, it’s bound to start a serious fire.
@11 I sure wasn’t so thank you for bringing it to my attention so I can donate to their legal defense GoFundMes
@15 – you’re going to donate jack shit. You know it, and I know it.
@16 keep those tears flowing bro you got this
@17 – you’re also going to donate jack shit, goofy naive “progressive”.
@4, But will the NTSB recommend they have tug escorts approaching all turns and docks to prevent the occasional costs of groundings and wiping out dock infrastructure?
@12, Why do Progressives still read The Stranger now that, under Noisy Creek, they have gone soft on the war on guns and the war on cars?
Touch my Kindle at your peril.
@18, A good Progressive shouldn’t have any money. They should have donated it all to the government for the collective good. They should have turned down all merit based promotions to insure that their income remains equal to their fellow workers.
“Celebrate by throwing a stranger’s Kindle in the lake, or by tripping a bald guy in a bad tux”
Slog advocates committing violence against strangers because of what devices they have & because of their personal appearance.
Way to go Slog, you’re soooooooo “progressive” and sNaRKy
@20, How many times do people need to tell you they don’t give a fuck what the stranger shares in the morning news before you accept it and move on to another weird obsession no one cares about. If people want to read about how dangerous guns and cars are they can read those stories in any of the countless mainstream media outlet that report the actual news. This is just a hastily compiled blog post and the only people who gaf what stories they post are annoying weirdos who hate everything about this place and can’t stop whining about it. No one else cares, dude.
@24 – only annoying naive uninformed weirdos (like you) don’t care about The Stranger’s blatant “progressive” hypocrisy.
barth @24, I’m curious. Does NotMyopic give you a kickback every time you respond to one of NotMyopic’s posts exactly as NotMyopic wants you to respond to one of his posts?
You write: “How many times do people need to tell you they don’t give a fuck…” For someone who wants to speak on behalf of everyone who doesn’t give a fuck, It seems you really do give a fuck about not giving a fuck.
This reminds me of a line from Yosemite Sam, “Shut up shuttin’ up.” Not that I’m tell you that, barth. I’m just reminded of that line.
I’ll hand the baton back to you so that you can take the entirely wrong lesson from my comment, as I’m sure you will. (In which case, I might ask myself, “Why am I even bothering to write this comment myself?”)
@24, Obviously you care. Look at the time you just devoted to the topic.
@23, Not a true threat. Protected speech. Of course they don’t like it when others engage in similarly protected speech that describes violence that isn’t a true threat.
@19 The NTSB has and will recommend that ports take steps to prevent ships from hitting bridge piers. What those measures are is up to the ports. Some ports (including Baltimore) may find that requiring tug escorts is more cost-effective than armoring bridge support piers. They won’t recommend or require anything about docks. It’s entirely possible that you don’t know the difference between a bridge pier and a dock. That would be par for the “NotMyopic thinks they’re way smarter on a topic than they actually are” course.
Is getting your butt kicked on this particular issue a kink or something? Because I’m kinda uncomfortable being part of your scene.
@25, On the contrary, I’m so well informed that i don’t cry like a baby when stories aren’t posted here bc i have other news sources and don’t expect a regional nightlife blog to tell me what’s happening and how to feel about it.
You guys are so conditioned to being spoonfed right wing content that you think everyone is waiting around to receive our daily talking points but we know how to think for ourselves.
@26, The only topic i just devoted my time to was calling you a loser. If i cared that the stranger wasn’t posting about whatever story you’re crying about today i would say “i can’t believe the stranger didn’t share that story today, as a hackneyed progressive stereotype i feel so betrayed” but instead i told you that no one cares for like the 50th time.
barth @28, you’re certainly entitled to be the self-appointed policeman of the Slog AM comment threads. I know the rest of us never cease to be entertained, enlightened, and informed by your diligent expressions of annoyance. Goodness knows, NotMyopic needs somebody to amplify his quirky obsessions.
I suppose as long as I’m thinking about Looney Toons, I guess I can think of NotMyopic as the Roadrunner and you as Wile E. Coyote.
You: “You guys are so conditioned to being spoonfed right wing content….” Boy, it looks like I have some catching up to do on this front. Barth, if there are any right-wing news sources you’d recommend, I’d appreciate it.
@ 28 – I am not crying. I am mocking you. Learn to discern the difference, the fact that you seemingly are unable to do so is hilarious.
@29, You sure devote a lot of keystrokes to something you don’t care about.
Thank you, Vivian, for the Heart classic, Crazy on You, from Dreamboat Annie (1976).
Go, Ann and Nancy Wilson—keep on rockin’ and don’t ever stop! 🙂
31 you created a profile to whine about a story that wasn’t covered here and to tell people to eat shit when they laugh at you, sorry but your actions speak for themselves
32 i have never claimed to not care that you’re an idiot and obviously it concerns me a great deal because i can’t stop telling you this
@34 – and yet you’re still just a naive white-guilt- ridden Seattle “progressive” stereotype
35 beats being a nazi who has a sad because someone tried to hurt their favorite paramilitary goon squad and no one cares
@36
I’m not a “nazi”, but I don’t really care if you call me one. You’re still a stereotypical naive white-guilt Seattle “progressive”, though, and the Feds are coming to push your shit in very soon.
@37 How very … not at all fascist of you.
38 – call me anything you want. I’m still right though
“I’m not a nazi, i just think immigrants should be put in concentration camps for minor civil infractions and that the government should punish you for opposing this”
No one ever said nazis were smart
“opposing this”, to you, apparently includes shooting a police officer in the neck with an AR. Nobody ever said you were smart either. Way to go, dumbass.
@2 DOUG: You’re half right. Ann and Nancy Wilson are California born (San Diego and San Fransisco, respectively, according to Google) but grew up in Seattle and Bellevue. Since the early years of Heart their fellow band members are Canadian, from Vancouver, B.C. Ann joined the band in 1970. The Wilson sisters were living in Vancouver when their breakthrough album, Dreamboat Annie premiered in 1976. Nancy Wilson was married for 24 years (1986-2010) to filmmaker Cameron Crowe. They have twin sons.
I didn’t shoot anyone, i’m just not losing any sleep over fascist goons getting what they dish out
@43 – the Alvarado police officer who was shot by your ANTIFA turds wasn’t a “fascist goon”, just a regular cop who was called to the scene of what, at the time, was just vandalism, and then he was shot. He isn’t even ICE. Do you think all cops are “fascist goons”? You can’t hide your obvious glee and approval. Oh well, those ANTIFAtards are going to go away for at least 10 years to Federal fudgepack prison. Some of them are “trans” too, and I’m sure you’ll cry when your “comrades” are rotting in the men’s prison instead of being able to prey on actual women at the women’s prison. LOL
Yes i am gleeful that people are standing up against an unlawful and blatantly unconstitutional organization and i don’t see what the problem is. This is basically the plot to inglorious basterds. We’ll get to the truth and reconciliation phase eventually but in the meantime ice and their enablers can all eat shit.
Also if you’re going to try to make antifa happen again please note it’s not an acronym.
“Also if you’re going to try to make antifa happen again please note it’s not an acronym.”
Whatever it is, it’s still a stupid word, not only stupid-looking (like all the ANTIFAtard reject losers themselves), but stupid-sounding as well. You might as well call yourselves the “Anti-Badguy Squad”, and label anyone that you disagree with as the “Badguys”.
“This is basically the plot to inglorious basterds.”
That’s a fictional movie, dumbass.
@33: Glad to see you back! We were starting to worry about you 🙂 My favorite of theirs’s is Dog and Butterfly
@46-47: You need to pace yourself babe. Or go get some ice cream with psob and Babyback or something. xoxo