Amazon wants you to know what their typical employee makes: The median (not the average) income for Amazon workers in the U.S. is $35,096, which is a pretty significant rise over 2017 median wages. Amazon implemented a nationwide $15 minimum wage last November for their employees, even in states where the minimum wage is much lower. We talk a lot of shit about Amazon here on Slog, and thereâs plenty more to talk about, but itâs hard not to see this as a good thing for workers. Though, the change did come about because of intense scrutiny over Amazon's poor working conditions for its low-wage workers.
City officials consider âpop-up pallet sheltersâ to expand homeless services: No these arenât a hip pop-up shop, these are a hot new trend in temporary housing. Pallet Shelter, an Everett-based company, makes 64-square-foot houses that can accommodate up to a family of four with heat, air conditioning, and electricity. Theyâre even cheaper than the tiny homes that have become so prolific in Seattle. The question, as always with any homeless service, is where to put them and who will pay for them. The answer, as almost always, is nobody knows.
A lumber truck flipped over on I-5 near Everett: Isn't that like that old saying goes? âHow much wood could a wood truck chuck if a wood truck could chuck wood?â In this case, a whole lot. The right two lanes of I-5 are shut down following a four-car collision of sorts where a semi truck was forced into a ditch. The driver has serious injuries but is expected to make a full recovery. If you have to drive that way, Iâm sorry but youâll be sitting in traffic for a while. Maybe double up on those podcasts.
#Everett update: While we're clearing the road of debris from the collision on SB I-5 at Pacific Ave, traffic backups through Everett are approx. 3-4 miles. Continue to expect delays as we work to get this lumber cleared. pic.twitter.com/oJyulDNa72
â WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) April 12, 2019
Officials still donât know why more than two dozen light poles fell down: Seattle City Lights still has no answer for why these poles, one of which fell onto a moving car and another narrowly missing a passing biker, randomly fell down. At this point, they can neither confirm nor deny it was ghosts. Some of the polls were 65 years old, but still werenât at risk of splintering like they did. City Lights is hiring a contractor to investigate and their first question: which of these fucking poles fell first?
Mike Pence is fighting with democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg: Not exactly a surprise, they are going to be running on opposing tickets. Itâs even less of a surprise when you remember that the South Bend, Indiana Mayor is openly gay. In a CNN interview, Pence was asked about Buttigiegâs comments criticizing his track record of being an absolute asshole to the LGBTQ community. Pence said Buttigieg has the right to be a Christian, but when pressed on whether that includes believing that being gay is a sin, he doubled down and said, âI'm a Bible-believing Christian. I draw my truth from God's word." That feels like code for, âyes, being gay is a sin.â
More clouds, maybe rain: I got dumped on last night and was very much not prepared.
High resolution satellite imagery from GOES 17 shows lots of clouds across W Washington this morning. Radar shows some showers from south of Seattle into the Cascades. Conditions will gradually improve today. #wawx pic.twitter.com/jaFxNTMnd8
â NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) April 12, 2019
Game of Thrones starts again on Sunday: If youâre a fan then you probably already know this and have been waiting two years for the final season of dragons, zombies, and just so much incest. If youâre not a fan, then what the fuck is wrong with you? Itâs a cultural phenomenon! Just bend the knee already (you would get the joke if you watched the show). If you need a quick refresher on where every character stands going into Sundayâs premiere, then read this.
The new cold war is well, cold: Itâs in the Arctic, where climate change-driven sea ice melt is leaving vast portions of the Arctic Ocean open through the summer. No nation has set claim to these areas because, until recently, they were locked underneath ice year round, but now Russia sees an opportunity to grow its military influence. Theyâve built island communities at very high latitudes and are starting to encroach on Canadaâs north border. Russia is building up its military capacity in the high north, so NATO is responding similarly with more investment in military infrastructure on Canadaâs arctic borders.
This will never stop being cool to me:
TOUCHDOWN: SpaceX Falcon Heavy's reusable boosters successfully touch down after the rocket makes its first commercial flight. https://t.co/n2scZLqsmI pic.twitter.com/P8a9ryjvG8
â ABC News (@ABC) April 12, 2019
Now listen here you $#!%: We'll round out our week of Chicago music history looking forward with one of the rising stars in Chicago hip-hop and one of my favorite young rappers: Nnamdi Ogbonnaya."
This weekend's best Seattle entertainment options include: A reading with the Kenyan genius playwright and novelist NgĆ©gÄ© wa Thiongâo, the Ballard Brewed Spring Beer Festival, and Record Store Day 2019.