Fun Times At Finapalooza

Finaghty’s Pub just wrapped up their fourth Finapalooza and it was a blast! The now three night event features a great line up of fantastic musical talent drawing bands such as Petty Thief, Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs, Keith Scott, Christina Bautista, and this year Geoff Tate from the multi platinum rock band Queensryche made an appearance! Phil and Lisa have done a great job of bringing great musical entertainment to our little burb and putting Snoqualmie on the map.

This year, yours truly got to emcee the second and third nights introducing the acts and providing verbal fill between sets. It was such fun and was honored to be asked by Phil and Lisa and think I did a pretty good job as they have asked me to return for next year’s event. One of the most surprising bands that played was Klover Jane who played last on the final night. I was so impressed, I showcased the band on my music podcast, Sno Jo Radio. You can check out the episode here. Deb took some very good pictures on the third night and I set up an album you can see here! If you have yet to attend the annual Finapalooza, then you should really try to drop in next year. Make sure you get your tickets early and I’ll see ya there!

Hospital Insanity

Just saw in the latest Snoqualmie Valley Record that clearing and grading has started for the new hospital. What struck a nerve with me is how they were describing the site as a nice lush fern laden tree covered landscape, then in the next breath, jumping for joy at ripping and tearing it all down! Thus the de greening of the Parkway continues amidst joy and jubilation of city leaders! Now I wouldn’t have such a gripe about this new boondoggle, and most of the funding will be from the Federal Government, but our tax dollars will be needed for its future and continuing operation. The last discussions I saw amongst many if not most Valley residents, was this hospital was not needed or wanted, yours truly included. In case you have been under a rock or had your head in the sand (or up something), there is a beautiful state of the art medical facility just being finished minutes away on the Issaquah Highlands! It has a fantastic ER facility of which I just recently visited and received the greatest medical care of my life! Why oh why on Earth does Snoqualmie feel the need for this! Methinks that some of our city leaders and hospital district officials need to feel important and relevant and this hospital will somehow put them on the map. Hope you think you are getting your wish because I see nothing but foolishness in this!

The Snoqualmie Tribe has bought the old hospital and is making payments on it. Move out of their way and let them turn it into a first class clinic for the upper Valley to serve their people and also the rest of us who may need their services. They will let each and everyone get medical care when we need it! Then we can dissolve this hospital district, lower our taxes, and enjoy the natural beauty we have out here without having to endure yet more concrete and asphalt. But alas the door has been opened and it was quoted by Hospital Administrator Rodger McCollum, “That’s our future, if growth happens, we have property across the street for a hundred-bed hospital.” Sounds just wonderful…….not! The whole thing just sickens me. So much so, that maybe I’ll head over to Swedish and get checked out. Oh and by the way, I surely hope we have some decent and responsible contenders stand up to some incumbents in the next City political election, because I am voting for them.

SnoValley Star Is Irresponsible

SnoVally Star just recently published an editorial, Get real, no more fees for buses, on July 20th. In it states, “The King County Council should not approve a new $20 car tab fee to support Metro or send it to the voters to decide.” Oh really, not even send it to the voters?? How can a local newspaper that directly serves a community that has been begging for more bus service be so irresponsible to the people it supposedly serves to inform? It also states, “The Valley will have some service reductions without the fee, but no lines will be cut.” You got that right and it is only just the beginning. Service on the #209 and #214 will be reduced and I will almost guarantee that there will be further reductions on these two routes and also on the #215 if some additional revenue is not secured.

The editorial touts that Metro should get efficient, tighten its belt, do what it can with what is has, and the problem lies in the fact that its main source of revenue is from the sales tax! Metro has gotten more efficient on the backs of its drivers. I should know, I am one! Our schedules have become so tight (efficient) that they are next to impossible to be kept in a safe manner. Our rest breaks are at a minimum, rest room breaks have to be well planned, accidents are on the increase, system on time performance is plunging, and passenger complaints are on the rise. Some anti transit foes even want to reduce driver wages! I would like to see any of them do my job for a month and see if they still agree with that assessment! I just cannot understand the attack on the middle class wage earners because that is what is the foundation of this country! Drivers have made enough concessions in the last contract and it is now time for Metro and mainly the King County Council to seek out more stable sources of future revenue that will maintain and increase service and performance of the transit system.

I have always touted a 3-2-1 fare structure plan (this is my own idea). Adults would pay $3, Youth $2, and Seniors $1, all day with no zones or no or off-peak. The Ride Free Area in downtown Seattle would be eliminated and transfers would still be issued as is. Fare enforcement would be strictly adhered to, no fare no ride period! This would generate vast amounts of revenue without implementing the car tab fee but I doubt anyone in the council would ever even consider it. Right now I have to be in favor of this TEMPORARY car tab fee. It should go into effect immediately and expire in two years but Metro and the Council MUST implement the following: eliminate the downtown ride free area, eliminate all paper transfers, and make adult fares at the peak hour rate of $2.50/3.00 with no off-peak structure, and explore new revenue sources other than their portion of the sales tax. This compromise must be met to implement the car tab fee.

Additional taxes right now are not a welcome sight. As the editorial stated, we in the Valley are already paying a fee to the city of Snoqualmie for transportation improvements, but we the citizens did not even get a chance to vote on it, it was just decided for us. Put this car tab fee to the voters of King County and let them decide for themselves. Why start cutting service when ridership is on the increase? Finally, the editorial states, “Many Valley residents depend on the bus. There is no doubt that sharing a ride is the wave of the future. But reality also says that bus service will never be accessible to all. Now is a good time to tighten the system.” To that, be carefull what you wish for. Tightening the system means tightening the web of service. Where does the cities of North Bend and Snoqualmie sit in that web? I have been a driver for 16 years and saw what it took to get the level of service the Valley has and in this “tightening”, it will be the first to go! My subscription to the Seattle Times has now been cancelled for their similar opinion, and I will no longer support the SnoValley Star either!

School Bond Vote – End Already!

My thoughts on our local School Bond Vote that has some around here glued to the election results like it was another 9/11 terror attack:

Holy Mother of Gawd I am becoming nauseated beyond belief at all this. Number one is I just got my property tax bill for this coming year and it is the highest it has been since we have lived here while my assessment is plummeting. And two, all this desperation to pull more money from the wallet is just about to make me yak. Hopefully this will end soon so some of you can have lives again if that is all possible. Pass, fail, whatever, it is not the end of the effing world and either way, the kids will be just fine.

Show Number 94 – Total Disgust

Well my disgust has brought me from cave under the Falls to pull out my microphone and record another podcast. This one has to do with the upcoming school bond vote being put forth to the voters of the Valley. I spew my rants of how I feel about the derision in this humble community and further more, my distrust in all levels of government. I have had my fill of both!

Listen To Show 94!

Valley Voters For Education
Organizing For Community Schools

Two Things You Should Listen To

In addition to my occasional podcasting these days, I also listen to quite a few others. One podcast I subscribe to is Public Radio International’s show Living On Earth. Just recently I listened to a show that contained two very interesting segments The first segment was on 2010 wild weather everywhere around the globe. While we may be seeing snow and ice in abundance this winter, there is a more global trend of actual warming and you’ll hear why! Check out the link below to listen to or download the show:

The Wild Weather of 2010

The second segment should be listened to by everyone who believes economic growth must be sustained to keep our current lifestyles where they are and about the burden to the Earth our consumptions patterns are bringing to bear! Over the span of a lifetime, the world’s population has tripled and consumption has become a way of life. Japanese Canadian academic, science broadcaster, and environmental activist David Suzuki reflects on these changes in his new book “The Legacy: An Elder’s Vision for Our Sustainable Future”. He tells host Steve Curwood that the path to a sustainable future is to stop elevating economy over ecology and to start imagining a brighter future.

The Legacy

You can read the show transcripts at each link, stream the audio, or just download the show to your computer. They are both very worthwhile listens. You may agree or disagree, but you just might learn something.

Trashiest Neighborhood

My vote for the trashiest neighborhood goes to the Deer Park Neighborhood. Sorry guys, I have tried to give you the benefit of doubt, but it’s time to call you out! Wind no wind, Fall, Summer, Spring, Winter, doesn’t matter the season, your neighborhood has more trash strewn in streets, parks, green spaces than any other neighborhood up here on the Ridge! Don’t you guys care what your neighborhood looks like? Do you like living in a trash dump? For Pete’s sake, organize a neighborhood clean up party and get out there and pick up this mess! I’ll come help! Have some pride in your neighborhood or maybe none of you give a rat’s ass.

New Church Coming to The Ridge

NEW CHURCH PLAT

For awhile now I have been curious of the road extension being built on the opposite side of the entrance to Deer Park. I was wondering if there were more new lots being planned for future houses to be built when there are so many  unsold lots remaining all over Ridge Phase II. I asked around and heard that at least a new church was planned up on the hill along the new road. I did some investigating on the County Records page and sure enough, there is a plat bought by the Corporation Of The Presiding Bishop Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Later-Day Saints. So there you have it, a new Mormon Church is coming soon to the Ridge. Here is a link to the parcel information on the Assessor page.

Heaven and Hell

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the Senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really?, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, “Now it’s time to visit heaven…”

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell…

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” stammers the Senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil smiles at him and says,

“Yesterday we were campaigning, Today, you voted..”

Vote wisely on November 2.

Life As A Metro Bus Driver

A very well written article of what it is like on my job and how my working conditions are deteriorating! Maybe Kathy Lambert and the rest of the King County Council should read it also, since she and some others on the Council have put targets on our backs!

http://www.pstransitoperators.wordpress.com/2010/04/25/layoverrecovery-time-and-operator-rest-periods/