Month: July 2017

Google, Music, Spotify and Being Behind Knowledge-Wise

Carl Setzer

So, my family watched quite a bit of YouTube. Everything from Rick Steves to vloggers to geek stuff. I’ve learned so much more about the extended Star Wars universe than I ever thought possible. I consider myself a great master of Jedi lore and wisdom, until YouTubers instilled great humility in me. 

Seemed a good idea to pony up for YouTube Red: I hate commercials. HATE! Clearly I failed to read my terms clearly enough as, just today I discovered that I had full access to Google music. So my Spotify account was a bit redundant. 

I spent today exploring it. Quite happy so far. I like the interface, and that it’s not a resource hog like Spotify. Plus I seem to have better access to artists like Peter Gabriel. Oh, they have podcasts in there (yeah, Spotify does, too) and my favorite podcast, Radio Free Burrito is in there, too. No sign of Design Matters with Debbie Millman, but I guess we can’t have everything. Hopefully we’ll get them in Google, too.

I’m leaning heavily towards dropping Spotify and getting a family plan for YouTube Red. I’ve not sure what my metrics are for making the shift. Music selection is a big one, and resource use. I’d like to see how they compare regarding artist compensation, too. 

Now here’s my weird Seattle connection. Years ago, one of the first streaming services was Real Networks, headquartered in downtown Seattle. I explored them for awhile before launching into iTunes and streaming radio. And evolution has evolved us, so, here we are. 

What are you using? I’d love to hear. Also, if you could give a “like”, share, it helps support the site. And follow us! We’d love to stay in touch. 

Housing market concerns for greater Seattle 

Carl Setzer

I’ve read several articles the past few days that give me pause. The rise of housing prices is the center. And the fact they’re outpacing wage growth deeply concerns me. 

There’s a significant population who’s losing their ability to afford basic subsistence in this region I love. Many friends of mine, who’ve lived here their whole lives, and some for generations, who are getting priced out. 

I know the many see very few basic entitlements: life, liberty, and perpetual servitude. 

In seriousness, I wonder what we can do. Market forces are hard to resist. We’ve tried things like rent control and minimum wage increases, to varying degrees of success. Our ability to game the system are limited. We tend to end up with unintended consequences countering our efforts. 

I firmly believe there are solutions out there which will provide stability for the less highly compensated, without spiking home price inflation somewhere else. 

I work to not be a cynical free market catalyst. Tis often a challenge. I shall grab a hold of hope and embrace optimism. 

Some Recommended Regional Real Estate Reading

Carl Setzer

Here are few articles that feature important information about the greater Seattle area:

My weird brain, sci-fi and technology 

Carl Setzer

​My love of things geek manifests in strange ways at times. A huge fan of Ghost in the Shell, I wonder about Wi-Fi protocols and data throughput when people “think” at each other.

Or how many servers are on the Death Star? RAID drives? How much email gets sent daily? What kind of data connection is needed for holographic communications?

What about the Rebel Alliance’s security chief? I’d be wondering, loudly, why you’d throw someone with as much critical detail regarding the Alliance as Leia into operations with a high likelihood of capture and exposure to, um, enhanced techniques.

Imagining Rebel IT. I’m picturing Hoth. When we see Vader enter the base, all the equipment looks rather operational. I would’ve, at least run some kind of worm that destroys everything. I’d rather pull the hard drives, and bring them with us on the evacuation craft. Or manually destroy them.

So, that’s how my brain works…at night, when I’m weary.

Now it’s Safeway, or Everything Changes 

Carl Setzer2 Comments

A few weeks ago, one of my local grocery stores rebranded.  After Safeway and Albertsons merged a few years back, the writing was on the proverbial wall. The Safeway branded store across the street was shuttered. A few months back, I noticed the start of a remodel. While talking with friends there, I was told the store would become a Safeway soon. That’s now done. 

A few days ago I noticed I felt somewhat sad looking at the sign. Well, the store has been an Albertsons as long as I can remember. Went there with my mom, watched the changes of the area, yet it was there. No longer, though. 

Lynnwood, this little suburb north of Seattle, hasn’t been as radically transforming as Seattle or the Eastside. Well, until recently. Stalwarts of my childhood have closed, buildings getting torn down, land redeveloped, vacant lots becoming neighborhoods. Housing prices sprinting upwards. 

Change. Pretty rapid change, too. 

Communities consist of these institutions, and their interactions with our citizens. The uniqueness of Lynnwood morphs, so what will become of the charms we value? I value?. 

Defining their value, though, is hard. I see the value to government, and our local business community. I’m a real estate agent and currently work in construction. I get that. Yet I worry that the influx of national chains and steep housing price inflation erode that which makes this community unique. Lynnwood has always been about commerce. But it’s also had a place for very one-of-a-kind businesses. Those are the ones vanishing. 

So many long-time residents I know feel concerned. Those things that build attachment vanish. What holds us here? At what place do we surrender to inflation and move to someplace more affordable? I guess that’s the question at the end of all this. 

I don’t know, my friends. Just don’t know. 

Larabee State Park: A Haiku 

Carl Setzer

As the cliff decays
Life will keep grasping skyward
Hope thrives in sunlight

Tide pools are a big deal for my family, so we trundled off to Bellingham’s Larabee State Park. This tree is just above the trail came down to the beach from. I’m always fascinated by the way trees adapt to their surroundings. Especially when their paths are inhibited. In this case by erosion. 

Just Discovered The Fairhaven Steampunk Festival

Carl Setzer

I adore Bellingham, and come up often. Yet, I just noticed the Fairhaven Steampunk Festival. I noticed the folks walking around in costume before I saw the banner advertising the event. 

Reading over their site, it’s clearly been an annual event for at least a few years. I’ll add it to my list of geek events. It looks like fun. 

A Walk In Whatcom Falls Park 

Carl Setzer

I’m up in Bellingham for the next few days. One of my favorite cities with great biking, hiking, and all kinds of dining options.  A fun place to be outside. 

Most of these shots were taken at Whatcom Falls park, with a few taken in Fairhaven. 

I love the way these tree roots grew over these rocks


This quote by Cicero sits at the entrance to Village Books.


A positive message to start your weekend

Carl Setzer

Peter Dinklage, currently famous for his role as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones spoke at Bennington College’s commencement in 2012. Here’s a nice highlight reel. 

The basic theme: Don’t Wait. Don’t wait to pursue your dreams, to take risks, to be fully alive. I also appreciate his incorporation of Beckett: “Ever tried, ever failed. No matter, try again. Fail again, fail better.” 

Now, this advice scares the crop out of me. But i know it’s true. Greatness is never achieved without facing fears, without taking risks, without facing failure. The only real failure in life is giving up, or it’s mirror image: never starting. So, don’t wait. 

https://youtu.be/aCnB9lgaCd0