Author: Carl Setzer

Getting Back to Coffee Fundamentals: Fundamental Coffee

Carl Setzer

Founded by two old friends from my Starbucks days, Scott McMartin and Tim Kern (Tim sadly died last year), Fundamental Coffee represents so very much to me. I relied on their coffee knowledge at the ‘Bux. Today, I trust Scott’s expertise even further. Clearly, he’s learned so very much on this journey running his own coffee company. Give them a taste!

Here in Lynnwood, you can get their coffee at Alderwood Mall’s Seattle Coffee Gear.

Website: http://www.funcoffeeco.com/

Find them on Facebook, too.

Startup letting strangers share hotel rooms. What could go wrong?

Carl Setzer

Just read this over at Geekwire:

This startup plans to let strangers share hotel rooms to save money

By Taylor Soper

A Seattle startup wants to help you save money on hotel room fares — but only if you’re willing to share a room with a stranger.

My first thought was “ick”. However, as I think of things, there’s a bit of this already going on. Sites/apps like Couchsurfing.com already facilitate something similar. Also, if you look over our culture’s history, sharing rooms with strangers wasn’t uncommon at all. Think about the beginning of Moby Dick, and the meeting between Ishmael and Queequeg.

After reading the article I expect that they’ve been thoughtful of the risks and concerns of this venture. I expect they should do well. I think there is a market for such a service, as long as the risks of carefully mitigated.

Wishing Winston Club the best of luck!

Lynnwood Library Gallery Featuring Watercolor and Acrylic Artist Michael Leong

Carl Setzer

Lynnwood Library Gallery Featuring Watercolor and Acrylic Artist Michael Leong

On Display through January 28th

The Lynnwood Arts Commission presents watercolor and acrylic artist, Michael Leong, on display at the Lynnwood Library Gallery through January 28th. Born in Shanghai, China, Leong learned how to paint at age six. He continued painting lessons in middle school and participated in the Shanghai Student Painting Exhibition. Since his retirement from Boeing, Michael has spent the majority of his time finding inspiration in his daily life for his paintings. In addition, he enjoys painting with his peers at the Lynnwood Senior Center in his free time.

Contributed Photo: Two Blooming White Peonies, Michael Leong

Free to the public, the Lynnwood Library Gallery showcases local and regional artists on both the amateur and professional level. The Library is open Monday – Thursday from9am – 9pm, Friday – Sunday from 10am – 6pm and is closed on national holidays. The Gallery is exhibited in the multi-purpose room; call ahead for viewing availability.

Lynnwood Library
19200 44th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98036
(425) 778-2148

 

Library Gallery, Michael Leong

Chip, the IT Guy

Carl Setzer

Ok, I admit it, I haven’t watched the new Muppet Show yet. Clearly I’m in arrears, negligent in my geeky duties. I’ll remedy this ASAP, if for no other reason that this character here.

 

Additional Thoughts On The KPLU Sale

Carl Setzer

Heard this morning about KPLU having an FAQ about the sale on their site. I’ve already written on this, but I felt that a desire to comment after reviewing this newest bit of info.

I give them credit for including links to ways to challenge with the FCC the sale, how to cancel your support (if you’re sufficiently outraged), and where you can provide feedback to KUOW directly.

However, I’m still bothered by the lack of discussion about local news coverage. They hinted at it when they noted “KPLU already collaborates with KUOW on regional news coverage through the Northwest News Network…” and noting there’s a finite audience. However, KUOW’s regional coverage eroded to near nothing, hence why I shifted all my listening over to KPLU.

Perhaps this really speaks to a larger issue: how do we maintain high levels of regional coverage? Is the audience really limited? Or is the vision of KUOW limited? Perhaps this is a reflection of radical shifts in media landscape, where securing adequate funding is tough. But the loss of a newsroom deeply concerns me, regardless of the rationale or causality. I expect, though, the solution shall be unclear.

City of Lynnwood’s Upcoming Holiday Events

Carl Setzer

The good folks at the City of Lynnwood have pulled together several holiday events to help launch the season.

 

Upcoming Holiday Events

Lynnwood Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 5, 5-6:30pm

Tree lighting

More Info

Holiday Open House at Heritage Park
Sunday, December 6, 1-4pm

Alderwood

More info

Public Menorah Lighting – Celebrate the Festival of Lights
Sunday, December 6, 4:15pm

menorah

More Info

These events are supported by the City of Lynnwood to achieve our vision to “build and enhance a strong, diverse, integrated community.”

 

An Evening With Aaron Strumpel At Trinity Lutheran

Carl Setzer1 Comment

I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Aaron before, so it was really a delight to see him perform again. The tranquility his music elicits calms me, settling my brain into a contemplative place, connecting me with the divine. Below is one of the pieces performed this evening. When you have the chance to hear him, take it.

Performing with Aaron was Keith Thomas, with ethereal computer assisted cello-work. This evening, he utilized looping much like one of my favorite contemporary artists: Zoe Keating With only the briefest time for web searching, I found this video featuring his work with the ensemble Primitivity. Though with a similar modernist quality, it lacks the looping effects. Keith currently lives in Seattle, and hopefully we’ll get him a web presence set up. He has another performance in early December. More details are forthcoming.

 

Stevens Pass Timelapse Video And A Slight Ski Season Update

Carl Setzer

My buddy Toby just posted this video shot up on the Stevens Pass ski area. Though not yet open, the region’s ski season has started: Mount Baker and Crystal are open!

So, my skier buds, make sure you bookmark these sites:

There is a second video below this one. Stevens Pass’ own snow report. Gives you a solid idea of where we are snow-wise (~18 inches at the summit). Anyway, here’s to this next ski season making up for our dismal one last year.

Some reflections on the windstorm

Carl Setzer

It’s been an interesting week. During Tuesday’s storm I was sitting in a class up above downtown Everett. Quite the bluster! Even in the 6th floor of a modern high-rise, we could hear the wind. Fortunately, my friends and family came through reasonably unscathed, with the greatest problems being power losses and fence destruction. Many in the region had far worse results (the Seattle PI has a great run-down of the aftermath).

With the storm, traffic was significantly eventful and my poor instructor quite late. I took the opportunity to chat with many of the good folks at Everett’s First American Title office. Such great people! A few folks I’ve known for years, but have never met. Such is the nature of modern business!

Our class covered the Escrow Process, where we focused on several key changes and issues facing this sector. One of the biggest: cyber-fraud.

I’ve been hearing an amazing number of cases of spoofed, or near-spoofed email addresses where funds are redirected. With this, we covered ways in which our business is responding to better protect your information.

Also, we looked at the way the CFPB’s new disclosure rules are getting implemented. The mortgage industry has taken this very, very seriously and implemented (for the most part) solid processes to keep closing timelines solid. Each lender has their own process, which is complicating things. And we’re having issues with certain folks not respecting the amount of time it takes the other players to act (“yeah, it closes tomorrow, here’s our stuff at 6pm. Too bad you don’t have time to get all your work accomplished. It’s your fault, of course”).

Anyway, always trying to learn more. Real Estate is vibrant and ever changing business. It is one of the things that delights me about it. This also speaks to the value of real estate agents. We stay up-to-date on all the changes occurring. Even if you bought a house last year, the market has changed. There are new processes, forms and documentation. Let us help you navigate this morphing realm.

A random thought about garages in Lynnwood

Carl Setzer

While walking my neighborhood a few evenings ago I looked closer at these houses in Lynnwood. Built in the 50s and 60s garages, they all have itty bitty garages. Today’s cars don’t fit. And I remember those 50s, 60s, 70s vintage cars. They were a tad bit bigger than cars today. Clearly, garages were for storage, not auto storage.

Anyway, I’ve been around these houses most of my life. I’m rather fond of them, quirks and all. Actually, the quirks add delight, to me, at least. And, with all that, two and two were never (proverbially) added together. The interesting observations that happen when I slow down.