Author: Carl Setzer

Spotify’s Seattle Based Competitor

Carl Setzer

I’m sure most people would think I’m writing about Amazon Prime music, but no. Real Networks has been around for years. I used their player before iTunes, before Pandora, I’m pretty sure before Windows XP. They’ve been in this space a long time, but have not have regained the popular attention they had in the 1990s.

And, as Spotify announces huge, game changing pivots in the music/video space, Real brings back their founder and announces they’re moving into photo-sharing. As they’re bleeding cash, it’s hard not to see this as the final flails of a dying company. I deeply hope I’m wrong. Their immanent death has been predicted for years, and wrong. And I root for my home teams!

Yet again: Economists Predict Interest Rate Hike In 2015

Carl Setzer

I’ve ready many predictions about the impending interest rate hike, like this one from Monday over at Housingwire. Now, it probably easy to add snark to my tone, but it’s not there. I understand economics and why interest rates cannot remain at this level. I just find it amusing that I’ve seen “rates rising” predictions for years without the rates really rising (ok, they’ve moved up, but that’s not the point).

It’s probably nearly impossible to predict when the rates will go up. But, really, for most of us, that really shouldn’t matter. What does matter is that they WILL go up, whether that’s this month, this quarter, this year or next; everything about the system demands they rise. Trying to game this and grab rates at their peak lowness (actually, I think that time has past) is foolish. If you are in place to buy or refinance, just go and do it. Remember the African adage: the best time to plant a tree is 5 years ago, the second best time is today.

Some Game of Thrones Thoughts

Carl Setzer

I didn’t part of the morning reading about the storm surrounding the Sansa rape scene from Game of Thrones. The backlash had been fascinating. Please note: I haven’t seen the scene, and, as I don’t watch the show, it’s unlikely I shall. And, there’s no protest: my current tastes run towards other content. I have had enough brutality in my life to seek it out.

Reading some of the commentary, I’m left with a key thought. It appears the scene was ugly and brutal, as rape is. I’m not reading anything that portrays the scene as anything less than horrific. Gruesome, disturbing; perhaps, there value in that. Facing the reality of rape; that all the attempts to justify rape culture really are justifying ugly brutality.

Maybe the producers meant to impart a social message. I don’t know, and don’t care. More importantly, this can be leveraged. We can erode the justifications and minimization our culture throws up against rape and it’s victims. If this scene starts a deeper debate about rape and culture, then perhaps it’s net effect will be positive. If more people deeply understand the evil brutality that is rape, good can come of this. So I hope.

Focusing on your sphere

Carl Setzer

Thinking recently about Steven Covey’s notion of focusing in your sphere of influence. Work where you are, that’s how I internalize this. I’ve long thought of this simply in terms of effectiveness. Actually, this is far deeper. What’s critical always lies within this sphere. One must complete the critical, our all else fails. We must hold our attention within. By managing within ourselves, the inner elements of our lives, other pieces come into play. When the core gets neglected, there is either fear of impending collapse, or the consequences of such collapse. Breaking free requires focus on the deepest, richest inner, most critical elements. Only upon mastering these, can other pieces of life become richer, deeper.

Celebration of Food Festival 2015

Carl Setzer
Celebration of Food Logo 2015

We went to this last year and really enjoyed it. Not sure our schedule allows us to this weekend, but if we can, we will go. Hope to see you there.

PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL ARTS
Celebration of Food

Taste, explore and experience real food Sunday, May 17th. The Celebration of Food Festival, Sunday, May 17, 2015 from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW, Lynnwood.

The festival is a free family event that innovatively highlights sustainable, local, organic and wholesome (SLOW) food. “In our fourth year, we are still running a very unique event. We bring people together from Snohomish County and beyond to showcase delicious, local, wholesome food,” said festival organizer Chris Hudyma. “Our intent is to foster a community that is passionate about real food. It’s a journey for people to rediscover that they can grow and cook their own food and that it can taste so much better than the processed food we so often eat in this country.”

Highlights of the festival include: educational presentations; cooking demonstrations; children’s story tent and book giveaways; hands-on kids’ cooking and kitchen skills station; and vendors consisting of local farms and businesses.

  • The Celebration of Food Festival promotes the following long-range goals:
  • Increase community health and wellness by promoting access and utilization of SLOW food.
  • Enhance our county’s ability to connect people and businesses that bring SLOW food to our tables.
  • Support farmers, farmers’ markets, businesses, non-profits and government in making Snohomish County a sustainable and economically viable place to live and work by providing Festival sponsors, vendors and presenters opportunities to promote their food-related endeavors.
  • Educate and raise community awareness of our rich agricultural heritage.
  • Promote and demonstrate benefits of sustainable agriculture, locally grown and naturally prepared food.
  • Further establish Snohomish County as a hub for regional food and foster tourism and economic vitality.

The Celebration of Food Festival is brought to you by Edmonds Community College and the City of Lynnwood with support by: Cedar Grove Compost, Central Market, Edmonds CC Campus Green Fund. Grow Northwest, PCC Natural Markets, Swedish Edmonds, Verdant Health Commission, and Whole Foods Market Lynnwood.

For more information about the Food Festival, visit www.edcc.edu/foodfest.

 

Some Thoughts On Jefferson County Real Estate

Carl Setzer2 Comments

Just got this blurb from some agents out there in Jefferson County:

“Jefferson County current Real Estate sales have increased 28% since 2014 with prices staying stable.”

Having the real estate market stabilize in lovely Jefferson County is particularly pleasing to me. The economy out there has been slower to recover. Now, the economy out there isn’t as vibrant, thus not as volatile. But the collapse of the timber industry really hurt things. That’s been the bigger driver for that area than the real estate bubble crash.

I love Port Townsend and it’s Victorian architecture. Plus, it’s quirky charm and the characters who call it home. You can get bumper stickers that say “We’re here because we’re not all there: Port Townsend”. That ready should sum the place up.

Walking in Lynnwood

Carl Setzer

I love walking; decent exercise and good for maintaining connection to the neighborhood. Yes magazine featured their Most Walkable Suburb, and we have much to learn from Arlington, VA. I’d like to see businesses better integrate into neighborhoods. This would feature some really basic notions, like sidewalks in parking lots and better flow design. The good folks at America Walks created a great resource for making communities walkable.

The gardens and trees I see delight me, as do the brief chats with neighbors. Signs of construction and repair are easily seen, too. Lynnwood had become much more walkable over the past few years. The city is taking it seriously, adding sidewalks and such. We’re not perfect and have a long way to go, but we’re moving the right way. I see more people walking, which reinforces my view, and makes me happy.

Beware: Jury Duty Scam

Carl Setzer

From the City of Lynnwood:

LYNNWOOD, WA (May 8, 2015) – Judge Stephen E. Moore and the Lynnwood Municipal Court want to alert Lynnwood residents to a jury duty scam that has become more prevalent across the country and around Washington. We value our citizens willing to serve on jury duty a great deal, and are very concerned that you might become victims of a scam artist out to take your money, and using the name of the court to do so.

Please be aware that citizens in several Washington Counties as well as around the country have lost large sums of money. Here is how it usually happens: an individual calls or e-mails and claims that you have missed jury duty. As a result, they indicate a warrant has been issued for your arrest and/or that the Sheriff is en route to arrest you, and demands payment, a credit card number, or a social security number for failure to appear for jury duty. 

Court officers will never ask for payment over the phone or by e-mail. Court officials will never ask for you to purchase a pre-paid card, provide cash or a check to pay for failure to appear for jury duty. Never give out personal information by phone or e-mail. Please report any suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency. For more information, visit www.courts.wa.gov. 

Considering Sustainability

Carl Setzer

Sustainability has been a significant part of my journey for years. Perhaps the most obvious element was my time at Starbucks working in environmental affairs, but that’s really only a piece. Also, my time with the Episcopal Church, where I interacted closely with the Earth Ministry greatly expanding my learning. Just two of the more significant parts of my life. I’ve been exploring this idea for decades.

My goal is greater than just understanding sustainability, but finding ways to live it. Really, defining it is the easy part. It’s living it that’s tough. I’m paraphrasing my friends Brian and Mary Natrass with this definition: a sustainable society is one that takes no more then it returns to the ecosystem. Balance. And though the term “sustainble” gets thrown about a great deal nowadays, I’m not aware of any element or system in modern society that meets that description. Our consumer economy is, actually, the exact opposite. Continued exploitation returns nothing to our systems. Single use and dispose fails, too. There’s so much opportunity to progress and grow.

All may be distressing, but not cause for despair. Humans are highly adaptable. We will adjust and survive. My goal is for something beyond survival. Rather, thriving; with a new definition of thriving. That what I shall explore now.

Rare Opportunity: Tour of the new 520 Floating Bridge

Carl Setzer

As part of the construction of the new 520 bridge, the Washington State DOT will be offering tours. I’m not aware of this being offered before, so it’s pretty unique.

Full Public Tour Information here. Basic details below. Key thing: Advanced registration is required.

SR 520 Floating Bridge Tour Dates

Tours will be held monthly from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the last Saturday of each month. The current tour dates (which are subject to change if needed) are:

  • May 30, 2015 ( Registration Open, closes 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 13 )
  • June 27, 2015
  • July 25, 2015
  • August 29, 2015
  • September 26, 2015

SR 520 Floating Bridge Tour Details

  • The tours include a walk of approximately two miles round trip. Visitors must be able to walk over uneven, steep terrain and climb up and down about 70 stairs.
  • Tours last approximately two hours.
  • Tours begin at the Evergreen Point Road Lid Park and Ride: SR 520 & Evergreen Point Road in Medina.
  • Tours will be conducted rain or shine. Please dress for the weather. In cases of severe weather, such as snow or ice, tours may be canceled with short notice.
  • Tours may be canceled and dates may change for any reason due to the dynamic nature of construction activities.