Tag: seattle

Cafe thoughts

Carl Setzer

As I’m sitting in Lynnwood’s Cafe Ladro, enjoying the cafe vibe, memories are triggered. Thinking of my beloved B&O and bauhaus from the years I lived on Capitol Hill. The ambiance of an urban cafe is unique, and these two captured the emotion of that point of my life.

Now I find myself back in the suburbs that I’d reviled as a young man. Just a few meters from the house my parents settled in, where I consider myself “raised”. Coffee tastes similar, though my relationship to it has greatly changed. The grey skies and driving drizzle pull out similar ties to that time, yet they’re over strip malls not the lovely, gritty buildings of Seattle.

So, B&O moved, then went out of business. I heard bauhaus moved up the hill. Change. Change. Not just me, not just my locale, even the streets and institutions of my history evolve.

Or so I ruminate, listening coffee beans getting scooped. A sound hearkening to before my birth. Little pieces connecting all humanity over the ocean of time.

Road Healing Coming to I-5

Carl Setzer

Generally, the first response when seeing news like this: groans. Ugh, more roadwork! More snarls; slow, slow, slow! I try to think of the long-term with this stuff. Sometimes it works. But knowing that not doing this, not taking care of the preventive stuff only makes things worse. And, maybe, this will result in something better. A better, more wonderful life for us all. Well, one can dream…

New pavement preservation project begins on I-5 next week
A new pavement preservation project begins on I-5 in Seattle and Shoreline next week.
Beginning Aug. 11 contractor crews will start replacing more than 300 old, cracking and failing concrete panels that make up the I-5 roadway. The work is located between SR 104 at the King-Snohomish County line and Northeast 117th Street near Northgate. Crews will start in the southbound lanes and then work northbound. After the concrete panel work is done at the end of October, the crews are scheduled to start grinding the highway. The grinding will start no earlier than Nov. 1. The project will also add a new overhead electronic sign near Northeast 155th Street which will display travel times and messages. Durable, high visibility striping will be added in spring 2015. Thank you in advance for your patience as we begin this work that is so important to keeping commuters and freight moving on I-5.

 

First Thoughts on the #SPU Shooting

Carl Setzer

How absolutely terrifying to see Seattle Pacific University (fyi, the school’s servers are getting hammered by the media attention) as the latest victim of a school shooting. The coverage can be followed via this Twitter feed. With the website not able to keep up, Twitter is a powerful tool to stay aware of what’s going on.

Why do we need to know? Depends on the “we”, really. If you’re a student, it should be obvious. And, of course, for those who live nearby (it’s a pretty densely packed part of Seattle). Other clear choices: parents, family, friends of students, staff and faculty. Then there’s the larger impact on the community (several major streets blocked, all that traffic rerouted, emergency vehicles moving across downtown, etc). Perhaps a goodly portion of the watchers are just gawking, staring at the latest painful horror. I lean towards a belief that people care about others, and want to feel some connection. In many ways, it seems that this is the one way to do something; some thing against the mindless, some action to resist the helplessness.

 
Seattle is an amazing community. I know we’ll rally around our neighbors and do what we can to heal. SPU, we stand with you.
 

Tracking Traffic : Thinking Ahead

Carl Setzer

When I was at Starbucks (in the Support Center in the SODO district of Seattle), I made it a point to monitor traffic “issues” (everything from construction to ball games) and developed a bit of fame for it. It was useful, though, as traffic down there was miserable (and I’m sure it’s not much better). In that spirit, I want to note that this week will be particularly fun for Seattle area folks. (Gory details on the DOT’s site)

  • Work on 520
  • Northbound I5 by Spokane Street
  • Northbound I5 by the Ship Canal
  • Southbound 99 from Denny to Spokane

My friends at the Washington Department of Transportation have some great ideas to help manage this, and the rest of summer’s construction season:

• Check the Seattle traffic page before hitting the road.

• Use travel alerts to get real-time information about blocking incidents.
• Download WSDOT’s mobile app.
• Follow @wsdot_traffic on Twitter.
• Call 5-1-1 for traffic updates.
• Check the What’s Happening Now page for updates.

Best of luck to you all. Stay ahead!

Bank Owned Properties and Condition Disclosures

Carl Setzer

My team focuses on what are known as REO, or Bank Owned properties (that includes government owned ones, too, fyi). One thing that comes up from time-to-time is on the form 17, which is the disclosures sheet. In a “normal” transaction, the seller will fill this form out stating the current state of the property, itemizing any issues.

Since the bank took over the property in a foreclosure and has never occupied it, they have no knowledge of the property’s state. Thus, nothing to disclose, thus (2) a blank form. There is a spot, on the last page (page 5) to “waive” this form (we go the additional step to add lines on the form and such, to make it abundantly clear). Several institutions (ie: HUD) won’t sign as sellers, but we collect the buyer’s side for the sake of state compliance.

Form 17

So, to sum up: banks “don’t know nothin'”, thus cant’ disclose “nothin'”.

 

Life in the Shadow

Carl Setzer

A key moment of political awareness for me came during my mid-teens. I don’t remember the full context, but I realized that I knew great details about the candidates for Seattle’s mayor, but nothing about mine (Lynnwood’s). I didn’t even  know WHO Lynnwood’s mayor was. That made me aware of the dominance of Seattle in this region. Not simply political, but media-wise and culturally.

For example, media-wise, besides Seattle’s several tv stations (this was the 80s), Spokane had a few, and I believe Yakima had one or two, Bellingham had KVOS, and Tacoma had a PBS station on VHF. Print news had greater presence, but was distributed much the same.

This motivated me to learn more about this region, to explore and understand with greater detail the richer culture. That’s become much easier with the advent of the internet and world wide web. I’m nowhere near where I wish to be, and plan to continue with my explorations.

Festa Italiana : This Weekend September 27-29

Carl Setzer

I’ve lived the vast majority of my life in this region, yet I still find long-standing, recurring events that I’ve never heard of. Here’s one: Festa Italiana. Part of the Seattle Center’s grand array of cultural events, celebrating the multitude of cultures converging in Seattle.

Starting on Friday the 27th with the Taste of Italy, followed by the actual Annual Italian Festival on Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th. The website has all the details.

My favorite part: starting at 3;30 pm on Sunday, the Spectrum Chamber Players will present a selection of classical Italian pieces. That is worth your time all on its own. Add the grape-stomping, book-signings, wine-tastings…quite a comprehensive list of things to experience.

Anyone Thinking of Attending Ignite Seattle on Nov. 20th?

Carl Setzer

I’m thinking of making time for the Nov. 20th Ignite Seattle event. Looks like fun.

Let me know. It’d be great to meet up.

Northwest Chocolate Festival : This Weekend September 20-22

Carl Setzer1 Comment


I love the text above. Gorgeous font, IMHO. Anyway, what could be more awesome than a chocolate festival! I’m not sure I can fit this one in, but really, REALLY want to. And not just because my favorite chocolate company ever, Theo, is involved.

Anyway, go. Just. Go.

GeekWire Summit 2013

Carl Setzer

GeekWire Summit 2013

Any of you folks going to GeekWire’s 2013 Summit in September? It looks like a key event for local tech folks, innovators and the like. I’m not sure if I’ll pony up the cash, but it might be worth it.

What do you think?