Renton, WA

King5 has a headline which reads “Washington’s caucuses could have meaning“. What is that supposed to mean? It is news to be meaningful, as opposed to implied meaningless state in which we normally exist?

I know what they mean, but still feel snubbed. They go on to explain:“There’s the possibility that by Tuesday night, one or both major political parties could know who their presidential nominee will be. But if not, the stage will then turn to Saturday’s Washington caucuses.”

Well alright, then. I guess we’ll just wait and see.

As you have probably heard, Starbucks is offering a $1 short drip coffee with free refills “in some markets”.  Since my part-time day job is conveniently located next door to a Starbucks - a fact which is statistically likely anyway - I plan to test this out tomorrow. Will they continue to give me free refills all day long when I work next door? Will I be too caffeinated to work?

I don’t have much to loose anyway, but I’d love to hear from someone who has tried this offer to see if there was a choice of drip coffees, and if they minded giving the free refills.

This is not exactly local news, but it’s too good not to pass on:

By Associated Press
MANSON, Wash. (AP) - A Chelan County fire chief says a couple were lucky they weren’t killed by a cow that fell off a cliff and smashed their minivan.

District 5 Chief Arnold Baker says they missed being killed by a matter of inches Sunday as they drove on Highway 150 near Manson.

The 600-pound cow fell about 200 feet and landed on the hood of the minivan carrying Charles Everson Jr. and his wife Linda of Westland, Mich., who were in the area celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary. They were checked at Lake Chelan Community Hospital as a precaution.

The van was heavily damaged, including a broken windshield.

Charles Everson says he kept repeating, “I don’t believe this. I don’t believe this.”

The year-old cow had been reported missing by a breeder. It was euthanized at the scene.

The sad part is that the cow was euthanized at the scene, meaning it did not die from the fall. Moooo

Everyone knows about calling 9-1-1, but there are some other three digit codes you can use.

2-1-1 to report non-life threatening emergencies
4-1-1 gets you directory assistance
5-1-1 gets you traffic updates
6-1-1 gets you customer service (with most cell phone companies)

I’m really tempted to try dialing the remaining something-1-1 codes to see what happens. I’m pretty sure I have seen signs with codes to report HOV violators and that sort of thing. If you know of any I am missing, leave me a comment and let me know about it.

I was at Starbucks today, not a note-worthy event in and of itself, and I saw that they have their Pumpkin Spice Latte out. I have seen the leaves falling, and my kids are starting school next week, but this is an undisputed sign of fall.

Although it is not my favorite drink, I ordered the PSL anyway, to help myself feel like it is fall. I don’t know where my summer went to, but it is now officially over.

Colgate-Palmolive announced on June 15th additional developments and actions
by the Company to protect consumers against possible risk from recently
reported counterfeit toothpaste.

The Company warned consumers
that the counterfeit toothpaste, which has been found in some small,
independent dollar-type discount stores, may not contain fluoride and
could contain Diethylene Glycol, an ingredient not used in Colgate
toothpaste anywhere in the world.

While I don’t want to down-play the seriousness of mis-labeled ingredients, knowing the trials of food allergies, I am hardly shocked that cheap imitation, or down-right dishonest, products are sold at dollar stores.

Other clues are several
misspelled words on the product carton including: “isclinically” 
“SOUTH AFRLCA” “South African Dental Assoxiation”.

In light of our current climate of constant recalls, I have subscribed to the
RSS feed for FDA recalls. I’ll pass on those that are specifically local, or like this one, just entertaining.

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The FBI obviously feels like it is stuck in Groundhog Day.

A man the Federal Bureau of Investigation is calling the “Punxsutawney Phil Bandit,” attempted to rob the Bank Of American at 300 Burnett Ave. South in Renton for the fourth time Wednesday.

The FBI believes the man tried to rob the same bank in August 2005, February 2006 and April 2006.

I’m not sure which is more surprising, the difficult name, the stupidity of robbing the same bank four times in a row, or the fact that the FBI still can’t catch him (yes, they have the video). I thought that names for criminals were supposed to be cool and more … brief.

Punxsutaney, stupid criminals

I remember a vote on Fairwood incorporation not that long ago, less than a year ago, in fact, but the issue is back. I guess there is no double-jeopardy when voting, so “they” will keep submitting it until it passes.

In fairness, it was narrowly defeated in the last vote, and laws have changed now that would allow a city of Fairwood to collect more taxes to support itself, which was the big reason it was voted down last time. More taxes … this is a good thing?

At any rate, the folks who live in the Fairwood area have to do something, because people in unincorporated King County are being “strongly encouraged” to either incorporate or annex to an existing city by 2009.

For more information on the proposed Fairwood incorporation, visit the website for the
Fairwood Municipal Initiative -
Advocating for incorporation of the proposed City of Fairwood. Say that three times fast.

Fairwood Incorporation, City of Fairwood