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Indeed! Our TV weatherfolk in Seattle were struggling to describe exactly how unusual it was--only two low temperature records, so that doesn't sound like much, but four low-high readings. More impressive. Also the second longest stretch (nearly five full days) where the temperature never...

Another landslide, near Kelso, has halted both the Cascades and the Coast Starlight between Seattle and Portland till sometime on Sunday. Apparently CS passengers are being bustituted between Portland and Seattle. Article linked (paywalled)...

I know of no airlines, even low cost carriers, that make profits by foregoing maintenance. One fatal crash will cost the airline more than years of maintenance--and if you get caught by regulators, you're hosed even without a crash. How low cost airlines make a profit isn't through ticket...

No extra legroom, since the area in question is not designed to be used as an emergency exit--the actual emergency exit row with greater legroom is fairly far forward of the row in question with the plug. Seats are added to the planes' fuselages in Renton, in the configuration desired by the...

Indeed. But regulatory capture by industry transcends the aviation industry. It's part and parcel of an ideological perspective, that industries and markets together will supply what we need best, and that government regulation is a drag on the efficient work of the market. The gutting of...

Indeed, I have suspected that the move of Boeing headquarters to Chicago, and then to Washington DC, was intended to insulate the top corporate folks from the opinions and perspectives of the engineers and machinists and give the executives a freer hand to re-make Boeing in their preferred...

Boeing has had serious quality control problems in their manufacture of airplanes ever since the Mc Donnell Douglas takeover. The history of the 787 was one screw-up after another in manufacturing, leading at least one airline to refuse delivery on any 787s from South Carolina and insisting...

Believe it or not, blizzard warnings in Washington and Oregon are relatively rare, despite the significant snowfalls in the mountains. But they have issued one for later this week, due to the potential for 50 mph winds in addition to heavy snowfall. While trains can get through where motor...

They always have their Dark Star oatmeal stout on tap; but at 8% ABV (!) it's probably a one-and-done kind of beer. They do can a no alcohol stout, too--I might be tempted to order both and mix for a more sessionable option!

Getting off a jet way level ramp into the airport is pretty easy for most folks. But, when Seatac Airport had to use a fair amount of non-gate arrivals, extra airport personnel were needed to get passengers down the airplane stairs and into the airport. In fact, the most treacherous part of the...

I live in Seattle and use the busses, light rail and street car all the time. I have never felt unsafe, though coming back from the airport at about 11 pm, a man on the light rail was clearly having a bad time with mental illness and possibly drug withdrawal, acting very erratically. Other...

We got a "sorry your train was late" email as well, when our New Haven train arrived about ten minutes too late into Philadelphia to connect with our Keystone train. It was no big deal, of course, there was another we caught a bit later. But I do like the idea that they are keeping track of...

I used to have Priority Pass, and early on it was quite useful. But over time, lounges began to bail out of Priority Pass access, and even those that in theory had it not infrequently would post "No Priority Pass admission" during busy times. Same thing with day passes; when things are the most...

Well, if you end up at Machine House, they do a fantastic cask-conditioned dark mild that is about 3.6 % ABV.

AKA fools and their money...

The zoo is fine, though not necessarily a world class one. Like most zoos, it has pivoted to emphasizing breeding endangered species, having its animals in naturalistic settings, and focusing on animals who best tolerate our local weather conditions. There's a fabulous rose garden adjacent to...

The Bainbridge Ferry is one of the highlights of any trip to Seattle, because you can have a great day out as a foot passenger, no car needed. Steps from the ferry dock is the town of Bainbridge Island, nee Winslow, which all Seattle natives still call it. Great little shops, ice cream...

Ah, I remember Muse Air, the first all no-smoking airline. We flew it from New Orleans to Houston, and they provided little packets of gum, snacks, puzzles etc. so that smokers would be able to bear the flight without nicotine...

Is 30-45 seconds of door open time practical? I'm thinking about those with suitcases and wheelies, those using wheelchairs and walkers, some getting off and others pressing to get on. Commuters are generally less encumbered than Amtrak rail passengers, but our light rail, street cars, and...

In my recent experience this past year, having no functioning toilets in the sleeping car resulted not in points but in cash vouchers. We got $500 for a two overnight trip with a bedroom and roomette (3 passengers) and $400 for a different two overnight trip with 2 passengers in a bedroom. I...