Let’s finally move away from Carl rides the bus in Tacoma to something different indeed. Today in Carl takes the train in Seattle: Fare ambassadors.

I don’t take the train regularly, and I guess fare ambassadors have been around for a bit. But they were on the train checking people’s cards yesterday. It was the first time since the pandemic that I had seen them.

I guess this is more of a heads up to, um, fare dodgers than anything else. But it is another thing returning to pre pandemic ways.

And one thing that isn’t pre pandemic is that you really need to get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

Hey, Carl. You spent the last two open threads talking about things that you think are worse and better about Tacoma busses versus Seattle, do you have a couple things that are just different? You know to stretch it out even further?

Yes!

Talking to strangers: It’s not just the bus. It’s like everyone everywhere in Tacoma is chit chatting with someone. I am a big fan and defender of the Seattle chill. But I can understand how it can be isolating.

And for a more bus specific one, there are a lot more frequent stops in Tacoma. It was every couple blocks for stretches. It made the route slower, but less of a walk before and after.

Anyway, hopefully this is less Carl rides the bus and back to normal (?) open threads soon. In the meantime, please wash your hands right now and get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

Last Open Thread, I mentioned some things that I didn’t like about taking the bus in Tacoma. But! Especially compared to Seattle, here are some things that are good about it, from my limited experience.

First, I haven’t had busses that show up on One Bus Away, but then not in real life.

I also never stopped for 10 minutes waiting for the drivers to switch.

I have been spending some time in Tacoma recently. And I still don’t have a car. I feel like something is missing from my understanding of the culture on the bus.

Tacoma bus people are so laid back, even in rush hour. Nobody who was paying with cash had it ready. Some people didn’t even get up to board until the bus had opened its doors. Do none of you have somewhere to be? No connections to catch?

Also, I don’t understand sitting. Most people who got on alone took the outside of two seats. And nobody moved in even when people were standing.

I hope this doesn’t come across as too judgy. I’m sure if I grew up with it, that Metro busses would feel pushy, squished together, and rude. But it’s quite a culture shock even in the Puget Sound.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now and get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible. Fuck them new variants.

Back in September (no Open Thread on Monday) with some things that are kind of old.

– Love the idea of a worker owned restaurant. I can’t speak to the customer side, but it sounds like a good experience.

– Filter the runoff, sure.

– Parts of East Link opening next year? OK.

– Wash your hands right now and get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

Good morning. My family moved to the Seattle area when I was young enough to transfer most of my sports loyalty to the Seattle teams. But I still root for the Mets over the Mariners (M’s are my AL team). Mostly I just don’t think about it.

But now that every team plays each other, there’s a series against each other late in the year. And while the Mets sweeping would be my ideal, they are out of contention this year, and it would make Seattle so miserable in this penant race.

I don’t think I can watch?

Anyway, please wash your hands right now and get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

It’s Monday, baby! Time to start another incredible week. A week that you have got.

Anyway, please wash your hands right now and get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

The investment in drug treatment in Seattle has been so lacking for so long that anything feels like a major thing. I hope it’s more successful than the nothing most people who overdose get now.

I am still aroundish.

Wednesday.

All this week, fuck the sun. It’s too hot. More gray pleez. More gray.

But seriously, drink a lot of water. Keep drinking. More than you think you need. Now a bit more than that. Fill it up with ice if that’s something you can do at work, or wherever you are. Just glug glug glug it down. You’re doing great!

And hey, while you’re listening to me dispensing rudimentary life advice, please get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

80 to 90 or more is too many degrees. Western Washington, what? Stay hydrated over the weekend and beyond.

And for goodness sake, get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.

If it’s Wednesday, it’s Carl is talking about his bus trip home from Drinking Liberally. I know it’s very complicated, but man is it annoying when it says 6 minutes away for 10 minutes. Is it traffic? Is it technical issues? Is it one of those things where the drivers switch in the middle of the route, but something happened?

If I trusted Seattle Police to act well, the South Precinct memo described here would be pretty benign. Your partner is speeding “hey slow down, man” is probably a better response than making a formal complaint.*

But many people don’t trust the police. I don’t know if they’re just doing it for minor things or if things that need to be corrected are being handled internally or at all. A department where no offers could take down rapist Donald Trump’s flag or gravestone of people who offers shot probably won’t be able to correct bad behavior.

* I have never been a cop or OPA. So who am I?

Good morning you lovelies (and some weirdos and jerks). I hope you’re doing well. I am probably going to be low-energy around here through August, but I will post open threads.

But good news! You can get vaccinated or boosted if you’re eligible.