Kenmore Undressed

Mr. Freeze, The Financial Curmudgeon: Year-End Rant!

If I, Mr. Freeze, the Financial Curmudgeon, had a dime for every news story in 2008 that reported on yet another failed bank, or multi-billion dollar ponzi scheme, failing car company, disappearance of the American manufacturing sector, hundreds of thousands of lost jobs, crumbling infrastructure, unbelievable corporate bailouts/bridge-loans, outsourcing, no-bid contracts or the real estate disaster……then I would be able to pay off the whole national debt three times over. By the way……..

But Mr. Freeze lives in the real world. Mr. Freeze has never felt comfortable with investment banks, hedge funds, derivatives, or the regular old Stock Market. Mr. Freeze always tells people to live within their means. Keep a rainy-day fund of three to six months cash in the bank. Have just one credit card. Practice a little frugality for heaven’s sake…………………….

But I, grumpy Mr. Freeze know that no matter how hard I huff and puff, gripe and complain, bellow or yell, people simply won’t listen. Do you know why? Because America has a disease. It’s called the STUCK ON STUPID SYNDROME. We caught this disease in the late 70’s and early 80’s when a bunch of privileged, upper class jerks told us GREED IS GOOD as if it were some sacred mantra. The God of Greed was aided and abetted by corporate idolaters such as the heartless economist Milton Friedman who told America that “the free market will always prevail in the end.” Phrases such as “a rising tide raises all boats”  and  “wealth will trickle down and create more wealth” were repeated over and over until people started to believe this garbage. Even George Bush Sr. called this voodoo economics!

GREED IS GOOD…….YA, RIGHT

So, here we are, in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the early 20th Century and Mr. Freeze can’t believe there isn’t a revolution brewing out in the heartland. A year ago, if someone had told Mr. Freeze that TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WEALTH would suddenly disappear from the face of the earth, Mr. Freeze would not have believed his ears. Face it, my dear readers….(pardon my language), we are  getting screwed: regular people, working people, honest people.

CRY BABY CAPITALIST - “BUT MOMMY, ALL I WANT IS AN $800 BILLION BRIDGE LOAN”

The most ironic thing of all is that the very “free market” capitalists who lived by the sword of economic Darwinism are the very cry babies that have their hands out for as much tax payer money as they can get. Mr. Freeze believes that the financial markets need re-engineering. Let’s hope the new administration addresses this.

Whew, now that I, Mr. Freeze, got all that off my chest before I had a grand-mall stroke, I would really  like to spend a few moments before the end of this tumultuous year and consider the following:

The next time you’re listening to some moron from a conservative think-tank going on about the virtues of capitalism and free enterprise, ask yourself if you feel wealthier today than you did 1 or 2 or 5 years ago. Ask yourself if you’re going to retire when you thought, or if your children are going to the nice college you had planned for. Ask yourself if privatizing Social Security would have been a great idea given the criminals in charge of the financial markets. Ask yourself why the top 1% of Americans control 90% of the wealth and why they fly in corporate jets when you can’t get health care. Then do this: PROMISE YOURSELF THAT YOU’LL PAY MORE ATTENTION IN THE FUTURE AND THAT YOU WILL QUESTION ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT OUR AMERICAN ECONOMIC SYSTEM. THEN CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TELL THEM YOU WANT CHANGE FOR EVERYONE. YOU WANT A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE FEW.

My friends, in spite of what “the rich and powerful” say, we are all in this together. There is no such thing as a self-made man or woman. We are successful as a people when we work to improve the lives of everyone. Mr. Freeze hopes that 2009 brings you good health, joy and prosperity!

Mr. Freeze Pic courtesy of ElDave

Real Estate Sobriety or Facing the Five Stages of Grief

THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF

DENIAL, ANGER, BARGAINING, DEPRESSION, ACCEPTANCE

A little over a year ago I attended a “team meeting” at the Keller Williams Realty office where I hung my license. I remember that day clearly because there were a lot of angry and frustrated agents who were having trouble selling houses. What, they wondered, was wrong? At that time I think we all had a sense that something had shifted out there in the world, we just did not know exactly what it was. Our broker and one of our more “market savvy” colleagues had some unsettling news: Experts were saying that serious problems existed with the sub-prime markets, that something was terribly wrong with mortgage backed securities, and economists had concerns the housing bubble was going to burst………

Needless to say, four of the  five stages of grief were expressed in that single meeting. There were a lot of angry and scared agents who simply could not believe the world was going to change (big time denial). Now that 2008 is quickly coming to an end, it seems that there are a lot of other things to grieve about:

• Revelations that those in charge of the financial markets have engaged in de facto fraud for many years. Even Alan Greenspan was shocked!
• Confessions by elected officials at the highest levels of government that they have deceived the American people regarding torture, wire-tapping, war and a myriad of other things.
• The realization that literally trillions of dollars have evaporated from our 401k’s, pension funds, stock portfolios, etc.
• Facing the ugly fact  that some of our most cherished and powerful institutions have squandered wealth by overpaying executives, neglecting research and development and focusing on the short-term.
• Watching corporate America ask for hundreds of billions of dollars in aid from the federal government
• Witnessing a tangible lowering of our standard of living, stagnating wages and the inevitable “class warfare” and finger pointing that results when people feel betrayed.
• And let’s not forget the shrinking equity in our homes and our inability to sell them or, worse yet, the huge number of foreclosures and bankruptcies looming on the horizon.

Not long ago, I finally realized that almost every real estate agent I know, including myself, is grieving about our industry. Oh, there are some Realtors who maintain the optimistic position that “things will get better.” Today, I even read a blog post entitled “Grow Where You are Planted” intended, I’m sure, to help us all get through these tough times.

I hate to say it, but this sort of thinking has limited value when one confronts the brutal facts: housing prices in our area continue to drop; lower mortgage interest rates will not affect home sales significantly; credit remains virtually frozen and there are a huge number of real estate agents who are leaving the business. In today’s Seattle PI article entitled “Property prices to rebound in ‘009, some brokers say,” some of these brutal facts are confirmed. The optimists believe we will see some recovery in the housing markets by the Spring of 2009; however, the vast majority of experts believe the Northwest is in for a long, slow recovery.

I would like my readers to know that I am still an active, practicing Realtor/real estate agent. Just for good measure you should know that I’m also an Associate Broker (wow!!!). I have been writing Kenmore Undressed.com since April and, during that time, I have become far more observant of the local housing statistics and I’m more involved in my community than ever before. I consider myself to be a true expert in residential real estate in Kenmore, WA. Let me also say that I’M SOBER ABOUT THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE MARKET. I make it my job to know what’s real and what’s not. I think I’ve crossed over from a sense of DEPRESSION and I’ve ACCEPTED the way things are. The world has become a far more complicated place these days, but I’m ready to face the challenges. I wish the same for you.

Five Stages Photo courtesy of

COCOMARIPOSA - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8463160@N08/

Quote of the Week: It’s about Life, Death and What’s Important

I’m suffering from a bit of cabin fever. The snow and frigid temperatures here in Kenmore and the greater Seattle area have basically put a halt to normal life. I’ve had too much time to think about all the chaos and grim news out there. I’m going a little bonkers and my wife is about ready to strangle me. Well, things turned around this morning in an interesting way. I read two obituaries of two icons of American culture, and listened to a radio program that re-calibrated my thinking. I’d like to share some thoughts (and the quote of the week) with you:

W. MARK FELT - aka DEEP THROAT

W. Mark Felt who died this week at the age of 95 may be one of the most influential figures of modern American history. His role as the anonymous informant to the Washington Post reporters, John Woodward and Carl Bernstein, led to the eventual disgrace and resignation of President Richard Nixon. This is heady stuff to me.  I was in junior high school when the Watergate scandal occurred and, in many ways, it shaped my perspective of power and government. It’s amazing that he remained anonymous for almost 30 years after his involvement…………………..But then I read about the passing of yet another icon from my generation:

MAJEL BARRETT aka NURSE CHRISTINE CHAPEL in Star Trek

Majel Barret died this week at the age of 76. She was a constant fixture in the original Star Trek series (the best of all the series!) and appeared in many of the subsequent  Star Trek spin offs. It’s amazing how influential this science fiction program has been over the years. I was saddened to hear of Majel’s passing and this made me reflect on growing up during the 1960’s and how the world has changed.

Then, I listened to a powerful interview this morning which, you guessed it, provides the quote of the week:

WILLIARD WIRTZ - Former Secretary of Labor under Lindon Johnson & JFK

Willard Wirtz is 96 years old and was a very important person, yet, I’m sure very few of you know who he is. Here’s a snippet from Wikipedia:

William Willard Wirtz (born March 14, 1912) is a former U.S. administrator, cabinet officer, attorney, and law professor. He served as the Secretary of Labor between 1962 and 1969 under the administrations of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Recently, Mr. Wirtz wrote a short memoir entitled “In the Rearview Mirror,” which is a reflection of his career in government and life with his wife of 66 years, Jane. This morning on NPR’s program, Saturday Morning Edition, Mr. Wirtz was materfully interviewed by Scott Simon. During the course of the interview Scott asked him an obvious question from whence our quote of the day comes:

Scott Simon: “Mr. Wirtz, what’s it like to be 96?

Mr. Wirtz: “I don’t recommend it. Jane died six years ago. That takes the fun out of it.”

Talk about a powerfully honest answer! He goes on to describe how his friends have all died off, he can’t walk anymore and he isn’t quite as sharp as he used to be. It was sobering to listen to him. You see, our culture has a tendency to measure our lives by how long we live. We have this idea that there is something magical about living forever and our doctors try to keep us alive as long as possible no matter what. I have included the whole interview (only 6 minutes) below. I highly recommend you listen to it.

This interview really made me think hard about the way the world works. Mr. Wirtz points out that Life will eventually take away everything it gives us. It’s a simple fact of Life. From a larger perspective, as a nation, we are living at a time when some of our most cherished beliefs and possessions are being taken from us. The world has changed and we must make choices. The important thing is how we respond to this challenge individually and as a people. I sincerely hope you have the opportunity to fill your life with powerful experiences and deep love. Rock on!

The Northshore Fire Department, Part 1: Dedicated to Serving the Public Good

It’s the worst nightmare possible: You wake up in the middle of the night. The smoke and sharp burning smell is suffocating. The intense heat and flames are lashing at you like a hungry pack of predators. You realize your house is on fire. Your instincts tell you to flee but you’re transfixed by the fire and paralyzed with the fear that you’re not getting out alive………………………………..

Over the years, as a real estate agent, I’ve had numerous buyers express all sorts of fears about homes; the most common of which is: “Could this house burn down?” This comes up when we’re having a home inspected and the house has an ancient electrical system or a old dingy furnace. It is only natural that people get a little nervous. During one inspection my clients were being particularly paranoid and, half in jest, their inspector asked, “When was the last time you heard of a house burning down?” Do you know the answer?

Well, last week I had the pleasure to meet Fire Chief Tom Weathers at the Northshore Fire Department (Station 51) to talk about the world of emergency preparedness and to pose the same question to him. He answered it this way: “Not very often, but it’s interesting that during difficult economic times, the risk of fires rises.” He went on to explain that when money is tight, homeowners tend to neglect preventative maintenance (furnaces, fireplaces, etc.) or they try to economize by using the fireplace/wood burning stove or even space heaters which increases the possibility of a fire. One of the worst case scenarios is the use of a barbecue indoors during power outages. This was only one of the many subjects Chief Weathers and I talked about.

The residents of Kenmore are extremely fortunate to have Station 51 right here at the heart of our town. In 1977 Station 51 was opened on 73rd Ave NE, replacing the small, original station (opened on August 14, 1948 on 67th Ave NE, just off Bothell Way). The new station featured eight apparatus bays, meeting room, offices and living quarters plus outdoor training space and a training tower. Today, Chief Weathers and his team are designing a new fire station to be built across the street by the year 2010. He described this as an extremely complex project. “We’re trying to build the ‘perfect fire station’ that will maintain its utility until the year 2060.” He then explained how difficult it is to plan a building that will meet all the needs of a fire station in the 21st Century. “There are training and design facilities, fire truck bays, living quarters, public art and proactive considerations for future solar power.”

Chief Weathers is one of those executives who seems very comfortable in his own skin. He’s extremely knowledgeable about all the dimensions of his position and it was easy to see why he’s the kind of guy you want around in an emergency. When I spoke with a couple of his crew they expressed a high degree of respect for him. What amazed was his command of so many different disciplines. Think about it. Running a fire department requires a deep knowledge of emergency response. This alone is a subject one could spend a lifetime learning. Then add in facilities, personnel and labor relations, city/county issues, training, angry residents and, my favorite, shopping for fire engines!!!! 

After our chat, Chief Weathers let me take some pictures of their newest fire truck which is specially designed as a rescue vehicle. One of the firemen described it as a tool shop on wheels. This particular fire truck has a huge lighting system for evening rescues. The staff is very proud of this truck.

Being a fireman/woman is one of the most sought-after jobs in the world. Really! To become a fire fighter is another thing altogether. By its nature, it’s a dangerous job. Its a job that requires a huge number of  skill-sets and physical strength. It requires individuals who are selfless and effective during disasters and yet, slighty detached from some really ugly realities. To be effective, firefighters are in a perpetual state of training and preparation. The pictures below show a training session in which the staff is learning about a new system to stabilize an overturned vehicle to help with a rescue:

In the future, I hope to show you more of the interesting and important things going on at the Northshore Fire Department.

Mr. Freeze the Financial Curmudgeon: The Myth of the “Ownership Society”

I, Mr. Freeze the Financial Curmudgeon have been thinking a lot about the underlying philosophy that brought us to the current financial breakdown. When Mr. Freeze gets worked up about this stuff, he starts by looking way back in history. Basically, the more things change the more they stay the same. Well, Mr. Freeze actually found someone who looks grumpier than……well…I…Mr. Freeze:

This grumpy bust is that of the famous Roman Statesman/Orator, Cato the Elder (234BC-149BC). He’s grumpy because his legacy has been permanently tarnished by his modern namesake, the libertarian think tank: The Cato Institute. Mainly known for its skeptical view of government, a view widely embraced by the political right, the institute has been highly influential in the economic philosophy of the Bush Administration.

One of the most popular notions of conservatives is that of the “ownership society.” George Bush said in October of 2004, “We’re creating an ownership society in this country, where more Americans than ever will be able to open up their door where they live and say, welcome to my house, welcome to my piece of property.” Mr. Bush was hoping that this ownership society would be his greatest legacy. Yet, today the administration is conveniently leaving out any mention of this ridiculous concept. What is this concept? Wikipedia has a good definition:

Ownership society is a slogan for a model of society promoted by United States President George W. Bush. It takes as lead values personal responsibility, economic liberty, and the owning of property. The ownership society discussed by Bush also extends to certain proposals of specific models of health care and social security.

The first time I heard George Bush mention this concept, it sounded as if he was invoking some sort of magical capitalistic spell. “If only we were all OWNERS, life would be better.” It sounded like code for Ronald Reagan’s “tickle down” economics. In reality it was far more cynical, manipulative and downright dangerous than that. Naomi Klein, in her excellent article “Disowned by the Ownership Society” focuses like a laser on the heart of the idea:

“Well before the ownership society had a neat label, its creation was central to the success of the right-wing economic revolution around the world. The idea was simple: if working-class people owned a small piece of the market: a home mortgage, a stock portfolio, a private pension, they would cease to identify as workers and start to see themselves as owners, with the same interests as their bosses. It meant they would vote for politicians promising to improve stock performance rather than job conditions. Class consciousness would be a relic.”

Klein goes on to describe what we now know: All the promises of the ownership society have been broken. Our financial system has been compromised by the very “owners” who wanted to control an ever growing piece of the economic pie. Sub-prime mortgages, questionable securitization of debt, credit swaps and a huge number of other devices have essentially erased trillions of dollars of “ownership” from Americans. Today, those most responsible for the catastrophe are the very same corporations asking for bailouts from the (hated) government or threatening bankruptcy. Ironically, these are two options the conservative ideologues would condemn. “What about taking personal responsibility?” The answer: “Oh, we’re TOO BIG TO FAIL!” Pardon me for being so blunt, but that’s utter hogwash.

These four fellows are, to a great degree, the apologists and advocates for the “ownership society.” They are (l-r) Ed Crane, President of the Cato Institute; Carl Rove, Machiavelli’s step child; Grover Nordquist, patron saint of ”privitation” and finally, Ronald Reagan, looking as out-of-touch as ever.

I’d like to close with a question that cuts to the heart of the “ownership society.”

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SOCIAL SECURITY HAD BEEN PRIVATIZED IN KEEPING WITH THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION? (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040809-9.html)

Here’s what Ed Crane wrote to Karl Rove in a memorandum dated April 4, 2005 regarding the privatization of Social Security:

Finally, with regard to the “risky scheme” arguments of opponents, I think it is ironic that the very same people who appear so concerned over the growing wealth gap in America are the ones who refuse to allow low- and moderate-income Americans to accumulate wealth. The investment-risk argument was used in 1983 when the Greenspan Commission refused to even consider personal accounts. Yet, the DJIA is now ten times higher than it was at the peak in 1983 (adjusting for inflation and including dividends). How much longer are we going to deny lower-income Americans an opportunity to participate in the wealth creation engine known as the American economy?

What’s so disturbing about Mr. Crane’s idea is that his premises are all wrong. He, like many other shills of private enterprise and Wall Street, live in an alternative universe of perfect markets, high-stakes profiteering, unearned privilege and wealth. Who, indeed, is keeping low and middle class Americans from accumulating wealth? Who squandered trillions of dollars of market value and, more importantly destroyed international economic trust in the financial system?

Let me end by simply saying that Americans have been convinced that the “market” will save them. They believe that being consumers is patriotic. They have bought into 30 years of trickle down propaganda. There are no easy solutions to the big problems. We can become free if and only if we demand public policy that serves the general welfare and by embracing the common sense frugality of our grandparents.

A Transformed World: “Global Trends 2025″

The National Intelligence Council recently submitted it’s “Global Trends 2025″ report to U.S. leaders in order to give them insight into looming problems and opportunities throughout the world. The report is compiled every four years and includes a huge number of stunning and, sometimes disturbing, global trends. Although the report is not intended to be a “crystal ball” analysis, it’s assessments are provocative:

It projects a “multipolar” global landscape, where the United States is merely “one of a number of actors on the world stage” and where the U.S. dollar will only be “first among equals” in a basket of international currencies.

Other trends include:

• A decline in Western Democratic Capitalism/A rise in State Directed Capitalism as in China
• Growing youth populations in the 3rd world, especially in the Middle East
• A decline in the influence of terrorist groups (a good thing)
• IMF & United Nations will lose influence
• Corporations and organized crime organizations will emerge as a challenge
• By 2025 clean, non-fossil fuels will be the norm

If you’re interested in reading the report (or skimming through it), just click on the icon below.

I’ve also included a NPR audio segment about the report which encapsulates it’s trends quite well. I believe it is incumbent upon all of us to try and understand the United States within the context of a more global perspective. Anyone who is being intellectually honest in these challenging times knows that we are not, nor can we afford to be isolationists. The better informed we are, as citizens, the more effective our leaders can move us into the future. Living in ignorance is not an option.

Click this picture to hear the NPR report on “Global Trends 2025″

Excessive Costs of the New Kenmore City Hall? Express Your Opinion to the City Council

In my November 6th post, I wrote that the development company for the future Kenmore Village  has asked for a one-year extension on the first phase of the project due to global financial pressures. It seems that these uncertain times have also focused attention on the New Kenmore City Hall. In today’s edition of the on-line Kenmore Reporter, a number of Kenmore residents expressed concerns regarding both the scope and cost of the project. Among these concerns are:

• Hire an independent, unbiased firm to determine which features could be eliminated that would reduce costs.

• Reduce the size of the building to 16,000 square feet, yet retaining sufficient space to accommodate city employees and permit citizens to conduct business in an efficient facility.

• Remove plans for an underground parking facility.

• Postpone the construction of city hall until funds become available without creating debt. There is no emergency in this project, a delay may be in the best interest of our citizens.

• Reject any proposal that requires funding by bond. In the event a bond is considered, submit it to a vote of the people.

You can review the complete letter to the editor by clicking on this link: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_king/bkn/opinion/34612449.html

The authors of this letter to the editor are asking Kenmore residents to contact the City Council to express opinions or concerns regarding the negative financial exposure of this project. If you wish to contact the council simply click on the picture below. This will take you to the city directory:

Kenmore Brightwater Treatment System Update

I recently received a brief update from my contact at King County, David Freed, regarding the progress of the Kenmore segment of the Brightwater Treatment System. At this time, the first tunneling machine has bored one mile to the east of the Kenmore Portal and is just east of the Bothell-Everett Highway in Bothell. The other machine has bored 3/4 of a mile west of the portal. I’ve tried to highlight their locations on the illustration below:

Tunneling, followed by installation of the pipes and tunnel lining are scheduled to continue through late 2010. Mr. Freed knows that I’m utterly fascinated with this whole process, so he was kind enough to provide me (and you) with a photo of a recently completed section of the Kenmore tunnel. This is very cool:

For those of you who are interested in knowing more about how tunneling machines work, just click on the picture below for an animated boring machine at work.

I would like to thank David Freed and his associates for providing us with information regarding this critical project. There are a lot of people working hard to upgrade the infrastructure of the area. For more details and pictures about the project, click on this link:  http://kenmore.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/06/05/a-good-neighbor-a-huge-project-brightwater/  This is truly important work!

Mr. Freeze the Financial Curmudgeon: Something for Everyone to Be Angry About!

Mr. Freeze the Financial Curmudgeon has been trying to avoid having an apoplectic seizure. Let Mr. Freeze tell you why…..I promise to be brief:

It was recently revealed that the Federal Reserve handed out $2 Trillion in emergency loans to a number of corporations. Gosh if it’s not one ”bailout, it’s another.” The problem is the Fed will not reveal which corporation received the loans or the terms under which the loans were given. This is in addition to the $700 Billion bailout (rescue) that was shoved  down the throat of Congress. Henry Paulson can’t seem to get his story straight on that money.

DO YOU TRUST THIS MAN?

Standard operating procedure for the current administration is to conceal facts from the American people. If it’s not energy policy, then it’s economic policy. What’s truly disturbing about this most recent lack of honesty by Henry Paulson and the Fed is that it all seems to be intended to help corporate interests without any accountability. At the same time there are a lot of hard working Americans wondering why a growing army of banks, car companies, insurance companies and many other institutions are asking for government money to bail them out. Simply put, it’s a travesty and it’s criminal.

Mr. Freeze the Financial Curmudgeon looks forward to the Obama administration. It will be nice to see adults in charge of things again.

A Lot Happened this Week: Jury Duty, Statistics, the Weather & More

This week was very interesting for me. As I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions, I’m curious about EVERYTHING…..to a fault. Sometimes I can hardly go to bed because something might happen that I’ll miss. Do you know what I mean? Perhaps I suffer from a form of mega-adult-uber-ADD. What happened?

JURY DUTY

If only my jury duty was like the picture above (Gunman Jury, 1912). I’ve been called to jury duty and, to this day, I’ve never sat on a jury!!!! Apparently, the wheels of justice were moving slowly as the clerk sent a large group of us home early. I would like to tell what I learned this time:

1) King Co. Superior Court’s Jury process is great. The administrators were helpful and had a great attitude about the process. Kudos to them! Also, the preliminary film explaining jury duty was informative.

2) King Co. Superior Court is the 10th busiest Superior Court in the US. 

3) If one is selected for a jury, one goes through ”voir dire” which is when the attorneys question potential jurors. The phrase means “to tell the truth.” I didn’t know that!

4) Finally, THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Court will pay for your bus fare during your service. They will also reimburse you for mileage if you drive. You’re going to spend your grandchildrens’ inheritance if you park, so try to take the bus. You can bring your laptop as there is a wireless connection in the jury room!!!! Make sure you show up early for duty as it can take a long time to get through security at the courthouse. If you forget to bring a snack, there is a small canteen in the courthouse.

STATISTICS

Kenmore home sales in October were down 31% from a year ago. Prices are down 7% this year. As I mentioned in an earlier post this week, the market has been taking a beating. It’s a good idea to seek the professional help of a Realtor (c) if you’re thinking about purchasing or selling a home.

THE WEATHER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

This morning on KUOW, the local National Public Radio station, they interviewed Cliff Mass. Know locally as the “atmospheric scientist guru,” Dr. Mass has been giving his pre-weekend forecasts on KUOW for many years (Friday mornings on 94.9 FM). Here’s the thing: He’s almost always right! Now for the good news: Dr. Mass has written book entitled, The Weather of the Pacific Northwest. In it he covers many aspects of our local weather; the why’s of storms, wind, precipitation, etc. This would be a great book for anyone relocating to the area or those of you who spend time outdoors. As you know, if you don’t like the weather here, just wait 10 minutes! Just click on the book picture above to listen to the interview this morning. It’s fascinating. By the way, Dr. Mass worked with Carl Sagan at one time. I’m so impressed!!!!!