"Seattle's South Lake Union Trolley"

Seattle prides itself on immodesty. Here the alternative lifestyle is embraced and considered mainstream. But when our South Lake Union Trolley's slogan was unveiled, "Ride the S.L.U.T." the natives squirmed. The line has been changed to the South Lake Union Streetcar...a named desired.

My friend of 45 years, John Fulper, models a popular Seattle souvenir that harkens back to Seattle's sleazier days.

LATER ADDED: A heads-up reader comments here that the "S.L.U.T." was never the official name, but started as a gag and is now urban legend. It is officially the South Lake Union Streetcar. I stand corrected. Tomorrow I visit the new "Seattle Health Institute Tower."

More on that later.-Steve

"Settling Setting North of Unsettling Seattle"

Happy Birthday Laura! (April 21)

Love, Steve

LaConner, WA

"In Chicago, Art Imitates Dogs"

Just my opinion.

"Rain or Shine, be Prepared"

In Seattle the umbrella is always useful and plays a dual role as rain and sun alternate. Well I guess if it was dark out and not raining you wouldn't need an umbrella, except maybe to whack the bad guys over the head with your firm pink weapon. 

And if the bad guys also had an umbrella, the item would play a "duel" role, too.

"Does He Turn Away Broken 'Dirt Devil' Vacuums, or Does He Save Them?"

Hey, I worship my Hoover!

"Waterproofed for Seattle's Rain"

Every Seattle vehicle should be draped in plastic. 

Just think. Each time he fills his truck with gas, he spends more than what his truck is worth.

"High Bridge Ahead...Duck!"

Once upon a time Seattle built a low bridge over its industrial Duwamish River. Lots of traffic passed over the bridge, and lots of tall container ships to and from the Orient passed under. 

So the bridge would raise, which held up traffic.

In response, Seattle built a high bridge for giant ships to pass underneath without holding up traffic. However, the city also kept the low bridge for cars and trucks.  It is a Seattle-style political compromise. Make sense?

"Seattle is Less Secular Than They Say"

Seattle prides itself with its reputation of having the anti-organized religion mindset. Its population, for the most part, worships software development, living in the right neighborhood, organic produce, and hybrid cars. 

But every now and then one happens upon a traditional church service here much like those found between West Coast cities and the Atlantic Ocean. 

"Phone Book Phollow-up"

I was walking past the dumpster to my car yesterday and saw this.

"Lipstick and Catholicism...Discuss."

The crucial Seattle-based business Archie McPhee ships locally designed novelty items nationwide like the "Boxing Nun," the "Sky Diving Sigmund Freud," the "Frogmen vs. Radioactive Octopus," the "Jane Austin Action Figure," the "Bacon-flavored Toothpicks," and their best seller, the "Rubber Chicken." The Seattle mind-set is being out-sourced to Chicago and other cities far afield.  And yes, this is a green industry-if you consider the popular "Yodelling Pickle."

"Passive Aggressive Seattle"

Chicago is known worldwide for its Capone, Dillinger, and, more recently,  the El Rukns.

But when Seattleites go Medieval on each other, it sometimes takes the form of a bicycle pie joust, as pictured. Less lethal, but more fattening.

"A Wise Seattle Investor"

While Chicagoans are big talkers when it comes to managing their portfolios, here in Seattle those with the real dough put their money where their mouth is.