Here’s a Kia EV6— all the way from Texas— on the streets of Capitol Hill today.
According to the registration data from Experian (via Automotive News), the total number of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations during the first three months of 2023 amounted to 257,507, which is 63 % more than a year ago and about 7 % of the total market (up from 4.6 % in Q1 ’22).
[Source: InsideEVs.com]
The 2023 Kia EV6 starts at $50k. This could be a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive model— I’m not sure which one. Car And Driver magazine’s Verdict is ‘Affordable, lively, and easy to live with, the EV6 electric SUV does most everything right’.
Congratulations to Iga Swiatek (22) from Poland.
She bested Karolína Muchová (Czechia, 26) by 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in the French Open Women’s Final at Roland Garros today.
Iga Swiatek now has three French Open titles in four years, and four Grand Slam titles overall. She is only 22, and No 1 in the world of women’s tennis. [Thomas Samson/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images]
Stealing top secret documents from the White House (‘willful retention of national defense secrets’ is the charge, reportedly) and lying about it, bring consequences.
As simple as that.
This guy is continuing to making history— in a very bad way.
Friday Jun. 9 The DOJ unsealed its indictment of Trump today.
Prosecutors are charging Trump with 37 felonies, including 31 counts under the Espionage Act of ‘willful retention’ of classified records.
The charging docket also says that on at least two occasions, Trump showed classified records to visitors without security clearances at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey — including the map of a military operation to a representative of his political action committee.
[Information from Politico.com]
Reporting from the online Washington Post tonight. Every little thing is not ‘Breaking News’ as the cable news networks like to call it, but this certainly is. Trump himself broke the news, actually, writing on social media that he has been summoned to federal court on Tuesday in Miami.
It was warm here in the city today (85 °F/ 30 °C).
Most of the Pacific Northwest has— so far— been spared the smoke from Canada that is plaguing New York City and the Northeast.
The amigos were out on the pickle ball courts at Mount Baker park this morning while it was still OK to play. We picked the pickle ball court that has a nice patch of shade on the one side of the net.
Two envelopes arrived yesterday, with the latest acquisitions I had made for my stamp collection inside.
The sellers did me the favor of pasting lots of beautiful stamps on the outside of the envelopes.
Clockwise from top left: 150th Anniversary of Spanish Stamps (from a set of 11) Issued 2000, Oct.8, , Perf. 13 (round stamp), 13½x14, Photolith. 3067 A1073 Multi-colored 200p €1.20 Invention of the antenna and radio 3063 A1073 Multi-colored 200p €1.20 Signature of Miguel Induráin, cyclist Traditional Sports and Games Issued 2008, Perf. 13½x14, Photolith. Miniature Sheet of Martial Arts, 3 stamps & 3 labels 3577 A1469 Multi-colored, €0.43 Stick fighting (palo canario) 3577 A1469 Multi-colored, €0.43 Wrestling (lucha leonesa) 3577 A1469 Multi-colored, €0.43 Wrestling (lucha canaria) 150th Anniversary of International Red Cross Issued 2013, Oct.28, Perf. 12¾, Photolith. 3939 A1722 €0.90 Red and white Tapestries of Sports Scenes Taken from Painting Issued 2009, Jul.6, Perf. 12¾, Photolith. 3657 A1519 Multi-colored, €0.78, By Francisco de Goya (El Juego de Pelota a Pala) Women’s Dresses by Paco Rabane Issued 2013, Sept.12, Perf. 13×12¾, Photolith. 3926 A1715 Multi-colored, €0.52, See-through dress of red diamonds 3926 A1715 Multi-colored, €0.52, Dress made of large golden disks [Information from Scott 2017 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue]Clockwise from top left: The 40th IHF World Hospital Congress 2016, Oct.31, Perf. 14 2496 Multicolored, Intnl. Small Letter, Minisheet (75mm x 75mm) The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela Issued 2001, Nov.26, No watermark, Perf. 13¾, Designer Alf Kumalo 1481 Multicolored, Airmail Postcard Rate (R2.10), Nelson Mandela 1477 Multicolored, Airmail Postcard Rate (R2.10), Nelson Mandela Wildlife— The Big 5 Issued 2001, Apr.25, No watermark, Perf. 14 1386 Multicolored, Airmail Postcard Rate (R1.90), Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer), Imperforated Right 1385 Multicolored, Airmail Postcard Rate (R1.90), Leopard (Panthera pardus) Fauna and Flora— Fish Issued 2000, Nov. 1, No watermark, Perf. 14½x14¾, Designer Chris van Rooyen 1335 Multicolored, 60c, Powder-blue surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucosternon) 1334 Multicolored, 50c, Coral rock cod (Cephalopholis miniatus) African Nations Football Championship, South Africa Issued 1996, Jan. 10, No watermark, Perf. 14¼ x 14, Design Marc de Jong 1027 Multicolored, Standard Postage (60c), Goalkeeper w. Africa map outline [Information from stampworld.com]
Word is that Trump is about to be indicted for the classified documents he took to Mar-a-Lago when he left the White House.
Here’s Andrew Weissman* on Twitter today.
*Attorney and professor, an Assistant US Attorney from 1991 to 2002, where he prosecuted high-profile organized crime cases.
Trump’s team of lawyers were seen today visiting the offices of Special Counsel Jack Smith. The speculation (a certainty looking at Weissman’s tweet) is that the Trump lawyers were given a final opportunity today, as a courtesy, to try to argue why Trump should not be charged.
Background
A subpoena for the documents and an FBI search at Mar-a-Lago last summer resulted in the return of only some of the documents.
We already know from published reports that deception and actions on the part of Trump and his collaborators followed, obstructing the return of the rest of the documents.
I made it down to Madison Park beach this afternoon.
A smattering of heliophiles were sunning themselves on the lawn.
There was plenty of sunlight today, but only mild temperatures (70 °F/ 21 °C).
Madison Park beach on Lake Washington today. That’s the State Route 520 floating bridge (officially the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, and shorthand ‘520 Bridge’) and Medina in the background. The water’s edge consists mostly of pebbles here, but there is a sandy portion on the south by a tall apartment building.
Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.
– Advice that journalist and activist Michael Pollin offers in his 2008 book ‘In Defense Of Food’.
I tried the black bean vegetarian burger at Capitol Hill Elysian Brewing tonight.
It was tasty and light—and I will definitely order it again.
The beer is a Superfuzz Blood Orange Pale Ale, 5.6% ABV.
The green salad I had with it had slices of watermelon radish in: great to look at, and great to eat.
Happy Friday.
June is Pride month. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969, and has spread outside of the United States since that time.
Herb & Bitter Public House’s pavement sign on 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill. It is a Spanish-influenced bar & eatery serving up snacks & main courses and cocktails and beer. P.S. I walked around looking for a nice Pride flag to photograph tonight, but couldn’t really find one. So the Pride flag color lines in the lettering on this sign will have to do for now. The letters are missing a line of indigo— but maybe the artist simply had no indigo crayon, right?
We skipped the light fandango Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor I was feeling kinda seasick The crowd called out for more The room was humming harder As the ceiling flew away When we called out for another drink The waiter brought a tray And so it was that later As the miller told his tale That her face, at first just ghostly Turned a whiter shade of pale
– From ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, song by the English rock band Procol Harum that was issued as their debut record on 12 May 1967.
10.58 pm, Washington DC
From the New York Times:
The legislation passed the Senate by a vote of 63-36, ensuring the federal government will not run out of money to pay its bills on Monday. It now goes to President Biden to be signed.
From the Washington Post, reported by Ian Livingston: Streaks of golden light bathed the urban canyons of the Big Apple on Tuesday evening as it was treated to a spectacle dubbed ‘Manhattanhenge’, when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the middle of the western-facing streets.
The warm evening glow of sunlight was made even more intense because of smoke wafting into the region from wildfires in Nova Scotia.
Along certain thoroughfares of New York City — including 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th streets — unobstructed views toward the horizon made the scenes especially magnificent.
The sun sets in alignment with Manhattan streets running east-west, a phenomenon known as ‘Manhattanhenge’, on Tuesday. [Photo by Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images]
Here are a few photos that I took while I was on the 11.05 am Kingston-to-Edmonds ferry today.
Shortly after departure, with the Kingston Ferry Terminal on Kitsap Peninsula in the distance.Sailboat with dinghy in tow, getting towed. Those are Kitsap Peninsula homes in the background.Here comes the Commander, a passenger-only Kitsap Fast Ferry from Seattle’s Pier 50. The Commander was built in 2021, and has a cruising speed of 35 knots (top speed 37 knots).Marine Vessel Spokane is a Jumbo-class ferry servicing the Edmonds-Kingston route. She was built in 1972.The tug boat is the Ocean Ranger, built in 1990 and sailing under the flag of the USA. Look for the spec in the sky— possibly a Kenmore Air seaplane.I am on the Marine Vessel Puyallup, in service since 1999 and a Jumbo Mark-II-class ferry. This ferry and her two sisters MV Tacoma and MV Wenatchee are the largest in the Washington State fleet of ferries.Mr. Seagull is not perturbed by the ferry’s arrival at Edmonds terminal.
It’s Memorial Day here in the United States of America— the day for honoring and mourning the soldiers and personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Red poppies from a Capitol Hill garden here in Seattle.
I walked around the Seattle Waterfront this afternoon.
It is still somewhat of a work in progress.
The new Colman Dock ferry terminal is nearing completion, but several walkways and connections to the Waterfront are still under construction.
The passenger building at the new Seattle Ferry Terminal is a vast improvement over the old one: it fully faces the waters of Puget Sound, with large windows looking onto Elliott Bay and also back at the city.The passenger walkway at Marion Street across Alaskan Way, connecting the downtown surface streets with the Seattle Ferry Terminal.Looking back (south) towards the Seattle Ferry Terminal.Miners Landing is still there, as are all the other touristy t-shirt and souvenir shops, restaurants and food joints.I made it to the Pike Place Market complex, on the Old Stove Brewing patio and looking south. The construction is for the Overlook Walk: an elevated public park and connection between the Waterfront to Seattle’s urban core.The summer cruise season is in full swing by now. This is the Norwegian Encore, getting ready for its 5 pm departure to Juneau, Alaska.Now making my way back to Capitol Hill. ‘Don’t mind me, please, driver’ I thought as I snapped this picture of a forest green Rivian R1T electric truck.Crossing Third Avenue in downtown. The 1928 Belltown Self Storage building is now closed, and plans are afoot to build a new 8-story combination hotel and apartment structure behind the terracotta facade.Just a little bit further north on Third Ave is First Light Seattle, a luxury condominium tower that is going up. Construction is by real estate developer Westbank Corp from Vancouver, BC.
With days to spare until a government default, President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Saturday evening announced a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling and fund the government for the next two years.
– Jeff Stein reporting for the Washington Post
Excerpts from Jeff Stein’s reporting in the Washington Post:
Raises the debt ceiling beyond the 2024 election For Biden, one upside of the deal — assuming it passes — is that he will not have to deal with the debt ceiling again until after the next presidential campaign, because the agreement raises the debt ceiling until 2025.
Largely holds funding flat for domestic programs The biggest sticking point in negotiations has been funding levels for part of the federal budget — separate from Social Security and Medicare — that funds hundreds of domestic programs, such as scientific research, rental aid and nutritional assistance for mothers.
Claws back some money for the IRS Despite sparing domestic programs from cuts, the Biden administration agreed to do so in part by paring back some portion of the $80 billion it approved last year for an expansion of the IRS.
Slight funding boosts for the military, veterans affairs The deal also meets the requests in Biden’s budget to increase spending for the military and veterans affairs in line with inflation.
New work requirements on federal programs Meeting a GOP priority, the deal increases work requirements on federal food stamps and on family welfare benefits.
Out of the deal: Closing tax loopholes, cutting student debt relief Negotiators on both sides agreed to drop key demands.
Now it’s over to the House and the Senate to finalize the details and get this over and done with.
Just to reiterate— this is completely upside-down, inside-out, the-horse-has-bolted-from-the-stable insane.
Congress (the Republican Party) failed to agree on the nation’s spending priorities, overspent— and is now holding the world’s financial systems hostage, while haggling over what the money should have been spent on.
And lest you forget, Congress: the 14th amendment in the Constitution of the United States say
‘The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned’.
Happy Friday.
It’s Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer here in the US.
It’s also the end of Seattle Beer Week, and The Seattle Times reports that Seattle is a city full of beer snobs.
Cheers!
Some 56% of Seattle beer drinkers do not drink any of the major top ten brands (top ten among Seattle beer drinkers) regularly. So they steer clear of Coors Light, Bud Light, Corona Extra and all that jazz. Bring on the likes of Georgetown’s Bodhizafa American IPA and Space Dust IPA by Elysian Brewing Company. Life is too short for big-box diluted beer.
The galaxy gold of 13 months is gone at the top of the Space Needle— the dome now has a new coat of astronaut white.
My telephoto shot at 7 tonight (Canon EOS 7D, 135 mm lens) standing at Harrison St overlooking Interstate 5. I will go back some time and take a few nicer, close-up pictures.
Souvenir Sheet for HAFNIA Intl. Stamp Exhibition in Copenhagen Aug. 20-29, 1976. Perf. 13½ x 13. Ferslew’s Essays, 1849 and 1852 Issued 1975, Feb. 27 565 A168 Sheet of 4 a. 70 Øre, Gray, Coat of Arms b. 80 Øre, Gray, King Frederik VII c. 90 Øre, Brown, King Frederik VII d. 100 Øre, Brown, MercuryBooklet pane for Rosenborg Castle, 400th Anniversary Issued 2006, Mar. 29 1351 A457 4.75 Krone, Multi-color, Rosenborg Castle exterior 1352 A457 5.50, Krone, Multi-color, Silver lion, thrones of king & queen 1353 A457 13 Krone, Multi-color, Royal coat of arms ceiling decoration
More than two years out, convictions and sentences are still getting handed out for the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Eduardo Medina writes for the New York Times: Mr. Grider, who operates a vineyard in Central Texas, pleaded guilty last year to entering a restricted area and unlawfully parading at the Capitol, his lawyer said. He went to trial on seven other charges, including civil disorder and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, and Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., convicted him on all counts. On Tuesday, Judge Kollar-Kotelly sentenced Mr. Grider to six years and 11 months in prison and ordered him to pay $5,055 in restitution and an $812 fine. In March, Judge Kollar-Kotelly said in court that videos of the episode had clearly demonstrated “how Mr. Grider put himself at the center of this conflict, steps away from some of the most violent, lawless and reprehensible acts that occurred in the Capitol on that day.” She then asked: “How close can a person be to unquestionably violent and completely unacceptable lynch-mob-like acts of others, and still claim to be a nondangerous, truly innocent bystander?” Mr. Grider’s lawyer, Brent Mayr, said in an interview on Tuesday that his client “truly regrets his actions on Jan. 6 and apologizes to his family, his community and, most importantly, his country.” But he added that they were “deeply disappointed that his sentence is significantly longer than others who did so much worse than him.” “He did not assault any officers, much less threaten anyone with any violence before, during or after that day,” Mr. Mayr said. “The disparity in this sentence is very, very disappointing to us.”
