Books touched on:

• The Death of Privacy and Truth: 1984 — George Orwell
• The Corruption of Power: Animal Farm — George Orwell
• The Golden Cage: Brave New World — Aldous Huxley
• The End of the Deep Dive: Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury
• Rights Are Made Up: The Handmaid's Tale — Margaret Atwood
• Greed Above All Else: Parable of the Sower — Octavia E. Butler
• A Cruel Game that the Privileged Don't Have to Play: The Hunger Games — Suzanne Collins

We're already living in every dystopian novel — Mr. Beat

Mr. Beat explains how some of those dystopian novels we were forced to read growing up in school have already (partially) come true.

Disclaimer: Mr. Beat offers opinions in this video

Uh ok, so this is, like, the description of the video so keep reading. Produced by Matt Beat and Beat Productions, LLC. Filmed by Matt Beat. All images and video by Matt Beat. Additional images used under fair use guidelines or found in the public domain. Music by Electric Needle Room (Mr. Beat's band), Bad Snacks, Kwon, MK2, Otis McDonald, Patrick Patrikios, and Underbelly & Ty Mayer.

#USpol

Nothing makes you hate cars more than living on a busy street, forced to listen to their din day in and day out. >:(

Cities Aren't Loud: Cars Are Loud — Not Just Bikes

Urban noise is a common problem, and the vast majority of it is created by motor vehicles. Noise is far too often dismissed as a minor nuisance, rather than the legitimate health issue that it is.

The book "Curbing Traffic" has a chapter about the health impacts of noise pollution. I explore the research in the book, and visit Delft, the city that is highlighted in the book as being a shining example of what can happen when noise pollution is taken seriously.

This video explores the problem that farting cars, farting motorcycles, and farting mopeds create in our cities.

#FuckCars #urbanism

From here:

There is no 'free' market, and there never has been. The 'free' market is predicated on the belief that all players will act honestly, and make informed choices based on available information. This is a completely false assumption, and has been proven so time after time.

It completely ignores human nature whereby someone will always lie, cheat, and steal to achieve their own ends -- this is what we see here.

Industry players will always form cartels and collude in anti-consumer behavior -- price fixing being the prime example.

Without someone to keep corporations in line, the market would steadily skew to all of the power being in the hands of a few.

There is no such thing as a 'free' market, and there simply never has been. It's a utopian myth which can never be true.

People who go around spouting about the 'free' market are either naive, self deluded, or actively lying.

#capitalism

It's Eddie Bauer. #Seattle

The Oregonian

2026-02-02 21:31:20

Seattle-based outdoor retailer expected to close all North American stores https://www.oregonlive.com/retail/2026/02/seattle-based-outdoor-retailer-expected-to-close-all-north-american-stores.html

#OregonLive #oregon

Seattle-based outdoor retailer expected to close all North American stores

Founded in 1920, the veteran retailer once operated more than 500 stores nationwide.

^{Veronica Nocera | The Oregonian/OregonLive (oregonlive)}

Wild Waves Theme Park Announces Final Season of Operation in 2026

Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way, Washington, announced that the 2026 operating season will be its final year of operation. The park will open as planned on May 23, 2026, and close to the public on November 1, 2026.

“We are thankful for our guests, team members, and the community of Federal Way for supporting Wild Waves and creating so many thrills and great memories with families and friends,” said Kieran Burke, President and Owner of Premier Parks. “Unfortunately, the rising cost of ongoing operations since reopening after the COVID shutdown has generated millions in losses, which forces us to discontinue operations at the end of our 2026 season.”

Wild Waves is operated by Premier Parks, LLC, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the land is owned by Jeff Stock of EPI Realty Holdings, Inc.

Since opening its gates in 1977, Wild Waves has welcomed millions of guests across the Pacific Northwest region, offering a unique combination of theme park thrills and refreshing waterpark fun.

Wild Waves employs approximately 35 full-time and 800 seasonal team members. All previously purchased 2026 group events, season passes, and ticket packages will be fully honored for the 2026 season.

Despite the forthcoming closure, Wild Waves plans to deliver a full and vibrant 2026 season.

“Wild Waves will be open for business beginning in May with our thrilling rides, refreshing waterpark fun throughout the summer, and our popular Fright Fest Halloween celebration, concluding with the park closing on November 1, 2026,” Burke continued. “In its final year of operation, the park will celebrate the memories, nostalgia, and family fun with themed events, and special promotions.”

Jeff Stock, owner of the property and longtime partner of Premier Parks, shared his appreciation for the park’s legacy and the collaboration behind its final season. “I am grateful for my longstanding partnership with Premier Parks and appreciate their dedication to delivering a full and successful final season for our guests and community.”

“We recognize the deep history and emotional connection many residents have with the park, and we are committed to ensuring a respectful transition while planning a project that will bring meaningful, lasting benefits to the area,” Stock added. “Plans for the site are currently in preliminary stages, with goals beneficial to the city and surrounding areas. Additional details will be released as the project moves through planning and community review processes.”

#Seattle

Serves them right for acquiring and destroying Bartell Drugs. >:(

Rite Aid shutters all stores after years of financial struggles

Rite Aid, the U.S. pharmacy chain that operated more than 2,000 stores nationwide as recently as 2023, announced Friday it has officially shuttered all of its locations after years of financial struggle.

“All Rite Aid stores have now closed. We thank our loyal customers for their many years of support,” the company said on its website, which continues to allow customers to request prescription and immunization records.

Despite more than six decades in the pharmacy industry, Rite Aid has been facing financial challenges for years. The company most recently filed for bankruptcy protection in May. At the time, Rite Aid operated 1,250 locations nationwide — a significant drop from its roughly 2,000 stores in 2023.

Rite Aid previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023, which allowed it to cut $2 billion in debt and close hundreds of stores.

#Seattle

I still sometimes think about that middle-aged lady in her minivan yelling at me to "get in the bike lane" at 3 AM on a bridge that only has skinny sidewalks on either side, where one mistake lands you either in traffic or in the frigid water tens of feet below. There was no other traffic out at that hour so she could've easily gone around. :/

#Seattle #seabikes #cycling #bicycle

Federal agents arrest firefighters working on WA wildfire

Two people fighting the Bear Gulch fire on the Olympic Peninsula were arrested by federal law enforcement Wednesday, in a confrontation described by firefighters and depicted in photos and video.

Why the two firefighters were arrested is unclear. But a spokesperson for the Incident Management Team leading the firefighting response said the team was “aware of a Border Patrol operation on the fire,” that it was not interfering with the firefighting response and referred reporters to the Border Patrol station in Port Angeles.

Over three hours, federal agents demanded identification from the members of two private contractor crews. The crews were among the 400 people including firefighters deployed to fight the wildfire, the largest active blaze in Washington state.

Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday about the confrontation.

It is unusual for federal border agents to make arrests during the fighting of an active fire, especially in a remote area.

#Seattle

Hey @Seattle Bike Blog , do you know what the status is of the W Marginal Pl S bicycle connection between South Park and the Green River Trail? As in, next to that substation and Salmon Cove Park.

#cycling #bicycle #seabikes #Seattle

Ballard Bridge reopened after malfunction causes traffic backup

The Ballard Bridge was shut down due to a mechanical issue on Sunday, resulting in a lengthy traffic backup.

The information about the closure was shared by Seattle’s Department of Transportation (SDOT) X.com account around 5 p.m.

SDOT says the crews are continuing to monitor the situation.

They are also running tests to make sure that everything is functioning correctly.

#Seattle #weather #wawx

So much for going on a ride today. :(

#Seattle #smoke #wasmoke #wawx #weather

The sunlight hitting the ground here has been looking just like it does during wildfires for several weeks now, but there aren't any wildfires yet. That can't be a good thing. :(

#Seattle #weather #wawx

While the eastern half of the US bakes in a heat dome, we have a mild, cloudy, and rainy here in #Seattle . :3

#weather #wawx

Really sucks how #Seattle turned its downtown into a giant concrete business park for commuters from the suburbs. :(

(Yes, I know it's not unique in this regard.)