In my recent visit to Seattle, I discovered a jewel where I was able to visit the locks, salmon runs and an exotic garden. I went to the Ballard Locks where there was a free tour of the Ship locks, a Botanical Garden and a Salmon run viewing with an educational center.

Read more here about tips, suggestions and more pictures.

3015 NW 54th St., Seattle, WA 98107 or Google Map. Tel (206) 783-7059

Carl S. English Botanical GardenFlowers at Carl S. English Botanical GardenMore FlowersHiram M. Chittenden Locks

I was in Seattle recently and I took the opportunity to travel. I went to Pike Market Place, a landmark in Seattle and a few other places. Here are some pics. Also, checkout my other blog for the full posting about Pike Market Place

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Fish Market

Pike Place Flowers

Pike Place Peppers

I was looking to buy something on Amazon. Pricing online was showing $254 and when checking out, it was like 349.99.

So I hit the “Call Me” feature as I headed out for lunch and it rang on my cell phone. Nice, and it was quickly greeted with a voice saying that it will be connnected to a person in a second.

12:45 later, I was still on hold. That is 12 MINUTES, 45 SECONDS

I got on the phone and the person said, Ohh.. that is a price mistake. Click-he hung up.

Thanks for wasting my time

I stumble upon this website, www.lostgolfballs.com and they were selling used golf balls. As a golfer that wacks the grass, not the ball, this was a match made in heaven. Often, I would find that my golf balls would astonishing dissapear after hitting them, usually donating them to lakes, long grass, out of sight, etc.

I got some AAAA Titleist Pro V1 from them at 1/2 off the retail price and I can’t be happier with the quality of the balls and the price.

Like the Geico commercial, I just saved a bunch of money on golf balls at lost golf balls fot com.

yeah, I know, i shouldn’t be playing pro v1 golf balls.

Saw this on TV. Disney is offering free tickets to their parks on your birthday.
Now, get your twin brother or sister to go with you.

See link below

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=WhatWillYouCelebratePage&CMP=KNC-DPFOYBGoogle&HBX_PK=disney+birthday+&HBX_OU=50&s_kwcid=disney%20birthday|3022477573

Flash page so dial up, you have to wait.

What do you do after a federal bailout? Looking at looming unemployment? Worried about your future?

Nahh, don’t worry. How about go spend $440,000 in a posh resort in california?

According to CNN, that is what AIG did..

..its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company’s meltdown

AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles, California, even as the company tapped into an $85 billion loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

I guess the executives have a different rule than the middle class.

Jail them

Here are something that sold out or almost..

- Bananas [checked]

- Beer [checked]

- Instant noodles [checked]

- Water [checked]

Before Hurricane Ike at grocery store – Bananas anybody?

Before Hurricane Ike at grocery store – Essentials, B-e-e-r
you need it in cases,, not 6 pack

Before Hurricane Ike at grocery store – Instant noodles and boxed food? How are you going to cook instant noodles and boxed food if you have no electricity to boil water? charcoal?

Before Hurricane Ike at grocery store – Water Isle..

This is a neat site for tracking storms, hurricanes, etc. Lots of technology behind it but the info that they are using to power it is all FREE. They are pulling info from the Hurrican center and a few other research facilities.

For the hurricane Ike (currently in the gulf of mexico), this website gives you:
-aggregates a dozen different projection models
-give you wind forecast
-historical track of the current hurricane
-lots more tools.

http://www.stormpulse.com

Just look at the Alexa stats for hits.
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/stormpulse.com

I think they can sell the site for a few MM after a few years. Or like weather.com, 3.5 BILLION price tag? Maybe a few MM…

Note, I am not related to this company in any way, shape or form.

Saw this on CNN. JetBlue is auctioning air tickets on eBay starting from $0.05.

They are expecting the flight to fetch 75% off retail price.

http://stores.ebay.com/JetBlueAirways

What’s better than getting a new car? How about a new plane?

 Cathy Pacific bought a fleet of the latest Boeing 777-300ER and recently took delivery of the plane with an estimated cost up to US$253 million per plane. In the cockpit of one of the planes was Captain Ian Wilkinson.

Captain Ian took the plane for a joy ride, literally. He did a 322mph flyby at 28 feet over the 9,000-foot runway at Paine Field, a regional airport located next to Boeing’s Everett facilities, the manufacturing site of the new 777-300 he was flying to Hong Kong.

He was fired from his job. It was reported that he was congratulated initially until the video circulated the internet and it caught the attention of Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Authority. It was also covered on CNN. 

About the 777-300ER
The 777-300ER is the Extended Range (ER) version of the 777-300 and contains many modifications, including the GE90-115B engines, which are the world’s most powerful jet engine with 115,300 lbf (513 kN) thrust. (wikipedia)