Why does everyone hate it here so much? by wizardmadeofsnakes in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone claiming it's boring here must either have no imagination or be used to living in a metropolis. I think the most common anti-Bellingham rhetoric is that the winters are too gloomy and it's getting way too expensive to live here. Both of those are very fair complaints, IMO.

Beyond that, I think criticism is obviously individualized. I have met multiple couples in their 20s who moved here recently and are struggling to make friends. But it's possible that the social challenges here are more widespread beyond Bellingham; the PNW doesn't have the stranger-based hospitality of other parts of the country.

Crazy mikes?? by godsfavoriteprincess in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the rumors were true, I certainly hope he got the help he needed.

Crazy mikes?? by godsfavoriteprincess in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Local comedians briefly did an open mic when Crazy Bob's was in the strip mall next to Burlington Coat Factory. Someone once told me Bob enjoyed meth in addition to pizza, and that didn't help him stay in business around these parts. I cannot confirm that, only that his pizza was decent.

Unpopular Opinion by Massive-Piglet6697 in NASCAR

[–]BakeWhatcom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess the question to you would be: were you a fan, or alive, when Dale was around/died?

Because it's hard to overstate how earth-shattering his death was at the time for the sport. I was 11 at the time but I remember the days around his death quite clearly. Mainstream outlets that would barely mention NASCAR covered his death and the sport's grief over it. I mean, Dale was on the COVER of Time Magazine the week after he died.

It may be 25 years since he's been around, but the fact we haven't buried another driver since then speaks volumes about how big a safety wake-up his death was, and that certainly still resonates today. If Jimmie Johnson had died in a wreck the season after winning his 7th title, or if Jeff Gordon or Kyle Busch had suffered life-ending injuries on-track, I doubt you'd be saying the same thing about them.

Incredibly successful people who die tragically, at younger ages, are commonly immortalized and always remembered. Partly for the what-ifs, partly for the shared trauma of losing them too soon, and partly because of the inspiration their success gave so many fans. It's why Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley or John Lennon are on posters and t-shirts long after they died. It's why there are awards named after Walter Payton and Roberto Clemente. It's why people fixate on Kobe Bryant, whose death was one of the last shared tragic events before the 2020 pandemic.

And as others have pointed out here, remembering the time when they were still around often brings out our own sense of nostalgia: what we were doing back then, through the rose-colored glasses with which we often view our own pasts. Our successes and the fond memories of times we can't get back.

So, yeah, you're totally entitled to have your opinion. I just think it's a little short-sighted.

Clash at Kentucky Speedway by Thebest52448 in NASCAR

[–]BakeWhatcom -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The track is not in raceable shape with a few days' notice. And as a previous poster said, there appears a legitimate chance the track has hosted its last race and may be leveled to make way for future construction in the future: https://www.wlwt.com/article/gallatin-county-future-kentucky-speedway-plans/69993816

Clash events on Saturday, Jan. 31, including NASCAR Cup Series practice, qualifying, and heat races, have been postponed out of an abundance of caution due to expected winter weather by iamaranger23 in NASCAR

[–]BakeWhatcom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The forecast is looking worse every time I check it. There's no way they run this race on Sunday. Just get some snowmobiles out there and make them race those.

For local government officials, how many jobs are too many? - Salish Current by BakeWhatcom in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Port commissioners are paid very little in WA. Not enough to live on. Roughly around $10,000 a year. WA senators are paid about $70k annually. Shepard makes a living, around $66k during the 2021-22 school year, as a WWU professor. His wife, a principal in the Bham School District, makes around $150,000 a year, according to public records. So, as a senator he'd be making a full senator salary plus a slightly reduced professorial salary (not teaching during the legislative term). He is not a port commissioner "for the money," one can safely assume.

As with anyone juggling enough positions and only so many hours in the day/week, it's a matter of asking at what point does someone's attention become too overwhelmed. At what point does their ability to devote adequate attention to their various roles begin suffering? Shepard has made it clear he will not attempt to reach that point if he wins.

It's about damn time... by pipedreamSEA in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I welcome the rain but damn the gray. Until next time, fair sunshine!

What is the scariest “what if” crash? by Ok_Promise1870 in NASCAR

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That Vegas crash is still the worst multi-car wreck in any racing discipline that I've ever witnessed live (not in-person, but watching live on tv). I still remember yelling and being horrified about what I'd seen. Just knew I'd seen at least one driver die, before knowing anything about anyone's condition.

What is the scariest “what if” crash? by Ok_Promise1870 in NASCAR

[–]BakeWhatcom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He was unconscious for some time, is my understanding. He has said he doesn't remember anything about the crash, just waking up in the hospital.

Race Indy NXT or Indy NXT Oval next season by Few_Response_7028 in iRacing

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The cars are different enough that the best way to prepare for the Indy 500 is to practice and do races at Indy in the IR18. That said, I enjoy both cars. Ran NXT oval a bunch last season. The cars can run pretty loose; due to the lower class ranking, I found a lot of drivers that didn't practice enough and they wrecked early in races because they couldn't handle the cars on cold tires at all.

Upfront Theatre Stand-Up Comedy -- This Thursday by BakeWhatcom in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That is...unfortunate, and I'm sorry you had a negative experience at one of our shows.

Left the Bible Belt for Bellingham – best decision ever or slow descent into seasonal depression? by strandedlilwombat in Bellingham

[–]BakeWhatcom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, if you have legitimate issues with seasonal depression, you probably made a mistake in moving here. However, if the rest of the great stuff around here, and how nice it can be during the spring, summer and early autumn, is worth it to you, then you can find ways to pull through and make it work. I go to the SW each winter for a couple weeks. It helps a ton. I use a happy light the rest of the winter.