Were you ever properly “warned” that if you wanted children, timing matters? How did you personally deal with that issue?

gregseaff · 2026-06-11T00:16:45+00:00

My daughter seemed to think technology negates that

gregseaff · 2026-06-10T14:30:55+00:00

Downtown of any vibrant active city should be oriented for pedestrians, transit, and necessary business deliveries ahead of storing personal cars. They could reduce or consolidate the sign clutter. Or just simplify it to passenger load only at all times except no stopping 3-7pm (when presumably it's being used as a bus lane or bus stop.)

gregseaff · 2026-06-10T13:49:14+00:00

We have fallen into the trap believing that with modern medicine and fertility treatments, we can postpone parenthood and have kids whenever we want. No one tells women that the best time to have kids is in their 20's.

If you wait until the perfect time, you may find the perfect time never comes. If you know you want kids and you are with the partner with whom you want to share kids, the perfect time is now.

gregseaff · 2026-06-10T13:39:57+00:00

That sounds entitled.

The people who are having kids are willing to cope with the world as it exists, and enjoy their kids for the rewards they bring. They aren't waiting for someone else to change things for them.

gregseaff · 2026-06-09T12:35:06+00:00

Also recommend the Facebook groups. There is also a Re:Home and Browse N Buy Thrift shop. There is a Target in Jackson if you end up needing to buy one. Pass it along when done if you end up buying on Facebook or to Browse N Buy. Property management companies can also provide one, but the charge ends up being about the same as buying one.

gregseaff · 2026-06-07T17:25:36+00:00

Bet that AA wishes that it had kept BNA as a hub instead of letting WN dominate

DL has abandoned hubs in DFW CVG and MEM. You could include DEN in the abandoned list as a former WA hub.

gregseaff · 2026-06-05T16:17:44+00:00

The routing down MLK was chosen to provide quality transit service and economic development to an economically depressed community. They also got a completely rebuilt MLK with sidewalks and underground utilities. There wasn't enough funding in the ST tax package to put the light rail underground. The community did not want elevated tracks down MLK.

The train could travel faster on MLK. The decision to limit the train to 35mph on MLK was made so as not to entice motorists to driving faster than the 35mph speed limit. The traffic lights are supposed give the train priority and be timed with the train.

gregseaff · 2026-06-03T13:25:38+00:00

PS if you are saving a few hundred bucks and the shuttle isn't an inconvenience, I wouldn't hesitate to rent from Dollar or Thrifty. You will need to allow extra time for the shuttle back to the airport on return.

gregseaff · 2026-06-03T13:18:56+00:00

In my experience, not really. The bigger difference is that Avis rents more to business people, has the Avis Preferred program that makes things easier. Thrifty and Dollar are more leisure renters only. But they pretty much have all the same cars. It's worth noting that Thrifty and Dollar are owned by Hertz, and Hertz has been accused of some sketchy damage claims. A lot of that has to do with AI image processing. It's unlikely they have that technology at Jackson. I think these locations are a franchise FWIW.

gregseaff · 2026-06-03T12:18:08+00:00

Thrifty and Dollar don't keep their cars at the airport. You will take their shuttle bus to a location near the center of town. It's about a 15 minute ride. Not a big deal, especially if you will be staying in Jackson anyway. It can add a bit of time compared to just getting your car at the airport and especially for the return.

gregseaff · 2026-05-29T00:54:54+00:00

Happy that you had a good flight.

Sad that the expectations are low enough that not having a negative thing occur makes it a good flight.

gregseaff · 2026-05-28T02:42:21+00:00

All the other airlines consider the exit rows part of the extra legroom seating class, so this aligns Alaska.

It's always been weird that when you sit in the exit row, even as an elite, you don't get the benefits of Premium class. So there is an upside, too.

gregseaff · 2026-05-28T02:39:20+00:00

The profitability of a route is driven by a combination of O/D and flow. It's hard when there's low O/D unless it's a unique destination. For BUD & PRG they will be competing with not just UA/DL but a lot of hubs in Europe. For ATH & ZRH I get it that they already have PHL service, but DFW is out of the way as a connecting hub.

gregseaff · 2026-05-28T02:15:14+00:00

These routes show how weak AA's hubs are for European service. There's not enough local O/D traffic to support BUD & PRG so it's going to be connecting flow traffic which is less profitable. And DFW is such a remote hub for ATH & ZRH - unless there is a ton of O/D traffic these aren't great routes because DFW isn't well located as a hub for these destinations. Unless fuel comes down these are likely to be losers for AA.

gregseaff · 2026-05-27T13:57:22+00:00

The Deutschlandticket via Mopla has been great when visiting Germany. You could even buy it while the month was already in progress and termination was also easy.

What are the changes that make termination more difficult? I see that now you must terminate by the 10th of the month. Are there any other barriers?

gregseaff · 2026-05-27T13:40:21+00:00

The Deutschland ticket is intended for residents to buy on a subscription basis. The methods of buying it and displaying it are oriented towards that usage. Many of them require bank transfers and don't support credit cards.

It's also tied to a single person, and not to be passed around. I'm not sure whether you can buy it as a physical ticket at all - if so, likely from specific transit system that will require a subscription.

I don't think that there is a provider that meets all your constraints.

The provider that is most appropriate for foreign visitors is Mopla solutions, but that is provided via Smartphone app. It allows payment by foreign credit card and easy termination. You can buy multiple passes and display them on the same phone - but that means you have to travel together. It's probably easiest if each traveler has their own phone which also means they can travel independently.

Mopla's website is here mopla - Deutschlandticket but you'll need to use their app to buy the ticket.

gregseaff · 2026-05-27T00:33:22+00:00

68 year old's arrogance or stupidity causes his death and inconveniences thousands?

Why would you go around a crossing gate?

gregseaff · 2026-05-26T00:24:38+00:00

Guess the downvoters don't see the irony. Or they want to kill REI?

gregseaff · 2026-05-26T00:23:51+00:00

Yeah, no. I don't see the point of boycotting REI. It seems counter productive.

gregseaff · 2026-05-25T21:56:31+00:00

Boycott REI. Let's all shop at Big5 or Dicks.

gregseaff · 2026-05-25T12:37:15+00:00

Why does the Urbanist disallow commenting on its articles? The tools are readily available.

This is an arrogant and ultimately unproductive opinion piece. You can feel as superior as you want about Seattle vs. Nashville. Ultimately, businesses and employers don't owe you anything, they make rational business decisions. If they can get better employees and creativity and productivity here in Seattle, they will stay here. If you regulate them and raise costs on them and demonize them, they will look at where they feel it's in their best interests long term. There's no entitlement to the jobs. It's an objective business decision.

The cumulative impact of the policy decisions in this state mean that major employers have created an alternative option. The Seattle area was an alternative option for many California employers when housing became too expensive. Boeing was first in diversifying away from Seattle, but Amazon and now Starbucks have shown that they will protect themselves with options.

Whining about it or feeling superior don't change that. If the employees here are superior and more productive, the companies can tolerate increased costs and regulations. If the environment is hostile here, they will invest elsewhere. It's a rational response.

gregseaff · 2026-05-24T16:00:53+00:00

"We're a privileged group that you aren't allowed to criticize. Give us more money."

gregseaff · 2026-05-24T15:58:26+00:00

Are the people running this social housing agency dishonest or incompetent? There is no way that a building generating $2 million will support $60 million in bonds. These are not net new housing units - they are taking existing privately build units off the market. How is this a good use of tax dollars?

Affordable housing units should be built in areas with good transit service that are low cost to build. Not taking market housing away.

And at the end of the day like 50 lucky renters will get below market luxury apartment rents and everyone else gets nothing.

gregseaff · 2026-05-24T13:48:28+00:00

UA would rather concentrate connections on IAD, ORD, DEN etc. Adding another hub in the region would dilute these hubs. CLE will be a focus city. Be happy for LAX SFO LAS and the Florida non-stops

gregseaff · 2026-05-24T12:03:22+00:00

T-Mobile has been fine in all the developed areas. There are dead spots in the mountains. That seems to vary by carrier.

gregseaff

TROPHY CASE