I hope we’re done with winter
Traffic? In Bellingham? Really? (Orin O'Neill photos)
The last of the piles of plowed snow have melted, and while another snow event in the Western Washington lowlands might be possible, it would need to happen soon.
Still one of us
In case you haven’t already heard, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) announced in the video above that she will resign her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives sometime this week. You’ll recall a little over a year ago, she was the victim of an assassination attempt that resulted in the death or injury of 19 other people.
Her recovery has been nothing short of miraculous, as you’ll see in the video (she was shot in the head at more or less point-blank range). She is resigning to devote her full attention to continuing her recovery.
Ms. Giffords is a fellow scooterist, and was a member of the Congressional Motorcycle Caucus. She hasn’t said whether she plans to resume her political career. Or riding. 
We’re actually having winter
The Fourth Estate was my primary means of transport this week (Orin O'Neill photo)
“A winter wonderland,” said NPR. The Weather Channel sent Jim Cantore to Seattle (“It’s never a good thing when they send people to your town,” observed one wag) to stand out in the record snowfall, which ended up falling between Olympia and Portland. We’re famous; Bellingham was colder than Anchorage, for a short while.
By the weekend, normal Western Washington weather—45°F and rain—is supposed to return. Good.
Theft most foul
Nice, eh? Some thief certainly thought so. (Scootering Magazine)
I’ll bet you’re thinking, that’s a sweet group of scooters. Well, every single one of them was STOLEN.
Making it legal
The Washington State Capitol in Olympia (Brianhe, via Wikimedia Commons)
The legislature’s in session in the State of Washington, and among many (many) other things, a bill is in the hopper that would be of particular interest to anyone who rides a scooter or motorcycle.
35 degrees and overcast
Way to park, Mr./Ms. Lexus SUV! (Orin O'Neill photos)
Oh, joy. There’s a chance of snow on Sunday. And for once the GTS’ ambient temp readout agreed with the credit union sign on Holly Street: 35°F.
Alternatively alternative
A scooter for a garden gnome..? (Orin O'Neill photo)
If you live in the United States or Canada and get around primarily on a scooter or motorcycle, you are partaking in alternative transportation. You’re a trendsetter, you’re a rebel. Or something like that.
In spite of this, there is no shortage of visionaries (or “visionaries”, your choice) who proffer alternatives to the alternative.
The new Thai
Stone Pot is exactly what it says on the tin (Orin O'Neill photos)
These days, Korea’s on everyone’s mind. The coolest electronic gizmos are made by Samsung and LG. Kia and Hyundai are getting all the attention from car buyers. South Korea, already the most wired nation on Earth, is upgrading every home to high-speed Internet that will be 10 times faster than anything available in the U.S.
That Korean food is becoming the new Thai is, therefore, no surprise.
