A Clickbait Sports Headline

To the Seattle Times: What’s your point?

The Seattle Times is not known for posting clickbait headlines and content. But as the primary online news source in the home of the Seattle Seahawks, a link they posted this morning on their home page (see screen capture) is more outrageous than newsworthy. Hawks fans will likely click the link with the expectation of being able to post withering comments that thoroughly debunk whatever confused arguments the article is trying to make.

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Pumpkin Protraction

A pumpkin named Pluto: size isn’t everything.

Last summer the pumpkin in the photo was planted and grown in a sunny fenced garden on Treasure Island. Compared to its vine mates, it was the runt of the litter. After being harvested in early October, the pumpkin had a short career as a front-door Halloween decoration. Then it moved inside. Who knew it would last this long?

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Stairs to Somewhere

Shortcut stairs as viewed from the top (left) and bottom (right)

A long flight of stairs (see photo) that connects Oyster Bay Court to Kitsap Way might be one of Bremerton’s least known, and least used, shortcuts. Located just behind the Family Pancake House, the stairs have been there for years, possibly decades. Although I have ridden by the upper entrance hundreds of times on my bike, it was only last week that I stopped to take a closer look.

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A Stream Runs Under It

The Chico stream house is partially hidden by several trees.

Perhaps the goal is to harmonize with nature. Or perhaps it’s to construct something that’s a bit different. Whatever the case, some houses get built in unusual locations: over creeks, near rivers, in trees, on tiny islands, into hillsides, and overlooking steep slopes. One such house—a house with a stream running under it—is located near me. Although you might not notice it when you drive by (see photo), I always stop to marvel at the stream house when I’m biking along Chico Way.

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Spelling Mud Bay Correctly

It’s time to renew the tabs again.

I live on Mud Bay. My old pickup truck has advertised my place of residence via a personalized license plate for almost two decades. However, it was only about two years ago that I was able to swap it for a license plate that spells Mud Bay correctly (see photo). That meant dealing with the Washington state Department of Licensing, never an easy task.

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A Simple Christmas Message

A Peace on Earth display designed for outdoor use

A simple Christmas message for this year, and every year, is shown in a lighted display attached to the water tank fence at Treasure Island (see photo). While it can be seen by everyone, members and guests alike, after driving onto the island, I hope it is heard more widely than that. Peace on Earth is not a new message, but it is one worth repeating, both at Christmas and throughout the year.

A Cycling Calendar for 2026

Ignore the cover, it really is a 2026 calendar.

My sister used to send me a cycling calendar every Christmas. I don’t think she had any trouble finding one each year as they always arrived on time in mid-December. But it’s been up to me for a few years now to make the annual purchase. I’m still having difficulty finding calendars I like and haven’t used the same vendor twice.

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QOTD: Trump and Golf

Are the president’s golf ethics as solid as this golf hat?

Today’s question of the day concerns Trump and golf. Specifically, does the president cheat at golf, a sport played by some of the most ethical people around? I don’t have any empirical evidence on this one way or the other, but that won’t stop me from speculating about the answer.

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In-Something-Out

The logo tells you what to do.

Think of the care In-N-Out Burger has taken to build its brand. Despite a cult-like demand from potential customers in unserved areas, it has expanded slowly, only adding franchises at a rate that allows it to maintain the quality of its burgers, fries, shakes, and service. But even with corporate advertising, splashy media coverage, a great logo (see screen capture), and my own customer experiences, until last week I was spelling and pronouncing its name incorrectly.

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Holiday Window Lights

Christmas displays in the upstairs windows

They are inexpensive, easy to store and install, safe, colorful, use low-power LED bulbs, and, most important, send a welcoming message. I’m talking about holiday window lights, which might be all you need to decorate your house’s exterior for Christmas or whatever December holidays you celebrate. This is the second year I have displayed them in my upstairs windows (see photo).

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