This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from SeattleIAM where you will find the best blogs from Seattle, Washington as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Eyman Claims Win Not Enough

The special session to reinstate I-747 has begun and the latest from Postman on Politics takes a look at the notorius Tim Eyman’s participation in the event. “In recent years Tim Eyman has shown up in Olympia as Darth Vader, a gorilla, and a prisoner. This morning he showed up pretty much as a politician” and “ducked questions” like one, too. Eyman also claimed that although he was about to get what he wanted from lawmakers, it wasn’t enough. “Maybe that's only fair given that Democratic lawmakers will codify Eyman's initiative while trying to convince all that it has nothing to do with Eyman himself.”

Led by Gov. Chris Gregoire, the lawmakers are expected to pass the 1% Statewide property tax cap by the end of the day, “exactly what Eyman has long said state voters and deserve.” The post reminds us that the state Supreme Court threw out the initiative after the measure was approved in 2001. “Eyman appeared outside the Senate chambers this morning to say what Democrats will pass is a sham… ‘Gregoire and the Democrats don't care about taxpayers,’ Eyman declared,” adding that the bill “Is 1 percent in name only.” Eyman claims the Legislature is “trying to fool the public.”

Sonics no Match for Magic

According to Gary Washburn at the Seattle Sonics Blog, the Sonics “sleptwalked through the first 2 ½ quarters” of their game last night against Orlando (Orlando 110, Sonics 94). “It seemed like they had no practice or shoot-around to prepare for Dwight Howard,” who was a monster player for the Magic last night. The Sonics “played hard for 48 minutes,” but inconsistently until the 4th quarter, “when they nearly caught the Magic with 4:35 left. And then they collapsed from fatigue.” It was their second of back-to-back games and they played like it.

In his post, Washburn posits that there was no chance without Robert Swift (out with knee tendonitis) bumping inside with Howard, and Johan Petro struggling with “confidence.” Petro “isn't an NBA center because he doesn't like to rebound or block shots.” The Sonics are still “in search of a franchise center, but first they need a franchise point guard.”

Pianos go Silent at Nordstroms

Dan at the The Seattlest is disappointed to announce that most Nordstrom department stores are doing away with live piano playing, which they have been presenting in Seattle area stores for 20 years, for commercially recorded music piped in over speakers. The blogger blames the customers, not the stores themselves. An article from the Seattle Times reports that company spokeswoman Brooke White says “some shoppers prefer popular tunes by the likes of Bob Dylan, Alicia Keys and Frank Sinatra to the jazz and Broadway standards” played by the stores’ pianists.

The blogger expresses in his post that he was “constantly surprised” by the live piano during every trip to the store. “Frequently someone plays ‘commercially recorded music’ for Seattlest. Rarely does someone play the piano for us. Not only is it a nice change of pace, it's flat out better.” Bell Square and Nordstrom's store at Bellevue Square have done away with their pianists as will the Alderwood mall store in Lynnwood. Westlake is keeping theirs for now. "We know there's a nostalgic value to the piano… [but some] just feel the piano is outdated," White said.

Boeing Loses Hawaiian to Air Bus

Blogger John Gillie at Biz Buzz reveals that the “formerly faithful Boeing customer Hawaiian Airlines has joined the rank of Airbus customers with an order for 12 Airbus wide-bodies” with an option for 12 more. At list prices, the original order of 12 planes is worth $2.2 billion. “The twin-aisle planes will replace Boeing 767s in Hawaiian's fleet beginning in 2012 for the A330s and in 2017 for the A350s.”

According to the post, the reason for choosing Airbus over Boeing may “have to do with availability of suitable Boeing aircraft.” The popularity of some of Boeing’s crafts also “may have meant that Hawaiian would have had to wait until 2014 or beyond to acquire a 787.” In addition, Boeing’s 777 was most likely “too large” for the airline’s needs. In picking the A330 with Airbus, Hawaiian airlines will get fuel economy and range over its current Boeing fleet. “The A330 carries 45 more passengers than the 767 and can reach beyond the West Coast cities that Hawaiian now serves.”

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