SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Shower thoughts: Distracted walking, baseball and billionaires

Oct 25, 2017, 12:13 PM | Updated: Oct 26, 2017, 12:02 pm

OK, it’s time for Shower Thoughts: Episode 3. Actually, I’m in the guest shower, cause I’m having some grout issues in my regular shower, but that’s another story for another day. I’m 87 percent sure I can fix it myself. What could possibly go wrong?

RELATED: More of Ron’s shower thoughts

Did you know that in other cities, they are still playing meaningful baseball games? It’s true. There’s even some former Mariners players in the World Series … for the Dodgers. I’m a bit torn because the Dodgers were the team of my youth, but I’m pulling for the Astros.

Here’s why. My big brother won a contest and was a bat boy for the Dodgers Triple A team in Albuquerque when I was a kid. I went to every home game that year, and even helped out after the games carrying bats and helmets. There was a giant table full of bubble gum and chew in the dugout, and they told me to take what I wanted. There were lots of soon-to-be famous Dodgers that came through town, so I rooted for them. But I can’t help thinking that a World Series Championship would be more meaningful to the Astros after Hurricane Harvey. So Go ‘Stros.

Speaking of sports, the Seahawks just signed a future Hall of Fame defensive lineman. Best of luck to Dwight Freeney as a Hawk. I get it: The Seahawks love defense, but would it kill you to sign a decent blocker? Come on man!

Shower Thoughts speed round:

  • Just about every day I almost run over someone not paying attention and staring at their phone while they walk across an intersection. Hawaii is trying to solve this problem. A new law goes into effect today that slaps a $99 fine on “smartphone zombies.” I usually don’t think more laws are a good idea, but this one seems needed in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Is it just me, or is the fact that there are now multiple Republican congressmen and senators turning on Trump a gigantic deal? I don’t exactly know what it means, but it seems very significant.
  • I do the show every day next to one of the fittest 50-year-olds you’ll ever meet. I’m starting to hit the gym hard, and just in case you’re wondering: getting fit in your 40s is hard.
  • Did you hear about the new $300 million dollar movie about controlling the Earth’s weather? Yeah, me neither. “Geostorm,” staring Gerard Butler, opened with a thud, and will most likely lose at least $100 million dollars. I guess there’s enough chaos in real life, and people don’t want to pay to see more in the movie theater.
  • Finally, a book recommendation. I just bought the new book called “Principles” by Ray Dalio. If you’ve never heard of Dalio, I understand. He’s a very low profile billionaire. An admittedly average student with a bad memory who started a business in his two-bedroom apartment that went on to be the 5th most important company in the United States, according to Fortune magazine. He opens up his playbook for success in this book. I’m liking it so far.

OK, I’m out of hot water. That’s what we’re talking about here.

You can hear “What are we talking about here?” everyday at 4:45 p.m. on 97.3 FM.

Find moreWhat are we talking about here?

FILE - Dan Sullivan, a candidate in Alaska's U.S. Senate race who shares his name with the incumben...

Associated Press

Republican with same name as incumbent Dan Sullivan advances from Alaska US Senate primary

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A candidate with the same name as Alaska’s incumbent U.S. senator advanced Tuesday to the general election in what will be one of the most closely watched races in the country this fall. Dan J. Sullivan, who goes by Dan Sullivan, was among the top four finishers after the Aug. 18 […]

5 hours ago

Harold Jezler poses for a picture with a photo of his wife, Olga Jezler, in West Harrison, N.Y., Fr...

Associated Press

Release of Marine veteran from Russian custody turns focus to other detainees with health concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert Gilman’s release from Russian custody this month heralded a long-awaited homecoming for the Marine veteran after more than four years behind bars. But as Harold Jezler followed the media coverage from the United States, he couldn’t help but notice Gilman’s gaunt and sickly appearance and think of the implications for his […]

5 hours ago

Associated Press

The US and Canada could pull back from an all-out trade war. It’s not clear that they will

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and Canada have ramped up their trade war, hitting each other with steep new tit-for-tat tariffs. Despite the bravado coming from both sides of the border, though, analysts suspect the longtime allies will eventually strike a deal to end a conflict neither really wants. The prospects for compromise looked bleak […]

5 hours ago

FILE - A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 202...

Associated Press

ICE agent charged with shooting in Minnesota could be released from Texas jail

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) — An ICE agent charged in Minnesota with firing his gun through a house door, striking a man in his leg, and then lying to justify the shooting, could walk out of a South Texas jail on Thursday if a federal judge does not intervene. Christian Castro, an agent for U.S. Immigration […]

5 hours ago

Robert Ladd, a former Compton, Calif., police officer who was part of the department's gang unit, t...

Associated Press

Former detective says Tupac murder suspect was gang ‘shot caller’ who had final say in shooting

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A former Compton gang detective testified Tuesday that Duane “Keffe D” Davis was a high-ranking “shot caller” whose authority meant younger gang members would not have opened fire on Tupac Shakur with Davis present unless he allowed it. Robert Ladd, a former Compton police officer who spent years investigating gang homicides, […]

5 hours ago

FILE - The site of a future data center being built near Abernathy, Texas, July 18, 2026, in Hale C...

Associated Press

Here’s all the ways that data center controversies have transformed the midterm elections

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The snowballing opposition to data centers in communities across the United States has transformed the midterm election landscape, thrown a wrench into the plans of the world’s richest companies and brought perhaps the industry’s biggest booster, President Donald Trump, to its defense. It’s a dramatic shift from two years ago, when […]

5 hours ago

Shower thoughts: Distracted walking, baseball and billionaires