Blue Angels over West Seattle during Seafair airshow practice

Korm66 July 31, 2014 (12:20 pm)

Welcome back blues!!!! Love it that they are back. It was too quiet last year without them.

Drx July 31, 2014 (1:24 pm)

Chance for us to experience the sounds children in Palestine are hearing every day…

dogkahuna July 31, 2014 (1:37 pm)

Too quiet without their infernal noise? That’s nuts! Many dogs are terrified by the low passes and nobody ever stops to think about whether it’s a good idea to have an airshow over a major metropolis. The Blue Angels have had 21 fatal crashes in their history–the show should take place east of the Cascades, where more people are gung-ho about the USA’s military empire!!

Myles July 31, 2014 (2:09 pm)

Blah, blah, blah – only took the 2nd & 3rd post

Yellow Lab July 31, 2014 (2:10 pm)

Oh lighten up dogkahuna. I live on Lake Washington. My skittish lab is sitting on our veranda watching them fly right over. He hasn’t given them a second thought.
P.S. thank our military for your freedom.

Korm66 July 31, 2014 (2:13 pm)

The noise doesn’t bother my dog. The louder the better.

Someonethinkofthedogs July 31, 2014 (2:27 pm)

Dogs, why is it always about dogs? – you shouldn’t have acquired an animal and forced it to live in an urban environment without thinking of these things. You live like 15 miles from an International airport, 7 miles from a county airport, and 12 miles from 2 municipal airports – one to the east and the other west.
What were you thinking? Certainly not thinkin about the dog!

Bill July 31, 2014 (2:56 pm)

Dogs by Pink Floyd is a pretty awesome song.

Sittingbird July 31, 2014 (3:39 pm)

How much does it cost to show these planes off? I agree Bill Its a bout folks in power who run the country believe it or not.

hollywood July 31, 2014 (4:22 pm)

Love them Angels…Courtesy Of The Red, White, And Blue

WSince86 July 31, 2014 (4:56 pm)

Angels! Angels! Angels! Love me some Angels!!!!! My firework sensitive dog could care less about them Angels. I do have to agree that I’m sure glad they’re not dropping bombs on us, but give the rest of us a break for a day or two folks! It’s fun, it’s SeaFair!!! And really agree about the Pink Floyd.

Lolapop July 31, 2014 (5:25 pm)

Blue Angels!!! Love them! And guess what? Our military is the reason any of you can voice your dislike of them! So be thankful! And enjoy some Seattle fun and tradition!

sittingbird July 31, 2014 (5:36 pm)

No hollywood, its courtesy of our tax dollars millions of it just to make you go ahhhhhh….

brandon July 31, 2014 (5:38 pm)

Yea Drx…palenstine kids hear that because Hamas fires rockets and bombs all day.

Judy July 31, 2014 (5:54 pm)

There’s nothing fun about sitting in traffic for an hour and half trying to get from West Seattle to the north end to babysit for grandchildren. Besides the use of taxpayer resources to fund the Blue Angels performance, our taxpayer-funded highways were pre-empted. My choice would be for family time rather than expensive and disruptive aerial dramatics.

WSB July 31, 2014 (6:26 pm)

This is being investigated as arson, as initially indicated, according to SFD – we have updated the story.

Korm66 July 31, 2014 (6:42 pm)

Judy- There was plenty of notice of bridge closure. I didn’t go to the Eastside today because of it. Sorry you were stuck in traffic but it’s not fault of the blue angels.

WSB July 31, 2014 (6:59 pm)

Just one handle per person per thread; other comments under other handles won’t be approved. Thanks!

Ray July 31, 2014 (7:25 pm)

Judy,

I feel the same way every time some “group” wants to stage a protest and march in downtown Seattle.
While they have the right to do so, I find it offputting they always do it during the evening commute when it negatively impacts a significant number of people – it wastes their time, it waste money because people are idling cars, unable to make deliveries, get home to their families…. Why don’t these people have their little marches and rallies on a Saturday or Sunday morning? That’s right, they want to inconvenience the rest of us.

The Blue Angels closures are announced well in advance, allowing people to consider alternatives. Like the marches I mentioned above, sometimes you just have to deal with what you are dealt.

Cycleman July 31, 2014 (7:58 pm)

Every time I see the blue angles I think of what it must be like for people who see them in war time dropping bombs. Only in America is the sight of a war plane entertainment!!!!!!

kg July 31, 2014 (8:20 pm)

Only in America would someone think that the Blue Angels drop bombs.

Korm66 July 31, 2014 (8:39 pm)

Cycleman- many countries have air shows. I am glad the sight makes you think about others who live in ear zones. It should be a reminder how good we have it here.

Jess27 July 31, 2014 (9:34 pm)

Why don’t people just enjoy the show!!!!!!

wscommuter July 31, 2014 (9:44 pm)

Had to read this string for the inevitable snark … thanks for not disappointing (bonus points to the remark linking to the situation in Gaza … that nugget of “wisdom” was just all-time inappropriate and dumb vis-a-vis this blog).

Question for all you anti-BA folks … do you sit around waiting for this 4-day cycle each year and just trot out the same ole, same ole? Or are these folks genuinely surprised and don’t know this happens every year?

Veteran July 31, 2014 (9:54 pm)

I’m so sorry you sat in traffic for an hour and a half, while I know people who gave up their lives so you could have your rights and complain about traffic. If you don’t like it move to Canada! USA, USA, USA! And you’re right Jess27, why do these few people have to ruin the show for everybody. It sounds like dogkahuna has a dog that isn’t American.

Mike Racine July 31, 2014 (10:49 pm)

Here’s a story from the very first Seafair in 1950 from a man who lived it. It tells of the burning of the SS Bellingham on the last day of Seafair. It was a tradition that lasted into the 1960’s….

http://vimeo.com/101997063

Mike

WSB July 31, 2014 (11:06 pm)

Thanks! Not entirely relevant to the point under discussion here but … darn interesting. And corroborated: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=1470

a July 31, 2014 (11:35 pm)

Don’t let the haters get you down. I’m heartened to see that most comments here are chastising the no-fun, anti-Angels crowd. Do these people go to a car race and lament the fact that cars kill people so they shouldn’t race? Or that fireworks are basically fancy bombs and thus shouldn’t be enjoyed? Who are these people? I never meet them but the certainly seem to pop up online quite a bit.

Alphonse August 1, 2014 (12:03 am)

My dogs are terrified of the noise of the Blue Angels, but at least I know exactly when it will occur, unlike the fireworks still being randomly fired off in my neighborhood. And I much prefer to have deal with freaked out animals due to noise related to something that is actually part of the military which takes a huge amount of skill rather than drunk morons thinking they are being patriotic by illegally blowing up crap in their yards.

sam-c August 1, 2014 (9:47 am)

I am confused, are there going to be public meetings to discuss the future of the blue angels ?

WSB August 1, 2014 (10:28 am)

Sorry, I reply from the administrative screen and that means on occasion it’s the wrong story – I will see what I can do to move that to the right one :)

fortheloveofgod August 1, 2014 (12:29 pm)

Please stop this terror by the Blue Angels. Will somebody please think of the dogs, the trees, my broken granola bars, and the chance that us Suburu driving prudes might go into self righteous overload? Come on all you fellow left lane campers…stand with me.

Ellen August 1, 2014 (1:21 pm)

Event Sponsors
76, Absolut Vodka, Albert Lee Appliance, Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW, AM 880 KIXI Music – As Cool Now As It Was Then, Athletic Awards, Barefoot Wine, Brand Scaffold, Budweiser, Clay Lacy, Flying Heritage Collection, Fox Plumbing & Heating, Graham Trucking, Grand Event Rentals, Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, Hyperlite, Jail Sucks Bail Bonds, Jewel Hospitality, John Klatt Air Shows, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, Landmark Aviation, LivingSocial, Malibu Rum, Manke Tug and Barge, Maya’s Mexican Restaurant, MOVIN 92.5 All the Hits!, Museum of Flight, Novastar Development Inc., Oberto, Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle, PCC Natural Markets, Pinky’s Kitchen, PODS, Rockstar Energy Drink, Safeway, Seattle Magazine, SeattlePI.com, Sicklesteel Cranes, Skanska, Snoqualmie Ice Cream, Soundline Communications, SuperGraphics, Tagboard, TalkingRain Beverage Company, Tejava, The Boeing Company, The Boat Guy, The New Click 98.9 – Modern Music, Today’s Warm 106.9 FM, Tulalip Resort Casino, Uber, Visit Seattle, Western Washington Hyundai Dealers, Wipliance.

skypilot1992 August 1, 2014 (1:33 pm)

Often after each flight, I thought of those who went before. Especially Torpedo Eight at the Battle of Midway. They held formation and to their mission to the very last man. They were the reason we won that battle and began the end of the War in the Pacific.

The Blues should remind us of the gallant men and women who sacrifice so much. Both the Blues and the Thunderbirds are the cream of the cream of the crop (deliberate repeat.)

Once a year, they bring to us a demonstration of excellence which is beyond nearly anyone else’s ability. Warbirds? Sure.

But without their kind…Midway, DDay, the Brits Battle of Britain, Coast Guard rescues at sea, Airguard rescues on mountainsides and on and on……would not be possible.

So instead of the gripes and red herrings about dogs, enjoy the sounds and sights which should remind us of those who aren’t able to witness or provide the opportunity to honor those moments and people.

Truth in advertising: my wife and I are retired Naval Officers. My dad, no deceased, was a decorated Stalag XVII survivor. My wife’s father was a decorated B25 crew member. I am a Viet Nam river rat. My wife is a Desert Storm vet.

skypilot1992 August 1, 2014 (1:35 pm)

I once flew Navy jets until I incurred and eyesight problem. Often after each flight, I thought of those who went before. Especially Torpedo Eight at the Battle of Midway. They held formation and to their mission to the very last man. They were the reason we won that battle and began the end of the War in the Pacific.

The Blues should remind us of the gallant men and women who sacrifice so much. Both the Blues and the Thunderbirds are the cream of the cream of the crop (deliberate repeat.)

Once a year, they bring to us a demonstration of excellence which is beyond nearly anyone else’s ability. Warbirds? Sure.

But without their kind…Midway, DDay, the Brits Battle of Britain, Coast Guard rescues at sea, Airguard rescues on mountainsides and on and on……would not be possible.

So instead of the gripes and red herrings about dogs, enjoy the sounds and sights which should remind us of those who aren’t able to witness or provide the opportunity to honor those moments and people.

Truth in advertising: my wife and I are retired Naval Officers. My dad, now deceased, was a decorated Stalag XVII survivor. My wife’s father was a decorated North Africa B25 crew member. I am a Viet Nam river rat. My wife is a Desert Storm vet.

Ben August 1, 2014 (10:16 pm)

I’m going to have to start reading this blog just for the comments.

Oh, the dogs! Oh, the expense! Oh, the traffic!

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
― Khalil Gibran

Endure Seafair, this travesty of an event and you will become wonderful giants, towering over us all and complaining about the sun or some such.

khalil August 3, 2014 (3:38 pm)

Ben,thank you for quoting me but I had deeper angst in mind that the perceived disturbance of the Blue Angels by a minority of whiners. Probably not much strength would emerge from their slight inconveniences let alone character.

Ben August 3, 2014 (10:35 pm)

Sorry Khalil, I quoted you because I thought you might understand their suffering. There are people with scared dogs out there!

Imagine watching your children being shredded by a cheese grater as they cry for your help but there’s nothing you can do. That’s what the Blue Angels are doing to these poor dog owners.

These dog-martyrs know a truer suffering than any we could hope to never have to understand.