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Thursday, July 31, 2008

Re: The Annual Blue Angels Gripefest

posted by on July 31 at 11:14 AM

Spotted some kids on Capitol Hill marching around holding a sign on a long pole this morning on my way to work. I stopped and took a picture and the kids’ parent came running out their house to ask me—pretty please—not to post her kids’ faces “to any darn blogs,” lest they wind up on FOX News. But here’s the sign her daughters made…

spottedonthehill.jpg

I asked mom, who appeared to be a Capitol Hill liberal, if she helped her kids with their sign. Nope, she said, she didn’t even know what they were up to until they marched out of their house with it.

Ah, the children. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty that they hold inside, etc.

RSS icon Comments

1

I don't suppose the mom made any attempt to correct her kids' behavior?

Posted by mattymatt | July 31, 2008 11:18 AM
2

What little kids don't think that jet planes are cool?

Posted by JC | July 31, 2008 11:22 AM
3

Cool "did, die, crash" - lets face it people go to watch the Blue Angels for the same reason they go to Nascar - they're hoping to witness some cool crashes and explosions!

Posted by Sad Comment | July 31, 2008 11:22 AM
4

I bet one of them as aspirations to become the next ECB!

Quick, Erica, offer them internships! Secure your legacy!

Posted by Dave | July 31, 2008 11:26 AM
5

wow, what a great Mom, teaching her kids to wish death upon people they don't like.

Posted by Bud Dickman | July 31, 2008 11:27 AM
6

She's a fucking liar, and you're a sucker for believing her.

Posted by Mr. Poe | July 31, 2008 11:28 AM
7

Those poor, disturbed little girls are the exact same sort of messed up as the religiously brainwashed kids in "Jesus Camp".

Posted by Just Sayin' | July 31, 2008 11:29 AM
8

Maybe this is why Sound Transit chose a local artist who actually lived in Seattle to design the art for the UW station ...

Bygones.

Looking forward to the Fake Fur exhibit at the soon-to-be-torn-down ST station on Capitol Hill.

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 31, 2008 11:29 AM
9

I bet as soon as these kids fall down a well, or something, they'll be all, "Wah, wah! Help us Blue Angels!" And the Blue Angels'll be all, "No way, now we're gonna piss burning jet fuel down the well on your face you emo fags LOL!"

Posted by Ziggity | July 31, 2008 11:30 AM
10

Let's make the same sign for next year's pride parade.

Posted by and watch Savage freak out | July 31, 2008 11:32 AM
11

The lyrics are "...beauty they possess inside", Dan. I'm sorry...I couldn't help it. :) But anyway, what kind of mother condones her kids wishing death on anyone? It was nice of you not to post her kids' faces, because they don't know any better (good job, Mom!) and there's still hope for them. But you should have posted hers.

Posted by DanFan | July 31, 2008 11:32 AM
12

Hi. I haven't been back in a while.

I find myself strangely neutral on the Blue Angels this year. Maybe I'm just so tired of the inevitable griping and infighting that results everytime they take flight that I just don't want to care because taking either side will lead nowhere.

Posted by Gomez | July 31, 2008 11:32 AM
13

I don't think one should wish death on anyone.

Posted by Balt-O-Matt | July 31, 2008 11:32 AM
14

capitol hill/CD is the new laurelhurst (looking at you schmader)....

Posted by chet | July 31, 2008 11:34 AM
15

Jumped the gun posting before mentioning that I find the infighting and griping far more annoying than the roar of the Blue Angels overhead.

Posted by Gomez | July 31, 2008 11:35 AM
16

Clearly, the mother is a liar. No kid comes up with this kind of opposition to abstract ideas like fuel consumption/decibel levels without overhearing mommy and daddy (or mommy #2) argue.

Posted by Gary Seven | July 31, 2008 11:35 AM
17

I DO think you should wish death on some people, but not mildly annoying pilots flying over heavily populated areas.

Posted by Fnarf | July 31, 2008 11:38 AM
18

COMMENT DELETED: Off-Topic and Rude

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Non | July 31, 2008 11:38 AM
19

I'm sure this mom, unemployed and living off daddy or 2nd mommies income goes to those massive 20 people anti-war protests that march downtown from time to time, shrieking "violence isn't the answer"

#7- spot on

#9- fuckin funny

Posted by Bud Dickman | July 31, 2008 11:39 AM
20

COMMENT DELETED: Off-Topic and Rude

We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Non | July 31, 2008 11:40 AM
21

So it's o.k. to hope these kids die in a plane crash, yeah?

Posted by Concerned Liberal | July 31, 2008 11:42 AM
22

yes - we should not wish death on anyone - except those with whom we go to war - but not the blue angels - they are only a symbolic representative of our death, I mean war, machines - the blue angels are way cool.
And yes - we are at war - so these kids and their mother are all traitors - who need to be put to death - not that any of us should wish that on anyone - but they are traitors.

Posted by Confused Reader | July 31, 2008 11:42 AM
23

yes - we should not wish death on anyone - except those with whom we go to war - but not the blue angels - they are only a symbolic representative of our death, I mean war, machines - the blue angels are way cool.
And yes - we are at war - so these kids and their mother are all traitors - who need to be put to death - not that any of us should wish that on anyone - but they are traitors.

Posted by Confused Reader | July 31, 2008 11:42 AM
24

My poor cat won't stop stalking about the house and scurrying away in fright every five minutes because his walnut brain only allows him to understand that the dulcet sounds of sky-rape are probably coming from the biggest, scariest fucking monster in the world. Then again, maybe his interpretation is not too far removed from the truth.

Posted by Andrew J. | July 31, 2008 11:44 AM
25

The Blue Angels gave my dog paralysis.

Posted by Meagan | July 31, 2008 11:50 AM
26

@24

ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Posted by Andrew Lame | July 31, 2008 11:50 AM
27

@17: Fnarf, for the most part they are flying over the lake and the bridge, hence the closures, when they actually do maneuvers. I don't see how this is any more dangerous than all of the airliners flying constantly over downtown towards SeaTac. And as for the performances for the boat-people on the lake? They're taking their chances, they went willingly. So, I don't mind if a plane plows through a bunch of those boats during SeaFair this weekend. The same thing could happen with an errant jet boat during the races.

Posted by pragmatic | July 31, 2008 11:52 AM
28

Jesus, once a year some jets fly low over the city. Let it go! It's not always about YOU.

Posted by monkey | July 31, 2008 11:56 AM
29

If I ever have kids, and they make a sign like that, I'll give them a big hug. I think that's hilarious.

Posted by superyeadon | July 31, 2008 11:57 AM
30

@27.....ever been to the CD? it's sweet.

Posted by chet | July 31, 2008 11:57 AM
31

@10
The Blue Angels are gay?

Posted by Sad Comment | July 31, 2008 12:00 PM
32

Wow, Non @18, 20: you're an asshole. Moderators?

Posted by Fnarf | July 31, 2008 12:02 PM
33

I wish car crashes and death on that liberal capitol hill mother.

Posted by suckit | July 31, 2008 12:05 PM
34

Come on, that's what parachutes are for! You can hope the jets crash in the lake without feeling any guilt.

Posted by chris | July 31, 2008 12:05 PM
35

Fnarf @ 32 beat me to it. Non, it wasn't worth posting twice.

Posted by Matt from Denver | July 31, 2008 12:08 PM
36

It wasn't worth posting once.

Posted by Fnarf | July 31, 2008 12:09 PM
37

What Fnarf @32 and Matt @35 said, except that it wasn't worth posting once.

Posted by lostboy | July 31, 2008 12:10 PM
38

@30 chet, yes I have. Last year I was at the park in the CD,at Judkins Park ,and could see them from there.

Posted by pragmatic | July 31, 2008 12:10 PM
39

It isn't a true protest until there are imported "youth" protesters from Vashon, Bremerton and Bellingham.

... oh yea... and no Free Mumia sign = I ignore you.

Posted by crk on bellevue ave | July 31, 2008 12:13 PM
40

@31,

I'm sure there are a lot of people here who wish they were.

Posted by keshmeshi | July 31, 2008 12:14 PM
41

Non works for The Stranger.

Posted by someone | July 31, 2008 12:16 PM
42

...Can anyone confirm that the pilots occasionally fly in the nude - or does a pressurized body suit prevent inverted body parts? The Blue Angels are part of our "bread and circuses" mentality and help us disremember 20-cent plastic bags, pit bulls and the heartbreak of Heath Ledger.

Posted by RHETT ORACLE | July 31, 2008 12:16 PM
43

way to respect her wishes, dan.

kids say the darndest things.

Posted by max solomon | July 31, 2008 12:17 PM
44

My sainted momma raised me just fine, but I gotta admit that would also love to see those planes crash and burn. I watch them out my window hoping for the biggest possible fireball. Ka-BOOM! But then, I'm just a kid at heart.

Posted by Gurldoggie | July 31, 2008 12:22 PM
45

@36, agreed, but haven't you posted stuff in that vein? Like, about Will in Seattle?

Posted by Matt from Denver | July 31, 2008 12:23 PM
46

"Die Die Crash"?

Lovely.

Posted by John | July 31, 2008 12:24 PM
47

@28
Try explaining that to all the elderly people and pets who think it's the end of the world for four straight days every summer. My pets need to be tranquilized for the duration so their heads don't explode.

Posted by blue barberpole | July 31, 2008 12:28 PM
48

Sorry, as annoying as the occasionally unnerving fly-bye can be, planes are still cool as shit. Since fighter jets probably shouldn't be flying over the city, and it's freaking your dog out, stop and think about why you have own a fucking dog in the city. You might come up with a good reason, but so could a blue angels fan.

Posted by Dougsf | July 31, 2008 12:32 PM
49

Glad do see you back, Gomez. Non - yup, that's a well chosen monicker, indeed.

@27, that's not really the case - the Blue Angels fly over lots of neighborhoods (and quite low!), and do maneuvers that bring their wingtips within 2 feet of each other at close to 600 MPH. That's a whole different kettle of fish than a jetliner on a slow steady path toward SeaTac or Boeing Field (though there is certainly some level of risk in that, as well - just orders of magnitude less).

I like watching the Blue Angels, though, and would prefer they not die while flying over Seattle.

And to get back on topic, that's some nice parenting, there. Even if the sign was the kids' idea, mom really ought to let them know that wishing death on people is not appropriate behavior.

Posted by Mr. X | July 31, 2008 12:39 PM
50

I love the Blue Angels, but doesn't anyone think these signs are the least bit funny?

Anyway, I'd have to say from the hand-eye coordination evident in these photos that these children are between 4 and 8. If you let your 8 year old walk the streets holding these signs, you are an asshole, and you should be widely blogged.

Posted by moobs | July 31, 2008 12:42 PM
51

In case anybody missed it, I called Gomez a self-hating jerk.

GOMEZ IS A FUCKING SELF HATING JERK

gomez is a fat chink jerk!!!!!!!

Is it time to register usernames yet?

Posted by Non | July 31, 2008 12:46 PM
52

@5:

But, isn't that exactly what an F-18 is designed for?

Posted by COMTE | July 31, 2008 12:57 PM
53

@51,

Nice way to make a point on user registration, halfwit.

And no, I don't support user registration, even for loathsome racist morons like you.

Posted by Mr. X | July 31, 2008 12:59 PM
54

@45: yes, of course. But Will in Seattle is asking for it. All Gomez did was say "Hi". and I've never attacked Will's race or sexual orientation.

Posted by Fnarf | July 31, 2008 1:01 PM
55

Mr. Poe @6 is right.

Ziggity @9 made me spit out pork chop laughing.

And those little brats with the sign would sing a different tune if they saw those pilots naked in the locker room at Washington Athletic Club. Holy. Fucking. Shit. My ass started to gulp air when I saw that...

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | July 31, 2008 1:02 PM
56

@54 - that's because we have the same race and sexual orientation, Fnarf. If I was a transgender MTF Inuit-Mexican I shudder to think what you might say ...

That said, as I type this, the next office over has a small kid brought in by his scientist mom to watch the awesome view of the Blue Angels from our windows ... and he's thinking he hears them when there's nothing to hear yet ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 31, 2008 1:07 PM
57

COMTE @52:

But, isn't that [wish death upon people they don't like, @5] exactly what an F-18 is designed for?

Yes, COMTE, because all the engineers and designers and officers who came up with the F-18 are exactly as shallow and unthinking as our president.  9_9

Posted by lostboy | July 31, 2008 1:12 PM
58

@55

Seen it. I agree. 100%.
(It seems we go to the same gym...)

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | July 31, 2008 1:21 PM
59

Who wants to make bets that these kids will go to SCCC or possibly Western?

Posted by Bellevue Ave | July 31, 2008 1:39 PM
60

At least the smoke trails are going over Bellevue's towers right now - seems fitting.

Maybe they'll serve instead of swerve ... nah.

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 31, 2008 1:39 PM
61

Okay .... 60 comments later. What's the score? Who won here? What have we learned?

Posted by superyeadon | July 31, 2008 1:47 PM
62

Bellevue Ave @59, my girlfriend graduated from Western, you insensitive clod!

Posted by lostboy | July 31, 2008 1:50 PM
63

superyeadon @61, in a Blue Angels gripefest, the only winning move is not to play.

Posted by lostboy | July 31, 2008 1:52 PM
64

Blue Angels are awesome. I'd love to go that fast and bank like that in something designed to go that fast and bank like that. No four way stops, no tray table, nothing but throttle. Jealous as all hell.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | July 31, 2008 1:56 PM
65

i spoke with some kiddos a bit ago--they were holding light sabers--and they dug the angels.

personally i love it when the show hits us each year. awesome flying.

Posted by Harry Callahan | July 31, 2008 2:18 PM
66

Lostboy, shes got some mental tenacity because most people only attend western, they never graduate.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | July 31, 2008 2:20 PM
67

I'm constantly mystified as to how the right wing media gets away with portraying leftists as anti-military, anti-american and unpatriotic? How do they get away with it? Why does the public keep buying it?

Posted by Luke Baggins | July 31, 2008 2:27 PM
68

Replace "Blue Angels" with some ethnic slur on that sign and how many parents would let their kids march around the neighborhood with it?

Posted by Luke Baggins | July 31, 2008 2:34 PM
69

sorry, nobody for the win. we're all pretty lame, FWIW.

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 31, 2008 2:44 PM
70

@57:

Are you attempting to imply the people who designed and built the F-18 DIDN'T understand it's intended use?

Now, THAT would indeed be pretty "shallow and unthinking" on their part.

Posted by COMTE | July 31, 2008 2:53 PM
71

By "kids" Dan is referring to his own Kid and Terry and by "Capitol Hill liberal mom" he means Keck...

Posted by michael strangeways | July 31, 2008 3:12 PM
72

COMTE @70, I was implying that it's shallow and asinine to suggest that the point of an F-18 is to "wish death upon people they don't like."*

Maybe you meant it in jest and I overreacted.  I admit I'm jaded enough by the shrillest gripers that it's hard to tell.

*(The quote is referenced by COMTE @52 but originated with Bud Dickman @5.)

Posted by lostboy | July 31, 2008 3:18 PM
73

I can't believe it took more than 70 comments to see these quotes:

a) Freedom isn't free

b) That's the sound of freedom

c) U-S-A! U-S-A!

d) This is our country.

Come on people, it's like you're not even *practicing* for the Olympics!

Posted by Jason | July 31, 2008 4:08 PM
74

Ka-BOOM!

Posted by Gurldoggie | July 31, 2008 4:16 PM
75

America. Fuck yeah?

Posted by Shuyler | July 31, 2008 4:30 PM
76

@55 and @58 I am so jealous you got to see them in all their naked glory. Were they totally built? Did you see Captain Dunkelberger?

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/off_15.htm

Or, perhaps, Lt. Commander Lambert?

http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/off_13.htm

Sorry, momentarily distracted, didn't mean to interrupt the debate, carry on...

Posted by PopTart | July 31, 2008 4:48 PM
77

ahahahaha! i want to adopt those kids.

Posted by poppy | July 31, 2008 6:51 PM
78

@72, what do you think the point of an f-18 is? i'm pretty sure the only use for those things is killing as many brown people as possible. well, i guess some maiming too.

Posted by tacofest | July 31, 2008 6:57 PM
79

Actually... I saw Lt. Commander Lambert snap Captain Dunkelberger on the ass with a towel on their way out of the showers...

;-)

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | July 31, 2008 7:27 PM
80

hi im ten and my little sister is nine we were the ones who made the sign we made it because there scare all the animals and there so loud and they represent the war and they drop bombs on other countries

Posted by mazie | July 31, 2008 9:42 PM
81

After I stopped laughing, I realized that it's not *actually* appropriate to wish death on the Blue Angels.

I don't want them to die. I want them to go away. It's a waste--of everything. The inconvenience factor is also a waste. The pet trauma factor is sad.

So--kids, wishing death is bad. Find an awesome kid way to make your point that doesn't undermine it.

Posted by MJ | July 31, 2008 10:12 PM
82

@78,

Not that they aren't super duper expensive killing machines or anything, but I do think the F-18 was actually conceived way back when the Soviets were still our nominal threat (albeit at a time when the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R. were duking it out indirectly by killing each other's brown allies).

Posted by Mr. X | July 31, 2008 11:37 PM
83

Actually... I saw Lt. Commander Lambert snap Captain Dunkelberger on the ass with a towel on their way out of the showers...

;-)

Posted by You_Gotta_Be_Kidding_Me | August 1, 2008 2:15 AM
84

I think wishing death on people is pretty lame.

However, if y'all were interested in my take on the Ble Angels, here's my blog post: Terrorism Season

Posted by t4toby | August 1, 2008 9:42 AM
85

Ble Angels. LOLzers.

Posted by t4toby | August 1, 2008 9:46 AM
86

the F-18 was designed in the 70s, functions as an all purpose fighter jet. Sure it bombs brown people but primarily at things like SAM sites and radar stations. Hardly the innocent brown people that people claim are affected by this jet.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | August 1, 2008 10:12 AM
87

I don't think these children have experienced a Blue Angels show. Funny thing is how quickly abstract hatred turns into love once the observer meets reality. These children will be enthralled!

Posted by Bob L | August 1, 2008 1:34 PM
88

I heard $50,000 worth of fuel per show. I can think of better ways to spend that. Then again, the military might get some recruits by impressing people -- though I am certainly not impressed, but I'm not bored looking for anything to distract me from a miserable life of working, reality tv and boozing.

Posted by erik | August 1, 2008 2:16 PM
89

What a luxury for us to hear the scream of air fighters and call it "enthralling", "cool", "wild". Rest assured there are others in the world who hear that sound and instinctively shit in their pants.

Posted by natwani man | August 1, 2008 2:43 PM
90

LOL!
Pretty funny, even tho I need to insert a tsk-tsky Seattle lib finger wag for the whole death wish thing.
But still, c'mon, who has NOT wished they could score a Stinger and waste those bastards? Maybe the deaf or those who have their heads filled with patriotic oom-pah music have never been rattled to verge of a death-wish, but the rest of us, patriotic or not, sure have. I've spent 36 years listening to these public nuisances waste tax dollars over my city, and would love another petition to shut them down with, if even for a little while.

Posted by JMR | August 1, 2008 6:15 PM
91

I live in Genesee Park neighborhood, right under the flight path, near to the hydroplane "pits" (exactly) and ensuing chaos. Let me say this: Girls, I could NOT have said it better myself.

Fuck you ridiculous flag-waver types who are criticizing their simple, yet spot on message. The Blue Devils are a blight,and an obscene waste of resources.

You live under it for awhile and see if you enjoy all the redneck bullshit trash it attracts to your neighborhood, not to mention the noise, air, and mind pollution it creates. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Posted by You Don't Have A Clue | August 2, 2008 3:55 PM
92

Why don't all of you "Angel Haters" go down to Freemont, buy a huge bag of "BC BUD" and take your VW Vanagon down to Oregon and camp for the weekend. While your at it you can drag your pets along for the ride.

Posted by Scrammy | August 3, 2008 10:27 PM

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