Toyota Delays Prius Production

Toyota’s expanded Prius line debut is expected to be delayed due to issues obtaining parts due to the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Weekend Links

LOCAL:

1. King County (Seattle) has seen a slight uptick in the unemployment rate from Feb to Mar. As goes King County, so goes the rest of the state.  Since our region was probably hit last in the “Great Recession” we’ll also probably be last to feel the slow economic recovery. Overall, the unemployment rate has improved slightly over the past year.

2. The Washington State Legislature has tried in vain for several years to raise taxes on us but have failed miserably every time as residents have defeated legislation efforts with initiative. But I think Olympia has finally found a way to raise some tax revenue that won’t upset the residents too much. They are going after the Canadians.

3. While this news is terribly surprising to me, the man arrested for attempting to bomb the MLK Day parade in Spokane earlier this year has ad links to a white supremacist group. Kevin William Harpham, a former Fort Lewis soldier, has been arrested by authorities in Spokane and has been linked to the Neo-Nazi group, the National Alliance.

Japan Rocked by Massive Earthquake and Tsunami

Massive quake and tsunami hits Japan. First estimates have the quake measured at 8.9 on the Richter scale, which would make it the 7th largest since we have begun recording quake strength about 60 years ago.

My family and I spent 3.5 years in Japan, stationed at a base outside Tokyo.  We still have friends living in the area. So far, all reports have them safe and sound.

The videos of the tsunami are awesome, however we must temper our awe with the fact that there could very well be people in those houses and cars we see being pushed along by the wave.  Japan is probably one of the best prepared nations for this sort of thing, but nothing can prepare you for when everything you have is rip right off its foundation.

If you are the type that prays, please pray for the people of Japan, especially the rescue workers and the Japanese military who will also be involved with the rescue efforts.