[link|http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/89179_ports30.shtml|Ports locked them out again after a few hours.]

Yesterday, when a mechanic started moving around the cranes for servicing (he wasn't loading anything) the union members stormed the gates in protest, not knowing what was going on. If they bring in actual scabs, things are going to get UGLY.

On a side note, Seattle is now FUCKED. Our economy depends on the following:

1. Boeing
2. Tourism
3. High-tech software companies
4. Timber
5. Salmon
6. Shipping

1 - Boeing's on their way out.
2 - Tourism since 9/11/01? Hah.
3 - .gone
4 - There's not much left to cut.
5 - All that cutting that got rid of the timber killed most of the salmon, now the dams are killin' the rest.
6 - I think you know. ;)

I am VERY thankful that my wife and I both are currently in recession-proof jobs - my job is part of a much more long-term economy than many people's jobs are (business plans in the industry are 15-20 years, rather than next week) and my wife's job becomes more secure the worse the economy gets.

My job is with a company that does medical research peer review. We're also doing remarkably well in the field - it's an ooooollld field with lotsa stodgy crufty business practices - and we're now the 2nd largest company in the whole industry, basically by doing our job instead of watching out for profits - which, oddly enough, has given us record profits as well, as other companies have started using us due to our much streamlined practices. The peer review section isn't streamlined - just the part where we line all the paperwork up for peer review. Also, since medical research takes 10-20 years to complete, it tends to avoid all the ups 'n downs of the market. It does have it's own cycle - but business has continued to increase througout the entire economic downturn for us.

As for my wife, she's a Child Mental Health specialist for "medical coupon" kids - the severely mentally ill child population that doesn't have any money. Y'know, the kids that were raped by three of mommy's boyfriends and now go around burning down churches? The ones that our state legally HAS to do something about or else get sued for 10x the amount of what it costs to hire her, PER CHILD? ;)

In her case, we fear good times, not bad.