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Ray and I were talking yesterday about what has been going on in Seattle recently. In particular, there have been multiple shootings and homicides, among other mayhem, along the route that he normally drives to and from his athletic club near Pike Place Market downtown. I write about it here: https://rushbabe49.com/2026/09/07/seattle-today/
I know that his Maps app always lays out the fastest route, even when he is not remotely time-pressured, and he is conditioned to always look for the fastest way, even when not necessary. His Maps often routes him down surface streets and back roads when it judges that the route is faster than the freeway, and he mostly just does what it tells him to do.
So it occurred to me that there may be another way of laying out a route from point A to point B: That instead of being the quickest way, it might be the safest way. I don't know if it's possible, but you ought to be able to tell the Maps where there have been shootings or street takeovers within the last 3-4 hours, so it can route you around those spots to avoid being an "innocent bystander" and getting shot.
Yesterday, he even broached the subject of changing clubs to one in Bellevue that is not quite in such a dangerous spot, but it is more expensive and would require him to find a new set of "squash buddies." Just the fact that he brought it up is unusual, but there's no question Seattle is getting more dangerous by the day, with its totally inept Socialist mayor and King County's borderline-evil Muslim Executive, Girmay Zahilay. You probably heard about the "Bite of Seattle" shooting back in July, and there are still gang members who are at large from that shooting. The citizen press is full of newly released text messages from police and politicians from that day, and their total inability to handle the situation is a big concern.
So, have any of you considered setting up "safest" rather than "fastest routes around your town?
Discussion (58)
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All I know is the system in the Hyundai always plots out longer routes than are necessary, even in low traffic areas. (Not to mention low violence areas.)
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If he uses Waze, Waze always takes you the fastest route, even if it is through an active war zone or radiation hazard area. Google bought Waze, so Waze is slowly deteriorating and Google Maps is slowly improving. Can't completely outsource thought or decision making.
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My youngest daughter (aged 20) spent the Summer working in Vancouver on a student visa. She and her friends drove to Seattle for a couple of days. She said that Vancouver had weirdos (mostly “Fentys”), who were generally harmless. She thought Seattle was a beautiful city, but full of scary “freaks”.
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Ahhh, sounds like you want a version of Rush's "avoid ghetto" GPS. I know you remember that bit.
I have my own version, I call it "avoid Durham, NC at all costs."
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Waze shows the cops.
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