Style is Sometimes What You Don't Do

[akirlu]

We went over to the Seattle side of the lake tonight to re-see The Illusionist, at the Crest. On the way over the SR-520 bridge we noticed that much of Madison Park is still pitch black, even while over on the Laurelhurst side of the bridge, the power was on and the festive holiday lights were twinkling. Even the parade of Christmas-decorated yachts and tour boats was out, shining and twinkling and partying to beat heck. It did seem like a tweak, though, at the dark, huddled masses of Madison Park. On the way home, we noticed that Medina was still dark, too. Except for one house. Yes, that house. I guess it's not just a matter of having the money to throw at problems, but also of knowing when and how to throw it, but Bill Gates is the only one among his wealthy Medina neighbors with the wit to have a backup generator installed. Unlike the folks in the boats, though, he also had the good grace to leave his Christmas display turned off.

Comments

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I won't kick Gates in the teeth for having a generator.
Being a billionaire is not a requirement for owning one (even Wal-mart let's you do that).

Exactly

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"Being a billionaire is not a requirement for owning one (even Wal-mart let's you do that)."

...which is why it's something of a mystery why all the millionaires on that same shoreline haven't gotten generators of their own.

Which was the point.

In fact, you don't even have to buy a generator, but rent one for the duration. When we were walking around Redmond on Friday (The Day All Power Was Gone), there was a place that does agricultural and other rentals, and they had stacks of generators sitting idle. (Notably, you'd think the gas station across the street might have rented one to run their pumps and make a killing by being the only working gas station for miles... but, hey, that assumes markets are rational.)

Lights Out!

[ladyjestocost.livejournal.com]

I'd be rather appalled if he didn't have the wits to install a generator. I'd think he has important security stuff to keep running.

Madison Park is probably having extra problems because of the flooding.

Re: Lights Out!

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"I'd be rather appalled if he didn't have the wits to install a generator."

That's not so much the point, as that no one else along that shoreline (it seems) has their wits about them as much as he does.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Does he have a Christmas display?

Twinkle

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"Does he have a Christmas display?"

Yes.

It's relatively low-key, and he didn't used to have one. But the kids are between 10 and 4, and it started a few years ago. You can only see it from the lake, because of the layout of the house. It's generally of the lots-of-tivoli-lights variety -- not much blinking or other colors.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, just a bunch of white lights in the trees and running along the peripheries of various terraces of the house, but there is definitely a noticeable increase in festive lighting chez Gates at this time of year.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Don't be silly. If he were worried about the 'three on a match' problem, he wouldn't be showing any lights toward the water at all. If he were worrying about being a target, being absolutely the only house on that darkened shore showing any lights at all would do that, all by itself.

[bedii.livejournal.com]

I knew a kayak fan that was rowing along the shore out there one day and saw a family picnic going on. Suddenly a bunch of really big guys swooped down on the family and hauled them away from the water. He kept rowing and trying to figure out if he should try to get the cops on his cell phone and report a suspected kidnapping when he realized that it was the Gates mansion and the security team had decided he was rowing too close to the shore for comfort. He felt guilty for years over that.