Thursday, July 17, 2008

Kind of Blue

Kind of Blue

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

You remember that old blues song, "It Takes a Worried Man to Sing a Worried Song" which ends in the line, "I know what a worried mind can be"? Well Seattle's home town bank, the sixth largest in the nation, is singing a blues all its own right now. Washington Mutual has built two distinctive high rises on the Seattle skyline in the past 20 years. This is the new WaMu Center at twilight reflecting the incandescent blue sky around it. WaMu recently announced layoffs of thousands of employees, and because of further plunging stock prices last week bringing year long losses to over 90%, its customers have become a bit anxious, some moving accounts this week, and others shuffling funds to make sure they are not over the FDIC insured amount per account. A friend mentioned that bank clerks were remaining super cheerful and helpful despite their trademarked Whoo hoo! turning to Boo hoo!

21 comments:

Marie Reed said...

This is postcard perfect!

Marcel said...

This news was on NPR yesterday. I feel for the employees.

Virginia said...

I love your photo today, Kim. The whole cityscape seems to be sparkling. Sad news about your bank. I think banks all over the US are singing that song!

Sally said...

Blooooo moon.....gorgeous shads.
Here’s what happens when you wait a couple of hours to see the pope pass by…
Sydney Daily Photo

Pat said...

Beautiful story, but a sad story. There's a lot of bank unrest, from what I read.

jonb (juan grande) said...

I'm staring at the WaMu center from my desk this very second. It is my favorite new(er)-build in Seattle. I love it's reflective qualities that pick up the surrounding colors--mostly the sky, as you've successfully captured here.

Here's my view of it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juangrande/2439730964/

M. CHRISTOPHE said...

Stunning colors !

Olivier said...

la couleur, l'immeuble est superbe, cela me fait penser a un reflet. superbe et bravo.

colour, the building is beautiful, it makes me think of a mirror. superb and Bravo.

Phil_O'Logus said...

A spectacular image! By the way, I left a little something for you in my blog entry today...

Katie said...

Stunning photo! I have a checking account with WaMu, but I'm not about to move my money. I too feel bad for all the people getting pink slips. Now to check out your archive since this is my first visit!

• Eliane • said...

Gorgeous picture!! You make the bankers blues look so good!

Chuck Pefley said...

Nicely captured, Kim, with no convergence. Boy! Blue is right for that bank!! Gluttony comes to mind.

Trust you're doing ok ...

Maria Verivaki said...

we hear all about the US banking crisis on our news all the time. i wonder what will happen to businesses like this in the future - do banks close down?!?

Federkissen said...

Really impressing!

Abby said...

Kim, about the SLC blogs - it probably just boils down to the three of us being more or less unaware (sad though it is) of each other. When I started mine, I hadn't found Eric's yet. I'm willing to bet it happened more or less the same way with the third blog, too. Maybe I should give my name makeover. . .

J.C. said...

Beautiful structure but rather saddening to learn about the plight of its employees. And I am proud of those bank clerks who can still stay positive and focus on their jobs! Pls pass my words to them!

CrazyCow said...

Very sad story, but a beautiful picture.

Anonymous said...

That is a really good picture. What a shame though that they could spend all that money on those huge buildings but now can't pay their employees.

Jane Hards Photography said...

The same can be said of the UK economy, but we are still in denial.
Magnificent, rahpsody in blue over hite might become a white elephant.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful capture. It does look like an advertising postcard. MB

Chow Down Seattle said...

Beautiful picture!