Thursday, September 20, 2007

Every Neighborhood Should Have Its Own, Dedicated S.L.U.T.

Oh, this is going to be fun! Seattle has its own working girl. Officially, it's the South Lake Union Streetcar. But in the neighborhood where the new line runs, it's called the South Lake Union Trolley or, the SLUT. At Kapow! Coffee, a shop in the old Cascade neighborhood, 100 T-shirts bearing the words "Ride the SLUT" sold out in days, and another 100 are on order. "We're welcoming the SLUT into the neighborhood," said Jerry Johnson, 29, a part-time barista.

Some claim _ incorrectly, according to representatives of Vulcan Inc., the company that is developing the area _ that South Lake Union Trolley was the original name and that it was changed when officials belatedly realized the acronym. Resentment over changes in the old working-class neighborhood has created numerous acronyms like: S.L.U.T.: Stupid Little Unneeded Trolley. I'd much rather ride the SLUT than the FART (Foothill Area Rapid Transit).

How much did the SLUT cost? Work on the $50.5 million light-rail line in Seattle has almost been completed for what officials call the South Lake Union Streetcar (SLUS), but locals have taken to using the word “Trolley”. According to seattlepi.com, more than 100 people have brought “Ride the S.L.U.T” t-shirts from one coffee shop. And if you want one of these collectible RIDE THE SLUT t-shirts, you could go to Kapow! Coffee or try this e-mail link: slutshirt@hotmail.com.

The t-shirt’s creator, Jerry Johnson, said that the project had caused a lot of problems, but the acronym made it all worthwhile. "We can't wait to have the SLUT.” Seattle transport officials denied calling the service a “streetcar” to avoid the acronym. Local TV news isn't saying the word "slut" in their stories on this topic. The talking heads actually spell the word "S-L-U-T" out instead of saying the word "slut".


So, what do people in South Lake Union think of their new S.L.U.T.? Word of the South Lake Union Trolley's (sorry -- "Streetcar's") unfortunate nickname spread quickly online all around the country, turning the local blunder into a national punchline. And the residents of Seattle are laughing! Even Raven of Raven's Gallery Erotica could not stop laughing. "I'm so honored that they named the system after me," she said with a chuckle. "That's funnier "That's funnier than hell." Watch the video for more and sorry abbout how this looks in your browser!



Here in LA we've got the Bimbo. Now if we can get the SLUT to hook up with the BART and have an offspring we could get transportation worth a damn. Hmmm.....