Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NAKED BICYCLE RIDERS, A COOL PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCE, AND A BATTLING BRITISH MOTHER TAKING ON 10 DOWNING STREET


Hi again, yahoos and yahoo-ettes. Well, a weird week sort’ve got an early start, due in part to my propensity for spontaneous bus rides and impetuous debarkations. It’s usually pretty tame stuff like the aroma of a good restaurant, the faint strains of a talented street musician, the masts of a schooner moving through the Ship Canal, the kinds of things the inner child in me notices.

Well, this time that inner adolescent got the rest of me right in the middle of a bicycle race whose contestants were mostly nude, pretty much so or dressed in body paint and a couple layers of devout immodesty. This is Seattle, where it’s legal to go nude in our public parks. I’ve got to say, though, that in 20 years, I’ve never seen a naked person having a picnic or doing the dueling tennis balls bit.

Nope, it took blithely and innocently cruising into the annual
Fremont Solstice Festival Parade to give me my first glimpse of Seattle homo sapiens in public buff. If I didn’t love that inner child so much, I’d be tempted to give him a good spanking. I’m an orphan, though, so I’ve learned to be my own parent. That’s kind of like being self-employed and getting mad at the boss. Yep, I’ve got a few issues yet to work out.

That, however, doesn’t stop me from admiring someone who takes on a worthy cause and ramps it to the max.
This one involves a British mother with an autistic son whose campaign for more government support for families with kids like hers ended up with a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Hers is a very empowering personal example and a reminder of what a single dedicated individual can accomplish in this life. Her name is Polly Toomey and if you’d like to learn more about her and her organization, here’s a good place to start.

Someone else who really impressed me this week was President Obama. Because of the decidedly bipartisan nature of this blog’s readership and its internationalism, I try not to lean on politics too much. And since I’m not nearly as good as most journalists at analyzing the national scene, as it were, I’m better off boring you guys with different stuff.

I enjoyed the way the American chief executive interacted with the press Tuesday morning. In my opinion, he articulates his positions with intelligence, candor and perspective. He’s also not afraid to laugh at himself and that’s probably what keeps him taking his job more seriously than he takes himself.

He’s also not afraid to spar with reporters and to remind them of where the boundaries are between his personal/family life and his responsibilities as the leader of a nation of some 307-million people. Above and beyond any political considerations, this president is good theatre and that too, is a quality I’ve come to value in a leader.

Here’s another of those stories from the Old West and I can particularly relate because “this county that refuses to die” is familiar to me. And the ghosts of Captain Jack and a desperate band of Modoc Indians. It’s a land of volcanoes, high desert and soaring forested granite peaks. Settled by those who crossed America in Conestogas, it remains a sparsely inhabited frontier where tradition and ingenuity are now bringing an increasing degree of economic stability to one of the Northwest’s most beleaguered counties.

Further north up the Interstate Five corridor, in Snohomish County, Washington ~ north of Seattle between the Puget Sound and the Canadian border ~
farmers are getting into the tourism business by offering hands on excursions of family-owned dairy and truck operations. With both Seattle and Vancouver, BC to draw from, this agritourism, as they’re calling it, should play well for those who grew up among orchards, hay lofts and milking stools as well as those with a romantic love of same. It’s also an excellent opportunity for sell local produce directly and to acquire same. It looks like another win-win situation to us.

It also provides a nice segue into the first of this week’s critter story. And after you read about this one, I swear by Old MacDonald’s ghost and the Kentucky Colonel that you have never going to look at chickens in quite the same way again. For those of you to whom this would constitute a major dietary event, we advise skipping this one.

We’re talking about a white rooster and a Cornish game hen known to a local community as “Care Chickens” because the woman who owns them takes them to visit residents of the town’s health and rehabilitation center. This is northeastern Montana farming country, so it makes sense. Petting a rooster and a Cornish game hen, I mean. Okay, it seems a little weird but like Grandpa Seamus used to say, “if it’s working, do NOT mess with it.”

And finally, to top off the tank,
in a special to ABC News, Opinion writer Lee Dye asked the question, “Wouldn't it be handy if you could write yourself a note in midair and have it safely stored where you could retrieve it later?”

Ummm. No. In the first place, if I could read my own writing, I wouldn’t keyboard everything from a shopping list to another novel in progress. In the second place, how do I know that other people in the vicinity with similar phones couldn’t receive that note? Third, since I’m supposed to be a communications professional, how would I spell and grammar check such a missive?

Now just watch. Thanks to those researchers at Duke University and their "PhonePoint Pen", the next big rage will be air writing. Could be a boon to the air entertainment industry. Air guitars have been popular for quite awhile. If this triple-P threat could annotate music, I’ll bet it would catch on with air composers. And think about aspiring writers who never learned to type. In 20 years, they’ll be awarding a Pulitzer Prize for Air Literature. The applications of this new technology stagger the imagination. Where (oh where) is Grandpa Seamus when we need him now, eh? Sigh.

And on that note, folks, it’s been a pleasure and thanks once again for the ear. Take care, stay well and God Bless.

Rusty

P.S. Since next week’s both Canada Day (July 1) and American Independence Day and picnics are real popular, we thought we’d turn you on to a source of dynamite potato salad recipes. Cooking’s a hobby in this house and this is perhaps the best website we’ve found yet. It’s called
cooking.com.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND SEVEN CHIMPANZEES


Hi, again, folks. Well, depending on which side of the issue you’re on, it’s been either a really good past week for the homicidal fringe of the Pro Life Movement and the Brotherhood of Bigots or it’s been a week of sorrow and outrage for every decent human being on the face of the planet in reaction to the murders of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller and U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum guard Stephen T. Johns.

As far as the Northstar Journal is concerned, there is absolutely nothing to justify what happened in Wichita, Kansas and Washington, DC last week. We mourn for and with the families of the victims of these acts of domestic terrorism and whatever else it’s called, these two violent hate crimes are precisely that.

Domestic terrorism is not always about conspiracies, plots, cabals and coups. It can be, as it was in these two cases, the empowerment of a single individual ~ through hate speech; physical, emotional and philosophical support, and the silent sanctions of those who stand by and do nothing when wrongs are committed.

We’re not going to glorify either of the perpetrators of these acts by naming them. And however tempted, we are NOT evoking the
Code of Hammurabi (an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth) by asking that both of these individuals be hung from the nearest tree or lamp post and be left swinging long enough to make it a good day for buzzards.

And unfortunately, Hell doesn’t seem to be offering any guided tours so it’s highly unlikely we’ll get to watch these two damned souls roasting over a slow fire for eternity. We leave it to Lady Justice and a legal system which, however imperfect, is not likely to fail those who believe in it now and in these regards.

Lighten up, Rusty? Perhaps. But forgive? No. And forget? Well, that would be about as easy as one of us forgetting the bloodbath that was Ireland during The Troubles and the burning tires atrocities of apartheid in South Africa.

It would be, for another of us, never recalling the violence that was Vietnam, the Watts Riots, Peoples Park in Berkeley and other headline news of the Sixties and Seventies. And the genetic memories of The Masada, The Famine, Bolland’s Mill and Buchenwald.

For the third of us, it would be choosing not to remember three generations of Minnesota farmers from Germany and Switzerland, who live closer to Fargo than to Eden and him himself closing his heart to the Vietnamese refugees he’s helped acclimate to new homes in the Pacific Northwest.

In short, it ain’t gonna happen folks. Caring may not always be cost-effective or energy-efficient but it’s never NOT been cool. At least not in the America we believe in.

And speaking of compassion, twenty volunteers from Western Washington left last Saturday to drive ten refurbished emergency vehicles, including four police cars, three ambulances and a fire truck 3,000 miles to “our other border” and on into Mexico, where they’re being donated to small towns which need them.
There’s another real human element to this story so if you’re interested, check it out. They’re also going to be blogging their trip and I’ve got a feeling that’s going to be real interesting to follow.

And for the critter lovers among you ~ and from the emails and IMs we get, that seems to be a whole bunch of you ~
you’ll be delighted to know that there’s a town in Washington which has just conferred honorary citizenship on The Cle Elum Seven. Nope, not bears. Chimpanzees. As in chimps rescued from a medical research facility and brought to this rural Northwest community to heal. The ceremony marked the 36th birthday of Negra, the oldest of them.

We did receive, from a totally unreliable source, a tip that politics may have played a hand in this. It seems as though some in Cle Elum are not totally happy with the town council and are hoping that these seven honorary citizens will eventually become registered voters. I’m not quite sure whether that compliments the monkey or slanders the constituency. Not altogether sure I want to go there, either.

And under the category “truth in advertising,” we raise the Starbucks cup (Don’t wince, it’s symbolic) to Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability in partnership with
Solar Oregon, the Oregon Department of Energy, and Energy Trust of Oregon. for using federal funds to contract CH2M Hill to create a map of Oregon showing where solar power works best. Those DC dollars are available to other communities in the United States and the prototype’s up and working.

Well, that’s it for this week, yahoos and yahoo-ettes. It’s been a pleasure and we are honored by your society. You folks take care now, stay well and God Bless. See you next week, God willing and the crick don’t rise.

Rusty

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

THANKS TO DIGITAL TELEVISION, I GOT TO WATCH BONNIE HUNT CALL TONY DANZA A RAT BASTARD

Bonnie Hunt

Hi again, yahoos and yahoo-ettes. Well, technology can certainly be a wonderful thing, can’t it? In anticipation of this conversion to all digital on Friday, I cranked up the late birthday present I got from my brother Denny and lo and behold, I got to tune in Channel 5.2 in time to hear Bonnie Hunt call Tony Danza a rat bastard. Somehow that makes it all worth while. (Sigh) Ain’t life in America grand, folks?

Actually, with all due respect, I wasn’t the least bit shocked, nor would I have been in regular broadcast mode. I’m a fan of the
Bonnie Hunt Show and I may be one of the few who don’t remember her from any other ‘role’.

As the star of the Bonnie Hunt Show, she comes across very real to me. I like it that she’s a former nurse from the Midwest and continues to fight for cancer patients in a way now equally as appropriate.

I love that her production company is named after her mother and father and that her mom continues to be a mainstay of Bonnie’s professional life. In short, despite her celebrity, she comes across pretty much like the girls I grew up with. She’s working class Chicago Southside Irish and, as far as I’m concerned? That’s just about as Middle America as it gets off the farm.

She’s a nice looking lass and I’ve considered experiencing some of the films and television productions Ms. Hunt’s been involved with. I’m sure I’d be impressed. My friends are. But I think for now, I’ll forgo that. I can get Hollywood with an ease that is altogether too tempting, believe me. Good neighbors are not, at least in my experience, so easy to find.

Well, if this column had a GOOD NEWS - BAD NEWS DEPARTMENT, these next two would surely fall under that. On one hand,
the unemployment rate is going up. On the other hand, in my home state of Washington, they’re predicting that this Recession is coming to an end.

It seems to me that the economic landscape is still changing and while I appreciate the wisdom, generosity, and humanitarian enlightenment of these economic stimulus packages, I’m still looking for sustainable examples and they keep coming from weird places all over the four countries this blog seems to reach week after week. (You people have the patience of saints).

In Eugene, Oregon, they’ve discovered that if citizens increased its bicycle usage to half that of Amsterdam, “
the city would enjoy more than $212 million a year in local economic stimulus, an analysis of traffic cost data shows.”

As far as relevant statistics, the article was pretty much a washout. I couldn’t find out how many people in either Amsterdam or Eugene are currently using bicycles. What I appreciated was the breakdown on why bicycles are “greener” than fossil-fueled transportation. It’s a good solid argument for anyone seeking to implement those kinds of changes in either their own life or in the lives of their community.

There’s also an outfit in Idaho which is recycling bottles and providing incarcerated women with a second chance. As most of you know probably better than I do, hard times produce desperate behavior when feeding and providing for one’s own are concerned and that’s the approach the Idaho Department of Corrections Chief admits is working. According to
this article in Boise Weekly Overall, Idaho's prison chief is supportive of more workforce training for inmates.

"They are working their way back out," said Brent Reinke, director of IDOC.

I can remember a time when the only fit labour for the imprisoned was breaking rocks, building roads and making license plates. I’ve never seen a low recidivism rate behind that either. It’s encouraging to see another example of the system breaking stereotype and getting the drift that we’re all in this together. Those who can return to society deserve the chance. Those who cannot deserve the chance, nonetheless, to contribute. Staying where their flaws can’t hurt anyone but at least paying for their keep.

So yep, if those who predict this Recession is coming to an end are seeing things like this and counting them important, I’d say we’ve reason for guarded optimism. What’s cool about this and perhaps a little frightening is that for perhaps the first time ~ President Obama and Congressional generosity notwithstanding ~ it’s still up to us.

I remember this totally outstanding commercial on television with these big hands coming down and enfolding a house and family. I’m thinking we’ve learned not to depend so much on Allstate and a bit more on ourselves?

And finally, occasionally I come across a website so cool I just can’t help passing it along. If this column had a CUTTING THE STRESS DEPARTMENT, this would certainly fall into it. The medical community has known for years
that mental exercise ~ including and especially crossword puzzles, brain teasers, etc. ~ keeps the brain healthy and can postpone and sometimes prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. Do yourself and those who love you a favor and check this out. Arcamax.com.

Until next time, then, eh? Take care, stay well and God Bless. We’ll see you next week, if not before. And thanks for the ear.

Rusty

Thursday, June 4, 2009

CUTE SHARKS, LAUGHING BEARS AND A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR AMERICA'S WOMEN

British to train sharks to perform

Hi again, yahoos and yahoo-ettes. Nice to see you. We’re a couple of days late coming out this week and for that I do apologize. Northstar’s main computer crashed earlier in the week but thanks to a real dedicated technician (Nicholas) at RE PC here in Seattle and a couple of Metro bus drivers with an asbestos sense of humor, I had the unique experience of taking the computer for a green ride. During the hottest week of the year. I am sporting a tan and a profound appreciation for why this used computer chain has the outstanding reputation for customer service they do in this area.

Thanks to one of you, we also have the opportunity to weigh in on a bill that is particularly close to me because I know two women who died of breast cancer. Entitled The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act, it addresses “drive through” mastectomies and is designed to compel insurance companies to pay for a 48-hour hospital stay for this, among the most dramatic medical procedures the female of our species can undergo. Lifetime.com has an online petition supporting this legislation. It has in fact, in one form or another, been on the national women’s health care agenda for at least six years now. For more information and to register your support, please go here.

Well, I said last week that I loved the Australians for entertaining the world doing wonderfully weird things like rescuing drowning kangaroos from hungry sharks. Well, the good folks who brought us a ‘civilised’ Down Under to begin with have, in my opinion, topped that one.

According to The Daily Mail Online, The United Kingdom’s chain of aquariums, Sea Life Centres, are training sharks to take food from their keepers, roll over to have their bellies scratched, and otherwise entertain for the crowd. Apparently the attempt to do this has been going on for some while but they’ve come up with a new technique which U.S. research indicates should make these prehistoric submarine killing machines cute in about three months.

I might have known we had a hand in this somewhere. Only Yankee ingenuity could possibly come up with something this dumb. I think economic hard times must have something to do with it. Attendance at places like Sea World is probably down, right? So the feeling is, “Hey, lets show people that Jaws can actually be cute and entertaining. They’ll stampede to this show.” Yeah, right. Not on my flipping planet.

There’s got to be a conspiracy here with Geico and that room deordorizer outfit that uses a homemaker of one species and the “working hubby” of another to sell this little device that squirts aromatic mist into the room at set intervals. Has anyone ever smelled an octopus? There’s not a home deodorizer in the Universe that can mask the 'aroma' of one of those things.

Can you imagine living next door to a family of octopi around supper time? With the wind blowing in the wrong direction? You know what they eat, right? If not, you really don’t need to Google. It’s not information which is going to dramatically improve your looks, restore your hair or make you anymore politically astute than you already are.

The way I figure it, the Geico gecko at least had the benefit of being cute, polite and speaking with a cool accent. Having said that, with my luck, I’ll get two tickets to a Sea Life Centre and a tankside seat to the grand premier.

Tell you what. IF that happens, I’ll be selling them cheap. If I don’t get any takers, I’ll PAY someone to take them off my hands. As far as I’m concerned, the only way I’d ever consider a shark cute is if I was one. And then I’d probably be pretty particular about which of them I hung out with and stuff.

And yep, another bear made the news in the town of Issaquah, which is east of Seattle, across Lake Washington where the Cascade foothills begin. A lot of it is still heavily forested and for three years, a black bear has been co-existing with the local human population.

While familiarity may not always breed contempt, in some species, it does remove the fear of humans factor. And neighbors are getting tired of chasing this particular three-year-old female of that species out of their yards. I suspect that they’re also tired of that bear laughing at them and doing pretty much what it and thousands like it do anyway.

So when the State Wildlife folks came out to take care of the problem (trap and relocate), they held the bear in containment long enough to show it home videos of bears being hunted by dogs and humans firing guns at them.

It’s what’s called “a hard release” and it reminds me a little of those gory car accidents films we watched when I was learning how to drive. (Yep, back when the ignition key was a crank in front). Experts say this form of animal control has about an 85 percent success rate. I doubt seriously it’s because it scares bears, though. I think it’s just so painfully boring that NO self-respecting life form of any kind would voluntarily submit to that process again.

And finally for those who still insist that it always rains in Seattle and that our only real weather is soggy, check this out. We do, in fact, have a summer. Several of them. There’s a very private network of citizens who can actually predict with total accuracy when those bursts of sunshine and love will occur. And they’ll tell you. For a price. Have your people call my people and we’ll do lunch.

That’s it for this week, folks. Take care, stay well and once again, thanks for the ear.

Rusty