Hi again from the ramparts of the Bastion on the Puget Sound. In the wake of the child sex abuse scandals rocking the Catholic Church, we appreciate that the Pope is apologizing and that the Vatican is investigating.
That this public expression of regret is apparently falling on deaf ears in Ireland does not surprise us either. The shamrocks know their Bible and that according to the Gospel of Mark (10:13-16), Jesus has a special place in His heart for kids. This abuse of children has been going on for centuries in every nation in which there are Catholic clerics and very little has been done about it.
I wonder what the Carpenter of Nazareth must be thinking as He watches the papal hierarchy in action now. I’ve got a feeling He’s angrier than I am and I’m not exactly out there shooting hoops over this.
With all due respect to the Vatican, et al, this is not a religious issue to me nor does it even begin to impugn the integrity of the Catholic Church. This is about the abuse of kids, women and men.
We also feel that these new commercials touting the viability of the Catholic Church are an example of the worst blend of bad taste and lousy timing we have seen in some while. We’d strongly suggest that before it’s put back out there on the shelf for sale again, it at least be rendered safe for children.
We also welcome America into the fold, as it were, as the last of the industrialized nations in the world to bring universal health care to its citizens. A standing ovation goes out to the American Congress, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-California) for leading the charge. To see how this landmark legislation affects you (or would if you were an American), please go here. And for a comparison of national healthcare in other countries, check this out.
Take A Stand For Civility
Dear Rusty:
That this public expression of regret is apparently falling on deaf ears in Ireland does not surprise us either. The shamrocks know their Bible and that according to the Gospel of Mark (10:13-16), Jesus has a special place in His heart for kids. This abuse of children has been going on for centuries in every nation in which there are Catholic clerics and very little has been done about it.
I wonder what the Carpenter of Nazareth must be thinking as He watches the papal hierarchy in action now. I’ve got a feeling He’s angrier than I am and I’m not exactly out there shooting hoops over this.
With all due respect to the Vatican, et al, this is not a religious issue to me nor does it even begin to impugn the integrity of the Catholic Church. This is about the abuse of kids, women and men.
We also feel that these new commercials touting the viability of the Catholic Church are an example of the worst blend of bad taste and lousy timing we have seen in some while. We’d strongly suggest that before it’s put back out there on the shelf for sale again, it at least be rendered safe for children.
We also welcome America into the fold, as it were, as the last of the industrialized nations in the world to bring universal health care to its citizens. A standing ovation goes out to the American Congress, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-California) for leading the charge. To see how this landmark legislation affects you (or would if you were an American), please go here. And for a comparison of national healthcare in other countries, check this out.
Take A Stand For Civility
Dear Rusty:
You may have heard by now that over the weekend some opponents of health care reform used shocking racist and personal epithets against members of Congress who disagreed with their position and supported the bill.
Last Saturday, while Representatives filed through a House office building on their way to watch President Obama deliver a health care speech, some extremist protesters turned vicious. Civil rights legend and Georgia Congressman John Lewis was repeatedly called "ni**er" by the crowd, while fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Emanuel Cleaver was spat on. Longtime NAACP champion and openly gay Representative Barney Frank was called a "fa**ot." This is not only outrageous behavior -- it is un-American.
Stand with Representatives Cleaver, Lewis and Frank. Sign our Petition today and let it be known these outrageous personal attacks have no place in our nation's political discourse. Saturday's incident is just the latest evidence that a lack of civility is undermining our democratic process. Last August protesters painted a swastika on the district office of Georgia Representative David Scott. Later that fall Congressman Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie," as President Obama delivered a speech before the joint Houses of Congress. These sorts of outbursts serve only to bully our elected officials and undermine our democracy.
Like many of the hot-button political issues of our day, health care reform has inspired passion in supporters and opponents alike. Indeed, it is this passion that kept us determined to keep fighting for reform, even on the days when it looked like we might not win. While the NAACP respects the passions that inspire political movements of all kinds, we know that when civility breaks down, communities of color are often the first to be hurt.
Please, join me in signing the civility petition today. Stand alongside Representatives Cleaver, Lewis and Frank, and take a stand for civility in our political discourse.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Todd Jealous
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP
We bid a fond farewell this week to another of our favourite actors, America’s cultural reincarnation of frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, Fess Parker. The latter television series has been in reruns on RTV here in Seattle and what struck me about it, in addition to outstanding casting and other production values, was its portrayal of Native Americans and their relationship with white settlers with historical accuracy. Mr. Parker, despite his nearly 6’6”/1.98m stature, was not the dashing hero type, but played true to his own nature. He was a man of reason, compassion, gentility and conviction. He died last Thursday, on the birthday of his wife of 50 years, in their home in Santa Ynez, California. The Texas born Parker was 85. For an outstanding obituary, please go here. To learn more about a modest but true American hero, check this out. And for more about some of America’s other historical figures, yep, go here.
Under the “Good Because It’s Finally Out in the Open” category, people who abuse animals are also likely to do the same to human beings so, according to New York Times reporter Ian Urbina:
“Responding to growing evidence that people who abuse animals often go on to attack humans, states are increasing the penalties for animal cruelty and developing better methods for tracking convicted offenders.”
To learn more about this and what you personally can do to contribute to the protection of puppies, kittens, kids and other living creatures, please go here. And if you witness a case of animal cruelty, please do not stand by and just watch. At least call 911. This literally is a case of the life you save (up the road) might be your own.
MORE GOOD NEWS
This necessarily belongs in the “only in the Pacific Northwest” category and it runs contrary to the subtle campaign the Northstar Journal has been conducting to dry out Seattle’s reputation. So when a high school principal in Bellingham, the last big town before the Canadian border, says he’s going to cancel school if it doesn’t rain, I’m going like, “Cute. But this is NOT good press. Yep, check in out here.
Well, sometimes when I hang around the right people long enough, I actually learn something. Like what the number one source of greenhouse emissions on the planet is. It’s not a factory nor an 18-wheeler nor that wheezy VW bus with a head gasket about ready to blow. It’s cows. And I feel dumb because I was partly raised on a ranch and I’ve worked on one. But I’ve also marched in parades behind horses and I’ve got a headline for everyone who romanticizes about these particular noble beasts. They are NOT perfume factories. Neither are cows. However, I digress. From the same reader who tipped me off to this bio-environmental factoid also told me the nation’s largest dairy, located 160 miles east of Portland, Oregon is using cow ‘poop’ (this is a G-rated ezine, folks) to fuel a biodigester which converts manure and other organic waste into methane gas which can be used to power farm equipment and nearby homes. Yep, check it out here.
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
Being over 40 and looking for work has, in ironically more prosperous times, been a daunting prospect at best. Now, however, when employers are looking for the proverbial “more bang for the buck,” this is a perfect opportunity to present both experience and the energy and joy of life which characterize so many health and fitness conscious Baby and Post – Baby Boomers. If you’re not healthy and fit, this might also provide you with the means to become so. To learn more about this idea and how it works, please go here.
Sometimes, surviving hard times is also coming to a more realistic attitude about a major stressor and there’s a new book out now which could make a dramatic difference in the way toward the way women experience the passing of years. Despite major industries involved ~ cosmetic, fitness, elective surgery, to name three ~ the idea that women become less attractive as they grow older has also very likely contributed to more anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, etc. than any other single factor in a woman’s life except cancer and childbearing.
We also suspect that it has probably cost men just as much, if not more, than it has cost women, even in a nation historically known for its tolerance of a double standard. The book is entitled Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change. Read about it here and if you decide you’d like to purchase it online, you can buy it here. I especially recommend this to men. It’s time our gender took more responsibility for this.
We reported earlier about a new “cult” of people who are taking things they enjoy doing and are good at and making a living. The ninth in this series of 14 is as delightfully weird as its title is a quadruple entendre. This also falls under the heading of “ONLY in Toronto” and encourages us to go ahead and play with our food.
Okay, even for us, this is a stretch and maybe quoting the first several paragraphs isn’t going to help the cause either. But this is just too good not to share.
“It's an unusual Friday night at Grinder, a small coffee shop in Toronto. There's an alien in someone's cup, hearts in another and someone else sees their face in their mug.
"The cause of this madness is an event we created called "MEDIUM: Coffee -- Live Latte Art for Non-Latte Artists." We wanted to see what ordinary artists would do if we let them play with their food. "It was different," says Abra Dolman, a participating artist. "I can't say I've ever used coffee, espresso, or milk as a medium before."
"The winner in the final round, Stefan Berg, used syrup to draw a portrait of one of the judges, glasses and all. However, the newly-indoctrinated coffee artists aren't the only ones using food in unique ways. Whether for consumption, beauty, art, or hacking purposes, Maker Culture is meeting food everywhere.”
Yep, for the rest of it, go here
HEALTH NEWS
Physically fit people enjoy a better sex life than couch potatoes and stay erotically active for much longer according to a study by the University of Chicago published in the British Medical Journal. To read the story, please go here. And for the actual BMJ article itself, here’s that link. If you’re motivated to exercise more, check this one out and finally, grub your libido will totally love.
Ever get so stressed you feel like you’re really jammed up against it? Take a deep breath and check out you’re surroundings is the advice of Dr. Roberta Lee in her book The Superstress Solution. We have and what I’ve generally found is that the outside reflects the inside. If I’m real busy, jackets get tossed over chairs, used coffee cups appear magically on window ledges and desk top clutter takes on a total biosphere all its own. Perhaps not surprising, dealing with the outside can really help you relax. And although we don’t recommend you try this at home, if you wait long enough, it can be also be real good exercise. This is a mental health must so check it out here. We’re reading Dr. Lee’s book now and we bought it here.
SEATTLE FACTS & FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
Annual Precipitation
City/State Precipitation (In Inches)
Atlanta, GA 48.6
Vancouver, B.C. 46.0
Houston, TX 44.8
New York, NY 44.1
Boston, MA 43.8
Washington D.C. 39.0
SEATTLE, WA 38.6
Chicago, IL 33.3
Los Angeles, CA 12.1
For more information about Seattle, click here.
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State, click here.
CRITTER STUFF
An adolescent female sea lion had fish netting wrapped around her head and was pretty close to starving when she was spotted in the Sea Lion Caves by the employees of this Oregon coast tourist attraction. This unfortunate creature was part of the big herds of them that migrate back and forth between the Caves and San Francisco. For a slide show and more on her rescue, go here. To learn more about Sea Lion Caves and view a live camera of its sea lion population, check this out.
If you’d like to read something which combines the best elements of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a neo-eco Mickey Spillane detective thriller, you’ll love this one.
“In the brave new world of the Internet, FedEx and an international taste for the exotic, wildlife poachers steal everything from elk horns to geoducks, the world's largest clam. In the waters of Puget Sound in Washington state, state wildlife agents stalk these thieves on land and at sea. In "Shell Games: Rogues, Smugglers, and the Hunt for Nature's Bounty," Seattle Times environmental reporter Craig Welch joins these detectives on the trail of one of the region's most notorious geoduck thieves.”
Welch, a Seattle Times environmental reporter is a compelling writer and this excerpt from the book would be worth the experience even if we were not also fascinated by the subject. If, after reading this extract, you’d like to buy the book, you’ll find it for sale here.
This skunk rescue was one I really enjoyed long distance, vis a vis reading and watching a clip about. And I have absolutely nothing against skunks. If disgruntled elephants, braying jackasses, locusts and malarial mosquitoes have their place in God’s Kingdom, these striped woods kitties do too. Even ones stupid enough to get their head stuck in a peanut butter jar and then try to cross a road. With all due respect to Pepe Le Pew, this one was dumb, even for a skunk. So, take this surgical mask we’re handing out with this one and go here for pix and more details.
YOU GUYS THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
Know anybody interested in buying a town? I know where one can be had on the cheap, the real cheap. At around half a mill, it might be a little too expensive for one person but if a group went in on it, it might just be do-able. And it’s totally legit. It’s got its own post office and the best/weirdest part is that you can bid for it on ebay. To skeptic and believer alike then, check it out here.
That’s it for this week. Before you leave, you might want to check out Northstar Recommends. We’ve added (and will continue to do so) cool things we find. And if you’re in a shopping mood, we invite peruse our amazon.com ads and our reader-generated Northstar General Store.
This has sort of become a standard tag-out but if it’s any consolation, I type it each time. Stay the course, gang. We’re getting there and we’re going to make it. And thanks once again for the ear. And stuff.
Rusty
NORTHSTAR RECOMMENDS
We bid a fond farewell this week to another of our favourite actors, America’s cultural reincarnation of frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, Fess Parker. The latter television series has been in reruns on RTV here in Seattle and what struck me about it, in addition to outstanding casting and other production values, was its portrayal of Native Americans and their relationship with white settlers with historical accuracy. Mr. Parker, despite his nearly 6’6”/1.98m stature, was not the dashing hero type, but played true to his own nature. He was a man of reason, compassion, gentility and conviction. He died last Thursday, on the birthday of his wife of 50 years, in their home in Santa Ynez, California. The Texas born Parker was 85. For an outstanding obituary, please go here. To learn more about a modest but true American hero, check this out. And for more about some of America’s other historical figures, yep, go here.
Under the “Good Because It’s Finally Out in the Open” category, people who abuse animals are also likely to do the same to human beings so, according to New York Times reporter Ian Urbina:
“Responding to growing evidence that people who abuse animals often go on to attack humans, states are increasing the penalties for animal cruelty and developing better methods for tracking convicted offenders.”
To learn more about this and what you personally can do to contribute to the protection of puppies, kittens, kids and other living creatures, please go here. And if you witness a case of animal cruelty, please do not stand by and just watch. At least call 911. This literally is a case of the life you save (up the road) might be your own.
MORE GOOD NEWS
This necessarily belongs in the “only in the Pacific Northwest” category and it runs contrary to the subtle campaign the Northstar Journal has been conducting to dry out Seattle’s reputation. So when a high school principal in Bellingham, the last big town before the Canadian border, says he’s going to cancel school if it doesn’t rain, I’m going like, “Cute. But this is NOT good press. Yep, check in out here.
Well, sometimes when I hang around the right people long enough, I actually learn something. Like what the number one source of greenhouse emissions on the planet is. It’s not a factory nor an 18-wheeler nor that wheezy VW bus with a head gasket about ready to blow. It’s cows. And I feel dumb because I was partly raised on a ranch and I’ve worked on one. But I’ve also marched in parades behind horses and I’ve got a headline for everyone who romanticizes about these particular noble beasts. They are NOT perfume factories. Neither are cows. However, I digress. From the same reader who tipped me off to this bio-environmental factoid also told me the nation’s largest dairy, located 160 miles east of Portland, Oregon is using cow ‘poop’ (this is a G-rated ezine, folks) to fuel a biodigester which converts manure and other organic waste into methane gas which can be used to power farm equipment and nearby homes. Yep, check it out here.
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
Being over 40 and looking for work has, in ironically more prosperous times, been a daunting prospect at best. Now, however, when employers are looking for the proverbial “more bang for the buck,” this is a perfect opportunity to present both experience and the energy and joy of life which characterize so many health and fitness conscious Baby and Post – Baby Boomers. If you’re not healthy and fit, this might also provide you with the means to become so. To learn more about this idea and how it works, please go here.
Sometimes, surviving hard times is also coming to a more realistic attitude about a major stressor and there’s a new book out now which could make a dramatic difference in the way toward the way women experience the passing of years. Despite major industries involved ~ cosmetic, fitness, elective surgery, to name three ~ the idea that women become less attractive as they grow older has also very likely contributed to more anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, etc. than any other single factor in a woman’s life except cancer and childbearing.
We also suspect that it has probably cost men just as much, if not more, than it has cost women, even in a nation historically known for its tolerance of a double standard. The book is entitled Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change. Read about it here and if you decide you’d like to purchase it online, you can buy it here. I especially recommend this to men. It’s time our gender took more responsibility for this.
We reported earlier about a new “cult” of people who are taking things they enjoy doing and are good at and making a living. The ninth in this series of 14 is as delightfully weird as its title is a quadruple entendre. This also falls under the heading of “ONLY in Toronto” and encourages us to go ahead and play with our food.
Okay, even for us, this is a stretch and maybe quoting the first several paragraphs isn’t going to help the cause either. But this is just too good not to share.
“It's an unusual Friday night at Grinder, a small coffee shop in Toronto. There's an alien in someone's cup, hearts in another and someone else sees their face in their mug.
"The cause of this madness is an event we created called "MEDIUM: Coffee -- Live Latte Art for Non-Latte Artists." We wanted to see what ordinary artists would do if we let them play with their food. "It was different," says Abra Dolman, a participating artist. "I can't say I've ever used coffee, espresso, or milk as a medium before."
"The winner in the final round, Stefan Berg, used syrup to draw a portrait of one of the judges, glasses and all. However, the newly-indoctrinated coffee artists aren't the only ones using food in unique ways. Whether for consumption, beauty, art, or hacking purposes, Maker Culture is meeting food everywhere.”
Yep, for the rest of it, go here
HEALTH NEWS
Physically fit people enjoy a better sex life than couch potatoes and stay erotically active for much longer according to a study by the University of Chicago published in the British Medical Journal. To read the story, please go here. And for the actual BMJ article itself, here’s that link. If you’re motivated to exercise more, check this one out and finally, grub your libido will totally love.
Ever get so stressed you feel like you’re really jammed up against it? Take a deep breath and check out you’re surroundings is the advice of Dr. Roberta Lee in her book The Superstress Solution. We have and what I’ve generally found is that the outside reflects the inside. If I’m real busy, jackets get tossed over chairs, used coffee cups appear magically on window ledges and desk top clutter takes on a total biosphere all its own. Perhaps not surprising, dealing with the outside can really help you relax. And although we don’t recommend you try this at home, if you wait long enough, it can be also be real good exercise. This is a mental health must so check it out here. We’re reading Dr. Lee’s book now and we bought it here.
SEATTLE FACTS & FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
Annual Precipitation
City/State Precipitation (In Inches)
Atlanta, GA 48.6
Vancouver, B.C. 46.0
Houston, TX 44.8
New York, NY 44.1
Boston, MA 43.8
Washington D.C. 39.0
SEATTLE, WA 38.6
Chicago, IL 33.3
Los Angeles, CA 12.1
For more information about Seattle, click here.
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State, click here.
CRITTER STUFF
An adolescent female sea lion had fish netting wrapped around her head and was pretty close to starving when she was spotted in the Sea Lion Caves by the employees of this Oregon coast tourist attraction. This unfortunate creature was part of the big herds of them that migrate back and forth between the Caves and San Francisco. For a slide show and more on her rescue, go here. To learn more about Sea Lion Caves and view a live camera of its sea lion population, check this out.
If you’d like to read something which combines the best elements of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a neo-eco Mickey Spillane detective thriller, you’ll love this one.
“In the brave new world of the Internet, FedEx and an international taste for the exotic, wildlife poachers steal everything from elk horns to geoducks, the world's largest clam. In the waters of Puget Sound in Washington state, state wildlife agents stalk these thieves on land and at sea. In "Shell Games: Rogues, Smugglers, and the Hunt for Nature's Bounty," Seattle Times environmental reporter Craig Welch joins these detectives on the trail of one of the region's most notorious geoduck thieves.”
Welch, a Seattle Times environmental reporter is a compelling writer and this excerpt from the book would be worth the experience even if we were not also fascinated by the subject. If, after reading this extract, you’d like to buy the book, you’ll find it for sale here.
This skunk rescue was one I really enjoyed long distance, vis a vis reading and watching a clip about. And I have absolutely nothing against skunks. If disgruntled elephants, braying jackasses, locusts and malarial mosquitoes have their place in God’s Kingdom, these striped woods kitties do too. Even ones stupid enough to get their head stuck in a peanut butter jar and then try to cross a road. With all due respect to Pepe Le Pew, this one was dumb, even for a skunk. So, take this surgical mask we’re handing out with this one and go here for pix and more details.
YOU GUYS THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
Know anybody interested in buying a town? I know where one can be had on the cheap, the real cheap. At around half a mill, it might be a little too expensive for one person but if a group went in on it, it might just be do-able. And it’s totally legit. It’s got its own post office and the best/weirdest part is that you can bid for it on ebay. To skeptic and believer alike then, check it out here.
That’s it for this week. Before you leave, you might want to check out Northstar Recommends. We’ve added (and will continue to do so) cool things we find. And if you’re in a shopping mood, we invite peruse our amazon.com ads and our reader-generated Northstar General Store.
This has sort of become a standard tag-out but if it’s any consolation, I type it each time. Stay the course, gang. We’re getting there and we’re going to make it. And thanks once again for the ear. And stuff.
Rusty
NORTHSTAR RECOMMENDS
RESOURCES
Maker Culture: Taking Things Into Our Own Hands - For 12 weeks in the fall of 2009, 45 online journalism students at Ryerson University and the University of Western Ontario worked together to document the evolving Maker Culture community.
Maker Culture? That's coders, fabricators, foodies, artists, educators, activists, citizen and even scientists grabbing the Do-It-Yourself ethic with both hands and changing our world in the process.
These are people who aren't just making things, they're making a point of sharing what they've learned, what they've made, and why. Often, for free.
Makers are responding directly, locally to globalization, commercialization, copyright and central command and control.
This is the introduction to a fascinating series on how to become more self-reliant, live a lot more economically and enjoy the company of others doing the same. If you’re looking for ideas, inspiration and resources to get through hard times or just to simplfy you life, we highly recommend this one.
PC World – This is the best source we’ve found yet for totally free, useful, reliable and secure (no viruses) downloads ranging from games through utilities and with a nice selection of screen savers, etc. What I particularly appreciate about it is how easy the site is to navigate. They also have a daily letter featuring two “daily downloads.”
Free People Search – This is an American online White Pages that I found really simple, quick and user friendly. I looked for myself under the several versions of my name and it found them all. It’s also free and doesn’t involve anything to download.
Know Thy Elected Officials - Just type in your zip code and this site will supply you with the names and contact information for your legislators from the state level up. This is a two click site with a host of other relevant features.
Stalking Resource Center division of the National Center for Victims of Crime – Internet harassment, stalking and abuse in general is now against the law. If you’re being victimized or if you know of someone who is, this is an excellent resource.
FUN STUFF
If you share my passion for American History, you’re going to love AmericanWest.com This is historical society stuff that is also extremely interesting to read. So yep, just in case you didn’t get it the first time, check it out here.
Images of Houston at night are among the fascinating images available at the Earth Observatory, along with an incredible array of other outer space images. This is one of NASA’s more engaging websites and it’s here, as well, that you can subscribe to their online newsletter. Whether you’re an aerospace/astronomy buff or simply enjoy stargazing, this is an excellent site.
Ever been told you look like someone famous? Ever not been told that but would like to have been? Find a photo of yourself, go to this site, MyHeritage.com, upload it and get a gallery of celebrities you resemble, to one degree or another. Yep, it’s a total waste of time and an unabashed indulgence of ego. Probably two reasons why I totally loved it, even though a couple of my own pix didn’t turn up any results. It’s fun to play with so enjoy.
If you’re into a real interesting and visual escape, we certainly recommend The Art In LA website. It’s a virtual art gallery created by a real gentle, occasionally obnoxious but totally good-hearted soul with standards as fine as those of any engineer I’ve ever met. It’s also a good place for healthy meditation. If you’re lucky, you might just run into the artist herself. Her name is Colleen and she’s a trip, trust me. Yep, she was born under the fourth flag on our masthead.
HEALTH
Ten foods that really do help prevent cancer.
Grub you libido will love.
If you’d like to know whether your eating habits are either adding years to your life or taking them off, take this RealAge quiz. It will not only score your real age against your health age but give you a program for improvement. I’ve been working this one for about a month now and yep, I feel a lot better.
Want to know how to live to be 100? Try this one.
Take this test to see how your memory compares with the average.
Click here for fun games to improve your memory.
FOR YOUR SHOPPING CONVENIENCE
Maker Culture: Taking Things Into Our Own Hands - For 12 weeks in the fall of 2009, 45 online journalism students at Ryerson University and the University of Western Ontario worked together to document the evolving Maker Culture community.
Maker Culture? That's coders, fabricators, foodies, artists, educators, activists, citizen and even scientists grabbing the Do-It-Yourself ethic with both hands and changing our world in the process.
These are people who aren't just making things, they're making a point of sharing what they've learned, what they've made, and why. Often, for free.
Makers are responding directly, locally to globalization, commercialization, copyright and central command and control.
This is the introduction to a fascinating series on how to become more self-reliant, live a lot more economically and enjoy the company of others doing the same. If you’re looking for ideas, inspiration and resources to get through hard times or just to simplfy you life, we highly recommend this one.
PC World – This is the best source we’ve found yet for totally free, useful, reliable and secure (no viruses) downloads ranging from games through utilities and with a nice selection of screen savers, etc. What I particularly appreciate about it is how easy the site is to navigate. They also have a daily letter featuring two “daily downloads.”
Free People Search – This is an American online White Pages that I found really simple, quick and user friendly. I looked for myself under the several versions of my name and it found them all. It’s also free and doesn’t involve anything to download.
Know Thy Elected Officials - Just type in your zip code and this site will supply you with the names and contact information for your legislators from the state level up. This is a two click site with a host of other relevant features.
Stalking Resource Center division of the National Center for Victims of Crime – Internet harassment, stalking and abuse in general is now against the law. If you’re being victimized or if you know of someone who is, this is an excellent resource.
FUN STUFF
If you share my passion for American History, you’re going to love AmericanWest.com This is historical society stuff that is also extremely interesting to read. So yep, just in case you didn’t get it the first time, check it out here.
Images of Houston at night are among the fascinating images available at the Earth Observatory, along with an incredible array of other outer space images. This is one of NASA’s more engaging websites and it’s here, as well, that you can subscribe to their online newsletter. Whether you’re an aerospace/astronomy buff or simply enjoy stargazing, this is an excellent site.
Ever been told you look like someone famous? Ever not been told that but would like to have been? Find a photo of yourself, go to this site, MyHeritage.com, upload it and get a gallery of celebrities you resemble, to one degree or another. Yep, it’s a total waste of time and an unabashed indulgence of ego. Probably two reasons why I totally loved it, even though a couple of my own pix didn’t turn up any results. It’s fun to play with so enjoy.
If you’re into a real interesting and visual escape, we certainly recommend The Art In LA website. It’s a virtual art gallery created by a real gentle, occasionally obnoxious but totally good-hearted soul with standards as fine as those of any engineer I’ve ever met. It’s also a good place for healthy meditation. If you’re lucky, you might just run into the artist herself. Her name is Colleen and she’s a trip, trust me. Yep, she was born under the fourth flag on our masthead.
HEALTH
Ten foods that really do help prevent cancer.
Grub you libido will love.
If you’d like to know whether your eating habits are either adding years to your life or taking them off, take this RealAge quiz. It will not only score your real age against your health age but give you a program for improvement. I’ve been working this one for about a month now and yep, I feel a lot better.
Want to know how to live to be 100? Try this one.
Take this test to see how your memory compares with the average.
Click here for fun games to improve your memory.
FOR YOUR SHOPPING CONVENIENCE
And for a truly unique shopping experience, drop by and browse THE NORTHSTAR GENERAL STORE.
Press Releases, Product Reviews, Promotional Copy, Digital Photography, Online Research and Investigation, Ghost Writing, Special Projects. Seattle-based and wired into the International Community. For more information, email to minstrel312@aol.com or go here -> Rusty Miller, Freelance Photojournalist.
MEDIA
News
BBC – Best source of international news.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (multi-media), the Toronto Globe & Mail and the Vancouver Sun -- outstanding sources for Canadian national, provincial, and world news.
KING 5 News – Best source of video news of Seattle and the Greater Puget Sound.
New York Times – Best source of American news.
Reuters – Best source of an international perspective on American headlines.
Seattle Times – Best source for news of the city and the Puget Sound. Its reportage is unbiased but their columns and other opinion pieces do reflect the predominant values of the Pacific Northwest.
Sightline Daily (formerly Tidepool) – Best source of Pacific Northwest regional news. Delivered daily by email, it covers Alaska, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. They also put out an excellent weekly environmental edition.
Entertainment
BBC Knowledge Magazine – designed to give the American magazine National Geographic the proverbial run for its money,
TomatoMan Times -- For those who love good writing, there are fewer finer contemporary craftsmen out there now than professionally known as Tomatoman Mike. He’s as Northern Californian as John Steinbeck is, albeit with a dash of Sam Clemmons, Bret Harte and Robert W. Service in him. He’s a romp to read, trust me.
U Got Style is a monthly ezine dedicated to independent films. Fully illustrated, it features hard news, interviews, reviews and a wide variety of other information. It’s also fun to read.
Vinyl Cafe with Stuart McLean – Live from the smallest record store in North America. Canadian humor, entertainment and commentary at its maple leaf best. Popular on National Public Radio in the States.
See you next week, eh?
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