Hi again from the ramparts of the Bastion on the Puget. It has certainly been an interesting week and a dramatic one. Maybe a little too exciting, at least for me and no, I’m not wimping out here.
It’s just that when there’s so much tension in the world and therefore in my life, I sometimes miss things that are also out there that would balance my perspective and make me feel better.
I’m a lot better at stress management than I’ve been in the past. I actually remembered, during all this fire and brimstone, that today, Thursday, April 22, is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
I was serving in the American armed forces in the Vietnam theater of operations on April 22, 1970 and was just several weeks past my 21st birthday. We were at sea a lot, within sight of land but not regular mail delivery. Back then, there was no Internet, no cell phones.
And even if there had been, because of the nature of what we were doing, we would not have been allowed to use them anyway. Totally understandable. It was a tough war and the military did not want us to have anymore to think about than we already did.
To be distracted, to have images of burning buildings, tear gas, dogs, police and fire hoses on the main streets of America, would not have served either the war effort or the survival of those engaged in it.
That policy was not infallible and some news from back home got through. To the extent that such information encouraged disobedience, desertion, the proliferation of dugs and going into an operation stoned or strung out, it was not in the best interests of anyone but the enemy.
There was nothing, however, that anyone could have done about it, historians notwithstanding. Sunday morning quarterbacking a war seldom accomplishes very much because no two of the bloody things are enough alike.
So I never heard about it, just like I was not totally aware of all the protesting, the rioting, the violence and the angst on more fronts “at home” than there were where I was.
But I think that even if I had known about the birth of Earth Day, I seriously doubt whether I would have believed it. My reality wasn’t about preserving the planet. It was about destroying enough of it to force the enemy into surrendering. It was napalm and carpet bombing and sowing good earth with land mines that are still killing people wherever they’ve been used, long after those who planted them have gone.
I learned about it after I got back and I ended up leaving Southern California, where I went to school after my enlistment ended, to not only return to Northern California, where I was raised, but to explore a lifestyle I ultimately ended up adopting. For awhile, I left cities to explore the mostly rural forests, mountains and coasts of Oregon and Washington state.
I’ve seen the Green Movement evolve first hand and I’ve also personally benefited from the healthier environment it has helped create, both inside and out. I’m particularly pleased that during the worst Recession in my lifetime, it is also creating new industries and new jobs and that the labor and commerce itself, the processes involved, are healthier for all of us than those they seek to replace.
Happy Earth Day, folks.
For an much larger perspective than I’ve rendered:
Well, for me personally, not since the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State, has the planet been quite this interesting. I’ve got Scandinavian blood and though I’ve never been to Iceland, I have been to Yellowstone National Park and I was raised in the shadow of California’s Mount Lassen. I’ve also fought a couple of forest fires. All of which is to say that even though I’m not where this is going on, I have a small idea of what it could become and what I profoundly hope it does not.
And there is a difference in this one. It’s largely invisible. In two of the chatrooms I frequent for public reaction, I heard two Londoners describe the weather as beautifully spring. I also read about John Cleese paying $1,500 for a cab ride from Oslo to Brussels and another about the new Dunkirk Expedition, where the English are once again braving the channel to bring some of their people home. And with the same thing going on in the tunnel under the English Channel.
I understand the inconvenience. And the expense to the airlines. Having worked at Boeing aircraft, I also know what this “invisible” cloud of volcanic glass can do to both a jet engine and any other internal combustion engine.
So it bothers me that the European Union’s No Fly Zone restrictions might become subject to compromise by an commercial aviation industry losing millions of dollars. It aggravates me even more than even if subsequent flying bans are imposed, individual airlines may choose to ignore it. Good luck seduces a fool so bad luck can finish the job.
And I certainly empathize with the airlines from the perspective that they also employ people who depend on the commerce and that this Recession has already forced them to lay off workers. Managers are people and the hardest thing I ever had to do as one was tell somebody they no longer worked for us.
But I’m also aware of a profit margin and the incredible gap between management and those who fly, serve, handle baggage, take tickets and certainly those who direct all this stuff from a tower. I figure that there’s enough of that difference to keep workers on the payroll, if the executives have to take it out of their own bonuses.
So if those planes hit the air while Mother Earth is expressing her latest disappointment in our species and one of them crashes, I’m going to assume a certain amount of responsibility for that carnage on those who made the decision to let those plane take off and those who pressured them into doing it.
It may just be time to slow down and look at other options. For once, this isn’t a problem we brought on ourselves. This isn’t a war among nations or even a spat among families.
This is about recognizing that it’s not ours to control. It’s about adapting. Darwin said it. Several earthquakes in the last twelve months have suggested it. And now a volcano is reminding us.
It’s going to be real interesting to me to see how many of us are listening. Might just mean the difference between building a few more arks during a heavy rain and depending on one with a cranky old man and a bunch of animals. And as much as I won’t want to, I’ll still hold a wake for the passengers of such a misguided decision.
In either event, it seems to be clearly our call.
Related Links
Flights resume in Europe but many remain stranded
Track the Cancellations – A New York Times Interactive Feature
CROSSING OVER
Sometimes, grief is not about mourning the famous. Death comes in many ways and sometimes, as quietly as a falling leaf and a falling leaf among many. Among so many trees in autumn or hard times and so many leaves, there seems no apparent reason to single out one over another.
Those are nice words for a philosopher but I’m not one. I’m a magazine editor who this past week lost someone who first came to my attention as a reader of this modest publication and, like others of you, became a friend and a member of the Northstar family. I never met her face to face but she commented on stories and talked to me online, as some of you have as well.
She was young, blonde, beautiful and quietly articulate. She was an artist who loved the sea and the sand and sculpted and created works of art using sand dollars, driftwood and the other things the sea gives up to those who understand what they truly mean.
She made a modest living at it, in the community in which she lived, and that’s all she ever wanted. Her work drew offers from New York and beyond but Sandy desired neither the money nor the attention. It was enough for her that those she loved and cared about, and was there for as a human being, also appreciated her art.
She died as unassumingly as she lived, in her early thirties, with no fanfare, parades or fancy funerals. Her sculptures are of the earth and the simplest forms of it. No matter how carefully preserved or profoundly cherished, eventually, those artifacts, those tangible reminders of one slender, incredibly beautiful young woman who understood so much and left so little behind, will be gone.
That seems to be the apparent way of it now, then, eh? Perhaps for some, maybe even for most. But not for me. That pure sweet soul taught me more about the real meaning of the potential of our species for compassion and understanding than all the other people I have ever met and all the books I have ever read.
She’s in Heaven now and even though I’ll be joining her by and by, for the rest of the time I’m in this life, I will miss her some.
Sandy, you’re one helluvan act to follow now then, aren’t you, sweetheart?
April 16, 2010
Dear Rusty,
Yesterday, America lost a hero.
Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks was among the greatest Americans of the 20th century. A crusading lawyer who fought against oppression and a courageous, committed organizer who used communication to move mountains -- Dr. Hooks lifted the Civil Rights movement, breaking down racial barriers.
But above all else, he was a believer -- a believer in righteousness, justice and truth.
I'll never forget being a young organizer, watching Dr. Hooks address the '93 March on Washington. He stood there in front of the Washington Monument in his blue blazer and starched white shirt. In my eyes, Dr. Hooks was Superman. For those of us who came of age in the '70s and '80s, he was the most visible advocate for civil and human rights, the man who dared to push corporate America to opens doors to people who looked like us.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Hooks family in this tragic time. Will you take a moment to share your stories or sympathies with them?
As we grieve over the loss of this incredible individual, we must remember to be thankful for the legacy he leaves behind and continue to honor Dr. Hooks by fighting with 'truth, justice and righteousness on our side.'
Yesterday, we lost a hero, a patriot and above all a friend. But in Dr. Hooks' passing his legacy remains -- a legacy that will improve the lives of generations to come.
Share your stories or sympathies with the Hooks family:
Sincerely,
Benjamin Todd JealousPresident and CEONAACP
Benjamin Todd Jealous
President and CEO
NAACP
We bit farewell to pioneer civil rights activist Dorothy Height, whose involvement in the African American struggle for freedom and equality spanned eight decades. Ms. Height died in Washington, DC, at the age of 98. For more about this remarkable individual whom many considered the “grande dame” of her times:
GOOD NEWS
Well, it looks like the Green Revolution has come to the prison system in Washington State and with results which strongly suggest that recycling, composting, mattress recycling, wheelchair repair and organic gardening are not only healthy but that they can reduce operating costs and actually produce surpluses that can be donated to local communities, making prisons more of an asset than simply the local employment they provide. Yep, for more on this one:
We applaud the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for moving to restrict the amount of salt in processed foods. Nutritionists and other heath experts say that Americans consume twice as much salt, daily, than is good for them. The damage that does to the personal health of those involved is then translated as a financial negative in terms of time lost from work, medical treatment and, in some cases, funeral arrangements. Yep, for the details:
Vancouver, British Columbia Monday joined a growing number of North American cities, including Seattle and Portland, Oregon which have banned tobacco smoking in such public places as parks, beaches and trails. Nice going, countrypersons mine. Yep, for the details:
In response to the Obama administration’s decision to redefine government’s role in the exploration of space, at least during these economic hard times, NASA is looking at ways to better use existing programs and the orbital and interplanetary vehicles involved. One of the most enduring of these is the Cassini spacecraft, which for the last six years, has been exploring and sending home reams of data and some spectacular photos of Saturn, its rings and its moons. Scientists have decided to extend Cassini’s life and mission by another seven years and this one stands to me as a good example not only in terms of what should be done, but how, as well. For more:
As a rather late reminder, this is Cancer Awareness Week and we found an excellent website for those of you are involved, as we are, in eradicating this disease in all its forms. It won’t be new to many of you but it’s one I’ve bookmarked because it’s also the best source I’ve found for the progress that is being made, the new options available, and how all of us, in our own communities, whether we’ve got an hour a week or a weekend, can make a difference. We encourage you then to visit the American Cancer Society.
COOL STUFF WE FOUND ON THE NET AT A GOOD PRICE
(Free is a good price, right?)
For the environmentalist in all of us, this week we found not one but a host of ways to green up your life, add life to your computer and integrate your computer into your life as a time, energy and environmental enhancer. Yep, for this one:
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
Instead of seeking full time employment, many of those who have been lost their jobs to the Recession are now opting for temporary employment and finding it out there. Known variously as “contingent work,” “flexible” and “alternative” staffing, the philosophy behind it is that it is better to be available for shorter term hiring than it is to risk returning to the environment which cost them their jobs in the first place. Many economists are suggesting that this might be another appropriate survival strategy. For more:
HEALTH NEWS
Apparently, according to a study published in the medical journal Lancet recently, the number of women who die during pregnancy or give birth is declining significantly all over the planet. For more on this one:
We were absolutely delighted to see what might be the future of health insurance come together proactively in the fight against Type 2 diabetes. New York Times health writer Reed Abelson reports:
“This could be one glimpse of the future of health insurance.
“The UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, is teaming up with the Y.M.C.A. and retail pharmacies to try a new approach to one of the nation’s most serious and expensive medical problems: Type 2 diabetes.
“Rather than simply continuing to pay ever-higher medical claims to care for its diabetic customers, UnitedHealth is paying the Y.M.C.A. and pharmacists to keep people healthier. The result, they hope, will be lower costs and lower premiums for everyone."
Yep, for more on this one:
In our ongoing, albeit not real subtle campaign to save human beings because they’re part of the planet we’re trying to clean up and restore, we keep running across these little gems from the Real Age: Live Life To Its Youngest website. Here’s another one entitled 5 Keys To Making Healthy Changes.
SEATTLE FACTS AND FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
For more information about Seattle
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State
CRITTER STUFF
As we’ve mentioned before, we do not swim with creatures for whom the top of the ocean is like Mount Everest to human beings. We nonetheless feel a special affinity for them. They breathe the same air, we do, procreate and care for their young, and, perhaps unlike us, kill to eat and don’t go out of their way for much more. That’s pretty much what’s been documented and there’s more than enough anecdotal evidence to bunker up what I also sense.
They’re smarter than we are and they know their environment a lot better than they do ours. Most of our planet is ocean and because there are no national boundaries, fences, telephone wires, etc. where they live, they all know pretty know much all of it.
They’re a link between land dwelling mammals and those who breathe oxygen but live in the sea. They’re that flipping missing link we’ve been instinctively searching for in the stars. And we know far less about the depths of our oceans than we to the skies we’ve so diligently explored in the hopes, I suspect, of finding another species with whom to share the loneliness of feeling like the only intelligent life form on the planet.
I’m talking about orcas and they’re making a real comeback up here. The population of the three “resident” pods here is on the increase. That means, among other things, that the Puget Sound is cleaner than it has been in times past and that human environmental efforts in these regards have paid off. This is again a place where not only these noble and endearing creatures can make love and bring new life into the world, but where a lot more marine life can as well.
Yep, for more on this one, by all means:
Related Link:
Pacific Northwest's endangered orca population rose in 2009
Increasing orca population is a sign we can save the Sound
YOU GUYS THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
Okay, this doesn’t quite qualify as totally weird but it’s strange to me. There are lots of exotic words for it like kismet, cosmic resonance and coincidence. Most of them sound like they belong with Rod Serling and an Algonquin Roundtable of dead science fiction writers. I am not for a moment denying that the realities they created do, in fact, exist. Somewhere. Like cruise destinations. But, with all due respect, hopefully not on my street.
I have a thing about goats. It’s not a love/hate relationship by any means and my life doesn’t get any weirder than that so don’t go there either. It’s more that I have no reason to think about these cloven hoofed creatures. They look nice and all in the background of a Heidi movie and quite honestly, that’s about as close to them as I ever want to get.
But they keep coming to my attention because they’re becoming not only vogue but extremely useful as four-legged lawn mowers and weed eaters. If I’d ever been a hippie, I’d probably say, “far out.” People in other parts of the world have benefited in a multitude of ways from the society of lots of animals I would just as soon experience only on television. But I also have to share this one because now, apparently, goats are being used to keep the foliage in wine vineyards down so the grapes can grow to their fullest potential. I’m fond of my glass of chardonnay so while I’m still not a hippie, I’ll pronounce this one cool and herd (hey, it was just too tempting) you to the story which brought this up in the first place. So yes, for more:
Well, that’s it for now. Before you leave though, 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 you to peruse our amazon.com ads and our reader-generated Northstar General Store.
We’re also opening up the Northstar Journal for weekly sponsors. It’s a way of helping to support us and get yourself, your business, organization or nonprofit noticed by email subscribers in seven countries. If you’re interested, email me for details and we’ll put something together.
Take care, stay well, thanks again for the ear and we’ll see you next week. Hang tough, gang. We’re going to make it and come out better for the learning, then, eh?
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 simplify 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.
Houston At Night and other totally cool images are 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 simplify 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.
Houston At Night and other totally cool images are 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
GOOD “READS”
Books
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.
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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