Hi again from the ramparts of the Bastion on the Puget. It has not been a fun week for the American South or New York’s Times Square.Our hearts go those in Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi whose homes were flooded out when the Cumberland River overflowed its banks in the wake of the torrential rains which pounded the region recently. The death toll from this one stands now at 29 and still counting.
We’re holding our collective breaths, as well, for America’s Gulf Coast states as British Petroleum races to cap and clean up the mess they made. No one really needs an education on what a disaster like this can do and has done before. As I said last week, to my way of thinking, this is yet another reason to look at alternatives.
After last weekend’s Times Square attempted car bombing, we had an opportunity to talk with a couple of New York City policemen and one of the things they appreciated about how this was handled was that it was vigilant citizens who spotted the threat and alerted authorities in time to move on it. They stressed yet again that it takes both vigilance and appropriate action on the part of law enforcement and the public they serve. That’s been my personal experience and I hope it’s taken to heart.
If ever international villainy and consummate corporate greed had a name, it would surely be British Petroleum. This latest accident in the Gulf of Mexico is hardly the first time these English jennys have ignored environmentally safe practices for the sake of sinking a well and getting it pumping. As Seattle Times environmental reporter Craig Welch points out in a searing indictment headlined BP’s Trail of Accidents, Scandals:
“The British oil company BP produced the largest oil spill ever on Alaska's North Slope, faced criminal charges for intentionally dumping hazardous waste near Prudhoe Bay and was excoriated by Congress for a string of oil-pipeline leaks on the tundra.”
BP has accepted responsibility for this one but to me, to use a totally non-fossil fuel analogy, that’s a little like Reynard the Fox fessing up to raiding the hen house after he’s been caught in the middle of the bloody coop with feathers and egg yolk dripping from his jaws. Yeah, BP, you’re damned right this is your fault, you flipping disgrace to Queen and Crown.
We applaud American president Barack Obama for stating, in no uncertain terms, that the oil company caused this disaster and the oil company is going to pay for it. But given BP’s track record and the fact that while they may be totally without an environmental conscience, they are not stupid nor profit-margin inept, that may or may not prove to be an incentive to be more careful in the future.
Translation from an angry Canadian - American? Watch British Petroleum recoup their losses on this one by charging more for their products and services in the future.
In this writer’s perfect world, that would not happen. Instead, consumers of said goods and services would look to other providers and boycott British Petroleum because what we, as human beings and as a society of human beings, also expect is energy sources which, to quote the Hippocratic Oath, “first do no harm.”
If anyone wants to get the ball rolling on this one, let me know and I’ll throw my shoulder into the game. This really has to be the last time BP pulls something like this and then gets off with a slight dent in their profit margin.
Related links:
Underwater oil gusher a crisis no one imagined
BP Describes Race to Fix Well as Obama Warns of Oil Damage
Obama: BP responsible for costs of oil spill
Giant Container to Collect Leaking Gulf Oil - NYTimes.com
New Technology Generates Database on Spill Damage
CROSSING OVER
It is with profound sadness that we say good-bye to British actress and playwright Lynn Redgrave. She was born into a consummately talented acting family which included her father, Michael Redgrave; her mother, Rachel Kempson, sister Vanessa Redgrave, brother Corin Redgrave and her niece, Natasha Richardson. Corin died last month and Natasha passed away last year.
Perhaps remembered best by many of us as the central character in the 1966 film “Georgy Girl,” for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination, she made her cinematic debut in 1963 in the movie “Tom Jones” and worked steadily for the next 47 years. She first appeared before Broadway audiences in Peter Schaffer’s “Black Comedy “ and Americans have for years had the distinct privilege of watching this superb artist in such series’ as “Kojak,” “The Love Boat,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”
She worked with the greatest industry people in British and American stage, screen and television but remained grounded and in some ways, quieter but just as passionate as her outspoken older sister Vanessa. She enjoyed her work and left a legacy that will certainly, like the those of the playwright she most admired, William Shakespeare, resonate down the ages. Lynn passed away last Sunday, from cancer, at her home in Kent, Connecticut. She was 67.
For an absolutely moving tribute to this incredible individual:
GOOD NEWS
Well, this one falls under the dubious category of good news to some, not so good news to some others. According to a study published last month in BioMed Central's journal Population Health Metrics, Canadians are healthier than Americans and are also outliving them. To see how researchers arrived at these conclusions:
Despite our tendency to cast corporations as the villains in the ongoing Environmental Drama, we do recognize the contributions made by those same companies when they not only accept responsibility for compromising the local habitat but agree to fund the cleanup. Granted, it took some legal work in this case but the aircraft giant had the funds to stall this forever and chose not to do so. Considering what Puget Sounders have done for Boeing by coming back after frequent layoffs, this might possibly have been a way of paying that back. Some of the people who make those kinds of decisions also live here. For more on this one:
And we also like it when the government ~ which to me is all of us through the people we pay to run it ~ steps in and tells companies that they’ve got to start considering not only the people impacted by their production practices but the wildlife in the impacted area. The State of California intervened this time to end the killing of billions of marine species because of a cooling process power plants use. It almost makes me wish I was still paying Eureka state taxes. Nice going, Sacramento. Yep, for more:
We note with some interest that the United States Navy instituted a couple of interesting changes this month. Smoking is no longer permitted on submarines, which is weird to me because in all the movies I’ve ever seen, I don’t remember anyone lighting up 20,000 leagues under the sea as it were. And women will now be allowed to serve on submarines, which leads me to hope that before the first females set foot on those boats, those addicted to nicotine are totally cured of it. I don’t care how big the submarine, it is still close quarters especially when you go down several hundred feet and stay there for weeks at a time. Nuclear submarines make their own oxygen so they can stay submerged until the food runs out and that’s about three months. That makes me wonder even more what else the Navy’s doing to help keep other natural or unnatural desires under control in scenarios like that. With all due respect to the United States Navy, with whom I honorably served, albeit on TOP of the water.
This seems to be a strange week for weird headlines but curiosity prevailed again on this one and it’s good news for lung cancer victims. There’s a new surgical technique involving pinpoint radiation on a tumor which spares the healthy tissue. For more information, it’s headlined: Cyberknife Surgery Increasing Survival Rates For Lung Cancer Patients
COOL STUFF WE FOUND ON THE NET AT A GOOD PRICE (Free is a good price, right?)
If you spend as much time on the computer as I do, you’ll really appreciate this week’s free download. It’s essentially a more efficient option to Microsoft Window’s Search Windows function. It’s from one of the most reliable sources of free software on the Net, CNET, and here’s what their editors had to say about it.
“CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on December 01, 2008
Running in your system tray, FARR is innocuous and uses little RAM. Hit the Pause/Break key to bring up the launching window; as you type, FARR narrows down your choices. In that sense, FARR functions like many other launchers. Search results are numbered and automatically sorted using built-in scoring systems unique to the program. If you want returned-result number nine, for example, simply type ALT+9 and hit enter--there's no need to touch the mouse or continue typing a longer string. A Launch History tab keeps track of what you've launched.
While the launching and searching functions are fairly basic, the options are almost overwhelming. Users can do nearly anything with the app, from adjusting the font size, style, and color to monitoring your clipboard, taking basic screen captures, Web searches, customizing hot keys, and calculation functions. FARR is also fully portable, making this a must-have whether you're on a desktop or a laptop.
Publisher's description
From DonationCoder :
Find and Run Robot is a program for keyboard maniacs. It helps you rapidly find programs or documents from within the depths of the start menu (or other directories). One key press launches the utility, and then just starts typing the first letters of the application you want to launch. As you type the best matches are shown, just hit the number to launch the associated program.
To download this one and take it for a spin:
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
Here’s another example of “if they can do it, maybe we should try it.” This is about “ordinary” people getting hit real hard by this Recession, talking about it with other folks like themselves in that regard, and then deciding to pool their resources to start some small “mom and pop” businesses. This idea is working in my state and I suspect elsewhere. If it’s not where you are, you just might want to give it a try. Yep, for more on this one:
HEALTH NEWS
Well, here’s another example of medical research validating what common sense should suggest. According to a study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine, four bad habits can take twelve years off your life. It’s not going to come as headline news but the article itself is well worth the reading. So yep, for more information:
We’re also encouraged that, according to Associated Press writer Karen Matthews in a story headlined Salt Taking A Cut In Groceries, Restaurant Menus:
“Sixteen food companies plan to cut the amount of salt in bacon, flavored rice and dozens of other products as part of a national effort to reduce American's sodium consumption by 20 percent.
“Companies including H.J. Heinz Co., Kraft Foods Inc. and Starbucks will commit to the voluntary National Salt Reduction Initiative, a public-private partnership initiated by New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Monday.
"Sodium is a major cause of high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to heart attack and stroke," Bloomberg said.”
And for the rest of this one, yep:
THE CAPITOL HILL BEAT
We again wish to express our gratitude to President Obama and his administration for holding British Petroleum responsible for that oil spill off the Gulf Coast. This is what I, for one, elected them to do because it’s what I would do if I could.
What happens to those Gulfporters doesn’t just impact the price of seafood. It plunges them into a worse Recession than they’re already in. And the irony is that other regions which also supply the same market will temporarily prosper, including where I live.
But nobody here in the Pacific Northwest wants to profit from this. I strongly suspect no other maritime community does either. The sea and those whose lives depend on the sea are far older than any maps, jurisdictions, machines or courts in the land.
Being to a great extent one of those people, I’m glad Capitol Hill did what they did. I hope it sets a firm precedent because if it does not, British Petroleum will politely excuse the Colonials and it will only be a matter of time before it happens again.
CRITTER STUFF
Under the category of “even though I will NOT swim with them, I still love them from afar,” I’m delighted to report that apparently another species of orca has decided to reveal itself. Yep, that’s my spin on “scientists have discovered”. I mean, most of what we’re learning about this planet and those with whom we share it have been here a lot longer than we have. I strongly suspect that they’ve been hiding and watching to see what happens to the braver souls among them.
On the other hand, they could be even smarter than my imagination gives them credit for. There are a lot more of them than there are of us and we keep “discovering” more of them. Kind of a weird spin on the planetary invasion scenarios which have spawned so much interesting art. We might just be looking at a threat a little closer to home and not for the sake of conquest but simply because we haven’t been real good neighbors.
The cool thing about that is that we can change it and there’s a lot of evidence out there that we’re coming around in these regards.
State Wildlife control officers in the greater Seattle area relocated their first bear of the spring this week. This is an annual ritual around here when these big suburbanites come out of hibernation so hungry that they look for food a little too close to where their human neighbors live, work or hang out for other reasons. In this case, this particular bruin was spotted near a local elementary school. For the video on this one, please go here. And our thanks to ABC Seattle affiliate KOMO 4 News for this one.
YOU GUYS THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP.
Every once in awhile, I run across a headline that makes me not even want to go there because if it’s true, I’m going to need a major reality check. I got sent this one from someone I know but who has like this really weird sense of humor? After some reassurances, however, I checked it out. If the rest of this week’s edition has not given you a laugh yet, this will. Sometimes reality is also a matter of perspective. For more on this one headlined Found Alive: The Loch Ness Monster of the Northwest Prairie:
Well, that’s it for this week. Before you take off, you might check out Northstar Recommends, below. We’ve got a mix of resources, online escapes, free stuff and some unique shopping opportunities, including a General Store consisting of products recommended to us by our readership.
Until next time, then, 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
To subscribe to a more graphically enhanced version of The Northstar Journal, email us at minstrel312@aol.com
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.
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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