Hi again from the Bastion on the Puget Sound. Well, even as I write, the U.S. Senate is trying to decide, among other things, whether it’s actually a good idea to extend benefits for the estimated 45-million Americans currently out of work.
In my state, that’s about a third of a million people and as the New York Times recently pointed out, for each day that our elected officials spend arguing about this, several hundred thousand men and women are losing their benefits and facing the loss of all they’ve spent their lives working for.
These numbers also include veterans from several wars, minorities for whom it has always been tough in these regards, single parents working two jobs to feed, house and clothe their families and recent college graduates losing the first job they’ve ever held.
There’s an eerie sense of familiarity about this lack of prompt and appropriate response to quality of life issues in this country. We weren’t prepared for Katrina. We weren’t prepared for the Deep Horizon oil spill. Apparently we were not prepared for the massive economic manipulations which brought on the worst Recession in the nation’s history.
As we’ve done before, we urge you now to contact your Congressional delegation and tell them, in no uncertain terms, to pass HR 4213 and to make sure the extension of benefits applies to those whose benefits have already expired. You can read about this legislation here and you can contact your senator and representatives at this site. It takes about ten minutes to do this and for each of you who can find the time, there are thousands of us who would thank you if we could.
IN OTHER NEWS
One of the darkest days in recent history occurred on January 30, 1972, when some 15,000 people gathered in Derry, Northern Ireland, for a civil rights march. Thirteen unarmed protestors died that “Bloody Sunday” when English paratroopers opened fire on the crowd. On June 1 of this year, the British government released a second study which excoriated the troops who fired on a demonstration which had no hostile intent.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron formally apologized and strongly implied that like so much that happened during the 40 years of The Troubles, it was the policies in place and how they were enforced, on and by both sides, which made this such a scandalous and tragic period in the history of both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
When something like this happens, I am strongly reminded that responsible government knows no flag. Like many of you, particularly in Canada, Ireland, England and Australia, I have friends on both sides of a conflict which, as most of you are aware, has actually been raging for well over five hundred years. I know that old hatreds run deep and die hard.
But so do old hopes and ancient dreams. One of mine is that Prime Minister Cameron’s apology will be taken seriously. A nation and its people are sometimes slow to heal. But if that is to happen at all, it must begin and it must continue.
And in the name of every man, woman and child, in both countries, it must never be allowed to happen again for surely it will be the death of them all. For an excellent article on this, written by Atlantic Senior Editor Timothy Lavin, please go here.
There has been a recent breakthrough in medical science which will make a fantastic difference to millions of people world-wide. To fully appreciate this one, imagine yourself paralyzed and unable to speak. You’re fully alert, mind you. I mean totally cognizant and aware. You’ve got the words in your mind but you just can’t get them out.
Anyone who stutters or stammers occasionally, as I do, can relate to that part of it. And so can anybody who has ever had writer’s block and no, I am not being facetious. Writers block is to a creative person what a migraine headache is to a working stiff. And since I’m both, I get both. However, I digress. And stuff.
Basically, a small device is implanted in the brain that connects thoughts to a computer which then translates them into words. It’s more complicated than that but I’m technologically not a real bright star on a moonless night so this will do. That and yep, for more on this one, check it out here.
Now that it’s getting warm in a lot of places under these seven flags, we were delighted to run across this list of ways to beat the summer heat. We’re familiar with most of them but America’s Environmental Protection Agency has managed to come up with a couple three new ones for us. Yep, go here.
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
One real fundamental way of surviving hard times is a change in habits that no longer work real well. Among the biggest items in most of our budgets is personal transportation and yep, also for most of us yet, that’s still a car that requires gasoline. Here’s another story ~ we’ve run several of these ~ which talks about the challenges of going a week without driving. Yep, in one way or another, there’s something in this one for all of us.
NORTHSTAR THE DRAGON
Under the heading “NOT Good Press For This Emerald City,” earlier this week, a Seattle police officer was caught on video punching a 17-year-old black girl while trying to arrest her for ~ and get this ~ jaywalking. As KING 5’s Roberta Romero and Chris Daniels report:
“Only months after Seattle police came under heavy criticism for a video of police stomping on a man, there is new controversy - this time, a video shows an officer punching a young woman in the face after she tried to avoid arrest.”
The reaction by all concerned is familiar. The Seattle Police Department this time, though, contends that the officer’s response to the verbal and physical abuse this teenager was giving him was appropriate. One SPD spokesman went on to say, essentially, that if you hassle an officer in the performance of his duties, this is the kind of reaction you can expect.
Yeah, right. And it’s not like every parent with teenagers can’t identify with the urge to do that sometimes? Most responsible adults, “badge heavy” or not, however, find considerably more appropriate options than punching a truculent adolescent in the mouth.
This incident took place in the Rainier Valley, a predominantly black neighborhood and the cop in question was white. The earlier incident to which KING 5 referred occurred in a different neighborhood and the victim just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was taken down, kicked and subjected to verbal abuse before officers realized they had the wrong person. He was also not white.
We’d really like to hear from you folks on this one and we promise, with your permission, that we will forward your responses ~ good, bad or indifferent ~ to the Seattle Police Department. You can also contact them directly and let them know exactly how you feel. And you can go here to let other readers of the Seattle Times know too. Yep, this is another ten-minute exercise in making a difference.
CROSSING OVER
It is with great sadness that we observe the passing of country singer and sausage mogul Jimmy Ray Dean. Jimmy recorded one of my all time favorite songs, Big Bad John, in 1961. He hosted his own variety show from 1963 to 1966 and early on, introduced Jim Henson and the Muppets to the world. What many may not remember is that he was also a fine dramatic actor and can still be seen in a recurring role on RTV in episodes of the television series Daniel Boone, starring Fess Parker, which ran from 1964 – 1970. Like Fess, Jimmy Ray was a native Texan and as proud a son of the Lonestar as Fess was too. Jimmy died at his home Sunday outside of Richmond, Virginia. He was 81. For an outstanding tribute, please go here.
ON THE CANCER FRONT
There’s a particularly insidious and elusive form of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-negative cancer. Researchers for years have been trying to spot this one so it can be treated before it takes over. They’ve made a major breakthrough recently by identifying three of what they term “markers” which indicate, early on, the existence of this one. The source for this is also one you might want to bookmark and check occasionally. So, to my mind at least and to the one I lost and for whom this portion of the Northstar Journal is dedicated, it’s good news and a strong indication that this disease can and will eventually become a long and tragic footnote in medical history. Please go here for details.
RESOURCES AND RELATED LINKS:
American Cancer Statistics 2009
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2009
National Cancer Institute (American)
Fighting Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Survivor Stories
FREE STUFF FROM THE NET
This Sunday, in America, it’s Fathers Day. And yep, in my mind, that’s another “excuse” for all of us to party a little behind that one. We’ve all got a father, some of us have been fathers and all of us know fathers. For some great ideas on how to make this a special day in these regards, yep, go here.
HEALTH NEWS
Well, according to a study recently published in the European Heart Journal, short people are one and a half times more likely to have heart problems and die from them than taller people. The Finnish scientists who conducted this research define short as below 5’3” (161 cm) and tall as at least 5’9” (174 cm). They pointed out that while height is not as important a factor as smoking and other obviously bad habits, it seems to be a definite consideration. They were also quick to say it’s no reason to panic. It just means that folks a little closer to the ground need to pay a bit more attention to their health in general. Yep, for more on this one, please go here.
And in our ongoing crusade to keep you folks alive at least until your grandchildren are old enough to read The Northstar Journal, we found yet another way to suppress one’s appetite. I have to tell you, though, this one sounded so “dumb” at first that I actually checked with a couple of sources here in Seattle. Those food commercials we see on TV, the Net and listen to on the radio? When those come on, turn the volume completely down and quit watching people try to sell you the big, gooey and greasy stuff that makes a devout and profound glutton out of every junk food freak in the world, including yours truly. Yep, check it out here.
SEATTLE SCENES
If you’re planning to visit Seattle in the near future, you might want to check these sites out first.
SUMMER GUIDE
Let us steer you to the best beaches, festivals and fun.
Circus! Is Coming!
Pacific Science Center is preparing for the arrival of our next big exhibit. Circus! Science Under The Big Top opens June 12.→Learn More
Part of Seattle had to be rebuilt because the tides made toilets, which we didn’t have when our pioneering antecedents first got here, back up. The Pioneer Square Underground Tour tells most of us all we know about what lies underneath Seattle our fair city. It's a touristy exploration of the city's oldest basements, a jokey excursion through an urban underbelly filled with commentary about the foibles, and drinking habits of the city's lusty pioneers. It's the closest many of us come to seeing firsthand the archaeology of the city. Yep, for more on this one:
SEATTLE FACTS AND FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
Seattle Geography & Climate
For more information about Seattle
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State
THE CAPITOL HILL BEAT
We applaud and support the Obama Administration in their continued efforts to hold British Petroleum financially responsible for what many are calling the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The $20-billion being set aside for claims will probably prove not nearly enough as civil penalties alone thus far are estimated at about $280-million. But at least no one is naïve enough to believe that BP would have done this without the strong arm of the American government (us, the taxpayers, remember?) “encouraging” them in these regards. Good going, guys. It’s not the entire remedy but, in this writer’s opinion, it’s a big spoonful in the right direction.
CRITTER STUFF
One of our resident orca pods is back and they brought a baby with them. To view this darling before she gets big enough to, pardon my speech, scare the crap out of the unreconstructed descendants of Captain Ahab and give them real bad dreams, yep, go here.
If you love butterflies as much as most people I know, here’s a way to not just attract them but entice them to move into the ‘hood. This article from the online edition of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Wildlife magazine talks about how to plant in your garden what attracts the caterpillars that turn into these regal aerialists. I found this one absolutely fascinating and since it’s predicted sunny this weekend I’m going to select my favorite butterflies and cultivate a patch especially for them. For more on this, yep, go here.
In my state, that’s about a third of a million people and as the New York Times recently pointed out, for each day that our elected officials spend arguing about this, several hundred thousand men and women are losing their benefits and facing the loss of all they’ve spent their lives working for.
These numbers also include veterans from several wars, minorities for whom it has always been tough in these regards, single parents working two jobs to feed, house and clothe their families and recent college graduates losing the first job they’ve ever held.
There’s an eerie sense of familiarity about this lack of prompt and appropriate response to quality of life issues in this country. We weren’t prepared for Katrina. We weren’t prepared for the Deep Horizon oil spill. Apparently we were not prepared for the massive economic manipulations which brought on the worst Recession in the nation’s history.
As we’ve done before, we urge you now to contact your Congressional delegation and tell them, in no uncertain terms, to pass HR 4213 and to make sure the extension of benefits applies to those whose benefits have already expired. You can read about this legislation here and you can contact your senator and representatives at this site. It takes about ten minutes to do this and for each of you who can find the time, there are thousands of us who would thank you if we could.
IN OTHER NEWS
One of the darkest days in recent history occurred on January 30, 1972, when some 15,000 people gathered in Derry, Northern Ireland, for a civil rights march. Thirteen unarmed protestors died that “Bloody Sunday” when English paratroopers opened fire on the crowd. On June 1 of this year, the British government released a second study which excoriated the troops who fired on a demonstration which had no hostile intent.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister David Cameron formally apologized and strongly implied that like so much that happened during the 40 years of The Troubles, it was the policies in place and how they were enforced, on and by both sides, which made this such a scandalous and tragic period in the history of both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
When something like this happens, I am strongly reminded that responsible government knows no flag. Like many of you, particularly in Canada, Ireland, England and Australia, I have friends on both sides of a conflict which, as most of you are aware, has actually been raging for well over five hundred years. I know that old hatreds run deep and die hard.
But so do old hopes and ancient dreams. One of mine is that Prime Minister Cameron’s apology will be taken seriously. A nation and its people are sometimes slow to heal. But if that is to happen at all, it must begin and it must continue.
And in the name of every man, woman and child, in both countries, it must never be allowed to happen again for surely it will be the death of them all. For an excellent article on this, written by Atlantic Senior Editor Timothy Lavin, please go here.
There has been a recent breakthrough in medical science which will make a fantastic difference to millions of people world-wide. To fully appreciate this one, imagine yourself paralyzed and unable to speak. You’re fully alert, mind you. I mean totally cognizant and aware. You’ve got the words in your mind but you just can’t get them out.
Anyone who stutters or stammers occasionally, as I do, can relate to that part of it. And so can anybody who has ever had writer’s block and no, I am not being facetious. Writers block is to a creative person what a migraine headache is to a working stiff. And since I’m both, I get both. However, I digress. And stuff.
Basically, a small device is implanted in the brain that connects thoughts to a computer which then translates them into words. It’s more complicated than that but I’m technologically not a real bright star on a moonless night so this will do. That and yep, for more on this one, check it out here.
Now that it’s getting warm in a lot of places under these seven flags, we were delighted to run across this list of ways to beat the summer heat. We’re familiar with most of them but America’s Environmental Protection Agency has managed to come up with a couple three new ones for us. Yep, go here.
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
One real fundamental way of surviving hard times is a change in habits that no longer work real well. Among the biggest items in most of our budgets is personal transportation and yep, also for most of us yet, that’s still a car that requires gasoline. Here’s another story ~ we’ve run several of these ~ which talks about the challenges of going a week without driving. Yep, in one way or another, there’s something in this one for all of us.
NORTHSTAR THE DRAGON
Under the heading “NOT Good Press For This Emerald City,” earlier this week, a Seattle police officer was caught on video punching a 17-year-old black girl while trying to arrest her for ~ and get this ~ jaywalking. As KING 5’s Roberta Romero and Chris Daniels report:
“Only months after Seattle police came under heavy criticism for a video of police stomping on a man, there is new controversy - this time, a video shows an officer punching a young woman in the face after she tried to avoid arrest.”
The reaction by all concerned is familiar. The Seattle Police Department this time, though, contends that the officer’s response to the verbal and physical abuse this teenager was giving him was appropriate. One SPD spokesman went on to say, essentially, that if you hassle an officer in the performance of his duties, this is the kind of reaction you can expect.
Yeah, right. And it’s not like every parent with teenagers can’t identify with the urge to do that sometimes? Most responsible adults, “badge heavy” or not, however, find considerably more appropriate options than punching a truculent adolescent in the mouth.
This incident took place in the Rainier Valley, a predominantly black neighborhood and the cop in question was white. The earlier incident to which KING 5 referred occurred in a different neighborhood and the victim just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was taken down, kicked and subjected to verbal abuse before officers realized they had the wrong person. He was also not white.
We’d really like to hear from you folks on this one and we promise, with your permission, that we will forward your responses ~ good, bad or indifferent ~ to the Seattle Police Department. You can also contact them directly and let them know exactly how you feel. And you can go here to let other readers of the Seattle Times know too. Yep, this is another ten-minute exercise in making a difference.
CROSSING OVER
It is with great sadness that we observe the passing of country singer and sausage mogul Jimmy Ray Dean. Jimmy recorded one of my all time favorite songs, Big Bad John, in 1961. He hosted his own variety show from 1963 to 1966 and early on, introduced Jim Henson and the Muppets to the world. What many may not remember is that he was also a fine dramatic actor and can still be seen in a recurring role on RTV in episodes of the television series Daniel Boone, starring Fess Parker, which ran from 1964 – 1970. Like Fess, Jimmy Ray was a native Texan and as proud a son of the Lonestar as Fess was too. Jimmy died at his home Sunday outside of Richmond, Virginia. He was 81. For an outstanding tribute, please go here.
ON THE CANCER FRONT
There’s a particularly insidious and elusive form of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-negative cancer. Researchers for years have been trying to spot this one so it can be treated before it takes over. They’ve made a major breakthrough recently by identifying three of what they term “markers” which indicate, early on, the existence of this one. The source for this is also one you might want to bookmark and check occasionally. So, to my mind at least and to the one I lost and for whom this portion of the Northstar Journal is dedicated, it’s good news and a strong indication that this disease can and will eventually become a long and tragic footnote in medical history. Please go here for details.
RESOURCES AND RELATED LINKS:
American Cancer Statistics 2009
Canadian Cancer Statistics 2009
National Cancer Institute (American)
Fighting Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Survivor Stories
FREE STUFF FROM THE NET
This Sunday, in America, it’s Fathers Day. And yep, in my mind, that’s another “excuse” for all of us to party a little behind that one. We’ve all got a father, some of us have been fathers and all of us know fathers. For some great ideas on how to make this a special day in these regards, yep, go here.
HEALTH NEWS
Well, according to a study recently published in the European Heart Journal, short people are one and a half times more likely to have heart problems and die from them than taller people. The Finnish scientists who conducted this research define short as below 5’3” (161 cm) and tall as at least 5’9” (174 cm). They pointed out that while height is not as important a factor as smoking and other obviously bad habits, it seems to be a definite consideration. They were also quick to say it’s no reason to panic. It just means that folks a little closer to the ground need to pay a bit more attention to their health in general. Yep, for more on this one, please go here.
And in our ongoing crusade to keep you folks alive at least until your grandchildren are old enough to read The Northstar Journal, we found yet another way to suppress one’s appetite. I have to tell you, though, this one sounded so “dumb” at first that I actually checked with a couple of sources here in Seattle. Those food commercials we see on TV, the Net and listen to on the radio? When those come on, turn the volume completely down and quit watching people try to sell you the big, gooey and greasy stuff that makes a devout and profound glutton out of every junk food freak in the world, including yours truly. Yep, check it out here.
SEATTLE SCENES
If you’re planning to visit Seattle in the near future, you might want to check these sites out first.
SUMMER GUIDE
Let us steer you to the best beaches, festivals and fun.
Circus! Is Coming!
Pacific Science Center is preparing for the arrival of our next big exhibit. Circus! Science Under The Big Top opens June 12.→Learn More
Part of Seattle had to be rebuilt because the tides made toilets, which we didn’t have when our pioneering antecedents first got here, back up. The Pioneer Square Underground Tour tells most of us all we know about what lies underneath Seattle our fair city. It's a touristy exploration of the city's oldest basements, a jokey excursion through an urban underbelly filled with commentary about the foibles, and drinking habits of the city's lusty pioneers. It's the closest many of us come to seeing firsthand the archaeology of the city. Yep, for more on this one:
SEATTLE FACTS AND FIGURES
Seattle Rainfall in Comparison To Other US Cities
Seattle Geography & Climate
For more information about Seattle
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State
THE CAPITOL HILL BEAT
We applaud and support the Obama Administration in their continued efforts to hold British Petroleum financially responsible for what many are calling the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. The $20-billion being set aside for claims will probably prove not nearly enough as civil penalties alone thus far are estimated at about $280-million. But at least no one is naïve enough to believe that BP would have done this without the strong arm of the American government (us, the taxpayers, remember?) “encouraging” them in these regards. Good going, guys. It’s not the entire remedy but, in this writer’s opinion, it’s a big spoonful in the right direction.
CRITTER STUFF
One of our resident orca pods is back and they brought a baby with them. To view this darling before she gets big enough to, pardon my speech, scare the crap out of the unreconstructed descendants of Captain Ahab and give them real bad dreams, yep, go here.
If you love butterflies as much as most people I know, here’s a way to not just attract them but entice them to move into the ‘hood. This article from the online edition of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Wildlife magazine talks about how to plant in your garden what attracts the caterpillars that turn into these regal aerialists. I found this one absolutely fascinating and since it’s predicted sunny this weekend I’m going to select my favorite butterflies and cultivate a patch especially for them. For more on this, yep, go here.
We’ve also found something you might want to bookmark. It’s the BBC’s wildlife finder and it’s a real handy way of getting more information about the fauna we feature in this column. MS(R)M Check it out here.
YOU GUYS (STILL OCCASIONALLY) THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP
We found it really interesting to learn that apparently something like $1-trillion worth of mineral resources have been discovered in Afghanistan? According to the lead in this New York Times story, that’s enough “to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy.”
I’m sorry, but my first reaction to that was, “Jeez, Louise, ya think?”
My second was, “Does that mean you can pay for your own war now?”
My third was, “Ummm, considering like all we’ve invested in helping you, and since you’ve like just come into this big inheritance?”
In a writer’s perfect world, right? Yeah, I know. But still and stuff. Sigh. And yep, Rusty, good luck with that one.
Well, that’s it for just now. Before you take off, you might want to 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 of yourselves? Thanks again for the ear and as my disreputable grandfather occasionally was wont to say (and yes, before anybody gets back to me about this, “wont” really is a word, without the apostrophe), “May yez be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows yer dead.” We’ll see you next Friday, then, eh? And have a good week, all.
Rusty
We found it really interesting to learn that apparently something like $1-trillion worth of mineral resources have been discovered in Afghanistan? According to the lead in this New York Times story, that’s enough “to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy.”
I’m sorry, but my first reaction to that was, “Jeez, Louise, ya think?”
My second was, “Does that mean you can pay for your own war now?”
My third was, “Ummm, considering like all we’ve invested in helping you, and since you’ve like just come into this big inheritance?”
In a writer’s perfect world, right? Yeah, I know. But still and stuff. Sigh. And yep, Rusty, good luck with that one.
Well, that’s it for just now. Before you take off, you might want to 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 of yourselves? Thanks again for the ear and as my disreputable grandfather occasionally was wont to say (and yes, before anybody gets back to me about this, “wont” really is a word, without the apostrophe), “May yez be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows yer dead.” We’ll see you next Friday, then, eh? And have a good week, all.
Rusty
For a free subscription to the ezine 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.
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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