Hi again from the Bastion on the Puget Sound. Like most of the world, it seems, we’ve been monitoring the progress of British Petroleum in containing and cleaning up an oil spill that is three times the size of the Exxon Valdez, bigger than a couple of New England states, by far the largest in American history and still growing.
One of the things that has struck me as really bizarre about this is how BP’s managing director, Bob Dudley, is acting a lot like a deer caught in the headlights. Along with his “What, Me Worry?” attitude and his somewhat limited perspective, he reminds me of MAD magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman. Among other things, he observed that in comparison to the total volume of all the oceans of the world, this spill really isn’t that big a deal.
Ummm, okay, Bob. But in case you haven’t noticed, mate, it’s not only still flowing, it’s growing. So if this was like in your bathtub, how big would it have to get before you pulled the baby out and quit saying such incredibly dumb things about it?
I mean, this is the general leading the charge? Come on here, gang. This brass-hatted twit doesn’t know a cannon from a condom and I personally survived a couple of those idiots in a long ago war. So I’ve got oodles of confidence in this nincompoop. Yeah, that works.
It also gets me, with all due respect to the humble, that he sure seems full of a lot of “I don’t knows.” In my experience, that kind of ignorance comes from either being a figurehead chief executive and CEO’s get about as much as good actors, or it comes from a lack of contingency planning.
Submarine robotics have been in use for over two decades in the undersea salvage and exploration industries so the only reason BP’s so unbelievably inept at it is that they haven’t practiced.
And they haven’t practiced because they never expected it to happen to THEM. It happened to Exxon but it couldn’t happen to British Petroleum. I suspect Bob Dudley is going to be real disappointed when he dies, goes to Heaven and finds out that God does not drive a Rolls Royce.
That having been said, our hearts continue to go out to all those affected. The response of the entire Gulf Coast community has been as awesome as their outrage is understandable. It is also encouraging to learn that BP is under criminal investigation.
There is absolutely no doubt in this writer’s mind that the least BP should face is eleven counts of negligent homicide. But the depth and scope of British Petroleum’s irresponsibility and the cost in human misery to people living in a part of the United States which has been slammed by a staggering parade of hurricanes, monsoon-style rains, earthquakes and tornadoes just stretches my admittedly sometimes out there imagination to the max.
And when that happens, yep, I call on the resources of dead relatives. Sorry, that’s how my mind works sometimes and most of you know that so this is not headline news and stuff. Rusty Miller’s like a Northwest version of ‘y’all’ without Alabama plates on my pickup. Or, at present, a pickup. However, I digress. And stuff.
During the “Great Depression,” one of my grandfathers ~ not the respectable one ~ rode shotgun on a prison wagon that took murderers, rapists, pedophiles, arsonists and other high profile convicted felons from the county where they were tried to the state penitentiary. Unlike many of his professional peers, however, Simon never seemed to let the job get to him.
Grandma Sara said it was because he understood the big drawback to hate. You can only hang a man once. She also said that just because he accepted the obvious didn’t mean he was always comfortable with it. There were, she recalled, some people he wished had nine lives and he had the rope concession.
I rather imagine that’s how he’d feel about British Petroleum and this oil spill. That’s how I do and I’ve been told I’m also very much his grandson.
Our thanks this week to our Canadian counterpart in British Columbia, The Tyee: BC’s Home For News, Culture and Solutions, for compiling a list of the ten best sites for keeping track of the progress being made and the damage being done.
For what each of us, as individuals, can do to make a difference:
For more on this one:
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
Undersea box fails to stem oil gusher
New Ways to Drill, Old Methods for Cleanup
Oil Spill: Size Matters
Calculations of Gulf Spill Volume Are Questioned - NYTimes.com
The Price and Who Pays
Unusual steps may have triggered oil-rig blast
NW Fishermen Say "Don't Let an Oil Spill Happen Her
All Hands on Deck: What Can You Do About the Gulf Oil Spill?
Oil Spill In NW Context
As spill grows, oil soaks delicate marshes, birds
BP Says 'Top Kill' Failed to Stop Gulf Leak
Officials: Oil leak may last months
Gulf of Mexico oil complicates forecasts on hurricanes
BP Tries Again to Capture Oil With a Dome
IN OTHER NEWS
In what many are calling the sternest measures taken since the first of the revelations of sexual abuse rocked the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI had appointed a team of top clerics, including the archbishop of New York, to investigate dioceses and seminaries in Ireland. If this is an indication of the course the Vatican intends to pursue in these regards, rumors of the imminent demise of Catholicism may be, to paraphrase Mark Twain, a bit premature after all.
When it comes to selling green for its own sake, my cap goes off once again to the Canadians. On roof of the Vancouver Convention Centre West, they’ve created a six-acre/2.5 hectare natural meadow, replete with four beehives and other local flora and fauna. They’ve also made it off-limits to the general public. But the team that created this neo-Babylonian wonder did the same thing on a smaller roof of a nearby building from which the big green one can be viewed. To see how this all came together and for more information in general, yep, go here.
Here’s one that should inspire the garage mechanic in a lot of us. As we continue to move (back?) into the age of the electric auto, there’s a small outfit that has come upon the idea that rather than build a whole new vehicle, why not convert an existing one? It’s apparently a relatively new idea and the costs are still prohibitive for the average private motorist. But it’s being done to fleet service vehicles first, with the definite goal of making this option popularly available. It’s an “out with the old, in with the new” concept and it’s certainly not beyond the technical capabilities of someone who has ever replaced an internal combustion engine in a rig. For more on this one, go here.
SURVIVING HARD TIMES
If you’re a veteran looking for work or know of one who is, here’s a list of ten American companies who are looking for men and women with military experience. Good luck with this and Godspeed. MS(R)M
From The Recruit Military Vet List June 2010
THE DWYER GROUP
The Dwyer Group is the founder of the VetFran Program and gives a 25% discount on the initial territory purchase for honorably discharged veterans.
Leading the Service Industry is more than a statement at The Dwyer Group. It means providing the best experience for our customers and franchise owners without compromise. We know how to build successful businesses in the service industry. Our family of companies reaches more than 2.5 million customers annually through a franchise network of more than 1,200 locations throughout the United States and Canada. For more information go to http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16605
MALIN INTEGRATED HANDLING SOLUTIONS & DESIGN
Great Opportunities with Malin Integrated Handling Solutions! Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, McAllen, El Paso and New Orleans
We're a well-established, stable company with an outstanding reputation as a good place to work in the southwest and a history of solid profitability every year since 1971. Our average employee has been with us for over 10 years and is a highly trained, professional capable of delivering top quality products and uncompromised customer service. Unparalleled customer retention and strong market share makes us a dominant player in our marketplace. Join the winning team in the southwest! Current openings include field service technicians in Dallas and Laredo, Texas and customer service/dispatchers in Dallas, Texas: These positions require a high school diploma, additional education or certifications a plus. Applicants must have good references, clean driving records and be drug free. Successful candidates enjoy good pay and comprehensive benefits packages. Come and talk with Malin representatives at the DFW Job Expo in June.
Visit our website for more information about Malin and our products and services.
ACCENTURE
Bring your military skills to an environment where you can succeed.
Military professionals are known for their strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and ability to succeed in a challenging environment, exemplifying many of the same core values we live at Accenture. The lessons learned as military men and women are very transferable to the work we do. Leadership, discipline, organization, teamwork, and doing what it takes to get the job done are some of the areas in which military experience directly applies to our work. We offer a wide range of interesting opportunities to military personnel interested in pursuing a career with Accenture.. As a global consulting, outsourcing and technology company, many of the military professionals have a keen perspective of the global economy and have direct experience working across borders. Through your military career experience, it is likely that you have lived and worked abroad and received extensive training along the way.
Search our many open positions and apply today for the career that is right for you.
NSA National Security Agency - Where Intelligence Goes to Work
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a world leader in the protection and exploitation of intelligence. We gather and analyze foreign signals intelligence to produce vital information for U.S. policymakers and warfighters. And we protect American intelligence from the ever-listening ears of our adversaries, giving our Nation a decisive edge. NSA has career opportunities available in Computer/Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Assurance, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Intelligence Analysis, Cryptanalysis, Signals Analysis, Business, and more. You'll enjoy an incredible benefits package, competitive pay, and the satisfaction of making the world a safer place. For more information about the career opportunities available at NSA and to apply online, visit http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16608. U.S. citizenship is required.
MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND
Military Sealift Command is actively recruiting prior military for our Refrigeration Engineer and Second Electrician positions. Interested candidates should visit http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16610 to learn more about the employment conditions or call 1-877-562-7672 to speak with a recruiter.
SAIC
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), is a scientific, engineering, and technology applications company in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. To learn more and to apply online, please visit http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16613
© SAIC. All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity Employer.
PROGRAM MANAGER, ANALYST AND ACQUISITION CAREERS
A major defense related client is seeking talent for Program Manager, Analyst and Acquisition related roles. There are multiple positions where you will consult with civil, defense and national security government agencies. We want to talk with you if you have acquisition, procurement, Army G3 or G8, or DoD program management experience. To be considered, you need to have a bachelor's degree and an ability to at least receive a Secret level security clearance. If you'd like to be considered for these opportunities and have a conversation to learn more, please forward your resume to http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16623.
CLEARANCE JOBS
Your security clearance matters - companies are still hiring in the cleared space and your clearance is worth more. You are in high demand because you have an active US security clearance. But, like so many job-seekers we help, it's not always easy or convenient to see where all the best choices are. That's why we are excited to tell you we have partnered with the leading job board in the cleared space. We are confident they can provide many cleared job opportunities to you. Take two minutes to register at http://www2.recruitmilitary.com/email/click?message_id=1773&contact_id=905223&link_id=16625 - it's free, and you'll be exposed to thousands and thousands of outstanding career opportunities.
ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS ACROSS THE US
We currently have a client seeking Electronic Technicians for numerous locations across the United States. Our client is an international company that services the oil and gas industry. The Electronic Technician is responsible for numerous maintenance and leadership functions in oil fields throughout the US. Must have strong electronic experience down to circuit board level; leadership experience; computer skills and the willingness to relocate to any location assigned, with relocation assistance available) We are an international, veteran friendly company with comprehensive benefits and unlimited promotion potential. Salary will be $48 to $52k (first year) with overtime available.
This is a physically and mentally demanding position! If you are qualified, able to relocate and are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity please apply here.
The Northstar Dragon
As a kid ~ because the unrespectable grandfather loved them ~ I got to read a lot of Westerns by people like Luke Short, Louis L’amour, Oakley Hall and certainly the incomparable Zane Grey. Grandpa was also a cowboy with a ranch, a Winchester and an unfailing devotion to Friday night poker at the French Gulch Saloon in the town of the same name.
Grandpa was also a permanently deputized member of the county sheriff’s posse. He was always a little sheepish about that though because he’d also had a still during Prohibition and we all understood that the real allure for him was the extra money he got when some city hunter or saddle tourist got stranded in the high peaks and they had to ride out looking for them.
I’m wondering what he’d think if he knew that up here, where I live now, but out in the San Juan Islands northwest of Seattle, there’s an elusive burglar who’s laughed at the police and thus far eluded all efforts to capture him. He hasn’t threatened anyone and he’s a local boy gone weird. It’s a game for him, this swooping down on some place on one of the islands, stealing some stuff, fencing it locally and managing to stay virtually invisible on an island so small that blades of grass are counted in any census necessary for government funding.
Well, in a part of the country that put the “laid” back into “laid back,” islanders have finally had it with this little twit. There is now a bounty on him and there are also a half dozen bondsmen aka bounty hunters who are donating their people finding skills now that the press has brought this to the attention of the entire state.
It’s what Colton Harris-Moore, who is all of 19, wanted in the first place. He loves being known as “the barefoot bandit”. He’s never been this important in his life. But where the cog slips a gear for Colton is that this isn’t a game to people who hunt fugitives for a living. And even the Code of Silence only works so far during hard times. The $6,500 reward on his head is going to buy a lot of cooperation.
More to the point, I suspect, people with guns, tasers, clubs and other tools of submission and containment are looking for him. When they find him, they’re not going to give him a chance to be charming. They’re going to take him down because that’s what these guys do. And no more than anyone else do they like working any harder than necessary.
The courts in the San Juan Islands are particularly sensitive to public opinion and given the multiple charges against him, Colton is probably going to be advised not to get cute before a judge or a jury. But since Colton is also essentially clueless in some important regards, he’ll try smarting off and then totally lose it when he’s sentenced to more time than he is old.
But the totality of it probably will sink in the first night he’s in a cell deep in the bowels of a concrete castle set in total panoramic splendor, and wakes up to his roomie’s hand on his knee. If he survives that first night, it may dawn on him that life is sometimes not just about having fun, being cute and becoming a local legend. Colton’s not stupid and he’ll have a lot of time to figure it out. Yep, for more on this one:
CROSSING OVER
For the American entertainment industry and viewers around the world, it was a very sad week, marking as it did the passing of Gary Coleman, Dennis Hopper and Rue McClanahan. To lose three such as these in so short a span of time sometimes staggers the heart. For excellent tributes to these extraordinary individuals, please go here.
ON THE CANCER FRONT
Just a reminder that Sunday, June 6, is National Cancer Survivors Day. This is the 23rd year now this has been celebrated and its not just about being grateful for having beaten this particular Reaper back. It’s a time for learning about how to live an even happier and healthier life, period. To see what events are scheduled for your community, please go here.
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
Sometimes it doesn’t take much to make a difference and one of the cool things about the Net is the convenience of it all. And in an age when grace and good manners seem to be ground down some by hard times, a simple expression of caring often means all the more. For an example, go here.
HEALTH NEWS
In our ongoing battle for truth, justice and the health of our readers, we’re giving those of you trying to lose weight or convince someone you love to go on a diet another resource. In her new book, “Diet Myths That Keep Us Fat,” Dr. Nancy Snyderman makes another strong case for shedding everything right down to the real you and not making the process a case of culinary deprivation or fanatic denial. Check it out here.
For those of us who work real hard and then find it difficult to unwind, throttle down or chill out, here’s one that’s been around for a long time. It’s also one I’ve used personally for years and it’s so popular now that even most chain groceries carry it. It’s chamomile tea we’re talking about here. I keep a big jar of it on the shelf along with tinned (canned) milk and if life start’s sliding into a fight or flight mode, I’ll mix a big glass mug of that up, add some brown sugar or honey, sometimes crushed blueberries too, and nuke it in the small microwave for two minutes or so. The aroma of it is also very soothing so inhaling the steam from a fresh cup is an added benefit. For more on this one, yep, go 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
The Pioneer Square Underground Tour tells most of us all we know about what lies underneath Seattle. 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
For more information about Seattle
For live cameras on Seattle, the Puget Sound and Washington State
THE CAPITOL HILL BEAT
We applaud the Obama Administration and particularly Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., for announcing in New Orleans this week that they are going to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any individual or entity the Justice Department finds responsible for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. As I’ve said before, I don’t think this is the Obama Administration flexing its political muscles. If the outrage and public outcry over this were compared to the spill itself, Deepwater Horizons would be a thimble in a hail storm. This is an environmental disaster of epic proportion and as rank, flagrant and callous a disregard for the public good as this writer has seen in some while. The Obama Administration is responding to the wishes of the constituency, which is what it is paid to do. Thanks, guys, and nice going.
CRITTER STUFF
Even though I have never been there, I have a profound respect for New York City and those who live there. I also know that it is a place where strange things happen which, even in a land of volcanoes, earthquakes, torrential rains, hot springs, a desert, two mountain ranges and snowstorms, simply do not occur. At times, New York seems like the center of a self-correcting universe.
I was therefore amused but not totally surprised to learn that a whole bunch of bees swarmed an extremely upscale Wall Street restaurant popular with stock brokers, and that the establishment’s general manager took it in stride, explaining with the nonchalance only a New Yorker could muster, “We had 15,000 girls who wanted to get in and have a nice, fresh Bellini on a hot, sunny day." (What’s a Bellini?)
To me, that’s like Noah being interviewed when the Heavens first opened up and agreeing with local meteorologists that they might be in for a spell of wet weather. What do these bees know that we do not? Or the general manager of that restaurant, for that matter? Yep, for more, go here.
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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 THINK I MAKE THIS STUFF UP
I just lost a history bet with a couple of tenants in my building that is going to have me bringing the paper up to their flat for a week and washing their mountain bikes every Friday afternoon for a month. What’s even more embarrassing is that these kids aren’t from here. Like a lot of the international community, they consistently prove to me that they know more about America than I do. And I keep making these dumb bets that prove them right. But if I’m going down in flames again, I’m going to take a few people with me. Who, in terms of today’s dollars, is or was the richest president of the United States? I’d love to know how many of you would be doing weird things behind this bet. For the answer, go here.
Well, that’s it for this time. 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, stay well, thanks again for the ear and we’ll see you next week.
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.
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?
