Life In The Pacific Northwest
A few days ago I posted about Brain Yang, a local solider who had gone missing by Mt. St. Helens.
Per his family, he’s been found, but not alive.
Thank you everyone who helped share.
— paksᴮᴱ⁷ ⟭⟬🧈 (@Pakouchu) July 22, 2021
Brian's family updated that be has been found however he did not survive. https://t.co/gArHYKKJOU pic.twitter.com/W2uDuelakH
Per KIRO’s website, he apparently fell 200 ft down an embankment. My condolences to his family. I hope they find peace
Yesterday, this tweet came through my feed:
Moots, can you help boost?
My cousin's gf's younger Brian Yang is missing. He didn't return from his run on Sunday. Please share 🙏
Location: Tacoma, WA pic.twitter.com/T2bahzGUPD
— paksᴮᴱ⁷ ⟭⟬🧈 (@Pakouchu) July 20, 2021
Other posts about Lt. Yang:
So, a choir gathered for their regular rehearsal. Before the more draconian restrictions were set. They limited physical contact, practiced limited social distancing. Covid 19 is quite cruel. We’re seeing that it may be able to transmit through the air between people who showed no symptoms, which makes it that much scarier.
Anyway, I feel it’s important to point out the choir was following the promulgated protocols at the time of their last rehearsal.
The story had gone national. This link is to the local paper, The Skagit Valley Herald.
Sadly, a young man’s body was found on the campus of WWU. If you have any information, please call the Western Washington University Police at 360-650-3555, reference case # 20-0148.
WWU Campus Advisory: Police seek public’s help to identify body found on WWU campus from Bellingham
Heard this morning about KPLU having an FAQ about the sale on their site. I’ve already written on this, but I felt that a desire to comment after reviewing this newest bit of info.
I give them credit for including links to ways to challenge with the FCC the sale, how to cancel your support (if you’re sufficiently outraged), and where you can provide feedback to KUOW directly.
However, I’m still bothered by the lack of discussion about local news coverage. They hinted at it when they noted “KPLU already collaborates with KUOW on regional news coverage through the Northwest News Network…” and noting there’s a finite audience. However, KUOW’s regional coverage eroded to near nothing, hence why I shifted all my listening over to KPLU.
Perhaps this really speaks to a larger issue: how do we maintain high levels of regional coverage? Is the audience really limited? Or is the vision of KUOW limited? Perhaps this is a reflection of radical shifts in media landscape, where securing adequate funding is tough. But the loss of a newsroom deeply concerns me, regardless of the rationale or causality. I expect, though, the solution shall be unclear.
It’s been an interesting week. During Tuesday’s storm I was sitting in a class up above downtown Everett. Quite the bluster! Even in the 6th floor of a modern high-rise, we could hear the wind. Fortunately, my friends and family came through reasonably unscathed, with the greatest problems being power losses and fence destruction. Many in the region had far worse results (the Seattle PI has a great run-down of the aftermath).
With the storm, traffic was significantly eventful and my poor instructor quite late. I took the opportunity to chat with many of the good folks at Everett’s First American Title office. Such great people! A few folks I’ve known for years, but have never met. Such is the nature of modern business!
Our class covered the Escrow Process, where we focused on several key changes and issues facing this sector. One of the biggest: cyber-fraud.
I’ve been hearing an amazing number of cases of spoofed, or near-spoofed email addresses where funds are redirected. With this, we covered ways in which our business is responding to better protect your information.
Also, we looked at the way the CFPB’s new disclosure rules are getting implemented. The mortgage industry has taken this very, very seriously and implemented (for the most part) solid processes to keep closing timelines solid. Each lender has their own process, which is complicating things. And we’re having issues with certain folks not respecting the amount of time it takes the other players to act (“yeah, it closes tomorrow, here’s our stuff at 6pm. Too bad you don’t have time to get all your work accomplished. It’s your fault, of course”).
Anyway, always trying to learn more. Real Estate is vibrant and ever changing business. It is one of the things that delights me about it. This also speaks to the value of real estate agents. We stay up-to-date on all the changes occurring. Even if you bought a house last year, the market has changed. There are new processes, forms and documentation. Let us help you navigate this morphing realm.
I care deeply about journalism. Having quality, full time staff to dive deeply into issues is critical for our culture, for our democracy. Additionally critical: willingness to dive deeply into serious issues that need coverage, regardless of ratings. It’s critical from the national level all the way down to the local/hyperlocal. And, I’d argue, it’s most critical at the local.
So, KUOW is buying KPLU. The region’s two biggest public radio stations are at stake. This whole acquisition disturbs me. I noticed KUOW’s declining coverage of local events years ago and gave up on the station. KPLU has been a mainstay for my radio listening for years, long before and above and beyond their jazz programming. KUOW’s abandonment of local programming and unwillingness to listen to the community on major concerns regarding programming and personnel give me deep concerns about the plans for KPLU, which has taken up the slack as KUOW fell. I stopped listening as KUOW became irrelevant. And KPLU got my ears and dollars.
Reading The Stranger’s interview with Caryn Mathes only deepened my concern. She didn’t give any details or rationale about this merger. We know it’s not about the financial state of KPLU or Pacific Lutheran University, for what that’s worth. Perhaps she summed it up well when she said “If we’re relevant, if we’re resonating with people’s lives, people will give us money.” I haven’t given them money for years. Not out of protest (though their firing of Cliff Mass and their “spit-in-my-face” response to the community push-back might be good enough), but, like Cliff posted on his blog last year, they’ve stopped serving the community ages ago.
So, clearly, I don’t think this is a good idea for anyone, except perhaps the managers at KUOW and, I guess, the regents at PLU (with their tasty bit of cash) . The community is left with the promise of “not screwing this up” by the leader of the organization that has done exactly that, and much stonewalling. It’s a sad time for journalism lovers and those who see deep value in public radio, especially here in Seattle.
More reading:
I’m sure most people would think I’m writing about Amazon Prime music, but no. Real Networks has been around for years. I used their player before iTunes, before Pandora, I’m pretty sure before Windows XP. They’ve been in this space a long time, but have not have regained the popular attention they had in the 1990s.
And, as Spotify announces huge, game changing pivots in the music/video space, Real brings back their founder and announces they’re moving into photo-sharing. As they’re bleeding cash, it’s hard not to see this as the final flails of a dying company. I deeply hope I’m wrong. Their immanent death has been predicted for years, and wrong. And I root for my home teams!
Just saw this in the Tacoma News Tribune; again. It really bothers me that this driver hasn’t been caught yet. It’s hard to imagine that anyone had not seen this video, as it’s gone viral. A recent search shows new orgs in the east coast showing it, for heaven’s sake. I’m sure everyone, truly Everyone in the region has seen this. And that the police are looking for the driver. Someone knows the answer and is deliberately withholding the info. So, now we’ve upped the game. Crime Stoppers is now offering a $1k reward. Just anonymously call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Sadly, I won’t be able to make it. But should be very interesting and insightful.
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014 – 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
1800 41st Street, Ste 300, Everett
Contact: The Daily Herald jcampbell@heraldnet.com Phone: 425-339-3000
In partnership with Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Our new offices are starting to feel like home. We’re ready to invite our friends to visit. If you haven’t had the chance to visit the Daily Herald since we made the move, we’d like to give you a chance to join us at an open house on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 from 4p.m. until 7p.m. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served.
There will be a silent auction containing memorable pieces of our history available for you to take home. All of the proceeds raised will go towards The Herald Editorial Scholarship Fund through the Greater Everett Community Foundation. The fund provides annual scholarships to Snohomish County college students who have shown a dedication to community journalism.