This magazine has a smattering of good things for women…read more I felt that much was a bit surface andnot much content. Some good events in the calendar. Then, the last page. I was so struck by the poetry on the last page. I have read this magazine before and felt the same as I said, kind of surface in treatment. Today I am taken aback at the beauty of this poem," A Perfect Peace" by Susan Moffitt. Thank you.

My "Go-To" Rag for the Haps in Seattle…read more SITREP Jetting in and out of SeaTac for work assignments keeps my head spinning. But when I want to decompress in a cutting-edge environment, THE STRANGER gets me the information I want to see in relationship to the entire scene at once. SETUP Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my iPhone. But what I've discovered is a "weakness" with our tech - or maybe an "insufficiency" - be it iPhones or laptops, tablets, what have you: these cool little devices are great at honing on more specific details of information when you already have a general idea of what you want to do. For example, you know what movie you want to see (maybe "Wrath of the Titans", etc.) and so you can do a quick search on the iPhone and get the 411. Or you might know that Tango has a great happy hour with inexpensive drinks and munchies on Tuesdays going on and you want to confirm these specials, and so you jump on the iPad and get the 411. THE RANDOM But what if you really just want to "see" what random stuff is out there? Expose yourself to the bills and the ads and the what not: "What bands are playing?" Tonight? Tomorrow? "What venues are DJ or Band or Dancing or all combined?" All in a grid matrix on a sheet of paper so you can compare (EASILY) or contrast (EASILY) all the cover charges, the location-neighborhoods? Oh, what's this? A random ad for a cool burlesque night at Noc Noc is going on for Thursday. Oh, what's this? Stumbling Monk is doing a special game night. THE WEAKNESS With my tech, it's not easy for the eye to capture than more than the little "streaming" bursts that are on my little iPhone screen, or even on a tablet. However, with the paper, I can look at a grid-matrix all at once - left-to-right, with my peripheral vision catching just as much as my focus. And until we get to the level of holographic projections (ie. the movie MINORITY REPORT) where we can turn pages of light with our fingers, I think the tech will still be smart, but very truncated and very limited. If I can make this make any sense there is an relevant adage that states, "You don't know, what you don't know." So if you don't enough to ask for information on bands playing in Pioneer square, you aren't going to remember to ask a search in your iPhone to get information on bands playing in Pioneer Square. But if you eye catches the ad placed by Central Saloon that gives the bands for the next 3 days, then you HAVE that information. Bottom Line: for all the tech I have accumulated and use regularly, I STILL find that there sometimes just is not a replacement-tech for the simple act of scanning and turning the pages of a news rag. THE LOWDOWN There are just some things that are tech can not encompass "randomly" that will get my attention as easily as turning the pages of a rag. And so that's why I still rely on THE STRANGER, and why it is still one off the best offerings for the truly random pieces of information that I still enjoy having "my eyes scan over" since I may not always know to search for something specifically on my tech.

This paper has really gone to the dogs over the past couple years. Definitely in need of new…read moreblood, from the editor-in-chief on down the line. Sad to say the only thing of interest these days is "Ombudsman" A. Birch Steen's snarky column on the Table of Contents page. And maybe once in a while David Schmader prints an amusing "Hot Tip" in Last Days. But he's like a Pavlovian dog. Anytime Hizzoner Mayor 5-Cents proposes something idiotic (like say a 20 cent fee on bags or build a tunnel), Schmader is there applauding wildly. He's a loyal soldier on Team Nickels. No longer (well, at least the last two weeks) are Letters to the Editor printed in the paper version. And pretty much, the movie times have disappeared too. And what happened to Lloyd Dangle's "Troubletown" comic strip? The Mercury in Portland still prints it. Miss Matisse and Adrian Ryan's columns have vanished too. And so has Charles Mudede's Police Beat. The Stranger is a shell of its former self. Borrrrrring!

I pick this monthly up for free at my favorite vegetarian lunch place, the Patty Pan Grill, and I'm…read moreamazed at the quality of free. Vegetarianism, health, the environment, activism, spirituality - how do people think they're getting ALL the news if they overlook the alternative and independent publications? It doesn't matter what you believe, what kind of yoga you practice or how green your home is, you'll find something worth thinking about in this mag.

This is a great newspaper with a focus on activism and change. Some examples of the articles found…read morein this weeks paper: Wanna Talk Values? - Rhonda Soto attacks a report by the Pew Charitable Trust Economic Mobilty Project where most African Americans polled say that Blacks are responsible for their own economic situations and have "bad values." City Up Penalty for Targeting Homeless - Angie Jones writes about City Council approving a proposal that gives homelessness protected class status under the Malicious Harassment ordinance. Authority Unchecked - An interview with Charlie Savage on the Bush-Cheney Administration's quest for more power. Vendor of the Week - A story about an ex-cab driver who has been attacked and cannot drive a cab anymore. There are so many great, eye opening articles every week in this newspaper. Highly recommend you pick one up. Zipzap Zubidy Bop!

I WISH THERE WERE MORE STARS TO GIVE!…read more To those of you that know what Real Change is, keep giving! To those that don't follow me here... For me, Real Change is the ONE way I can give to the homeless and really and truly feel like I'm doing the right thing. Real Change vendors are people on the cusp. People deciding to make the first difficult steps to getting back on track. Real Change is a good thing in a bad world, and I really want you to understand why. Real Change vendors actually have to buy the copies that they sell on the street and Real Change allows them to keep the profit! Vendors have to agree to a code of conduct at work, just like the rest of us that says, among other things, that they can't be intoxicated while working or they will loose their vendor rights. When I look at a Real Change worker, I don't see a homeless person, I see a employed person. ONLY BUY FROM AUTHORIZED SELLERS. You can tell this by looking for their Real Change Identification Badge. I only give to Real Change vendors anymore, and I give as much as I can afford! When they say "Thank You", I really mean it when I say "It's my pleasure". I wish there were more programs like this. I wish we had passed the legislation for a homeless center at South Lake Union. Just a place where people can take a shower, pick up some clothes, and use a computer... is that so much to ask? Vote.

I look forward to Thursday's when the Beacon comes out and my granddaughter and I each get our…read morecopy. Well I follow my Edmonds News online I really like having a hard copy and the pictures. The crossword is above average for a small local paper. I follow about half of the columns regularly. Political coverage is good for such a small town.

I am so glad we ended up stopping here because the flavor of this duck is just incredible!…read more Really cool vibe, great service, and easy to get a table. Highly recommend trying this at least for the duck!

My favorite columns are written by award winning journalist Terry McGuire. Great paper to keep up…read moreon the Catholic news!

Phuong Dong Times is the Northwest largest Vietnamese news paper distributing to both Washington…read moreand Orgegon residents. Published once a week, Phuong Dong Times provide the latest world, local, and event news to the Vietnamese community in both states. They are easy to work with and a great place for businesses to place advertisement aiming at the Vietnamese community. The paper is free of charge which can be found in most Asian grocery stores, restaurants, or other busiensses.

I drive a lot and the wonderful variety of music is a restful delight amid a traffic rush…read more I appreciate not having too many ads and being able to hear music. Thank you

I love a variety of music, of all kinds. And there's lots of good stuff to listen to in the…read morenon-commercial realm of Seattle radio. But KNKX is my go-to for relaxation and information. Of course they have credible news, with excellent announcers, but their mix of jazz is a joy. When the headlines have you tense, the music gives you something to unwind to. And if you have HD radio, you can listen to Jazz 24 commercial free any time. KNKX is a treasure.