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!

My friends and I paid $55 for the Seattle Magazine Brunch Run and it was terrible. They didn't have…read moreenough food or drinks for the number of people. Took at least 15 minutes to get thru a line. They needed more brunch options or a way to make things go quicker. For the price you pay it was absolutely not worth it.

Hit and miss. When its good, its really good, however I am…read morenot a fan of the best doctors, lawyers, dentists, real estate agents, and financial advisers issues. It is obviously just a way to get these categories advertising, which is a sellout. In addition, the editors seam to be bias to advertisers which taints the validity. A city magazine should be about city lifestyle and reflect the local flavor of the area. It should appeal to tourists and residents alike. Tell us what's interesting, worth trying, what happening and basically fabulous about the Seattle area regardless of whether or not they choose to give you their advertising dollars. Do that and the advertisers will choose to be there.

Seattle's only gay newspaper--unless you count The Stranger--has been publishing its weekly for…read moremore than two decades. Two sections, one devoted to national and local news, the other to arts and entertainment, with classifieds, at the very back, and the happenings, events, and meetings for the upcoming week, included. Despite numerous typos, whole sections of a story left occasionally left dangling, inadvertently, the SGN, as it is usually referred, keeps the GBLT community abreast of events as they occur. As is typical of Seattle newspapers, there is a lot of opinion thrown in and mixed with, for good measure, with the ostensibly "objective" news reporting, with not always a clear way of knowing which is which. Serves as a cheering section for the GLBT community, an approach common to newspapers with a readership in need of reassurance that the Second Coming is coming or about to. Be careful if you open up and read this newspaper on the bus or any other public venue. You may wind up with either a barely disguised look of shock or a bump on the head, depending on who happens to have looked over your shoulder: there are plenty of pretty steamy male advertisements that even I find pretty outre.

Recently there has been some traveling done and Steven and I got a hold of some rags. No, not the…read morerags you use to clean up after your child or dog. Rags meaning free newspapers that the general public can pick up around town at merchants. Seattle Gay News was a rag we came across. Since Seattle is going to be our planned future pad then we wanted to get more familiar with the area and getting newspaper rags sometimes helps as to where to find resources. This news paper covers national LGBT developments around the world including nationally and locally. Not the best newspaper concerning this topic that I have come across but it occasionally lists gay bars in the area so you can get an idea where to go if you want to go bar hopping or see the goings on of various social groups around town. I am glad this newspaper is free though because I am not entirely sure I would pay a subscription for it.

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 love this paper! It keeps me in the know about what is happening in Seattle's black community. I…read moream grateful for the family that has ran this paper for so long. It is a staple. Even during the pandemic when I felt so isolated and alone, getting the paper mailed to me each week and reading the stories in the paper kept me uplifted. Thank you for being there for us and keeping the black community connected in the northwest.

I was extremely pleased with the prompt and efficient service I received from the staff at the…read moreSeattle Medium.