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 needed a black-and-white photo printed, one I took of my 1902 house in Seattle - my plan is to…read moreadd a current photo of the house to the other 3 that I received from the King County records office when I bought the house in 1998 - they provided 3, one from 1922, one from 1956, one from 1965... the basic shape of the house is the same except for siding type (went from shiplap to asbestos siding) (and the roof pitch was eventually lowered) but the basic shape and footprint of it yet remains despite all of the changes I made to it over the years. Within 1 day Nam Nguyen had a perfect black-and-white print from a photo I emailed to him - and here's the kicker, he didn't charge me for it! Said because we're neighbors (I work on the same block as his shop) it was on the house. And the photo print in black and white is perfect. So rare to meet someone like him, someone who actually listens and is interested and does his best to make someone happy.

I had a great experience with Connect Printing! Very knowledgeable and reliable - will absolutely…read moreuse their services again in the future and highly recommend to other folks for their printing needs

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.