Do you have a ‘it-wasn’t-supposed-to-end-like-this’ story? Sure you do. We all do. A fire destroys all you held dear. Cancer takes your life-long traveling companion. The one who promised “to love and to cherish you until death do you part,” departs, maybe for someone else, leaving you alienated, isolated, rejected. An unhappily-ever-after story is likely […]
To Ponder
Let’s Talk! – Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
“What’s wrong with gentle?” was my first thought upon reading today’s conversation prompt that popped up in my friend Tyrean Martinson’s book “A Pocket-Sized Jumble of 500 + Writing Prompts.” What context does this line come from? Though well-read, other than “Under Milkwood” and “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, I can’t remember anything that I […]
Across the Fence: Gesundheit
What do you say when somebody sneezes? Some of you may say “God bless you”. Others will use the Germanism “Gesundheit!” (pronounce: ga-‘zoont-hite), which means health and is a kind wish on the sneezer. How this word made it into American English? Because of the vast numbers of German immigrants, of course. Don’t ask me […]
Deathtrap – Harlequin Review – Olympia
Review by Don Doman, Lavinia Hart, and Dale Westgaard. “My goal is to entertain. That’s what any book or play has to do first. Anything beyond that is fine, but first it must entertain.” – Ira Levin The first time I saw an Ira Levin production it was at the Lakewood Theater in 1958: “No […]
Letter: Who Are You Going to Call?
Is there a Red Phone to be used only in emergencies on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House? When your neighbor’s house is on fire, waking you up from a deep sleep in the very early morning, do you remember the three-digit number to call? When a cat gets its […]
Flavored Vaping is the New Smoking
Submitted by Dr. Elizabeth and Dan Telford. In May of last year, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department welcomed news of a 1-year, $609,711 grant from the Puyallup Tribe aimed at reducing tobacco use, including vaping, among our local (youth) residents. In 2023, 10% of all high school and middle school students reported using a tobacco […]
Letter: Salamanders In Your Boots
By David Anderson, with a splashing puddle full of thanks to Marloes Deeterink. What is it about puddles and raindrops, blue rubber boots with green frog designs, and yellow rain jackets with hoods not up that beg for a leap-flying, pigtails-scattering, peals-of-laughter-the-air-splitting, water-and-mud-splattering (them and us and the camera lens) kersploosh that is so beautifully, and […]
28th LD Update: Wrapping Up the 2nd Week of the 2024 Legislative Session
By Rep. Dan Bronoske. We’re now completing day 13 of 60 of the 2024 Legislative Session. In a short legislative session year (even years), lawmakers meet to update the budget, though usually the adjustments made to the state’s operating, capital and transportation budgets aren’t too significant. We do have key issues to address this year, […]
Letter: Time to Retire the Tacoma Aroma
Submitted by Morgan Alexander. For the better part of a century, the Tacoma Aroma has been an embarrassing stigma on our city. While sources of the infamous reek have been many, one of the worst offenders has been rendering plants. These contribute the “rotting animal carcass” element to our distinctive perfume. Now, Tacoma’s last remaining […]