Steilacoom

Submitted by Gregory Alderete. In the closing chapters of a declining empire, history warns us to beware of men who mistake valor for strategy, and ideology for wisdom. The appointment of Pete Hegseth—a television personality, former infantry officer, and purveyor of jingoistic platitudes—to the position of Secretary of Defense is not merely reckless. It is […]

Submitted by Greg Alderete. In an era increasingly defined by spectacle and simulation, Blue Origin’s recent all-female spaceflight — a brief, 11-minute sojourn into the stratosphere — has been heralded by some as a triumph of representation and progress. But beneath the polished veneer of diversity optics and branded empowerment lies a troubling display of […]

Submitted by Greg Alderete. Once again, the town of Steilacoom has chosen to spray Mirimichi Green Weed Control and Scythe herbicide—chemicals that are marketed as “natural” but are far from harmless. Let’s stop pretending that “green” labeling means these substances are safe. They are not. Mirimichi Green contains ammonium nonanoate, a corrosive substance that can […]

Submitted by Gregory Alderete. If you wanted to design a system to crush intellectual curiosity, stifle creativity, and reward mindless conformity, you’d invent standardized testing. And we did. What began as a well-intentioned effort to measure academic progress has metastasized into a rigid, joyless sorting mechanism that punishes nuance, discourages deep thinking, and reduces students […]

Submitted by Greg Alderete. The use of biosolids—treated human sewage sludge—as fertilizer is often promoted as an eco-friendly way to recycle waste. However, spreading biosolids in or near residential areas poses serious medical and environmental risks that are too often ignored. Even after treatment, biosolids can contain harmful pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and viruses […]

Submitted by Greg Alderete. After reading Don Felder’s Heaven and Hell, one thing is certain: you will never hear an Eagles song the same way again. This isn’t just another behind-the-scenes rock memoir. It’s a raw, unflinching account of what it was like to be both a central figure in one of America’s most iconic […]

Submitted by Greg Alderete. I have seen firsthand how organizations expand rapidly in times of crisis, only to face painful reductions once the mission shifts. In the military, this cycle played out after Vietnam and again after Desert Storm. The post-war drawdowns were necessary but often brutal. However, they were not random. The military has […]