Regional politicians proposed a far better idea than an all-robocar lane on I-5: hi-speed rail from here to Vancouver. Additional subjects in our e-missive include the state’s still-unreformed foster care system; blame placed for the Greenwood gas explosion; a hope to one day “re-program” cancer cells; a coming exhibit on Seattle’s food history; and whales vs. whales off Vancouver Island.

That fancy new police building folks have rallied against? Sent back for further review. Among other topics this day: Loving portraits of GLBT Mormons; whether the police really needed to shoot Che Taylor; still more Chinese speculation money in Seattle real estate; the usual many, many weekend event listings; and a weird idea to give homeless folks “non-monetary donations” online.

We ponder what Seattle would look like without all the dredgings, regrades, and other extreme makeovers it’s had. We also explore folk turning odd spots into community gardens; a protest against holding babies in immigration jails; an innovative tech-ed program that’s threatened by redevelopment; and, oh yeah, the amazin’ Ms.

We say an early farewell to a once funky building that became bland and will now become gone. Additional observation topics include a drive to oust Spokane’s mayor; a GOP Legislator who would force cities to raze homeless camps; a farm-labor victory in Skagit County; Aberdeen students fighting for the right to look, well, grungy; and Nike putting ugly uniforms on football teams that aren’t the Ducks.

We begin with three lists totaling 100 all-time Northwest indie-rock records. We continue from there with (alas) false state-income-tax allegations; anti-Muslim bigotry hitting home; what the costly homelessness consultant didn’t directly look into; a former “Drunk of the Week” (or was she?) suing; and the Mariners’ streak continuing.

What to do about homelessness? I know, let’s hire a high-priced consultant who’ll ignore encampments, addictions, and mental illness issues, and who’ll just call for lots of subsidies to private developers! Other topics today include the world’s largest ice cube (that doesn’t star in any Friday movies), how one South Lake Union legacy business survives; a odd-couple marriage in the art world; and very little about the 9/11 anniversary.

We note a quarter century of a pioneering pan-genre, pan-gender performance/dance space (and the site of a memorable Cobain hissyfit). Also of note today: a famous 9/11 flag found in Everett (probably); a specialty clinic for trans teens; a drop in local greenhouse gases (that still isn’t enough); a call for a lot more bus service; and the loss of a legendary Capitol Hill pizza hawker.

Back from Labor Day, we’ve got a whole new grab-baggy of info-nuggets, including the proposed anti-“sweeps” bill and its discontents; local tech companies merging with Australian mining firms; Boeing’s malfunctioning assembly robots; a counter-offer to those who want to keep the Mama’s building; and an offer to Seattle’s priced-out musicians from Everett.

A pair of rancid, reeking spectacles have come to the area. One of them is a blooming “corpse flower.” Other headlines this day concern a Heart hubby’s allegedly jerky behavior backstage; the dumbest suggestion for the homeless crisis to date; Idaho survivalist cults unimpressed by civilization’s failure to collapse; and memories of a pioneering black judge.

I’d mentioned it here on the site (see below), but today I get to tell my newsletter all about my LOSER book reissue finally coming out. Our regular headline fodder features tribal protests against fossil-fuel trains; the Asian Art Museum’s expansion plans; GOP candidates who don’t like that their Presidential nominee’s coming to the area; the loss of an International District activist; and a bad local sports day.

So I’ve been hinting, occasionally loudly, about an old book of mine that I’ve been trying to get back out one of these years.

Well, it’s out now.

At this link.

Or at this link.

Get it now. Hope y’all like it.

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Oh, there’ll also be an e-book version soon.

And a release party’s in the works, perhaps in October.

And we’re working on getting it into local stores. More on that later.

And if you want a signed copy, contact me direct.

Seattle’s “queer friendly” auto repair shop aims to treat all clients (and vehicles) with their due respect. Our additional topics include an anti-squatter crusade; a Japanese-American internment survivor; a lake that makes people sick; and a piece of “political” art seen here and in many other places.

We’ve got a graphic example of how to avoid looking grotesquely “fake hip,” by visually celebrating your geek. Plus: how not to headline a story about a white supremacist’s violent crime; Seattle’s “most dangerous street” gets a little less so; a trans singer-songwriter tries to find his voice again (literally); and the heat’s gonna be brutal.

Some fun and poignant things have been found by construction crews at the “Market Front” project. In additional matters, the Ms took 15 innings to win; Ernestine Anderson gets (part of) a street named for her; tribal history’s now a required subject in state schools; and nobody’s making workout clothes for larger women.

This week marks 25 years of the ol’ WWW thang. But instead of getting caught up in nostalgia for Netscape and the sound of dial-up modems, we stay focused on the present day. Specifically, we observe anti-choice hustlers trying to get their paws on UW records; the Yesler Terrace redevelopment commissioning public art from one of its own residents; a Pioneer Square building finally getting redeveloped after being vacant almost a decade; good news for non-rich renters for once; and an electronic dance remix of “Spoonman” (why?).