I think pretty much all of us (even Sounders FC and Husky football fans) would consider this past year to have been, overall, a dud, a bomb, a Dumpster® fire; with even scarier days looming ahead. Nevertheless, we have news items to discuss in the here-n’-now, such as St. Mark’s Cathedral calling bigotry a sin; the pre-upzoning U District as America’s most competitive housing market; Mt. Rainier as one of the world’s “most dangerous volcanoes;” and dozens of places to go on the big night.

In our midweek missive: An activist on how white “allies” can work for racial justice without, you know, taking everything over; park-and-ride lots’ popularity; still hyper-inflating home prices; good news for Queen City Grill diners; and yet another tragic celebrity death.

We need all the socio-political allies we can get these days, even within the pages of Teen Vogue! We look as well at Amazon’s at-long-last charitable streak; a church sex-abuse victim who doesn’t like what the church said about her legal fight; the governor proposing a “carbon tax” while a state investment board puts money into the petrochemical biz; and a (justly) long-forgotten novelty sport.

This day’s subjects include the “Hands Across Green Lake” silent protest; the Asian-Canadian (female) producer behind “augmented reality porn”; a major “fake news site” right here in Seattle; the racial disparities in homelessness; and Sharon Jones RIP.

You all know the big story of the day, and how it will have a “half-life” for days and years to come. But we’ve also got more upbeat stuff, like stuff about keeping sewage out of the Sound; a jury’s defiant statement against racist policing; and how “mislabeled” seafood might be better for the planet than the real stuff.

There’s a baseball stadium that’s been in use for 103 years, none of which featured a championship home team. But it might soon. Closer to home, we mention attempts to heal the state’s political divisions (or at least understand them); a bus-shelter removal plan put on hold; a search for an alert system for sexual-assault attackees; and a guy turning unwanted LPs into visual art. Plus: the death of America’s most hate-filled cartoonist.

Former local TV news star turned GOP state boss Susan Hutchison defends the indefensible remarks of a certain Presidential candidate. We additionally think about the rival homelessness plans and their implications (real and imagined); saving some of the “ramps to nowhere”; a police-reform plan presented; and the sudden death of an artist/teacher/shaman.

We at #MISCmediaMAIL believe the Northwest autumn isn’t to be endured or survived but savored. We additionally sort out alleged conservative local-media bias; changes at SIFF; not-really-recyclable bags; ethnic emoticons; and a candle that supposedly smells like a “new Mac.”

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.

Boeing turns 100 on the cusp of another boom, another bust, or perhaps both. In other topics: the instant-classic news photo from the streets of Baton Rouge; a car-company exec insists the only transportation we’ll ever need is cars; an electronic music fest rises from another’s cinders; new life for a beloved record store; and the perfect metaphoric name for Amazon’s domes.

As reactions from the Orlando tragedy continue, we also look at Microsoft buying a popular but unprofitable dot-com; getting the ‘burbs to support downtown transit amenities; a proposed condo tower to be marketed to Chinese nationals; a new political “party” in Wash. state; and “locally sourced” electricity.

The holiday all about dead people is here, and we “celebrate” with KPLU saved (maybe); Sound Transit promising more rail (a little) sooner; Tim Eyman’s “starve the state” scheme KO’d for good; easier crowdfunding rules for startups; and massive weekend event listings.

It’s the day before the big Mem-Day weekend, and the Mariners just won a home series! In other topics: The downtown power failure was our kind of non-injurous “disaster” story;  the Stranger wants you to go see places that no longer existed (or never did); Portland’s police chief’s caught in a gun-related lie; and Microsoft’s Nokia purchase meets an inauspicious endgame.

For our big pre-weekend missive we’ve got: A city growing even faster than Seattle (no, not THAT one); why drones should be kept away from orcas; the first thing associated with the “50 Shades” franchise to actually occur IN Seattle; the Pride Fest boss quits; and the Mariners bringing up a childhood TV memory.

Sheila E. won’t let personal tragedy interfere with work for Seattle’s young musicians. Also noteworthy today: Big tech fails in SR520 tolling; coal and oil export-terminal plans proceed despite industry upheavals; tacky, potentially racist Cinco de Mayo apparel; Seattle (er, Kent) is posed for a hockey championship; and Paul Allen’s new twist on “cross-marketing synergy.”