Category Archives: Advocacy

A New Populism: Ideas for Democrats

By David Brewster One basic axiom for a party in trouble with voters is to absorb and expand the reach to new voters. The Democratic Party is losing touch with voters, so here are some expansion ideas. My main suggestion … Continue reading

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Volunteers in action

Thanks to Kim C. Sheila Cory — Major Instigator For The Common Good — is pictured here with the First Hill clean-up volunteers at Skyline from this past Saturday. What a beautiful example of a caring community in action outdoors in … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, In the Neighborhood, Volunteering | 1 Comment

Manufactured Chaos in LA

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Flatbed train cars carrying thousands of tanks rolled into Washington, D.C., yesterday in preparation for the military parade planned for June 14. On the other side of the country, protesters near Los Angeles filmed officers … Continue reading

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No Kings Day

From Diana C. and Linda M. Dear Friends,In support of the June 14, No Kings Day, there are retirement communities that are gathering, not far from their residence  to show their solidarity with the national march.   We, at Skyline,  could … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Government | 2 Comments

Ken Jennings: Trivia and ‘Jeopardy!’ Could Save Our Republic

By Ken Jennings, the host of “Jeopardy!” – in the NYT (thanks to Marilyn W.) When I first stepped behind the host lectern on the quiz show “Jeopardy!,” I was intimidated for two reasons. Most obviously, I had the hopeless task … Continue reading

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A bit of hopeful news

On May 30, the Trump administration released further details about its proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, including a request to preserve the current $430.5 million Peace Corps appropriation in the coming year. NPCA would like to congratulate the tens of thousands … Continue reading

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Scott Pelley speaks to 2025 graduates

Thanks to Mike C. Good morning, everybody. What a beautiful day. What a beautiful North Carolina day for a graduation. Incredible. Thank you, President Wente, Provost Gillespie, members of the Board of Trustees and Katy Harriger, my faculty sponsor, for … Continue reading

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Silencing the CDC

A recent study by the CDC showed how to prevent the most common cause of hospitalizations in babies. Why haven’t we heard about it? Paul Offit (thanks to Ed. M) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of … Continue reading

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Joe Biden Has a Chance to Do Something Astounding

By Patti Davis in the NYT Ms. Davis is the author of “Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter About Family, Memory and the America We Once Knew.” She led a long-running support group for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s. On Nov. … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Dementia, end of life, Essays | Leave a comment

Maja Sereda: Back to the Wild

Ed note: You can find more about Maja — her art, teaching and wildlife advocacy at her website https://majasereda.biz/. Maja Sereda is a multidisciplinary artist who immerses herself in the world of abstraction, fiber arts, and highly detailed drawings. Throughout … Continue reading

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Bruce Springsteen’s opening comments

May 14, 2025 MANCHESTER (thanks to Pam P.) Tonight, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band opened their Land of Hope & Dreams Tour in Manchester, England. Bruce launched this run of shows with three statements about the situation in … Continue reading

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Quo vadis, Pope Leo XIV? – commentary by Heather Cox Richardson

Ed note from ChatGPT: “Quo vadis?” is Latin for “Where are you going?” or more literally, “Where are you marching?” It’s famously associated with a Christian tradition involving Saint Peter. According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, as Peter was … Continue reading

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Science for all rally on Sunday

Thanks to Mary M. Hello Seattle Stand Up for Science Community!We are excited for you to join us at our next rally, Science for All, will be coming soon on Sunday, 5/18, from 9-11am! Our goal is to cover as much ground … Continue reading

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Honey, Sweetie, Dearie: The Perils of Elderspeak

Ed note: I’ve not noticed (yet) a tendency of some to infantilize the way they talk to me, but I have overheard such talk to others. Perhaps I’m not frail enough yet. I hope it won’t happen to me or … Continue reading

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DOGE and the Peace Corps meet up

Ed note: I just received the sad but expected message below from the National Peace Corps Office. Please note that this beloved creation of President John F. Kenney has a very modest budget. Peace Corps: ~$430.5 million; Department of State … Continue reading

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Autistic artist works with city to implement ‘happy to talk’ benches, combatting loneliness

From goodgoodgood.co (thanks to Pam P.) In the hubbub of London’s Camden Town, Oliver Chan thinks a lot about loneliness. “Loneliness is an important topic for me because my autism can make it harder for me to form connections with … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Communication, Disabilities, happiness | Comments Off on Autistic artist works with city to implement ‘happy to talk’ benches, combatting loneliness

Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge gains recognition for trees more than 300 years old

Thanks to Pam P. for noting this small but significant contribution to Earth Day The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge has officially been recognized by the Old Growth Forest Network, a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and preserving ancient forests across … Continue reading

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Earth Day

By Heather Cox Richardson Today is Earth Day, celebrated for the first time in 1970. The spark for the first Earth Day was the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. A marine biologist and best-selling author, Carson showed the … Continue reading

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Ai Wei-Wei’s movie: “Never Sorry” – Thursday

On Thursday this week in the Cascade Room we are showing Ai Wei-Wei’s movie“Ai Wei-Wei: Never Sorry.” 7:30 pm. Spread the word. Thanks to Don C. From 2008 to 2010, Beijing-based journalist and filmmaker Alison Klayman gained unprecedented access to … Continue reading

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The tragic story of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia

by Heather Cox Richardson (thanks to MaryLou P. and others) This evening, lawyers for the Department of Justice told a federal court that the administration does not believe it has a legal obligation to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to … Continue reading

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‘Don’t Fight the Stupidity’ and Other Relevant Bonhoeffer Advice

by Tim Snyder in Sojourners (thanks to Mary Jane F.) As a theologian, I get nervous when reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer becomes all too relevant. I’m the kind of theologian who would rather not find myself in what some scholars refer … Continue reading

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Malou Chavez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, on 4/15 at 11 am

From Dan and Linda S. Dear Skyline Friends – We are writing this save the date alert for an important upcoming event at Skyline. We have helped organize the appearance of Malou Chavez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, … Continue reading

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Capitol Hill’s Seattle Asian Art Museum collecting Legos for dissident Chinese artist Weiwei

Thanks to Mike C. Seattle Police were investigating a BMW peculiarly parked at the base of the steps of the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park earlier this week. Authority has a nose for dissidence, it seems. The car, it turns … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Art | 1 Comment

Seattle home transformed into first-ever shelter for homeless LGBTQ+ veterans: ‘Healing to be part of something again’

In Good News — Thanks to Pam P Lindsay Church left the Navy in 2012, having served under the United States’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited military servicemembers from being open about their sexual orientation. “I really struggled … Continue reading

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This Is Why My Texas Town Lost Trust in Public Health

By Carrie McKean in the NYT Ms. McKean is a writer based in Midland, Texas. Ed note: Smugness and demonizing those that disagree with us has wormed its way into our political discourse all too often. This article reminds us that … Continue reading

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