Here’s a thought…
“Before we work on artificial intelligence, why don’t we do something about natural stupidity?”
READER BOARD
News Brief | AI and the decline of human agency
||| FROM POPULATION BALANCE ||| AI, under the dangerous control of tech oligarchs, is creating a world with shrinking human choice, creativity, and connection. How tech journalism emphasizes novelty and business profits and amplifies tech companies' hype as journalists seek to maintain access to powerful tech leaders; How profit-driven AI
Larsen announces $17.5 Million investment in Skagit Transit
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S REP. RICK LARSEN ||| WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement: “Finally! Trump’s Department of Transportation (DOT) released $17.5 million it was holding hostage that will now allow Skagit Transit to move forward with its new Operations facility. I have been
News Brief | Inside the dirty, dystopian world of AI data centers
||| FROM THE ATLANTIC ||| This is Colossus: a data center that Musk’s artificial-intelligence company, xAI, is using as a training ground for Grok, one of the world’s most advanced generative-AI models. Training these models takes a staggering amount of energy; if run at full strength for a year, Colossus
Guest Opinion | Getting ready to tighten our belts
||| FROM ELISABETH ROBSON ||| Many of us in San Juan County have noticed the same thing over the past decade: life here keeps getting more expensive. Electric bills have climbed. Property taxes have climbed. Groceries, insurance, transportation, building materials—almost everything costs more than it used to. Our local electric
SJC requests qualifications from consultants for Human Services Transportation Plan update
San Juan County Department of Health & Community Services solicits interest from consulting firms with expertise in developing Human Services Transportation Plans (HSTP) ||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS ||| San Juan County Department of Health & Community Services solicits interest from consulting firms with expertise in developing Human Services
Poetry | Drumbeat
||| FROM SANDORA HEDRICH ||| Even the mountains weep as humanity keeps the war drum beats alive with death Toxic tears rain a river run fresh rivulets into flesh frayed fragments lace tomorrow’s sorrows As pearls in tidepools promising peace keep silent keep shells closed tight This shellstock shell-shocked holding
Sheriff’s Report | March 4 – 10, 2026
||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ||| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 26-001270 Parking Problem 11:53:42 03/04/26 An Orcas Island Deputy responded to a parking problem at the Orcas Island ferry terminal Park and Ride. The Deputy learned that a vehicle exceeded the 72-hour abandoned vehicle notice and submitted a request
The Exchange Update | March 2026
||| FROM ORCAS RECYCLING (THE EXCHANGE) Drifting Dock Highlights Growing Microplastic Risk Last month, residents of Orcas Island responded to an incident involving a drifting dock with deteriorating plastic-wrapped styrofoam floats. The floats were breaking apart and spreading around the beach and into the next cove. The incident sheds light
All-kid production to open at Orcas Center is a hilarious musical romp for all ages
||| FROM COLLEEN SMITH SUMMERS for ORCAS CENTER ||| Orcas Center is producing an all-kids musical theater show, “How to Eat like a Child.” It’s a comedic crash course on the essential skills of childhood through teen years. Through 23 hilarious lessons, children teach the audience the joys and sorrows
Get your Washington State boating education card
On-Line U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Safety Classes ||| FROM PAMELA CHELGREN-KOTERBA for U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY ||| Bellingham, Wash. – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Bellingham and San Juan Islands Flotilla offers boaters four opportunities to take an online Washington State Basic Boater Education Course. The course is for
Non-stop nonprofits
||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ||| We’re in the midst of reviewing Spring GiveOrcas applications, and I’m again astounded by the innovation, care, and grit demonstrated by dozens of nonprofits that are seeking support to make good things happen around the island. We can count on
Letter to Editor | Renewing drivers licenses at the Senior Center
||| FROM ANTHONY SURUDA ||| Kudos to the Orcas Island Senior Center and the Washington State Division of Licensing for arranging issue and renewal of drivers licenses at the Senior Center on March 12. This was a big relief for those of us who would otherwise have to travel off
WSF Weekly Report | Visiting Staten Island crew; developing future leaders
||| FROM STEVE NEVEY for WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES ||| A message from Steve Two years ago this week I stepped into the role of leading Washington State Ferries. It has been one of the most challenging and meaningful chapters of my career. When I started, our system was still recovering
Occam’s Razor | Our island, our world through the eyes, pen of S.C. Watson
Welcome to our weekly feature, Occam's Razor, from local artist S.C. Watson.
Guest Opinion | Another Eastsound Water essay
||| FROM THOMAS OWENS ||| A Path Forward Eastsound Water’s ongoing turmoil is multi-faceted involving both tense Board-Membership interactions and instability in internal operation. While these two elements of the Association’s crisis are certainly intertwined, it is instructive to examine them separately to begin to visualize a path forward for
Larsen invites students to participate in 2026 Congressional Art Competition
||| FROM THE OFFICE OF U.S. REP. RICK LARSEN ||| Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) is inviting high school students who live or attend school in Washington’s Second Congressional District to showcase their artistic talents in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. “I am encouraging the many gifted young artists in Northwest Washington to submit their artwork
