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Inside central Washington’s Bitcoin boom
The Inlander has a detailed report on the Bitcoin “mining” boom in Wenatchee and elsewhere in central Washington, where cheap electricity rates are driving the race to build massive computer server facilities, and local governments are racing to create regulations. Says one Wenatchee investor, “This tech will either become nothing — Furby dolls, pet rocks, Betamax — OK? Or it’s going to disrupt every industry I can think of, and probably some I can’t.”
Portland’s plan to address gentrification isn’t working
The Portland Mercury reports on how a program in Portland to help lower income residents of the city’s traditionally African American neighborhoods purchase homes isn’t working. Skyrocketing housing costs are the main reason the project has assisted only a handful of families in three years.
Microsoft has failed to confront its male-centric workplace
The Seattle Times tech reporter Matt Day does great investigative work in a feature today about Microsoft’s problematic business culture, where casual harassment, a male-centric work environment, and slow response to complaints makes it hard for the Redmond, WA-based company to retain female employees. Meanwhile, David Kroman at Crosscut reports on the gender pay gap in Seattle city government.
Rare butterfly on San Juan Island likely to be declared endangered
KNKX reports on how federal wildlife officials are ready to declare endangered species status for the island marble butterfly, which was identified by biologists twenty years ago, and is found only on Washington’s San Juan Island. About 200 of the butterflies remain in the wild.
Retirement of Canuck’s Sedin twins recalls hockey’s dark side
For those who don’t know hockey, the recent retirement announcement of twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin from the Vancouver Canucks after an 18-year career is a big deal. In an essay for Grandstand Central, Vancouver writer and fan Gord Randall examines how the Swedish brothers, classy to the end, never really overcame the violent, noisy, and xenophobic culture of NHL hockey in Canada.
“No One Suspects the Days,” poetry by Kary Wayson
At City Arts, you can read Seattle poet Kary Wayson’s “No One Suspects the Days:”
“…There’s a sound for that boat cutting a white line across the water.
There’s a barge parked in the middle with YANG MING on the side.
The boat keeps going—behind the barge—now it’s—no, never mind…”
Read the full poem here.
By the way, it’s worth noting that City Arts, a great Seattle-based magazine, is breaking off from its parent company, Encore Media, and embarking on a fundraising campaign to start a socially-conscious B-company. Find out more about this worthwhile project here.
–That’s all for today from the world headquarters of Cascadia Magazine here in Seattle. –Andrew Engelson
Photo credit island marble butterfly by US Fish & Wildlife Service