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Cascadia Magazine book review: theMystery.doc
Matthew McIntosh, who hails from Federal Way, Washington, caused quite a stir with this 1,660-page magnum opus, a book called theMystery.doc. Today at Cascadia Magazine, Jim Pollock reviews this literal door-stop of a novel:
“TheMystery.doc is not an easy book. At 1,660 pages, even hauling it around is a challenge. The fragmented narrative jumps between elements as seemingly unconnected as September 11 transcripts, phone conversations with AI bots, and page after page of colons and asterisks that form a code that is never explained. But for the patient and adventurous reader it is worth the effort.”
Read the full review here.
Marches for gun control planned across Cascadia Saturday
Crosscut reports on the teenagers helping organize the Seattle March for Our Lives, part of a series of nation-wide demonstration this Saturday urging lawmakers to pass stronger gun laws. “I don’t want [my sixth-grade sister] to be growing up in this society where gun culture is normalized, and she has to go into these active shooter drills and be afraid when she’s going to school in the morning.” Meanwhile, the Guardian has a detailed report on Oregon’s new gun law that closes the “boyfriend loophole” and restricts gun ownership for domestic abusers.
Sharp division in BC over housing policy
British Columbia’s two major parties agree that there’s a crisis in affordable housing in the province, but they sharply differ on the solution. At the Georgia Straight, the leader of the BC Liberals criticizes a proposed new tax on homes over $3 million to build affordable housing, while the NDP housing minister defends it. In similar news, Crosscut reports on a proposal to tax Seattle businesses to fund low-income housing.
Making the economic case for high speed rail in Cascadia
When the initial study of a high-speed rail system connecting Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver was released, it was touted as being ridiculously expensive. But at The Urbanist, they’ve done a rigorous analysis of the economic benefits of a rail system connecting the urban centers of Cascadia, including 200,000 construction jobs and half a trillion dollars of economic output. Find out more at Cascadia High Speed Rail.
The “Blob” in retreat off Cascadia coast
According to scientists with NOAA, a three-year jump in ocean temperatures off the coast of Cascadia, known as “the Blob” has receded. The spike in temps was detrimental to whales, seabirds, and other marine life. Meanwhile, the whale-watching season off the coast has begun, and early reports are that gray whale sightings off Oregon are higher than usual.
Sonic Boom festival showcases Vancouver composers
The Georgia Straight profiles this year’s Sonic Boom festival, which premieres new music by Vancouver-area composers. Among the artists whose works will be featured, two of them will incorporate readings of poetry: Goushi H.K. Yonekura’s Seasons and Angelique Po’s Maligne Lake.
An interview with poet Julene Tripp Weaver
The Seattle Review of Books interviews poet Julene Tripp Weaver, She’s been a longtime poet and HIV/AIDS activist, and her latest book is Truth Be Bold. “Writing is a physical act, it is embodied, so I read my work out loud. Writing is meant to be voiced and heard.” That’s today’s news, arts, and culture from the Pacific Northwest. –Andrew Engelson Photo credits: map of high speed rail network courtesy of Cascadia High Speed Rail, theMystery.doc cover courtesy of Grove Atlantic, gun control protest by Elvert Barnes CC BY-SA 2.0, cover of Truth Be Told courtesy of Finishing Line Press.