#79 January/February 2006
The Washington Free Press Washington's Independent Journal of News, Ideas & Culture
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TOP STORIES

The Aborted Voyage
No Gilligan's Island and no warm welcome back for real deckhands
by John Merriam

Appreciating the Bitter
part 1: Should the poor orphan child really be saved by a miracle?
by Doug Collins

Inside Syria
For now it's safe, but the Hariri assassination looms
by Joel Hanson

FREE THOUGHTS

NORTHWEST & BEYOND compiled by Sharlynn Cobaugh
Hatchery fish same as wild?; Dousing wilderness with pesticides; Open-source software movement growing; Department of Peace proposed in Senate; Genetically modified alfalfa deregulated; Biotech industry seeks to reverse local bans on GE crops

READER MAIL
Bush's personal agenda; Don't forget the high gas prices of last year; Migration across the southern border; Victims of divorce court, unite!

In Memoriam
John Glansbeek, 1945-2005
by Doug Collins

MEDIA BEAT by Norman Solomon
Congratulations to the worst media performances of the year

CONTACTS/ACTIVISM

NORTHWEST NEIGHBORS
contact list of subscribers who like to talk with you

DO SOMETHING! CALENDAR
Northwest activist events

POLITICS

Lessons for Political Reformers
Campaign finance reform is a start, but the big obstacle is winner-take-all voting
by Steven Hill

The Coming Year
by Don Monkerud

HEALTH CARE

Seattle Votes for a Right to Health Care
Will other cities do it too?
by Brian King

Illegal Immigrants Not a Burden on Health Care
by Domenico Maceri

WORKPLACE

Temp World
part 2 (conclusion)
by Margie M. Mitchell

Worker's Rights are Human Rights
photo and caption by David Bacon

RIGHTS

China On the Rise?
Recent media event calls attention to problems the world cannot ignore
by Hannah Lee

'Extraordinary Rendition' of Innocent Man
CIA named in lawsuit along with companies that operated airplanes used in kidnapping
from the ACLU

ENVIRONMENT

Trash Talk Contest Winner!
...plus wacky and wonderful conservation tips
various contributors

NASA Plutonium Launch; Seattle, Portland Safer for Pedestrians
various contributors

WAR

White House Refuses to Comply with Request for Pre-war Intelligence
by David Swanson

RIGHT BRAIN

The Wanderings and Thoughts of Kip Kellogg
by Vincent Spada

PUMPKIN EDDIE'S LIGHTNING POEMSby Vincent Spada
Dry bones sittin' by the road

BOOKS

MY FAVORITE BOOK
The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff
review by Doug Collins

BOOK NOTICE
Towards Understanding by Lillian Brummet

In Memoriam

John Glansbeek, one of the most frequent volunteers for this newspaper, died on December 9, 2005. Although John was a cantankerous man to those in power, he was a dedicated volunteer in organizations such as the Palestinian Solidarity Committee, the Freedom Socialist Party, and of course the Washington Free Press.

He died of complications in an operation intended to treat his lung cancer. He was 60 years old. Born in Ohio, he was the son of Dutch and German immigrant parents.

Many friends came to his home memorial service. People were visiting and eating, and at some point everyone hushed and then took turns speaking about their memories of John. I'm sure John would have been fascinated by all the different perspectives on his life.

John was an avid reader, especially of history and politics. He was also interested in mechanics, carpentry, and painting. He had a love of historic airplanes.

John Glansbeek (seated) with friends in his West Seattle home shortly before his death, with modified protest banner above.

He came to Seattle some thirty years ago, I'm told, by hitching a ride on a train car up from California. He was a union painter for some years here, but lost job referals when he became critical of practices of the union leadership. He was loyal to the truth as he saw it. One attendee at the memorial said that John once joked that his epitaph should say: "He always bit the hand that fed him." Everyone laughed in recognition.

John's sister Sibella Schwehr came to Seattle from Florida shortly before his death, and was able to spend some good days with him. Although he was very short of breath near the end and was using an oxygen machine, he was in fairly good spirits.

Since his lung cancer was diagnosed about a year ago, John made an effort to enjoy life more, taking a road trip to visit old friends, going on park outings, and taking a ride in a friend's small aircraft. He remarked to me recently that as he approached the potential end, the value of material things seemed increasingly less important.

He enjoyed seeing my two little kids run around, and he told me a couple times, "Kids will keep you young."

Doug Collins


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