Bellingham Podcast

All around this wonderful town, there are lots of people working hard to make this city shine. You probably pass by folks in the produce section of the grocery store, or are in front of them in line at your coffee shop.... people that are making a positive impact on the community, that’s what AJ and Chris keep an eye out for. Tune in and find out more on this episode of the BhamPodcast.


Women in leadership - Meg Weber

Instructor, IDEA Institute at WWU - http://idea.wwu.edu (http://idea.wwu.edu/)
Current Board Member, Pickford Cinema
Former owner of Internet access company, former Executive Director of TagNW, member of the tech levy committee for that 1 to 1 project with the Bellingham School district that brought students convertible laptop/tablet devices for their coursework.
Masters in Cinema, University of Iowa.
MBA, University of Rochester





“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

In this episode your PNW dynamic duo pick up where they left off last episode unwrapping, exposing, compartmentalizing, and declassifying stereotypes... pertaining the Pacific Northwest. So fill that sticker-filled BPA-free water bottle, and enjoy listening to this second part of this stereotypical Bellingham Podcast with your dad on this Father's day weekend.

* Shoutout to WatchMedicine for the idea
https://www.instagram.com/watchmedicine/


Picking up where we left off :

The 'people' of the Republic of Cascadia
* Tattoos are as personalized as our coffee drink of choice
* We have to specify which Vancouver we're referring to. Not as much confusion with Portland, since the one in Maine doesn't count.

Food

* Eco Friendly/ Co-op loving/ gotta know where our food comes from
* Portlandia : Colin the chicken https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G__PVLB8Nm4
*Shout-out to 40and20 podcast: https://soundcloud.com/40and20

* Residents have a Masters Degree in Beer Snobbery: https://www.movoto.com/guide/wa/washington-stereotypes/
* Coffee Snobs
* “Green” shops
* Willingly waiting 45 minutes for brunch
* Cream Cheese Hotdog (Seattle Style dog) - https://thetakeout.com/the-cream-cheese-slathered-hot-dog-is-seattle-s-second-1798256832

Fashion

* Umbrellas not welcome
* Washington sunglasses stat article
* 1993, Seattle buys more Ray Bans per capita than any other city. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930127&slug=1682158
* Hipster/Lumber-sexual/Beards
* Vintage culture
* Flannel
* Fleece
* North Face/ Eddie Bauer
* Athleisure
* Socks and Sandals

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

If you're like AJ and Chris, you know the difference between an Affogato (espresso poured over ice cream or gelato) and a Macchiato (espresso with a lil' bit o' foamed milk) and a 5.6% IPA and a 8% Blonde. You get decision fatigue when choosing the right fleece to wear, and you've had enough with the term Hipster. On this episode your PNW dynamic duo is unwrapping, exposing, compartmentalizing, and declassifying stereotypes... pertaining the Pacific Northwest. So put on your toque, and grab your sticker-filled BPA-free water bottle, and chug-a-lug while driving your VW bug to go hiking with your pug and avoid the slugs this is a stereotypical Bellingham Podcast.

* Shoutout to WatchMedicine for the idea
https://www.instagram.com/watchmedicine/

* PNW stereotypes
* Unfriendly? https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/state/washington/article230924168.html
* A funny rundown; https://www.movoto.com/guide/wa/washington-stereotypes/
* How Pacific Northwest are you? A quiz: https://brainfall.com/quizzes/how-pacific-northwest-are-you/
* Chris is only 57% PNW, womp womp.
* AJ- 87%

Culture

* The Republic of Cascadia
* The proposed country or region largely would consist of the Canadian province (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada) of British Columbia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia) and the US States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) of Washington (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state)) and Oregon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon). Including all parts of the bioregion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioregion), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascadia_(independence_movement)

* Tech! (thanks california)

* Mountain biking/running/kayaking/hiking
* Mountain biking practically a cult

* Dogs friendly businesses and dog parks
* PSA PICK UP POOP!

* Meet the Suburu Outback - the unofficial utility car of the PNW
* Unless it is a microbus (closer you get to California)

* 4-Way Stop conundrums

* Preppers (https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-american-redoubt-prepper-movement-20160827-story.html) and Tiny homers (https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/may/02/tiny-house-notion-legislators-advocates-for-afford/)
* 2019 SB https://wacities.org/advocacy/News/advocacy-news/2019/02/04/tiny-homes-bill-receives-a-hearing
* *SB 5384 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5384&Initiative=false&Year=2019)* would allow counties to establish a process to authorize tiny house communities outside of urban growth areas or limited areas of more intense rural development if the county finds that there is a shortage of affordable housing within a “reasonable distance from urban services.” The bill also defines tiny houses, including those with wheels, and tiny house communities.

* Sasquatch
* https://zapatopi.net/bsa/

* Accents? “the longer a region is settled, the more accents it will contain (though some linguists argue (https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/04/why-city-accents-are-fading-in-the-midwest/555152/) that local accents are dying out because of geographic mobility)” https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/pacific-northwest-english/
* King 5 News 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uh9AH0aRdY
* “Low back vowel merger” Professor Evans - UW

* Tattoos

TO BE CONTINUED....




“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Feel like your wireless bill is a bit high? Chris and AJ do another cellular MVNO roundup. Want to hear about some other options on cellular carries that use the same network you are currently use? Tune in and see if any of these might save you some coin in that monthly budget.

Chris going anti-Prime

He and wife didn't renew annual Prime $120 fee. Continuing with base Amazon account: $5/shipping, 5-7 business days.No more Wile E. Coyote Acme company delivery.


MObile PHone Carriers

The Big 4 - AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint.

Funny math, Multiple distractions on website. (Netflix, Hulu, Tidal, Amzn Prime, emojis, dancing people having fun with their phone)

Leasing Phones - $30-$50/month, 24-month contract = $720 to $1200 for a phone. And that's on top of your data plan.

Nice to see “global roaming” included on some carriers. #Canada
Nice to see “flat fee” (?) on some carriers.

MVNOs

Ting
US Mobile
Cricket - Chris' family: 5GB LTE data per line, 2GB speeds after 5GB quota reached. No additional overcharges. $40+$30+$20 = $90 out the door.
Mint Mobile
Google Fi
Boost
Virgin Mobile
ATT Go
net10



“Community Powered | KMRE, 102.3 FM | and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Our continuing series two of Word of Note; takes this inspiring quote and runs with it as AJ and Chris unpack ways to become more aware of our inner strengths, harness our abilities, and unleashes it on the world. All that an more on this episode of the Bellingham Podcast.
#bhampodcast

A memorable experience this week for Chris:

Lighthouse Mission - New Life Program (https://www.thelighthousemission.org/stories-and-info/stories-of-hope/new-life-program/) - Graduation Ceremony (See Episode 114 (https://www.spreaker.com/user/bellinghampodcast/114-actual-4-11-19-2-20-pm) for an interview with LMM Executive Director)
A yearlong discipleship and recovery program. The men who enter the New Life Program typically come with deep wounds from their past which led to addictive behaviors and unhealthy relationships. These men are immersed in community living, which includes service to their peers around the Mission, they attend 10 classes each week, receive counseling, and Bible-based reading and homework. All this is done within an intentional community with each man connected with a local church. This New Life program aims to help these men find healing from the wounds of the past and helps them reconcile with the people they care about.
*Congratulations to Robert, Jess, Dave, and Darrell - 2019 New Life Program graduates!*

*IKIGAI - From Okinawa *
iki= life
gai = purpose
How do we pronounce it in 'Murca? *Icky-guy.*
How do the French describe Ikigai? *Raison d'etre*

What's our reason for getting up in the morning?

Chris - Helping provide a comfortable life for my beautiful wife and daughter
AJ -

From Dan Buettner's book, Blue Zones (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1426209487/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0):
Make three lists... Your values, things you like to do, and things you are good at. The center of that three-circled Venn diagram is your Ikigai.

Another approach:

* What do you love? (passion)
* What does the world need? (mission)
* What are you good at? (vocation)
* What can you be paid for? (profession)


From the 2017 book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143130722/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0), some mindsets to follow:

* Stay active and don’t retire
* Leave urgency behind and adopt a slower pace of life
* Only eat until you are 80% full
* Surround yourself with good friends
* Get in shape through daily, gentle exercise
* Smile and acknowledge people around you
* Reconnect with nature
* Give thanks to anything that brightens our day and makes us feel alive.
* Live in the moment



How to Ikigai | Tim Tamashiro | TEDxYYC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk-PcJS2QaU



“Community Powered

KMRE, 102.3 FM

and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

No tin-foil hats required. On this episode, one of the PNW subdued duo has been diving into the dark and light side of the web in search for something more secure with their online life. What would it take for more secure email? Or how about more secure messaging? Or how about a private digital hypertube for all your data that even Elon Musk would appreciate? Meanwhile the other half of the duo...is just taking in the hygge of the analog life. Wanna find out more? Tune into this 117th edition of the #bhampodcast.


Shout-out to AJ & Chris' Moms

Where Chris used to be - Tech Life

* Chrome - Web browsing
* Gmail - personal email
* Google - all searches
* Lastpass (https://www.lastpass.com/) - Password manager, one fairly-strong password for many online accounts
* Apple Messages - SMS communication with all phone contacts
* Bank Debit/Credit Visa card - online payments

The big question: Why change things up?

1 - Tired of my email, web browsing, calendar appointments, photos, and search requests being stored by the big G.
2 - The data profile Google has on me is extensive. I want to reclaim some privacy in my personal life.
3 - I want to create a barrier between my online life and my family's financial resources.

Where Chris is now - Tech Life

* Firefox - Open-source browser, all the add-ons that I used to use with Chrome, no data profiling
* ProtonMail (https://protonmail.com/) - one personal account, other personal/freelance domains forwarded to it, with numerous aliases
* Private Internet Access VPN (https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/) - easy to install on all operating systems. $80 for two years, about $3.50/month for private encrypted web browsing.
* Startpage (https://www.startpage.com/) - Anonymous Google search results. Masked IP number, location, browser, and operating system... And a lot more.
* DuckDuckGo (https://duckduckgo.com/) - Alternative web search site. No personal information collection, stored search history, trackers, ad targeting. Just a search result. With over 12,000 shortcut bangs.
* Bitwarden (https://bitwarden.com/) - unique masked email address and a unique 25+ character password... For every online account. Passphrase generator FTW.
* Signal (https://signal.org/)/Wire (https://wire.com/en/) - Encrypted communications
* MySudo (https://mysudo.com/) - Family/friends phone number (migration in process), non-family/friends number (retail, online)
* Blur (https://www.abine.com/) - Many masked emails, messages forwarded to one personal account
* Privacy.com (http://privacy.com/) - Linked with funding source, masked debit cards, spending limits, one card per online account.

Meanwhile- how does AJ reboot his digital life....Analog + Hygge = Spring/Summer Time

“Community Powered

KMRE, 102.3 FM

and streaming at kmre.org” (http://kmre.org/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

AJ and Chris have another “Word of Note” episode and they go Danish. Its a word that relates to a previous episode in the Word of Note series. And they are back on the town recording on location, drinking coffe and surrounded by foliage? Want to know where you can get a good cup of coffee while looking for that perfect plant? This.... Is the Bellingham Podcast.

Where we at?
BabyGreens Plant Shop & Cafe - https://www.plantshopbaby.com/
1201 Cornwall Ave #103, Bellingham, WA 98225


lykke

Remember the Little Book of Hygge
(https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Hygge-Danish-Secrets/dp/0062658808/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38GGTBS2BQ8XK&keywords=little+book+of+hygge&qid=1556814881&s=gateway&sprefix=little+book+of+hygge%2Caps%2C500&sr=8-1)? There's the Little Book of Lykke (https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Lykke-Secrets-Happiest/dp/0062820338/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AST4G95Y3HQD&keywords=little+book+of+lykke&qid=1556814902&s=gateway&sprefix=little+book+of+lykke%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1)

Also in an audiobook from Libro.fm. (https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780062842961)

Loo-ka (with the k with a slight g sound)
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9780062842961

Author: Meik Wiking
https://www.happinessresearchinstitute.com

The Lykke life: Six pillars of happiness
(https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/mind/lykke-life-six-pillars-pf-happiness-found-across-globe/) - UK Telegraph article

* Togetherness
* Money
* Health
* Freedom
* Trust
* Kindness

March 20, the date that the United Nations has declared to be the International Day of Happiness (http://www.un.org/en/events/happinessday/).

World Happiness Report (UN)
https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2019/

World economic forum
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/03/these-are-the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/

**Happiest** **Countries** *in the* **World** *List *
** **2018**

* USA...18th

2019

Finland t 1
Denmark. 2
Norway . 3
USA...19th (https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html)
“The United States came in 19th place, dropping one spot since last year and a total of five spots since 2017.”

How can us PNW'ers learn from the Danish Lykke in our part of the world

Happiest country (well competes for the top slot).
What we have in common:

* Winter we tend to retreat indoors- that why Hygge
* Also why they have a high respect to architecture and space
* Slow down. Why so busy?
* The outdoors- nature therapy?
* Bibliotherepy. Outside. Hammock. Book.
* Take the scenic route-
* Science has shown that productive thinking is in hanced with the outdoors.
* Forest Bathing - Shinrin-yoku. Japan has 48 “forest therapy” trails to get what the Telegraph coins, “Outdoorphins” (?)
* Work life balance
* Family life
* Trust (at the center of their culture)
* Anti-Consuming : why minimalism is kinda viewed with them
* Buy something you can use and appreciate for many many years. Quality over quantity.
* It's all about experience: see Hygge
* Buy memories: not things. Spending on making memories retain value where things may not
* If you have to buy something have it link to a happy memory
* Connecting with people IRL
* Be kind! Be “flink” friendly and kind (genuine friendless)

---
KMRE 102.3FM- Tune in every Monday at 6:30pm and Thursday at 6pm!
https://www.kmre.org/programs/bellingham-podcast/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

Just our new promo with our new show times! Tune in every Monday at 6:30pm and Thursday at 6pm!
https://www.kmre.org/programs/bellingham-podcast/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com

We are back! And "Chris' bit" ..or Community Connection (work in progress) has yet another executive director this time with Bham's very own Lydia Place, and we catch up as we get back into the spring of thing (ok I tried to keep up the pun from the episode). All that and more, on this episode of the Bham Podcast.

Lydia Place
https://lydiaplace.org/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bellinghampodcast.substack.com