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You are here: Home / Archives for Technology

Minecraft: The Exhibition World Premiere Coming to Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture

September 15, 2019 by Admin NW FACTS Leave a Comment

MoPOP celebrates Minecraft’s 10th Anniversary by bringing its virtual 
landscape to life October 19, 2019
 The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is pleased to present
Minecraft: The Exhibition, opening to the public on October 19, 2019. Designed for players and non-players of all ages, the exhibition celebrates the game’s 10th anniversary by exploring how Minecraft has developed into a platform for unlimited creative expression, community-crafting, and inspiration to build a better world outside of the game.
Created in partnership with Mojang, Minecraft: The Exhibition is dynamic and immersive featuring life-size Minecraft creatures, scenic backdrops, a day-night lighting cycle, audio effects, and a gallery score. The exhibition will span over 6,000 square feet of the museum and is among the most ambitious exhibitions produced by MoPOP, offering fans of all ages the opportunity to experience the best-selling game of all time like never before.
“We are thrilled to co-create Minecraft: The Exhibition with Mojang and host the world premiere at MoPOP,” said Brooks Peck, Senior Curator of MoPOP, “Minecraft is not only a game that allows for unlimited creativity and exchange of ideas, it also promotes inclusiveness and equality, which are core to MoPOP’s mission.”  
Since 2009, Minecraft has not only become the best-selling game, it has also grown into a pop culture phenomenon by connecting millions of fans across the globe. “We wanted to bring Minecraft to life in the museum to explore it more deeply, celebrate its community, and share this important phenomenon with the world,” added Brooks Peck. 
“We’re so excited about this collaboration with MoPOP because it gives everyone a chance to see the world of Minecraft through a new lens. We can’t wait to see what the community thinks of Minecraft: The Exhibition,” said Lydia Winters, Chief Brand Officer at Mojang.
In the exhibition, visitors will feel as if they have stepped inside the blocky world of Minecraft, with scenes, patterns, colors, and textures being informed by actual in-game builds. The gallery will feature 15 life-size characters from the game, including the explosive Creeper and mysterious Enderman. Visitors will receive a hands-on experience at a real-life crafting table and face off against a groaning Minecraft Zombie. It also features game stations where players can try the game as well as explore some epic and elaborate creations from the community. Numerous exhibition films with interviews with the game’s creative team, builders, and community members show how Minecraft inspires creative exchanges, community creation, and social change.
Fans can purchase tickets to Minecraft: The Exhibition starting September 17, 2019 at MoPOP.org/Minecraft. The exhibition will remain on view until September 2020. 
KEY DATES:
  • Exhibition Tickets On-sale: September 17, 2019
  • Exhibition Press Preview: October 16, 2019
  • MoPOP Member Exclusive Preview: October 18, 2019 
  • Exhibition Opening Weekend Celebration (open to the public): October 19, 2019 
For more information, visit MoPOP.org/Minecraft
PHOTOS/VIDEO
For available artwork please visit the Press Room here.
# # #
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE (MoPOP)
MoPOP is a leading-edge nonprofit museum in Seattle with a mission to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities. MoPOP reaches multigenerational audiences through our collections, exhibitions, community events, and educational programs, bringing understanding, interpretation, and scholarship to the pop culture of our time. For more information, visit www.MoPOP.org
ABOUT MOJANG
Mojang is a game development studio based in Sweden, best known for developing Minecraft. In 2014, Mojang joined Xbox Game Studios to continue work on Minecraft and bring their vision, creative energy and innovative mindset to the development of future games.
ABOUT MINECRAFT
With over 91 million unique Minecraft players engaged across all platforms and over 176 million copies sold worldwide, Minecraft is the best-selling video game in history. The Minecraft franchise continues to reach new players through an expanding line of consumer products, game updates, Minecraft Marketplace and the amazing content created by its vibrant and growing community. Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures, and we’re excited to see its world expand with new games like “Minecraft Dungeons” and “Minecraft Earth,” Minecraft: Education Edition is a special version of the game designed for schools and educational settings, supporting 21st Century learning across subjects from coding to chemistry

MoPOP celebrates Minecraft’s 10th Anniversary by bringing its virtual 
landscape to life October 19, 2019
Seattle, WA (September 12, 2019) – The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is pleased to present
Minecraft: The Exhibition, opening to the public on October 19, 2019. Designed for players and non-players of all ages, the exhibition celebrates the game’s 10th anniversary by exploring how Minecraft has developed into a platform for unlimited creative expression, community-crafting, and inspiration to build a better world outside of the game.
Created in partnership with Mojang, Minecraft: The Exhibition is dynamic and immersive featuring life-size Minecraft creatures, scenic backdrops, a day-night lighting cycle, audio effects, and a gallery score. The exhibition will span over 6,000 square feet of the museum and is among the most ambitious exhibitions produced by MoPOP, offering fans of all ages the opportunity to experience the best-selling game of all time like never before.
“We are thrilled to co-create Minecraft: The Exhibition with Mojang and host the world premiere at MoPOP,” said Brooks Peck, Senior Curator of MoPOP, “Minecraft is not only a game that allows for unlimited creativity and exchange of ideas, it also promotes inclusiveness and equality, which are core to MoPOP’s mission.”  
Since 2009, Minecraft has not only become the best-selling game, it has also grown into a pop culture phenomenon by connecting millions of fans across the globe. “We wanted to bring Minecraft to life in the museum to explore it more deeply, celebrate its community, and share this important phenomenon with the world,” added Brooks Peck. 
“We’re so excited about this collaboration with MoPOP because it gives everyone a chance to see the world of Minecraft through a new lens. We can’t wait to see what the community thinks of Minecraft: The Exhibition,” said Lydia Winters, Chief Brand Officer at Mojang.
In the exhibition, visitors will feel as if they have stepped inside the blocky world of Minecraft, with scenes, patterns, colors, and textures being informed by actual in-game builds. The gallery will feature 15 life-size characters from the game, including the explosive Creeper and mysterious Enderman. Visitors will receive a hands-on experience at a real-life crafting table and face off against a groaning Minecraft Zombie. It also features game stations where players can try the game as well as explore some epic and elaborate creations from the community. Numerous exhibition films with interviews with the game’s creative team, builders, and community members show how Minecraft inspires creative exchanges, community creation, and social change.
Fans can purchase tickets to Minecraft: The Exhibition starting September 17, 2019 at MoPOP.org/Minecraft. The exhibition will remain on view until September 2020. 
KEY DATES:
  • Exhibition Tickets On-sale: September 17, 2019
  • Exhibition Press Preview: October 16, 2019
  • MoPOP Member Exclusive Preview: October 18, 2019 
  • Exhibition Opening Weekend Celebration (open to the public): October 19, 2019 
For more information, visit MoPOP.org/Minecraft
PHOTOS/VIDEO
For available artwork please visit the Press Room here.
# # #
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE (MoPOP)
MoPOP is a leading-edge nonprofit museum in Seattle with a mission to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities. MoPOP reaches multigenerational audiences through our collections, exhibitions, community events, and educational programs, bringing understanding, interpretation, and scholarship to the pop culture of our time. For more information, visit www.MoPOP.org
ABOUT MOJANG
Mojang is a game development studio based in Sweden, best known for developing Minecraft. In 2014, Mojang joined Xbox Game Studios to continue work on Minecraft and bring their vision, creative energy and innovative mindset to the development of future games.
ABOUT MINECRAFT
With over 91 million unique Minecraft players engaged across all platforms and over 176 million copies sold worldwide, Minecraft is the best-selling video game in history. The Minecraft franchise continues to reach new players through an expanding line of consumer products, game updates, Minecraft Marketplace and the amazing content created by its vibrant and growing community. Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures, and we’re excited to see its world expand with new games like “Minecraft Dungeons” and “Minecraft Earth,” Minecraft: Education Edition is a special version of the game designed for schools and educational settings, supporting 21st Century learning across subjects from coding to chemistry

Filed Under: Arts, Entertainment, Events, Technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) The New Frontier  In Cybersecurity

September 11, 2019 by Admin NW FACTS Leave a Comment

Why AI Is The New Frontier In Cybersecurity
 
With breach attempts and cyberattacks increasing, many companies say artificial intelligence (AI) is a necessity in identifying and thwarting threats, and they are devoting bigger pieces of the budget for AI’s role in cybersecurity.
“It’s a fundamental tool going forward due to the approaching reality of the 5G-enabled world, where massive amounts of data will need to be analyzed in real time,” says J. Eduardo Campos, co-founder with his wife, Erica, of Embedded-Knowledge Inc. (www.embedded-knowledge.com) and co-author with her of From Problem Solving to Solution Design: Turning Ideas into Actions.
“5G will empower machine-to-machine communications, and the new wireless technology will be faster, carry more information per second, and interconnect sensors, devices, and computers at large scale.
“With more data flowing at higher speeds, only AI solutions will be able to handle such high volume of transactions while monitoring applications and sensors at the edge of companies’ networks.”
Campos offers some reasons AI is an effective cybersecurity tool for businesses:
  • System-entry protection. AI systems can scan the retina and fingerprints for biometric logins, identifying small changes in patterns — a more secure point of entry than traditional passwords provide. “Hackers cracking passwords open Pandora’s Box,” Campos says. “Passwords are vulnerable to cyberattacks, and personal information such as credit cards are easily compromised. Changing passwords alone isn’t a solution. Biometric systems lower your risk of breaches because biological characteristics are hard to duplicate.”
  • Enhanced threat detection and attack prevention. Cybersecurity firms are training AI systems to detect malware and viruses by using special algorithms. “This enables AI to use pattern recognition, which helps identify malicious software and isolate them,” Campos says. “AI systems are being trained to recognize ransomware before it encrypts. The predictive analytics AI uses are much faster than a manual approach.”
  • Time and cost saving. The average overall time to detect threats and respond to breaches is reduced by up to 12%. “This time reduction occurs by repeatedly scanning for anomalies that show threat patterns,” Campos says. “AI used in fraud detection has saved some companies millions.”
  • Natural language processing. This is a subfield of computer science, information engineering and AI related to programming computers to process natural language data and narrow down the most pertinent information. “AI-powered systems can collect data for reference by scanning articles and studies on cyber threats, helping organizations prepare effective strategies,” Campos says.
“There is still no guarantee against a cyberattack,” Campos says. “But AI certainly takes cybersecurity a step further, and businesses of all sizes are taking notice at a time when threats are always knocking at the door.”
About J. Eduardo Campos
J. Eduardo Campos is co-author with his wife, Erica, of From Problem Solving to Solution Design: Turning Ideas into Actions. Campos spent 13 years at Microsoft, first as a cybersecurity advisor, then leading innovative projects at the highest levels of government in the U.S. and abroad.  His consulting firm, Embedded Knowledge Inc. (www.embedded-knowledge.com), works with organizations and entrepreneurs developing customized business strategies and forming partnerships focused on designing creative solutions to complex problems.

Filed Under: Front Page Slider, Technology

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January 26, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

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Filed Under: Business, Front Page Slider, Reviews, Technology, Tips & How-To

Environment Washington Unveils Campaign Targeting 100 Percent Statewide Clean Electricity for Washington State

January 26, 2019 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Part of Nine state campaign for 100 percent clean energy

Environment Washington announced a major initiative today to convince state leaders to commit to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity. Environment Washington’s efforts are part of Environment America’s broader 100% Renewable campaign to boost clean energy bills in at least nine states: Washington, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and New Mexico.

“Washington State has both the capacity and will to be a nationwide leader on 100 percent clean, renewable energy,” said Bruce Speight, Environment Washington Executive Director. “With other states and scores of cities and corporations committing to cleaner, healthier futures for our kids and our planet, Washington State has an obligation to take a strong, clear position.”

This campaign comes following the key role Environment California, a sister organization to Environment Washington, played in convincing the Golden State to commit to 100 percent clean electricity generation by 2045. Now, other states are poised to emulate the renewable energy pioneers:  California and Hawaii.

Environment Washington is pushing a bill that would eliminate coal on the grid by 2025, require all utilities to have a resource mix that is 80 percent clean by 2030, and ensure all electricity in Washington state is carbon-free. Gov. Jay Inslee requested the bill, and its prime sponsors are state Sen. Reuven Carlyle in the Senate and state Rep. Gael Tarleton in the House.

“Considering the level of climate chaos already unleashed at 1°C warming, from ravaging wildfires to devastating storms, we must move as rapidly as possible to reduce emissions,” said Speight. “What we do in the next few years, not in 20 years, is what matters.  That’s why strong short-term targets are critical to making this bill meaningful.  At the very least, we need to ensure that the provisions to eliminate coal on the grid by 2025 and to require utilities to be 80% percent clean by 2030 remain in the bill, and if anything, that they are strengthened not weakened.”

The renewable revolution isn’t only happening at the state level. Growing awareness of the environmental impacts of our energy use, coupled with rapid advances in technology and declining costs, has made renewable energy the “go-to” option for many communities and businesses. One hundred U.S. cities, led by a mix of Republican and Democratic mayors, have pledged to transition their power sources to 100 percent renewable energy. In addition, 131 major companies, including Bank of America, Walmart and Anheuser-Busch, have pledged to power their entire operations with renewable energy.

“Renewable energy technologies are gaining momentum because they’re pollution-free — which means they’re healthier for both us and the earth,” said Rob Sargent, Environment America’s Clean Energy Program Director. “It should be a no-brainer for other states to follow Hawaii and California’s lead. But we have to convince states to act as soon as possible.”

Filed Under: Business, Technology

5 Smart Ways To Protect Your Data On Social Media

May 12, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The Facebook data breach opened a Pandora’s box of concerns for social media consumers. The company estimated that data firm Cambridge Analytica may have had information on about 87 million Facebook users without their knowledge.  In testimony before the U.S. Senate, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised to do more to protect the privacy of users’ data. But according to studies by the Pew Research Center, people haven’t had much faith in social media firms’ capacity to do just that. A Pew survey last year found that only 9 percent of social media users were “very confident” that companies would protect their data. About half were “not at all” or “not too confident” their data were in safe hands.
With so many people concerned about what private data is shared by social media sites and with whom, the CEO of a social media app says users need to do more to protect their information and be aware of how their data can be used.
“In the past 60 days there has been a profound awakening by the average social media user about data privacy and trust regarding social media companies,” says Scott Relf, CEO and co-founder of  PikMobile Inc. (www.pikmobile.com), an ad-free social media app that allows users to share content through a unique viewing platform.
“All of the other social media companies are equally as guilty as Facebook – Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Google. These companies are betraying their users’ trust by selling them out, and all of this with virtually no regulations or accountability to anyone.”

Relf lists five ways social media users can better protect their data:

 

  • Know the people you friend. Don’t accept friend or follow requests from people you don’t know, even if it appears you have friends in common. “They could be fake accounts from cybercriminals, bots or just bad people,” Relf says. “And the more people you’re connected to, the harder it is to control what happens to the information you post.”
  • Skip the quizzes. Those IQ or personality tests you find on social media may take you to unsecure sites, Relf says, making you vulnerable to identity theft by using information found on your account as well as the answers you provide to the quiz.
  • Select a private profile for maximum control. “Consider your needs,” Relf says. “If you use social media mainly to keep in touch with friends, you may not need a widely open setting. If you use social media for work purposes, consider two accounts: a private personal account as well as a more public business one.”
  • Use strong passwords and don’t share them.  Passwords should be memorable only to the user and kept to themselves. “Likewise, lock your phone with a pin or pattern, so that if you do lose it, whoever finds it doesn’t have easy access to your entire online life,” Relf says.
  •  Don’t opt-in to social media facial recognition. “The only logical reason for your social media service to ask for your facial recognition is so that they can do an even better job of harvesting your data and targeting you with ads,” Relf says.

“Ideally, social media users should choose what they feed into their mind all day long,” Relf says. “Don’t give up control of your news feed to companies and advertisers that harvest your data for their benefit.”

Filed Under: Front Page Slider, Technology

Executive Constantine appoints experienced tech executive to lead King County’s award-winning information technology team

April 14, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

After a nationwide search, Executive Constantine selected a former senior Amazon manager to lead King County’s Department of Information Technology, recognized last year as the Best IT County in the Nation.

Tanya Hannah, Director of King County Department of Information Technology

Executive Dow Constantine appointed a former senior Amazon manager to lead King County’s nationally recognized information technology department.

Tanya Hannah will lead the 450-person team that was selected as Best IT County in the Nation last year by the National Association of Counties. Hannah, who joined King County IT in June 2017 as Deputy Director, was selected after an extensive nationwide search in which more than 300 candidates applied.

“Our award-winning team of IT professionals has established King County as a national leader in using technology to improve the quality of life in our community,” said Executive Constantine. “Tanya has exactly what I wanted for our next Chief Information Officer: The proven ability to lead creative, innovative teams committed to continuous improvement.”

King County’s Department of Information Technology has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative, forward-thinking public IT agencies in the United States, by rethinking the way the county delivers products, services and capabilities to residents, using technology to meet customers where they are – day or night on any device.

Hannah previously served as a senior manager at Amazon and Computer Sciences Corporation. As a Senior Technical Program Manager at Amazon, she launched self-service automated hardware planning and a data analytics platforming using machine learning while working with global partners. She has served as the interim Chief Information Officer since October 2007.

“Our customers get world-class service from the tech giants in their own community. They expect nothing less from their government. This is what drives us every day. Whether it’s Hololens technology to streamline on-site work or integrating real-time food safety data into Yelp restaurant reviews, we believe in partnerships and innovation to deliver the best possible service to our community.”

“Our award-winning team of IT professionals has established King County as a national leader in using technology to improve the quality of life in our community. Tanya has exactly what I wanted for our next Chief Information Officer: The proven ability to lead creative, innovative teams committed to continuous improvement.”

Dow Constantine, King County Executive

“Our customers get world-class service from the tech giants in their own community. They expect nothing less from their government. This is what drives us every day. Whether it’s Hololens technology to streamline on-site work or integrating real-time food safety data into Yelp restaurant reviews, we believe in partnerships and innovation to deliver the best possible service to our community.”

Tanya Hannah, Director of King County Department of Information Technology

Filed Under: Business, Featured Stories, Front Page Slider, News, Northwest, Politics, Technology

Actually, Robots Won’t Take Our Jobs

April 14, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Employment trends expert explains new findings and whether humans should fear being replaced by A.I.

A new study suggests that previous findings regarding job automation predictions might have been way off. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) says that fears over artificial intelligence stealing jobs might be overstated.

“The findings from the OECD are helping to reassure some workers who feared that they were going to be replaced by robots in the next 20 years,” says Rob Wilson, President of Employco USA and employment trends expert says. “These researchers are now saying that previous numbers were overstated and did not take into account different types of jobs which fall under the same name and title.”

In other words, says Wilson, previous studies regarding job automation may have been too broad. In fact, when it comes to considering the risks of artificial intelligence’s impact on the workforce and our economy, Wilson says we need to break down the numbers as much as possible.

“The fact remains that earlier findings show that fast-food workers could be at serious risk of losing their jobs to robots in the next several years. Another recent study found that each new robot added per 1,000 workers causes wages to drop in the surrounding area by around 0.25 and 0.5 percent,” says Wilson. “We can clearly see that in specific industries, the impact of automation cannot be overstated.”

Wilson says minimum wage hikes could also make robots the preferred option for employers. “Robots don’t need raises,” he says. “They don’t healthcare or sick days. For employers who are looking down the barrel of ever-increasing business costs, robots are a cost-saving option in the long-run.”

The employment trends expert also points to a new study which highlighted the fact that Seattle workers lost $129 a month on average after the city’s minimum wage was increased to $15.

“Higher wages sound like a boon for employees, until you realize that employers simply cannot keep pace with these increased costs,” says Wilson. “As a result, they cut staff, limit hours…and consider new technology like automation to replace workers. This is just the beginning of a very disturbing new trend which could lead millions to end up out of work.”

Filed Under: Business, Front Page Slider, Technology

Progress, Challenges as Seattle Strives for 30 by 30 Electric Vehicle Goal, New Study Helps Cities Address Challenges

March 12, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

First-of-its-kind policy analysis of best practices from across U.S. and globally

With Seattle taking big strides to increase electric vehicle infrastructure, and electric vehicles (EVs) hitting U.S. streets in record numbers, a new study by Environment Washington Research and Policy Center, WashPIRG Foundation, and Frontier Group highlights best practices to help local officials make their cities as EV-friendly as possible. The new report, “Plugging In: Readying America’s Cities for the Arrival of Electric Vehicles,” includes local and state data for Seattle and Tacoma about the projected number of electric cars expected on the road in coming years, and how cities can accommodate these new EVs with enough places to park and recharge.

 

“Electric cars are leaving gas-guzzlers in the dust in Washington, and the City of Seattle is showing great leadership in how to transition to an electrified transportation system,” stated Bruce Speight, Director of Environment Washington Research and Policy Center. “This transition is positive change after more than a century of vehicles spewing pollutants into the air, but Seattle and cities across the state need to do more and take additional steps to accelerate the transition to EVs.”

 

The “Plugging In” report estimates that Seattle could have as many as 47,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030. The City of Seattle has a goal of having 30 percent of vehicles in the city being electric by 2030, which would be roughly 133,000 cars, or three times what the report estimates. The report also estimates that roughly 4,000 chargers are needed to meet this goal.  Meanwhile, the city is investing in EV infrastructure – last month, the Mayor unveiled two new municipal fast chargers in Beacon Hill and 156 new chargers at a municipal parking garage.

 

“In Seattle, we’re investing in transit and other modes of transportation so that you don’t have to be in a car. But, if you do need to drive, we want it to be in an electric vehicle. That’s why we are committed to building out the infrastructure to support electric vehicles of all types,” said Jessica Finn Coven, Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment. “Our reputation as an electric transportation hub is growing and we are encouraged by the electric mobility companies that are investing in Seattle. This report will be a good resource as we move forward together toward a pollution-free future.”

 

The report calls on local officials to implement the following EV-friendly policies:

  • Residential access to on-street EV charging
  • Access to public charging stations
  • Support for private investment in publicly-accessible stations
  • Incentivized EV parking and charging

 

EV sales nationwide increased 38% in 2016, and then another 32% throughout 2017, as charging stations became more convenient. Those electric car purchases reflect Americans’ values, including a desire to protect our communities’ public health, reduce global warming pollution and stop using so much oil.

 

Even the auto industry recognizes that the future is electric. GM plans to launch 20 EV models by 2023, while Ford announced last month it plans to invest $11 billion in EVs, with a goal of having 40 models by 2022. These new cars don’t just check off the “electric” box; they’re earning acclaim from mainstream car enthusiasts. Motor Trend even named Chevrolet’s Bolt the 2017 Car of the Year.

 

But with more electric vehicles on the road, and many more coming soon, cities need to map out where EVs will charge, particularly in city centers and neighborhoods without off-street parking. In all, major cities will need to install hundreds to thousands of new publicly-accessible electric vehicle chargers to keep the increased number of EVs running, depending on the size of the city.

 

“American cities risk being unprepared for the impending arrival of thousands of electric vehicles on their streets,” said Alana Miller, policy analyst at Frontier Group and co-author of “Plugging In.” “Without forward-thinking policies that give EV owners places to park and charge their vehicles, cities could lose out on the health and air quality benefits that electric vehicles can deliver,” Miller said.

 

“One of the biggest barriers to greater EV adoption is the lack of charging infrastructure. We’re excited for more tools to be available to cities and towns across the United States that will help to speed adoption of these clean vehicles,” said Katherine Stainken, Policy Director for Plug In America.

 

The report’s authors note that local and state officials increasingly are having to lead on issues related to climate change, clean energy, and clean cars, as the Trump administration dismantles federal policies that offered concrete solutions to these issues. In the coming weeks, the administration is expected to propose new steps towards revoking federal fuel efficiency standards and weakening clean car policies.

 

“Adopting smart public policies, which have been implemented already in visionary American and international cities, can help more U.S. cities lead the electric vehicle revolution,” noted Elise Orlick, Director of WashPIRG Foundation.  “For the sake of our public health and environment, it’s crucial that we expand access to clean transportation for those who live, work and play in our urban centers. And once we complete the transition away from gasoline and diesel, we can all breathe easier and see more clearly.”

 

Filed Under: News, Northwest, Politics, Technology

Tips For Rebuilding Credit

August 1, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

If you have made mistakes in the past, or have been victim to situations out of your control which effected your credit, you may average, poor or just plain bad credit. This doesn’t mean you still don’t have the means to get a loan or apply for a rental. There are a few steps you can take to get your credit back to a place you can be proud of.
600-01645903Apart from paying off delinquent charges and making sure all current accounts are being paid on time, an auto loan is the best way to begin rebuilding your credit.  The Pierre Money Mart can get you a loan for a car today at the monthly price you can afford.  If you have a way to earn money, then you have a right to an auto loan. Beyond that, having any line of credit where money is available to you will help build your credit score. For more information about money lending or to see a large inventory of vehicles, contact the Pierre Money Mart.

 

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Filed Under: Business, Featured Stories, Tips & How-To

Travelers Take Heed: Wildlife Poses Dangers For Those Unaware

July 28, 2017 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

 

Worth Reading w/ Sara - Book Review Journalist
Worth Reading w/ Sara – Book Review Journalist

As the summer travel season begins, many tourists head to outdoor destinations that bring them into contact with wildlife they don’t normally encounter back home.

Locals might be aware of a problem with alligators, bears, or lions, but if there are no warnings posted, someone from out of town may not know they’re potentially in danger.

One woman, Susan Mattern, learned this through painful experience. She witnessed a mountain lion attack her 5-year old daughter in a local Southern California park.

“The lion came out of nowhere,” she says. “As we stood in the ankle-deep stream, I glimpsed behind me a blur of matted fur, short round ears, a long tail. And then they were gone ¬¬– that fast – the mountain lion and my daughter.”

Mattern detailed the attack in a book, “Out of the Lions Den,” (www.outofthelionsden.net), which also recounts her daughter’s recovery and the long legal battles afterwards. Mattern’s faith as a former Catholic nun was severely tested.

Mattern has some tips for tourists heading to outdoor destinations:

  • Research the area before you go. Just like you read about the interesting sights, research the local wildlife. Ask locals, check news outlets for any recent wildlife attacks. And know what to expect in the outdoor areas you’ll be visiting.
    • Don’t go hiking or camping alone. But if you do, make sure someone knows exactly where you are going, and when you will return.
    • Small children and animals are simply prey for any large predator. If the animal is hungry or defending its young, it will attack. Don’t let your children run ahead on trails or get out of sight.
    • Always carry protection with you, such as bear spray, or a sturdy walking stick.

“There are a few things the experts still say that just aren’t true.” Mattern says.  “One is, ‘If you see a lion, make yourself look tall and threatening – make lots of noise.’  That’s good advice if you actually see the lion. But in reality, as anyone who has watched their own pet cat sneak up on a bird, the attack will almost always come from behind, stealthily and quietly. You will never even see it.

“And the saying, ‘Animals are more afraid of you than you are of them.’ Not in our case.”

Mattern points out that people are encroaching on wildlife’s habitat.

“Animals are protective of their territory and can attack before you know what’s happening,” she says. “People have to be protected, and even though cities and counties should warn people if there is danger, that doesn’t always happen.”

In her daughter’s case, she says, it took a lengthy lawsuit and trial before the county where the attack happened even put up warning signs in its parks.

“Remember, in spite of all the amazing programs on TV showing the majesty and beauty of these creatures – bears, alligators, mountain lions, snakes, elk, wolves, bison – they are wild creatures,” Mattern says. “They are not your cute dog or domesticated cat, eager to be petted and fed, or approached for a great photo-op. They are unpredictable and sometimes very dangerous.

“If you do see wildlife, leave it alone in its own natural environment. Let them be the wild creatures they are.”

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