KUOW Blog
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Why are you so worked up about Buoy?: Today So Far
The Seattle Kraken has a new mascot, a sea troll named Buoy. Not everyone is happy about it. But so what. Not everything is for you and that is OK.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for October 3, 2022.
Let's get something out of the way, right at the start this week: The Kraken's new mascot, Buoy, is not a kraken. But so what?
As soon as new mascot for Seattle's hockey team was announced on Friday, folks began airing their grievances, mostly over social media (anybody else see the irony of online trolls criticizing a troll?). The fact that most criticism people can cite is located on Twitter, that's the first sign you shouldn't take any of this too seriously.
But hey, I get it. The team is called the "Seattle Kraken." Logically, the mascot should be a kraken. The Seahawks have Blitz (a sea hawk). UW has Harry/Hendrix the Husky as well as a live Husky named Dubs (because they're the huskies). The Sounders have Sammy the Sounder, which is a stretch, but you have to give them some credit for creativity for that one. As do the Storm for the whole concept around Doppler. But when you have something that is plain and straightforward, like "kraken," I understand why folks would be scratching their heads, wondering where the kraken is. Now, I know what you're going to say: "But the Mariners have a moose!" You know what, the Mariners' mascot should be an old, cranky sailor — someone who throws salmon at the audience while spouting offensive sea slang. There, I said it. Am I going to campaign against the moose? No. I have better things to do. Also, I've met the moose and they seem alright.
But here's the thing folks — Buoy is for you ... but it's also not for you. Sports mascots serve a variety of purposes, much of which is promotion at corporate and public events (an online form to request Buoy appearances is already up and running). They're also meant to craft an endearing fandom among youngsters. It's for kids (and to encourage those kids to pester their parents to take them to a game and buy merch). A kraken probably wouldn't have conveyed the fun-loving, cuddly persona kids want. As Lamont Buford, Kraken's vice president of entertainment experience, said in a statement, Buoy is the result of months of branding development to be "kid friendly and approachable."
While Buoy may look like the love child of an orc and a Smurf, it's more likely the product of test marketing that took place in the bowels of office cubicles and meeting rooms. It's designed to go beyond the game that fans are already at, to efficiently increase visibility, and capture future fans.
Just because something is not for you, that doesn't make it bad. Meanwhile, young, up-and-coming fans are going to be just fine with Buoy. And just in case any critics forgot, there is a whole hockey game happening while you're busy complaining. Attracting new fans, and their dollars, will ultimately help keep that game going. To folks disappointed about the absence of a kraken, I encourage you to do it yourself. Seattle has always been very DIY, and the cosplay scene is strong locally, so we have the skills. If you want a kraken at the games — dress up and show up.
Over the weekend, Buoy did not let any online criticisms go unanswered. In response to one online comment, "This is up there as worst mascot design ever," Buoy responded "so what’s the excuse for your design work?" When another person simply tweeted "No" to Buoy's debut, the mascot wrote back, sarcastically, "you’re fun at parties." See more here.
All that said, as a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, I do appreciate Buoy elevating the profile of sea trolls. And if the legend is true, that Buoy once jammed with Mudhoney, that demands some local respect. Read more here.
Also on KUOW.org today:
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How NW winemakers are adapting to smoky growing seasons
In 2020, western wildfires gave the Northwest's wine grapes an ashy, smoky taste. This year, Washington is expecting a record harvest, but vintners are still figuring out the best way to deal with the impact of smoke taint.
Creating blends of different grape types was one way winemakers salvaged the 2020 harvest. But scientists are looking for other ways to approach the problem.
That smoke can seep into the fruit, giving the wine produced an ashy, smoky flavor. While they haven’t been as bad this year, the wildfires of 2020 blanketed states across the West.
In his office at Washington State University’s Wine Science Center, professor Tom Collins has studied how smoke exposure affects grapes for years, and just submitted his team’s most recent findings to the journal Nature.
“In a nutshell, what this first paper is to say is, we've identified this class of compounds, and we think we know how they get there," Collins said.
And if you know what causes the smoky flavors, he says scientists can work on how to remove them from the wine.
Mitch Venohr, a winemaker with Fidélitas Wines in Richland, Wash., said he is glad the researchers have made strides in identifying the smoky compounds.
“Now the next big question is: How do we specifically remove those from wine? Or are there things that can be done in the vineyard to prevent those smoke compounds from getting into the grapes?" Venohr said.
Read the full story from Northwest Public Broadcasting here.
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Breaching Snake River dams is needed to restore salmon, NOAA report says
A final report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states the four Lower Snake River dams in southeastern Washington must go.
Rob Masonis, a conservation expert with Trout Unlimited, agrees. He says removing the dams will be a foundation of salmon recovery.
“If you don’t have that foundation, the billions of dollars that we have spent, and will spend in the future, will not produce the desired outcome of salmon recovery,” Masonis said. “We need to remove the big bottleneck that’s preventing us from realizing the benefit of those investments and that’s the four dams on the Lower Snake River.”
Trout Unlimited works to protect stream and river habitat.
RELATED: Youth rally to protect salmon in the Snake River
The report from NOAA also suggests that things like predator management, restoring estuaries and habitat, along with reintroducing salmon above the Chief Joseph and Grand Coulee dams could help restoration efforts.
Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse is against removing the dams. He argues that the region can't produce clean energy without the Lower Snake River dams.
“The Biden administration is playing politics with its energy future, while ignoring recent data showing spring and summer chinook returns at higher levels than they have been in years,” Newhouse said in a statement.
RELATED: Time is running out for salmon as the Snake River dam removal debate enters a new phase
Read the full story from Northwest Public Broadcasting here.
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Laxman Narasimhan begins role as Starbucks new CEO
Laxman Narasimhan officially took over as Starbucks' CEO Oct. 1, but changes to the company won't be coming along too quickly as the new leader is phased in.
“Starbucks commitment to uplift humanity through connection and compassion has long distinguished the company, building an unrivaled, globally admired brand that has transformed the way we connect over coffee," Narasimhan said in a statement. "I am humbled to be joining this iconic company at such a pivotal time, as the Reinvention and investments in the partner and customer experiences position us to meet the changing demands we face today and set us up for an even stronger future. I look forward to working closely with Howard, the Board, and the entire leadership team — and to listening and learning from Starbucks partners — as we collectively build on this work to lead the company into its next chapter of growth and impact.”
Narasimhan replaces Howard Schultz, who returned as interim CEO earlier this year after the previous CEO, Kevin Johnson, retired. Johnson spent five years leading the global coffee giant. Schultz returned to the company to fill in until a new CEO could be hired. He was paid a $1 salary.
Narasimhan relocated from London to Seattle for the job. He is now also a member of the Starbucks board of directors.
Previously, Narasimhan held leadership roles with PepsiCo and served as the CEO of Reckitt, a multinational consumer heath, hygiene, and nutrition company. Starbucks says he "has a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands."
Schultz will stay on the board of directors. He's also not entirely absent from the company's leadership. According to Starbucks, Schultz will continue as interim CEO and remain in Narasimhan's orbit over the next few months to help phase in the new CEO. This process will include hanging out in Starbucks stores, as well as visiting farms and manufacturing plants.
Narasimhan will officially, fully step into the role on April 1, 2023.
In a statement, Schultz said Narasimhan is the "right leader to take Starbucks into its next chapter."
"He is uniquely positioned to shape this work and lead the company forward with his partner-centered approach and demonstrated track record of building capabilities and driving growth in both mature and emerging markets," Shultz said. "As I have had the opportunity to get to know him, it has become clear that he shares our passion of investing in humanity and in our commitment to our partners, customers, and communities. The perspectives he brings will be a strong asset as we build on our heritage in this new era of greater well-being. I greatly look forward to our partnership over the coming months and years."
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Home run: Mariners heading to the playoffs
The Seattle Mariners have done it. After 21 years, the baseball team is finally returning to the playoffs.
You couldn't have written it any better. Tied game in the bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, and a pinch hitting Cal Raleigh sends a solo home run to right field for the walk off win. With that, the Mariners officially clinched their spot in the postseason.
"I mean, 21 years," said longtime fan Adam McCrow moments after the win Friday night. "That's a long time to wait, but worth every second. So pretty happy right now. Where were you in 2001? Where were you 21 years ago? I actually went to the game. You know, that night it was pretty stellar, but a little somber too. And so having this moment tonight, where you could absolutely let go and just, you know, cheer like a madman, it was awesome."
Friday night's win was capped off by fireworks and the players celebrating on the field.
The Mariners start a four-game series against the Tigers Monday night, Oct. 3, in Seattle to finish the regular season. The team then heads to the playoffs for the first time in decades.
Read the full story here.
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Seattle Kraken mascot 'Buoy' makes big debut on the ice
The Seattle Kraken's new mascot was revealed Friday. Over the weekend, Buoy the sea troll did not let online criticism go unanswered.
Buoy is a 6-foot-tall sea troll who made its debut descending onto the ice from the arena's rafters during Friday's game. The team drew inspiration from Seattle's famous Fremont Troll.
Almost as soon as the Kraken unveiled Buoy, it began drawing out trolls of another kind — online critics. Whoever is at the helm of the Kraken's PR has opted not to be silent as Buoy addressed such criticism directly.
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Burning through containment confusion: Today So Far
- Bolt Creek fire is 28% contained. What does "contained" mean?
- There will soon be a hate crime hotline in King County.
- Viet-Wah Supermarket closes for good today, after 40 years of service in Seattle.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for September 30, 2022.
The Bolt Creek fire was 97% contained about a week ago. Then it was 13% contained. Now it's about 28% contained. What is going on? According to officials on the ground, there was some confusion between management teams, which led to the range of numbers. There has also been some confusion among KUOW's audience about what exactly "contained" means when reporting about wildfires.
Think of it this way, when my pot contains water, the water is inside the pot. Saying it is "contained" doesn't mean the water is no longer there, or has boiled away. When a wildfire is contained, it basically means that crews have dug fire lines and are using rivers or other natural barriers to stop the spread of the fire in an area — the fire is contained within those borders, but the fire is still there. Just as the Bolt Creek fire is still burning today. "Contained" doesn't mean "put out," as in a fire has been X% extinguished.
All that rain La Niña is supposed to bring this October can't come soon enough. It's rain that can hopefully knock our wildfires down. Read more here.
There will soon be a hate crime hotline in King County. The County Council approved a plan to develop the hotline and a web portal this week. A workgroup is tasked with developing how to implement it and will present its plan to the Council by May 2023. The move comes after a recorded rise in such incidents, locally.
King County's Coalition Against Hate and Bias has recorded 560 reports of hate crimes since mid-2020. Reported hate crimes in King County peaked at 157% in February 2021, according to the County's Prosecutor's Office. Read more here.
It's the end of an era. The Viet-Wah Supermarket will close for good today, when the final shift is over at 7 p.m. If you want to make one last visit to the store in Seattle's Little Saigon, today is the day.
Viet-Wah has been a go-to source for Pan-Asian products for nearly 40 years. Generations have grown up going there, such as Leeching Tran, daughter of Duc Tran, who founded the store. She is vice president of Viet-Wah today, and has come to know the regulars throughout her life there.
"You know, it's familiar faces, people you know, and recognize and you look forward to seeing every time you come here, so that's gonna be hard I think," Tran told KUOW.
Viet-Wah's owners say that business went considerably downhill during the pandemic, and amid a recent rise in hate crimes targeting Asians. Now, the land where the market is located is slated for new development — housing, retail, and parking.
My family usually goes to the Viet-Wah location in Renton. That location will remain open. Read more here.
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Mayor Harrell names LA parks executive to lead Seattle's Parks and Recreation department
Another executive officer from Los Angeles is set to lead a Seattle department.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced the nomination of Anthony-Paul “AP” Diaz to be the next head of Seattle Parks and Recreation.
The mayor made his announcement at Yesler Terrace Park Thursday morning. Diaz said he’s ready to get to work, and to illuminate what he calls “the Seattle Shine.”
“We reject the notion that this is a city of insulation,” Diaz said. “It is not. It is a city of progress, of openness, of innovation, and of light.”
Diaz currently heads the parks department in Los Angeles. He has worked for the city for 20 years. Previously, he was the department's general counsel before becoming its executive officer. He said he shares the mayor’s vision for the city’s park system: a place for respite, health and wellness, and equity, among other things.
“Seeing the status of parks during the pandemic as they became one of the few options for gathering spaces and vitality, only reinforce my commitment to amplify our park system, and the narrative of what parks [do] and what they are in the future,” Diaz said.
If confirmed by the Seattle City Council, Diaz will lead the department that manages a park system of more than 6,000 acres.
This is Harrell's second nominee from LA. Greg Spotts was recently confirmed as the new head of the city's Transportation Department.
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Bolt Creek fire continues to burn past 'contained' confusion
Drivers along Highway 2 and residents around Skykomish are still being affected by the Bolt Creek fire, despite recent confusion over the status of the wildfire and how much of it is "contained."
At one point, reports stated that the Bolt Creek fire was 97% contained. This week, that number went down to 13%. Current reports state that the fire is 28% contained. Incident Commander Kent Stanford says a change in management teams is to blame for the confusion.
"The prior team had a strategy of confinement," Stanford said. "What they were trying to relay with the 97% was 97% of that work was done to confine the fire to a certain geographic area."
Stanford says the fire continues to spread within that confinement area, mostly to the north. He adds that the only thing that will significantly knock down the fire is substantial rainfall, which is not expected any time soon.
The fire has frequently shut down Highway 2 through the area. Crews have been working to remove trees that are at risk of falling onto the highway. Firefighters are asking drivers to slow down in the area as they work.
According to a status update on the Bolt Creek fire sore Sept. 30, 2022:
"Fire resources, utility crews and WSDOT finalized work along the US 2 closure area on Thursday and the road was reopened on Thursday evening. Two days of moderated fire conditions contributed to mostly minimal fire spread from Wednesday through Thursday night, though the fire has continued to burn up to containment lines on the west, south and east edges of the fire. Very few pockets of unburned vegetation remain along the road, and most of the fire’s continued spread will be to the north and into the Wild Sky Wilderness area. Humidities will remain relatively high through the next week of sunny weather, which should help to moderate future fire spread. Fire resources will continue to monitor and reinforce firelines today and through the weekend."
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King County begins work on 'Stop Hate Hotline'
The King County Council has approved a plan to create a new hate crime hotline and web portal that people can use to report incidents.
County Councilmember Reagan Dunn says the Stop Hate Hotline is needed following the surge in hate crimes seen throughout the course of the pandemic.
“If we are to more fully respond to the unprecedented surge in hate crimes we’ve seen in King County, we need to provide more pathways for victims of these dehumanizing crimes to report them,” Dunn said in a statement. "Without boosting reporting rates, we only allow crimes of hate and bias to proliferate — and no one in King County should live in threat of retaliation or even danger due to their race, religion, beliefs, appearance, or any other differences that exist among us.”
The County's Coalition Against Hate and Bias says it has received 560 reports of hate crimes since it was formed in mid-2020, and those were just the incidents that were reported.
In February 2021, reported hate crimes with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office peaked at 157%, considerably higher than the pre-Covid average.
A workgroup will convene in November to develop a plan for the reporting system, as well as awareness. That plan will be presented to the County Council in May 2023.
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Seattle's Viet-Wah supermarket closes permanently
When their shift ends at 7 p.m. Friday night, owners and employees at the Viet-Wah store located in Seattle's Little Saigon will close its doors permanently.
The Asian food supermarket has operated at this location along South Jackson Street for nearly four decades. The land is now slated to be developed to make way for housing, retail, and parking.
The countertops at the store show the wear of almost 40 years of customer service. Leeching Tran is the Vice President of Viet-Wah Supermarket, and the daughter of Duc Tran, founder of the grocery store. Tran grew up at this store and says she’ll really miss the regulars.
“You know, it's familiar faces, people you know, and recognize and you look forward to seeing every time you come here, so that's gonna be hard I think," Tran said, adding that one of the unique things about Viet-Wah's Seattle location is the range of languages that can be heard among the aisles.
“Not just English or Vietnamese, but you hear Mandarin, Cantonese, Taishanese, my family speaks Teochew," she said. "We have customers from all different nationalities and ethnicities, which is really cool.”
Tran’s aunt June Huynh hasn’t been able to sleep for the past two days, saddened by the store's closing. Huynh has worked at the location since 1989. Between the pandemic and hate crimes, Huynh says they’ve seen a dramatic drop in customers.
The owners say they’ve lost a lot of business due to the pandemic and the increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.
After the store closes, Tran says staff will go out to dinner at a local restaurant to mark their decades in the area.
Viet-Wah’s Renton location will remain open.
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The uncomfortable, guilty, amazing experience of 'Choir Boy': Reporter's Notebook
Let me start by saying “Choir Boy” was an amazing experience. The writer, Tarell Alvin McCraney, crafted a story that takes audiences into the world of Pharus Young, a 17-year-old queer Black boy in his senior year at the fictional Charles R. Drew school for boys. It depicts Young’s struggle to balance school, relationships, and his love of singing in the choir — all while being targeted by peers due to his sexuality.
RELATED: 'Choir Boy' explores life, love, and queer identity for Black teens
Seattle’s ACT Theatre provides a unique experience for this play. Due to the stage being circular, and situated in the middle of the audience, the action takes place in an arena that director Jamil Jude likened to a “boxing ring.” But for me, sitting in the front row, my attention would often drift to the audience members sitting across from me. We were close enough for me to see their faces, and when the characters on stage — all except one being Black — hurled racial and sexual slurs at each other, I was often reminded that I was one of few Black spectators in the audience.
This experience was different than being at a concert where white people rap lyrics to songs that say the n-word. In those situations, which are also uncomfortable at times, the crowd blends together and its hard to decipher who specifically is saying the word. That night at the ACT Theatre, I was in a room full of white people, watching as a young Black boys call each other the n-word, and call one specific boy the f-word, in a very abusive manner.
For me, these moments felt even more heavy seeing that the institution portrayed in the play and the actors involved, were all Black, and the audience in the fishbowl was almost exclusively white — and dead silent. So, every single slur cut like a blade and I couldn’t escape the feeling that the rest of the audience was now allowed into a space that would typically be exclusive to Black folks.
The Drew school was just like my school growing up. The way those kids spoke to each other is how we spoke to each other, and even when the n-word was used in a nonconfrontational way, it still felt wrong to have it used so freely in the presence of that many people who were not Black, people who may have never been privy to these types of conversations. But I couldn’t stop my eyes from gazing across the crowd and looking into the eyes of all the people who, perhaps for the first time, were getting a glimpse into my childhood, which made me feel like I was in the fishbowl and on display along with the actors.
I must also admit that the play made me feel guilty. Maybe that’s why the mixed-crowd got to me in the way that it did.
I spoke to director Jamil Jude, who is also a heterosexual Black man, about how he processed elements in the play. Like me, Jude didn’t have a gay friend until college. I knew gay people existed, but I never had a relationship with a gay person until I was able to escape the false-teachings of my youth. Looking at the youth on stage, and seeing how bad Pharus needed a friend, needed a peer to be in his corner, made me feel guilty for the times when I could have been that friend but never stepped up.
The relationship between Pharus and his newfound friend AJ was one of the most important in the play. It showed how valuable it is to have a friend — someone you can talk to, someone who can see past differences and accept the person you are.
For many people, the takeaway from this play will be a reminder to allow Black boys to be boys; to not force manhood on us too soon, but to allow us space for adolescence, curiosity, and self-discovery. My takeaway is an additional reminder to be present in the life of young Black boys, especially queer Black boys. It’s our responsibility to destigmatize their existence.
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