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Stop and smell the fungus

caption: We live in a mycorrhizal wonderland.
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We live in a mycorrhizal wonderland.

It’s unlikely to harm you – and you don’t necessarily have to eat it. Why are our ballots so wonky? And what do you need to think about before forming a pandemic pod?

Individual segments are available in our podcast stream or at www.kuow.org/record.

One thing the pandemic hasn't stopped? Mushroom hunting.

Our area has the highest concentration of chanterelle mushrooms in the world. Daniel Winkler, former vice president of the Puget Sound Mycological Society, says our focus on gathering and eating mushrooms misses the point. After all: birders don’t ask “can I eat it?” before setting out after a specific avian.

Erin Geiger Smith, Thank You for Voting

Why are there non-binding advisory votes on a ballot? And on the other end of the spectrum, why are judges and sheriffs elected positions? Welcome to the wonderful world of elections. Your guide is Erin Geiger Smith, author of the book Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting in America.

To pod, or not?

If you have children, this question probably came up in your circles a while ago. But as the weather pushes more of us inside, a question: to pod or not to pod? University of Washington epidemiologist Alison Drake says there are a few things you should ask yourself – and your intended podmates – before deciding.

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