Are hybrid and electric cars really better for the environment? Ozzie Zehner used to think so; he used to be enthusiastic about electric cars. But he says he was wrong. In his new book, Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism, he argues that we don’t have an energy crisis, we have a consumption crisis. He persuasively argues for a change of perspective. Zehner recently published an op-ed piece in The Christian Science Monitor about his conclusions using the recent release of the Tesla SUV as a springboard to talk about how electric cars … Continue reading Electric car solution or problem

Kathleen Flenniken, author of Famous (2006) is now the Washington state poet laureate for 2012-2014. In a news release from Humanities Washington and the Washington State Arts Commission Flenniken said, “This is a dream job — speaking in support of the arts and humanities, and of poetry in particular, getting a chance to organize poetry events around the state, visit schools, reach kids and teachers and remote communities.” Click here to read the full story from The Seattle Times. Famous is a winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry, and was widely praised. Barbara McMichael from the Olympian (Olympia, … Continue reading UNP author named state’s poet laureate

Lithuanian ambassador to the United States Žygimantas Pavilionis met with Ellen Cassedy, the author of the new UNP book, We are Here. Cassedy said that she wrote a book hoping that it will promote dialogue and understanding, and will help to fulfill the dreams that both the Lithuanians and Jews share for Lithuania. “In Lithuania, I not only learned about my family past, but also met wonderful people who are encouraging Lithuania to engage with its history in order to build a better future. I was moved and educated by how they were reaching across cultural borders,” Cassedy said. She … Continue reading Friday photo

The winners of the Zester Daily food contest have been chosen! Congrats to our winners, Joanna, Sue, Christy, Bret and Barbara. Your prize — a copy of Jewish American Food Culture by Jonathan Deutsch and Rachel D. Saks, which takes an in-depth look at both well-known and unfamiliar Jewish dishes, is en route! Thanks to all who participated! Continue reading Zester Daily contest winners