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Quick History of The Boeing Company

The Boeing Company

Washingtonians know that Boeing has a strong presence in the state. Whether you work there, went on a school tour, or hear about them in the news, the company has a large impact on the Puget Sound. The Boeing Company is an established entity in Seattle and has roots that go back over 100 years. In March 1910, William E. Boeing bought Heath’s shipyard in Seattle on the Duwamish River, which later became his first airplane factory. Boeing was incorporated in Seattle by William Boeing, on July 15, 1916, as “Pacific Aero Products Co.” Today, Boeing is the largest private employer in Washington. Currently, nearly half of Boeing’s global workforce is located here in the state. In this are the company is committed to building the single-aisle 737 MAX, with orders for more than 4,000 airplanes.

The Company in interwoven in the Puget Sound community in so many different ways. The Boeing Company made its first charitable contribution in 1917 when a gift from William E. Boeing helped the University of Washington build the state’s first wind tunnel. Since July 1st 2017, the current CEO is Dennis Muilenburg. More than a century later Boeing employees and retirees contribute more than $50 million annually to approximately 200 Washington organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in this state. In 2016 Boeing, employees and retirees contributed more than $50 million to community organizations and donated more than 250,000 volunteer hours. Additionally, more than 100 Boeing executives serve on non-profit boards throughout the Puget Sound region. Boeing also offers a Washington New Letter so you can keep up with news and events. Boeing is well invested in Washington state and serves the people who live here to enrich and progress communities.

Boeing is committed to Washington state and has invested billions of dollars in their future here. That commitment extends from helping educate the next generation of aerospace workers to implement changes in The Boeing Renton factory to facilitate future production of the 737 MAX. It also includes expansion of delivery centers in Everett and Seattle and construction of massive new buildings to house, cutting-edge technologies being developed for the 777X. Boeing has a clear strategy and commitment to protecting the environment. As a technology and innovation leader, they continually improve the environmental performance of their products and services to further reduce fuel use, carbon, and the industry’s ecological footprint.

If you are a plane lover or want to learn more about the company history, located approximately 25 miles north of Seattle, The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour is the only public tour of a commercial jet assembly plant in North America. Explore the interactive exhibits and displays in our 28,000-square-foot Aviation Center Gallery; then take a 90-minute tour of the Boeing plant where you can watch 747s, 777s, or 787 Dreamliners being assembled right before your eyes. People come from out of town for this tour, and if you’re a local and have never been, it’s a great way to learn more about a company that drives a lot of the local economy and is invested in the success of local communities. There is a minimum height requirement of 4 feet for children participating in the Boeing Tour. To avoid disappointment, please make sure to check the height before purchasing tickets. This restriction is strictly enforced. ADA accessible tours are offered twice daily. Call in advance to ensure proper accommodations. 1-800-464-1476 or ask any questions.

The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, and satellites worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support services. Boeing is among the most significant global aircraft manufacturers, and it is the second-largest defense contractor in the world based on 2015 revenue.

Notes about The Boeing Company:
Founded: William Boeing
CEO: Dennis Muilenburg (www.DennisMuilenburg.com)
Stock Symbol: BA (NYSE)
Revenue: 93.39 Billion (2017)
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Seattle Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3707. Seattle, Washington 98124

How To Get Around The Emerald City

Getting Around Seattle - Transportation

Like any major city, getting from point A to point B comes with hectic street ways, pedestrian filled sidewalks, bumper to bumper traffic, and of course road-raged civilians. Do not be weary, Seattle has a way around this. From mass transportation to private car services, you’ll be where you need to be in a jiffy.

Link Light Rail
For those commuting to Downtown Seattle and wanting to avoid the high levels of morning interstate traffic, the Link is an easy and affordable way to get on your way. Travelling between University of Washington Station and Angle Lake Station, there are 14 stops, running about every 6, 10, or 15 minutes. Plan your trip ahead of time for easy travelling! The Link even voyages through the Sea-Tac area, making a straightforward commute for your airport needs. Fares: $2.25-$3.25

Streetcars
This quick and easy way to get around Seattle is an electric, earth friendly choice of commuting. There are currently two Streetcars, with lines located in South Lake Union and First Hill. Learn how to ride and track these Streetcars here. Taking ORCA cards, credit cards, and cash, paying for your trip is easy.

Monorail
The Seattle Center Monorail runs along a mile long stretch from the Westlake Center Mall station (located in the Westlake Center Mall’s upper floor) to the Seattle Center Station (located right by the Space Needle). One-way fares cost only $1.25-$2.50 and children under 4 ride free! When riding the monorail, remember to always have cash on you, since they do not accept ORCA cards or other forms of payment besides cash.

The Sounder
The Sounder trains commute between Everett and Seattle, and Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, and Seattle. These trains run Monday through Friday during peak hours and some weekends depending on events happening in Seattle. For an every weekday commuter, the Sounder is probably the best option for you. Large parking lots are available at every station for your convenience. Ticket vending machines are located at every station for easy ticket purchasing. ORCA cards are accepted to ride the Sounder, and may make sense for an everyday passenger (you’ll save money this way). Take your bike on the train with you for a free commute from your destination train station to your office. Planning on going to Saturday or Sunday’s Seattle sporting event? — look no further, ride the train with your fellow sports fans.

Buses
The King County Metro Transit allows for easy and affordable commuting within the city. The Metros website has a user friendly Trip Planner to help find bus stops and departure times near you. Individual bus stops have signs of the route and fare pertaining to that specific time and run. Peak run times have ticket prices ranging from $1.00-$3.25, while non-peak time prices are $1.00-$2.75. An Access Pass can be purchased, allowing unlimited rides for $63.00/month.

Zipcar
Need a car in a pinch but don’t want the hassle of rental car paperwork?—Zipcar is just around the corner. Joining Zipcar can be easily done on your phone or computer. Driving plans range from occasional, monthly, or extra driving plans. Rates range from $7.75/hr and $73/day to $6.98/hr and $65.70/day. Gas and insurance included with all plans as well.

Uber/Lyft
Perhaps one of the most popular car services in the US, including Seattle, is Uber — with Lyft following close behind. At the tap of a button on your smartphone, a care can be out front of your location in two minutes. Just download the app, plug in your credit card information, and the rest is easy. Uber’s cars can fit all your needs with UberX (the least expensive), UberXL (seats at least 6 passengers), UberSelect (a luxury sedan), or UberBLACK (their most luxurious service). Lyft’s services include Lyft Premier (a high-end, four seater), Lyft Lux (a black car service), and Lyft Lux SUV (a black SUV with up to 6 passengers). For a short ride home from the airport, or a longer ride across town, Uber or Lyft can get you there.

Wherever it is that you’re going in Seattle, getting there swiftly and painlessly, will be no problem for you.
For more resources on Seattle Transportation, please visit: https://www.visitseattle.org/visitor-information/getting-around/

Why You Should Go to Croatia (I’m Talking to You, Americans)

Croatia Flag

When I announced that I planned to go to Croatia, it was based on a photo I had seen online. It was taken from within a door frame, peering out towards brilliant blue water just few feet away. I thought, “Wow, I have to go there.” When I arrived, I soon found that many others agreed with me, and the country that occupies the coastline across the Adriatic sea from Italy was just as beautiful as that fateful photo.

However as I traveled, I noticed something strange. I didn’t met a single American. This was part of Europe and unlike other European cities I’ve visited, I seemed to be the only one with that familiar blue passport. Why were Americans missing out on the worst kept secret in Europe?

Croatia has a brand name problem

First of all, “Croatia” didn’t always exist. Before 1990 it was part of the former Yugoslavia. When a few countries declared independence and the area later fell into civil war, the Bosnian’s, Serbs, and Croats made news for 5 years as they fought, signed peace accords and started fighting again. Not exactly the kind of PR that says “visit here”.

Perhaps this is why Americans have kept their distance? I have to admit, I had an embarrassingly poor knowledge of the dissolution of Yugoslavia and following civil war, despite it happening in my lifetime. A little research fixed this. The civil war is long since over, and Croatia even boasts a low crime rate. If you want to read more about it, Wikipedia offers an overview of the history. Also the US State Department has an official summary (and no travel warnings).

It’s safe, but is it that good?

Let me put it this way. If you like azure water, sheltered beaches, cheap prices, ancient architecture, friendly people, access to islands and seafood, then um, yes, you might like it a little. However, there are the beginnings of a tourist culture: stands have popped up selling flip flops and t-shirts, English is widely spoken, and tour boats litter the marina.

But compared to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, the French Riviera, or Greece– Croatia is truly in its infancy. Tourism only picked up in 2000, and I predict it will be a couple more years before the Hilton builds a 16 swimming pool monstrosity that blocks the view for all but the most affluent. For now, it’s a sleepy coastal town that hasn’t quite figured out what to make of all these people who descend every summer.

Once Croatia enters the EU (~2010), prices may go up or they may attract the attention of international hotel developers.

Until then, it’s all yours. A place so small that you’ll recognize fellow travelers in town or get to know your waiter’s kids as they sit at the table next to you. In short, it’s unexpected.

Best Parks in Seattle

Seattle Parks

Spring is trying really hard to makes its presence known in the Pacific Northwest. Yes, we still see a lot of rain and are dashing from our office to our cars to stay dry, but on the rare Spring day of sunshine and the hope of a distant summer, Seattleites find themselves flooding the best local parks to make the most of the sunbreaks and blue skies.

Green Lake Park
A popular neighbor hood in Seattle, Green Lake Park offers a lovely city setting for a day outside. The lake offers the public trail around the park full of avid runners. On the lake you will see rowing teams practicing early in the morning, and people casting their fishing poles into the lake. You can find dogs and their owners playing catch, baseball leagues enjoying a game, or a few friends shooting some hoops on the basketball court. The lake is surrounded by coffee shops, restaurants, and frozen yogurt. With Cherry Blossoms blooming around the lake and people start to come out as the weather warms up, this is a park you will want to visit.

Kerry Park
Kerry Park arguably offers the most encapsulating view of Seattle’s Emerald City has to offer. From the Queen Ann Park, you can see the downtown skyline, the Space Needle, Elliott Bay, the industrial cranes, the Cascades, and on a clear day, even Mount Rainier. A popular place to tourists to snap the most picturesque shot of Seattle, marriage purposes, or a nice view to sit while you finish your Dicks Burger and milkshake. While this isn’t exactly the park to bring your dog to play fetch, you will see people sitting with their pups enjoying the view. Many people come with a cup of coffee in hand to sip and enjoy the view. Kerry Park is popular all year round but gets especially busy as the weather begins to warm up. If you have family coming into town, this is definitely a viewpoint you must take them to.

Discovery Park
Discovery Park is one of Seattle’s most well-known gems. There’s forest and shoreline hiking, sweeping views of Puget Sound from a 250-foot bluff, a historic lighthouse, the city’s birding hot spot with more than 270 documented species, and ample enough habitats in its 534 acres to sustain authentic predator-prey relationships like owls and voles. Most people come to the park with no specific agenda but can wander and walk the trails to their hearts content. The beaches boast beautiful view, especially if the Olympics or Mt. Rainier are visible. On a day when the park is not busy, you can expect to see wildlife on the beach area like seals and cranes. Located in the neighborhood of Magnolia, it is a good escape from the buzz of the city.

Seward Park
Seward Park is a getaway haven in a busy city. The hilly interior trails weave among 250-year-old red cedar and Douglas fir and offer occasional sliver views of the lake far below. The easy perimeter walk provides sweeping perspectives of the lake, the downtown Seattle skyline, and traffic beetling across the distant I-90 bridge. Seward Park boasts 300 acres of beautiful forest land, home to eagles’ nests, old growth forest, a 2.4-mile bike and walking path, an amphitheater, a native plant garden, an art studio, miles of hiking trails, shoreline, beaches and more.

Even thought Seattle is a major city, there are plenty or parks to explore. The great thing about the Pacific Northwest is that we value nature, and always want to have close access to it. If you are looking for a breath of fresh air within the city limits, these parks will offer you just that. Grab your best walking shoes, a phone to snap some scenic shots, and enjoy the benefits of living in such a green and lush corner of the world.

Pacific Northwest Rangers Thrilled About New Million Dollar Contribution to Washington’s National Park Fund

Washington's National Park Fund

Funds to Support Critical Technologies to Improve Safety of Park Rangers; and Infrastructure for Hundreds of Volunteers

Seattle, WA — April 4, 2018— Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF), the official philanthropic partner for Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks, today announced that a private contributor has donated $1 million to the organization. The generous donation is an estate gift from a Washington national parks lover, Bette Wallace, to ensure the long-term livelihood of these beautiful places. The gift, given via the Elizabeth Ruth Wallace Living Trust, is being split evenly between the three national parks that WNPF supports. It has rangers across the state thrilled because U.S. national parks typically operate on tight budgets and Washington’s national parks are no different.

Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park plan to combine their funds for, among other things, the purchase and establishment of a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system that allows dispatch operators to better monitor rangers working in the wilderness. Park employees currently carry Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and with the new CAD system, dispatch operators will be able to see the whereabouts of all park employees on one display. This greatly improves employee safety and response times within the park during regular and emergency operations. Mount Rainier National Park, for example, has more than 275 full-time and part-time employees (not counting volunteers).

North Cascades National Park will use the new funding to, among other things, support much-needed infrastructure improvements for the hundreds of volunteers who serve the park through the visitor center, youth and education programs, campground hosting, search and rescue, maintenance, and science inventory and monitoring.

“This funding comes at a pivotal time for Washington’s three largest national parks,” said Sarah Creachbaum, superintendent at Olympic National Park. “Our country’s national parks have experienced many financial challenges in recent years and there is a significant maintenance backlog. This wonderful donation via WNPF enables us to invest in much-needed safety technology that can quite literally save lives in Washington for years to come.”

As most outdoorspeople know, this past year has been especially challenging for national parks as federal funding has decreased. WNPF augments federal funding enabling important programs in the 1,660,000 acres of national parks in Washington State to take place. This gift is the largest in the organization’s history.

Washington’s National Park Fund has awarded nearly $4 million to Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks over the past few years. Funds fill critical gaps in science and research, volunteerism and stewardship, trail maintenance, improving visitors’ experiences, search and rescue, and youth and family programs. Funded projects are carefully and thoughtfully selected by park leadership then shared with Washington’s National Park Fund.

“We are so grateful for the lovely and exceptionally generous gift from the Elizabeth Ruth Wallace Living Trust,” said Laurie Ward, executive director of WNPF. “We wish Bette was still here so the park rangers and I could personally show her all of the significant park infrastructure enabled by her major gift. Not only will it provide immediate vital support to Washington’s national parks, it ushers in a new level giving for WNPF. With so much passion for Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks, we foresee that this will be the first of many gifts at this level.”

More About Bette Wallace
Bette Wallace lived a life full of adventure. She traveled the world, skied, played golf, and in her last years had a special relationship with the squirrels outside her back door. She was born in 1924, grew up in Washington State and was a 1942 graduate of Edmonds High School. Between 1942 and 1949, she worked as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army in Seattle, Alaska and Tokyo. Shortly after her return, she met Bryan Walker Wallace, also a Washington native, whom she married in 1950 in San Francisco. They lived most of their married lives in Mountain View, CA, but she always considered Washington her home and visited often. With most of her family living in Washington, she knew it was special place and that many of her family enjoyed the state’s National Parks.

“On behalf of her trust it was our family’s honor to make this donation on her behalf to the Washington’s National Park Fund knowing it will be used for many projects including a combination of saving lives and supporting volunteer infrastructure in the parks,” said Cheri Ryan, Bette Wallace’s niece and trustee of her estate.

About Washington’s National Park Fund
Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF) is the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, which span more than 1.6 million acres of the Evergreen state. Annually, WNPF allocates monies to more than 75 otherwise unfunded projects with the goal of deepening the public’s love for, understanding of, and experiences in Washington’s National Parks. Get involved at www.wnpf.org

Sharon Bush to Host Fundraiser for Cristo Rey Network of High Schools

This April 4th, Sharon Bush will be hosting the annual fundraising gala for the Cristo Rey Network of high schools at the Walley Findlay Gallery’s private terrace in Palm Beach, Florida.  Bush, the Director of Public Relations and Fundraising for the organization, has spent nearly four decades of her life as an advocate for impoverished citizens in the United States and across the globe.

About Cristo Rey

Cristo Rey is unique in that it is the only high school network in America which caters specifically to children and families in low-income/impoverished areas. These children, whose average family income is only $37,000 (for a family of four), might not otherwise attend a college preparatory school.

The school, which was developed on a Catholic model for its pre-college academic format, also puts a special emphasis on life after college with its revolutionary integrated work-study program, which prepares its students for the workforce so that they can give back to their communities later in life. This program, the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), gives students the opportunity to not only gain valuable work experience, but also to earn a majority of their tuition through entry-level work one day out of the week at a local area corporation or nonprofit organization.

Cristo Rey opened its doors with its first school in 1996 under John P. Foley as the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and grew rapidly from there. Twenty years later, Cristo Rey has 35 schools, 15,505 graduates, an 87% retention rate with corporate partners, 45 University Partners, 3,450 corporate organizations that employ students through CWSP, a 90% college enrollment rate, and a 97% daily attendance rate. Students of Cristo Rey are three times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree by the age of 24, compared to students in similar low-income populations in the U.S. While in the workplace, 95% of students meet or exceed the expectations of their employers.

There are many students who extol the virtues of this singular network of high schools and Perla Figuereo, class of 2017 at Cristo Rey New York, is no different. Of her CWSP experience at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, Figuereo states on the school’s network website, “It gives me a sense of maturity and motivation because I am surrounded by young professionals who serve as role models for what I can become once I graduate from college.”

Before that, she says she rarely took initiative, “I was content with not having much to do. But then I became motivated by my environment and decided to make the best of my time there. I also developed better communication skills. Not only am I more willing to start a conversation with an adult, but I’ve also made more of an effort to better my English and interact more.”

Cristo Rey provides unique opportunities for underserved and impoverished communities by giving high school students the confidence and drive to succeed in today’s fast-paced and demanding work environments. For more information on the network of schools, please visit http://www.cristoreynetwork.org.

About Sharon Bush

Sharon Bush seems to not only be a good fit as Cristo Rey’s Director of Public Relations and Fundraising, but also for philanthropic work in general.

When she is not working on one of her many organizations (among which are The Karitas Foundation, The Knowledge Is Power Program, UN Women for Peace Association, The Teddy Shares Program, and the environmentally conscious programs, Protein Matrix and GreenStract), she is active in her New York community and a very active mother/grandmother.

A gifted writer, she contributes articles regularly on her blog and to other outlets on any number of subjects in which she is well-versed, such as her humanitarian efforts and her parenting techniques of practicing what one preaches and instilling compassion and empathy in children at an early age. She is the recipient of the Mother of the Year Award from the Hale House for her tireless work with at-risk children. For more information on Sharon Bush and her philanthropy projects, please visit her website. Sharon Bush is delighted to be hosting this year’s event gala and stresses the importance of donations from supporters of the school’s efforts: “The school relies on donations to help ensure that each child that attends gets the opportunity to succeed. Please join us April 4th to help celebrate and give back to such an amazing cause.”

Live Theatre Entertainment The Lineup of Shows

Seattle boasts a wide variety of theatre. If you are in the mood for live theatre entertainment the lineup of shows is truly something to look forward to. Whether you are looking for a date night out in the city, something kid friendly, humorous, or more meaningful these shows are looking lively, nostalgic, and entertaining.

Dirty Dancing, Toyota Theatre Kennewick
A beloved cult classic is coming to the live stage. Including hit favorite like ‘I Had the Time of My Life’ and ‘Hungry Eyes’ this throwback is a production that is sure to please. It delivers everything the audiences can hope for – lots of sexy dancing and rock ‘n’ roll. Starring Aaron Patrick Craven as Patrick Swayze and with Kaleigh Courts as Baby, come dance the night away with this great cast.

Kiss Me, Kate, 5th Avenue Theatre
Kiss Me Kate! The Golden Age classic and popular Cole Porter musical celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2018. The show will be directed by Alan Paul with the book by Samuel and Bella Spewack. A meta-musical that takes place within a play, features music and lyrics including Too Darn Hot, Brush Up Your Shakespeare and Another Op’nin, Another Show. A show full of laughs, humor, and love, this is a play you won’t want to miss and will make a great night out in the city.

Aida, Seattle Opera
In ancient Egypt, in the capital city, Memphis, an Ethiopian princess, Aida, is held prisoner in Egypt, and she lies about her identity. Now, she is a slave of Amneris, the Egyptian King’s daughter. An Egyptian General, Radames, is secretly in love with Aida, and she with him. For a dramatic night at the opera, this night is sure to fit the bill.

Love Never Dies, Paramount Theatre
Andrew Lloyd Webber presents this new touring version of his blockbuster musical Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera. Reuniting the masked ghoul from the original with his one true love Christine. Love Never Dies is a worthy follow-up to one of the most popular musicals of all time.

Taylor Mac, Moore Theatre
New York City institution Taylor Mac, the daring and innovating drag and performance artist, director, producer, writer and musician, is quite simply a human force of nature. Recipient of the 2017 MacArthur Genius Grant, Mac is touring a condensed version of his Pulitzer Prize-nominated A 24 Decade History of Popular Music, a 24-hour concert that debuted in his native city in 2016.

Shakespeare in Love, Cornish Playhouse
Young Will Shakespeare is in dire need of inspiration. His next play is up against a deadline, and the only thing he’s figured out is the title: Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter. Then he meets Viola, a smart and beautiful woman who desperately wants to perform on the stage even though it’s forbidden. Will is smitten and gets inspired to write the greatest love story the world has known.

James and the Giant Peach, Cornish Playhouse
A classic Book to children and parents, come enjoy the creative an imaginative night with James and the Giant Peach. When James is sent by his devious aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a giant peach which falls off the tree and into the ocean, launching him on a journey. As the peach is transported across the waves, he must create community with the other residents on board — a group of human-sized insects with bright personalities.

Shen Yun Performing Arts, McCaw Theatre
For an exciting and colorful night, Shen Yun presents an evening of dance and music. A performance by this company is a true representation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.

The Lamp is the Moon, Seattle Children’s Theatre
Meet Shawn, a bright young girl with a head full of science and imagination, which makes naptimes particularly difficult. Today it’s her friend, Lamp, that despite having no cord and no bulb, triggers a wide-awake adventure when it reveals its greatest dream is to learn to fly and become the moon. Launch into a voyage fit for mission control as Shawn and her lamp, with the guidance of the audience, escape another naptime and blast into space.

Time’s Up and #MeToo Accusations

Allegations Times Up & MeToo Movement

News headlines nowadays are covered with stories surrounding #MeToo and Time’s Up. Hollywood is experiencing a cultural shift as individuals are coming forward about their experience with sexual assault. For years, many of these stories have been silenced and kept under wrap. As stories of Hollywood elite abusing their power becomes public knowledge, people are forming their own opinions about those accused. While a movement like this is critical to fixing a power indifference within a corrupt industry, it is essential to understand the facts and history around the different accusations being made. With each person that is accused, there are varying circumstances at play, and in the current cultural climate, when someone is charged, people wrap them up with others that have been accused.

Woody-Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is one of the many names that has brought up in the movement. In contrast to other’s accused, the accusation against him is unique. His adopted daughter Dylan O’ Sullivan Farrow has brought a family situation back to the public limelight. Dylan Farrow asked why Allen was spared in the wake of the Time’s Up movement, claiming Allen abused her as a 7-year old in their family Connecticut home. Her brother Ronan Farrow is a journalist who brought down Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein. When Dylan began to speak out, she was listened to after asking why people were excusing her father. With the rise of the movement, multiple actors and actresses apologized for working with him, donated their salaries from his movies to charity, and said that they would not work with him in the future. In the wake of multiple allegations of top Hollywood producers turning out to be something where numerous parties could claim the same assault, Woody was lumped in with these powerhouse names. In the era of Time’s Up, is it fair to assume all accused as guilty? Allen’s case was an isolated accusation that happened decades ago, and a 14-month long, thorough investigation found Allen not guilty.

As mentioned, not another claim against Allen has been made since Dylan has resurfaced this case. This differs significantly from the allegations that have been made against other high-profile Hollywood producers. In fact, considering the length of Allen’s career and the time of the movement, now would be the ideal time to come forward and expose him, yet, no one has. In fact, the opposite has occurred. His adoptive son Moses Farrow wrote a 5,000-word account of life growing up, giving many details of the day of alleged abuse, and denying that his father abused Dylan Farrow. While that content has received some attention, it is an essential piece of this story that has been going on for decades. Moses begins by saying, “I’m a very private person and not at all interested in public attention. But, given the incredibly inaccurate and misleading attacks on my father, Woody Allen, I feel that I can no longer stay silent as he continues to be condemned for a crime he did not commit.” The account explains Mia Farrow’s family history, the abuse that took place in the home growing up, and a very personal story of his experience as a child, a young adult, and an actual adult navigating unhealthy family dynamics. It’s a raw and telling account of many of the hidden layers of information that the public has not been privy to. There is both family tension and public tension at play in this situation. As critics were ready to judge Allen as guilty, Moses was not willing to stand by any longer and watch his father get taken down when Moses had unheard information to share, but one must ask if Moses’s account came too late, because actors and actresses had already taken the necessary steps to disavow Allen. One must wonder if people had the opportunity to hear the story from multiple perspectives.

Allen is towards the end of an incredible cinematic career. It’s a shame that his name has been wrapped up in all this when he was proved not guilty many years ago. Dylan had a response to her brother saying on Twitter, “My brother is a troubled person, “I’m so sorry he’s doing this.” This family is divided on a severe issue, and it’s been a point of contention over the years. This is not the first time that Dylan Farrow has spoken out, and Moses has discounted her accounts. However, this is the first time that Moses has given a full account of what life was like growing up and how Mia used her children to bring down her ex-lover, Woody Allen. In the wake of his movement, you are criticized for having a differing opinion or not being on the side of the victim. For example, actress Blake Lively was slammed for working with Woody Allen in the middle of the resurfaced accusations. If you are guilty by association, that’s not a great place to be. Many Hollywood elite are picking sides and supporting the victim. While you can still be a supporter of the movement and believe that women should be treated with respect within the workplace, not all cases are black and white. And the Farrow Family is one of these cases. To lump Allen in the same category as repeat offenders is not what the movement is about. Allegations are not facts. And Allen is being treated as guilty even though he was found not guilty.

It’s important to be discerning and listen carefully as people come forward with their stories, for many of these wounds are deeply painful. However, not all cases are black and white, as is the case made against Woody Allen. While Dylan Farrow actively shares her truth, for many years the case verdict held as the investigation team found him not guilty. However, considering the recent movement people have become more vocal about protecting the victim, and disowning anyone accused, for it is safer to have an opinion than to stay silent because those who are silent on the matter are called out on their silence as complacent. As many people have stated, it’s entirely possible that Dylan truly believes this happened to her, while it still might not be the actual case. False memories are a real thing, and through the account that Moses gives about their mother drilling and coaching Dylan, it may very be that Dylan recalls an event that might have never happened. But, we will never honestly know for sure.

As with all movements, there is a certain level of criticism that comes with navigating new and unexplored territory. Many complaints and critiques surrounding Time’s Up stem from the foundation being created in the bubble that is Hollywood within a circle that is predominately white and wealthy. So where does #MeToo come in? Activist Tarana Burke started #MeToo after an encounter she had with a 13-year-old girl who shared her experiences as someone who experienced sexual abuse by her mother’s boyfriend, according to the New York Times. Burke also founded the non-profit Just Be, Inc., a program that supports victims of sexual misconduct, specifically focusing on young girls of color. While there is much overlap between Time’s Up and #MeToo they are two separate things. Time’s Up organization was started by a group of over 300 women within Hollywood. Wit A-list stars including Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman and high profile producers like Shonda Rhimes and Oprah.

Aziz Ansari
Aziz Ansari
There have been several other men who have found themselves up close and personal within the movement including stars like Aziz Ansari, who was brought up in the #MeToo conversation after a date he thought was going fine, didn’t end up going well for the young woman he was with. In an open letter on Babe, the anonymous young women described it as the worst night of her life. Ansari responded saying that he had no intention of making the night uncomfortable, and from his accounts, it was a consensual night through and through. The letter circulated on the internet and many people were surprised over the event, as Ansari has been known to be an avid supporter of women’s rights and have a progressive pool of thought. Many of his stand-up gigs poke fun at the current dating culture and the less pleasant side of the experience. Ansari made a public statement in response to the letter, saying that by all accounts he believed the night was consensual. Ansari said, “I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue.”

In an interview with Bill Maher, Ronan Farrow, whose investigative journalism brought down sexual offenders, was asked if he finds it problematic that Ansari’s name will get wrapped up with the likes of those who were also accused. Ronan Farrow said, “our culture has actually been pretty good, on the whole, about self-regulating.” He then turned to the example of Ansari: “I don’t think anyone saw that and said, ‘Oh, he’s Harvey Weinstein. This is a multiple rapist.” What’s interesting is that Ronan Farrow says this about Ansari, but the same thing can’t be said for Allen, who happens to be Ronan’s (supposedly) father. Unlike Woody Allen, fans seem to be a bit more forgiving towards Ansari. Ansari was met with an excited crowd when he recently appeared at a Comedy Cellar, doing what he does best, standup comedy. This is a sign that people are receptive and still willing to support his career. He has received support from Parks and Recs co-stars and Amy Schumer in the wake of the incident. In the climate of sexual assault, one must wonder if the lines are ever blurry in these situations. Of course, with top Hollywood producers where people come out in large numbers of accused sexual assault, there is little gray area; there was a clear abuse of power, and someone was taken advantage of in a vulnerable state. However, with cases like Ansari, things become a little more unclear. The work that is happening to surround this topic is essential to changing how women are treated and respected. While it looks like Aziz Ansari may recover from his isolated incident, Allen might not recover from his. Accusations are accusations, and sometimes the truth is not a clear-cut as one would hope it to be. People are looking for justice and, and who gets it is not always clear.

*Visitor Submitted Article.

Plan Your Seattle Wedding: A Starting Guide

Summer Weddings In Seattle

Summer is just around the corner, which brings us to—wedding season. Brides and grooms, your mothers, fathers, family, and friends, will all be racing around to help make your big day perfect, so make sure to point them in the right direction with the help of local shops, venues, florists, salons, and more. Whether you’re looking for a traditional white wedding, or taking a modern twist on the big day with your forever honey, rest assured that you will find everything you need for your special day in the city of Seattle.

Dresses and Tuxedos
Looking elegant and sharp on you wedding day is a must. When looking for your dress or tuxedo, be sure to research samples or pieces from specific shops before going in, to make sure they fit your niche.
Lovely Bride Seattle: This indie bridal shop and boutique offers a selection for not-so-over-the-top brides to be. With simple twists on traditional and modern styles, Lovely will supply all the needs for unique brides, bridesmaids, and mother(s) of the bride(s). Too busy putting last minute wedding plans together?—shop online for your easiest convenience!

La Bella Elaine’s: For over 35 years, La Bella Elaine’s has been helping brides find everything they need for their wedding day—from bridal dresses, bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, and accessories. They have the largest collection of bridal necessities in the city, so if you’re a girl who likes options, they have a pick for you.

BHLDN- Seattle: Located in Seattle’s downtown shopping center, BHLDN supplies bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mother(s) of the bride(s) dresses, accessories, and even décor. This bridal shops grandiose location, makes way for a fun-filled day of bridal shopping, and seeing Pike’s Place Market.

KUHLMAN- Seattle: Bespoke Tailoring offer custom made tuxedos for both men AND women. Hand crafted from Italian wool, the process takes about eight weeks while your pieces are crafted in the Seattle shop. For a unique bride or groom, a custom outfit may be your pick.

The Tuxedo Club: Since 1988, The Tuxedo Club has been styling groom and groomsmen parties with premier tuxedos and formal wear. Come get your wedding parties exclusive tuxedo needs satisfied in Lower Queen Anne, Seattle.

The Black Tux: With THE BLK TUX, your tuxedo is guaranteed to fit using their perfect fit algorithms, the first time. Their use of 100 percent merino-wool, sourced straight from Italy, will have you looking dapper.

Salon Services
Whether the wedding party wants an on-site makeup and hair artist, or wants to make a trip to the salon prior to your wedding, fear not, Seattle’s got you covered.

Sorrida Salon: Providing onsite services, Sorrida’s leaves every bridal party feeling gorgeous and stress-free while getting ready for their big day. From bridal, bridesmaid, mother, and flower girl packages, to a la carte hair and makeup services, they have got you covered.

Blossom & Beauty: Another onsite bridal beauty service, provides magnificent hair and makeup for the big day. Packages and a la carte services provided with trial run at a location convenient for your busy schedule.

Hair by Joey: This private men’s grooming salon provides a relaxing one on one services (the only salon in Seattle whom provides this) for grooms to be. To look extra sharp on your big day, get groomed by Joey.

Sugar Plum: Whether you’re preparing for your honeymoon or wanting to feel extra smooth for your wedding day, hairless skin is moments away. Sugar plum sugaring services offer facial, body, bikini, and manzilian hair removal for every gender, sexuality, and body type. So as long as you’re a human looking for smooth skin, Sugar Plum will have you well on your way.

Venues
Depending on the needs of your guests, season of your wedding, or size of your wedding, you’ll need to be sure your venue attends all of your demands.

The Rainier Club: This mansion located in the downtown business district of Seattle, makes way for an event full of elegance. With gold leafed ceilings, and a Pacific Northwest feel, this venue can cater to both intimate weddings, and parties of up to 500 guests. If Seattle’s inconsistent weather worries you, The Rainier Club offers a weather-worry-free, year-round, indoor venue.

Columbia Winery: Located right outside of Seattle in Woodinville, WA, this lush, beautiful venue offers both indoor and outdoor amenities. Sitting up to 250 guests, or 300 standing, this is a great location for those with larger amounts of family and friends. Complementary fine wine will be provided alongside meals—even ask about our wine educators to make your big day extra special.

Seattle Bride: Celebrate alongside the beautifully renovated cabana and 1895 Robinswood House. Spacious patios and sunken garden leave way for a beautiful, floral, nature-esque wedding day—perfect for a warm summer day. Intimate and large weddings welcome, maximum 225 guests. Intimate ceremonies of 60 guests or less may be celebrated in the Robinswood House apace with a romantic fireplace surrounded by friends and family.

Florists
Fleurt Weddings: Based in Seattle, Fleurt vows to offer “creative floral design, crafting romantic floral art for modern, stylish couples.” Portfolio collections range from Summer Elegance, Secret Garden, Urban Chic, Springtime Romance, Industrial Charm, and Bohemian Blush.

Fab Floral: Creating customized wedding floral designs, owner Laurie Henderson listens to each client to make sure their floral arrangements will be perfect for the couples’ big day. She puts her own unique twists on floral décor, including floral jewelry.

Ravenna Bloom: Ravenna’s specializes in bouquets, ceremony, reception, and cake flowers. Utilizing exquisite traditional flowers to make classy centerpieces, bouquets, and more, these superb floral masterpieces will leave your guests in awe.

Whether you’re a bride, groom, part of the wedding party, family member, or helpful friend, these local resources will aid you in planning an impeccable wedding day.

Bill Gates Biography: Business Man and Philanthropist

Bill Gates Biography

Early Life
Businessman Bill Gates life wasn’t always as lavish and eccentric as it is today. Growing up, his father was a senior lawyer and his mother an executive for a large-scale bank. While the family was fairly affluent, the Gates children were raised to work hard for what they wanted and stay humble. He was born on October 28th, 1955, grew up in Seattle, Washington with his two sister, Libby and Kristianne, and parents. Gates was known to be curious and intelligent child. He was enrolled in Lakeside School, a private prep school and excelled at many subjects including, math, science, and even drama. It was in school where Gates had his first encounter with a computer. He introduced himself to programming, making a tic-tac-toe game as his first coding success. After learning how much he enjoyed working with computers, he spent time on Computer Center Corporation’s computers to learn coding like Machine Code, Lisp, and Fortran. Bill was accepted to Harvard in 1973, intending to study computer science and mathematics. Realizing his true passion was programming, he left Harvard without completing his degree to found his own company with friend, Paul Allen.

Microsoft Corporation
Gates and business partner, Paul Allen, founded Microsoft in 1976, now the world’s largest software company. He initially made a deal with Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) to work on a new operating system for their microcomputers. Gates was a jack of all trades in the early days of his business, from working on every line of coding, to packing and shipping off orders. Microsoft’s first big break occurred in 1980, when IBM came to them for assistance to an operating system. After many setbacks and troubles between IBM representatives and Gates, they reached a final consensus to use 86-DOS as an operating system, partnering with Seattle Computer Products (SCP) as the exclusive licensing agent. Microsoft traded the system to IBM for $50,000. As the popularity of this particular type of system arose, many hardware companies began to clone IBM’s system. Even though IBM was the name on the software, everyone knew Microsoft was the reason it all happened. Media began to call Gates “the man behind the machine.” Gates became the president and board chairman of Microsoft as the company moved to Washington State in 1981. Microsoft came out with version one of Windows in 1990—a technological breakthrough, as software replaced text interfaces with graphic interfaces. Windows 95 was released in 1995, becoming the backbone for all upcoming releases of Windows. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer was the dominant web browser among computer user, usually because it came pre-installed. The area of search engines has not been an area of success for Microsoft. Their engine, MSN live search (now Bing!), was and continues to be inevitably swallowed by Google. Microsoft’s inability to make a successful search engine can never trump their successes made with their software.

Microsoft’s very first product was an interpreter for programming languages called Altair BASIC that ran on a machine by MITS Computer Corporation called the Altair 8800 computer kit.

Before he founded Microsoft, Gates worked for nearly two years at Traf-O-Data, a small company that made traffic counters based on an Intel 4004 processor.

The experience gave him insight into hardware manufacturing and venture capital that helped with his later success.

Bill Gates Philanthropic Pursuit
In 2000, Bill and wife, Melinda Gates, established the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Seattle, Washington. Bill slowly weaned his hours at Microsoft to focus on the foundation in 2008. The foundation is resourced through donations and grants—the Warren Buffet donation in 2006 of $1.5 billion being one of the major grants. Bill and Melinda use funding toward infectious disease control, STD control, Reproductive health care, Family planning, agricultural development, global health, global growth and opportunity, and global policy and advocacy, to name a few. Bill and Melinda’s foundation holds $38 billion in assets, making it one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Bill and Melinda’s foundation works to aid developing countries health to give them a chance to end their struggles with hunger and poverty. Their foundation engages on a global level, rather than regional—working in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

Bill Gates Personal & Home Life
Bill resides in Medina, Washington with his wife Melinda (the two were married in 1994), son Rory (18), and daughter Phoebe (16). They live in their modern designed mansion overlooking Lake Washington. Their house, nicknamed Xanadu 2.0, is an earth-sheltered house—meaning it was architecturally structured to have walls against the earth to retain heat and maintain indoor air temperature. The Gates’ home is estimated to be worth $170,449,927.

UPDATE: Bill and Melinda are officially divorced. It was finalized early August 2021.

Bill Gates House

Giving Away His Fortune

The son of a successful lawyer, Gates went on to establish one of the world’s leading technology companies, Microsoft. Although he has given away billions over his lifetime, philanthropy is about more than money for Gates.

As he once said in an interview with Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, my father was a very giving person—I didn’t get that from him directly because he died when I was young—but I got it from my mother…

There are many people who have achieved significant wealth who are not giving back in any significant way. That bothers me more than anything.

Conclusion

Since founding Microsoft in 1975, Bill Gates has helped revolutionize personal computing and fundamentally changed how people around the world use information.

In 2006, he launched The Giving Pledge with fellow billionaires Warren Buffett and Melinda French-Buffett, an initiative aimed at getting wealthy individuals to give half their fortunes away before they die.

In 2009, he announced that he would be transitioning from day-to-day operations at Microsoft so that he could devote more time to his charitable work through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The couple recently divorced in 2021.

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