MG 9959

This week, Rachel featured an interview with Seattle band St. Paul de Vence.

You can listen to a podcast of Ring My Belle Weekends here.

But, if you love St. Paul de Vence as much as she does, You can buy their album at stpaulband.com for $10 or download their songs on iTunes.

Want to see them live? You can catch them at the Connor Byrne in Ballard on February 25.

MG 9937MG 9936MG 9947

By Rachel Belle

anthony and eric

The Vampire Tours of Seattle

An Evening with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert

Braid Paisley

Appeteasers

I Am My Own Wife


Galumpha

Listen to 366 Random Acts of Kindness

How does a self-professed 'cynic' turn into a guy standing on the street corner with a "free hugs" sign?

"I've always been kind of sarcastic and cynical. It's not like I was trying to be overwhelmingly nice," says Ryan Garcia, a 30-year old sales rep from Chicago. But, he says, everything changed when baby Isla was born in September.


366 - ryan polar plunge

Day 28: Polar Plunge for charity

"The first time I saw her I was like, 'Whoah, I have to be a better person. I have to do what I can to make the world a better place.' Just seeing her the first time was like a switch went off inside me."

The new dad was sitting on his couch trying to think what to do for his New Years resolution--Would it be another year of promising to lose weight or go to the gym more? But then, an idea struck.

"I was just looking at my daughter, and I wanted to think of something that would set a great example for her. Something she can look back on, and maybe, in the future, emulate."

So Ryan hatched a project: 366 Random Acts of Kindness, one for every day of 2012. Remember, it's a leap year.

366 - ryan brings vet and fam to bball game


Day 33: Took a soldier and his family to the game

They range from silly, like offering free hugs, to serious. Recently, Ryan took a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and his family to a basketball game. He also sent a letter to his favorite teacher thanking him for making learning fun. He also got involved in a Chicago project called "Jokes 4 Miles," helping a dad collect 5,000 jokes for his cancer-stricken son. Ryan and baby Isla submitted a joke together.

Ryan says his kindness 'targets' are usually very happy, but surprised "It's kind of disheartening to think that people would be so surprised that another person wants to do something nice for them. That's why I'm hoping this catches on."

The response online and on Facebook has been overwhelming. As the word spreads about Ryan's project, he says the acts of kindness are also spreading. He recently met a woman who had lost her job, but was still finding a way to help: "She bought a number of mylar rescue blankets for sub-zero temperatures and some food and asked me to make care packages for homeless people."

The 366 Random Acts project is up to day 41. By this time, most people have broken their new years resolutions...but Ryan promises he's not backing down. "It's just a little bit of pressure to have random acts that live up to everyone's expectations."

Ryan IS a little worried he'll start running out of ideas--if you want to help, send him suggestions at 366RandomActs.org or on his Facebook page.

366 - ryan buys lunch for firefighters

Day 38: Bought lunch for firefighters

"I just want people to know that good things can happen to strangers. It's kind of a big ripple effect. Once you do something nice for somebody else, they're gonna pass it along."

***UPDATE: We were so inspired by Ryan's story today on the Ron & Don Show, we've issued a challenge for our OWN "Kindness Week" (we're not quite as ambitious as Ryan).

Starting Monday, every member of our show will do their own random act of kindness. If you have suggestions or want to join our challenge, tell us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ron-Don-Show-Official/113101925407371

--Producer Libby Denkmann

Law enforcement and prosecutors are hoping Washington will join other states that require people to give a DNA sample when they're arrested for a serious crime.

"Currently, when a suspect is arrested, law enforcement get a photograph of the suspect, a fingerprint of the suspect, and sometimes a strip search," says Pierce county prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "What this will do is add a cheek swab to the booking process."

Lindquist says a simple cheek swab would have kept people like serial rapist Anthony Diaz off the streets.

"If we had had this law in effect back in 2005," he says, "Diaz would have been arrested and charged and in prison where he belonged. Instead, because we did not have his DNA in the system, he went on to victimize 19 people. Several women were raped, including two underage girls who were raped in front of their mother."

Charisa Nicholas wishes this bill had already been law: It was Diaz who broke into her home and forced her and two female roommates through an unspeakable nightmare.

"It wasn't just a normal break-in or hostage, it was horrific horror that unfolded for hours that night. This particular man, Anthony Diaz, broke into our home and violated my roommates and myself. I was left helpless, tied up with cords around my neck, my hands and my feet, and [was] helpless as I watched a dear friend raped for hours.

I was unable to do anything."

Nicholas says she tried to struggle, but it did no good. "In moments that I did try to fight back, I had a gun stuck to my head and I was not able to prevent it or stop it. I only could live through the horror and watch helplessly as my dear friends were violated."

There's only one way she's been able to put the horror behind her and move forward. She's says it's her faith in God. She forgave Diaz, telling him in court that the forgiveness wasn't for him - it was to allow her to live out the life that God had given her.

Lindquist says DNA samples will be one of the best crime fighting tools they've ever had. "It will be like fingerprints were many years ago, but better because it's difficult to get fingerprints from a crime scene. It is not difficult to get DNA from a crime scene. We leave DNA almost everywhere we go."

Privacy and intrusion concerns have been raised by the ACLU and other organizations. But Lindquist says they've been careful to address those to withstand any court challenge.

"You know, that understanding of intrusion," Nicholas says of privacy concerns, "I learned firsthand from Diaz as I sat down and tied up and unable to prevent my friend who was raped. That was incredibly intrusive."

Nicholas has testified in Olympia about this and has been talking to as many state lawmakers as she can, trying to ensure passage of the bill.

"I'm alive today for testimony for others to believe that we can make a difference and we can help to prove that these horrific crimes take place."

skymetawala
As police continue their investigation, Solomon Metalwala and Terry have continued to pound the pavement. A few weeks ago they reached out to medical professionals on the Eastside to discover if either of the children had received medical care within the last year.
The attorney for Sky Metalwala's father says they want to make sure Julia Buryikova doesn't gain access to her daughter Maile, a possible witness to a crime involving missing Sky.

Maile must be dismissed as a witness by the police department before Biryokova can seek visitation to see her daughter. And according to Attorney Clay Terry, "She will not have visitation until it's approved by the child's therapist and the agencies involved."

As police continue their investigation, Solomon Metalwala and Terry have continued to pound the pavement. A few weeks ago they reached out to medical professionals on the Eastside to discover if either of the children had received medical care within the last year.

The answer was no.

If it's seemed like you've seen fewer headlines featuring Sky in the past couple of weeks, Terry said it's because they've been intentionally under the radar. "I think it's finally hitting [Solomon Metalwala,] that something happened to his son," Terry said. "But he's hanging in there because he's been there for Maile."

Terry says their search will be out again next week as they hold a vigil on Sunday, Feb. 18 at Bellevue Park, to mark 100 days since 2-year-old Sky was reported missing.

By Rachel Belle

crayons

Listen to What's Your Nude: A Campaign For Brown Bras!

Ladies. What color is your bra? Black, white, red....nude? We see this nude, or flesh, color in many places: lingerie, pantyhose, bandages, but this color only represents what some people look like in the nude.

Tara Raines is a black woman who has started a campaign called What's Your Nude, to encourage lingerie manufacturers to make "nude" bras in more than just one shade.

"If I go to buy a bra, there are lots and lots and lots of bras in kind of that nude, sun tan-ny, color. Women have to chose between black, white and nude and the nude that is available isn't my nude."

The What's your Nude Facebook page has gotten over 3,000 likes, and Tara encourages people to contact the stores where they buy their bras, and ask them to stock darker brown colors.

"I found out, when I started this campaign, that my mom, and aunts, and several other women have been dying nude colored bras brown. They've either been getting dye from the store or they've been using tea bags. I was kind of appalled, because when I started this campaign, and I started talking to family members, they were like 'No no no, Tara! You're just supposed to dye your bras!' It was kind of like, this is just what you do."

I was in the bandage aisle at the drug store recently, and realized that their flesh colored Band-Aids only work if you're the same color as a Barbie doll.

"It's Band-Aids, it's lingerie, it's shoes. Just in general, you know, people don't look the same. I know it would be difficult for manufacturers to make things that look like every individual person, but put forth a little more effort and try and include more people in what you call 'flesh' and 'nude.'"

The one place where nude and flesh colors have recently taken on some diversity is in boxes of crayons.

"Crayola actually just released a multicultural box of crayons. They're all called 'Flesh' and it's all different colors. It's kind of a rainbow of browns and tans and peaches. It's really nice that the crayon industry can recognize this but the clothing industry can't."

You can 'Like' the campaign on it's Facebook fan page or follow along on Twitter: @WhatsYourNude

chuckcox
Terrica Powell described her son as "menacing" and said that she was "terrified" when he threatened her with the butcher knife in response to being asked to do the dishes. (AP Photos/File)

Divorce papers from Steven and Terrica Powell, Josh Powell's parent's reveal signs of violence when Josh Powell was just a teenager.

ABC News reports Terrica wrote that her son had threatened her with a butcher knife, pushed and hit her (with the help of Josh's brother) and once attempted to commit suicide.

Terrica described Powell as "menacing" and said that she was "terrified" when he threatened her with a butcher knife in response to being asked to do the dishes.

Despite damning evidence against Josh Powell, his sister, Alina Powell, continued to defend her brother on ABC. Alina believes her brother has nothing to do with the disappearance of his wife, Susan Cox Powell.

So why would an innocent man do this to his children? "I can't put myself in his mind," she said. "But I think, he must have been, just more heartbroken than I realized. Then any of us realized."

Now, in her first interview with ABC, the social worker who drove the boys to Josh Powell's home, describes hearing the horrifying scene.

Elizabeth Hall said she banged on the door and heard Powell say 'Charlie, I've got a big surprise for you.' And then I heard Braden cry out."

The kids had just begun talking about the last time they remembered seeing their mother. "They were beginning to verbalize more," said attorney Steve Downing, whose clients, the parents of Susan Powell, Chuck and Judy Cox, had custody of the children. "The oldest boy talked about that they went camping and that Mommy was in the trunk. Mom and Dad got out of the car and Mom disappeared."

You might also be interested in:
Social worker says Josh Powell told sons he had a surprise for them
Josh Powell's sister defends murders of his boys

powellfireThere's been plenty of criticism about the way a 911 operator handled the Josh Powell case. Even though police admit the call from a case worker could have been handled better, 97.3 KIRO FM's Ron and Don agree it wouldn't have made a difference.

Listen to: Ron and Don: Josh Powell is the only one to blame

Don called a number of his friends and law enforcement to get their take on the situation, and their consensus was that little could have been done.

"For people to think if the cops got there five minutes earlier this wouldn't have happened, that house was going to blow up. That house was a bomb. There's nothing that a cop could have done," says Don.

Don was told officers would have gone to the door and knocked, trying to establish contact, but not knowing whether he was armed, they would have been hesitant to kick in the door and storm the house.

"All I know is this: The cop would have gotten blown up too," says Don.

As for how the call was handled, Don says 911 operators need to always err on the side of caution, regardless of how frustrating it is for a caller.

"It is the job of that call taker and that dispatcher to make sure that they gather so much information that by the time the officer gets there that they're not throwing them into harms way."

Ron thinks many people are simply trying to cope with the horrendous tragedy so it's natural shift blame to the operator.

"I think what's going on here is people, community wide, we're going through the grief process and a lot of people are arriving at anger today. Now as a community we're transitioning into wanting to blame someone and wanting to be angry," Ron says.

Ultimately, both agree there's only one person to blame: Josh Powell.

Next »


Contact Us
Employment
Contest Rules
RSS
Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
EEO Public File Report
Copyright Infringement
mynorthwest.com
Copyright © 2012 Bonneville International. All rights reserved.