Mukilteo Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

As someone who writes (this column), I’ve watched many writers become spectacularly successful and others (including myself) not. Let me start with James Patterson, the world’s... — Updated 11/29/2023

I’ve been reading up on the early history of the universe. It is stuff that really can blow your head back and expand your mind. For example, Mars once had surface water much as... — Updated 11/15/2023

I recently had the opportunity to visit a gun range and practice shooting a handgun. My particular handgun was a Sig-Sauer – considered among the best of the 9mm weapons. There... — Updated 11/8/2023

The other day, as I was browsing through the television guide, it occurred to me that watching just about any network TV show is a sure fire way to destroy your brain. I mean just... — Updated 11/1/2023

I wrote a column a few weeks back – just after my surgery, about some of the problems in “big medicine.” Well, let me summarize the biggest problem with this old expression:... — Updated 10/25/2023

It’s quite easy to make predictions about the future. After all, no one can prove you’re wrong if you adopt a very long-term outlook – say a couple of centuries.... — Updated 10/11/2023

I’ve written about music before. This week I thought I’d look into folk music. Sometimes folk music was music transmitted orally, music with unknown composers, or music... — Updated 10/4/2023

I just completed a one-week stay in the hospital to have some surgery. I’ve been fortunate in not having to stay in a hospital for any reason. But wow have things changed. First... — Updated 9/28/2023

I’ve been fortunate my entire life in not, as yet, coming down with any debilitating diseases which might put me out of commission either temporarily or permanently. However,... — Updated 9/20/2023

I’m fairly certain that just about everyone on this planet has considered this question at some point. Oh, perhaps some native tribe who has lived isolated in some jungle and has... — Updated 9/6/2023

OK, it is getting to be late enough in summer so that one actually stands a chance in keeping up with the natural growth that surrounds us 24/7. What I mean is that from about... — Updated 9/2/2023

OK, I’ll let you know upfront that the title of this column is absolutely the opposite of what I will write about. Let’s start with the idea of customer service. More and more... — Updated 8/23/2023

We’ve now lived and traveled to beaches all over the world. In fact, there is a world of difference in beaches. Let’s start here in the Pacific Northwest. Even though we live... — Updated 8/16/2023

I recently purchased a new “used” car from a dealer located in Bellingham. What made this transaction particularly interesting to me was the apparent disparity in imported... — Updated 8/9/2023

Most of you were not alive in 1963. I was a college student, an undergraduate studying engineering in upper New York state. President Kennedy had decided to take a swing through... — Updated 7/19/2023

Every once in a while, I stop and contemplate two things. First my navel. Frankly, I have not learned much by doing this. Although I do thank my lucky stars that I can actually see... — Updated 7/12/2023

We are deep into the auto racing season. The very top echelon of road racing is Formula 1, also called Grand Prix. These cars are so fast it is almost impossible to imagine. Based u... — Updated 7/5/2023

We’re getting into boating season right about now. I’ll fess up and let all of you know that we’ve owned two small motorboats as well as a small sailboat. WARNNG – owning a... — Updated 6/21/2023

I volunteer a couple of days a week at a local senior living establishment. I routinely deal with both men and women some of whom are in their late 80s and a couple well into their... — Updated 6/14/2023

Many of you have probably seen one of two movies about Steve Jobs – one called Jobs or one called Steve Jobs. In both movies, they describe Jobs’ fascination with the emerging... — Updated 6/10/2023

I got to thinking about a bunch of things that simply don’t make any sense. So here goes. No 1: Why don’t you see the 10 Commandments in a courtroom? The reason is that would... — Updated 5/31/2023

When something’s bugging you, it can have several meanings. First, if something is bothering you, we say “It’s bugging me.” Could be you need an oil change in your car and... — Updated 5/24/2023

I’m not going to tip my hand and actually tell you which prospective candidate I would vote for (assuming he/she gets nominated). Instead, I thought I’d look at what we might... — Updated 5/17/2023

We’ve had a dog ever since we were first married. Over the years they’ve been mostly pedigree breeds. Included were Afghan Hound, Shar-Pei (the ones with the wrinkled faces),... — Updated 5/3/2023

The internet is here to stay. While that may not sound revolutionary, in fact, the internet is one of the most disruptive things to come our way since the Industrial Revolution.... — Updated 4/26/2023