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Well Hullo, World

8/16/2017

15 Comments

 
Picture
Photo by Ken Lambert for The Seattle Times.

If you read the blog, but don't read the paper, check out yesterday's front page article in The Seattle Times. I'm enormously indebted to Jessica Lee's reporting and Ken Lambert's photography.

If you read the paper, but are new to the blog– thanks for stopping in! There's a wealth of material here, ready for you to explore via the sidebar of story categories on the right, the bestselling book you can buy, and photography (yes it's all film!) and movie tabs above.

Check them out if you like, or explore this little Reader's Digest curation I've prepared for y'all:

Stories in Written Form:

  • Two of the more impacting moments I've found on the street- the morning after Little Leon's mother died, And a eulogy for a woman who was hard to love but impossible to forget. And a third story, if you're looking for short and sweet.
  • Bus life comes in many flavors: funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, silly, and, er, one-of-a-kind.
  • Once it was easy to keep politics out of conversation; not so anymore. My words right after election day, but also just before: a reminisce of what the possibilities of October 2016 felt like.
  • I was three blocks away from the 2015 Paris terror attacks, which you may know killed or injured 505 people. I was listed as missing by the US Embassy for three days and found by CNN through an international search spearheaded by my friends (thanks, lovelies!). Thoughts just after the attacks here; photographs here; looking back a year later here.
  • I wrote film reviews when I lived in Hollywood, and still do occasional write-ups for this site. Visit the On Cinema page for in-depth analysis on technique, approach, and recomendations of films you may never have heard of, but just might love; or last year's bus driver movie, as reviewed by a (film critic!) bus driver. 
  • The "Great & Terrible" 358 (now called the E Line) was once the Grand Poohbah of bus routes, and made the 7 look like Sesame Street; check out this breakdown, written during the route's last days. I loved it out there. Most of my blog stories from winter 2012/3 and 2013/4 stem from it.
  • This past July marked the ten-year anniversary of my being behind the Metro wheel. Some ruminations, complete with embarrassing child photos.

Stories in Video Form:

  • I tell stories around town. I know you have a second to procrastinate; here's a pick-me-up video speech about me, not an animal person, having some serious issues while cat-sitting in a luxury apartment.
  • A fight on the bus and the context which came after.
  • You read about Leroy in the article; here's me telling the story of how we met in further detail.
  • Tons more here, including a TED talk and a lecture on how millennials (don't) communicate.

Podcasts:
  • No time for a video? Try a podcast. Here I am on the Northwest Urbanist speed-talking about all things urban growth and transit in Seattle, and here I am on Bare Naked Bravery talking about... well, just about everything. Much more on the Press page.

Thanks for sharing in the hope of helping others, in believing in the possibilities of goodness. I started this blog thinking it represented a minority opinion. I'm so happy to be wrong.

Newcomers, thanks for your replies to the posts– which I will attend to shortly. I reply to every single comment on this site. 

UPDATE: 2018 was a banner year for me- I made a film, published a book, won a number of awards, and began popping on the radio and the telly a lil' more regularly.
  • Here are highlights with commentary from that tumultuously exciting time.
15 Comments
Wendy Flick
8/16/2017 07:27:40 am

Thank you! A smiling face above the fold is just what I needed when I opened the paper yesterday. I even read it again this morning. Looking forward to getting to know the folks on the night bus.

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 09:52:54 am

Wendy-

That's why I'm here! Thank you so much. It's a testament to the Times, I think, that they chose to deem this sort of thing front-page material, during what is not exactly a slow news time...!

Reply
Carl
8/16/2017 12:17:47 pm

Congratulations on a great article in the Times

Can you offer an email subscription option for your blog? Not a fan of RSS

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 10:02:00 am

Carl,

Thanks for the kudos, good sir! Just added a "subscribe" button in the upper right of the blog, just below the orange RSS feed button. Voila! Thanks for the interest!

Reply
Carl
8/22/2017 12:01:54 pm

Thank you

Anthony
8/16/2017 09:36:38 pm

.. thanks for your beacon of kindness.

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 10:03:09 am

I'll keep that light going as long as I can! The kindness of so many others is an immeasurable help.

Reply
Chris
8/17/2017 09:01:44 am

Hi, How can I see your films? Seems that showings at various festivals have already happened. Would really love to see them. Such a great story in the times, a very very nice read!

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 10:04:46 am

Chris,

Thanks for the interest! In anticipation of this request, I've revamped the "Films" page above and created a blog post all about the most recent two, with links and commentary to both! Check it all out here:
http://www.nathanvass.com/the-view-from-nathans-bus/my-films

Reply
Linda Jaton
8/17/2017 07:02:15 pm

I'm so glad I saw the article in the Times. There should be more people like you in this world.

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 10:07:25 am

Thanks for such kind words, Linda Jaton. A dear friend spread her arms and told me once, "this is how far my arms can reach. It is only within this tiny sphere that I can effect change, but within there I'm going to do my damndest, because that's where I have control." Bit by bit, person by person....

Reply
LH
8/17/2017 10:20:19 pm

What a joy to read the article on Tuesday! It lead me straight to your blog. Nathan, thank you for your eternal kindness to humanity, in all its beauty and quirkiness.

Reply
Nathan
8/22/2017 10:08:37 am

LH-

Thank you for reading it! I'm so glad and so thrilled this blog continues and grow and become what it is– in large part due to enthusiastic & kind humans such as yourself!

Reply
Anthony
8/23/2018 06:25:26 am

Great job kinda look like Clark Kent running into a phone booth

Reply
Michael Memmo
4/23/2022 08:19:43 pm

Hi, I'm the guy you met the other day who recorded your book for the WashingtonTalking Books And Braille Library. My supervisor and I were hoping I could record an interview with you, to be added to the book recording. If you are interested, feel free to call me at home; it's generally the most reliable way of reaching me.

206-325-3212

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Reply



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