Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Deep Thought

http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4821927/NoahsArk-main_Full.jpg

Buying an air conditioner because it’s been hot for two days is like building an ark because it’s raining.


  • Mikos

    Have you seen the ten day forecast?

  • Mikos

    Have you seen the ten day forecast?

  • Mikos

    Have you seen the ten day forecast?

  • Mr. Grump

    erica, have you turned into a complete enviro/sustainability loon? survey says: YES!

  • Mr. Grump

    erica, have you turned into a complete enviro/sustainability loon? survey says: YES!

  • Mr. Grump

    erica, have you turned into a complete enviro/sustainability loon? survey says: YES!

  • JoshMahar

    Erica, can you give yourself comment of the day for this?

    @2: I don’t think its enrio-looney just to suggest that basing your decisions on your present feelings is stupid.

    Other ways to cope:
    - Go to the lake
    - Go to your favorite ACed cafe/bar
    - Go up to the mountains
    - Be thankful we don’t live in Palm Desert

  • JoshMahar

    Erica, can you give yourself comment of the day for this?

    @2: I don’t think its enrio-looney just to suggest that basing your decisions on your present feelings is stupid.

    Other ways to cope:
    - Go to the lake
    - Go to your favorite ACed cafe/bar
    - Go up to the mountains
    - Be thankful we don’t live in Palm Desert

  • JoshMahar

    Erica, can you give yourself comment of the day for this?

    @2: I don’t think its enrio-looney just to suggest that basing your decisions on your present feelings is stupid.

    Other ways to cope:
    - Go to the lake
    - Go to your favorite ACed cafe/bar
    - Go up to the mountains
    - Be thankful we don’t live in Palm Desert

  • Bobblehead

    Kind of like how buying a generator when you lose power for a week in the dead of winter, right? :)

  • Bobblehead

    Kind of like how buying a generator when you lose power for a week in the dead of winter, right? :)

  • Bobblehead

    Kind of like how buying a generator when you lose power for a week in the dead of winter, right? :)

  • joshuadf

    I have to sheepishly admit we bought the last fan at the drug store during a heat wave a couple of years ago. Ironic considering we moved from the South just 6 years ago.

    Good nytimes article from last week: The Unchilled Life.

  • joshuadf

    I have to sheepishly admit we bought the last fan at the drug store during a heat wave a couple of years ago. Ironic considering we moved from the South just 6 years ago.

    Good nytimes article from last week: The Unchilled Life.

  • joshuadf

    I have to sheepishly admit we bought the last fan at the drug store during a heat wave a couple of years ago. Ironic considering we moved from the South just 6 years ago.

    Good nytimes article from last week: The Unchilled Life.

  • Clyde

    So – why is it OK to turn on the heat when it’s cold – but it’s immoral to use A/C when it’s hot?

  • Clyde

    So – why is it OK to turn on the heat when it’s cold – but it’s immoral to use A/C when it’s hot?

  • Clyde

    So – why is it OK to turn on the heat when it’s cold – but it’s immoral to use A/C when it’s hot?

  • Elaine

    Or like buying a fleet of snowplows because of a 12-year storm. Is that the best investment of your money and energy?

  • Elaine

    Or like buying a fleet of snowplows because of a 12-year storm. Is that the best investment of your money and energy?

  • Elaine

    Or like buying a fleet of snowplows because of a 12-year storm. Is that the best investment of your money and energy?

  • Mr. X

    There will be at least 20 more days this year where my house is stuffy enough to justify buying an air conditioner (though I haven’t gotten around to doing so yet), which when added to the thirty or so days before now where AC would have made my domicile far more comfortable seems like a perfectly reasonable investment of $100 or so.

  • Mr. X

    There will be at least 20 more days this year where my house is stuffy enough to justify buying an air conditioner (though I haven’t gotten around to doing so yet), which when added to the thirty or so days before now where AC would have made my domicile far more comfortable seems like a perfectly reasonable investment of $100 or so.

  • Mr. X

    There will be at least 20 more days this year where my house is stuffy enough to justify buying an air conditioner (though I haven’t gotten around to doing so yet), which when added to the thirty or so days before now where AC would have made my domicile far more comfortable seems like a perfectly reasonable investment of $100 or so.

  • abc

    I love my $100 Bartells’ AC – I’ll buy a backup one when the new supply goes on sale. Keeps one room comfy.

    Uses a lot less energy than air trips to Europe and Texas.

  • abc

    I love my $100 Bartells’ AC – I’ll buy a backup one when the new supply goes on sale. Keeps one room comfy.

    Uses a lot less energy than air trips to Europe and Texas.

  • abc

    I love my $100 Bartells’ AC – I’ll buy a backup one when the new supply goes on sale. Keeps one room comfy.

    Uses a lot less energy than air trips to Europe and Texas.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    As deep thoughts go, eat your heart out Josh Marshall.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    As deep thoughts go, eat your heart out Josh Marshall.

  • http://publicola.net/ Josh Feit

    As deep thoughts go, eat your heart out Josh Marshall.

  • Tom

    Hey all of you so smug about your $100 A/C window boxes – not good. Those are about the most inefficient models you can get and you may think their cheap, but wait until you see your electric bill. If you’re going to buy an A/C unit, do yourself a favor and get an Energy Star model. Save energy and money over the long term.

    And do your part for climate protection.

  • Tom

    Hey all of you so smug about your $100 A/C window boxes – not good. Those are about the most inefficient models you can get and you may think their cheap, but wait until you see your electric bill. If you’re going to buy an A/C unit, do yourself a favor and get an Energy Star model. Save energy and money over the long term.

    And do your part for climate protection.

  • Tom

    Hey all of you so smug about your $100 A/C window boxes – not good. Those are about the most inefficient models you can get and you may think their cheap, but wait until you see your electric bill. If you’re going to buy an A/C unit, do yourself a favor and get an Energy Star model. Save energy and money over the long term.

    And do your part for climate protection.