What I consider the "local webosphere" is filled with blogs and web sites published by smart and creative people writing about (and photographing) local events, issues and topics. A relatively new local blog takes a much more global approach.

The Melon Online describes itself as "open-forum/community for individualized insights, discussion and enlightenment."

On the homepage right now is a post praising the Sci-Fi channel's Battlestar Gallactica as "one of the best and most politically relevant shows." Other items touch on Haiti and Afghanistan and one is a comparison of Gov. Christine Gregoire with past Washington governors.

Considering this mix, it should come as no surprise the site/blog is powered by political science students from a local university, in this case UPS. The cornerstone of the site is the podcasting programs which are taken from the school's fine radio station, KUPS. They feature interviews with professors on all sorts of global policital topics (meaning much of it is over my head). But the content in both the blog postings and podcasts is accessible for a general audience, so I recommend giving The Melon Online a taste.