Dear Readers,

"Subculture" is a complex concept that is difficult to define without first looking at the meaning of "culture." Culture refers to people who are bound by a number of shared traits, such as values, goals, practices and attitudes. Subcultures consist of individuals who not only belong to a larger culture, but share attributes distinguishing them from their overall community.

As you may have guessed, Bellingham has its own culture and Bellinghamsters share common features that make up the skeleton of the 'Ham's distinct scene. Just to name a few well-known traits: people living in Bellingham are open-minded, prepared for the rain and likely to respond if a stranger says "hey" on the street.

This issue's theme, "Slice of the 'Ham," looks at the smaller scenes or subcultures existing within the Bellingham culture. Some of the subcultures discussed include people united by common practices, such as the nudist and Dumpster diving subcultures. Others, such as the Lummi Nation and queer subcultures, include individuals bound by shared values and attitudes.

No matter what common ground they stand on, this issue is all about the subcultures, or "slices," of the 'Ham.

Thanks for reading,

Jaimie Fife
Editor in Chief