It’s the middle of the week, so it’s time to go for another speedlink here on Beyond the Rhetoric. Every Wednesday, I collect some interesting blog posts from around the Internet, sharing them with my readers. If you want your posts featured here, be sure to follow me on Twitter and send your links on Tuesday afternoon or evening.

RT Cunningham is just as cognizant of the BP oil spill as anyone else who has flipped on the television in the last month, but he also recognizes that ocean pollution goes well beyond that. Have you considered the waste dumped by seafaring vessels or the sewage dumped down through streams and rivers?

Rebecca Bollwitt lets us know about the expanding street food situation in Vancouver. Yes, we’re going to get more than just hot dog stands on our street corners and the local government allows for “vending trucks” for more “freshly prepared” food. This would bring us more in line with, say, Asian night markets and the like, but on a year-round basis.

Patti Stafford knows a thing or two about blogging. While she certainly appreciates feedback from her readers, she also knows how to deal with rude comments when they show up too. The open environment of the blog lends itself to all kinds of site visitors, so rude comments are an inevitability as your site increases in traffic and popularity.

Joseph Planta is back with his another interview. He spoke with me and John a short while back and, in one of his more recent recordings, he spoke with Judy Fong Bates. She is the author of The Year of Finding Memory, an account of her trip back to China after being away for 50 years. I just started reading this book and it’s quite the fascinating story.