I hope beyond hope that I won't ever run out of things to say pertaining to the anniversary of September 11, 2001. Saying where I was seems trite. Saying that because I've been to both the top of the towers and to Ground Zero fills up column inches, but it doesn't bestow upon me any greater sense of loss or understanding. In looking through various ( Read more... )

up until about junior high, I wasn't terribly keen on summer vacation. School was where I was competent. I could do the times tables and spell like no one's business, but if you put a bat in my hand, you could be there until Fourth of July before I'd get solid contact.  In junior high, I got involved with the summer stock theater camp at Green ( Read more... )

I wasn't a big fan of the Sim City games, but one of the things I remember is that whenever you'd choose to raise taxes on your city, they would let fly with a chorus of boos, and if you decided to lower taxes, they'd cheer. I bring this up because the state of Washington is in just a little bit of a financial pickle. With billions of dollars ( Read more... )

I try to not make a big deal out of my birthday. Years ago, I was militant about this. I felt for a long time that I wasn't making any significant year-to-year changes, and didn't really deserve to have a big fuss made over me. This didn't really endear me to the rest of my family, even though I dutifully went along with any celebrations for other ( Read more... )

Since 1988, I've lived in South Pugetopia. Fairwood, Renton, Unincorporated King County, Kent and West Kent. I've seen quite a lot: Covington got both a Wal*Mart and a Costco, in addition to its expansion. Kent became gentrified and has their own outdoor mall thing. Seattle has changed too ( Read more... )

My big high school graduation gift was a stock portfolio of one share each in five different local companies (I think Microsoft, Starbucks, Nordstrom, Boeing and...something else.) Anyway, for years and years, I would get the annual report four-color glossy thing, along with a proxy vote to mail back. Since I had one share in each company, I was ( Read more... )

Various news reports have it that some pressure activist groups want to ban the toy from the Happy Meal, hoping that removing the toy will decrease the amount of food eaten at McDonald's ( Read more... )

Lisa: Hi, Mr. Flanders, I see you're reading the newspaper.
Ned: Yep! Everything but the opinion page. I don't need to be told what to think--by anyone living!

I admit it, I have two personalities. Most of the time, Opinionated, Taking the Nut View Travis is answering the phone, makin' copies and living life. But if you get me into a crowded room, ( Read more... )

A group of nine motorcycle riders from a local south King County motorcycle gang were speeding, riding recklessly and getting too close to other cars. State Trooper Brian Salyer (46, of Spanaway) chased them. At one point, the group was traveling at 100 miles per hour, and two of the cyclists cut off the trooper. Salyer braked hard in order to not ( Read more... )

If you can count your money, you don't have a billion dollars. -John Paul Getty

I'm going to ask you to do a little math here. Don't worry, it won't be terrible. Break out your abacus, or TI-86 or a copy of Microsoft Excel and do this. Take stock of everything you own that you could turn into money if you had to. Home, car, stock portfolio, various ( Read more... )