Mac-a-ro-nies

A holiday wish: Don't forget New Orleans

2005-12-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

A holiday wish: Don't forget New Orleans I think we need to take some time away from preparing for whatever holiday we may celebrate to reconsider the greatest American tragedy in a century, the displacement of thousands of people from the wonderful, historic city of New Orleans. Though less than four months have passed since the devastating impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the

'Gay chat mayor' Jim West recalled

2005-12-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

News: 'Gay chat mayor' Jim West recalled It will not be official until the election results are certified, but Jim West of Spokane lost the title of mayor today. He gained notoriety in May as a resolutely Right Wing politician who trolled the Internet for barely legal male sexual partners. The scandal culminated in the recall election that ended at 8 p.m. Throughout the saga, West

Internet: What's wrong with Wikipedia

2005-12-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Internet: What's wrong with Wikipedia Pajamas Media recently published comments from several bloggers about the Internet's foremost free, 'independent' encyclopedia. Wikipedia is a collection of material, some quite good, some godawful, contributed by volunteers. Unfortunately, the inability to distinguish fact from opinion is rampant, particularly on the Internet. Facts are, of course,

Commentary: Bordens sought sameness

2005-11-23T21:40:00.000-08:00

Commentary: Bordens sought sameness I have driven through Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. It is a semi-rural, sometimes sylvan area of dairy farms and modest businesses. The Amish provide local color. Lititz is best known for its chocolate factory, Wilbur Chocolate Company, as is Hershey. There are also some mock Bavarian buildings that draw attention. It took centuries for the

News: David Ludwig reveals dark side of homeschooling

2005-11-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

News: David Ludwig reveals dark side of homeschooling The homeschooling movement usually gets good press. That's partly because of demographics and organization. Homeschool parents are usually white, middle-class and articulate. The teaching parent, most often a stay at home mother, will present herself and her well-scrubbed brood as a slice of the supposedly idylic American past, circa

Media: Ted Koppel leaving with lament

2005-11-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Media: Ted Koppel leaving with lament Ted Koppel definitely has a place on my list of most admired people. He is one of the newsmen and women who inspired me to become a journalist. One of the things I learned after achieving that goal is that most reporters are run-of-the-mill, seat warmers seeking a sinecure. Still, both broadcast news and print media sometimes exceed our expectations

Politics: Roy Moore will run for Ala. gov

2005-11-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Politics: Roy Moore will run for Ala. gov The Montgomery Advertiser has state news of national consequence. A matter that should elicit yawns by now -- the separation of church and state -- can still be used to roil the waters and rile the masses. An Alabaman has decided to use fundamentalist fervor in much the same way another leader there used segregation de jure to his political

News: Why Paris is burning

2005-11-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

News: Why Paris is burning Now in their second week, the riots in France are no longer dismissible as an oddity. Sparked by the accidental deaths of two young teens who believed they were fleeing the police, the disorders have resulted in extensive damage to vehicles and property. Today, the New York Times reported a man was beaten to death after trying to put out a fire set by protesters.

Technology: Wi-Fi firms seek to Unwire Portland

2005-11-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Technology: Wi-Fi firms seek to Unwire Portland Portland, Oregon joined the far flung constellation of American cities seeking to offer low price wireless connections throughout their areas yesterday. A half-dozen Wi-Fi providers submitted bids for the city's contract. Two of the biggest names that had expressed interest, local wired line provider Qwest Communications International Inc.

News: Dallas rejects New Orleans cop-outs

2005-10-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

News: Dallas rejects New Orleans cop-outs They probably thought it would be easy. Keep a low profile during the first week of turmoil after Hurricane Katrina. Then reappear at roll call claiming to have been incapacitated during those days. While taking advantage of the New Orleans Police Department's payroll and free vacation for its police officers, apply to cop shops in other cities.

News: Ad exec says women workers inferior

2005-10-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

News: Ad exec says women workers inferior One sees over and over again that beneath the easygoing veneer of 'things are just fine the way they are,' a great deal of hard work goes on to maintain a status quo that is unfair to much of the population. Hurrricane Katrina exposed the disproportionate poverty low-income African-Americans are still subjected to. 'Morals' guru William Bennett

Politics: Gun law is security blanket for industry

2005-10-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Politics: Gun law is security blanket for industry The Congress of the United States has once again proven its capacity for cronyism and its inability to grasp reality. The reality it fails to grasp is that Americans are dying needlessly. By succumbing to the gun manufacturers' long courtship with legislation that protects the industry, Congress has sold out the people who elected it.

Intelligent design defense fails

2005-10-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

News: Intelligent design defense fails Several recent articles have captured the reasons why intelligent design, a 'scientific' dust cover for creationism, fails the smell test for anyone with a human nose, an imperfect organ certainly. But before we consider a couple of them, let's revisit the definition of creationism. The defense in the Scopes II trial would like us to conveniently

Technology: There's more to Apple than polishing

2005-10-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

Technology: There's more to Apple than polishing Jack Shafer at the Internet magazine Slate is in curmudgeon mode. He is beside himself because of the latest news from Apple Computer Inc. Shafer believes the company, progenitor of the increasingly ubiquitous iPod, gets too much good press. He describes reporters who write about it as "Apple polishers." The occasion for Shafer's tech

Opinion: Miers' support for civil rights not enough

2005-10-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Opinion: Miers' support for civil rights not enough I recalled a quotation that applied to Harriet Miers' situation soon after President George W. Bush nominated her to fill the remaining open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. I located the prescient remark yesterday. "Even if [Judge Carswell] is mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a

Commentary: Jurors key to DeLay's fate

2005-10-10T07:45:00.000-07:00

Commentary: Jurors key to DeLay's fate Some friends are disappointed that I don't respond in kind to their glee about the indictments of until recently House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Sweetwater, Texas). It is not that I don't believe that DeLay is as crooked as the day is long. I do. But, an indictment is an indictment and a conviction is a conviction. Travis County Prosecutor Ronnie

News: New woes for hurricane survivors

2005-10-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

News: New woes for hurricane survivors There is a tendency in the blogosphere to move on to the news du jour. I had prepared an entry about stealth U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriett Miers. But, I think that the consequences of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are just as newsworthy as who sits on SCOTUS. There is much happening to survivors and evacuees that we still need to be concerned

News: Bennett's remarks are not benign

2005-10-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

News: Bennett's remarks are not benign Wednesday, on his radio talk show, "Morning in America," former U.S Secretary of Education William Bennett took a call from a listener who said that there would be more Americans available to fund Social Security if abortion had not been legalized. Bennett responded that the crime rate would be lower if all black babies were aborted. "But I do know

2005-06-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Law: Decisions erode barrier between church and state The Supreme Court of the United States has issued two rulings that erode the barrier between church and state. Though I try not to read politics into court decisions, but instead interpret them based on the constitution, statutes and case law, I do see overt political maneuvering in regard to these decisions. The religious Right has been

2005-06-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

News: Times blasts Jeb Bush I was relieved by the release of Terri Schiavo's autopsy Wednesday. I hoped confirmation that prolonging her life would have been futile would end the bitter reaction to her death of some Americans. Unfortunately, Right to Life organizations have simply chosen to deny reality. The most extreme of them claim there is a conspiracy to falsify the true state of Ms

2005-06-08T21:30:00.000-07:00

News: Quran abuses at Guantánamo proven 'Jaded' doesn't capture it. I'm beyond that. While other people were engaging in "did/didn't" conversations about the first reports of American personnel at our Guantánamo Bay concentration camp abusing the Quran, my response was 'What else is new?" After the revelations about prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, why would anyone doubt that similar things

2005-06-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Analysis: Post, Spokesman-Review show need for anonymous sources Another week has passed, and Jim West is still mayor of Spokane. His attorney, inadvertently explained why in remarks he thought were a good defense of West. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports he said West remains in office to defend himself. Therein lies the rub. Throughout this drama, and perhaps throughout his life

2005-05-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Opinion: Mayor West should ride into sunset I haven't written about Spokane Mayor Jim West previously because I've been waiting for him to resign. But, again this week West (pictured) expressed his determination to remain in office despite his inability to govern effectively. On May 5, the Spokesman-Review published a package of articles disclosing allegations of sexual impropriety

2005-05-20T23:28:00.000-07:00

Politics: Bush to veto stem cell research bill President George W. Bush is a stubborn man. That trait is evident in his recent positions: Insisting that man whose character is not suited to diplomacy be name America's ambassador to the United Nations. Insisting that Right Wing extremists be considered for vacancies in the federal judiciary. Insisting that 'reforms' to Social Security

2005-05-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Commentary: Avoiding 'the bottle' still current Coming from a cultural background in which heavy drinking is not uncommon, I've sometimes wondered why I have never been attracted to alcohol or drugs. Just call me conservative in that regard. After a single vodka binge in college, I've haven't been drunk. I never wanted to be so close to a toilet bowl I was hugging it again. My drug

2005-05-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Commentary: A message from the proprietor Am I dead? (Pinching self.) No. Not even in a permanent vegetative state. However, I have suffered some setbacks that led to a hiatus. The longest ever. I regret disappointing readers, and, apologize for having done so. ~ Computer problems that resulted in a replacement of my hard drive a couple weeks ago. I often write blog material early and

2005-04-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

News: Schiavo memo writer fired The Right to Life movement shamelessly exploited Terri Schiavo's tragedy for its own ends. Conservative politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Tom Delay (Texas) were eager contributors to the hysteria. Not that most Senate Democrats proved admirable either. Afraid to offend a constiuency that largely ignores them, they signed an unconstitutional bill

2005-04-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

News: Local weekly wins Pulitzer A weekly newspaper in Portland, Oregon, has made history. This week it became the first medium of its kind to win a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. The New York Times reports. Willamette Week in Portland, Ore., an alternative weekly with a circulation of 90,000, won the award for investigative reporting. Nigel Jaquiss, 42, who began his newspaper

2005-03-31T08:29:00.000-08:00

Opinion: Schiavo's demise may not end contretemps By now, you may be aware that Terri Schiavo died this morning. Or, more, accurately, finished dying. The 15 years she spent in a persistent vegetative state were not really living. Schiavo's family and their supporters, extremists in the Right to Life movement, planned to continue their assault on America today. The latest plan was to

2005-03-28T22:30:00.000-08:00

Commentary: Schiavo neurologist is convincing The first thing a thoughtful person thinks while observing the reprehensible behavior surrounding the Terri Schiavo cases is not 'There are some intelligent people with useful information involved in this.' No. One thinks: Congress has no role in this kind of personal decision-making. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's plan to send police officers

2005-03-22T23:15:00.000-08:00

News: The Credulous American does Schiavo It comes down to two things, machinations by the right to life movement and the videotapes. 'It' -- of course-- is the brouhaha over ending 15 years of pointless life support for Terri Schiavo. The Bush administration's use of the brain dead women to curry favor with the anti-abortion movement is obvious and shameful. But, the current circus

2005-03-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

News: Aftermath of Lefkow manhunt intrigues By now, everyone except the sort of people likely to serve on juries in celebrity trials knows that Polish immigrant Bart A. Ross has been identified as the person who murdered the husband and mother of federal judge Joan Lefkow. Ross shot himself to death after being stopped by police curious about traffic infractions twice within a few hours,

2005-03-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

Blogospherics •'Ho' blogger is history The word 'whore,' and its contemporary version, 'ho,' is thrown around rather liberally these days. But, sometimes the term is earned. It appears that former blogger Jeff Gannon collected at least some of his income from prostituting himself to other men. The blogger came under scrutiny after he won the affection of the Bush administration and

2005-03-04T00:07:00.000-08:00

Entertainment: Tradition, change and the Oscars Could it be that I am becoming jaded? I used to watch awards shows fairly religiously. (For an agnostic). But, now I'm slipping. I missed both the Grammys and the Oscars. Failed to record them for later viewing, too. That meant relying on broadcast and print media, along with weblogs, to fill me in. Fortunately, blogger and real

2005-03-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

News: Matt Hale judge finds family murdered You probably heard the news in passing within the last couple days. Members of a federal judge's family have been killed. Investigators are wondering if retaliation might have been the motive. Though most criminal cases are heard in state courts, those involving interstate activity or criminal syndicates may be tried in federal courts.

2005-03-01T18:10:00.000-08:00

Reading: Sherri S. Tepper and a mean old world Some writers have a natural knack for getting the telling aspects of human behavior right. I believe part of the reason they can do it is that they look at people's actions unblinkingly. The rationalization and accommodation that is common to most of us is foreign to them. I often associate such honesty with classic writers such as Thomas

2005-02-18T16:00:00.000-08:00

Law: Libel win may be short-lived The Boston Herald has lost a libel case at the trial court level. The lawsuit resulted from a a front page article that appeared Feb. 13, 2002. Despite the numerous threats of "I'll sue you" directed at reporters and media, relatively few cases are ever filed. The standard of proof, particularly in cases involving public officials and public figures,

2005-02-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

Law: Fetal homicide laws often attack abortion I have previously considered national legislation that designated the death of a fetus during a crime against a pregnant woman homicide. The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act was enacted last year. A recent effort by a state legislator to pass a fetal homicide statute in Oregon led me to take a closer look at the movement to create such

2005-02-10T23:50:00.000-08:00

News: Scalping suspect sets new low I was considering writing an entry about a week of weirdness in Oregon and Washington. It seemed that every time one blinked another offender was either apprehended, convicted or released. There was the Sunday school teacher accused of molesting his foster son and other boys. The Portland school board member saying he might run for office again -- after

2005-02-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

News: Gov. Gregoire's life threatened Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington got her job the hard way. She fought for it. After a very close election, and a close recount, Gregoire (pictured) requested and paid for another recount. It brought her victory by a margin of 129 votes. Some Republicans have been apoplectic since Gregoire took office in January. Their rhetoric is

2005-02-02T23:45:00.000-08:00

Internet: More spam than ever Legislation meant to impose sanctions on those who shower netizens with unwanted email has existed for a year. The bill, S. 877, the Can Spam Act, was signed into law December 16, 2003. It went into effect January 1, 2004. But, in the year since, the email burden increased. An estimated 80 percent of all email sent is spam, defined as "unwanted e-mail (

2005-01-31T23:35:00.000-08:00

Law: Court supports Guantanamo inmates Hundreds of prisoners who've been stripped of all semblance of due process by the U. S. government now can hope for a chance at freedom. Most of them have been held without hearings for years. The men detained are accused of having links to Al Qaeda or other terrorist group. The Bush administration has claimed that since the prisoners are not

2005-01-29T02:45:00.000-08:00

Opinion: Gallagher should donate flack funds to charity I have been musing about Maggie Gallagher's misstep. By now you've probably heard about the Right Wing columnist secretly flacking for the government. Gallagher (pictured) received a tidy sum for promoting marriage in her syndicated column and an article. Some people are wondering if the Bush administration has a pattern of

2005-01-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

Technology: New Apple products are about value One of the criticisms of people whose grit their teeth at the mention of Apple Computer, Inc., is that its products traditionally have sold for a higher price than competitors.' The usual response of Apple enthusiasts is that the better design, and, easier use justify the higher price. Furthermore, Apple's profit margin on its products

2005-01-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

News: Calling King 'coon' reaps results I had hoped to find something positive to say in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day -- despite my increasing skepticism about whether there will be any more progress in race relations in the United States. I believe any further progress is stalled because of white people's intransigence. Today's news provided an episode I feel somewhat heartened

2005-01-14T23:10:00.000-08:00

Law: Leader guilty in Iraqi prison case The U.S. Army finished considering the first of the Iraqi prisoner abuse cases to be contested today. In previous cases, the defendants pled guilty. Specialist Charles A. Graner, considered the coordinator of the abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, maintained he was a patriotic American doing his duty. The jury disagreed, convicting Graner on most of

2005-01-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

Politics: Gregoire officially governor Democrat Christine Gregoire was officially certified as the governor today. Her inauguration is tomorrow. The denouement of the Washington governor's race, which pitted Gregoire against multimillionaire real estate tycoon Dino Rossi, has been closely watched nationally because of the closeness of the vote. Democrats hoped to grasp one more

2005-01-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Internet: Phishers cast better net Most of the time I ignore spam, including "phishing" emails. They are the ones that attempt to lure you into providing information that will allow perpetrators of fraud to break in to your bank accounts or steal your identity. With the rise of Amazon, eBay and Yahoo Auction accounts, phishers have extended their bad intentions to major online

2005-01-07T21:35:00.000-08:00

Analysis: Wealthy have gotten wealthierI had reason to review material about income distribution and class rigidity after reading an entry at Blue Oregon, and, articles about holiday spending at the New York Times and Reuters. The blog entry cited an essay published at the Economist. The authors examine a greater trend toward income inequality. The past couple of decades have seen a huge

2005-01-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

Law: Andrea Yates' conviction reversed A Texas appeals court has reversed the murder convictions of Andrea Yates, the former nurse who took the lives of her five children in 2001. This a surprising turn of events, considering the record of indifference and malfeasance that characterizes the Texas criminal justice system. The reversal turns on a lie told by an expert witness for the

2005-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

Politics: Columnist critiques Gov. Gregoire Washington Governor-elect Christine Gregoire should never have been in a contest so close that she was the winner by only 10 votes before a court ruling. She was in that position because she ran an inept campaign, failing to capitalize on the goodwill she had earned as a very effective attorney general. Ultimately, Gregoire (pictured)

2005-01-04T22:00:00.000-08:00

Politics: Powell offers selfish reason for tsunami aid Colin Powell, speaking on behalf of the Bush administration, came up with a reason for providing more aid to the Asian and African countries devastated by tsunamis last week. His remarks came during a visit to the area, and, of course, after President George W. Bush was embarrassed into increasing the funds and material

2005-01-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Media: Article favors Christian felon There is a reason reporters need to maintain journalistic objectivity -- focusing on the facts of a situation instead of allowing their own beliefs to color what they are observing. Succumbing to such influences results in stories that do not accurately reflect what has occurred. I was reminded of that while reading a recent article about the Edwin

2004-12-31T08:15:00.000-08:00

Writing: Sontag was provocative, prescientIn America, public intellectuals do not often attract much interest or adulation. The names of quarterbacks for winning professional football teams are better known than those of winners of the MacArthur Prize. Peruse the list of names most searched on the Internet this year and you will discover a bevy of female publicity seekers mainly notable for

2004-12-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

News: Shooting victim was mentally ill transient The identity of the homeless man shot in front of Portland's premier department store two days before Christmas has been released. Michael Egan, who assaulted his alleged killer, is said to have been mentally ill. His assailant, Vincent Stemle, Jr., is also said to have been emotionally disturbed and violent. The Oregonian reports.

2004-12-28T15:25:00.000-08:00

Politics: Gregoire may win disputed election Hopefully, there will soon be an end to updates about the race for governor of Washington. However, that moment has not arrived yet. Last week, Democrat Christine Gregoire had 'won' the election by eight votes. That margin increased to 10. The numbers came from the hand recount Gregoire's supporters paid $750,000 for. It did not include

2004-12-24T21:25:00.000-08:00

Photo album: The night before Note: Best viewed in Safari or Netscape. An electric Santa greets patrons of the post office. A one minute wait at the P.O. Eleventh day geese and penguins at Meier and Frank. Pipers piping at Meier and Frank. The official Portland Christmas tree in Pioneer Courthouse Square. The last call for lattes came early.

2004-12-23T23:00:00.000-08:00

News: Downtown shooting scares holiday horde A Portland panhandler will not be doing it again. He was killed earlier today in front of the imposing Meier and Frank department store downtown. The 12-story art deco structure, which houses the Pacific Northwest's premier department store, is in the heart of the city, across from historical Pioneer Courthouse Square. Though

2004-12-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

News: Gregoire 'wins' recount by 8 votes The Democrats say Christine Gregoire is the new governor of Washington. They say that eight of the 2.9 million votes cast determined the ultimate outcome.OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON --The head of the state Democratic Party said late Tuesday that recount results from King County give Democrat Christine Gregoire an eight-vote victory in the closest governor's

2004-12-21T22:45:00.000-08:00

Opinion: Kerik may find good-bye ain't gone In America, it is very easy for people considered marginal to disappear from folk's minds. A woman, probably from Mexico or South America, who is an undocumented alien, has apparently disappeared literally from the life of the policeman who loved to break the rules, Bernard K. Kerick. He is hoping that she will disappear symbolically, too.

2004-12-17T13:25:00.000-08:00

Technology: Apple evicts Real from iPod Photo As you may know, RealNetworks created software that allowed owners of Windows programmed iPods to download music from its RealPlayer Music Store , a competitor with Apple's iTunes Music Store, a few months ago. Apple refuses to open the iPod to other sellers of digital music, using its proprietary software to prevent them from competing with

2004-12-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Law: Washington court rules against Democrats Neither the slim lady nor the plump man has sung yet. The election for governor of Washington will not be over until a hand recount of all the ballots is complete. So, former attorney general Christine Gregoire and multimillionaire Dino Rossi await the outcome with even more interest than other residents of the Pacific Northwest.

2004-12-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

Health: Homeless life span short, sickly A study conducted by researchers in Seattle offers some new insight into who the homeless are and what ails them. I realize we think we are already know who the homeless are. The panhandler in front of Safeway or Trader Joe's who will curse you out if you don't hand over some money. The 'rider' who can clear the gathering at a bus stop

2004-12-14T23:45:00.000-08:00

Law: Beltway sniper gun shop settles law suit The New York Times reports a settlement in the law suit some survivors of shootings by the Beltway snipers brought against the gun store that sold the weapon used in most of the killings. John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo were convicted of several counts of first degree murder, and conspiracy, in the case. A judge has signed

2004-12-13T08:15:00.000-08:00

Pro-slavery pamphlet is in limelight Analysis: Pro-slavery pamphlet is in limelight Southern Slavery As It Was is currently in the news because a reporter discovered it is being taught as history at a private school in South Carolina. Previously, the pamphlet, published by

2004-12-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

Law: Moore continues Ten Commandments campaign Roy Moore, the former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, is the kind of person I like to keep an eye on. He is always up to something. Moore garnered the national spotlight when he installed a huge granite statue of the Ten Commandments in the state law building. The ensuing legal battle over establishment of religion resulted

2004-12-08T22:15:00.000-08:00

Internet: Browsers also listen, watch and read The blogger at ITFacts titled his entry about research on use of multiple media "What do people do while watching TV?" I am equally interested in why people choose to engage in other activities while watching television or browsing the Internet. There is new information on the topic from the Simultaneous Media Usage Study. The study was

2004-12-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

Politics: Rossi awaits results of recount It is too bad reading minds is still the stuff of speculative fiction. I wish I could see inside Dino Rossi's head. I could be touring his gray matter even as I type this entry. I wonder if the far Right Republican is regretting his run for governor of the state of Washington. Not so much running, but the battle to the end the election has turned

2004-12-03T17:40:00.000-08:00

Law: Reid backs qualified Supreme Court jurists Soon to be Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has said some things that need saying, by someone with national stature, about the U.S. Supreme Court. The victory of George Bush in last month's election means he may appoint as many as three Supreme Court justices. Most of the justices are aging and several have battled cancer. The

2004-12-02T22:45:00.000-08:00

Health: Dutch may extend euthanasia to children Euthanasia is one of those taboo topics I am willing to give a fair hearing. It seems to me that there are much worse things than death, particularly if a mentally competent person has chosen to to die. I live in the only state that has made assisted suicide an option for the terminally ill. They can ask for and get a prescription for the

2004-12-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Internet: Success of iPod attracts scammers Perhaps the most biggest scam on the Internet currently involves a small device -- the Apple iPod. Possibly the biggest success in Internet-related technology currently involves a small device -- the Apple iPod. The situations are not unrelated. First, let's consider the latter. Apple has sold six million of its portable music players in

2004-11-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

Politics: Gregoire may challenge 42-vote 'win' Democrat Christine Gregoire would like to challenge a ballot recount that gave opponent Dino Rossi the governorship of Washington with a 42-vote margin. That means she must raise $700,000 as a deposit on another recount of at least some districts. If discrepancies are found in selected districts, that will trigger a statewide recount

2004-11-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to? •Getting a governorWe've followed the strongly contested governor's race in Washington during the three weeks it has been undecided. The results from the initial recount came in this week. MSNBC has the details.OLYMPIA, Wash. - Republican Dino Rossi on Wednesday won a recount for Washington governor by just 42 votes out of more than 2.8 million cast, but Democrats were

2004-11-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

Health: Cost of smoking is high I was out and about today. That meant being around smokers. I've also been doing additional research on Right Wing interests that use a handful of minority spokespersons to put a sympathetic face on their societally damaging practices. The tobacco industry is one of the worst of the lot. With tobacco on my mind already, it was with some interest that I read

2004-11-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

ChopinReading: 'Lost' Chopin is worth finding Kate Chopin is one of those writers who was not prolific, but has earned a place in our memories anyway. She was born Catherine O'Flaherty in 1850, a native of the volatile state of Missouri. It is the rare class in American literature that does not include her classic, The Awakening, in its syllabus. Like other women writers who were in

2004-11-24T22:30:00.000-08:00

Opinion: Eat turkey if you likeIt is almost Thanksgiving. That means it is time for a yearly rite. No, not buying cranberry sauce. The tradition I refer to is one begun by the animal rights movement. Each year about this time, animal rights organizations publish claims that eating turkey is injurious in one way or another. Their objective is, of course, to persuade the public that they

2004-11-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

News: Not a simple hunter's tale When I read about the hunter in Wisconsin who shot eight people yesterday, I visualized the news item as a blog entry. As other bloggers can attest, it becomes habitual to do that after you've had the weblog habit for a while. I even had a headline: "Hunter bags 5, maims three." The blog entry would have been simple. It might have taken one of two forms.

2004-11-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Law: Chief justice of SCOTUS is plum role It is common for people who have not studied the history of the body to be rather dismissive of the role of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. On the surface, the role does not confer any additional powers. Doubters will point out that the chief justice gets only one vote like the rest. But, the zetetic know better. As is the

2004-11-18T13:45:00.000-08:00

Politics: Candidates challenge DieboldTwo third-party candidates are performing a public service. Ralph Nader and David Cobb have sought recounts of ballots in the race for president. The recounts will test the accuracy of Diebold Election Systems, Inc. voting machines. By taking the initiative, the candidates for president bypass the issue of standing to challenge election results most

2004-11-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

Entertainment: Boston Legal celebrates privilege As a longterm fan of The Practice, I awaited the debut of its spin-off, Boston Legal. eagerly. I expected to see James Spader develop his predictably unpredictable character, trial lawyer Alan Shore, more fully. But, after watching several episodes of David Kelley's latest legal vehicle, I am disappointed. There has not been much more

2004-11-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Politics: Washington gov's race still undecided I've been following the showdown for the governorship of Washington. The latest twist is a lawsuit by disgruntled Republicans. Democrats won the right to contact provisional voters by phone last week. Provisional ballots often haven't been signed, or the person may need to update residency information. If there is a problem and the voter is

2004-11-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

Blogospherics: Blogs failed Election 101 Frank Barnako, media critic at CBSMarketwatch, has done his autopsy of bloggers and the election. Barnako viewed Election Day coverage, weighing the impact of bloggers and traditional media. He compared the pre-election claims of bloggers to what post-election data revealed. The results are not impressive. WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- No one reads blogs

2004-11-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

MormonPolitics: Mormon Democrat may leadA commenter at Blogcritics reminded me of another interesting outcome of the recent election. A senator who is a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints will likely succeed to a powerful position. Not all that unusual, you're thinking. But, it is. The senator is a Democrat. Mormon and Republican fit together like a hand and glove to followers of

2004-11-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

News: Got governor? It is supposed to be over. The elections took place a week and a day ago. But, in the Pacific Northwest uncertainty lingers. Yesterday's headline at the Seattle Times read "King County absentees push Gregoire's lead to 8,700 votes." It appeared the Democratic candidate might shed light on the motif for the inauguration. Today's headline for The Mercury News said "

2004-11-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

ESCRHealth: Embryonic stem cell research gets shot in armLooking for a bright spot in regard to Nov. 2? There are a few. One of them is a reason for renewed hope in regard to persons with disabilities. The research path that many researchers see as promising in curing or at least treating ailments such as Parkinson's disease, Altzheimer's and spinal cord injury, embryonic stem cell research,

2004-11-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

kobe Law: Bryant accuser wanted goodies It is the kind of thing you hope isn't true. Would a young woman, even one who may be shallow, really accuse a celebrity of rape because she wanted to buy breast implants? Records of an interview of a witness in a notorious criminal case released recently make one wonder. A friend of the accuser in the Kobe Bryant rape case told a defense attorney

2004-11-04T07:15:00.000-08:00

Politics: Disdain for gays decisiveI've said opposition to full citizenship for homosexuals is becoming the new component of the GOP 's Southern Strategy several times this year. As I observed the machinations of the Southern based Christian Right and the Bush administration, it seemed increasingly clear that there is a current of contempt toward gays that is as easily tapped as racism. In

2004-11-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

Politics: Meet the Max Tax Not long ago, I read up on the history of the idea of a national sales tax. The topic is of interest because the Bush administration is said to be plotting to impose such a measure if it achieves a second term. The Club for Growth and other Right Wing groups pursue the idea of a national sales tax because it would favor the wealthy. A form of flat tax, a national

2004-11-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Politics: My ballot and me I am a late voter. Though I had intended to vote early, I decided to wait, curious to see if there would be an October Surprise. As you may know, everyone in Oregon votes by mail. More than half of the ballots had been returned to the offices of the Director of Elections by Friday. Though I can't imagine an October surprise that would have led me to vote

2004-10-31T17:50:00.000-08:00

Entertainment: A Savage Halloween Oh, that Dan Savage! Whoever asked him to design some Halloween costumes for kids deserves a sharp rap on the knuckles by a drag queen dominatrix. Laura, top, is wearing just what John Ashcroft ordered. Teresa, below, has chosen a famous enlistee in the U.S. Army, Pfc. Lynndie England, as her role model. View the rest of the crew at The Stranger.

2004-10-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

It is time to fall backCulture: It is time to fall backDaylight Savings Time ended last night. If appliances in your home did not reset themselves, you need to turn their chronometers back one hour. The ones that are not automated are easy to forget about. Wall clocks. Stove clocks. Answering machines. Microwaves. And, of course, watches, including those you are not currently wearing.

2004-10-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

Entertainment: Bjork bashes Beyonce Bjork is so peeved with Beyonce (pictured) that she has dissed Ms. Knowles. Bjork has blasted Beyonce Knowles [pictured] for "selling her soul to the devil" and signing up for TV commercial after TV commercial. The Icelandic singer admits she's a big fan of the Destiny's Child star's music - but she's very disappointed she has appeared in

2004-10-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Internet: Bushes reject Bush Members of incumbent President George Bush's family have announced they will be supporting his opponent, Sen. John Kerry, in the fast approaching election. Like many Americans, they are disappointed by Bush's poor leadership. They express concern about the war in Iraq, the environment and other issues. The relatives reside in different states and hold

2004-10-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Business: Photo iPod, U2 deal impress You know you want one of'em. Or perhaps you're bi. So, then it would be both the pleasing new iPod Photoand the so sharp you might cut yourself U2 Edition. Apple Computer released them yesterday and introduced a new online store, just for the iPod. There had been whispers at Mac rumor sites. Just wait a few weeks to upgrade and you'll be able

2004-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Politics: Nader off Ohio ballot Sources sent me information alleging there were signature gathering and other problems with Ralph Nader's campaign last week. I had written an entry criticising Nader for accepting donations from the nefarious Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Readers said there were other alleged irregularities. Among them were claims persons gathering signatures to

2004-10-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

Law: National sales tax is bad, backward idea When I say that discussions in the blogosphere start with a bias to the Right, I can rely on someone denying that. Then the someone will go on to say the South had a right to secede from the Union or there is no difference between a non-viable fetus and a person. Some people in Bloggersville do not realize how far out their beliefs are. Robert H.

2004-10-22T23:55:00.000-07:00

News: Newsweek clarifies stem cell debate When I initially wrote about Christopher Reeve's death, several readers attempted to chastize me. They said I should not have mentioned his determined and able advocacy for embryonic stem cell research. It is disrespectful to bring it up, I was told. Describe the actor and leave the activist out. Reeve's family members would be upset if they

2004-10-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Politics: Right stops Reeve Act in its tracks Yesterday, I read an interview of actor and activist Christopher Reeve in the current issue of Reader's Digest. It was a poignant experience since Reeve died before the magazine became available. In the five-page piece, Reeve describes his life nearly a decade after becoming paralyzed. He was looking forward to the airing of his latest

2004-10-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Commentary: The downfall of a model minority The identity 'model minority' can be a complex one. Yes, the objects of the term, usually Asian-Americans, are being flattered. But, the flattery is also a backhanded slap at other minority groups. Indeed, the model minority is being approved of in comparison to them, not white Americans. And, the approval is contingent. The approval

2004-10-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

Politics: Greens propose compromise We're living in rather rigid times. The hard-line position taken by the Bush administration regarding the invasion of Iraq and other issues has resulted in the most politically polarized circumstances I recall. Then, along come people like those at Sinclair Broadcasting and the shameless liars of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to pour salt in the