SR.com Blogs | A Matter Of Opinion

Programming Note

We'll be bouncing over to the new Web site, www.spokesman.com, pretty soon. So get those bookmarks ready. ( Full post )

Bush ducks hard-hitting reporter

In case, you haven't seen it. Here's video of the president ducking a couple of Buster Browns. Or were they I-Rockports? Wait! Doug says, Nunn Bush. ( Full post )

Monday's Loose Thread

Darn shame about those Zags. Now 0-3 against Arizona. But this isn't about my glee; it's about your pain. ( Full post )

Hailey steps down

Copied below is the text of this morning's news release from the House Republican caucus in Olympia, announcing the resignation of state Rep. Steve Hailey, who has been battling colon cancer for the past year. ( Full post )

Twas the Night Before ...

Smart Bombs version. ( Full post )

Friday's Loose Thread

So, big basketball game this weekend. Arizona and Gonzaga. By the way, there's lots of speculation in Tucson that Mark Few could be the Arizona coach next year. Just rumors, mind you. ( Full post )

More heating bill assistance. Cool.

Here's comes the cold. The heat is on. The bills will be high. But the feds have doubled the assistance after years of falling behind. That's good news, in Our View.
( Full post )

Thursday's Loose Thread

So what can I get in trade for a loose thread? I don't mean to go all Blagojevich on you, but shouldn't I get something? ( Full post )

It's "Call in Gay" Day

The idea is for gay people to stay home from work to demonstrate what an impact that would be. Reminds me of the mildly amusing movie "A Day Without A Mexican," where Southern Californians wake up one day to find that all of the Mexicans have disappeared.

Know of anyone participating in this event?
( Full post )

Inland Northwest snapshot

Interesting data in the latest census report. ( Full post )

Wednesday's Loose Thread

It's good to be back, or is it? Guess time will ... wow, a cliche right out of the chute.
Ugh. Another one. ( Full post )

Governor targeted editorial writers?

Here's the second count against Gov. Blagojevich of Illinois: ( Full post )

Revisionist editorializing

Yesterday I posted about the state's new budget-data Web site and described it as user-friendly. After spending some hands-on time with it, I tried to see it through the eyes of somebody who hasn't had a ringside seat to the Legislature. Maybe it's not quite as convenient as I first thought. My bad.
Today's editorial goes into it. ( Full post )

Only a click away

For those who like to know about online access to important government information, here are a couple of resources to bookmark. ( Full post )

Time for a loose thread...

For those who are weary of the Obama citizenship frenzy, did you know JFK is still alive and in a comatose state at Bethesda? And that Neil Armstrong never landed on the moon; it was all staged in a TV studio.
But, as the headline says, it's loose thread time. ( Full post )

Hunting for common sense

Tuesday's editorial from The Spokesman-Review urges the Legislature to require young hunters to be accompanied by an adult. What's your opinion on this subject? ( Full post )

Counting counts

First a confession: Yes, I'm one of those people who bristles when a clerk has to rely on the cash register to tabulate the change for a cash purchase. I want it counted back into my hand -- the right way.
So today I received a letter from a writer who said she hoped it was under 200 words but her computer didn't have a word count so she didn't know for sure. (I resisted the temptation to send a reply saying, "Repeat after me: one, two, three, four...)
I'm reminded of the Spokane School Board member several years ago said spelling wasn't that important anymore because kids had spellcheck.
Aaargh! ( Full post )

Out of exile

After 14 years, the diaspora has ended. Today, the staff of the editorial page returns to the fourth floor quarters inhabited by tne newsroom. Gary Crooks is off today, but he'll join me on Wednesday in our new quarters.
It was February 1994, when The Spokesman-Review created the position of interactive editor, which Becky Nappi and I filled. We were given a small cubicle in the Features Department, and later moved to a slightly roomier corner that was distinguished by what resembled a garage door. Ultimately we moved three floors down and one building over to the street level offices in the Chronicle Building.
Those offices were spacious and striking, but there's something about being away from the hum of a news operation that leaves a journalist a little unsettled. Today we return to the promised land.
That's my ramble for the day. Feel free to use it as your loose thread and post a comment about whatever is on your mind. ( Full post )

2012 presidential race

So who do you like in the 2012 race on the Republican side? New poll has it this way, so far: ( Full post )

Thou shalt not steal

The atheists' display at the Capitol was pilfered. ( Full post )