Opinion

Breaking through the myths of gangs

This week I’d like to try to provide some insight and some context to the perplexing problem of gun-related incidents involving young people. It’s a situation that affects every city around the Puget Sound, and in almost every area of the nation.

  • Jan 29, 2009
  • BY Wire Service

Hard to put this picture in neutral

See the picture of the goofy-looking guy that accompanies this column? Well, that’s nothing. You should have seen his first Costco card. Now that photo… Continue reading

This is a message that bears repeating

Every holiday season you start hearing the public messages about drinking and driving, almost becoming “background noise” for some people because we hear it so… Continue reading

  • Jan 20, 2009
  • BY Wire Service

Drama usually a big part of inauguration

There’s enough inherent drama in next week’s presidential inauguration that you might think it wouldn’t be necessary for the TV news networks to hype it.… Continue reading

Use care with unemployment insurance

When legislators come to Olympia later this month, they will not only face a $6 billion budget deficit, they must also change our unemployment insurance… Continue reading

Don’t forget who helped during region’s floods

Just when we thought the worst of the snow was past...the rain started coming down. And it continued coming down, in buckets.

Radio announcer’s remarks not tolerated

KUBE Radio personality Rob Tepper, also known as T-Man, recently made derogatory remarks about Native Women on air. His remarks demonstrate his complete lack of knowledge of the realities of Native Women, tribal casinos, race and culture.

Making weight loss a life’s plan

You may be sitting at home right now, looking at my picture and thinking, “wow, rugged good looks and a writer too?” But besides modesty, I also carry an extra 40 pounds of biscuits and gravy, pizza and beer, known collectively as “fat.”

For Kent, ShoWare Center is more than just an ice rink

When the Thunderbirds won their first game on ShoWare ice Saturday, it wasn’t just a win for the team.It was a win for Kent.In fact,… Continue reading

Note to Seattle: A little salt goes a long way

An open letter to Seattle:Hello again. I know it has been a while since we’ve spoken, and that has probably been in the best interests… Continue reading

Day in Kent classroom was an education

Recently I had the extraordinary pleasure of spending some time helping out inside Ms. Smith’s third-grade classroom at Carriage Crest Elementary. To start off with,… Continue reading

Only in the darkness can you see the stars

We are in the midst of the holiday season, and for a lot of Americans, things don’t seem so festive.Millions of people have lost their… Continue reading

Fine dining versus big eating – where does it end?

I asked a neighbor of mine what he did for Christmas last week. “We went out to eat at a fancy restaurant,” he said. “That Denny’s is a real nice place.” No question about it, “fancy” is a relative term.

  • Dec 29, 2008
  • BY Wire Service

These holiday hits have surprising history

Santa. Christmas Trees. Wreaths. Presents. Egg nog. A crackling fireplace.Just some of the holiday traditions that transcend fashions and fads. They are joined by a… Continue reading

Pointless debate leads to holiday memories

On a very late night recently in downtown Seattle, I saw a scene unfolding that looked like big trouble. Farther down the sidewalk from me,… Continue reading

Widow creates her own holiday tradition

Anyone who lost their spouse this past year and years past, please take a minute to read this. I hope in some small way it… Continue reading

The reason(s) for the season

This month our recently re-elected governor found herself in the cross hairs of venerable blowhard and well-known hypocrite Bill O’Reilly for - get this -… Continue reading