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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Matter of Opinion archive for July 2008

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008

Road Ratings: Washington: 39, Idaho: 14

Press release from Reason Foundation:North Dakota does the best job maintaining its roads and bridges and New Jersey has the worst-performing, least cost-effective highway system in the nation, according to an annual Reason Foundation study that measures each state's road conditions and expenditures. The Reason…

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008

Keo Chronicles: July 30, 1945

Io and Fred's refrigeration was moved to their new apartment -- and my little icebox brought over from 1008. It's lucky the weather has changed to cool for I cannot get ice.*About the photo: This was in Keo's collection of photos. On the back is…

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Endorsement Relevance

Commenter Diana Davies wrote in the comment section below our endorsements:Without agreeing or disagreeing with the above choices, the editorial board might want to take a look at their thought processes and relevance as endorsers.One of the ways you can bring your newspaper into 2008…

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Foreigners control 'free market'

American capital is controlled by foreign governments that are strictly controlled private economies like China and the OPEC nations. Chinese and Saudi companies are not companies in the Berkshire Hathaway tradition; they are fronts for foreign governments to manipulate capital to its advantage in American…

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TUESDAY, JULY 29, 2008

What's in your water?

(S-R file photo)The Natural Resources Defense Council jus released information on the 20,000 beach closings so far this year due to pollution, etc.Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches,” shows the…

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MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008

Drive at 5

Discoll Boulevard is torn up now which means every street I usually use for my commute home is under construction now. Makes for an interesting, longer -- and much prettier -- ride home along the Spokane River past SFCC.Any upsides for you commuters who have…

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Fake Diploma List -- Way to go, Bill!

Our amazing investigative reporter, Bill Morlin, obtained the list of the 10,000 people who bought fake diplomas from a Spokane-based diploma mill. See story.It's a fascinating read. Lots of foreign names. Some Washington state names. You can search it, too. Try it here.I put in…

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Monday's Loose Thread

I guess I took what's called a staycation. Traveled 100 miles to Sullivan Lake. On Saturday, I paddled with my son and a friend from Metaline to Boundary Dam on the Pend Oreille River. Gorgeous. My friend commented on how people would travel thousands of…

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FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2008

When death is avoidable

Made mention of the coal-mining tragedy in Utah last year because I knew one of the guys who died trying to rescue six other miners, none of whom have ever been recovered.Gary "Gibb" Jensen was the best man at my sister's wedding many years ago.…

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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008

Thursday loose thread

I post this late loose thread with a heavy heart for the destruction of the "Joel" building. It's one of my earliest memories of Spokane; my brother's name is Joel, and I believe my family took a photo of the building as we drove through…

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Letter: Model what children must learn

I enjoyed Richard Kohles' letter this morning:What kind of world will we leave our children? Many will say: "inexpensive fuel, low taxes and good-paying jobs." While these are good things, they don't challenge us to evaluate what the next generation really needs from us. Inexpensive…

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008

No, not plastic food

Lorie Hutson, food editor for the S-R, reports that Spokane Farmers' Market now takes plastic. So rest easy; there must have been other folks out there who forget to bring cash, too.Comment on plastic, food or whatever else tickles your fancy on this, your Wednesday…

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Our view: Food for thought

Today's editorial commended the collaboration that has made Feed Spokane a success. Using leftovers from restaurants and catered events in a dignified and safe manner to feed those who are hungry is an example of what communities can do when they work together on seemingly…

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TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2008

Wanted: 37 hits!

Our blog guru, Dave Oliveria, just notified us that A Matter of Opinion is just 37 "hits" away from the 100,000 mark. I wish we had some prizes to give out to those of you who will help make that happen today.Thanks for viewing us.…

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Letter: Longer lives cost more

Froma Harrop's column in the Spokesman ("Preventive care doesn't save money," July 18) is an intelligent commentary on an aspect of medicine too often ignored. Preventive care is good, but keeping a septuagenarian alive till age 90, or even 80, is expensive. As an elderly…

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MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008

Self-referential blog post

This is a blog post about blogging. I received a copy of a Time Magazine column by self-titled nerd Lev Grossman in my mailbox. Dunno who put it there (was it you, boss?) but I found it very interesting and pertinent to what we do…

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Letter: Blame conditions for fire

One of Sunday's letter-writers asked that large allowances be made for the mistake that likely caused the Valley View fires on July 10:I was reading somewhere that it was a teenager who started a campfire and didn't properly extinguish the fire. Even as adults we…

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SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008

Sunday's editorials

On Sunday, we commended those who say now is not the time to ask Spokane County voters to pony up $245 million for a new jail. A time of careful consideration should be given to possible alternatives, such as a collaboration with Kootenai County, which…

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FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2008

Frothing with anxiety

The Starbucks Store at Market and Garland is the only one in Spokane on the list of 600 to be closed. There are 19 altogether in Washington state. Assuming the employees and regulars at the Market-and-Garland outlet are (pardon the expression) steamed, that leaves lots…

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Spokes, man!

Friday's editorial follows up on Thursday's by applauding pursuit of a sizeable grant that would fund projects aimed at getting more people out of their cars.Consider this an opportunity to air your views on the concept of reducing motor vehicles' share of the local transportation…

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THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008

Two-wheelin'

More cyclists are hitting Spokane's streets. That's a good thing, but the community needs to take appropriate steps to head off potential problems. Thursday's editorial is the first of two that talk about the role of non-motorized transportation in our community.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008


Border war!

Here's the final line from a Coeur d'Alene Press editorial that ridicules Spokanites and bemoans their visits over the Fourth of July weekend. It's their solution to making sure Spokanites stay home:Offer free fireworks and a little bit of welfare, and watch the magic.Thoughts? Do…

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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008

A Matter of Opinion is really a matter of three opinions – those held by the people responsible for the opinion pages of The Spokesman-Review. Check in regularly to find out what they’re up to, what they think and where they differ and to joust with them if you want.



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