Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Matter of Opinion archive for Feb. 2009

FRIDAY, FEB. 27, 2009


THURSDAY, FEB. 26, 2009


Open government. You interested? 105 

Transparency presumes that the public cares enough to check in and evaluate. As I look over the new OMB site set up by the Obama administration, I wonder how many people will actually belly up and drink in the data. In any event, here's some…

Continue reading this post »


WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25, 2009

TUESDAY, FEB. 24, 2009

Tuesday's Loose Thread 35 

We are falling down, down to the bottom of the hole in the ground. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. -- John Prine.How about this economy, eh? What's the opposite of irrational exuberance?Thoughts on this and other topics welcomed here. (BTW, there is a discussion…

Continue reading this post »

MONDAY, FEB. 23, 2009

FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2009

THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 2009

Parking meter clarification 

If you've been in the immediate area surrounding the Fox Theatre lately, you've probably noticed the signs affixed to parking meters and bearing the graphic logo that designates parking spots for handicapped drivers. The signs say those spots are available for authorized drivers for up…

Continue reading this post »



Surgical checklist

In Wednesday's column, I noted a surgical checklist that has proven to be effective in saving lives and limiting post-op complications. A reader wondered what the entire list looked like.Take this link and scroll down to Table 1. Some basic stuff, yet a lot of…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2009

Lemons to lemonade? 

An interesting story now posted on spokesman.com relates that bleak budgetary times have county officials like Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard and budget officer Marshall Farnell talking aloud about local government consolidation. Between Spokane County and the city of Spokane, just to be clear. Richard…

Continue reading this post »


Wednesday's Loose Thread 15 

Last song I listened to on the way in was "I'd Love to Change the World" by 10 Years After.I'd love to change the worldBut I don't know what to doSo I'll leave it up to youWell, how would you change the world? This is…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, FEB. 17, 2009

MONDAY, FEB. 16, 2009

Monday's Loose Thread 

In honor of Presidents Day, this article in which respondents rank the presidents. Top five: Lincoln, Washington, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, who had dismal approval ratings when he left office.Will history be kind to George W. Bush? Since 2000, Clinton moved from 21st to…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 2009

Friday's Loose Thread 43 

In honor of Lincoln, two quotes to stimulate debate.1. "If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how -…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2009

What would Darwin do? 43 

It's Charles Darwin's birthday. He's a tad older than Cindy. If he were alive today, what would he think (beyond "how do I get out of this coffin?"):Some scientists weigh in on that. Excerpt:Even though the laws governing inheritance were being worked out by Austrian…

Continue reading this post »


TUESDAY, FEB. 10, 2009

MONDAY, FEB. 9, 2009

Monday's Loose Thread 27 

So Grammy's Record of the Year goes to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. That's quite a transformation for the former lead singer for Led Zeppelin.From "Please Read the Letter" (2007):Once I stood beside a well of many wordsMy house was full of rings andCharms and…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, FEB. 6, 2009

THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 2009

Thursday's Loose Thread 

Sunday is go-to-meeting day. Saturday is recreation day. Friday is the beloved end of the work week (for most). Monday is the cursed return day. Wednesday is hump day and a character on the "Addams Family." Tuesday is enshrined in song "Ruby Tuesday." And, of…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4, 2009

Book 'im, Danno 

The Secretary of State's Office in Olympia reports that public libraries in Washington are seeing increased usage during the economic downturn. Patron visits are up 7.5 percent. Material checkouts are up 11.22 percent. Online visits are up 20.21 percent. Reference transactions are up 4.41 percent.…

Continue reading this post »


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.



Blog Archives

Feb. 2009
27 26 25 24 23
20 19 18 17 16
13 12 10 09 06
05 04 03 02