Snow Days won't be made up
That the final decision -- finally -- from Spokane Public Schools.Thoughts?
Matter of Opinion archive for Feb. 2008
FRIDAY, FEB. 29, 2008
It's Friday's Loose Thread
Before solving the world's problems today, how about a little levity.Here, Saturday Night Live pokes fun at Hillary (back when she was "inevitable").Here, President Bush gets the SNL treatment (back when he questioned the science on "global warmings")
THURSDAY, FEB. 28, 2008
Your tax dollars locked up
Here's the opening paragraph of this AP article.For the first time in U.S. history, more than one of every 100 adults is in jail or prison, according to a new report documenting America's rank as the world's No. 1 incarcerator. It urges states to curtail…
Sex abuse, kids and justice
Should jurors know about some accused pedophiles' pasts? In Our View, the answer is yes.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 2008
Middle name "Hussein" -- don't forget that
This press release via the Tennessee Republican Party Web site is ridiculous on many levels. The mention of Obama's middle name. The picture of him in "Muslim" garb (which is "clarified" at the end as Somali tribal garb) and the guilt-by-association riffs.But the part that…
Hook up to the sewer
It's certainly a financial burden for mobile home parks to hook up to sewer lines rather than rely on septic tanks, but the health of the aquifer is paramount, in Our View.Thoughts?
Wednesday's Loose Thread
With today's historical page focusing on Richard Nixon's resignation, I offer this quote from him:"I reject the cynical view that politics is a dirty business."What's on your mind today, my fellow Americans?
TUESDAY, FEB. 26, 2008
Thoughts on the Schrock case?
I'd love to hear opinions on the case of Clifford Helm, who was charged with vehicular homicide after a crash that killed five children. The surviving parents have offered forgiveness.Jury selection has begun. How do you want this to turn out?
Pass a drug test; keep a scholarship
As an incentive for kids who aren't top-notch students but who make good decisions about drugs and alcohol, some Idaho lawmakers want to introduce a new scholarship program.Are they high? Or perfectly sober?
Tuesday's Loose Thread
The destination of choice for discerning Internet travelers.
MONDAY, FEB. 25, 2008
Vigil or no vigil? Service or no service?
(S-R file photo by Christopher Anderson)The Death and Dying Dialogues series prompted me to write my Sunday column on baby boomer death and dying trends, such as Hospice houses, holistic hospital settings and green burials.One trend I labeled "negative" was this trend:There are boomers who…
A word about this blog
Some comments were taken down over the weekend, because they violated important rules of decorum: No name-calling. No foul language.Sorry to burst bubbles on people's pet theories for why those posts were removed. It really was in reaction to juvenile posting methods, not whether we…
Saturday editorial: Fill that health chief position
In Our View, it's taken too long to replace Kim Thorburn, the former head of the Spokane Regional Health District, and the vacancy is becoming an embarrassment.Your thoughts?
Weekend letter: Washington and the environment
Republican politicians are certainly all worked up over the environment. (...) All the Republicans that you quote seem to find many horrible things that will happen if we try to reduce CO2 emissions. Our summers are getting hotter and drier, our winters are wetter but…
International harmony
I have been closely following this event through other news sources, but it would be nice to have it mentioned somewhere in Blog-dom that The New York Philharmonic Orchestra have arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea, where they are slated to perform in concert, which is…
FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 2008
Was Obama really a druggie?
The New York Times had this article two weeks ago in which reporters tried to square Barack Obama's accounts of college-age drug use in his memoirs with those who knew him at the time.Verdict: He may not have been the partier he portrayed himself to…
The Global Cooling Consensus
Some skeptics of global warming point to the 1970s and say the consensus then was that the world was cooling. So why believe these scientists who can't make up their minds?Problem is, there was no consensus back then, according to a review of peer-reviewed articles.…
Ducks must fend for themselves
As a University of Oregon alumnus, I feel special sympathy for the Manito Pond ducks who have lost their meal ticket, in the form of volunteer dispensers of now-banned bread bits. It's like removing the popcorn bowls at Maxie's. Alas, better to get refocused by…
THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 2008
Running mates and loose threads
I've been wondering, if people decided how to vote in the 2008 presidential election based on the prospective first spouse, who would win? Would your spouse preference be in conflict with your candidate preference?With that, here's your loose thread for Thursday.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20, 2008
Catholics for Clinton?
This just in from Jesuit Thomas J. Reese, senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center and former editor of America magazine.Up through Super Tuesday, Catholic voters were strong supporters of Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries. The Catholic vote helped her win in New Hampshire,…
Covering the coverage
The following is an excerpt from an e-mail message that arrived in my in box today from the Project for Excellence in Journalism.In the wake of impressive wins in the so-called “Potomac Primary,” Barack Obama emerged as the clear frontrunner last week in the media…
TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 2008
Folks, we're dumber than ever
(Movie poster for 2006 movie Idiocracy in which the world 500 years from now is so dumb...well, it's too complicated to explain it here. Just rent it, dudes.) Loved Susan Jacoby's column today on why we're getting so dumb in this country. If you read…
Behind the Teck Cominco deal
Les Blumenthal of McClatchy Newspapers has an interesting look at the tug-of-war between EPA officials trying to hold the Canadian smelter responsible for the cleanup of slag at Lake Roosevelt and Bush administration officials who quietly cut a deal.Many of the officials formerly worked for…
Rock 'n Roll ... 'n loose a thread for Tuesday
(S-R file photo by Dan Pelle of Charlie Ryan and his wife Ruthie)Columnist Doug Clark talks on today's front page about Charlie Ryan, the songwriter who came up with "Hot Rod Lincoln." Ryan was something of a Spokane fixture, but I didn't know the story…
MONDAY, FEB. 18, 2008
Get out of jail
Two reactions to this stunning story in Saturday's paper in which we learn that 27 percent of felony suspects are let go for lack of follow-up paperwork.1. This was released by the Sheriff's Office? Guess Knezovich was serious about transparency and accountability.2. What the heck?!?!…
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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