John Kafentzis

Spokane County's recent "call to action" urging countywide vaccination against hepatitis A is reminiscent of the cartoon character who takes after a mosquito with a shotgun. In the final frame, our hero sits in the rubble of his shotgun-blasted home, exhausted but pleased he's accomplished his mission. And then ... bzzzzzzzzzzzz - off flies the mosquito. Dr. Kim Thorburn tempted the same fate last week. As chief health officer for the Spokane Regional Health District, she issued an ill-advised call for countywide vaccinations against hepatitis A. Thorburn acknowledges the outbreak will not be brought under control through voluntary vaccinations but said she felt responsible to tell individuals what they could do to protect themselves. "This is a vaccine-preventable disease."

Our children don't read as well as they should. Some can't read at all. There oughta be a law. Enter Washington lawmakers with just the bill to fix what's wrong with reading education. Their cure, getting phonics back into the classroom as the primary method to teach reading, is as simple as it is flawed. The bill would start a grant program to give first- and second-grade teachers intensive training in phonics.

The word "hepatitis" in headline print is alarming. Certainly, we should be concerned. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious and serious infection. Since the virus is spread through fecal-oral contact, most of us probably don't think we will get it. But since the first of the year, five food handlers have tested positive for hepatitis A. News stories have revolved around the potential exposure for tens of thousands of their customers and how to stop the spread. The entire community became wary about the food at area restaurants.

It's an American dream come true if there ever was one. Smart kid just out of college with more ideas than money starts up a software company in a garage. Soon that company, Microsoft, becomes the defining name in the Information Age. That's the Bill Gates we love to love. But with all his billions and a huge share of the software industry, a new Bill Gates has emerged. Meet the monopolist with a pocket protector. A success story who wants to make sure no one else succeeds as he did.