crosscut.com : Crosscurrent

My day with the ranchers

Crosscut — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

An urbanite spends two days with ranchers in Montana and comes to see that she has much in common with them: ground.

More fun than Deliverance!

Crosscut — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Spend your summer vacation in Eastern Washington, an exotic locale where lakes are slippery, the Scablands surprising, and wheat farmers are smashing stuff for fun.

Chamber music: the Lakeside formula

Crosscut — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A recent concert shows both the rewards and the pitfalls of Seattle Chamber Music Festival's philosophy of programming with mix-and-match musicians from the summer circuit.

Sound Transit showdown

Crosscut — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:00:01 PDT

The votes for a 2008 submission of a $15 billion package now are almost there, thanks to some last-minute concessions to Snohomish County. The election will be risky, but the transit agency faces greater risk by waiting until 2010.

Fishing for a family's food

Crosscut — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

An Alaskan whose family holds a subsistence fishing permit chronicles their annual trip to the Kasilof River, where they fish for sockeye salmon using set-nets.

The geekiest arsonist

Crosscut — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Software engineer Jennifer Kolar is to be sentenced this week in federal court for her role in Earth Liberation Front arsons, including one at the University of Washington. Her time in prison will be reduced because she turned state's witness, but that doesn't mitigate the fact she is now regarded as a snitch by peers and could be labeled a terrorist by the government.

Nick Licata reprises his role as City Council menace

Crosscut — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Being council president cramped his activist style. Now he's relishing a return to "Licata non grata." He's energized enough to be thinking about running again, maybe for mayor.

The founder of ArtsJournal talks about arts and new media

Crosscut — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Seattle journalist Douglas McLennan is a leading national figure in Web journalism. Here he talks about his venture, the imperiled state of newspaper arts coverage, and why Seattle and Portland orchestras are not much noticed across the nation.

At the top floors, the high and mighty are in denial

Crosscut — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:01 PDT

It's time for New York magazine editors, Seattle bank executives, and Puget Sound transportation leaders to exit their elevators — at the lobby level.

The case for more rail transit

Crosscut — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:00:01 PDT

The region has tried a largely bus solution for 40 years, and by now the capacity flaws are apparent. If we are really serious about building density, we need to lay more rails.

Gauging the biofuels backlash

Crosscut — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:00:01 PDT

Some would have you believe that making fuels from crops and other biomatter is responsible for food shortages. Probably not, but there are legitimate questions about the net gain — is there one? — of producing and using biofuel versus conventional petroleum.

This Streetcar rides a little too smoothly

Crosscut — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:00:01 PDT

Director Sheila Daniels' debut at Intiman tackles a play so vivid in our memories that it is hard to make it new, or to bring back what once made it so incendiary.

Jerry Springer's sea of troubles

Crosscut — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:00:01 PDT

Guests of today's show include Hamlet and Fortinbras.

Our cultural amnesia

Crosscut — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:01 PDT

In the midst of exponential growth, Seattle can't remember how to be Seattle. It's time we went back to school and learned how.

Seattle Symphony diversifies the product line

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:00:01 PDT

The symphony embarks on some new, non-traditional programming directions as it faces a decline in season ticket buyers and tight finances. So far, it seems to be working.

A design-savvy city defined

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

A report lays out a road map, backed by polling that revealed surprising attitudes of Seattleites and Portlanders about their hometown architecture.

Little boxes, crammed together

Crosscut — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Like the skinny houses of two decades ago, dense townhouse projects seem to be everywhere, and they look terrible. An architect and former Seattle City Council member says Seattle can do better.

Last stand for the Alaskan Way Viaduct

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:00:01 PDT

As the process to replace or remove Seattle's elevated waterfront freeway grinds on, a last-ditch pitch is being made to keep it standing.

Shooting for money

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:00:01 PDT

Our Yakima correspondent tries out the Ljutic Mono Gun — and checks out the trap shooting tournament scene. Part 2

Trap gun tribulations

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:00:01 PDT

An ailing family business — whose trap gun was once the country's best seller — gets a hand up from a Yakima entrepreneur. Part 1

Salmonella may be a key for a new vaccine

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:00:01 PDT

Gates Foundation-backed vaccine developers have found a way to send genetic text messages to the cells of the body to evoke immunity to pneumonia. It could save the lives of a million children a year, yet fluency in the language of the immune system will not come easily.

Gift shops aren't just for gifts anymore

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

When looking for the next great addition to your wardrobe, try a museum store.

Campaign strategy session

Crosscut — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

To appeal to moderates and independents in the next four months, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain will seem closer on the issues than they really are. Here in Washington, the desire for change, which comes in the form of a Democratic presidential victory, could bode well for incumbent Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The progressive case against Jim McDermott

Crosscut — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Seattle's most popular politician hasn't served his constituents well. In fact, he's done little more than attract national ridicule. Meanwhile, he's taking up space — preventing the rise of potential new leaders of the Democratic Party.

They dared to cover the news and went out of business

Crosscut — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:00:01 PDT

In an era of news staff cutbacks all over, the upstart weekly Whatcom Independent in Bellingham calls it quits.