What ails The Cure at Troy?

I caught The Rep's production of The Cure at Troy, an adaptation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes by the Irish poet Seamus Heaney. The production directed by Tina Landau features a stunning set and lighting design, but I just couldn't connect with the show — and I love Heaney's work.

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Like millions of others, the Clintons can't get their taxes done on time

More proof that the system is maddeningly complex, confusing, and just painful. Let's do something about it.

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A surprise amid newspaper gloom: more younger readers

Fourth in a series: The Internet is destroying the economic model that sustained the newspaper industry for generations, but it is also bringing to newspaper Web sites younger readers.

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Here's a real dream ticket: Barack Obama and ...

Some say it's unfair that the U.S. Constitution stands in the way of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger running for president. Only the accident of his Austrian birth blocks his path.

Schwarzenegger's not the only one whose public service is stifled by the law of the land. A dream ticket awaits us, if we can just clear that Constitutional obstruction.

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Hillary to the Democratic Party: I will burn down the house

In Sunday's Washington's Post, Hillary Clinton makes clear she's not going away till the bitter end, and it will be bitter if it doesn't go her way:

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Maybe it's not so easy keeping factories in Seattle

I'm a big fan of the Puget Sound Business Journal, which this week has a story about four high profile factories that might leave Seattle. A lot of media attention has followed efforts to keep Korry Electronics, which was looking at the Port of Seattle's Interbay site. (I refuse to call it North Bay.)

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A friend goes off to war — for a second time

It's hard when a friend goes off to war, especially when the president is envious.

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Riding King County's roller-coaster budget

The King County Executive is preparing another budget. What is the message this year? Oh, cripes!

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Does Barack Obama have the brass?

If he wants to be president, he's going to have to answer the question sharply posed by his Democratic rival: Is he tough enough? So far, we don't know the answer.

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Olympia's feared watchdog: Brian Sonntag

He's got even more authority now, thanks to a voter-approved initiative that provides for evaluations of public-agency performance. The state auditor is effecting change inside institutions like the Port of Seattle.

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Is there any blarney in Hillary Clinton claims that she brought peace to Ireland?

Tonight's debate was the second time I was struck by Sen. Hillary Clinton's claim about her role in the peace process in Ireland. As a Claddagh wearing son of Irish citizens, I took note. Her claim reminded me of a lunch I once had with a literary hero of mine, the Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who praised Bill Clinton for helping to bring peace to Northern Ireland. Alluding to the kneecappers and killers of the tribal wars, he said: "We take our politics seriously." I agree. Bill Clinton moved that process forward, to his lasting credit.

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Seattle loses a good reporter: Tim St. Clair

The West Seattle Herald reports the passing of a fine reporter, Tim St. Clair. St. Clair, 57, died Monday due to complications from cancer. He worked at the Herald and Robinson Newspapers for just under 20 years.

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Palm Springs not so eternal

Taking advantage of a long weekend, I took the Crosscut Gulfstream V*** to Palm Springs, Calif., where page one in the Desert Sun is a water fight related to the the sinking Coachella Valley.

Here's the paragraph that caught my attention:

Studies have shown groundwater overuse is causing subsidence, the literal sinking of the valley, which if left unchecked could cause millions in infrastructure damage to buildings, pipelines and roads.

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Political talk today in 46-1974: It's all about the O

I got a sense of just how crowded today's Democratic Caucus would be when I stood outside Laurelhurst School and got that unmistakeable whiff of humidity from too many people in a room too small. Two generations ago, this neighborhood sat around and listened to a young Dan Evans make his pitch for the state House. Years later, this neighborhood was re-assigned from the 43rd District to the 46th District and, along with all of Seattle, its politics moved overwhelmingly into the Democratic camp.

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Jay Inslee a vice presidential candidate? The rumor starts now

The news that both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are coming to Seattle this week reminds me of the first person I heard on Super Tuesday saying Washington would emerge as a key state in the Democratic campaign. That person was U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, making the point early Tuesday night on KING-TV.

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A Canadian is shaking up the Northwest newspaper business

If printed papers are dying, publisher David Black of Victoria acts like the happy guy at the funeral.

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Is trend-setting Seattle starting a new fad: year 'round Christmas lights?

According to The Etiquette Answer, Christmas lights are supposed to be taken down "no later than Jan. 7, after the celebration of Three Kings Day." To do otherwise, was tacky. In Seattle, lights used to come down on or around New Year's Day. And in that, we were just as conventional as any other burb in America. But something happened. Now you notice more and more houses with lights left up longer.

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Hey, Yahoo: Looking for a white knight? How about Exxon?

As Microsoft gears up for a takeover battle with Yahoo, there could be an Exx factor.

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'Change' is officially history in presidential politics

Barack Obama's big win in South Carolina provides confirmation that "change" is yesterday's story.

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The names people play, in politics and in life

Barack was Barry, Fred was Freddie, John was Johnny, and Hillary is now just Hillary. In both life and politics, the monikers we choose can be revealing.

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