Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Sorted by date Results 2566 - 2590 of 3750
Why would anyone think it was a big deal when scientists announced a few weeks ago they had determined that humans carry genes of Neanderthals? Was there really any question? The evidence is everywhere. It's certainly obvious when we observe the hunter-gatherer predators who run roughshod over each other in the political world. It would be a mistake to stereotype Neanderthals as grunting lunklumps. In fact, some of them appear quite suave. Mike Huckabee, for example, was outfitted in knuckle-drag recently when, before a Republican audience, he...
The preliminary election count was tallied Tuesday night. The next count will be Friday. Even so, most issues can be declared successfully passed. Every Maintenance and Operations levy for every school district on the ballot passed comfortably. Not one ran into trouble with the voter. Voters in the county long ago wanted more for their schools and have traditionally given them extra, local funding. Also on the plus side, the Whitman County Library District and Pullman Regional Hospital levies passed with substantial positive margins. Still up...
Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published in 2009. I was once asked during a job interview, “If you could be anybody in the world, who would it be?” I replied honestly, “My 5-year-old son.” The same interviewer, reading from a list of questions, also asked, “If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be?” I guess I was supposed to reply “panther,” a sleek predator hunting for prey in the corporate jungle, or maybe “eagle,” soaring regally, taking in the big picture and yet able to instantly spot trouble on the ground... Full story
Wrong word The January 30, 2014 Whitman County Gazette had a front-page article about the Open Letter to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers that appeared in the January 14, 2014 Spokesman-Review. Whether because of a typo, poor telephone connection, or whatever, I was misquoted on page 2 in that the word “earns” was replaced by the word “is”, with the result that the sentence does not make much sense. The sentence should read: “An African-American with an A.A. degree earns pretty much the same as a white person with a high school diploma,...
An enterprising Associated Press reporter put the cost of the recent $1.1 trillion dollar federal spending bill in perspective. At 370,445 words long, it works out to just under $3 million per word – and it funds government operations only through September. Congress begins a debate on increasing the debt ceiling again this month. The amount of money the federal government spends – some say overspends – is so enormous, so massive that the average person simply cannot relate. We have no personal experience with numbers that large. This tax s...
In this age of vicious political fighting, it may seem a bit counterintuitive, but sometimes bipartisanship can go too far. We witnessed a bit of that on the Sunday talk shows recently when the chairs of the two congressional intelligence committees, Mike Rogers, the Republican who heads House Intelligence, and Democrat Diane Feinstein, who runs the show at Senate Intel, displayed a little bipartisan McCarthyism. Yes, that’s harsh, but isn’t that what we call public smears based purely on innuendo? Rogers showed up on “Meet the Press” and whi... Full story
Tuesday is the last chance to vote. It is also the last chance to support the county and give it a much needed financial boost. A “yes” vote for Proposition 1 will do just that. The county needs voter approval to lift its levy lid. That means it wants voters to allow it to collect more in revenues. This is an unprecedented request for the county. The amount the county is asking for is not great. If approved, the increase would generate an estimated $745,000 more in 2015. Residents are well aware of the county’s financial situation. It has g...
Editor's Note: The following column was originally published in 2009. I recently stumbled across one of the great literary works of all time: Betty-Anne's Helpful Household Hints, Vol. 1, by Betty-Anne Hastings (Ventura, 1983). I did some pretty extensive, high-level research into the author (I Googled her name), and the only thing mentioned is this book. Judging by her photograph, however, back in 1983 she was a young, attractive woman with skin so smooth botox would only give her wrinkles. Her advice is priceless. Having trouble keeping your...
Wonderful Whitman County has an excellent library system supporting 14 branches throughout the area. Let's help keep it that way and vote to restore 7 cents to its levy rate, returning it to 50 cents per $1,000 of property value. The library has a wonderful staff. They are willing, friendly, and knowledgeable in helping anyone who might need assistance. Wanda Alderman, Steptoe, Friend of the Library Grateful Whitman County Library depends on tax funding, Friends of the Library, donations, grants and many partnerships to provide the very best...
The movie "Lone Survivor" didn't get any major Oscar nominations. If it had, perhaps it should have been nominated for Most Unlikely Politically Incorrect Picture of the Year. It's based on the true story of a mission in Afghanistan that goes disastrously wrong. A four-man team of Navy SEALs hunting down a Taliban commander is stumbled upon by a couple of goatherds in the mountains of Kunar province. Deciding to let them go, even though it will compromise them, the SEALs are subsequently outnumbered in a fierce firefight. Three of them are kill...
He may have gone to Harvard Law and all that, but President Barack Obama's grasp of lessons learned from history leaves a little bit to be desired. He was certainly off-base when he tried to justify the National Security Agency's massive surveillance by citing the Revolutionary War group Sons of Liberty and member Paul Revere: "At night, they would patrol the streets, reporting back any signs that the British were preparing raids against America's early patriots." It's not often I quote Sen. Rand Paul, but he did have a terrific response on... Full story
Another new layer of uncertainty in Washington state's new legalized marijuana law surfaced two weeks ago when State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, in response to a request from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, issued an opinion that says counties and towns can opt out of allowing marijuana sales inside their jurisdictions. The AG's opinion noted the state's constitution generally empowers cities and counties the option of excluding themselves from accommodating new state laws unless the new laws specifically take away the local... Full story
Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published in 2009. Despite my mother’s countless assurances to the contrary, I was not really “such a good boy.” I wasn’t even a marginally good boy. Apparently she has forgotten the almost daily ritual of sending me to my bedroom to “contemplate” my bad behavior before I was “ready” for my spanking. (When I was in my room getting ready for my spanking, I wasn’t contemplating, I was putting on underpants. When I finally emerged, I was a skinny kid with a rear end like the Pillsbury Doughboy.... Full story
Improving Highway 167 could help change the face of global commerce and the future of Washington state. Really. Traffic congestion is causing bottlenecks at our ports, creating costly delays for the shippers that use Puget Sound ports. Failing to eliminate that congestion will make our ports less competitive, costing us jobs, business and tax revenues. That is true now more than ever. This legislative session, the transportation improvements to be voted on by legislators in Olympia are linked to world trade and events in Panama, 3,600 miles... Full story
To my knowledge, this memo has not been sent, but it should: From: Top Republican Officials To: Party 2014 Candidates People: Don’t do or say anything stupid. That is all. And from the same guy, a note to the GOP members of the House and Senate seeking re-election: A “do-nothing Congress” is a good thing. Or as one of them, Rep. Charlie Dent, told The New York Times: “It’s pretty clear to me in the House, we don’t want to make ourselves the issue.” Unless they make themselves the issue by going crazy doing something like forcing the nation in...
At the end of Sunday’s NFC Championship game, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman’s antics exposed him to the nation as the classless loudmouth he was already known to be in the northwest. But he’s also smart. He went to Stanford, where football coach David Shaw adamantly says the school does not lower entrance standards for athletes. He wasn’t the head coach then but there’s no reason to think Stanford’s policy was different just a few years ago than it is now. What Sherman was right about was that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick... Full story
Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published in 2009. In an effort to stimulate the American economy, I bought a bunch of products from China. I really did want to single handedly jump start U.S. consumer spending and maybe be awarded a medal or a free trip to Camp David or something. But I don’t have a lot of spare cash because, just like the AIG executives, I didn’t do anything to deserve a huge bonus this year — but, unlike the AIG executives, I didn’t receive one. Probably the best thing I could do for my country would be... Full story
Best possible service Whitman County is asking voters to approve a levy lid lift of $0.22 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation at the February 11 election. The County is authorized to levy $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, but this amount has deteriorated down to $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and potentially will decline down to $1.27 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2015. The levy lift being voted on would restore the County levy to $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This would amount to an increase in property taxes...
Our country is awash in the politics of envy these days. America has always been the land of opportunity for anyone willing to work hard and seek a better life for their families. But today, their success is demonized. The presumption is, if you’re rich, you didn’t earn it and you don’t deserve it. But as a rule, most successful Americans weren’t born wealthy. They built their treasure the hard way and employ people. Thankfully, America doesn’t have a class system. People take risks and move up and down the economic ladder every day. In fact, m...
Let’s face it, I am one boring person and, as you’ll soon discover, a bit preachy sometimes. I don’t drink, and I’ve only tried weed twice in my entire life. The only reaction I had was to get thirsty. And I certainly don’t need pot to get the munchies. Right now, you are probably asking yourself, “Why bother even telling you this?” Here’s why: A lot of commentators who are musing about the spectacle of Colorado’s decriminalization of recreational marijuana find it necessary to begin their reflection by fondly reminiscing about their own mellow... Full story
Editor’s Note: The following column was originally published in 2009. Recently I found myself arguing with a British friend of mine over which tastes better: English cooking or dirt. According to a Feb. 10 report by news agency Reuters, the issue has been settled once and for all. It’s dirt. That’s not what the article actually says — what it says is that according to Dr. Graham Clayton, a researcher at Leeds University, British potato chips combine the aromas of “butterscotch, onion, cheese and ... ironing boards.” If you’ve ever had thes... Full story
Spend $7 more On Feb. 11th local voters will be asked to reset Whitman County Library’s levy rate to fifty cents per $1000 of assessed valuation, the rate we all approved in 1984 and the rate that was in effect until 2002. Since then the rate has gradually declined due to a statewide initiative. This increase would amount to $7 for a home whose assessed value is $100,000. Whitman County Library serves nearly 15,000 residents with fourteen branch locations. It was open 8525 hours last year, more than twice the average for libraries of a s...
Amidst all the confusion, broken promises, false starts, delays, changes and mounting costs, 2014 is the year the president and Congress must rethink the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. Millions of people have lost their individual coverage and the administration has predicted that tens of millions more will lose their employer-sponsored coverage when the postponed employer mandate is triggered in 2015. Millions more are experiencing sticker shock because of higher premiums and deductibles. Now, as we enter 2014, the Obamacare taxes and...
All things considered, it was a year without shame. It was the year that Miley Cyrus French-kissed a sledgehammer in the music video for her song “Wrecking Ball,” and cavorted naked on said wrecking ball. The former Disney star popularized the act of twerking in a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards that was so luridly infantile, it wasn’t outrageous so much as pathetic. Yet it worked. Cyrus made us yearn for the good taste and restraint of the era of Lady Gaga, not to mention the golden age of classic Britney Spears. It was the year...
The northern plains, midwest and east are being savaged by cold. Millions of Americans are suffering through subzero temperatures. Wind chills have been reported as low as minus 60 degrees. The weather is playing havoc with transportation. Thousands of scheduled flights have been cancelled. Some travellers stranded last weekend say they cannot get a flight until early next week. Others tried to avoid the chaotic airports by taking a train. More than 500 passengers were stranded overnight on Amtrak trains in the frigid weather near Chicago.... Full story
