The county in which I live (King County, WA) recently released it proposed budget. It’s draconian. Not surprisingly, the worst of the cuts target those with the least resources and the least political power. Particularly targeted are women in vulnerable situations and the elderly. Consider thes… Read full post »

Wahoo! The recent credit card bill will make it harder for companies to shift rates arbitrarily or use other sleight-of-hand tricks to squeeze more “earnings” out of cardholders. This is a long overdue and welcome development. But also tucked into the bill protecting consumers is a measur… Read full post »

I’ve been reading lately about what happened to Spain in the 1500s following its conquest of Latin America.  The Spanish created mines and drained the area of its gold and silver, receiving a huge infusion of unearned money.  One might suspect that this windfall turned Spain into an e/… Read full post »

Vermont's legislature approved gay marriage this week. Depending on your point of view (cave man or modern man), this is either a step forward or a step backward. But buried below all the struggle and drama, something truly remarkable happened in Montpelier.

Representatives did their jobs in a r… Read full post »

With so many complex and pressing problems to address, Congress and the Obama administration have understandably relegated lobbying reform to the back burner. And no one really expects them cut off their primary income stream. But the Unhappy Gods of Good Governance just won't let the issue die -- ev… Read full post »

I’m finishing my introduction to the driving exam as Matt tips his head back and polishes off a tall can of energy drink.  During our last lesson Matt revealed that he has ADD, but it doesn’t seem to affect his concentration much when driving.  In between si/… Read full post »

One summer when I was a little boy our family embarked on a trip across the US.  Somewhere in Wyoming the gentle scuffle between myself and my two older sisters, who had me pinned against the backseat of our station wagon, turned into a true struggle. My ragged but cherished teddy… Read full post »

The young man in front of me at the pharmacy doesn’t look very healthy. His hair, cut to a buzz, is thin and his skin is pale. His clothes hang on his thin frame as if they grew a size without permission. The man waits calmly for the pharmacist,… Read full post »

It’s time to finally deal with my dental issues.  Though I’ve been negligent, I do like my teeth¾if my body goes to hell, my mouth will surely go to heaven.  My teeth have held up through cigarettes on and off, never complaining as the landlord paints them yellow.  T… Read full post »

This morning I looked at the business section of my local newspaper and read about the coming wave of foreclosures in commercial real estate.  As with houses, office towers were vastly overbuilt and overpriced in the era of cheap credit.  In short, the banks, pension funds, and hedge funds/… Read full post »

At noon I head out to Beaverton, an unfamiliar suburb on the outskirts of Portland, to teach yet another driving lesson.  I need some fun after this morning’s travails, and I get a pleasant break.  I have three kids in the car, which can be entertaining if the human dynamics work.&nbs… Read full post »

The one innovation that would most affect our culture isn't a thing ( like solar panels, hybrid cars, etc) but is rather a revised mindset, one that could be propelled forward by a simple regulation.  This innovation isn't the creation of something new, but rather a return to something old and… Read full post »

I swing through the light onto Powell Boulevard, a four-lane road chock full of despair and legacy businesses.  Halfway to the next light a beard on a bike suddenly appears out of the darkness, entering my path with no intention of stopping.  I yank the wheel and swerve into the right… Read full post »

Danny and I are manning the breakfast buffet at the resort on Christmas morning.  The vibe in the lodge, an aging, rustic building with threadbare carpets and worn but comfortable chairs, has changed markedly.  The easy-going, casual atmosphere created by dedicated skiers has become more se… Read full post »

When you move to a new town from out of state the most important thing on your to-do list is finding the right hairstylist.  You can drive around unnoticed for months with old plates or pass the electric bill onto the prior tenant, but you can’t afford a bad haircut in… Read full post »

The bankruptcy/restructuring debate over the future of automakers has become similar to a bizarro theater performance where two cut-rate physicians argue over the cure for a late-stage cancer patient. One waves a turn-of-the-century doctor’s bag and proposes an enhanced exercise regime. The sec… Read full post »