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Sunday, March 21, 2010


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Local News

UPDATE - 4:44 PM
Federal Way officer dies at shooting scene
A Federal Way police officer died Sunday morning while guarding a scene where hours earlier police had shot and wounded a suspect driving a stolen car. Sun, 3/21
 
NEW - 3:21 PM
Another British Columbia avalanche kills 2
A third deadly avalanche in British Columbia within a week has killed two French skiers as they were coming down a mountain after being dropped off by helicopter, police said Sunday. Sun, 3/21
 
UPDATE - 3:18 PM
Police say club manager lied about shooting
A Seattle night club manager was arrested early Sunday after police say he lied to mislead officers about a shooting at the club. Sun, 3/21
 
Eight teenagers escape Edmonds house fire
Eight teenage girls escaped after a fire broke out Saturday morning at an Edmonds home where they had been attending a sleepover party. Sun, 3/21
 
Ron Judd
Modified health-care bill such a stunning departure
Nice to see that while we were gone for about eight weeks, covering the Olympics, our Certified Pre-Owned Congress finally woke up and wrote a radically modified health-care bill that works for everybody. Sun, 3/21
 
Is raw, unpasteurized milk safe?
Raw milk's supporters are at once modern-day rebels and throwbacks to an older, simpler time. They are health-food aficionados who dismiss the health authorities. There's long been a libertarian streak running through the raw-milk crowd. A Christian one, too. Now it's attracting another demographic entirely: advocates of local food. Dairymen are seizing that opportunity. Five years ago, there were six licensed raw-milk dairies in Washington; today there are 28. Sat, 3/20


 
New book dives into the underworld of giant-clam poaching
In the brave new world of the Internet, FedEx and an international taste for the exotic, wildlife poachers steal everything from elk horns to geoducks, the world's largest clam. In the waters of Puget Sound in Washington state, state wildlife agents stalk these thieves on land and at sea. In "Shell Games: Rogues, Smugglers, and the Hunt for Nature's Bounty," Seattle Times environmental reporter Craig Welch joins these detectives on the trail of one of the region's most notorious geoduck thieves. Sat, 3/20
 
Proposal to boost oil tax draws foes to Olympia
A proposed boost to the state's tax on oil and other chemicals to pay for clean-water projects is prompting a lather of lobbying in Olympia. Sat, 3/20
 
Bellevue man identified as pilot killed in Morton plane crash
The man who died in a plane crash near Morton, Lewis County, Friday evening was identified Saturday by his family as Bellevue resident Shane Sullivan. Sat, 3/20
 
Danny Westneat
Free to have health care for all
"This is America. We're supposed to have the freedom of choice." So said Eastside Congressman Dave Reichert last week at a Republican news conference denouncing the health-care-reform bill. I single out that quote because it's central to why an effort to change health insurance has turned into an all-out ideological war. Sat, 3/20
 
Sidewalk signs in Pioneer Square put businesses, city at odds
Small businesses in Pioneer Square say they are losing business because the city is enforcing a ban on illegal sidewalk signs. Sat, 3/20
 
State House passes budget without sales-tax increase
Rejecting a sales-tax hike to help balance the budget, the state House has endorsed a $790 million tax package that focuses on closing tax exemptions and collecting more money from service businesses. Sat, 3/20
 
Hugs bloom into a behavioral virus at Portland school
The hugs were out of control at West Sylvan Middle School in the Portland School District so the principal banned them. Sat, 3/20
 
Armed robber linked to 2 Seattle heists
An armed robber hit a business in Ballard early Saturday, and police say he closely matches the description of a gunman who held up a business on Roosevelt Way Northeast 90 minutes earlier. Sat, 3/20
 
Hispanic Chamber founder Ernest I.J. Aguilar dies at 90
Ernest I.J. Aguilar, one of the first Latinos to ever run for political office in the Yakima Valley, has died after a long battle with cancer at his Sumner home. Sat, 3/20
 
Interstate 5 bridge retrofits finished early
The state Department of Transportation and contractor Granite Northwest crews have finished retrofitting 19 bridges along Interstate 5 from Tukwila to Lynnwood, nearly six months ahead of schedule. Sat, 3/20
 
The King County Health Department wins grant to study tobacco use, obesity
The King County Health Department has won a $25.5 million grant to address obesity and tobacco use. Sat, 3/20
 
Twisp chief seeks to ban verbal abuse
A proposal by Twisp's new police chief to prohibit verbal abuse is raising a bit of a stir. Sat, 3/20
 
2nd vessel bought for Kingston passenger run
The Port of Kingston has purchased a second boat for its planned passenger-only ferry service to Seattle. Sat, 3/20
 
Rep. Baird remains undecided before health-care vote
Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver, became the only one of Washington's congressional Democrats to remain undecided on the health-care bill Saturday when fellow fence-sitter Adam Smith of Tacoma climbed down into the "yea" column. Sat, 3/20
 
How your U.S. lawmaker voted this week
Here's how state members of Congress voted on major issues in the week that ended Friday. Sat, 3/20
 

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Nation & World

UPDATE - 04:38 PM
Obama order on abortion locks in health care votes
Triumph in their grasp, President Barack Obama and House Democrats demonstrated command of the votes needed to pass landmark health care legislation Sunday night, writing a climactic chapter in a century-long quest for near universal coverage. Sun, 3/21


 
NEW - 3:39 PM
Ranks of amateur botmasters is swelling
Earlier this month, Spanish authorities and security researchers worked together to track down and capture three Spanish men ... Sun, 3/21
 
NEW - 4:55 PM
It's nip and tuck in Iraq
Interest in plastic surgery has blossomed since the fall of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, and now, as the country has quieted down, nose jobs, Botox and liposuction are all the rage. Sun, 3/21
 
NEW - 4:49 PM
Recount calls add to Iraq's political tension
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday issued a strongly worded warning that without a nationwide recount of this month's election, Iraq could descend into violence. The electoral commission quickly rejected the request, saying a recount would be neither necessary nor feasible. Sun, 3/21
 
NEW - 4:40 PM
Web emerging as one of biggest threats to species
The Internet has emerged as one of the greatest threats to rare species, fueling the illegal wildlife trade and making it easier ... Sun, 3/21
 
A look at the health care overhaul bill
Congressional Democrats have released a final version of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul bill in advance of a House vote planned for Sunday. Some features of the legislation, which makes changes to the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve: Sun, 3/21
 
UPDATE - 04:50 PM
Abortion compromise doesn't satisfy critics
A last-minute compromise that swung a half-dozen anti-abortion Democrats behind President Barack Obama's health care bill - virtually ensuring its passage - failed to placate outside activists on either side of the issue, and drew derision from Republicans. Sun, 3/21
 
Obama on the brink of a health care reinvention
Rarely does the government, that big, clumsy, poorly regarded oaf, pull off anything short of war that touches all lives with one act, one stroke of a president's pen. Such a moment now seems near. Sun, 3/21
 
UPDATE - 04:51 PM
On final day, Obama works vote outside public view
No more fiery speeches, no trips to Capitol Hill, no ventures outside the White House gates at all. Sun, 3/21
 
Fargo's fight against flooding nears its climax
A weeklong fight against flooding neared its climax in Fargo on Sunday, with miles of sandbags and clay dikes expected to hold back the bloated Red River at its crest with room to spare. Sun, 3/21
 
Apology by pope fails to calm Ireland
Pope Benedict XVI's letter to Ireland apologizing for chronic child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church failed Saturday to calm the anger of many victims, who accused the Vatican of ducking its own responsibility in promoting a worldwide culture of cover-up. Sat, 3/20
 
California tribe on spiritual quest to bring salmon home
On Friday night, more than two dozen Native Americans embarked from San Francisco on a spiritual mission to New Zealand, where they will ask their fish to come home to California. Sat, 3/20
 
Allawi's political alliance takes lead in Iraq vote count
A secular challenger to Iraq's prime minister edged ahead Saturday in the overall vote count in parliamentary elections, while the prime minister held onto his province-by-province lead as the counting neared completion. Sat, 3/20
 
Former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, 90, dies
Stewart Udall, who sowed the seeds of the modern environmental movement as secretary of the interior during the 1960s and later became a crusader for victims of radiation exposure from the government's Cold War nuclear programs, died Saturday. He was 90. Sat, 3/20
 
Growing discord in Europe amid debt crisis
After Greece recklessly spent its way into a debt crisis, potentially leaving German taxpayers to help pay for a bailout, lawmakers in Berlin offered a suggestion to their profligate neighbor to the south: If you want to raise cash, why not sell off a few islands? Sat, 3/20
 
N.J. teen charged for racial comment in Walmart store
Authorities in southern New Jersey said Saturday that they had arrested a 16-year-old boy for activating a public-address system at a Walmart last week and ordering "all black people" to leave. Sat, 3/20
 
Thousands rally to urge withdrawal of troops
Thousands of protesters — many directing their anger at President Obama — marched through the nation's capital Saturday to urge immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sat, 3/20
 
U.S. turns blind eye to opium production in parts of Afghanistan
The effort to win over Afghans on former Taliban turf in Marjah has put U.S. and NATO commanders in the unusual position of arguing against opium eradication, pitting them against some Afghan officials who are pushing to destroy the harvest. Sat, 3/20
 
Fargo appears to have escaped major flood risk
They passed out cigars in Fargo on Saturday, but no matches, as a city that spent the past week getting ready to hold back the Red River cautiously prepared to celebrate what appeared to be a successful defense against the swollen waterway. Sat, 3/20
 
Cash-strapped states, cities tack on traffic fees
Motorists nationwide can expect more of the same as cash-strapped cities and states consider measures ranging from expansion of red-light camera systems to charging drivers for cleanup after accidents. Sat, 3/20
 
House Rules Committee gets unruly before vote
On its way to Sunday's big vote, health-care reform made a final stop Saturday before the House Rules Committee — or, in this case, the House Unruly Committee. Sat, 3/20
 
Teacher killed by wolves leaves vivid blog of Alaska wilderness
An East Coast teacher, who was killed March 8 in what Alaska State Troopers say was a rare wolf attack, kept a detailed blog of her time as a traveling teacher based in Alaska. Sat, 3/20
 
Tips from a Wall Street 'Generosity coach'
Kathy LeMay lives in the college town of Northampton, Mass., with a mortgage and a 2005 Honda Accord hybrid that she's paying off mainly by counseling billionaires and others on how to give away their money. Sat, 3/20
 
U.S. cut in aid unlikely club against Israel
The diplomatic crisis between the United States and Israel sent a tremor through their alliance, but one key part of the bond seems untouchable: the roughly $3 billion a year in U.S. military aid. Sat, 3/20
 
Thousands rally to pull troops from 2 war zones
Thousands of protesters - many directing their anger squarely at President Barack Obama - marched through the nation's capital Saturday to urge immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Sat, 3/20
 

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Business & Technology

Dems predict historic House vote on health care
House Democrats are predicting that a rare Sunday session will produce one of the most significant legislative triumphs in decades: passage of a historic bill to overhaul the nation's health care system to provide coverage to millions of people who currently lack it. Sun, 3/21
 
Starbucks' shareholders will vote on a plan to expand the company's recycling
Having pushed Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé into talks about recycling, the environmental activists at the As You Sow Foundation in San Francisco have turned their attention to Starbucks. Sat, 3/20
 
Sunday Buzz
Do WaMu logo and trademarks have value?
WaMu, mired in Chapter 11, pursues trademark and domain-name protections — even in Canada and Mexico. Also: construction drought idles Seattle's neighborhood design-review boards. Sat, 3/20
 
Q&A: T. Rowe Price CEO on advising Obama, surviving the recession
James Kennedy has reached the point in his career when the White House wants to pick his brain for advice. Sat, 3/20
 
Tips on how to pick a discount stock-brokerage firm
In the past few months, a price war among the biggest discount brokerages has dropped trade commissions to their lowest levels ever. Sat, 3/20
 
Know your best options for receiving, investing tax refund
With the tax-filing season in full swing, taxpayers who are getting refunds have more options in how they receive their cash from the Internal Revenue Service. Sat, 3/20
 
Your Funds
Beware mutual funds' shiny 'new' records
You may not be celebrating the one-year anniversary of the stock market bottom, but mutual-fund executives are, because their worst 12-month period in recent history takes a step toward becoming a distant memory. Sat, 3/20
 
Decision on Google library likely to change publishing indelibly
Google has been busy. The Internet giant has been copying and storing millions of the world's out-of-print and out-of-copyright books in a vast online archive. Sat, 3/20
 
Money tip: Avoid the alluring pitfalls of buying a new car
Car buyers often focus on haggling down a dealer's offer toward invoice price. That's OK, but often that's not where the real money is, says a former car dealer in his new book. Sat, 3/20
 
Investing
Pension worries are unnecessary
 Sat, 3/20
 
Sunday Memo
The business week ahead. Sat, 3/20
 
The Motley Fool: Every Sunday, useful tips on investing
 Sat, 3/20
 
Money funds fall below $3 trillion for first time in 2 years
Assets in U.S. money-market mutual funds fell below $3 trillion for the first time in more than two years, as rising yields spurred sales of Treasurys and companies liquidated holdings to pay taxes. Sat, 3/20
 
Northwest Living
Handcrafted beauty hides utility in a gracious Seattle condo
From the oil-rubbed bronze door to the art-glass shower wall, every square inch of this home high over Lake Washington is a work of art and elegance. Sat, 3/20
 

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Sports

Gonzaga NCAA tournament run ends with 87-65 loss to Syracuse
Gonzaga no match for No. 1 seed Syracuse in second-round game. Sun, 3/21
 
NEW - 4:42 PM
Matt Bouldin finishes as one of Gonzaga's best ever
Bouldin's contribution over four years was massive. He started 118 games, and finishes as the Zags' No. 6 career scorer with 1,683 points, No. 5 in assists (444) and No. 4 in steals (170). Sun, 3/21
 
Community sports & recreation datebook
Baseball Baden 12U Select Baseball Club — is looking for 1-2 players to complete 2010 roster. Contact to schedule individual tryout... Sun, 3/21
 
What readers are saying
Falcons women deserved spotlight The Seattle Pacific women's basketball team won the NCAA Division II West Regional title Monday. I wanted to thank... Sun, 3/21
 
MLS, players union reach agreement, avoid strike
Major League Soccer and its players' union have agreed in principle to a new five-year collective-bargaining agreement, the league announced Saturday. Sat, 3/20


 
Jerry Brewer
Coach Julie van Beek has Seattle Pacific back in the Elite Eight
Division II Falcons meet Fort Lewis (Colo.) College on Tuesday in St. Joseph, Mo. Sat, 3/20
 
Mariners enjoy best pitching day of spring training
On a day when Felix Hernandez allows two hits in five innings, the Mariners also got four strikeouts in two innings from Shawn Kelley. Sat, 3/20
 
Tiffanie Shives sparks Gonzaga's 82-76 victory over North Carolina
Tiffanie Shives made four consecutive three-pointers to score 16 points to help the seventh-seeded Zags past the No. 10 seeded Tar Heels. Gonzaga will play No. 2 seed Texas A&M in the second-round of the NCAA tournament on Monday at Edmundson Pavilion. Sat, 3/20
 
Larry Stone
Suddenly, Mariners spring comes with question marks
Cliff Lee's suspension and abdominal injury, David Aardsma's 10.80 ERA and Milton Bradley's two ejections are just part of the troubles emerging after stellar predictions. Sat, 3/20
 
NW Briefs
Danielle Lawrie tosses shutout for Washington softball | Northwest briefs
Danielle Lawrie tossed a six-hit shutout for the top-ranked Washington softball team, which rolled to a 8-0 victory in six innings over... Sat, 3/20
 
Everett skates to 5-2 win over Kelowna | WHL playoffs
Shane Harper and Chris Langkow combined for a trio of goals to lift the Everett Silvertips to a 5-2 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. The win puts Everett up two games to none in the best-of-seven series that resumes in Kelowna on Tuesday. Sat, 3/20
 
UW women want one for the road | CBI tournament
By plane and bus, Washington is determined to keep its alternative postseason alive.  Sat, 3/20
 
Nationals sending Strasburg to minors
Stephen Strasburg was sent to the minor leagues Saturday by the Washington Nationals, who told baseball's top pitching prospect he needed to slow down his delivery from the stretch in order to speed up his arrival in the majors. Sat, 3/20
 
Steve Kelley
Why can't the Huskies continue this run? | Steve Kelley
The Huskies no longer are the messy work-in-progress they were in January. They are the playing the way they were expected to play when practice began in October. Sat, 3/20
 
Washington men rout New Mexico, reach Sweet 16
Behind a gritty defensive effort and pinpoint shooting from the perimeter, they punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 after dismantling third-seeded New Mexico 82-64 in the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Sat, 3/20
 
Fifth-seeded Butler fends off Murray State | West Regional
Butler's Gordon Hayward instinctively left his man for a double-team, deflected a freshman's desperate pass and slammed Murray State's storybook... Sat, 3/20
 
Florida State women advance | NCAA women
Third-seeded Florida State clamped down defensively in the second half to escape with a 75-61 win over 14th-seeded Louisiana Tech on Saturday. Sat, 3/20
 
Game preview: Bulldogs vs. Orange
9:10SundayinBuffalo(Ch. 7) Gonzaga Record: 27-6 overall, 12-2 in West Coast Conference (1st place). Seed: 8. RPI: 37. Bid: At-large. Tournament record: 15-12. Best... Sat, 3/20
 
Panthers knock off No. 1 Kansas 69-67
In an NCAA tournament full of upsets, Northern Iowa pulled off the biggest one: The Panthers took down mighty Kansas. Sat, 3/20
 
Saint Mary's upsets second-seeded Villanova | South Regional
Omar Samhan was an unstoppable Gael force. The only time the Saint Mary's star slowed down was to enjoy the moment. Sat, 3/20
 
Team effort leads Tennessee past Ohio | Midwest Regional
Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl cleared his bench at the end of the game, a victory over No. 14 seed Ohio and a berth in the Midwest Regional semifinals secure. Sat, 3/20
 
Texas A&M pulls away from Portland State 84-53
Texas A&M coach Gary Blair tried to be patient. Portland State wouldn't allow it.  Sat, 3/20
 
Top-seeded Kentucky romps past Wake Forest | East Regional
It's starting to look like the good old days for Kentucky's proud basketball program.  Sat, 3/20
 
Top-seeded Tennessee routs Austin Peay in opener | NCAA women's tournament
When Tennessee lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year, coach Pat Summitt sent the team to the practice court immediately... Sat, 3/20
 
UW vs. New Mexico, game at a glance
WASHINGTON 82 min fgm-a ftm-a or-t a pf pts Byn-Amg 26 7-10 1-4 3-9 1 1 15 Holiday 27 2-7 0-0 1-7 4 4 5 Thomas 28 5-14 1-2 0-2 7 2 15 Gaddy... Sat, 3/20
 
West Virginia not worried to face Missouri's pressure | Up next for Huskies
The Missouri Tigers can describe their up-tempo, bordering-on-frenetic brand of basketball however they want. West Virginia guard Darryl... Sat, 3/20
 
Bud Withers
Boeheim, Few have found happiness staying put
Boeheim grew up about an hour from Syracuse, was a walk-on player there in 1962 — you know, about the time "Big Girls Don't Cry" was popular — and he never left, save for four years of minor-league pro basketball in the late '60s. Sat, 3/20
 
Bulls end 10-game losing streak
Chicago snapped its losing streak at 10 games with a 98-84 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. Sat, 3/20
 
California has respect, not awe, for Duke
The eighth-seeded Golden Bears respect what Duke has accomplished in three decades under coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Pac-10 player of the year said — but they aren't in awe of the top-seeded Blue Devils. Sat, 3/20
 
Red Wings stun Canucks in OT
Henrik Zetterberg scored as the overtime buzzer sounded to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks. Sat, 3/20
 
Holiday's defense slows Lobos in Washington's rout
Hobson, the Mountain West Player of the Year, had other worries other than Holiday's in-your-shirt defense. He sprained his left wrist Thursday and appeared bothered by the injury. Sat, 3/20
 
Roddick, Ljubicic advance to final
Andy Roddick outlasted Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Saturday in Indian Wells, Calif. Sat, 3/20
 
Allgaier secures 1st victory
Justin Allgaier grabbed the first win of his NASCAR career Saturday by passing teammate Brad Keselowski on a late restart, then holding... Sat, 3/20
 
Furyk hoping to end drought on PGA Tour
Jim Furyk has gone 58 tournaments over 32 months without winning on the PGA Tour.  Sat, 3/20
 
Klitschko KOs Chambers, defends heavyweight title
Wladimir Klitschko knocked out Eddie Chambers in the 12th and final round to retain his WBO and IBF heavyweight belts Saturday night. The taller, heavier Klitschko... Sat, 3/20
 
Saturday's detailed prep lacrosse results
Mercer Island 13, Bainbridge 0 (Jonathan Wettack, MI, 4 goals, 2 assists; Doug Mahony, MI, 3 goals; T. Claes Johnson, MI, 2 goals, 1 assist... Sat, 3/20
 
Sports on the air
Sunday MLB spring training TV Radio 1:05 p.m. Seattle vs. L. A. Angels 710 NBA basketball 5 p.m. San Antonio at Atlanta ESPN 7:30 p.m. Portland at Phoenix ESPN... Sat, 3/20
 
Tickets to East regional go on sale
Tickets for the East Regional in Syracuse, N.Y., where the Huskies will play Thursday, will go on sale Sunday to season-ticket holders. Sat, 3/20
 
Northern Iowa ousts No. 1 Kansas
Playing with poise down the stretch and getting another big three-pointer from Farokhmanesh, Northern Iowa pulled off one of the biggest NCAA upsets in years by knocking No. 1 overall seed Kansas from the bracket with a program-defining 69-67 win on Saturday. Sat, 3/20
 
Gonzaga's task: beat the zone
Somehow, if Gonzaga is to upset the top-seeded Orange in today's second-round NCAA game, it has to find a way to attack the 2-3 'Cuse zone defense. Sat, 3/20
 

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Entertainment

Intiman Theatre dusts off Depression-era 'Paradise Lost' — which speaks powerfully to us now
Intiman Theatre revives Clifford Odets' Depression-era "Paradise Lost" — and it couldn't be more timely. Sat, 3/20
 
Book review
'The Man Who Ate His Boots': The Northwest Passage — it had to be there
"The Man Who Ate His Boots" traces the numerous ill-fated attempts by British explorers to discover a Northwest Passage. Author Anthony Brandt discusses his book at 7 p.m. Monday at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture on the University of Washington campus. Sat, 3/20
 
10 things to love about 'Mad Men'
The third season of "Mad Men" — AMC's drama set at an ad agency — will be released on DVD March 23. Here's a list of 10 things arts writer Moira Macdonald loves about the show, which returns for season four this summer. Sat, 3/20
 
Book review
'Bone Fire': Frontier reliance and human connection
Wyoming writer Mark Spragg's new novel "Bone Fire" is a group portrait of stoic, self-reliant Westerners, held together by the twin bonds of longing and anguish. Spragg appears with Wyoming memoirist Laura Bell ("Claiming Ground") Friday at Seattle's Elliott Bay Book Co. Sat, 3/20
 
Ernie Isley remembers Jimi Hendrix
Ernie Isley recalls a childhood hero: Jimi Hendrix. Isley is one of many all-star guitarists touring with the Experience Hendrix Tribute Tour this month. Sat, 3/20
 
UW World Series announces 2010-11 dance and music lineup
Trisha Brown's dance company; pianist Murray Perahia; fiddler Mark O'Connor; and the Martha Graham Dance Company are highlights of Seattle's UW World Series, 2010-11. Sat, 3/20
 
Book review
'Small Kingdoms': an insightful portrait of contemporary Kuwait
Anastasia Hobbet's "Small Kingdoms" is a fictional portrait of modern-day Kuwait: a wealthy Kuwaiti matron, an expat California doctor and a timid American wife are among the numerous main characters. Sat, 3/20
 
Seattle Philharmonic embraces Bruckner's 'big' symphony
Music director Adam Stern hopes to intrigue music fans with the Seattle Philharmonic's March 21 bill in Meany Hall. Sat, 3/20
 
Book review
'To Hell on a Fast Horse': Billy the Kid meets his match
"To Hell on a Fast Horse" by Mark Lee Gardner cuts through the legend to get to the truth of Billy the Kid, but the better story is that of Pat Garrett, the sheriff who brought him down. Sat, 3/20
 
"Silk Parachute" takes off at Fremont Place Books
Authors John McPhee and Rene Backmann top the best-sellers list at Seattle's Fremont Place Books. Sat, 3/20
 
Jodi Picoult rules best-seller list with 'House Rules'
Jodi Picoult's "House Rules" and Mitt Romney's "No Apology" top Publishers Weekly's best-seller lists. Sat, 3/20
 
The Week Ahead: Seattle arts highlights March 21-27
Whirligig children's festival; Zac Brown Band; "Big is Better" art show; "Brooklyn Boy"; author Charles Emmerson and more are Seattle's arts highlights the week of March 21. Sat, 3/20
 
The Short List
What our writers love this week
Renton rapper Michael Dean; AMC's "Breaking Bad"; and Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day are favorites of Seattle Times writers. Sat, 3/20


 

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Living

Wine Adviser
Northwest transplant is making beautiful Bordeaux in Napa
After a successful career in construction in the Pacific Northwest, Lou Kapcsandy headed south to the Napa Valley and bought himself a vineyard to pursue his passion for wine. Now he's making some of the finest wine in the valley — Bordeaux that is in the elegant style of French Bordeaux. Sat, 3/20


 
Plant Life
Give the garden a jolt with carnivores, contortionists and other weird plants
If your garden is suffering from a little too much "nice," stir things up with plants that offer contrast like carnivores such as pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.) and contortionists like Harry Lauder's walking stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'). Also consider thorny beasts like the vicious-looking wingthorn rose (Rosa sericea pteracantha) and dark plants such as black mondo grass or the truly disturbing voodoo lily (Dracunculus vulgaris). Sat, 3/20
 
Taste
Part of the trick to cooking is keeping the kitchen clean
Aside from working the magic of making a meal, good cooks know to keep their kitchens clean as they go. There are tricks to getting it done — everything from pretending you have a small kitchen with no room for messes to foisting the job off on someone else. Sat, 3/20
 
How to get rock 'n' roll eyes, Runaways style
The makeup artist for "The Runaways," a film about Joan Jett's 1970s all-girl band, shares tips on how to re-create the band's smoky eyes for an everyday look with an edge. Sat, 3/20
 
Rant & Rave: A love letter to public libraries
Seattle Times readers share cheers for libraries, jeers for bad drivers. Sat, 3/20
 
Destinations
Rare blue whales cruise California's coast and thrill tourists
Blue whales, the largest animals on the planet, were hunted to near extinction, but can be seen cruising the California coast, where the population has begun slowly rising since the creatures were given protection on the Endangered Species List. Sat, 3/20
 
Now & Then
Revived Seattle Municipal Archives celebrate 25 years
Built on the public-works records stored in its old Engineering Vault, the Seattle Municipal Archives have moved to modern, climate-controlled quarters in City Hall. There, the public can peruse much of the city's recorded development. Those who are interested can also look online at www.cityofseattle.net/cityarchives/. Sat, 3/20
 
The People's Pharmacy
People's Pharmacy: Confusion about cholesterol levels
People's Pharmacy clears up confusion about cholesterol levels and explains how to get rid of sun spots. Sat, 3/20
 

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Travel & Outdoors

Taking kids to San Francisco? Here are some ideas
Try the cable cars, Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf for some ideas on how to make a visit to San Francisco kid-friendly. Sun, 3/21
 
Morocco's Essaouira lures visitors with desert walks, sea air and camel couscous
Experiencing the laid-back charms and hospitality of the Moroccan port city of Essaouira. Sat, 3/20


 
Thousands of BA flights canceled as crew on strike
Retiree Richard Moore arrived at Heathrow with a suitcase of summer clothes for a Miami cruise only to be sent to Denver. Susan Danby wondered if plans for a joint 50th birthday celebration in Las Vegas would be a losing bet. Sat, 3/20
 
Driving in Italy? Obey the traffic laws or risk getting a ticket after you get home
Renting a car in Italy? Watch the traffic regulations or risk getting a ticket after you get home from your vacation. Sat, 3/20
 
How to snag the best airline seats
How to find the best airline seat, and hold onto it. Sat, 3/20
 
Rental cars: Watch for mileage restrictions
Rental cars: Unlimited mileage doesn't always apply. Check rental agreements carefully, or prepare to pay extra. Sat, 3/20
 
Reader Postcard: Austria
A weekly feature of readers' travel photos. Sat, 3/20
 

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Opinion

Engaging Seattle's youth and families
MAYOR Mike McGinn's Town Hall meetings on youth and families offer a promising launchpad for city-led efforts to quell youth violence and boost academic achievement. Sun, 3/21
 
In the operating room, a good idea
The Seattle Times Editorial Board congratulates the medical community in the state of Washington for voluntary adoption of a standardized surgical checklist, which has been shown to reduce infections and patient deaths. Sun, 3/21
 
Guest columnist
Washington to Idaho: 'Bring it'
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter sent an open letter to businesses in Washington and Oregon inviting them to come to Idaho in the face of tax increases. Washington state's Commerce Director Rogers Weed says not so fast and details the business advantages Washington has over Idaho. Sun, 3/21
 
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist
U.S. reaction to 'Biden incident' was overreaction
WASHINGTON — Why did President Obama choose to turn a gaffe into a crisis in U.S.-Israeli relations? Sun, 3/21
 

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