Have you conjugated a word lately?We were having a conversation the other day, an elders' mourning session actually, about "English as she is spoke" and the unique use of tenses and numbers that have become standard modern English. In the course of reciting a long list of pet peeves, someone asked about "conjugating."Everyone remembered what it was, but for some reason, they hadn't indulged in conjugating nor had they given much thought to "parsing."If you should try to explain the words to your grandchildren, they would say that that just proved school in the olden days was really weird. We, on the other hand, decided they were being deprived of one of the highlights of English class.
Significant societal changes have made defining and achieving a comfortable retirement more complex than even just one generation ago: our life expectancy has increased significantly, women are commonly in the workplace even while remaining principally responsible for the raising of children, the high incidence of divorce affects asset accumulation of both men and women, career and job change are common and Social Security and Medicare "safety nets" are threatened.During our early working years, most of us are occupied by family needs and concerns; only after we've helped launch our children toward their independence and self-fulfillment can we shift the focus of our financial thinking toward securing financial independence for our remaining years. However, navigating toward a financially secure retirement has become something of a moving target: Pensions are uncertain; aging parents may need help; how will our investments perform?
Hunting for art on 15th Avenue is a real treat. From East Mercer to East John streets, there are several venues to view interesting, original artworks. This self-contained shopping district offers everything from soup to nuts. But even better, the neighborhood offers a variety of both local and international artists. The neighborhood is an invitation to grab a cup of coffee and stroll down the street, popping in and out of the shops that make up this urban village. Nowhere in Seattle can you have the experience of an old fashioned English High Street, with its warm diversity of goods and services.
Some people think that now that we've gotten an explanation we can just forget that the vice president shot a man.The rest of you may be interested to know, however, that a lot of real hunters are embarrassed because what these Republican big shots are doing might be confused with our sport. And that, furthermore, Mr. Cheney's explanation doesn't square with the evidence.These big shots like to network on the Armstrong ranch, all 80 square miles of it, where they ride in Jeeps behind guides on horses with a dozen dogs, who actually do the hunting up of the bobwhite quail coveys, each bird containing three bites.So late Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11, the dogs go on point and the guides radio up the shooters. Playing left end is Pamela Pitzer Willeford, ambassador to Lichtenstein. Playing right end is Harry Whittington, Austin attorney. Playing center is the vice president of the United States, Richard Cheney.Cheney usually wears snakeskin boots and has a Perazzi designer shotgun, which can cost $400,000 (company motto: "Rule the Roost"). He's been a bird hunter since he was chosen by Mrs. Armstrong, among others, to lead Halliburton 11 years ago. In a recent shoot at a game farm, he killed 70 pheasants.These members of the current ruling class walk up to the pointing dogs, the covey busts, Willeford and Cheney get one and Whittington, who sounds like he might actually be a hunter with class, hits two birds.Moments later, according to Willeford, a second covey flies up and Cheney swings to his right and behind him, doesn't see Whittington in flame-orange vest and flame-orange cap and drills him square on, knocking him flat on his back, violating three cardinal rules of bird shooting.
Things are heating up down at City Hall. Our column this time is an attempt to give readers a "heads-up" on key issues our city leaders will be addressing over the coming year. Call it our hit parade of what really matters to the neighborhoods, particularly communities often left out when city resources are distributed. Renovating Key ArenaOnly a decade ago the city floated $74 million in bonds to renovate Key Arena at the request of the Seattle Sonics. One official boosting the deal was a guy named Terry McLaughlin, then Seattle Center deputy director. The Sonics promised to cover half the cost of the bonds while McLaughlin assured city leaders this arrangement would return revenues to an ailing Seattle Center. Despite loud warnings from community watchdogs, the city bowed to the Sonics' threat of leaving town. Now, after several years of sagging ticket sales, a dismal win-loss record, soaring player salaries and a looming arena deficit that in future years could tear a hole in the city budget, the Sonics are again threatening to leave unless the city coughs up more public subsidies - more than $200 million that, with interest, could climb to as much as $400 million. The dollars would be used for a still fancier renovation the team insists will solve both its and the arena's economic woes.If rationality reigned at City Hall, our leaders would tell Sonics owner Howard Schultz to take a hike. A just-released city study shows that for $20 million, Key Arena could be renovated for concerts and other sports events and turn a good profit for the city. But rationality in this town too often gives way to the clout of special interests, especially when it comes to professional sports. And guess who's back to assure us the deal is OK? Terry McLaughlin. No longer a city official, he's now a Sonics VP.
When Cal Anderson Park opened last fall one might reasonably have assumed that the city was finished with creating new parks on Capitol Hill. While nothing approaching that park's scale is in the works, the Parks Department has actively pursuing developing smaller parks for the last few years.Money from the $198 million Pro Parks Levy, approved by voters in 2000, was specifically earmarked for developing two smaller parks on Capitol Hill. As identified by the Hill's neighborhood plan, the original goal was to create a small park on either side of Broadway. Given Cal Anderson Park's proximity to Broadway, efforts at the eastern park focused on areas closer to 15th Avenue.But finding a site was a considerable challenge in such a dense neighborhood. The search has proven unsuccessful. According to Don Harris, acquisition manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation, finding a workable location near 15th Avenue wasn't possible. After roughly two years trying to secure a parcel for park redevelopment, the decision was made to abandon the idea of the eastern park and focus instead on creating a single new park west of Broadway.
At the Seattle School Board meeting on Feb. 15, board president Brita Butler-Wall announced that the deadline for applications for nominations to the Community Advisory Committee on School Consolidations and Closures has been extended. In the interest of establishing the committee in an expedient manner, the deadline for application or nomination is Feb. 24 at 5 p.m.The board will appoint 12 committee members, with equal representation from each quadrant of the city, plus two co-chairs. The committee will provide recommendations on consolidations, reconfiguring, and relocation of schools and programs to achieve academic effectiveness for all children. The committee is also charged with making preliminary recommendations on unneeded facilities to be re-purposed or closed. Final closures will be effective for the 2007-2008 school year.
Just over a year ago the ground was symbolically broken for Beacon Hill Elementary School's long anticipated building expansion. Plans were in the works to improve the school after the School Building Excellence II levy was passed. In the summer of 2002 a school design team composed of parents, staff and community members laid out their architectural hopes for the school, but construction costs ultimately forced the group to scale back their original vision.
Mayor Greg Nickels patted himself on the back last week at the Greater Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce luncheon, where he gave a "state of the city" talk."It's been a fascinating journey this past four years," he said. Noting that he was elected to his first term as mayor in 2001, Nickels said his focus from day one has been on safety and security. "We've had to make sure our city is safe from attacks like Sept. 11."But the mayor also said a major earthquake is more likely to happen than a terrorist attack in Seattle, and that thought segued into a brief discussion of city plans to replace or upgrade its aging fire stations. Two-thirds of them could fall down in a quake, Nickels said. "When you think about it, that's a real problem."
Typically, the scope and size of your home-improvement project will determine when a professional needs to be involved. Most of us could not build an addition to a home without the service of a contractor or home remodeler. On the other hand, there are some projects, like interior painting, that can turn into a family event. If uncertain about the scope of an interior-design project, consulting with an interior designer can provide insight into the professional services and products particularly suited to your needs.Having recently returned from the World Market Interior Design show in Las Vegas, I am still amazed by the growth of the interior-design and decor industry. All aspects of the interior-design industry - such as furniture, lighting, accessories and rugs -were represented during this weeklong event.
Nobody agrees about much of anything where graffiti is concerned. Hell, not even the spelling is universal. Researching the subject you discover the word spelled graffiti and grafitti on various websites. The American Heritage Dictionary of the American Language quietly says both spellings are wrong: it defines graffito (the plural form), graffiti isn't even mentioned. Graffito in Italian means a scratching: nothing too artistic there. But the word originated with the Latin, graphium, to write. Whatever your personal feelings, whether you think graffiti is an art form, a public nuisance, or a criminal offense, graffiti, in its many spellings and with its ubiquitous ugliness (or beauty), is something we will be living with for awhile in urban, and increasingly in rural, America.
Recently, the city of Seattle commissioned a Survey USA telephone poll of 500 Seattle residents during the first week Seattle's new recycling law was enforced. It found that 82 percent of those polled were aware of the recycling requirements and, once aware of them, 82 percent supported them. Recycling rates are also showing the same results. In the first three weeks of enforcement, more than 90 percent of inspected apartments and businesses are recycling correctly. Garbage haulers and city of Seattle inspectors left warning tags on only 258 commercial and residential garbage containers during the first three weeks of enforcement, which began Jan. 1. Out of 900,000 household garbage cans collected in the first three weeks of January, only 203 were left behind for having more than 10 percent recyclables in them.
remember the day we found our home. Our real estate agent had called to let us know that a house just went on the market, literally. He mentioned something about the location being questionable, a busy area that was kind of industrial, but the house itself was great. We had probably seen about 50 houses at this point so nothing could surprise us, not even the place he referred to as Georgetown.Georgetown. I had never heard of it before. Well, that's not entirely true. I often root for the Hoyas during March Madness, but this was a different Georgetown.With map in hand, we headed out the door to check out the listing. We arrived within minutes, which was a nice sign. The surrounding houses were rather charming so that was another good indicator. The minute we walked into the entryway, however, it hit us: we were home. A verbal offer was made just five steps into the house.We were instantly taken by the coved ceilings and archways, the hardwood floors and tiled fireplace. Yes, we were home. That became official just three weeks later when we closed the deal and became responsible for a loan that involved many zeros. The house was ours.
Some people think that now that we've gotten an explanation we can just forget that the vice president shot a man.The rest of you may be interested to know, however, that a lot of real hunters are embarrassed that what these Republican big shots are doing might be confused with our sport. And that, furthermore, Mr. Cheney's explanation doesn't square with the evidence.These big shots like to network on the Armstrong ranch, all 80 square miles of it, where they ride in jeeps behind guides on horses with a dozen dogs, who actually do the hunting up of the bobwhite quail coveys, each bird containing three bites.So late Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11, the dogs go on point and the guides radio up the shooters. Playing left end is Pamela Pitzer Willeford, ambassador to Lichtenstein. Playing right end is Harry Whittington, Austin attorney. Playing center is the vice president of the United States, Richard Cheney.Cheney usually wears snakeskin boots and has a Perazzi designer shotgun, which can cost $400,000 (company motto: "Rule the Roost"). He's been a bird hunter since he was chosen by Mrs. Armstrong, among others, to lead Halliburton 11 years ago. In a recent shoot at a game farm, he killed 70 pheasants.These members of the current ruling class walk up to the pointing dogs, the covey busts, Willeford and Cheney get one and Whittington, who sounds like he might actually be a hunter with class, hits two birds.Moments later, according to Willeford, a second covey flies up and Cheney swings to his right and behind him, doesn't see Whittington in flame-orange vest and flame-orange cap and drills him square on, knocking him flat on his back, violating three cardinal rules of bird shooting.
Things are heating up down at city hall. Our column this time is an attempt to give readers a heads-up on key issues our city leaders will be addressing over the coming year. Call it our hit parade of what really matters to the neighborhoods, particularly communities often left out when city resources are distributed. Renovation of Key ArenaOnly a decade ago the city floated $74 million in bonds to renovate Key Arena, at the request of the Seattle Sonics. One official boosting the deal was a guy named Terry McLaughlin, then Seattle Center deputy director. The Sonics promised to cover half the cost of the bonds while McLaughlin assured city leaders this arrangement would return revenues to an ailing Seattle Center. Despite loud warnings from community watchdogs, the city bowed to the Sonics' threat of leaving town. Now, after several years of sagging ticket sales, a dismal win-loss record, soaring player salaries and a looming arena deficit that in future years could tear a hole in the city budget, the Sonics are again threatening to leave unless the city coughs up more public subsidies: over $200 million that, with interest, could climb to as much as $400 million. The dollars would be used for a still fancier renovation the team insists will solve both its, and the arena's, economic woes.