I was at the checkout in the grocery store, juggling the multiple cards I need to slide and trying to rapidly click through the requests for donations, so I wasn’t paying much attention to the clerk. I thought she asked me how the corn was and I told her it’s been pretty good this season. [...]

People like to complain about traveling — whether air travel or trains, but having taken Amtrak to Chicago, then traveled around Chicago on pretty much every form of transit, from trains to boats, and ending with a plane trip back to Seattle, I’d like to testify on the incredible efficiency of the American travel systems. [...]

Each week I spend probably a day or two or three, never more than five, trying to think up an idea for a column. If I’m really stumped some times I find it useful to look at the calendar. Often I’m inspired by discovering something like, “Hey, Christmas is next week.” Anyway, this week I [...]

It’s been a tough week for my sports heros. First came the death of the Thoroughbred Chinook Pass. I spent many a glorious afternoon as a teen watching the ninth and 10th races at Longacres. Entry to the track was free after the eighth race, so I’d either go with one of my uncles or [...]