Though we're upset at the demise of the Pee Eye and the loss of all those google hits for "pee porn," there's a deeper and more troubling story in local journalism: Frank Blethen's pissing away about $750 million worth of the Seattle Times. That's what the paper was worth a few years ago, when Blethen refused to sell his family's share to Knight Ridder, which then allowed itself to be bought out by McClatchy, which wrote down the value of its Times stock to zero. Complicated? That's only part of the sordid tale, told in detail over at Seattle Business Monthly. Can't help thinking: whadda jerk. more ›

Now that the bridge at the Center of the Universe has reopened, things seem to be moving more freely. We'll be able to make it to the T.C. Boyle reading tonight at Barnes and Noble, and thanks to the Magnolia Voice, we know where to score pizza at late 1970s prices. It is an abundant universe, and in that spirit perhaps, the Seattle Times' Porsche-driving Frank Blethen is asking lawmakers to give newspapers a tax break. more ›

Gregoire's planned announcement on budget cuts may be delayed by a check-in for jury duty. But she'll make 'em eventually. They don't call her Judge Hatchett for nothing. Meanwhile, in the Dept. of Duh, some Seattle Times staffers are now openly griping about managers' pay, including the salary of the big man Frank Blethen. more ›

The Senate passed the bill on Tuesday by a 41-8 margin, despite the Seattle Times editorial claiming a case "hadn't been made" for action. No word on how the Seattle Times editorial board Frank Blethen feels about most of the legislative body pretending he doesn't exist. more ›

The Seattle Weekly government in exile launched its website today and has promised to continue posting to it until the people rise up and give them their paper back. Anyone pining for the city's other weekly and its lovable cast of characters circa the Bronze Age through about a year ago should head over to Crosscut immediately. We'll see you back here when you've had your fill. more ›

Everyone's going to get all lovey-dovey today and say, "Oh, I don't care who you vote for, just get to the polls and make your voice heard for the sake of democracy, blah, blah." Even President Bush, the most partisan president in a century, said as much this morning. more ›

We finally listened to the great estate tax debate between Bill Gates' daddy and Seattle Times publisher Frank Blethen (audio here). more ›

The Times' endorsement of Mike McGav!ck has generated the predictable outrage from HorsesAss and The Stranger, but they make good points. Feit shows that the Times' previous editorials put them at odds with pretty much everything McGav!ck stands for. more ›

In the old days, when men were men and trees fit in the ground, newspapers were no less biased than the average KVI caller. Most were organs of one political party or the other, and as a result were very entertaining. more ›

What is the newcomer visitor's impression of our fair city? To get an idealistic, naive, oddly balanced, yet sentimentally contemplative exposition on what and how Seattle impresses the self aware and unrushed foreign visitor, you've got to read the opening section of this piece** in the Atlantic Monthly (June 2005). more ›