No, we're not using that headline to get your attention. This is really a post about free beer and wine in grocery stores. The state's Liquor Control Board is going to allow a pilot beer-and-wine-sampling program in Washington grocery stores come October 1. According to the Seattle Times and Progressive Grocer (we actually read that one), the Legislature asked for the program during its 2008 session and expects a report from the LCB in time......

From the Seattlest Flickr Pool, courtesy of Scarequotes The Seattle City Council has overwhelmingly passed a measure to charge a 20-cent fee for every disposable bag--paper or plastic--starting January 1st, 2009. Yesterday, the council voted 6-1 in favor of the bag fee and to ban plastic foam food and drink containers. While the City Council is calling this a euphemistic "green fee," which they hope edges people towards environmentally sustainable practices, it's really just another......