Stranger writer Dominic Holden does not suggest, but demands today that the local media do their jobs--you know, like, actual journalism--by reporting not only on Referendum 71 by way of deconstructing its meaning, but also by reporting on its creators, pushers, and the true interests behind its hateful and hypocritical beginnings. It's a fascinating and cringe-inducing reminder of how this all got started and we agree completely with Holden that it is an important and relevant part of the story. more ›

Westlake Center, 2:16 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. more ›

In fact, they've arrived nice and early. more ›

We're sure we don't need to say this, but you can't miss your caucus. This is the first year in our whole time in the Pacific Northwest where it matters what Washington voters think. If you're still wondering where to go, here are two Dem or GOP caucus locators. Caucusing starts at 1pm. We understand that if you know who you support and you don't want to spend an hour or two talking about it, you can get in and out in about half an hour. more ›

's coming back on Sunday, 9pm on Showtime! This means weekly installments of nothing but gloriously bad decisions, lesbian sex both complicated and primal, stylishly coiffed men, women, and those who have yet to make up their minds, and -- possibly our favorite part--endless cups of coffee, gossip, and star guest performances at (all-purpose meeting point) The Planet. more ›

The Stranger has endorsed a No vote on the RTID Proposition 1 (along with the Seattle Times, but thankfully with more logic and, er, research). Their reasoning? "Rather than letting compromised politicians tell us what's possible, the people should tell the leaders what's needed: more light rail without massive roads expansion." more ›

CALL 911! CALL 911!: Political and economic commentator and White House strategist during the Nixon administration, Kevin Phillips talks about his book, American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century. Phillips traces the set of related causes that caused the downfall of historical world powers. That same combination of ills he says -- global over-reach, militant religion, resource problems, and ballooning debt -- is at work in the U.S. today. more ›

AUTHOR, AUTHOR: In Bich Minh Nguyen's memoir, Stealing Buddha's Dinner, a young family escapes from Vietnam shortly before the fall of Saigon and relocates to Grand Rapids, Michigan. "In her recreation of a world populated by family ties, Ritz crackers, and Judy Blume books, she has captured the 1980s with perfection," says Kirkus Reviews. more ›

Holy crap are we proud of Microsoft today! No, we know you're braced for this to take a dramatic turn towards the ironic at any moment, but straight-up, this is good stuff. The BBC is reporting that Microsoft has threatened to stop doing business in China if the regime there doesn't back off on the human rights violations. The particular offense that has Redmond reconsidering the Chinese market? China's crackdown on bloggers! more ›

There are so many things to love about Turkey: it's juicy and delicious, always reminds us of the holidays, and is a truly versatile meat. What's that you say---there's also a country by that name? We suppose that would be alright too, though probably not as tasty. Yes, today's the beginning of TurkFest 2005, "a cultural festival celebrating all things Turkish." Activities including traditional music and dance, a photography exhibit, and (good God) shadow puppetry will be held at Seattle Center's Center House on Saturday and Sunday, noon-7pm. But tonight and Friday the festivities begin with four films: more ›

China occupies a strange position in our collective Northwest consciousness. Somehow it's managed to avoid being identified as a potential antagonist in Red Dawn II, and the human rights abuses that we were so concerned about back during that Tianamen Square fiasco seem to have all been a misunderstanding or something. We're smarter than that now. The memo identifying China as the World's Largest Untapped Market has been distributed to just about everyone who has ever sold anything and we've seen the error of our ways. (We've also seen a few Western-style PR campaigns.) Any day now a billion middle-class Chinese will be clamouring for coffee, airplanes and software and Seattle has been working overtime to be in a position to provide them. more ›