Our first thought on reading that the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation had granted $1 million to Seattle and Washington to preserve affordable house was of the first movie, where Dr. Evil tries to hold the world for ransom for the same amount of money. A million dollars, huh? Talk about a drop in the pond. 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 ›

Octavia Butler died at the age of 58 yesterday after a fall near her home in Lake Forest Park. She was the only science fiction writer ever to recieve a MacArthur Foundation genius award. more ›