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SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 2:20 pm
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RECENT POSTS:
Why, governor?  July 4

Movin' out  July 3

Beefing up  July 2

So Long, Abe  June 30

Kids, these days  June 29

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A slightly twisted take on the news in Snohomish County and beyond.
 

Why, governor?

Posted at 10:37 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

On our nation's birthday, America demands answers: Why is Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin resigning?

The Buzz can think of some possible reasons:

• She needs to carve out some free time to read that long piece about her in the current issue of Vanity Fair.

• She hopes to help ease the Michael Jackson family's pain by knocking that story off the cable news networks for the long weekend.

• Taking federal stimulus money just made her feel dirty.

• She has to help hubby Todd improve their view of Russia by building a second story on their home.

• She decided if she's going to be a true "hockey mom," she needs to move to a state that has an NHL franchise.

• Long stares and suggestive comments directed at her by the editors of the National Review and the Weekly Standard were making her uncomfortable.

• She decided she looked fat in those Runners World photos.

• She's going to take over for Tina Fey on "30 Rock."

• She's off to hike the Appalachian Trail. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Palin once again plays by her own rules

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Movin' out

Posted at 11:12 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

Movin' out

The government seized convicted swindler Bernie Madoff's luxury penthouse apartment in Manhattan, which his wife earlier had sought to keep -- along with about $62 million for "living expenses."

But Ruth Madoff was forced to leave, and her current whereabouts are uncertain. We see three possibilities:

* She's crashing on the couch at her former doorman's apartment in Queens.

* She's living in a van down by the river.

* She bought a home in Detroit for $1,500.

---

This is Ground Control: The new science-fiction movie "Moon" was directed by David Bowie's son. The kid ticked off his dad by not finding a role for Major Tom.

---

In another science-fiction tale that's light-years from reality, a beautiful 19-year-old woman is attracted to a bald, homely, obnoxious middle-aged man in "Whatever Works."

But we hear that Woody Allen's next film will shoot for gritty realism: In it, a beautiful 21-year-old woman will respond to a bald, homely, obnoxious middle-age man's advances by first snapping "(bleep) off," then by dialing 911. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• 'Whatever Works': Allen is back on track
• 'Moon': On a human level, it shines extremely bright

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Beefing up

Posted at 6:21 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

McDonalds Corp. will roll out a new line of $4 burgers made with a third of a pound of beef. The fast-food giant says the beefier burgers will compete with fare at sit-down restaurants. In a related development, scientists predict a 12 percent increase in America's waist measurement by January 2010, which would force us to replace those easy-fit jeans we just bought at Target. Another sad day: It's been a bad week for natives of Gary, Ind. First Michael Jackson. And now, actor Karl Malden, 97, who departed this world Wednesday. We hope he didn't leave home without American Express Travelers Cheques. Trouble in Gullyvornia: California's finances are in such disarray that the state government will begin paying bills with IOUs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a financial emergency, but admitted that he'd been caught off-guard; when he took office, he assumed he'd be called on to save the state from marauding cyborgs, not a collapsing housing market. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Credit debt writeoffs continue rise
• Karl Malden, prolific character actor, dies
• Bad start to fiscal year in California, other states

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So Long, Abe

Posted at 11:09 pm by Mark Carlson and Jon Bauer Herald staff

Hello, Chet? The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz may relocate to Naval Station Everett in 2013, when the USS Abraham Lincoln leaves for Virginia for a fresh batch of nuclear fuel. The Nimitz is named for Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific during World War II and the Navy's last fleet admiral. We're wondering: Will Lincoln, the Everett Silvertips' furry mascot, be traded for an admiral to be named later? I get a kick out of you: Kickball, the game you played in fifth grade with a big bouncy rubber ball is the latest sport for those in their 20s and 30s. An area league has organized through the Everett Parks & Rec department. And the Seattle Mariners are taking advantage of the situation: Error-prone Yuniesky Betancourt has been reassigned to the Marysville Grasskickers to bring up his fielding percentage. Bad dog! No debit card! Arlington police investigating bank fraud arrested a woman who explained she was forced to use her ex-husband's account when her dog ate her own checks. Following his sentencing, Ponzi-scheme king Bernie Madoff slapped his forehead and said, "Why didn't I think of that?" ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Swindler Madoff will die in prison
• Kickball: A kids' game that's a hoot for grown-ups
• Lincoln to leave Everett in 2013
• Woman tells police her dog made her steal money

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Kids, these days

Posted at 9:54 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Let's go to WalleyWorld: If you're taking teenagers on vacation, you may be able to avoid some surliness, theirs and yours, if you follow advice to let them sleep in a little and help make some decisions about sightseeing options. Negotiations may work, too. You'll agree to two hours of uninterrupted Jonas Brothers on the car stereo, if they'll go with you -- without complaint -- to the Trees of Mystery. --- Lil' sprouts: A book about vegetable gardening with kids recommends veggies that are easiest to grow and will boost the confidence of young gardeners, such as lettuce, beets and pumpkins. But it advises that cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts are trickier to grow and should be avoided. The book offers no suggestions on how to console Dad that there will be no brussels sprouts. --- Tweet who? Huh? A survey released today shows the generation gap may be at its widest since 1969, with 8 in 10 seeing a major difference in the points of view between older and younger people. Communication is key, of course, and we're open to dialogue with the kids, just as soon as we figure out the text-messaging feature on our cell phone. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Nation/World Briefly: Generation gap largest since 1960s, poll finds
• Go on trips with teens without going nuts
• Easy vegetables for young gardeners

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Thou shalt pack heat

Posted at 11:18 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition: A church in Louisville, Ky., offered what it called an "Open Carry Celebration" on Saturday, asking congregants to tote their guns to church along with their Bibles. Not surprisingly, the morning sermon was very brief. --- Trouble brewing: Herald features writer Andy Rathbun has spent the past year sampling the seasonal beers of regional brewers. He wraps up his hop and barley musings with a look at "five summertime beers. With all that time to ponder what was inside the bottle, Rathbun also cast a bleary eye on the labels -- and he doesn't like the "hip, flashy colors and names Pyramid Breweries is using. We hear ya, Andy. We're still kinda suspicious of those newfangled twist-off caps they're putting on bottles of beer these days. --- What a piece of work is a man: Ashland, Ore., the city known for its annual Shakespeare festival, is considering "a law against public nudity after a 66-year-old man visiting the city started walking around town wearing only his tennis shoes. The man suggested Ashland needed a public nudity day where everyone would be naked. Yes, all the world's a stage, but some of us should never go near the stripper pole. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Summer brews: We test 5 refreshing beers
• Pyramid's new marketing scheme leaves sour aftertaste
• Oregon town frowns on nudist tourist
• Kentucky congregation packs heat to church

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Born to be Dutch

Posted at 10:41 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Tilting at windmills: The supreme court in the Netherlands refused to outlaw the Harlingen branch of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, after prosecutors called the bikers a threat to public order. But in a nod to the Dutch tourism industry, the court ordered that the bikers wear wooden shoes and embroider tulips on their leather jackets. --- Is it warm in here, or is it just me? The U.S. House passed a landmark bill that is intended to put a cap on the carbon emissions behind global climate change. Debate on the issue included an hour-long filibuster by a Republican leader outlining 300 pages of proposed amendments. Now that Congress has taken a step toward capping carbon, maybe it can next work on capping its own hot air. --- Dem bones, dem bones: Herald travel columnist Rick Steves says the Czech Republic capital of Prague offers extraordinary scenery, including the castle of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Bone Church of Kutna Hora, decorated by its 14th- and 15th-century monks with the bones of 40,000 victims of wars and plagues. Now you know where to take the teenage Goth in your family on a European vacation. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Rick Steves: Prime sights outside Prague
• House passes global warming bill
• Nation, World Briefs: Turnpike crash leaves eight dead

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Take a hike

Posted at 10:30 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Don't cry for me: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, R-Evita, revealed Wednesday that during his recent absence he wasn't hiking as he initially explained but actually has been having an affair and had been "crying in Argentina" with the other woman. The Buzz would like to thank the governor for providing us with yet another euphemism for sexual infidelity: hiking the Appalachian Trail. Worst. Boss. Ever: Nevada Sen. John Ensign, R-Appalachian Trail, may have violated Senate ethics rules by firing the campaign aide he had an affair with as well as her husband, who was Ensign's administrative assistant. The U.S. Senate's ethics rules are clear: Staffers who have had affairs with senators should be asked to resign quietly after being offered a generous "severance package." Thick as a brick: Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed a flute carved from a vulture bone that they believe is 35,000 years old. They say it may be the oldest handcrafted musical instrument ever discovered. Rock flautist Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull said he dropped the flute during a pagan festival and wants it back. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Flute, at 35,000 years old, thought to be world's oldest
• Nation, World Briefs: Problems found on D.C. Metro tracks

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Ed McMahon's off to sidekick heaven

Posted at 10:58 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

When Ed McMahon arrived in the afterlife, three things happened.

First, Johnny Carson called out: "Heeeeeere's Ed!"

Later, McMahon knocked on St. Peter's door and presented him with a giant check.

Finally, the genial pitchman walked over to Dog Heaven to tape a spot for Alpo.

Teen transformation: Like many middle-age grinds, The Buzz occasionally ruminates on what it might be like to be 13 again.

Then we realize that if we were 13, we'd probably want to see the new "Transformers" movie. The thought makes us glad to be 49.

Operation Keep The Yuppies:
Now, Wal-Mart hopes to retain those customers by sprucing up its stores. It's installing better lighting, adding upscale products and reducing the number of the aisles devoted to Cheez Doodles and 24-can cases of soda from six to four. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• 'Transformers' sequel: These toys have grown tiresome
• Wal-Mart dresses up, hopes to retain upscale shoppers
• Ed McMahon was THE second banana

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Watch it fly

Posted at 10:17 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Watch it fly

Any day now, honest: For $10 a head, the Future of Flight at Paine Field is offering a spot on its lawn for those who want to witness the first flight of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner expected later this month.

The good news? There's no TSA screening, and if you bring a picnic lunch in your cooler you won't be charged a baggage fee.

Walkies! Walking your dog can be better exercise than you imagined, says celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson. You can imitate your dog's habit of stopping and starting for fat-burning bursts of activity.

However, if you find yourself panting heavily with your tongue hanging out and fighting the urge to lift your leg next to a tree, then you've taken things a bit too far.

Smile, and say cheese: In its effort to digitize the world, Google has now mounted its Street View camera on a pedicab so it can go places its vehicles can't go, such as college campuses and foot paths.

The only problem is that all of those picturesque views of stately university buildings will be obscured by signs reading, "Hi Mom. Send Money." ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Google hits college campuses for its Street View feature
• Workouts for you and your dog
• Future of Flight Center offers deal for 787's first flight

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To be or (censored)

Posted at 10:38 pm by By Jon Bauer Herald Staff

The lady doth protest too much: An Idaho woman writing Dear Abby objects to her son being required to read Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" in high school because, she writes, the play glorifies suicide as romantic.

We're guessing that the reading assignments for "Julius Caesar," "Othello," "Anthony and Cleopatra" and "Hamlet" come later in the school year.

---

Bubble gum scent not included: The Obama White House has released a "baseball card" of the first family's dog, Bo. Presidential pet cards have been released before, but the difference here is that you can download it from the White House Web site as a PDF file.

For the complete virtual baseball card experience, you can also download an MP3 file of the fluttering sound baseball cards make when placed inside the spokes of a bicycle wheel.

---

Part of this complete breakfast: Parents looking for on-the-go breakfast foods, including baggies of granola, hard-boiled eggs and toaster-waffle sandwiches can check out a list of 10 ideas.

They're all tasty and nutritious. And best of all, Mom, they're a breeze to carry so your husband or kids can easily trade them for a can of pop and a bag of chips. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• 10 healthy ideas for breakfast on the go
• First dog Bo has own baseball card
• Son's return creates dilemma for woman

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The other shoe drops

Posted at 11:55 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald Staff

That'll show 'em Banks aren't the only ones foreclosing on homes these days. Some homeowner associations will foreclose on folks who don't pay their dues. Fortunately, homeowners in this predicament have several retaliatory options at their disposal, including: - Sticking the garbage can on the curb before 6:45 a.m. - Parking the car in the driveway instead of inside the garage. - Covering the house's beige exterior with the pink paint your 11-year-old daughter chose for her bedroom. Chicken talk: A researcher hopes to earn his doctorate by discovering the meanings of chickens' various vocalizations. We'll go out on a limb and predict that "cock-a-doodle-do" means "Hey, neighbors, it's 4:15 a.m. -- get out of bed!" And "cluck-cluck-cluck-cluck" means "I wonder what that big funnel is for." What to wear: Men, get out your wingtips, short-sleeved dress shirts and Buddy Holly glasses -- the nerdy look is hot, fashion experts say. And if you gave all that stuff to Goodwill, just sit tight: By 2019, the Justin Timberlakes of the era will be wearing Dockers on the red carpet. ... [Read More]

Related: 
• Trendsetters make geeky fashionable
• Researcher's goal: To be a Dr. Doolittle of chickens
• Pay your homeowner association dues - or else

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
We've lost that tingly feeling

Posted at 10:38 pm by Mark Carlson and Jon Bauer, Herald staff

All tingly

The man who brought the world those awesome "Magic Fingers" motel beds back in the 1960s has died.

His memorial service will last 15 minutes and will begin when you drop a quarter into the slot.

---

Book of Cells: Planning a trip to Dublin, Ireland? Rick Steves answers your travel questions.

Hey, Rick, we have a question: Why do the Irish insist on mispronouncing "Celtic"?

---

iBummer: The newest iPhone went on sale Friday, but without some of the frenzy and long lines that accompanied earlier iPhone rollouts.

Some iPhone fans said they would have flocked to Apple stores Friday, but they were incapacitated with terror at the thought of signing a new contract with AT&T.

---

I ah-choo:A Chicago couple who learned they both had swine flu less than 48 hours before they were to be married went ahead with the wedding but added surgical masks and latex gloves to their nuptial attire.

The minister only had to make minor changes to the vows, telling the happy groom, "You may now nuzzle the bride." ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Fewer crave new Apple's new iPhone 3G S
• Bask in Dublin's rich history -- and welcoming pubs
• Passages: 'Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed' inventor
• Swine flu can't stop wedding

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No Cracks

Posted at 10:34 pm

City Hall employees in Brooksville, Fla., must wear underwear on the job, the city council has decreed.

To enforce the new rule, officials will require every employee to begin their work day by reporting to an inspection station, where they will bend over and pretend to repair a kitchen sink drain.



Let's go shopping: Millions of Americans have been out of work so long that their unemployment benefits have expired. So let us console ourselves with a piece of cheerful economic news: Now's a great time to find fantastic deals on luxury merchandise.

To lure shoppers, retailers will point out that if you lose your job, you can still stuff a lot of commodity cheese and powdered milk into a Valentino pintucked tote bag.



Moon shot: Nearly 40 years after Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, NASA has launched a spacecraft that will find the best place to build a colony on the lunar surface.

Mission commanders say they're looking for a site that has territorial views, plenty of sunshine and room for a backyard vegetable garden.

-- Mark Carlson, Herald staff ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Jobless people exhaust benefits
• Attention, luxury shoppers: Great deals are available
• NASA takes small step toward the moon

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As Ivar always said, "Keep clam."

Posted at 10:56 pm by By Jon Bauer Herald staff

Smells fishy: Some Mukilteo city officials may be in hot chowder for gathering at Ivar's restaurant after a City Council meeting, possibly violating the state Open Meetings Act. A city councilwoman's tweet to those following her on Twitter touched off the clamor about the post-meeting fish fry.

To avoid further problems, the council will schedule all its meetings at the seafood institution. The public comment period will be changed to "All You Can Speak," roll call votes will be answered with, "Aye, Cap'n," and the mayor will trade his gavel for a pair of crab crackers.

---

If I had a hammer: In case you've missed the not-so-subtle hints that Dad has been dropping, Sunday is Father's Day, and the Carey Brothers have some suggestions for tools that Pop might find useful when he gets the urge to fix things around the house.

And don't forget Mom; give her a card and include a list of phone numbers for the plumber, carpenter, electrician and auto mechanic.

---

Sweet! Good news, waffle fans: A bumper crop of maple sap means syrup prices should hold steady this year.

Just another subtle hint brought to you by the National Organization of Dads Who Enjoy Pancakes on Sunday Mornings. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• 'Tweets' bring possibly illegal meeting to light
• On the House: These tools and gadgets are gifts Dad will use
• Nation, World Briefs: Schwarzenegger issues veto threat

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A Saab ... or a Golf?

Posted at 10:57 pm

General Motors unloaded Saab to a group led by a Swedish firm that makes $1 million supercars (Page A6).

Here's the deal with Koenigsegg Automotive AB: Many of the components in its supercars are sourced from Volkswagen. One assumes Saudi oil sheiks head for the fainting couch when they hear that.

With these guys in charge, expect Saab transmission rebuilds to cost $50,000 and use VW Golf parts.



A rising political star no more: Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic won't be running for office down in tiny Wahkiakum County after all (Page A2).

Novoselic says his candidacy for county clerk was a protest against Washington state election laws, and he never intended to embark upon an exciting new career shuffling paperwork in Washington's least-populous county.

Here's an alternate scenario: Novoselic's handlers advised him to step aside because they figured opposition researchers would have a field day with the lyrics to "Floyd the Barber."

-- Mark Carlson, Herald staff ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Nirvana's ex-bassist pulls out of county race
• GM finds buyer for Saab unit

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Say cheese, speeders

Posted at 10:26 pm by By Jon Bauer, Herald staff

And check your mail: Lynnwood has approved the installation of speed zone cameras that will take a photo of drivers who exceed the speed limit in school zones. The photo will then be used to ticket drivers up to $250.

If that sounds harsh, those who are caught can get a copy of the photo that they can frame for their rec room.

---

Lots of air, little to show: Neither Boeing nor Airbus have racked up impressive sales of their airliners so far at the Paris Air Show. A continued downturn in aviation brought just one sale of 24 A320s for Airbus and zilch for Boeing.

The one bright spot in Paris? Record sales at the ShamWow demonstration booth.

---

Under where? Childhood experts say parents ought not to forcefully discourage the style of humor that relies on bodily functions and knock-knock jokes, as it can be a sign of intelligence. "Armpit farts and booger jokes show an ability to take incongruent devices and bring them together," advised an executive with American Greetings.

We're not sure what that means, but we're giggling because he said "fart" and "booger." ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Asian, low-cost airlines boost Airbus at air show
• Pull my finger: Kids need jokes, even the naughty ones
• Traffic cameras will ding speeders in Lynnwood school zones

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Cooped up

Posted at 11:56 pm by By Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Cooped up

The Egg and I: A growing number of people in cities and suburbs are raising chickens as pets and a source of eggs.

In fact, a co-worker and her husband are raising hens, two of which they have named General Tso and Cashew. We're not sure if the names are meant as motivation, but the hen they've named Kentucky Fried looks a little nervous.



Shh. Don't tell PETA: In a tradition that is centuries old, cow herders in Switzerland bring their cattle to graze in pastures high in the Swiss Alps. But while there, the cows literally lock horns to determine the season's bovine queen.

But the tradition isn't without controversy. Last year's queen, Flossie, had to step down when photos surfaced on the Internet showing her scantily clad in an outfit that didn't completely cover her udder.



Soggy flake: Michael Phelps, the Olympic gold medal swimmer who lost his Kellogg cereal sponsorship when a photo of him smoking marijuana was released, has a new children's book out called "How to Train with a T. Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals," which outlines his training methods. "It's a fun way for kids to learn and for me to get a lot of different messages out there," Phelps said.

Great, as long as one of the messages isn't about how to use a bong. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Raising chickens becomes a suburban pursuit
• Swiss cows lock horns to be queen
• Olympic swimmer Phelps writes children's book

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Say 'I do'

Posted at 10:45 pm

The average wedding is said to cost $22,000 these days. That's a lot of Three-Buck Chuck (6,285 bottles, to be exact) and Costco hors d'oeuvres.

For the cost-conscious bride and groom, we've got five tips for a more affordable wedding. Perhaps you'll need to max out only one credit card to have the wedding of your dreams.



Realtor blues:
As if the housing slump weren't enough, real estate agents now face competition from Web-based brokerages.

The Internet agencies may have an efficiency edge, and we imagine they've got the peculiar lingo down pat ("Fully treed lot! Gourmet kitchen! Territorial views!").

But flesh-and-blood Realtors retain one crucial advantage: gold sport jackets.



Grown-ups only:
There's a lot to like about the new breed of movie theaters: beer and cocktails instead of soda pop, actual food instead of popcorn spritzed with imitation butter product, and perhaps best of all, no squealing children.

Sounds a lot like movie night in The Buzz's living room.

And if someone asks, "Why did you pick this crappy movie?" the resemblance will be uncanny.

-- Mark Carlson, Herald staff ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• 5 ways to have an elegant wedding you can afford
• Swanky cinemas cater to grown-up audiences
• Web eats away at real estate agents' business

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Hey! That's us on that ad!

Posted at 11:03 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

Stock photo shock

A Missouri family was stunned to learn that their family portrait, posted on social networking sites, appeared in advertising for a grocery store in the Czech Republic.

The Buzz is OK with Czechs using our photos for ad images -- provided they deliver a growler of Dvorní ležák, a lager made by the legendary Pivovarský dvur Chýn brewpub near Prague, to our home by 5 p.m. (otherwise known as "beer-thirty") every Friday.



The key's in the middle:
Financially embattled General Motors reportedly has a buyer for its Saab unit.

In a prepared statement, the nation's Saab owners advised the prospective buyer to set aside an extra five grand to cover the inevitable transmission rebuild.



Lightning bugs:
Workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation plan to destroy wasp nests contaminated with radiation.

The news disappointed the Northwest's native Midwesterners, who miss the fireflies of their childhood and were hoping the radioactive wasps would fill the void. ...
[Read More]

Related: 
• Private photo ends up in store advertisement
• Business briefs: Microsoft keeps 13-cent dividend
• Radioactive wasp nests must be cleaned up

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Unchained melody

Posted at 10:25 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

Shackled producer: The California Department of Corrections has released a photo of recently imprisoned record producer and murderer Phil Spector.

The man who developed the "Wall of Sound" is now behind four walls of concrete blocks.

Oh, bite me: Lake Stevens school officials are asking concerned parents to lay down their torches and pitchforks; vampires are not biting students at Mount Pilchuck Elementary School. It appears a seventh-grader's overly friendly hug of two younger students spiraled into wild rumors of a vampire.

Lake Stevens officials, however, do want to take the opportunity to remind everyone about the big Quidditch tournament this weekend. Students should remember to bring their own brooms.

Less-than-brilliant deductionThe head of the IRS is proposing a federal law that would require professional tax preparers to be trained and licensed.

Until then, here are some signs that may persuade you to reconsider the neighborhood tax preparer:

  • He informs you that you can claim Octomom's 14 children as dependents.

  • He tells you he'll file your taxes as soon as he's filed for an extension for his taxes -- for 1987.

  • He can't decide between orange red or red orange when he reaches for a crayon to sign your return. ... [Read More]

    Related: 
    • Feds consider oversight of tax preparers
    • Phil Spector's prison mug shots
    • Lake Stevens school quells vampire rumors

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    Flying fish

    Posted at 10:35 pm by Jon Bauer, Herald staff

    Toss salads, not coho: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is objecting to the tradition at Seattle's Pike Place Market of fishmongers tossing salmon, complaining that it treats the fish like toys.

    We couldn't agree more: Salmon isn't a toy. Every salmon deserves to live a full life before being expertly filleted, sprinkled with lemon juice and fresh dill and gently placed on a charcoal grill until its delicious flesh is no longer translucent.

    Grass guzzler: The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would provide vouchers for up to $4,500 when people turn in their gas-guzzling clunkers for new fuel-efficient vehicles.

    The Buzz wonders how much of a voucher he can claim if he bolts a lawn mower engine to an old bicycle.

    My people call it maze: Several north Snohomish County farmers are encouraging people to visit their farms through the growing season, buy some produce and help them remain a viable part of the agricultural economy (above).

    If in the past you've found the fall corn mazes too challenging now's your chance to map out the route while the stalks are only ankle-high. ...
    [Read More]

    Related: 
    • More Snohomish County farms turn to tourism to stay alive
    • House OKs 'cash for clunkers'
    • Veterinarians rethink fish toss

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    Justice is blind ... and limping

    Posted at 10:59 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

    Supreme misstep: Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor sported a cast on her right foot after injuring herself Monday.

    Just to clarify, Sotomayor broke her ankle in an airport stumble, not by kicking Newt Gingrich in the backside.

    ---

    Party on: We've got details on six essential items for entertaining in your home.

    The author, home decorating expert Mary Carol Garrity, says chargers top her list of must-have party gear.

    (If you're unfamiliar with chargers -- and who among us isn't -- they are decorative plates that sit under dinner plates. The Buzz thinks our great-aunt might have had some.)

    Hey, party people, take it from The Buzz: The prettiest chargers you can buy at Pier One won't compensate for inadequate supplies of liquor and ice.



    There's an app for that: Apple dropped the price of its entry-level iPhone to $99.

    Just think: Now nearly everyone can afford to admire the iPhone's pretty interface when AT&T drops their call. ...
    [Read More]

    Related: 
    • Apple slashes iPhone, laptop prices
    • Must-have items for entertaining
    • Supreme Court nominee breaks ankle

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    Do-it-yourself isn't what it used to be

    Posted at 10:30 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald Staff

    Top dead center: In tight times, car owners who do their own maintenance and repairs can save even more cash by shopping at salvage yards such as Covey's Auto Parts in Marysville.

    The Buzz is all for doing it yourself, but we're confused: Just how does one set the points on a 2008 Subaru?

    Perhaps the reborn Chrysler Corp. will bring back the Slant Six. Our feeler gauge is ready.

    Span gets attention: Camano Island folks can get the scoop today on the new bridge linking the island with the mainland.

    As with the old bridge, the new span will be named in honor of Gen. Mark Clark, who led United Nations forces during the Korean War and who owned property on Camano (he wound up retiring in South Carolina, instead).

    Let's just hope construction traffic doesn't call for a general to sort things out.

    Kid lit: Here's a literary genre you probably weren't aware of: children's books written by celebrities.

    One new celeb kid book was written by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. It's called "You Might Be a Redneck if There's a Confederate Flag Sticker on Your Big Wheel." ...
    [Read More]

    Related: 
    • Family puts lots of work, care into Covey's Auto Parts
    • Roundup of celebrities' books for children
    • Stanwood meeting has information on Highway 532 road work and the Gen. Mark Clark Bridge

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    Don't make Paul McCartney's mistakes

    Posted at 11:01 pm by Mark Carlson Herald Staff

    Sir Paul and you Question: What do you and Paul McCartney have in common? Answer: You both need a prenuptial agreement. Question: What don't you and Paul McCartney have in common? Answer: A prenup might have saved Sir Paul about $50 million in his recent marital meltdown. A prenup might spare you from getting hit with both maxed-out credit card bills. MIA: "I miss Tom Hanks," writes Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times. The Buzz knows what she means. We'll go out on a limb here and predict that in 10 years, Hanks' role as Renowned Harvard Symbologist™ Robert Langdon in "Angels and Demons" will be counted as his second-worst acting gig. The worst? His first gig, "Bosom Buddies," an early-1980s sitcom in which Hanks donned women's clothing and leered at Donna Dixon. ... [Read More]

    Related: 
    • Why you should consider a prenuptial agreement
    • Why can't Tom Hanks find Tom Hanks roles?

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    Penguin parents

    Posted at 11:00 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

    A pair of gay male penguins at a zoo in Germany are raising a chick from an egg abandoned by its parents.

    In a related development, cartoonist Berkeley Breathed is working on a new children's book called "Opus Has Two Daddies."

    Meet Neal Wanless: He's a 23-year-old South Dakota man who recently lost a mobile home through foreclosure. That was before he won a $232 million Powerball jackpot.

    Now, Wanless can not only buy back his mobile home, but also buy the mortgage company that repossessed it. Then he can order the repo man to muck out the barn.

    From Darrington to D.C.: Darrington native John Broten may be a corporate big shot on the East Coast these days, but he hasn't forgotten his roots.

    Broten's wife, Kim, also a Darrington native, says their neighbors in Virginia all employ gardeners, but the Brotens mow their lawn themselves.

    Being from Darrington, they also can split their own cedar shakes, field-dress a deer and overhaul the carb on a '73 Ford F-150 pickup. ...
    [Read More]

    Related: 
    • Gay penguins raise a chick
    • Struggling country rancher wins $232 million in lottery
    • '72 Darrington grad will address '09 class

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    Holiday in the sun

    Posted at 11:02 pm by Mark Carlson, Herald staff

    Many small-business owners don't want to take a vacation during a severe recession.

    But at least one business owner interviewed by columnist Joyce Rosenberg found time for a quick getaway -- and not to the local Thousand Trails campground, either. He's off to the Mediterranean.

    Oh, and he runs an outsourcing firm. Figures.



    Gourmand alert: Five restaurants in Seattle's Belltown district offer tasting tours this summer.

    Luckily, the tours run from 3 to 5:30 p.m., while most of Belltown's muggers and drug dealers are still asleep.



    At the movies:
    Herald film critic Robert Horton describes "The Hangover" as a cross between "Bachelor Party" and "Deliverance." It's presumably aimed at the folks who giggled at, "He's got a real purty mouth on him, don't he?"

    In other unpleasant movie news, the woman from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" has made another film. Car keys from Oprah under the theater seat couldn't drag us to that one. ...
    [Read More]

    Related: 
    • 'The Hangover': Comedy with a mayhem chaser
    • Breaking away for vacation isn't easy
    • Sample 5 top Belltown restaurants

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    Older Entries
    Another fine mess  June 4
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    Baby's first iPhone  June 1
    O Canada, Tim Horton's doughnut land  May 31
    Here's Jay  May 30
    Careful out there  May 29
    Golden kitchen  May 28
    Seeing stars  May 27
    Three-martini lunch  May 26
    Today, grilled burgers -- tomorrow, eyebrow check  May 25
    Batteries not included  May 24
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