Sometimes Seattle is just too easy a target.

This time, it's the city's refusal to salt its streets – despite deadly ice and hardpack snow – for fear of doing harm to Puget Sound. Scientists have been asked about the policy. It appears that few think any harm would come of applying salt to the streets a few times a winter.

Someone should inform the powers-that-be in Seattle that Puget Sound is a body of saltwater. This is a case of environmental correctness gnawing its own tail. The sand being spread on Seattle's streets is actually more damaging than salt to salmon habitat.

Tacoma's streets were a mess after last January's heavy snowfall, but it done far better this time around. It's using salt, in the form of brine.

The amazing thing is that Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, at a press conference Wednesday, gave his administration a "B" for its response to the recent snowstorms.

Seattle police have had to walk up hills to calls because their patrol cars can't make it. Metro buses have had to restrict service at the very time sidelined drivers need it most. Even on major arterials, vehicles have had a hard time moving.

Nickels must have been grading on the curve.

Sitting here at the computer having my lunch, I notice that America is going to the dogs.

“Marley and Me”, a movie about a man and his dog was the number one movie Christmas Day. The promo for the film reads “Family learns important life lessons from adorable but naughty dog.”

Hmm. Important life lessons? From the dog?

The only lesson I ever learned from my dog, and it took me a couple times to cinch it, was not to turn my back on my turkey sandwich.

My own dog, Ella, sleeps on the couch all day. What could I possible learn from her?
All I know is that if I were to write a bestselling book that would later be turned into major motion picture it would be called “I Used to Hate This Dog.”

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Christmas so completely takes over this time of year that it's easy to forget that other holiday celebrations are going on now, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, which begins today.

Here's an article from the opinion wire that explains why "Kwanzaa is more relevant than ever in recession."

By Starita Smith

The seven-day Afrocentric holiday from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 is a period of rededication to basic principles we can all embrace. Some are especially relevant for surviving a deep recession.

Kwanzaa has arrived in another sense: It has become accepted.

Even though the holiday was controversial in its beginnings because it was viewed as a challenge to Christmas, it has taken on a life of its own. Nowadays it is considered a secular holiday celebrated by people of all religious faiths or no faith at all.

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