Because Washington State Now Votes By Mail,

Interstate Highways Dull The Reality Of Place And Distance Almost As Effectively As Jetliners Do: I Loathe Their Scary Monotony.

The Only Book By A Modern President That Bears Serious Comparison With Obama's 'dreams From My Father' Is Jimmy Carter's Short Campaign Autobiography, 'why Not The Best?,' Published In 1975.

Inaugurals Conventionally Start With A History Lesson And Finish With A Prayer.

By The End Of The 1980s, Seattle Had Taken On The Dangerous Lustre Of A Promised City. The Rumour Had Gone Out That If You Had Failed In Detroit You Might Yet Succeed In Seattle - And That If You'd Succeeded In Seoul, You Could Succeed Even Better In Seattle... Seattle Was The Coming Place. So I Joined The Line Of Hopefuls.

Seattle Was Built Out On Pilings Over The Sea, And At High Tide The Whole City Seemed To Come Afloat Like A Ship Lifting Free From A Mud Berth And Swaying In Its Chains.