k

7 skills Seattle Times features staffers learned from YouTube videos while home due to coronavirus


From baking a Japanese-style souffle cheesecake to making trivets out of wine corks, here's what our features staffers recently learned from YouTube videos.




k

A brand-new floating home on the edge of Lake Union is buoyed by amazing views, protected privacy and a multihued exterior inspired by the Great Blue Heron 


GREAT BLUE HERONS alight — a lot — along this glistening stretch of Lake Union. Could be the impressive fishers simply have landed on the perfect, protected perch for that statue-standing thing they do — right up until they lightning-strike. Could be they’re doing that inquisitive-bird “Are You My Mother?” thing, imprinting on the mesmerizing […]




k

A new home in Madison Park creates 3 levels of elevated living without towering over its neighbors


KEVIN AND KAREN had lots to look at when they were moving to Seattle from Bellevue. They looked in Madrona. They looked on Queen Anne. But Madison Park looked different. “We were drawn first and foremost to the neighborhood,” Kevin says. “Specifically, the Canterbury neighborhood. It’s really close to the lake, and has longtime residents. […]




k

Robert Caro writes, and waits, during the COVID-19 outbreak


NEW YORK (AP) — On most days since the coronavirus spread through Manhattan, Robert Caro has held to a familiar routine. He rises early, walks to his office down the street, spends hours on the fifth and final volume of his Lyndon Johnson biography and enjoys a late-day stroll in Central Park with his wife, […]




k

What’s that behind you? On virus-era TV, home backdrops star


Those who saw conservative commentator Bill Kristol on television one recent night may not remember what he said. But they’ll never forget the magnificent mess of a bookcase behind him. And there’s a growing army of viewers with just one question after tuning into any number of interviews that political commentator John Heilemann has given […]




k

‘Slap Shot’ still iconic in hockey despite sport’s changes


A few nights after one of their players was injured by a dirty hit, the Johnstown Jets plotted to exact some revenge on Buffalo’s Greg Neeld. An all-out brawl broke out during warmups and the North American Hockey League game was postponed, much to the dismay of ownership and presumably the fans at a sold-out […]




k

Twitch is developing talk shows and dating programs for gamers


Twitch, the online video site popular among gamers, is looking for its version of “The Bachelor.” The company plans to fund a slate of original, unscripted series that would be live and interactive, airing two to three times a week, according to an internal document seen by Bloomberg. Its preferred genres are game shows, dating […]




k

Arkansas venue plans concert despite state’s virus limits


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas venue is promoting a concert drawing more than 200 people next week despite limits the state has placed on large gatherings because of the coronavirus. Singer Travis McCready is scheduled to play at TempleLive in Fort Smith on May 15, three days before theaters, arenas and other indoor […]




k

Man to plead guilty to romance con of ‘black-ish’ star


LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man accused of romancing “black-ish” star Jenifer Lewis and three other women to con them out of money for his phony businesses agreed Friday to plead guilty to a federal charge of wire fraud, prosecutors said. Antonio Wilson, 57, of Santa Monica, acknowledged conning the women in the plea agreement […]




k

Tekashi 6ix9ine releases new video from home confinement


NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine lit up social media on Friday, releasing a new song and video created during his home confinement just weeks after being freed from a Manhattan federal lockup over coronavirus fears. In “Gooba,” the multi-tattooed rapper whose real name is Daniel Hernandez puts on a rainbow-colored performance accompanied by […]




k

The ‘woman in the red dress’ started a Mount St. Helens climbing tradition on Mother’s Day that endures today. Meet trailblazer Kathy Phibbs


Every Mother's Day, climbers flock to Mount St. Helens in festive dresses in the continuation of a tradition started by 'the woman in the red dress.' This Mother's Day, a new mini-documentary from OPB tells the story of Kathy Phibbs, a gifted alpinist who paved the way for a more inclusive outdoors community — and pink flamingos on mountain summits.




k

Little Richard, flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dead at 87


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Little Richard, one of the chief architects of rock ‘n’ roll whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&B to white America, died Saturday after battling bone cancer. He was 87. Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated […]




k

Pentagon asks to reconsider part of JEDI cloud decision after Amazon protest


The Pentagon has asked a federal court to give it 120 days to “reconsider certain aspects” of a controversial decision to award an important cloud computing contract known as JEDI to Microsoft, according to a court document made public Thursday. Amazon is suing the Defense Department over the decision, which it claims fell in Microsoft’s […]




k

Bill Gates leaves Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway boards to prioritize his philanthropic work


Bill Gates is stepping down from the board of Microsoft Corp., the company he co-founded in 1975.




k

Some key Seattle-area public companies hit hard by coronavirus-induced stock market crash


It was a rocky week on Wall Street, as most securities fell and some saw record declines. Seattle-area companies felt the pain as sharply as any.




k

Ahead of the pack, how Microsoft told workers to stay home amid coronavirus outbreak


Microsoft's executives, with headquarters just a few miles from one of the country’s worst coronavirus outbreaks, were among the first to confront the impact.




k

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to employees on coronavirus crisis: ‘There is no playbook for this’


Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent an email Saturday to his 140,000-plus employees, telling them he shares their personal anxieties over the coronavirus and asking each to make a "small difference" to help others. In a Seattle Times interview beforehand, he detailed his emotions the past week steering the company while caring for his family.




k

Microsoft deal values Affirmed Networks at $1.35 billion


Affirmed Networks helps build virtual networks for telecom customers using 5G technology.




k

Dow Average, bracketed by Boeing and Microsoft, suffers worst quarter since 1987 as coronavirus pummels economy


As March ends, the first quarter's results include the biggest plunge ever in West Texas oil prices and the Dow's worst performance since 1987.




k

Microsoft exec says coronavirus could spark big shift for AI in health care


The company's chief technology officer says early detection of underlying health conditions could not only help treat patients and prevent the spread of future pandemics, but also reduce care costs for Americans




k

Bill Gates, in rebuke of Trump, calls WHO funding cut during pandemic ‘as dangerous as it sounds’


Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization as “dangerous,” saying the payments should continue particularly during the global coronavirus pandemic. “Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds,” Gates tweeted early Wednesday. “Their work is […]




k

Q&A: Microsoft’s technology chief Kevin Scott pivots to pandemic response


Microsoft's chief technology officer, Kevin Scott, spoke with The Associated Press about the pandemic's effects on his day-to-day responsibilities.




k

Tech giants are profiting — and getting more powerful — even as the global economy tanks


As the pandemic wreaks havoc on the economy, tech giants Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft are benefiting enormously from a potentially permanent shift in consumer habits, leveraging their political clout by arguing that they are essential services, and gutting their competition.




k

Microsoft is in talks to buy startup Softomotive


Softomotive specializes in robot process automation technology, or software that helps companies save time and money by automating repetitive, manual tasks such as entering data into spreadsheets.




k

The Backstory: It’s all hands on deck at ‘Cape D’ — and we’re in very good hands


When the lifeboats aren’t rolling, destructive otters and an unusual hard hat are ‘things you’ve just got to roll with,’ says commanding officer Lt. Jessica Shafer.




k

Lt. Jessica Shafer keeps her mind on the bar as the 1st female commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment


She emphasizes teamwork and exudes humility, but Jessica Shafer leads with uncommon courage, dedication and skill.




k

The Backstory: Our fictional Nextdoor thread *probably* isn’t about you


How citizen ‘reporters’ and marauding coyotes took over the neighborhood ‘news cycle.




k

The Backstory: Tag along to Port Townsend — if you haven’t already moved there


As in many smaller Northwest towns, things are changing rapidly here.




k

The Backstory: Thankfully, this turkey-centered tradition can take a little ribbing


This year’s ode to the Thanksgiving feast is a tribute to folks for whom the mere thought of baking from scratch prompts a violent itch.




k

Yay! You’re hosting Thanksgiving! What could go wrong? Other than EVERYTHING.


You’ll (probably) (possibly?) be full of thanks and safely roasted turkey after digesting Ron Judd’s Quick Start Guide to a Thanksgiving gathering




k

The Backstory: Why don’t people know all these great products came from Seattle?


NO CITY OR region gets to choose what it’s best known for. That, alas, typically is an artifice assembled over time, often by scribes, compilers of baseless listicles, guidebook authors, societal observers and other self-appointed pundits, usually from far-afield havens of misinformation (such as the East Coast). Those depictions of place — for current purposes, […]



  • Pacific NW Magazine

k

The Backstory: Let’s hope we learn from the lessons of the last ’20s decade


HISTORICAL RESEARCH at times truly feels like a time warp. For me, that’s been the case for almost five years, since I launched a thesis-level study of what at first seemed a small, never-fully-explained outbreak of arch-conservative political radicalism in a Northwest town (the Charles H. Fisher affair in Bellingham, at what’s now Western Washington […]



  • Pacific NW Magazine

k

The Backstory: The Road to Hana should be a road less traveled


ONE BIT OF ADVICE that didn’t make it into this week’s decidedly smart-aleck primer for Northwesterners who throw up their hands and flee our lovely gray for a Hawaii vacation: If several friends who qualify as repeat island visitors say: “Did that. Never again!” … well, maybe listen to them. Such was the case on […]



  • Pacific NW Magazine

k

Whole Foods to provide face masks for shoppers to prevent spread of coronavirus in stores


Amazon-owned Whole Foods will provide grocery shoppers with free single-use masks at all its stores beginning this week, in keeping with the chain's "request" that all shoppers wear masks.




k

A lifesaver for ‘Ms. Suki’: At 86, line dancing, lunch — and a place to belong for her and 35,000 others


After Setsuko Irei fell in her home, no one heard her cries. But her friends at Asian Counseling and Referral Service, one of the nonprofits helped by The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy, missed her and called 911. Turns out, the place "Ms. Suki" relies on for lunch, exercise and socializing saved her life.




k

Save a buck on your lunch break by packing your own ‘brown bag’


Packing your own lunch is an excellent way to guarantee a fulfilling meal that benefits both your health and your wallet.




k

Yes, it’s still raining around Seattle — here are some tips for getting out and hiking anyway


Despite the wind, rain, fog and cold, there are plenty of Seattle-area hikers who love to get outdoors during the inclement weather of winter. Here are their tips for enjoying Washington's trails, no matter the season.




k

Waiting out the coronavirus? Here are 4 workouts you can do at home


Quarantine means staying inside. Here are some exercise activities you can do while staying put.




k

Weekend Plus adjusts to new realities of coronavirus pandemic


Dear readers: You’re adjusting to new realities introduced by the novel coronavirus, and Weekend Plus is, too. Starting today and in the coming weeks, you’ll find fewer restaurant and entertainment listings in this section and more emphasis on things you can enjoy at home, including: • Recipes and takeout food • Family activities • Recommended […]




k

Eating through the coronavirus? Take deep breaths instead of another handful of Cheez-Its


In the time of the hunkering down at home for the novel coronavirus, everything you knew about good eating, portion control and feeding your child's brain has gone from your head. But there are a few things you can do.




k

With in-person yoga canceled due to the coronavirus, I took a livestreamed class on Zoom. Here’s how it went.


We all live stressful lives right now, and it's important to try and stay fit. Taking yoga on Zoom didn't feel like following a YouTube video. It felt like community.




k

I was never a runner. Now, to stay sane during coronavirus lockdown, I am running. And you can, too.


While growing up, running was never this writer's idea of fun. But something has changed in recent months, and his presence on sidewalks and running trails around Seattle should be proof enough that you can, and should, also try things you always thought you hated. Because, why not?




k

Here are some activities to do this weekend even while staying at home


As we continue to quarantine under Gov. Jay Inslee's "stay at home" order, there are still lots of fun activities you can do this weekend. So, stay in, read a book, start a movie marathon and order some takeout.




k

While coronavirus keeps everyone off the trails, see Seattle on these 5 street-cycling loops


Serious cyclists are surely longing for a bit of diversity in their routes with the inability to bike on trails. City riding is a great alternative — you can see plenty of Seattle sights while also getting out of the house and getting some exercise. And if you’re a newbie, there’s never been a better time to hop back on your bike.




k

Activities you can do even while staying home this final weekend of April


Spring is here. No time like the present to take up some gardening. Or just relax at home with a book ... or take The Seattle Times' Kitchen Pantry Challenge! Here are our ideas for things you can do this weekend.




k

Need workout ideas? Use these common household items or find workout routines on Instagram from many Seattle-area gyms


Don't have any dumbbells? Tape some rolls of quarters together. Sick of pushups and situps? Many Seattle-area gyms have been posting workouts on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, so follow along and keep your fitness going.




k

For his first debate, Mike Bloomberg wore a nice suit and a look of boredom


Deep into the two-hour Nevada Democratic debate, co-moderator Chuck Todd of NBC asked former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg if he should have made so much money that it allowed him to become a billionaire many times over. Bloomberg looked at Todd with an expression that was a combination of boredom and annoyance before replying, […]




k

As fashion trends shift, Brooks Sports sues Brooks Brothers


To running-shoe maker Brooks Sports, the Connecticut-based Brooks Brothers is an unwelcome newcomer in the world of athletic wear.




k

Sunday Best: From New York Fashion Week, a gown reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers


The Oscar de la Renta collection from New York Fashion Week walks the catwalk in this week's Sunday Best.




k

Sunday Best: An elegant trio of outfits show off ballet’s rich history, on display in New York City


Ballet and fashion have an undeniable connection — a bond currently on display in the "Ballerine: Fashion's Modern Muse" exhibit at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.