Chuck Rehberg

Could "capitalism with a conscience" help transform Spokane into a "state of the art, 21st Century global village?" Yes - "but you need every sector of the community working together," for at least three to five years to make it happen, futurist and consultant Dr. Leland Kaiser said Tuesday. Kaiser, of Brighton, Colo., issued the general challenge to the business community to "redefine American capitalism" and lead a community transformation. He also reiterated a challenge he offered here last year to make Spokane a "saging center."

It's the 18th green at the Spokane Country Club. You face a tricky 12-foot putt. Sink it and you win the club championship . . . or at least clubhouse bragging rights and the first round of beverages. And there's a new local rule: you can pick someone to take that putt for you. Who would you pick?

Some of the most creative moves at Spokane's Hoopfest occur before the teams take the courts. It's when they pick their team names. With some 4,500 teams in Hoopfest, common themes abound. For example, there are 31 varieties of "Air" - including "Air Er," "Air Impaired," "Air Jordan" (of course), "Airheads," and "Airrrrballll."