I realize that arts and culture are an important part of any community, but I do not think taxpayers should be forced to subsidize "racy" arts—or any arts at all. That's not what taxes are for. Taxes are for cutting!

But there are other ways for theatres to raise money. Seattle Musical Theatre, for example, is having a costume sale next weekend—just in time for Halloween! That's real innovation in the arts, and good entrepreneurialism.

While we're on the subject, what are you going to be for Halloween? I'm thinking of going as one of those "distressed periods." I love punctuation costumes.

You might think I'm too wholesome and lanky to make a convincing distressed period. My wife thinks I should shoot for something more realistic, like a toothy exclamation point, or even a question mark.

But we're talking about Seattle Musical Theatre here. Real theatre costumes! Real theatre magic! (And I'm pretty good at masquerading as something I'm not, if I do say so myself.)

I bet I can pull off one of those distressed periods, no problem.