News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Columns by Dan Barkin

Photos, any way you want them

It's been just five months or so since I last used this space for Shameless Commerce. But times are tough, and I'm doing it again.

Updated: Oct. 11, 2008 5:30 AM | Full story

Do as the Kiwanis Club does

I made it to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Raleigh for lunch the other day, one of many clubs in the Kiwanis universe. The Golden K's are generally for folks who are retired. Most of the members in the Raleigh Golden K have been retired for some time.

Updated: Oct. 4, 2008 2:05 AM | Full story

In the line of duty for a reporter

When Erick Daniels was set free by Judge Orlando Hudson on Sept. 19, I thought about the phone call I got one Sunday morning nearly four years ago. One of our reporters, Demorris Lee, had been arrested.

Updated: Sep. 27, 2008 1:40 AM | Full story

Crisis recasts the villain

Dan Barkin:As I reflect on the current financial debacle, I think back to the mid-1990s, when the big story was the push by federal officials to increase home ownership.

Updated: Sep. 20, 2008 1:40 AM | Full story

Debating teen driving

Dan Barkin:There have been plenty of days (nights, actually) when -- if I were a state legislator -- I would gladly have voted to raise the driving age to 30. There were other times when I would have lowered it to 14, notably the years when our children needed ch

Updated: Sep. 13, 2008 1:40 AM | Full story

A mayor's experience is priceless

Barkin:Watching Sarah Palin this week put me of a mind to ring up Clayton's mayor, Jody McLeod.

Updated: Sep. 6, 2008 1:42 AM | Full story

First Look photos get online fast

Dan Barkin:In the online world, photos are popular content. And in our corner of the online world, sports photos get the most eyeballs. Thursday night, we did something that we haven't done before to get more images from a game online faster.

Updated: Aug. 30, 2008 2:04 AM | Full story

Guitar Hero story hits the right chord

So last Sunday I'm in the office looking at some stats on the hits on newsobserver.com, and I noticed something peculiar.

Updated: Aug. 23, 2008 2:02 AM | Full story

Blog offers fresh view of Beijing

I have been exchanging e-mail messages with Parin Desai, a UNC-Chapel Hill journalism student who is in Beijing as a volunteer at the International Broadcast Center. She is blogging for us at share.triangle.com/olympics.

Updated: Aug. 16, 2008 2:05 AM | Full story

Our online is Olympic in scope

Dan Barkin:I wanted to tell you how we are covering the Olympics online, because -- unless you are planning not to sleep for the next couple of weeks -- it's a good way to keep up.

Updated: Aug. 9, 2008 1:27 AM | Full story

Hit it like Hamilton? Not!

Let me just say that my sense of humor was frozen in place when I was 15, and that is why I like staff writer J. Peder Zane's videos.

Updated: Jul. 26, 2008 1:23 AM | Full story

Between Berthas, Web hit

Dan Barkin:I had a deja vu moment the other day, when I learned that Hurricane Bertha was forming in the Atlantic. Bertha, Bertha, Bertha ... oh, yeah.

Updated: Jul. 12, 2008 2:21 AM | Full story

Web site helps filter out lies

Dan Barkin:How many times have you listened to a politician make claims or charges and wondered: Is that true?

Updated: Jun. 28, 2008 2:21 AM | Full story

Crime map gives us a leg up

Dan Barkin:In the past month, there have been nearly 300 reports to the Raleigh police of vandalism. About 200 burglaries have been reported.

Updated: Jun. 21, 2008 2:04 AM | Full story

Online dialogue enriched

Dan Barkin:We launched the new online commenting software midweek, and in the first two days, we had more than 200 comments posted.

Updated: Jun. 14, 2008 3:08 AM | Full story

Want to put your comments right on the story?

Dan Barkin:Next week, we will be launching software that will permit you to add your comments to stories published on newsobserver.com. The expected launch date is Wednesday.

Updated: Jun. 7, 2008 3:51 AM | Full story

There's a lot behind home page

Dan Barkin:Navigating a newspaper's Web site can be an Easter egg hunt, and I mean that in a good way and a bad way.

Updated: May. 31, 2008 2:23 AM | Full story

Water still piques our interest

Dan Barkin:I never get tired of playing with the WaterWise interactive graphic on our Web site. You can find it at newsobserver.com/news.

Updated: May. 24, 2008 6:05 AM | Full story

Creating memories, blog hits

Dan Barkin:Three weeks from this afternoon, around 4 p.m., I will be walking my Hilary down the aisle. That means, of course, that I will be shutting down the blog I have written since October.

Updated: May. 17, 2008 2:43 AM | Full story

Dan's energy plan

Dan Barkin:My gas gauge was practically at empty midweek, so I pulled into the Kangaroo Express on South Saunders Street and let 'er rip. By the time the regular unleaded had filled the tank on my LeSabre, the damage was north of 60 bucks.

Updated: May. 10, 2008 5:15 AM | Full story

More Stories
Advertisements

From the Wire

A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company