the unequivocal notion

Tori Amos and truths

Today the Idaho Statesman printed an interview with Tori Amos who is performing tonight at the Morrison Center in Boise. This was an interesting question followed up by a nice answer from Tori.

Chad Dryden:

The album's first single, "Big Wheel," was met with resistance by radio stations that objected to the "M-I-L-F" in the refrain - was that a surprise to you?

Tori Amos:

You can say "Smack My Bitch Up," right, or you can say "Maneater," which is completely graphic - I mean, I can see the whole thing - and yet, "M-I-L-F" was a threat because it is not acceptable in the Christian faith that the Magdalene and the Mother Mary unify within one woman.

You cannot be a nurturing mother and erotic at the same time - not according to the right wing, and they rule the airwaves.

It just went to show you that these stereotypes of women, they're ingrained. And when you start messing with them, then that's how you war with the patriarchy, and they don't like it very much.

If you like Tori Amos and politics make sure you read the rest of the interview it is pretty good. It should also be a good concert, that we'll find out this evening.

Update

You can see a unofficial video of the song in question here.

My wife loved the concert last night at the Morrison Center -- and well, we'll just leave it at that. No, I did enjoy it -- it was my first time seeing Tori live and having listened to Tori Amos because of my wife for the last 10 years it was interesting. I think I didn't get as much pleasure out of the show because I'm not as well versed in Tori's catalog, there were only a few songs that I could recognize, and I did really enjoy those.

Even with the Morrison Center being awash in estrogen and excitement the show just never seemed to climax, which lead to a lot of the songs to just start to blend into each other. I will however say that I really do enjoy Tori's more quite solo songs. I enjoy them on her albums and I enjoyed them last night live.

Closing ranks in Canyon County

Seems like you'd be asking too much if you asked for anything more than a little bit of honesty out of Canyon County government these days.

Idaho Press-Tribune:

Officials fail to get IT contract answers

CANYON COUNTY — Canyon County commissioners have not responded to a letter from four elected officials questioning the need for computer consultant work for the county.

But the commissioners said through their spokeswoman that the officials’ letter is based on “unfounded accusations” and does not require a response.

The county has paid Rod Rohm $174,000 since February 2006 to provide expertise regarding a variety of information technology issues.

However, four county elected officials wrote a letter to commissioners last month questioning the value and integrity of Rohm’s work. The letter also raised a concern about what it called a conflict of interest resulting from Rohm’s previous business dealings with Commissioner David Ferdinand.

Man, the technology that allows everyone to see the outside doors of corruption sure is a bitch ain't it?

I don't think we'll see any answers re: this latest documented case of institutionalized corruption coming out of Canyon County's courthouse, but the more people know; then perhaps they will start making different decisions in the voting booth. I don't care who it is; you put one group in power with no fear of punishment, they'll loot the piggy-bank every time.

Make sure you read the Press-Tribunes whole story, it really is a nice piece of reporting, complete with the Rohm time-line of maleficences.

Know something about this case you think everyone else should, hit me up. I think we all know there is more to this story than is now known.

1/20/2009; different party, same wacko's

Cramer:

Understanding Bush Derangement Syndrome

It has been among the great curiosities of the last several years is the extent to which otherwise relatively sane people (and the left, also) have gone completely and utterly bananas in their ascribing to George Bush all kinds of demonic intentions and plans. I could understand and disagree with the non-interventionist critique of invading Afghanistan, and even the pragmatic objections to the Iraq War (which would have been much stronger if anyone had realized how badly Bush would screw it up). But when you here otherwise non-tinfoil hat sorts talking about Bush is going to cancel the 2008 elections, for example, or the entire cult that has developed around theories that Bush either actively caused or passively allowed the 9/11 attacks to take place--well, you have to start wondering what's in the water that these people are drinking.

You know? 'Cause when Clinton was in office you never heard righties singing about black helicopters and Clinton selling out to the UN. It's not like Republicans were passing around VHS tapes talking about cocaine, murder and conspiracy or anything.

I'm what Cramer would call a "leftist" (give me my star so I can sew it on my jacket, Cramer), but I don't believe that George Bush had anything to do with 9-11 or that he is going to stay in office post-2008. Why? Because I think he is a juvenile frat boy with only mediocre intelligence and even worse management skills. I don't even think there is some conspiracy to bankrupt the US, I think that there is just no oversight right now, and you stick nearly anyone in the vault with no oversight you're gonna get screwed.

I find Cramer being just a tad disingenuous with the argument that he is presenting -- because he heard some kooks who call themselves Liberals talk about something, all Liberals must agree with what they said. It's a fine argument, but at least acknowledge that there are just as many Republican kooks as there are Democratic, if not more. Which I guess this concept could be hard for Cramer to understand, he just doesn't realize that Liberals don't have to walk a hard line, unlike their Conservative brethren. We allow ourselves to disagree with each other without bemoaning the same-sided opposition as traitors or America haters.

I can't wait until 2009 when we have a Democratic President and we start to see all the right-wing wackjobs head back up into the hills. If only blogs or even the internet in general had the prevalence that they do now; we'd have archives and caches of right wing crazies floating random conspiracies. 

I'm no Hillary supporter by any stretch of the imagination, but a small part of me hopes she gets elected just to drive the Republicans crazy for the next 8 years. Well, that and I really like Bill Clinton and think if there is anyone is going to be the first man of this country who better than GQ Bill.

A few of my favorite things

 

Downtown Nampa's Market Limone is hosting its first Wine & Cheese tasting this Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. My wife and I are baby sitting that day but you can be sure we'll be down there trying some cheeses at least.

You can download the  .pdf flier here for more information.

Latest non-non-controversy

Lest I've ever been amazed.

Needless to say I didn't happen to catch the Republican CNN/YouTube debate last night 'cause frankly the Republican debates are quite boorish. The same old tired 'brown people are bad', 'torture is good', 'evolution and creationism should both be taught', yaddy, yadda yadda. I'm not really talking about identifying with a particular party or anything, but just watch a Republican debate and a Democratic debate and see where you stand. You might just surprise yourself.

♪♫ I woke up, fell out of bed, and read some news across the web ♪♫ and was (not) quite surprised to see the rightly blogs hemming and hawing over the news that some of the citizens asking questions weren't Republican shills.

OH THE HUMANITY!

You mean some guys who are vying to have a chance at being the President of the United States can't be bothered by questions from people other than their own supporters? Golly gee.

What is funny is that this is the first Republican Presidential debate where the candidates were asked real questions that affect real Americans and have real meaning. Not questions from people who fantasize about being Jack Bauer on Sunday nights or the people who think that we should rid of the the public education system (oh, wait.), or people that think we should build our own Great Wall of China on our border. Not this time, this time the candidates were on neutral ground, no Fox News to toss yellow tinted snowballs, no debates sponsored by Liberty University, nupe, they got to answer questions from Americans.

What kills me is that people like Michelle Malkin and websites like Free Republic are going nuts over this, they think that they've uncovered some great conspiracy to undermine the Republican Primaries or something. So if there is any value in this whole non-non-controversy it is that at least I get a chuckle out of it, and that does indeed make my day just a tinge brighter.

I guess it was just my fault that I never realized that the questioner is more important than the question. Am I amazed yet? No, not yet, the election season is just starting to hit full swing, there are bound to be even more nuttier moments than these.

Sushi in Nampa? Who Knew?

Not me... I guess I really need to get out to Garrity more often. I don't think I've been on Garrity since the new Karcher Interchange has opened. With my wife being a sushi fiend, we'll probably be checking this out sooner rather than later.

Idaho Statesman:

What's new: Try a 'Nampa roll' at Thai restaurant
Rowley family says their first restaurant, located on Garrity Boulevard, has been a success so far.

A combination of tempura shrimp, fresh avocado, cucumber and rice topped with fried tuna has made the "Nampa Roll" a popular item at Krung Thai Restaurant in Nampa, according to manager David Rowley.

"This is our first restaurant and it has been a success so far," he said. "The people in this area have welcomed us with open arms."

The family-owned business, which opened in September, employs more than a dozen people, many who are relatives of owners Suwundee "Sue" Rowley (David Rowley's mother) and Nontiya Phothale. Sue Rowley also serves as a hostess.

Sounds good to me.

You can check out Krung Thai's webpage complete with menus and pricing.

Free courses in logic

IdaBlue is offering them.

Sadly, the student the class was designed for still doesn't understand. Make sure you read the comments where the pupil responds and... fails, again.

almost-Urban farming in the Valley

New West has a great article up on some of the problems farmers are facing in the west and what some are doing to mitigate those problems, like Meadowlark Farms in Nampa.

It is really worth a read if you're into such things.

Interesting comments

...Over at the Idaho Statesman.

I'll reserve mine for a later time, but a nationwide debate has just been dropped off at our front door.

Nampa Notes

• Bacon Unwrapped, written by a Nampa native living in D.C. has a really nice write up of Nampa's Brick 29 Bistro.
  
• Not everyone completely enjoys their journeys to Nampa. And well, if I only went to KB's Music Exchange I probably wouldn't be too happy either.
  
• Yes, make sure when you are in town you check out the wineries in the Treasure Valley. This guy did.
  
• Who knew? Dunder Mifflin has a branch in Nampa.

It's also this time of the year

People driving like idiots. Some snow, some ice and only some brain cells results in a miserably slow commute for some, and a trip to the hospital or auto repair shop for others.

It's that time of the year

Time to start coming up with those "Best-of", "Top-10", etc, etc. Personally I enjoy the lists of movies, music and books, it gives you a chance to reflect on all the media you've digested over the last year.

I got an email from NPR's All Songs Considered letting me know that they've opened up voting for the best album of the year 2007. If you've been pleased with some of the tunes that have come out from artists this year make sure you go and vote for your favorite.

My selections:

1. Explosions in the Sky - So Long, Lonesome. This is a great winter album, no singer or lyrics to be bothered with, just a expansive, mountainous musical landscape perfectly arranged for a early evening with an expansive and mountainous red wine.
2. Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter. Um, need I say more? This is the best album of the year.
3. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. Jeeze, these guys only get better album by album. Yeah, there is something to be said for their earlier work which was stark and raw (and brilliant BTW), but these last two albums have been rather captivating. Musically and lyrically Modest Mouse are still on top of their game.
4. The Good The Bad and the Queen - The Good the Bad and the Queen. I've really been digging this album from the British "Super-Group". Can't say that wife is as into as I am, but it has found its place on the "most played" playlist on my iPod.
5. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible. I've loved this album since the first day I've got it, probably the most listened to album I have at work. I in fact just listened to the whole thing, again, about 3 days ago at home. The Arcade Fire are definitely in the top 5 of bands I wish would come to Boise.

Well, that's the five I'm allowed to vote for, could I vote for any more I'd have to go with Band of Horses' Cease to Begin, Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and Bright Eyes' Cassadaga.

I happened to think that this year was a pretty good year for music, in the both the commercial and indie arenas. The internet has started to become more of a vehicle for artists to push their songs, I don't think I've ever had the ability to listen to a full album before I buy it than ever before. And after getting ripped off so many times during the heyday of commercial grunge and mass-market CD's, I'm lovin' it.

Politics are personal

Great post over at the MountainGoat Report. Check it out.

New bar coming to Downtown Nampa?

From the comments:

It was truley a sad day in historic downtown Nampa when Kat's closed. Although i am not a "Getaway" patron, I personaly would'nt blast them. In fact i did hear alot of the good bar keeps from Kat's where now down at the Getaway. I am going to be opening a new nightclub in Historic Downtown Nampa soon. look for us. Scandal's.....

We certainly look forward to seeing a new bar open up shop in Downtown Nampa, and a bar that is called "Scandals", well, that gets bonus points before we even step in the front door.

The times, they are a-changin'.

Funny things...

You sometimes find them on the interwebs.

Post-Thanksgiving Tidbits

Well, another dual family Thanksgiving in the books and now we're on to Christmas season, my wife is insisting that the Christmas decorations/tree all go up today. Fun.. fun.

• My day today is largely going to be takin' up by making turkey stock, I managed to swipe the carcass from both of our families Thanksgivings, so today I've got a good 8 hours of making stock. You didn't throw your turkey carcass away did you? If you need directions, here are some courtesy of Michael Ruhlman.

• Updated: here are some tips from Jaden's Steamy Kitchen on how to snag that turkey carcass for the next time you sit down to a turkey dinner; say, Christmas.

• There are a lot of stupid people in the Treasure Valley, in fact, about 30,000 of them.

• Idaho Statesman has a list of wine related events going on this weekend. We're heading out to Indian Creek Winery this Sunday for a barrel tasting of their newly squeezed '07 Pinot Noir.

• This is apparently what passes for law enforcement to our neighbors to the south of us. Looks like that attitude is starting to seep into Eastern Idaho.

• Go Broncos!

Turkey Tunes

I'm not quite sure how much time I'm going to have to post anything else for the weekend so Turkey Tunes may just end up staying here for the rest of the week.

It's Iron & Wine and their video for "Naked As We Come"

Hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving weekend.

Drive-By Truckers... sort of... in a way...

After some speculation, seems like there was some truth to those Drive-By Trucker rumors a' floatin'.

Deeds

Still Truckin': Jason Isbell to rock Neurolux

It's confirmed: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will headline Feb. 1 at Neurolux. Isbell, formerly of the Drive-By Truckers, is touring in support of his solo CD, “Sirens of the Ditch” -- but he also does Truckers tunes in concert. Will Hoge and Jeremy Fisher open. The show goes on sale Dec. 1 for $10 at TicketWeb.

Count me in.

I write comments, when angry.

I don't anger easily, mostly it's just faux anger when I write, but jeeze, this time something got under my skin.

Morning after update; I guess it's really not anger, more of a bemused lack of understanding how someone like Graham can be so callous to his fellow Idahoans.

If you haven't been following the fallout over Steven Thayn's sons arrest for beating his wife over at the MountainGoat Report, you um, really should be. Not only was the story addressed and not attributed to MG in today's Idaho Statesman the comments have really been enlightening.

However, this comment by Idaho's own mathematically impaired Adam Graham really had me going after I read it.

Graham:

As for homosexuals, homosexual relationships aren't vital to society. They don't naturally produce children, and there's no societal benefit to recognizing them.

To which I got all high and mighty on my high horse and replied

Nampa's Lincoln Elementary to close

Caught this in the Idaho Statesman today and it brought back some memories...

Lincoln Elementary in Nampa could close next year

Lincoln Elementary School in Nampa could be closed down and its students dispersed to nearby elementaries by next fall.

Nampa District officials are considering using the 57-year-old building for a new district office or as a home for their alternative schools, which save the district about $130,000 a year in leased space.

District officials could bring a recommendation to the Nampa School Board in January.

Leola Bailey, Lincoln principal, sent a note home with students Monday informing parents of the district’s discussion about the school’s future.

Lincoln’s educational facilities aren’t on a par with the district’s newer schools, officials said.

Classrooms are about two-thirds the size of a modern-day school and the library was chopped in half a few years ago to make way for a music room.

I attended Lincoln through grades 1 to 5 growing up here in Nampa in the early 90's. Can't say that I remember too much of those days but I do remember playing football for Lincoln in 5th and 6th grades. (When all the elementary students merged to Central in 6th grade you still played under the elementary school you came from.) We took home the championship both years, undefeated in 5th grade and one loss our 6th grade year.

I still have the cleats from the championship game my 6th grade year. I returned a forced fumble for a touchdown in the remaining minutes of the game to seal the deal. To this day I have those cleats in my garage wrapped up in a garbage bad with the the mud still stuck on them from the football field at Nampa High. Yeah.. yeah... sue me.

On top of football I remember walking home from Lincoln everyday with my best friend Jeremy and I remember I'd run across the crosswalk but he'd only walk, cause it was a "crosswalk". Good times, I remember watching my first "R" rated movie with him after we walked home from school, it was The Fog, which was just recently rehashed and screwed up in typical Hollywood horror movie fashion. While we didn't remain the closest of friends after he later moved to Boise, we were still friends, but not as close as we should have been -- he later passed away died as a result of a car accident my junior year of high school after moving back to Nampa. My first funeral. My last memory of him and somehow tied permanently to my memories of a child attending Lincoln Elementary.

Sometimes you just can't let go of those memories, other times people just call you Al Bundy. Either way it's all good. Life always seems to find a way to go on.

They're only fodder to them

Some would, could and should say that Rep. Murtha was right.

Updated

Welcome to George Bush's military.

Military Wants Part Of Bonus Back

The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments.

To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases.

Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back.

Not that we'd ever request monies back from contractors who either outright steal taxpayers money or just simply don't bother to fulfill their no-bid contracts or anything.

On that note you'd think that Bill "I'm Against Wasting Tax Dollars" Sali would return campaign donations from taxpayer money waster extrodiaire Halliburton. Notice I said "You'd think".

Canyon County -- 'cause it's safer

-- And we's won't kill ya'.

Ya know, us small town folk in Canyon County have been taking our ribbings for quite a few years from them sophisticated-types in Ada County over the level of violence in our beloved county. Well, turns out this year them there intellectuals in the big city have been killin' themselves at a higher level than us be doin'.

Well, not to make jokes out of a serious matter you guys did kill more of yourselves than we did this year. So we'll take our victories whenever or however we can get our hands on them. Granted the good news is that Idaho in general is still a very safe place to live; which bodes well for everyone.

I was actually thinking of writing about this a week or two ago, just because it has seemed this year that there were more murders in Boise than in Canyon County. However I couldn't find the data and was destined to wait until the new year until I could dig into this topic. That being said; a real newspaper beat me to the punch. The Idaho Press-Tribune had a story today on nationwide crime statistics and how Idaho was effected. It did mention that there have been 10 murders in Boise (so far) this year and only 10 in Canyon County.

Good news for all of us is that most violence in the Valley is normally domestic or gang related, violence of any type is bad, but random violence has a certain scary tone to it. As of now we are still able to wander our beloved downtowns relatively unharmed, unscathed and mildly inebriated without fear of being murdered for our wallets or purses. Maybe our statistics have improved because of the "Everyone Wear Rainbow Colors" campaign that was started last year by the County Commissioners in partnership with the Nampa and Caldwell police chiefs. Who knows? 'Cause it seems that even gang violence in Canyon County has dropped over the last year or two.

Overall we still have a predisposition to not killing each other here in Idaho and that is a good thing indeed. Although I fully expect our murder rates to raise as more and more rural Idahoans and Montanans move into the valley. They come here wanting low home prices, take our jerbs and bring their damned rusty 4x4's and think they own the place.

The nerve.

Hey, the good thing we in the Treasure Valley can take from this is that the Nampa-Boise Metro is .09% safer (pdf) than those crazy folk holed up in Idaho Falls. Hmm, now I understand why our friends at 43rd State Blues are always shaking nervously and shouting "who is that!" when they hear random noises.

Glass Houses

Some people need to clean up their own houses before lecturing everyone else.

Weekend Tunes

We'll just go ahead and throw this one under the "ah, sweet memories" category.

You may have heard this song in the recent commercials for Cadillac with the pitch line "When you turn your car on -- does it return the favor" (which, they get mad props for that one). I was definitely pleasantly surprised when I heard this tune on the commercial, it brought back a lot of memories from Jr. High. Not only was this one of my favorite "air guitar" songs (just ask any of my girlfriends from that era), but the album You'd Prefer an Astronaut was really a great album. It is one of those albums that has always flown under the radar, but definitely deserves a listen, then and now.

Speaking of girlfriends, I remember talking on the phone late into the morning (you know when you're young and you'd talk until you'd fall asleep?) and we were both listening to 100.3 The Pirate (how's that for years ago?) and I distinctly remember saying "Stars is coming on next". And it did. I'll never forget that.

It's Hum and their video straight out of the 90's for the hit "Stars".

Local booze in the news

Idaho Statesman has two stories this morning about some local businesses furnishing the valley with top-notch quality beer, wine and spirits.

Great story on the origins of Koenig Distillery/Winery in Canyon County who make an excellent vodka, I'm am sorry however to say that I haven't tried their brandy, I'll have to get on that this winter sometime. I'll also note that Koenig Winery makes my favorite Idaho Cabernet Sauvignon.

Statesman beer columnist Patrick Orr has a good write up on Boise's own Sockeye Brewery's limited winter offering; Winterfest. Looks like I'm going to have to try and convince some Boise friends and Co-Op shoppers to grab one (or two) of the only 780 bottles available once it hits the shelves next week. That is unless a certain market in Nampa winds up with a couple bottles, I can't really see it showing up anywhere else in Nampa.

Updated

Last night I talked to a local wine and beer distributor who agreed with my assessment that Koenig does indeed make the best Cab in Idaho. Just in case you were wondering...

Nampa openings

The Idaho Statesman put out their article on the opening of Market Limone. And speaking of Market Limone we'll be down on Friday night for their first wine tasting; about time Nampa has somewhere that offers up a wine tasting! Wine and good cheese; can one really go wrong?

Idaho Press-Tribune has a story on Nampa's newest booze dispensary located out by Costco at the new Treasure Valley Marketplace. Good location if you ask me, although we could use one on the north side of town and another one in the southwest area, so, uh, keep that in mind for next years budget please.

Growth in Nampa -- it's not a-comin', it's here.

Cats

I love all 5 of mine, and they are all humorous in their own little ways -- but Sgt. Podge made me chuckle.

Ada County Dems JFK Banquet

Free this Friday?

The Ada County Democrats are hosting their annual JFK Banquet this Friday with special guest speaker David Sirota.

Details:
When - Friday, Nov 16th
6pm Social hour/silent auction
7pm Dinner served
Where - Boise Centre on the Grove
Cost - $60 per person

You can get tickets by contacting the Ada County Democrats.

Happy Hour for Obama

Got some time tomorrow evening? Like an after-work swill? Want to try and push Idaho into Barack Obama's column? Then meet up with some other like-minded folks tomorrow in Downtown Boise at Ha’Penny.

Details:

When - 5 to 8 p.m.
Where - Ha’Penny, 855 Broad Street

And it's an all ages affair. 

You can have Dane Cook

I'll take George Carlin over Dane Cook any day.

Carlin is coming to the Morrison Center January 18th, tickets are 42 bucks.

Speaking of Dane Cook coming to Boise -- people pay 102 bucks to watch a semi-funnyman who steals jokes? Wow. I'm beside myself.

1 ticket to St. Croix please

Seems like either people are finding Bryan Fischer's Idaho Values Alliance irrelevant or Mr. Fischer would like readers to up his lifestyle a bit.

Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Values Alliance could shut down

The Idaho Values Alliance, founded by prominent social conservative Bryan Fischer, is in danger of folding due to lack of funding, Fischer confirmed.

The alliance sent out an urgent plea for money today, saying members will reevaluate the group’s finances in early December and that if donations fall short the organization will be forced to shut down.

The Idaho Value Alliance is a non-profit that champions many socially conservative causes.

Fischer, the only paid member of the alliance, is well known for working unsuccessfully to keep a Ten Commandments monument in Julia Davis Park and recently lobbied Idaho legislators to repeal no-fault divorce.

Fischer would not release the alliance’s annual budget or his salary. He said the Idaho Values Alliance’s three-member board of directors has not decided how much money they need to keep operating.

The alliance sends out a free daily e-mail newsletter that Fischer said has between 1,200 and 1,300 subscribers.

One would think that the Alliance would release their numbers to members, you know, so contributors can see exactly where their money is going. But... it seems that Fischer has been hanging out too long with his Republican cohorts who don't exactly support transparency when it comes to funds. Call me curious, but I'd love to know how much money Bryan makes sending out drivel everyday.

While the IVA claims to send out 1,200 to 1,300 (they don't have an exact number? how's that for management) I would wager a guess that about half of those people signed up on a whim and have yet to unsubscribe. Oh, and don't forget us subversive blue folks like myself, we like to know what's going on with the IVA, so take me away then they only have 1,199 to 1,299 subscribers.

Oh, and the 10 Commandments thingy, yeah about that; people don't like funding failure. That's just business.

Here's an idea -- get a real job.

And why the Idaho Statesman is helping with Bryan Fischer's fundraising drive is beyond me (yes, I get the irony in that statement). I'm at a loss to see how this is actual news that concerns Idahoans at large.

Here is the IVA's statement if you care.

In my dreams...

Rumors that one of most kick ass bands around right now The Drive-By Truckers coming to Boise are starting to float around after Deeds semi-mentioned it the other day.

I'll be the first guy in line, you can have a shot of Jack and bet on that.

According to their website they have no tour dates scheduled, but I've learned that once the Google searches start coming in, something might just be in the works.

I took the liberty of putting some Truckers vids down below, check 'em out.

News stories that make ya go... duh!

Idaho Statesman:

Idaho still lags in college attendance

The Idaho Legislature and educators are looking for ways to encourage college attendance. But Idaho still lags significantly behind other states in the number of young people who continue their education after high school.

Yeah, the Idaho Legislature is going to spend time and money to find ways to send Idaho kids to those damned secular leftist institutions of higher learning. ...Cough, choke.. cough...

While the Republican dominated Idaho Legislature may try to take some baby steps towards getting Idaho kids into Idaho colleges and perhaps employing them at Idaho businesses I just don't see any leaps or bounds. I think they are more concerned with making sure that Boise State students are subjected to hate speeches from Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh.

Not to make any broad brush strokes here or anything, but the type of "Republican" that controls this state isn't interested in education. Education might start to make citizens think critically, something that can't happen if a certain political party wishes to remain in power.

More Statesman...

Idaho has one of the lowest rates of college participation in the country. A 2006 study found that just 26 percent of Idaho's 18- to 24-year-olds participated in college, compared with 42 percent in high-performing states like Michigan and Connecticut.

While college enrollment has been stagnant in most of the country over the past decade, Idaho's college participation rate has declined, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, a San Jose, Calif. nonprofit research group that studies education in all 50 states. The chance that a young adult — up to age 19 — from Idaho would enter college was 40 percent in 1992. By 2006, it had declined to 35 percent, said Joni Finney, vice president of the group. In top-ranked states, the chance a young adult would enter college was 53 percent.

Going down is not a sign of success in this case -- just an FYI for you hard heads out there.

[...]

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna hopes to include money in his budget this year for students to take college classes in their junior and senior years of high school.

"Maybe some of those students who don't believe they're college-ready would have that experience and see that they are college material, and would be encouraged to go on," said Luna's spokeswoman, Melissa McGrath.

One question with this -- Why didn't Luna himself contribute to this story? You'd think that he would want some personal input, I mean, he is the State Superintended of Public Instruction after all. I hope his old habits aren't starting to make a return.

I'll withhold comment on Luna's proposal until I see it become a reality or if he really pushes for it or not. I'm honestly just a tad tired of hearing blind promises from these people, it's all about placation, then revocation.

Bottom line is this -- Idaho's public schools are lacking, Idaho's secondary education options are also lacking and I don't think Idaho's Republicans in charge care anything about fixing either of these. An educated public is a Democratic public; and you know what they say "Reality has a well-known Liberal bias."

Let's just keep up with trying to find ways to keep mom at home so she can home school the kids and see how that works out in 50 years. That seems to be the primary concern of Idaho's Legislature.

Flipping channels

Caught a minute from 30 Minute Meals w/ Rachel Ray and I didn't realize you still had to tell people that there were seeds in lemons -- every. time. you. squeeze. one.

Nampa foodies, rejoice

Nampa foodies can finally rejoice as the Belle District's Market Limone has finally opened its doors. It's going to be nice to be able to pick up some of those had to find culinary necessities. It's also about time that we have a place with a decent selection of micro brews. The market is 3 floors of gastronomic pleasures, so if you're into good food and drink then it's definitely worth checking out.

Updates

Channel 6 was apparently down there over the weekend (video here).

And not everyones experience has been as delightful as mine.

Have you made it down there yet? What's your initial impressions?