the unequivocal notion

Changing headlines

Idaho Statesman headline today:

High gas prices drive surge in scooter use among Idahoans

It should have read:

High gas prices cause the surge of idiots driving scooters on Idaho roads

George Carlin RIP

1937-2008

"The Modern Man":

Additional thoughts

I think one of the reasons that this case is pretty fascinating to me is that there are many perspectives to this one story:

• Homosexuality
• Censorship in the library
• Online anonymity (most users)
• Online anonymity (public officials)
• Media coverage of local stories
• The power of a small group to enact policy that affects the community as a whole

I'm sure I'll have some additional thoughts on some of these perspectives as the days wear on -- whisperings would dictate there is still more to come of this.

Then we can get back to important things like beer, food and tunes.

Bruce Skaug resigning from the Library Board

I just found out from a comment and via phone confirmation with the Mayor's office that Bruce Skaug is resigning his position on the Nampa Public Library Board effective July 1st.

This after Mr. Skaug left an anonymous comment on this site degrading citizens of Nampa and accusing fellow residents of having a "messed up view of sex", i.e. one that isn't the same as his.

I'll update as I find out more.

Updated

Idaho Press-Tribune story here.

Skaug told the Idaho Press-Tribune today that he submitted his resignation Monday to Nampa Mayor Tom Dale. Skaug said he had accomplished what he wanted to accomplish on the board and that was part of his reason for resigning.

What's the other part of the reason? Hmm. 

Update II

Idaho Statesman story on Skaug's stepping down. I wonder what you have to do in order to have the local media carry water for you? It's not like it is difficult to ask a simple question. It's also not hard to see the real reason why he stepped down.

Frankly, it's pretty disturbing to see the local media not report the real story -- it makes you wonder just how much they hold back on the really important stories -- so as to not offend those in charge. The fact that they are providing cover for Skaug really makes you question how they reported the library board story in the first place.

Yeah, but will anything happen?

Wake me up when we have actual oversight in our state government and someone in a high place actually does some actual time.

KTVB:

Whistleblower: Tax Commission gave companies big breaks

BOISE - A veteran state Tax Commission auditor Wednesday released a 17-page whistleblower report alleging that agency commissioners for years have improperly settled tax protests by large corporations, saving the companies money but shorting Idaho by millions of dollars.

Stan Howland, a corporate income tax auditor for the tax collection agency for 28 years, said the four appointed members of the Tax Commission, as well as the deputy attorneys general who advise them, routinely allow largely out-of-state corporations to pay just a percentage of what they really owe.

Read the rest.

Yay! Atomic sand

You have to know that someone is making a killing by shipping 6,700 tons of sand from Kuwait to Idaho.

House of Kim

We love ya, we really do, but until you get your beer & wine license back -- we probably won't be back.

I'm not sure what the issue is but House of Kim has been beer-less for the last 6 months, and frankly, if you're eating their Mandarin Spicy Chicken ya need a beer. I think I can now say that I'm kinda gettin' tired of being seated and asked what I'd like to drink only to hear that there is still no booze in the house (this would have been the 3rd time).

I don't like leaving restaurants before I've even eaten, but adults like adult beverages, especially with spicy Chinese food -- and I really don't like getting the runaround.

Still some of the best Chinese food in the valley for lunch. Download their menu here. (pdf)

Lynndie England - still an idiot

Wow.

Updated

Well, that's the last time I link to the Idaho State Journal, apparently they didn't know that changing the story on a URL is a internet no-no.

This is news?

I fail to see why exactly this is news...

Idaho Press-Tribune:

Caldwell police raid underage drinking party

CALDWELL — Three adults and four juveniles were taken into custody after Caldwell Police interrupted a large party in a vacant house Saturday night.

Oh, and it is not just the Press-Tribune, the Idaho Statesman (+ comments) has had the story on the main page all day. Do you suppose if the cops busted a "underage drinking party" in the 'burbs of Eagle or the foothills of Boise it'd be front page news?

Where everyone is an expert

One thing I love about the 'tubes is that seemingly, everyone is an expert on everything. While I let the irony of that statement simmer down for a little bit, check out the Idaho Statesman forum RE: the officer involved shooting of Rudolph Andrade last Friday morning in Nampa. While this is a reoccurring thought that I have often, this thread was the one that got me writing about it.

Instead of waiting until we know exactly what happened early that morning, stupid people on the 'tubes are arguing with other stupid people on the 'tubes about who hates cops and who is blindly obedient. It is amusing if only in a mildly disturbingly sad way.

If there is one thing I've learned from my time on the interwebs it is that you cannot convince people to change their minds. Rarely have I ever heard some one say "Oh, yeah, you're right". Which is partly why I mostly stay out of long argumentative threads, because mostly they are a waste of my time. Of course, there are some beneficial ones, this thread over at Red State Rebels is (in my mind) exactly how discussions on the internet should work. Of course this was a thread were most of those involved are of the same ideology, once you hit non-ideological sites such as the Idaho Statesman forums, things can get a bit dicier.

If you are so inclined make sure you check out some local forums to see what the locals are saying.

Idaho Statesman - comments on any story
Boise Weekly
Neurolux
Craigslist Boise - Politics

I'm sure there are plenty more hiding out in the nether regions of the internet concerning our local communities, I just haven't found them yet. If there is one thing that can always be counted on, it is that there is never a shortage of clusters of stupidity on the 'tubes.

...ah Sunday, the day of reckoning.

Was it an earthquake?

Or was it the alien meteor burrowing even deeper into the earth's crust? Idaho Statesman says it was an earthquake, I'll reserve judgment for the time being.

Felt it pretty strong here on the northwest side of Boise. First one that I can ever recall actually feeling (and seeing things shake).

Update

KTVB has lots 'o' pics from Wells, Nevada, where the quake was centered. Man, I hope Cactus Petes is alright; we're headin' down in a few weeks.

In-depth coverage from KBCI

Local news channel 2, KBCI had some wonderful in-depth coverage and analysis of Sen. John McCain and why some, particularly in Idaho, view him as not Conservative enough. 

Ha! Just kidding. It was a 90 second waste of time.

Amusing...

I found it slightly humorous that Patrick Orr was the Idaho Statesman reporter who put up the story about the guy who chucked a snowball at a Boise police officer Saturday night.

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.

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.

Oops, they forgot something

Idaho Press-Tribune:

Chinden Blvd. widening nears completion

BOISE — Commuters take note: Final work on a project to widen Chinden Boulevard  is expected to be complete by Nov. 16. The project, which started in March, widened Chinden from three lanes to five between Cloverdale Road and Hewlett-Packard. Chinden, as U.S. Highway 20-26, links Caldwell to Boise.

Bicycle lanes were added to both sides of the roadway, and curbs, gutters and sidewalks were also installed along the south side of the road. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities now extend from Eagle Road to the Joplin Road/Mountain View Drive intersection.

In addition, a new half-mile-long frontage road provides access to homes on the north side of Chinden between the west end of Joplin and HP.

This is the third and final phase of a project to widen Chinden from Eagle Road in an eastward direction through Garden City.

I guess they forgot about widening Chinden between Eagle Rd. and I-84 in Caldwell to 5 lanes. Bad planning, it happens.

What is it with these people?

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's 43 year-old brother has an $250,000 arrest warrant out for sexual relations with a 15 year old. Yes, it wasn't Tom who did it, it was his brother, I know this -- before anyone goes and points out the obvious.

Something about glass houses comes to mind.. just.. can't.. pinpoint.. it.

Bonus comments at the Idaho Statesman Voices site. Some guy going around thinking that a comedy routine from 1997 and repeated since then is still funny or relevant. Some people in Idaho just never cease to amaze me.

More layoffs coming to the valley?

It's not just Micron.

I don't have links. Take it for what you want it to be, this info is just things that I've been told from pretty good sources over the last week or so.

I've been hearing rumors of more work force reductions coming out of a Boise company that uh, deals with printers and a pretty drastic cut in its contractor workforce. The contractor force making up quite a large portion of the development and testing workforce at this Boise printer company. With the start of the new fiscal year happening right about now I think that we'll maybe hear more about this in the immediate future.

I also heard that there is trouble brewing at two of Nampa's larger title companies. I heard that there were some cuts made last week at TitleOne and yesterday at Pioneer Title Company. Rumor was that last week Pioneer management sent out an email asking for employees to voluntarily accept part-time employment and when no one accepted the cuts had to be made. The cuts being made yesterday.

I don't think that the mortgage crunch has had its full effect on the valley just yet. After a summer of cuts hitting various loan offices, brokerages and lenders the layoffs are going to start hitting a wider swath of Treasure Valley workers in the fields related to housing.

If anything...

The news that Larry Craig has decided to retain his Senate seat provided many thoughtful and hilarious comments over at the Idaho Statesman's new comment enabled website.

I just happened to have a discussion with a certain Idaho Statesman columnist not too long ago regarding the Statesman allowing comments. While I did agree that it'd be a good thing, I also mentioned that everyone, I mean, everyone would be coming out of the woodwork. And that would prove to have frightening and/or hilarious results. I do have to say that when I now read a Statesman article I do make it a point to check out the comments, thus spending more time on their website -- which by all accounts is the very point.

You know people get when they get on the interwebs. They start to think that people care about what they have to say.

Oh, wait. Damn...

Marcus Unemployedus

Canyon County officials finally pulled funding from Marcus Young's 13 month taxpayer subsidized vacation.

Idaho Statesman:

Young no longer a Canyon County employee, after charges of sexually exploitive materials

Canyon County commissioners have announced that Marc Young is no longer a county employee, effective Friday evening.

Young, a 31-year-old county computer applications manager, was arrested last week on felony charges of possessing sexually exploitive photographs of children and destroying evidence on four computers.

“As of 5 p.m. today, Marcus Young is no longer employed by Canyon County,” said Angie Sillonis, county spokeswoman.

The county has refused to fire Young because if by chance he is innocent then the county could possibly be sued for a much larger amount the 60,000 that Young has received thus far this year. So it makes you wonder what has changed their minds in the past few days.

If he's found innocent then by all means let him have his job back with back pay from missed work. But if he's found guilty then I hope the county sues to recoup what they paid him while he was on administrative leave. If he knew that he was guilty and continued to collect his taxpayer funded pay check then I hope that they hammer him.

Marcus Young booked, finally

From the Idaho Statesman:

Canyon prosecutor's son released on bond after indictment on nine charges of exploitative material, destroying evidence

Marc Young, a Canyon County manager on paid leave for more than a year during a criminal investigation, was booked into the Canyon County Jail early this afternoon and released on $20,000 bond within about an hour.

He was indicted by a Canyon County grand jury earlier today on nine felony charges: five counts of possessing sexually exploitative photos of a child and four counts of destroying evidence from computer hard drives to prevent evidence from being used in the criminal investigation.

Young, the county´s computer applications services manager and son of Canyon County Prosecutor Dave Young, was placed on leave Aug. 22, 2006. The Idaho Attorney General's Office has been investigating Marc Young because it would be a conflict for the county prosecutor's office.

Thanks Craze!

Happy endings

I couldn't help but put 2 and 2 together this morning when I read that there were some shots fired at Boise's Tokyo Massage. One might be inclined to wonder why the attendant on duty (co-owner I'm assuming) would call her husband instead of the cops when she heard an unknown intruder coming in through the rear.

KTVB.com

Man shoots at fleeing massage parlor robber

BOISE - Police are working to figure out what happened during a bizarre string of events at a Boise massage parlor overnight.

Just after 3 a.m., someone tried to break into Tokyo Massage on Fairview Avenue near Orchard Street in Boise. The robber broke in through a window in a bathroom, according to police - and could not get further into the building because of a locked door.

The business owner called her husband who grabbed his gun and fired a shot as the robber tried to flee.

[...]

Police say members of the community should call 911, and not take matters into their own hands.

Hmm, I wonder if Tokyo Massage would have just rather kept the authorities in the closet instead of notifying them of the break-in. Might it have something to do with Tokyo Massages past history of taking things into their own hands?

In what was another one of Boise Police Department's hard hitting investigations, Tokyo Massage was one of several Boise based massage parlors busted for illicit after-hour activities last year.

Several Boise massage parlors were closed Wednesday after a Boise Police prostitution bust. On Tuesday, detectives searched 11 parlors and cited women at 8 of them for soliciting prostitution, among other charges.

The investigation started six months ago when Boise Police officers went undercover to find out what really goes on behind the doors of several local massage parlors.

"They were solicited, we didn't allow any of our officers to culminate any of the acts or anything," said Capt. Rich Schnebly, the head of the Criminal Investigation Division for the Boise Police Department.

I guess I can see why they weren't too eager to involve the police in this not so discreet encounter. If only we could get Fox's COPS to come back to Boise when the good things happen.

The calm before the storm

I've been following Hurricane Dean for the last couple of days as it makes its way to the Yucatan peninsula. About a day ago the eye of the hurricane was poised to hit dead center in Akumal, the place where my wife and I vacationed just earlier this year. Luckily, Dean has started to head towards the west where there is a million acre wildlife refuge, a bad thing, but a good thing; there isn't nearly the people that there is to the east. We met so many good people down there and we pray that everything turns out ok - somehow the feelings and memories of sun and sand mean nothing right about now.

This stunning image was taken a few hours ago on the beach about 50 feet from where we stayed looking at the sunset, the hurricane should hit in the next 10 hours or so. Our thoughts are with the many people who are still left in the area and have yet to evacuate. And as expressed in the forum post, with the wonderful beach dogs that occupy this area as well.

For that matter, all the beach critters who occupy this area, we loved them all.

We wish them the best and hope to see them all soon.

Market meltdown hits home

Without getting into details I can say: "Yes, we aren't immune here in the Treasure Valley."

Ah, vacation time...

But not for me - no, I already had mine this year. This vacation is for the Iraqi government, you know, it's time to sit poolside while your country burns.

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Vacationing while Baghdad boils

Back in May, a group of Republican lawmakers, understandably agitated by the very real possibility that President Bush was driving them over a cliff, met with their lame-duck leader at the White House. They voiced their strong concerns about the Iraq disaster and warned Bush about the '08 political repercussions. Then one GOP congressman lashed out at Bush over reports that members of the Iraqi Parliament were planning to exercise their new-won freedom by actually going on vacation for the entire month of August - despite the fact that a war was raging around them, and despite the fact that they had enacted none of the crucial "benchmark" legislation that Bush first asked for back in January.

The congressman reportedly asked: "How can our sons and daughters spill their blood while the Iraqi government goes on vacation?" Bush sought to reassure the congressman by declaring that Vice President Cheney was on the case: "The vice president is over there to tell them: 'Do not go on vacation.' "

Well, sure enough, the Iraqi Parliament will be on vacation for the entire month of August - and the White House, ever protective of its clients, is insisting that the hiatus is no big deal.

[...]

Therefore, one might have expected that Snow would tell the Iraqis to put those vacation plans on hold, to shape up and hunker down. After all, that's precisely how Bush reacted in April, when the Democratic Congress left town - merely for the Easter break - without completing some Iraq funding legislation. At the time, Bush went to the Rose Garden to grumble about the Democrats: "And now they have left Washington for spring recess without finishing the work."

But apparently it's OK if the Iraqi lawmakers blow off a whole month.

And Snow came up with a second creative excuse: "You know, it's 130 degrees in Baghdad in August."

In other words, according to Snow's spin, it's way too hot for an Iraqi lawmaker to walk down a hallway with a file folder under his arm - but not too hot for U.S. soldiers to patrol the mean streets while clad in full body armor, risking life and limb so the Iraqis can put their feet up and twiddle their thumbs.

Boise Weekly could use some originality

I couldn't help but notice today that Boise Weekly Editor Shea Anderson has decided to start publishing Boise Mayor Dave Bieter's Mayor's Hotline. Nifty idea huh? Oh, except one of those wacky bloggers has already been doing that for well over a year now.

Boise's own guardian on the internet - The Boise Guardian has been keeping an eye on all things Boise/Ada county for some time now, including the nifty idea of publishing the Mayor's Hotline each week.

Way to be innovative BW; it's also great that you gave credit where credit is due.. oh.. wait.

The slow death of a Nampa Bar

Kat's House of Blues is gone. (The day the music died.)

So it's official. Well, it has been official for sometime now, but Michael Deeds mentioned it in his column in the Statesman, so now it's really official. Contrary to Deed's quick blurb on the closing of Kat's, it wasn't due to their specializing in one form of music; no, there were more reasons and far more complicated issues than that.

What once was one of the best bars in Nampa, featuring the best micro-brew selection in town, great live bands on the weekends and great bartenders, Kat's is gone. Kat's House of Blues has gone way of The Getaway, one of Nampa's meat markets specializing in karaoke, crappy cover bands and obnoxious drunks. And I mean this quite literally. The owner of the Getaway along with a partner (a local builder I'm told) bought Kat's from the former owners.

So what happened? How did the best place to grab a cold brew after work in Nampa go down? How did my favorite patio on which to imbibe beer lose itself amongst the rest of Nampa's so-so bars? It became infected with the same disease all other good places in Nampa fall victim to (read: Copper Canyon and House of Kim - my thoughts on these now, lack-luster eateries, later). To me, Kat’s suffered from lack of proper vision, lack of direction and most importantly, lack of quality management. I hate to say such things because I truly liked the former owners of Kat's. Had many a drink with them and immensely enjoyed their bar until the “infection” took hold and ran rampant.

What was once a burgeoning blues bar (the only one in the valley after the Blues Bouquet changed it's name) with a young but refined atmosphere, slowly morphed into part sports bar, part Hip Hop bar (Wednesday nights), and part crappy entertainment bar. And this isn't to say that every band must be a blues band, no, not at all. We saw some amazing blues musicians grace the stage at Kat's House of Blues, yet we also saw some amazing classic rock cover bands as well. There just aren’t enough dedicated blues bands in the area to quench any blues-lovers thirst here. But every now and then we'd get a great band that played a great show, and in the mean time we could always count on at least having some good live bands in between.

First, came the crappy advertisements that the liquor distributors pass out to their customers (which, by the way, are neither mandatory nor desirable décor in a respectable establishment). You may know what I'm referring to; lame Bud Light posters tacked to the wall right next to a framed picture of Robert Johnson. Tacky. Confusing. Cheap.

The second offense was the introduction of the early-model big screen TV. Once this giant projector of American Idol, Monday Night Football, and COPS shows up, you might as well consider your quiet happy-hour sanctuary closed. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against big screen TV's, but they have their place, and a blues bar certainly isn’t one. For some reason ESPN's Sports Center tends to ruin the gritty blues music coming over the satellite during the week (the non-live band times).

Next it was the sports memorabilia. Yeah, I'm all down with Boise State too, I am by no means a sports-hater, quite the contrary, I love football, best sport that there ever was. Time and place...time and place. Let me re-iterate; a blues bar is not the place for Boise State football jerseys hanging on the walls. The blue and the orange just didn't seem to mesh with the dark purple hue of the walls in Kat's House of Blues.

Then, tragically, the wine went away. What was once a respectable wine list for a Nampa bar had been chiseled down, bottle by bottle, until it was weaned to one Albertson's store brand in 4 different varietals.

Lastly, we lost the bartenders (my wife said I had to add this - the ladies always liked Rob, nice guy), the good ones anyway, and Kat's had some good ones. People who we really enjoyed passing the time away with on an idle Tuesday afternoon on any random week. But I don't blame them nor Kat's for that, they have to move on too. What I did have a problem with were the replacements, which were unfriendly and rude. Hey, when you've been going to the same place for quite a while, nothing is worse then the new staff giving you guff.

Speaking of the replacement staff - my wife and I stopped in for an afternoon beer and had to deal with one of the new bartenders, high as a kite. Reeked and acted like she'd been out back puffin' all day long, again I don't blame her for that, “to each his/her own” but... time and place. And to top it off; the beer taps didn't work and instead of a nice cold draft, we were served luke-warm bottles. This got to me, but I can deal with it, I'm by no means a beer snob. That being said, my wife went to use the ladies room and came back disgusted and pissed (no pun intended), no toilet paper, had to leave the stall (which was littered with garbage and cigarette butts) and begrudgingly grab a paper towel. At this point, excuses can only get you so far in life and, well, in business.

Needless to say; that was right around the time we quit going to our beloved Kat's House of Blues. We got tired of getting burned, convincing ourselves to give it another chance, and leaving each time, more and more disappointed.

Now it’s done, Kat’s has been sold and we are no longer welcome in this new environment. Of course we have been down their post-sale only to see black bed sheets hanging in the windows and white ceiling tiles nailed to the purple walls. Classy, ‘eh?

I can’t attest to know what the books looked like at Kat’s House of Blues, nor do I know their financial situation, but this I do know; Nampa lost a great bar. Nampa lost what could have been a corner stone attraction in our soon-to-be revitalized downtown.

It’s now time to move on; we’ve found a new watering hole and it’s working out just fine for us. I just hope that some of the new businesses that start popping up in Downtown Nampa have the fortitude to carry on and successfully execute their plan. Have a nice place, stick to your guns (advertise of course) and the people will come. Nampa’s a little over 80,000 strong now, so if you’re good enough, we’ll come in droves.

Lord knows the last thing we need is a Getaway III.

2007 Mountain Brewers' Beer Festival

If you're game, make sure you head to Idaho Falls next weekend, the first weekend of June for the 13th Annual Mountain Brewers' Beer Festival. It's the most beer you'll ever get for your hard earned green backs and it's for a good cause. I know that I'm surely going to miss going this year, but we're missing it for some good reasons.

Sadly, we won't be making the festival this year, it wound up sandwiched between the activities of two different weddings (thanks a lot guys!). So two years into our traditional pilgrimage to imbibe in Idaho Falls we are breaking it. Next year though, we'll be back.

Make sure you search out our friends at 43rd State Blues, just look for a small group of men wearing Hawaiian shirts and bemoaning about Republicans, that'll be them!  

Back from vacation

Just got back from vacation last night (which would explain the lack of posting for the last 10 days). I meant to put something up once I got to my destination, but 1) My camera was lifted on the first day and 2) there weren't really any computers where we went.

In the mean time I've got some yard work to catch up on, emails, a thousand  Bloglines to skim, laundry (washing in your sink is only so effective for a couple of times!) so I might be light posting for the next couple of days.

I will get a few pictures up sometime this week once I get then from one of my travel companions (got one!).

updated w/ photo.

La Buena Vida - My new favorite bar.

 

Intellectual dishonesty

Clayton Cramer:

Why Am I Not Surprised By This?

I've mentioned my disgust at the ACLU's defense of virtual child pornography--and my disappointment that the U.S. Supreme Court went ahead and struck down the Child Pornography Protection Act of 1996 a few years ago. I've long been unsure whether the ACLU's ahistorical interpretation of the First Amendment was an irrational zealotry for a principle for something a bit darker. This article, however, gives me confidence that for at least some members of the ACLU, it is the latter:

He then goes on to quote a news article describing a ACLU lawyer who was arrested for possessing child porn, and somehow trying to equate the ACLU with this man's problem.

To which I then say... Why am I not surprised by this:

BALTIMORE -- A political conservative and fund-raiser who collected for prominent leaders like Ronald Reagan and Jesse Helms was given probation before judgment and was put on two years probation Wednesday.

Richard Delgaudio Richard A. Delgaudio, of Burke, Va., who is a nationally-known Republican party fund-raiser, faced a Baltimore judge Wednesday afternoon on child porn charges.

Hmm, so here is where I don't explicitly say it, but quietly imply that all Republican fund-raisers support and engage in collecting kiddie porn.

...Luckily for Cramer I found a book that he should pick up.

Scrotum in Idaho Libraries

Quick someone get Randy Jackson and Brandi Swindell on the wingbat phone!

Thanks to the Idaho Statesman what was a non-issue is now sure to attract the ire of Idaho's self appointed morality police. You've got to wonder how many ulcers these people get after they work themselves up into a tizzy over things they deem inappropriate for everyone else.

From the Idaho Statesman:

Thirteen copies of "The Higher Power of Lucky" have been acquired by libraries in the Treasure Valley's Lynx Consortium, which includes the Boise, Meridian and Nampa public libraries, according to Karen Ganske, director of the Nampa Public Library.

But the book, singled out by librarians nationally for its distinguished contribution to children's literature, contains a word that some find so objectionable that they are seeking to have the book banned from school libraries.

"The Higher Power of Lucky," a book by Los Angeles librarian Susan Patron, won the 2007 Newbery Medal. That's the highest honor in children's literature.

But the literary award hasn't shielded the book from criticism by school librarians and parents nationwide, some of whom were appalled to find the word "scrotum" on the first page of the book.

I just can't wait to see how this is going to develop. Of course, after Jackson and Swindell's failure to keep The Joy Of Gay Sex out of Nampa Libraries maybe they'll realize that theirs is a lost cause and find something else to try and impose on the rest of us. We will be patiently watching this to see how this turns out.

...

I do think that Conservatives need to get together and start their own political party, cause frankly their instance on imposing their beliefs on everyone they encounter does not mesh with the Republican ideas of limited government. Of course, maybe someday Conservatives will realize that they've only been played by the Republican establishment for the last 30 years. Nothing but pawns. But somehow with their reluctance to think for themselves they'll continue to listen to Dobson, Falwell, et. al. and continue to do the bidding of people who despise them.

Frankly I'm not sure which way works better for the rest of us. I kind of enjoy seeing them getting played during every election, but I kind of feel sorry for them in a if-you-don't-like-America-go-somewhere-else kind of way.

Here's a head's up Conservatives, Giuliani is going to be your nomination for President, it's already been decided. Once we get to that point in time your leaders are going to tell you to back him and you will. Kind of like when they told you that President Bush was a Conservative; remember that? Sad thing is some people still think that Bush is a Conservative. 

Sorry, guess I got a little off topic, too much coffee.

The Iraq War hits Idaho, again

Idaho Statesman:

Three soldiers of the 321st Engineer Battalion (Corps)(Combat)(Mechanized), headquartered in Boise, were killed Thursday morning by roadside bombs in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, military officials said. Two were injured.

Four of the soldiers were riding together in a South African-made RG31 anti-mine vehicle when a bomb exploded killing three of the men and seriously wounding one, said Capt. John Vogt, the battalion’s rear detachment officer. Another soldier was slightly wounded in another bomb attack nearby.

The battalion’s mission in Iraq is finding and clearing roadside bombs; they patrol an area from Baghdad to the Syrian border.

The killed are:

• Private 1st Class Raymond M. Werner, 22, whose wife lives in Boise; his mother lives in Nampa

• Sgt. James Holtom, 22, whose parents live in Rexburg

• Spec. Ross A. Clevenger, 22, whose mother lives in Melba, and his father in Kennewick, Wash.

It's time for a new strategy, and yes, there are levels of negligence that are criminal.

Welcome

...and for some, welcome back.

Just a few notes, I'm still working on the site design, and hope to have it finished up here in the next week or so. I'm still trying to figure out why my graphics on the side bar are showing up blurry, but I'll figure it out.

I hope you'll update you bookmarks or your RSS feeds and check up on me often. I should be able to post more regularly and on a wider range of topics.

a sad day indeed

Columnist Molly Ivins lost her battle with breast cancer.

"We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war," Ivins wrote in the Jan. 11 column. "We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it, now!'"

She will be missed.