the unequivocal notion

No tacos today… post coming later…

• citydesk: Of Suzanne Craig, pizza, bike paths and Facebook. Snap.

• Go figure, Bryan Fischer thinks stimulus money should go to pockets of fat cats, and not be used to put Idahoans back to work. Now that’s some values.

• Did Rep. Bert Stevenson aid in the harassment of a constituent? Maybe it’s about time the AG steps in? Ole’ Bert either needs to speak up or step down.

• Kevin Richert: How Otter’s plan could lead to tax increases.

• Steven Raichlen: So how did beef brisket-a chewy cut with strong ties to German transplants to Texas and Jewish immigrants, and with virtually no popularity in Ireland-come to be the iconic food of the American version of St. Paddy’s Day?

• Jon Stewart destroys Jim Cramer, again.

• Rachael Daigle and An Isolated Idaho. Really a great read. BW is doing some outstanding work right now.

Closing in on Torpedo time…

• Some local filmmakers have a short film entered in a competition, check it out and vote. The short film is titled “Blanco”. I was very impressed by it.

• More on the North End comment, with the obligatory Idaho Statesman comment from Sen. John McGee. Should also be noted that Wayne Hammon will be on this week’s “Idaho Reports” on Friday. I’m sure this topic is going to come up.

• Communication and dialog are good things. LGBT Groups To Meet With Rep. Stevenson.

• I thought Republicans hated it when celebrities commented on politics?

• Michael Steele gives Republicans another reason to kick him to the curb.  Most awesome political party evar.

• Nampa becomes the second city in Idaho to post its check register information online.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Legislature should finally pass bill to consolidate elections.

• Reality is a crazy thing. 40% of earmarks come from GOP congressmen — who make up 40% of Congress.

• Not only do elections have consequences, it’s often forgotten they also have rewards: The White House said yesterday that it will push for treatment, rather than incarceration.

• Daily Kos story on Twitter.

• Ever wanted to know what the difference is between polenta and grits? I love ‘em both, however ya want to call ‘em and however ya want to serve ‘em.

Headed to the big city…

• Go figure, Idaho voters vote against their own interests. “We may lose our house ’cause I ain’t gotta a job, but I’ll be damned if them gays can get married!”

• Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa was the sole representative in the Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee to vote against the quagga mussel bill. Don’t really know if that is good or bad, just thought it was interesting.

• Thank God! “The chief of police in Idaho Falls wants to repeal an 85-year-old city ordinance prohibiting dancing on the Sabbath at businesses that sell liquor, beer or wine.”

• Gov. Otter’s quota system bill for issuing liquor licenses to get full hearing in Idaho Legislature. Baby steps, but this is a step to get us away from Idaho’s government controlled liquor industry. Free market is bad, mmmmkay? Here is Betsy Russell’s story. It’ll be interesting to see if another pseudo-grassroots movement gets involved to bring down this legislation.

• lol. “Step 1: Repeatedly edit Obama’s Wikipedia article to cast doubt on his citizenship. Step 2: Get banned from Wikipedia. Step 3: Fox News”. Hey, if there isn’t a controversy, why not just manufacture one? It’s the Fox News way.

• On it’s surface, yes this story about Rep. Pelosi sounds bad. But, in line with generating controversy where there is none, the group leaves out that Pelosi is 2rd in line to the presidency should something happen to the President. Just a tad higher up on the pecking order than your average Joe Congressperson.

• China Testing New Administration At Sea.

• In case you didn’t know; Doug Martsch’s “Dream” (3:30 into the clip) is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, top 20 ever anyway.

So much for that sun Mr. Weatherman…

• Kevin Richert of the Idaho Statesman responds to criticisms of Sunday’s Insight section.

• Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum introduces legislation to ease tensions between charters and traditional schools. I’d expect the pro-charter brigade is going to have some problems with this.

• Education in America.

• Another victim of the recession concedes; Sportsman’s Warehouse to close 29 stores including the one in Nampa — the one in Meridian will remain open.

• Bryan Fischer salivates at the prospect of 100’s of Boiseans losing their jobs so he can try his hardest to be a media man. That’s Conservatism for ya, must  not be of the compassionate variety.

• Idaho potato growers to take on food giant. Yum. Spuds — baked, fried, grilled, boiled, etc… etc.

• But I Asked for the Salmon… Interesting read.

• Idaho ranks 31st in national beer consumption.

Regretting not having coffee this morning…

• The Idaho Legislature… they’ve got tunes.

• Utah’s bars are now open to the public. No membership is required.

• Idaho, other states looking to expand food stamps.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Day care bill plan has merit.

• Beer: An American Revolution.

• More on the righties who think Obama is the The Antichrist.

• Seen and heard at Frank Church Weekend ‘09.

Suck it old man winter. Your snow is gone and the sun is shining.

• Love Costco, hate sample grazers.

• The awesometastic Falcon Tavern will be moving to Satchel’s old digs. Great grub, great beer and now a great patio. The Falcon Tavern along with The Front Door are exactly the type of places I’d love to have in Downtown Nampa.

• Wolf delisting: Whither the war on the West?

• Wow. Man arrested on DUI charges twice last night in Boise.

• Republicans fight to remove earmarks. Well, not their own earmarks, just the ones from the dirty Democrats.

• Darling of the rightwing Ann Coulter is a liar. Go figure. Which leaders on the right aren’t? When reality isn’t on your side, what else can you do but make shit up?

• It’s an addiction. I know this.

• More fallout. …and “Defending Bigotry”.

• Jon Stewart destroys CNBC.

• J.R. Simplot’s missing cowboy hat has found its way home.

• The daycare licensing bill could already be law if not for Nampa’s Sen. Patty Ann Lodge who last year wouldn’t even give it a hearing in her committee.

• Ya know times are bad when there are open seats at world-renowned restaurants like Thomas Keller’s Per Se.

• I’m kinda leaning towards wanting to see “Watchmen” at some point. Although, I have a feeling this would be a good one to see at the IMAX in Boise.

-ed. note; sorry for the bad formatting. I was out when it auto-posted.

• Idle Hands the Devil’s Playground in Idaho Legislature. Also I think the legislature likes playing with the social things ’cause then they don’t have to think about numbers and things.

• No big loss: Nampa woman fills Rep. Schaefer’s seat this week. Who knows? Could be an improvement.

• Gonna have to try this out: Pickled Chillis from Chef Michael Symon. If anything ya gotta check out the absolutely beautiful picture.

• Is it CHinden or SHinden? Either way, I hate that road with every bone in my body.

• Gaines “Mowby” Davidson the former owner of Downtown Boise’s Tom Grainey’s was one of the 3 killed in the crash out by Wilder.

• Wingies try to stop a high school play in the Liberal enclave of Oregon. Students prevail, have the play at a local college instead.

• lol. As bad as some of our local legislators are here in the Treasure Valley, at least they didn’t do this.

• Awesome. I’mSorryRush.com — It’s starting to look like Rush will prove to be the next nail in the coffin of the modern day GOP.

And back to sunshine… and back to rain… starting to feel like Florida without the humidity.

• GOP Chairman Michael Steele transfers power of the GOP to Rush. That was quick. There is something to be said about the GOP’s reluctance to allow Steele an actual chance to lead the GOP. I just don’t want to be the first person to say it.

• Guy writes column arguing against the stimulus, uses words that confuse his target audience.

• The Idaho Democrats have a Twitter feed you should really be following. When I first heard of Twitter I thought it was really asinine, but it’s actually a really cool tool.

• Need some tunes to wake you back up? Volume up.

• Why.

• Richert: Teaching more kids on less money.

You see where this is going right?

• We’re expected to break the record for the high temperature today. It’s pretty awesome outside right now, but the clouds are looming. ed. note. we broke the record 68 degrees.

• Ada rancher gets more time to prove he should keep cattle while he faces animal cruelty charges. We drove by his place yesterday when we went out to Indian Creek. Ya know, it helps to let your cattle graze on grass, not dirt and the occasional bit of sagebrush.

• The Thing About Bigots is…

• FYI: Kempthorne would like you to help him retire the debt from his campaign for Governor from 2002. How’s that for fiscal responsibility?

• Honey, I shrunk the stimulus. lol, I think it’s safe to say that Sen. Risch got busted fibbing.

• Interesting read: “Nearly 20 percent of Idaho lawmakers don’t hold four-year college degrees…”. I actually don’t think that this percentage is that far out of whack — although, it could explain somethings.

• Push to tax Internet purchases dead again in Idaho.

• Building a Better Grilled Cheese.

• Karl Rove gets a free trip to school.

• Some Idaho bloggers are going to get together this Friday before the Frank Church Banquet on Saturday. If you’re interested, email me. It’s going to be in Nampa this time.