the unequivocal notion

It’s supposed to be sunny, and yet cold and windy, what gives?

• Today’s “Must Read” is from Mike Boss at The Idaho Business Review.

• Another day the legislature is in session, another day of pissing away $30,000. And of course, only a Republican Legislator from Northern Idaho would have the gall to call a political science professor “dead wrong” on a subject pertaining to politics.

• Related to the above: Good Lord it’d be nice to have Representatives representing with an IQ score above Blue’s Clues. Ya ever wonder if we can go a year where the legislature doesn’t make Idaho look like it is filled with fools?

• Kevin Richert of the Idaho Statesman kindly gives KTVB’s Don Day some free lessons in online ethics.

• Gov. Otter’s liquor reform bill clears committee. Hopefully, this will be one thing of substance that actually gets out of Boise this session.

• Speaking of… Ever wonder what the difference is between white and dark rums? Mmm, it’s almost rumo season.

• Video from last week’s Ignite Boise, I’ll be at part deux.

• Human rights, North Idaho style.

• Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d’Alene; not so retired history teacher after all.

• Loving St. Paddy’s Day so much Boise decides that they need two Irish bars.

• Two jerks to choose from; chicken or tofu.

• Love grub? Enjoy Twitter? Here’s a list of foodies and chefs on Twitter.

• This just sounds really good to me for some reason; sauerkraut pie with a cheese streusel top.

• Idaho Statesman: A vote of no confidence? ITD earned it.

A wee bit of cinnamon on top of the coffee grounds is pretty damn good…

• John Gardner: Rural voices should be screaming for mass transit. Yes. Yes, they should.

• Lee A. Thomas: Cuts to education will negatively impact kids.

• Interesting read from Dan Popkey about Bill Roden.

• Over the weekend, a Nampa gem, Pete’s Tavern was broken into. Clicky for photos of this treasure of a bar.

• Speaking of pubs; torching a pub is just wrong on so many levels.

• It’s pretty amazing what can happen when you combine a creative genius, a welding machine and some metal — and to top that off; it’s all being done in Nampa, Idaho.

• Good read in the Idaho Press-Tribune about families and gangs in Canyon County.

• Unfortunately, Spring Break isn’t all fun and games for all of us — best wishes Tara.

• Tim Woodward: Who really invented the Barbie doll? More importantly; who really cares?

• A new tune from Vampire Weekend; “White Sky”. Awesome.

• Magic Valley’s Times-News: Fewer dollars, fewer options: Time for a moratorium on charter schools. Yes it is.

• Idaho Press-Tribune’s Vickie Holbrook: A funding lesson — Charter vs. traditional school funding.

• Great editorial in the CDA Press on why we need more oversight when it comes to day care in Idaho.

• Idaho Democrats on Facebook: No Cuts to Education Week, a great cause to join. Don’t forget to join the Idaho Democrats on their Facebook page and on Twitter. Also, you can subscribe to my Twitter feed here.

• Speaking of Twitter, you can follow the debate in the Senate Affairs Committee about some of the Governor’s proposed changes to Idaho’s liquor laws courtesy of Thanh Tan and Idaho Reports.

‘Tis Friday, ’tis the first day of spring… yay…

• The Stories Behind the Menus: Chocolate: It’s What’s for Dinner at Donya Maries. Can I just say that a chocolate Bloody Mary sounds pretty freakin’ awesome — and I don’t even like Bloody Marys. I’ve used Donya Maries’ Dark Chocolate on a pork loin before, it was pretty spectacular.

• President Obama said something stupid. Sigh… Now we know what the talking heads will be talking about all day.

• Text about gangs at Wal-Mart — a silly urban legend meant to fool morons — sadly it worked pretty well in Idaho. I’m trying to pin it down but I think one media outlet reported it was fact, was quickly debunked and deleted said post.

• The White House will get its first vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden in World War II.

• Boise bar owner charged with burglary, operating cheesy clubs.

• Modest Mouse debuted a new track on Wednesday, go ahead and look for it if you must, but fret not, it’ll be today’s Weekend Tunes.

• Fish tostadas, Veracruz style. Yum, I love a good Veracruz style dish every now and again — and speaking of… it’s about time.

• Randy Stapilus on Otter’s tax bill defeat.

• Idaho Statesman LTE writers provide a much needed smack down to those who support and are behind the pharmacy bill.

• Dan Popkey’s analysis: GOP abandons Otter on fuel tax.

• lol. “On Fox News, Bernard Goldberg declared that the dictionary has a liberal bias, the latest movement in the Republican war on knowledge.”

Today, should be a good day…

• We told ya so. We did.

• We don’t need no stinkin’ edumacation. I can’t say much, I suck at teh math — always have, always will. While I think numbers are indeed fascinating things, they also bore me to no end.

• Idaho Ranks Worst in Day Care Regulations — and the people in charge don’t really care.

• Speaking of day care; logic PWND.

• Zeb Bell as condensed milk.

• Culinary adventures in the City of Trees: Moon’s Goes Back to the Future!

• Sen. John McCain: Party over family. Sad really, I’ve been digging what Megan McCain has been doing lately, she’s at least smart enough to realize that all the Conservative talking heads are doing nothing but hurting the Republican Party.

• Apparently I need to try some duck prosciutto. Looks awesome, probably pretty hard to come by here in the Valley.

• Boise Weekly was the only media that had the stomach to put up with the people who want to be on MTV’s The Real World and those who produce The Real World.

• Betsy Russell on the eve of Gov. Otter and Sen. John McGee’s agenda for the year.

• TVA @ Fort Boise on Moral Hazards.

• 8 nifty things coming to a Boise neighborhood near you.

• This just in: to get people to come downtown you need things to do/eat/drink/buy.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Bill would strengthen meetings regulation.

Post-St. Paddy’s Day, so you probably need some…

• So, let me get this straight; yesterday, the Idaho Legislature talked about giving death certificates to fetuses who have no birth certificates (thx Sharon), whether or not fundie pharmacists have to give out birth control, buying US flags made in the US and more asinine license plates? And this cost Idaho taxpayers $30,000? I want my money back — speaking of.

• Great, if not lengthy analysis of transportation funding in Idaho. Ya might want to save this one for lunch.

• There’s troubles in Happyland: Row between McGee, ITD director boils over.

• Randy Jackson didn’t get the memo that people don’t care.

• Miscarriage bill gets some opposition. From the comments on the Idaho Statesman story: “What’s next? Conception certificates?” lol.

• Zappa beers from Lagunitas are gone for good. Not a terrible loss I suppose, some were good, some notsomuch.

• Boiseans, pushed by recession into volunteering, drinking more, in Wall Street Journal spotlight.

• Inside the Idaho Legislature: Quieter than a pub, but the tips aren’t so good and the quilting & shuffleboard are mighty fine.

• KTVB: Want tix to see the sold out David Archuleta show this Sat.? Me: No.

• Ana Marie Cox@ SXSW: “Came to hotel pool to escape the nerdpocalypse but have already: seen a laptop, heard someone *say* LOL (rather than laugh) & the term FAIL.” lol.

• A spring rainbow at Indian Creek Winery.

• We’re still short on troops, but we’re still kickin’ out openly gay service members who want to serve their country.

• The Capitol Hill publication Roll Call released its biennial rankings of congressional clout this week, and Idaho is on the bottom.

• Zeb Bell’s God-fearing troops go on the offensive and get offensive. Doesn’t matter does it? Well, did ya know that Idaho Supreme Court Justice Roger Burdick was a recent guest of Bell’s?

Time for St. Paddy’s Day again…

• Need a list of where to go and what to do this St. Patrick’s Day? Here ya go.

• Two great pieces from Nathaniel Hoffman and Boise Weekly’s citydesk — an example of what a blog should be.

• I don’t think “support local businesses” means what he thinks it means. I just had to mention that ’cause it kinda made me chuckle.

• Watched “Milk” last night, pretty amazing movie. What is sad is that Idaho isn’t even at San Francisco circa 1978, we’re still stuck in ‘58.

• These are dire times for the media; Statesman to layoff 25, cut pay for others and KTVB lays off one full-time, one part-time employee. What is sad is that some unnamed media outlets are almost happy that they are doing better than the Idaho Statesman, which is almost kinda scary. Broadcast media isn’t an acceptable replacement for the print media.

• Another member of the “family values” GOP, another bust involving hookers.

• The ties are allowed to be loosened, that means we’re getting closer to the end of this circus.

• via 43rd State Blues; two months in to Obama’s Administration the nutjobs in Idaho are wanting a revolution. Ya know, I have days where I have hope for Idaho’s future, then I see things like that and notsomuch.

• Where Are The Liberal Economists?

• Culinary adventures in the City of Trees: La Cantina sociale.

Oh boy, we get to celebrate St. Paddy’s twice…

• Some housekeeping: It may get a little quite around here, I think for the time being I’m just going to stick to the morning coffee feature and not post as much. Frankly, blogging takes up too much time, too much unpaid time. I regret that this will make some in the Capital City somewhat people happy.

• Not really surprising; North Idaho still takes the cake for the most hate groups.

• Because apparently talking about Boobies sells papers.

• Here is the list of brewers who will be pouring at The Big Beer Float this summer in Ann Morrison Park.

• KTVB story on filling in the hole in Downtown Nampa.

• Unfortunately some people have to be reminded that they are not above the law.

• Reason #1,478 that the interwebs are awesome: 20 Things You Didn’t Know About… Time.

• Making Idaho officials account for stimulus spending.

• Tucker Carlson douses himself in fish blood and jumps into the Jon Stewart Sea.

• Glenn Beck Recycles “X-Files” Plot to Spread Fear of Obama. lol…

• President Obama promises to address food safety.

• KTVB story on the decline of local newspapers. Related: Here is the blog from former Idaho Statesman reporter, Jeanne Huff.

• Kevin Richert: Idaho lags near bottom in online records access. Something that isn’t going to change without significant outside pressure.

• John Miller story on Otter’s proposed changes to the outdated liquor license system in Idaho.

• Of the top 10 recipients of earmarks, 6 are members of the GOP. Hypocrisy much?

This shall be a Drifter day…

• It’s only going to get worse before it gets better. The Boise School District to lay off 122 employees.

• OUCH. Idaho Statesman: In a crisis, Otter’s lack of vision is alarming.

• Rep. Dick Harwood apparently doesn’t understand the difference between a private business wasting time and a taxpayer funded body wasting time. Dick, these two things are not the same.

• Jesus, how much does a coach ticket cost? Idaho is only state to skip D.C. stimulus conference featuring VP Biden. Otter didn’t want to have to send an entourage, ok… fine, send just one person to represent Idaho. Let ‘em fly coach, take the bus when in DC and have ‘em stay at a Super 8.

• Kevin Richert in Statesman: The reluctant Keynesian?

• Gov. Otter to forgo housing stipend starting in April. That $4,000 dollar a month stipend. Granted he reduced it from $4,500 in order to show “solidarity” with Idahoans losing their jobs.

• Idaho Press-Tribune story about Nampa check registry.

• …And even more fallout from the now infamous “North End” comment.

• Boise to regain a dueling piano bar. This time deep in BoDo.

• It is looking like Boise will have another beer festival this year. “The Big Beer Float” will be held at Ann Morrison Part on Aug. 8th-9th. I’m sure as the planning progresses more details will be released. It’s being put on by Rick Boyd owner of Boise’s Brewtopia Beer Market.

• Speaking of beer… Sierra Nevada To Release Kellerweis, a “traditional German hefeweizen with the Sierra Nevada twist”. I’m definitely going to have my eyes peeled for this. While I do prefer American style hefeweizens, but it’s Sierra Nevada, so it’s got a lot of potential to be great.

• I do apologize for the following taco-snobbery: Guy Hand (whose food reviews I love) does tacos in Eagle. Yet, he completely misses the point that a taco should have no more than 4 ingredients (protein, cilantro, something hot and lime), should fit in the palm of your hand, should cost no more than a dollar and the best ones are found in a truck or in a street stand. The taco is a sacred thing my friends — but not too sacred that you can’t know how to make one.

• This was kind of amusing to me because last night I was listening to Idaho (the band) and their album Hearts of Palm.

“…from the fabric of a flag that sang…”

• Bloated Bigot Zeb and a doormat — what do they have in common? Busted. The internets are awesome.

• Did Rupert Rep. Bert Stevenson enable Zeb Bell to harass a constituent over the phone? Thus violating a law that happens to be on the books now?

• Eagle Mayor On Legal Thin Ice. Note that there should be a “was” in there. Good read.

• ‘Nother update on the “cattle ranch” on Amity. No more cattle for this “rancher”.

• Otter issues his stimulus recommendations, thoughts on the best burrito, guacamole in town.

• I too, still believe in the Tooth Fairy.

• Bristol Palin splits with her fiance, Levi Johnston. Surprised? Yeah, me neither. You mean the Republican Party was going to make two teenagers get married so it would look good politically? Noooo… But I heard the GOP values marriage?

• Nathaniel Hoffman @ citydesk: Local liquor license legislation has legs. Gizzod, I hope so.

• Idaho House kills ‘local option lite’.

• One of Dennis Mansfield’s sons passed away at his home in Kansas City. Condolences to Dennis and his family.

• lol. Things like this crack me up sometimes. Just the mental image that the story generated amused me.

• Will Metallica play SXSW? Will I care?

• Here is an excellent op-ed from Idaho Democratic Party’s Executive Director Jim Hansen.

Mid-week, already…

• Gino’s Italian Ristorante to close at end of March, open back up at the begining of April as Gino’s Italian Ristorante and Bar in Meridian. I’ve only been once, but I loved it and always meant to make it back but have yet to.

• “Obama’s schemer”. Good story about Messina at citydesk.

• Gov. Otter urges salmon advocates to acknowledge progress, show open mind, soak the cedar.

• HBO, Mormons square off over airing of sacred rite. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this.

• At least 10 dead in Alabama shooting spree. Sad.

• You know things are bad for Ann Coulter when Sen. John McCain’s daughter thinks she is a “train wreck”. I’m sure I’ve said it a time or two before, if the Republicans want to ever have any relevance on the national stage again they’ll ditch the ankle biters.

• Obama Overturns War on Science.

• Boise Co-op: Sierra Sinks Competitors’ Battleships. I’ve got this one lined up as Friday’s brew — a friend hooked me up with some assorted bottles this past weekend.

• Sen. McGee on Sen. Cameron: “He has a trustworthiness to him that is rare,”. That certainly doesn’t speak well for the rest of McGee’s associates in the Legislature.

• Another reality cooking show. Another disappointment? Only time will tell.

• Bell’s Bigots vs. Bloggers. The first caller is awesome. Second caller has to give old Bell a quick class on the Declaration of Independence.

• Here is the story about Bell and the bloggers in today’s Boise Weekly.

…and back to the sun again.

• Idaho bill targeting repeat drunken drivers killed. Kind of a good idea, but don’t know how truly effective it would be.

• Even Republicans don’t think that Republicans have a leader. I think they are trying to see how fast it’ll take to move their party into nether regions of obscurity.

• How the cell phone service oligopoly is robbing us blind. Come on kids, that’s the “free market” at play — the idea that competition will create a better value for the consumer has to be one of the biggest frauds of the last 100 years. When I was living in Korea all the cell phone plans were pay-as-you-go — and if you were out of minutes you could still receive calls and send & receive text messages. It was quite a functional and efficient way to have a cell phone. Here? Nosomuch. Along with paying too much for sloooow “broadband”, paying too much for a cell phone kinda pisses me off.

• “The Idaho Statesman Facing “Dramatic” Layoff”. The post makes a good point; on Sunday there were 4 op-eds in the Statesman, all from people right of the political spectrum. And to top it off, two of them were from the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and a third was someone who stands to benefit from the work of the IFF. I hate to see any newspaper have to make cuts, but let’s face it, they’ve made a bed and now they are going to be laying in it.

• Stapilus on Twitter.

• Boise launches stimulus tracking website. You can check it out here. If there is one thing that can destroy a political structure it is transparency. Hence, you won’t see the State of Idaho embracing it anytime soon.

• I’ll be checking this out today: This American Life Explains the Financial Crisis in 59 Minutes.

• Culinary adventures in the City of Tree talks Mesa Taqueria.

• Idaho Statesman: Road projects have a friend in the governor.

• Right-tard tuff’ guy Chuck Norris: a revolution is ‘a comin’. Man up and see how far ya make it, Chucky. It’s funny, Liberals lose an election and they make empty threats to move to Canada. Conservatives lose an election and they want to get all gunny on their fellow American citizens. Did I say that’s funny? Oy…

• A good example as to why the media’s move to be gossip-based is a bad thing for those of us who crave real news.

I suppose it’s time to get on with it…

• Lawrence Wasden: Assault on federalism plays role in our financial crisis.

• Ya gotta consider it a good day when two out of three people from your organization get columns in the Idaho Statesman.

• What’s worse than a bigot ranting and raving on the radio? His listeners of course.

• Gov. Otter faces reality and decides that it’s a good idea to take the stimulus money.

• I can assure you that there were a lot more beer bottles on the table as the evening progressed.

• Can You Save Money Brewing Your Own Beer? One of my goals is to find out the answer to that question this summer.

• lol. “Recession leads to spike in ‘Atlas Shrugged’ sales, stupid opinions.“

• Freepers get a spanking from their webmaster.

• KTVB: Idaho’s unemployment rises to 6.8 percent.

• Idaho Statesman gets busted down a notch for running that inane story about Lori Otter’s dress.

• “I am Arrogant Bastard Ale and you should feel damn lucky to be drinking me.” Beerwars trailer here.

There better not be snow on the ground this afternoon…

• …about that woman who wanted $34,000 of the stimulus money.

• Apparently there is a new restaurant in Boise called “Boobies” and apparently some people have a problem with this. 15 minutes of the local media fawning coming right up. ed. note: story was on the air this morning, no linky yet, but it does include some uptight moms. ed. note II: here is the story.
  

• This week on Idaho Reports: State Economist Mike Ferguson, Speaker Lawerence Denney, Minority Leader Kate Kelly, Jim Weatherby and as always, Betsy Russell.

• Further cementing their place as second place, the GOP now declares that “Health-care is a privilege”.

• Ya know it’s bad when the Wall Street Journal says that Democrats are destroying Republicans when it comes to ideas.

• I can’t believe that we aren’t even 3 months into Obama’s presidency and I’ve already heard 2 real live people say that Obama is going to have our guns confiscated.

• Luna compares funding education in Idaho to Thelma & Louise. Isn’t that like comparing… uh.. oh.. never mind.

• MTV’s “The Real World” offers to take some annoying people off of our hands for 5 months.

• Comparing paychecks between men and women. Cool little graph.

• Can’t wait to meet some new people at the blogger/commenter meet-up tonight.

• Sweet. Downtown Nampa gets new antique store. Heard someone picked up some nifty tasting glasses there.

• I think we can say it’s official now: Rep. Hartgen fails at representing. Perhaps if he comes up with something that wasn’t so asinine he could get it passed.

• Patrick Orr: Craft beer business grows during economic downturn.

• Bust a move in the kitchen with Fieri. Cool story in the Statesman about Guy Fieri’s visit to the Treasure Valley.

This weekend can’t come soon enough…

• It isn’t black helicopters invading Northern Idaho this time. This time it was real live US Army Reserve troops!

• Last night there was an impromptu gathering at Grainey’s for Gaines Davidson. I can’t say much for Davidson because I didn’t know the guy and I can’t say much for Grainey’s, I can probably count on two hands how many times I’ve been there. But I will say this; people loved the guy, the torrent of Google searches that came in yesterday was pretty unprecedented on my end. People also left some nice comments here as well.

• Tamarack is officially down for the count. Be interesting to see what Valley County residents think of this. Is there much of an impact job-wise? Or will most people be glad to see their property values normalize? Thank God Idaho’s legislature went out of their way countless times to enact legislation on Tamarack’s behalf.

• Idaho Press-Tribune: Recording meetings makes good sense. Indeed, and get that stuff up on the ‘tubes.

• One of Otter’s bills goes down in flames. I’d be surprised if any bills make it through the gauntlet that require any additional taxes. I can hear the campaign ads already…

• Gov. Otter tells young professionals he would support Obama’s Cuba policy, and ability to legally puff on a Cuban cigar. I mean come on! Who really thought Otter went to Cuba for trade?! I jest…

• Twitter fight! You can follow me here.

• Joe Scarborough destroys Michael Steele. Talk about a party in its heels, wizoow. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen a party so ready to collapse on itself.

• Related: Attention Wingnuts: Stop picking tokens and start looking at resumes.

• Fallout.

• Feeling left out and neglected because of Kosher Salt, Christians start to make their own salt. This is beyond awesome I tell ya. While we’re on the topic of Kosher Salt let me remind you that this is the salt you should be using. Not that iodized salt crap.

• Rainn Wilson of The Office fame love’s Idaho’s Josh Ritter.

• Larry Craig joins the “Jake Plummer Mustache Club”.

• Speaking of yesterday’s conversation on U2. Music That Makes You Dumb? Although, I don’t think it’d take much to tear that study apart. Personally, I think socially, people are inclined to like certain artists or certain genres of music based on their social status or the type of person they aspire to be. Typie.. typie…  Hmm… this could be a whole post by itself.

Middle of the road, middle of the week…

• Idaho highway honchos favor $202M stimulus list. And here is the list.

• Old Boise Guitar is strumming a sad song Downtown. Nifty store, although I haven’t been there since I was in high school, my strummin’ days have long since passed. There was an old used music equipment place we used to hit too, I think it was off of Overland, not quite sure anymore, but that place was full of cool old crap.

• Bill to ban firing squads in executions advances in Idaho House. Circular firing squads are now the preferred method for the modern day GOP.

• Not really new news, but some people still have a problem with Obama drinking beer.

• Speaking of drinking beer. Giggity. Sorry ladies.

• Ya know that one website? No, not that one. The one where a lot of Idaho Righties hang out? Ya, they are all a’talkin’ about a revolution.

• Canyon County Dems are having a meeeting next Monday. They are also hosting the kick-off party for Frank Church weekend on Friday evening.

• Headline: “Blogger: Otter taking stipend ’slightly irresponsible’”. Jesus, whats a guy got to do around here to get a headline in the local media? Here is the blog in question.

• Short and sweet article on one of the many reasons why it is nice to have a Democratic Congressman who lives in this modern day and age.

• U2 is on Letterman all week long. Call me next week and I’ll care. Am I the only one who doesn’t get the fascination with U2? If you didn’t like that comment then you won’t like this one; I kinda think Bono is just a tad bit egotistical for my blood.

• ‘Red Light’ States. For claiming to be “Conservative”, the red states sure like their porn.

• Pictures of Guy Fieri at the Westside Drive-In, Boise.