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TODAY'S VISUALIZATION

Enormous Undulating

brought to you by Jim Risch, US Senator from Idaho

Sen Risch hopes by Thanksgiving, we'll be able to identify improvement with either the "enormous" spending package or the vagaries of an "undulating" world economy, or some other way - like with better policy - he said today in his first speech in the Senate, where they were debating the Stimulus Package.  It passed, 61-36.

Afterward, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gives him some love, as does Sen. Max Baucus - Democratic Senator from Montana.  Baucus explains that although he strongly disagrees with Risch, he hopes to work together in the future on Western Issues.

< listen here >   < House vs Senate #s >   < AP overview  another AP view >

 

ABOUT THE IMAGE:  One of Santiago Calatrava's finest works is the Bodegas Ysios in Laguardia, Alva, Spain. Its undulating roof and silvery edges are equisitely articulated.
from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Flash Mob @ Boise Towne Square

Saturday January 31st, 2009.   Boise Flash Mob finds its way to the central court of the Boise Towne Square and freezes in place for three minutes.  via arecity

PART ONE

PART TWO

Inauguration Photography: arecity

INAUGURATION PHOTOS

 

 

 

AFTER PARTIES

 

 

 

on the way to/from Washington D.C., arecity Visited New York City

Crapo Votes Against Lilly Ledbetter

Yes, our own Senator Crapo, who's very office is run by a woman (Susan Wheeler) has voted against the Lilly Ledbetter act.  Apparently, he's FINE with proven income disparity between men and women in the workplace. Shame on you Sen. Crapo, for not insisting on EQUALITY in PAY for women.

listen to Sen Byron Dorgan of ND discuss the bill

listen to Dennis Kucinich of OH discuss the bill

Lilly Ledbetter Responds to Vote

read more at the National Women's Law Center

Background on the Case

A View From Meridian . . .

in case you missed it - Andrew Sullivan was not actively blogging over the holiday and was posting a "view from your window" every day . . . and someone sent in a pic from Meridian.  - link

BSU Looses Poinsettia Bowl

With the economy giving even the strongest optimist pause, winter weather which is downright wintery, and the dull ache of the holiday-of-holiday's Christmas nearing - our hometown-heros lost their battle in the interpretive smash-up contest otherwise known as the Poinsettia Bowl.

Last year there were people storming the statehouse after Boise State came from behind to win the Fiesta Bowl.  Bronco Fever overcame the city.  We had won.  Well, not us specifically, but our team had won.  The team that lives in our city and goes to our university.  And so therefor, for a brief moment of time, we were all winners.  Degrees from Boise State suddenly carried more cache.  What was labeled "the best college bowl game of all time" became canonized with DVD-Rentals, television talk show appearances, and commemorative books.  Gone were the days of BSU/UofI rivalry - Boise had just clicked up one strata into a new level of football consciousness.

We watched the Poinsettia Bowl unfold at The Falcon Tavern - a downtown pub with excellent beer, surprisingly good food and a comfy view of several televisions as well as Main Street.  One Jalapeno Burger, One Corned Beef & Pastrami Sandwich, One Nutbrown Ale and One Stout kicked off our football watching.  As the game drew on, the third quarter required some coffee.  We were treated to many commercials advertising better pee-flow for men and various insurance/banking companies.

When the fourth quarter started, BSU was behind.  They kicked a field goal and got some points - but found themselves an unfortunate single-point behind TCU nearing the conclusion. (TCU is Texas Christian University) The team huddles up, devises a strategy, the quarterback throws - and with 1:53 left in the game - the ball is intercepted by the other team.  With that small amount of time left, it is almost impossible to get the ball back and make a touchdown - and the loss becomes clear.

From inside the pub, i didn't sense sadness or despair, but an overt numbness.  What does it mean to choke in the last moments of a game?  What must #11 feel right now, with so many adoring fans left hanging and feeling disappointed in their return to "regular" fan status without an undefeated team to seek exceptions for.

Stopping at the original Albertsons grocery afterward, reminded that the store had a "new look" yet would never be the local hometown favorite it once was, we spotted many in their BSU team gear.

Having played sports - i understand the psychological pressure of the last moments of a close game - which can turn anyones solid mental state into mush.  The anticipation turns performance upside down and creates the very thing the anxiety was trying to avoid - failure. 

What can we do to deal with this city-wide sense of defeat numbness?  Continue on and study ourselves.  For it is only in the realization that we are not "our team", that binary competition of us-vs-them has become obsolete, and that performance anxiety is crippling, in all areas of life. 

High Noon Today - A President is Picked

At 12:00 today, a neighborhood dog started howling essentially and rhythmically to the beat of a passing ambulance. The ambulance came and went quickly but the dog remained on pitch and time much longer. As the tones reverberated off of homes and branches, I realized our four legged friend was simply alerting the neighborhood to the real election taking place twenty blocks away at the Borah post office.



Darlene Bramon, Ben Doty, John Erickson, and Melinda Smyser walked into the post office, now with Butch Otter scent, and cast OUR states' electoral college votes for "the next president of the United States" Republican John McCain... well probably not the next president, but that is who we voted for.

All the pomp and circumstance of election day seems a little less spectacular when four white people slip into a post office more than a month after the election to decide the leader of the free world . . . or maybe it's just me.

Bah Humbug Music Festival

more information on the visual arts collective

instead of fog, its raining men

via lilivonstupp

1985: Punks In Boise

Walt Minnick Interviewed By NPR

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN HERE

Butch Otter Interviewed By The Economist

Speaking of Libertarian Idaho values, back in 1978, Butch Otter said this when interviewed by Reason Magazine:

“if a person, of his own free will, wants to use marijuana, I question whether the government has any propriety in telling him he can’t.” By limiting freedom, he said, “the government, in effect, is taking away the only real gift the Lord gave us.”

Let's get that law worked out, Gov.

IPTV: Minnick/Sali Debate Analysis

IPTV has just released a special after-debate discussion between Betty Richardson and Rod Beck. Along with Marsha Franklin, they discuss the performances of the two CD1 Candidates.  In case you haven't heard, Minnick beat Sali with 50.6 percent of the vote.

Boise Zombie Walk 08 Video

election night 2008: boise, idaho

be sure to see this wonderful audio slideshow by the talented Idaho Statesman photographers and Thanh Tan of IPTV.

http://legacy.idahostatesman.com/media/2008/election/

If Your Name Starts With Hank

via Big Dubya flickr

Rep Nicole LaFavour Dave Bieter at DNC

Message from Nicole

Behind the Scenes on Opening Night (featuring Mayor Dave Bieter)

via 43SB Blip TV Stream

read Nicole's blog about her experiences at the 2008 DNC

arecity @ tour de fat

so you know . . .

Masonic fraternities have played an important role in Idaho's communities since gold rush days. This exhibit traces the mysterious origins of the Freemasons and their vital link to Idaho history from territorial times through statehood and into today. Enjoy rarely seen folk art and artifacts from lodges around the state and increase your understanding of this "society with secrets."

The exhibit opens May 24 and runs through August 31. The Idaho State Historical Museum is located at 910 N. Julia Davis Drive in Boise and is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday and from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday. For more information call 334-2120.

bethine church

idaho statesman module on the life of bethine church

> watch