Of all the things Idaho was not recognized for, it was potatoes in the most recent ads for Frito Lay.
During the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, featuring -of all things- the Boise State Broncos Frito Lay excluded Idaho from their potato advertisement.
Locals aren’t happy. Imagine that. If we aren’t recognized for our potatoes, what on earth could we be recognized for?
Then again, maybe that’s not a good question to ask. 
Perhaps I’m missing something here. If so, help me out.
Senator Edgar Malepeai was chosen by his Senate party mates as minority caucus chair after being arrested on DUI charges in early December.
“Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, a Boise Democrat, says the DUI arrest was discussed, but that her Democratic colleagues decided Malepeai deserved the leadership post due to his respect and stature among lawmakers from both parties.”
What continues to strike me odd is that if someone has respect for another, then breaking the law is irrelevant. Breaking the law only becomes relevant when we don’t like someone to begin with.
We see it all too often, one person excused for exactly the same reasons that another is publicly charred over an open fire for.
Look around the internet. While we don’t always make a public spectacle of those who receive DUI’s, many people have been in serious accidents and been verbally assaulted over and over because they were drunk. Who can say that this couldn’t just have easily been Edgar Malepeai?
Why are some people excused for the exact same reasons that others are raked over the coals for?
Essentially the only thing being said here is, “I like you. Therefore, you can do whatever you want and I’ll see to it that your behavior is excused and justified and rationalized and you are taken care of. I don’t like so and so, therefore, I will beat the living tar out of him/her no matter what!”
Help me understand this please.
Freedom Flight went from rags to riches and almost, to slaughter. The horse’s racing career came to an abrupt end in it’s early stages when the thoroughbreds leg snapped right out of the gate at Miami’s Gulfstream race track. He was sold for $50 to a slaughterhouse.
Freedom Flight’s new owner Richard Couto is now on a mission to shut down illegal slaughterhouses.
The article linked above, made me ill to think that anyone could treat an animal as poorly as this slaughterhouse treats these horses. Yet we read about this type of treatment almost daily, whether its horses, pigs, cats, dogs or other animals, for some reason too many people don’t view them as worthy of compassion.
Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen has been under fire in recent weeks due to his handling of a badly injured dog. Yet, Idaho still can’t seem to get up to speed on animal cruelty laws. Cats are mousers, dogs are herders and protectors, and most other animals are suitable for food only. People with this attitude towards animals give our state a bad name.
For years now, a small cluster of people have worked hard to bring awareness of the problem to lawmakers in Idaho. For years, they’ve been shut down. It’s time to join together to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
Bristol Palin wants sole custody of her son.
That’s odd since I remember only a year ago, she had the man of her dreams and they were going to live happily ever after. Now, because he reportedly posed for Playgirl Magazine, he’s not her studly boy after all.
The originally closed proceedings were opened due to Levi pushing the issue. He didn’t believe he stood a chance against, not Bristol, rather, dear Bristol’s mother Sarah. How did we see that coming?
Levi hath come out of the closet and is revealing Palin family secrets. Sarah is publicly slamming Levi every opportunity she gets.
Who is this custody battle between?
Sarah had lots of great things to say about Levi a year ago. Her daughter was going to marry him and those of us who were remotely opposed to such a young and seemingly arranged marriage due to pregnancy, could kiss off. Now she’s accusing him of selling porn. Well what can ya say, he’s got a good body. It’s money. Somehow I think that if Bristol were doing this, Sarah would justify the means.
While Levi and Sarah divorce…or uh, was that Levi and Bristol separating? Whatever the case, while the custody battle continues, a young and innocent baby lays center stage.
Mom, to advise your daughter is one thing. To fight her battles is a whole other. Butt out.
My heart goes out to the kids….all three of them. The situation is unfortunate all the way around.
Have you read local news lately? An unsuspecting Haven Shelter resident was given a car for Christmas. How cool is that? In order for her to be able to find a secure job, she of course needed reliable transportation. Gift given.
Christmas Angels pass out hundred dollar bills at the Dollar Tree store. They carefully watched shoppers and the hundred dollar bills were only given to those who bought necessities.
I don’t know about you, but I remember as a young, single mom, a hundred dollars meant everything in the world to our survival! A car meant the difference between having a job and not having a job.
There was one Christmas where we couldn’t even afford a tree, much less gifts to put under the tree. Then came a knock on the door and when I peered out the window, there was a tree, complete with ornaments and gifts, sitting outside my door. These simple things mean a whole lot to others and as a direct result, I have done exactly that for those who go without. Return the favor. Return the gift. Whether it means buying a few sacks of food for a family who can’t afford it, or buying gifts for young children who otherwise won’t receive them, or merely hugging someone who needs comfort, or maybe complimenting one on how nice they look, what a great job they do, how much you enjoy their company…gifts are important.
Do you know how much happiness that brings to the giver? It warms the heart and soul to give. If you don’t give for anyone else, give for you. It really does help you every bit as much as it helps the receiver. Give without the intention of receiving. Gifts without thought about what you should be getting in return, are true gifts.
Kudos to those who give straight from the heart.
By now it must be old news. Prince William and his French equivalent Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, have both been spending time with the homeless.
“I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue, I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable on our streets,” the prince said after his night time escapade.
“I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London’s streets night after night. Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless. Centrepoint’s work – along with many other organisations’ – in tackling these fundamental causes is desperately important if we are ever to end homelessness in this country.”
Yet, even here in Idaho Falls, where we reportedly look after each other, you will find homeless people roaming the streets. The throwbacks of the society, those who nobody is coming forward to help.
One in particular comes to mind. He hangs out around the Walmart in Ammon. He has a dog whose name I don’t recall. The dog goes everywhere with him. The dog is as dirty and as kind and gentle as his owner.
While we jack up the heat in our homes as subzero temps hit the area, they huddle together in a fruitless effort to stay warm.
What bothers me the most, is that there are those building million dollar plus homes while others remain homeless. I fail to see the rhyme or reason here.
I commened Prince William and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, for their efforts to bring a very serious matter to our attention.
I just want to take a moment to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
This year we’ve read about war, murders, suicides….some have suffered the loss of those dear to them, others have lost jobs and still others have lost homes. For those, I know this probably won’t be such a wonderful Christmas. But my hope for all of you is that 2010 will find a new light dawning, new hope, and renewed joy.
Let’s not forget those who suffer this holiday season and keep them in prayer. Offer acts of kindness and forgiveness. We don’t always know the crosses one carries.
For those not celebrating the joy of Christmas, may your holidays be bright!
For 2010, lets end the bickering and fighting that we do with those around us, whether they be friends, foes, or family. I know, I know, easier said than done, it is for me too! But its never impossible.
Practice kindness to all. Smile at a stranger. A smile can warm a person’s heart….yeah I know, it can also make them wonder what you’re up too!
Teach your children by example. That ol’ do as I say not as I do, was thrown in the garbage long ago. We all know children don’t learn that way. Children learn by example.
Tell your children you how much you love them as often as they can stomach hearing it! Life can be short. Children old and young need to hear it. They need you to show it. Affection can go a long way towards healing wounds with your children. They are our most important gift.
Merry Christmas to all!
Hitt Road just south of 17th has hit the news again! Pardon that pun but from the sound of the article listed on KPVI, we’re going to go the rounds with the Ammon City leaders again.
The shopping entrances at Target and Best Buy, not to mention Albertsons and the Grand Teton Mall parking lot, well….let’s take this a step further and the other side of Hitt Road on 17th in Ammon…and we have what one might refer to as an accident (or several) waiting to happen. Or have they already? After 133 accidents on Hitt Road near Target and Best Buy, Idaho Falls has finally decided that something needs to be done. Imagine that?
And imagine this quote in the article:
“The City of Ammon says they are willing to listen to ideas the City of Idaho Falls has for future projects in the area, but can not guarantee at the moment any contribution in financing construction.”
We finally vote out one Mayor in Ammon who refuses to become involved in spending any money for the safety of their citizens, and now it appears that we’ve encountered yet another. Time will tell I suppose, but somehow, I expected that response.
If you haven’t already heard, we’ve had another domestic dispute here in Idaho Falls that resulted in the death of two people.
Keith Matthias shot and killed his wife’s lover, Jack Purcell Friday night in the WalMart parking lot. He then proceded to Hawthorne Elementary School and shot himself. Jennifer Matthias was unharmed.
Two things come to mind with this event:
1) Is anyone really worth all that?
I totally and completely understand that a person is devastated upon finding out that the person they love is cheating on them. The person you love is generally someone with whom you’ve given your total and complete trust to. That hurts. But harming them? Harming you? Nobody is worth that. That person is clearly not worthy of your trust. You have learned a hard lesson. But I’m going to suggest that you are better off without them if they can’t be trusted.
2) Why is it that those who begin affairs, won’t end the relationship they’re in first?
What makes you think you can have your cake and eat it too? Why didn’t you leave the person you’re with, prior to beginning an affair with someone else? You aren’t being fair to anyone by carrying on multiple relationships. Not person A, not person B, and not yourself! If person B means so much more to you than person A, then by all means, go with person B. But leave person A first!
And one more thing…why did she call her lover and not the police?
Even if Keith had not killed himself, he would have been looking at a life long prison sentence. Nobody is worth any of this.
So there we were standing in line waiting for my grandson to sit on Santa’s lap. He’s still a baby and we weren’t sure what response he’d have to the big burly man dressed in red with that huge white beard. When his daddy was little and had his first encounter with Santa he was absolutely star struck. But he was a bit older and his baby brother was terrified! He literally climbed up me screaming in terror! And so, we decided that if my grandson cried, we would remove him from Santa’s lap and live without those precious photos.
Fortunately for us, he found Santa to be a very intriguing old man and tugged on his beard and giggled. We have several pictures and little key chains to prove it.
Apparently the couple in front of us didn’t have the same take on the matter. They had a little girl of about 4 or 5 years who was clearly not wanting to sit on Santa’s lap. She shied away with a finger in her mouth and a look of horror on her face. Mom and dad coaxed her for a bit and then mom, appearing very frustrated, exclaimed, “You are going to sit on Santa’s lap and get your picture taken laughing or crying. Now get up here!”
I wanted to slap the mother, and hug the little girl. My heart went out to this frightened little one.
Christmas is supposed to be about love and giving, not about scaring the hell out of your children. Imagine being a little one and seeing a man who looked like no other you’d ever seen before. Seriously, that can be frightening to a child.
Parents, get over yourselves. Your child needs to accept the big man in their own time, not yours.