From the monthly archives:

November 2006

Open Mike for Idaho Falls City Workers November 2006

by Joe Vandal November 30, 2006

We will start republishing this open forum for Idaho Falls city workers on the last day of each month. The last one in July was one of the most commented-on articles.
This monthly open forum will be a vehicle for city workers (or anyone with knowledge of inner city workings) to discuss what they think is [...]

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Snow Plow is the Happy Balance of Snow Shovels

by Joe Vandal November 29, 2006

Oh what debates rage in eastern Idaho over snow removal techniques.
On one end is the traditional snow shovel, breaking your back and your body into a sweat, but much cheaper and more exercise than a snow blower.
On the other end is the snow blower, much more expensive to buy and operate, much more [...]

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Must Idaho High School Students Take ASVAB Test?

by Joe Vandal November 28, 2006

Pre-released on IdahoFallz MySpace page:
I recently read this story about a couple high school students in Georgia who frustrated military recruiters’ attempts to administer ASVAB tests under the guise of “career placement tests”.
Apparently the two students overheard teachers discussing that the tests would be given the after the weekend, that the students would be [...]

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Idaho Falls Community-Styled Websites

by Joe Vandal November 27, 2006

This is the second installment of a new series I am publishing every Monday, called â€œIF Onlineâ€. Each article will examine an aspect of our Idaho Falls area that has an online presence. The series will run at least four weeks.
This week I will call your attention to local community-styled websites. What is the saying [...]

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What are your holiday traditions, Idaho Falls?

by Joe Vandal November 26, 2006

I think it’s widely acknowledged the holiday season starts Thanksgiving weekend. I was wondering what similar or different holiday traditions we celebrate in Idaho Falls?
My family sets out our Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving weekend. We have two fake trees now, one for upstairs and the basement. We only setup one at first with wooden ornaments, [...]

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Target Again Fails to Control Black Friday Crowds

by Joe Vandal November 24, 2006

I wrote last year about the responsibilities Black Friday retailers have to reduce bad shopper behaviors. That was an experience at Wal-Mart in which they badly handled the shopping experience of a super-discounted laptop computer. Was anyone at Wal-Mart this year who can relate their experience?

Last year, the local Target store was very effective in [...]

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Eight Ways to Improve Our City Website

by Joe Vandal November 20, 2006

This is the first installment of a new series I am publishing every Monday, called “IF Online”. Each article will examine an aspect of our Idaho Falls area that has an online presence. The series will run at least four weeks.
This week I will suggest improvements to our official city website. A previous article also [...]

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Otter and Risch Squeeze Idaho’s Middle Class

by Joe Vandal November 19, 2006

First Interim Governor Jim Risch wrangled a tax shift from property taxes to sales tax that mostly benefited Idaho’s wealthier citizens and companies. Now Governor-Elect Butch Otter is proposing to eliminate the sales tax, but only for Idaho’s poorest residents.

Where do these two major tax plans leave Idaho’s middle class? Two Republican governors in [...]

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You don’t have to be a geek to enjoy podcasts

by Joe Vandal November 17, 2006

You do not need an iPod to enjoy podcasts! I have to say that quick and loud right up front, because unfortunately most people hear ‘podcast’ and assume it’s only usable with an iPod or MP3 player, which is not the case at all.
Podcasts are free video and audio files available for easy download. You [...]

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Broadway Railroad Crossing Gives Bad First Impression of Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal November 16, 2006

Imagine pulling off the freeway of any random town you have never visited. While waiting at the exit ramp’s stoplight, you see a beautiful white stone with the town’s name and a pleasant natural scene carved into it. You turn right because you see gas stations, restaurants, and a trusty Wal-Mart in that [...]

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Increase Penalties for Leaving Accident Scenes

by Joe Vandal November 15, 2006

According to a recent KIDK 3 report, 20% of DUIs are hit-and-run because the offenders know they will get much less punishment for leaving the scene than for getting a DUI, especially if they already have DUIs on their record.

While we cannot prove if they were drunk, it’s time to dramatically increase the penalties for [...]

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The Rumor Mill…A new addition to the Row?

by dnix0112 November 14, 2006

Hotel and Restaurant Row in Idaho Falls may be getting a new addition.
I have a new bit of information to report that has some back bone to it…babyback bone. I have heard rumors and have seen a site plan that indicates more dining establishments coming to the Broadway Wal-Mart site, and the newest rumor comes [...]

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New State Prison in Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal November 14, 2006

I hope someone builds a privately-run state prison in the Idaho Falls area. A new prison in our area would provide many local jobs, it would be a shot in the arm for local growth, and Idaho is overdue for a new prison anyways.
It makes sense for Idaho to locate the next major detention facility [...]

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Biggest developments in 06′

by dnix0112 November 13, 2006

Even though the year is not yet over and there may certainly be more news before it ends, I have decided to take a look back and rank what I see as the biggest developments in 06′.
First off, I am sure everyone will agree the biggest would have to be Taylor Crossing and the announcement [...]

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The Home Depot Customer Service Deficiency

by Joe Vandal November 12, 2006

I laughed when I recently read The 10 Best (and 10 Worst) Companies for Customer Service. Number four on the list of worst companies was The Home Depot.

I also had a recent poor customer service experience at the Idaho Falls Home Depot store. Please keep in mind that I spend lots of money at home [...]

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94.3 Gets Family Christmas Music Wrong

by Joe Vandal November 11, 2006

Many eastern Idahoans were disappointed when local radio station 94.3 played two months of Christmas music then switched to wuss programming.
The other night I was actually in the mood for Christmas music, and quickly found 94.3 is playing two months of Christmas music again this year.
Unfortunately, I had to quickly shut off 94.3 and [...]

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Give me thirty seconds and I will give you IE tabs in Firefox

by Joe Vandal November 10, 2006

Firefox is the superior browser to Internet Explorer (IE) 6 or 7, but occasionally some websites have particular code that only works in IE. Those sites are few and far between, but they do complicate the browsing experience by forcing you to launch IE instead of another Firefox tab.
For example, I can use Yahoo! [...]

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Idaho asserts education as lowest priority

by Joe Vandal November 9, 2006

It seems America took four steps forward while Idaho took eight steps backwards this election. I don’t mean one party is or will be better than the other. I mean that folks were tired of the same, tired lines from one party and elected a new direction, a change up.
America’s change ups that are [...]

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KPVI 6 Reporter Suzanne Hobbs on the Oprah show

by Joe Vandal November 8, 2006

I was surprised to see a local reporter on the Oprah show and not see or hear a mention in our local media. KPVI Channel 6 reporter Suzanne Hobbs was featured for about four minutes during Oprah’s November 3, 2006 show on teen mothers who kill their newborn babies.
Footage was shown from the infamous [...]

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Idaho Electronic Voting Considerations

by Joe Vandal November 7, 2006

I’ve read many stories the last couple years about electronic voting technology. HBO’s Special Hacking Democracy on aired Sunday and is available to watch for free on Google Video. It is a great expose of the problems with this early technology, and how the electronic voting machine companies are covering up the shortfalls.

I recently saw [...]

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How Idaho Falls can foster a Silicon Valley economy

by Joe Vandal November 6, 2006

I recently read an article about how your town could make itself into a Silicon Valley. The emphasis was on fostering a technology-startup economy that generates lots of cash and tourists. Wouldn’t it be nice if Idaho Falls could cultivate an environment that generated lots of startup companies, with the cash and tourist boom following?

The [...]

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Idaho Falls Legislative Race

by Joe Vandal November 5, 2006

This should be the final candidate-discussion article for the 2006 Election season (is that applause?)

I’m kinda disappointed in some of our local candidates exposure to the public. Only Cannon, McGeachin, Williams, and McGimpsey setup websites to reach voters. Only Cannon and McGimpsey made an effort to discuss issues with local voters on this website.
The [...]

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Firefox 2’s built-in spellchecker is great for blogging

by Joe Vandal November 3, 2006

Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 2 were both released a week or so ago. IE7 is pushed as an automatic update from Microsoft, so the number of people switching to that is significant and growing. You can get Firefox 2 for free with a small download at Mozilla.org It takes just a couple minutes to [...]

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Local Company to Throw Concert, Party for new Clothing Line

by JeremyPlo November 2, 2006

It’s not every day a national act plays Idaho Falls … it’s also as rare that a local pigeonhole clothing line becomes as successful as Devin Taylor’s Bleeding Star.
So to celebrate their new fall line of t-shirts, Bleeding Star will be bringing in metal acts Drop Dead, Gorgeous , Dear Whoever, Upon Beauty Rests, The [...]

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Otter was rude, but people ate it up.

by Peter Nguyen November 2, 2006

Tuesday afternoon I staffed Jerry Brady (I work for him) as he attended the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Luncheon.
The previous night was spent at the debate in Twin Falls where Jerry just shined. It was great.
At the luncheon, Otter spoke first. He’s an excellent speaker. I guess that’s what comes with 30 years of [...]

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