From the monthly archives:

July 2007

Idaho Tips for Healthy Marriages and Families

by Joe Vandal July 27, 2007

As we pass our eight-year anniversary, I reflect on how lucky I am my wife has not strangled me to death in my sleep. Goodness knows I have given her plentiful reasons to do so.
I recently saw a study suggesting folks who keep their automobiles longer tend to keep longer and happier marriages. Folks who [...]

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Do You Support Impeaching President Bush?

by Joe Vandal July 26, 2007

I once read in the book, Psychology of Persuasion, about a technique asking someone to state an initially simple belief, then tying that simple belief to the belief you want them to have. If you believe A, and AB is somehow similar to A, then you must believe AB and subsequently B, right? It is [...]

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Send Idaho High School Students to Prison

by Joe Vandal July 25, 2007

I propose sending all Idaho high school students to the state penitentiary located south of Boise. I do not mean we should lock them up. I propose we send students there annually on a field trip so they can witness our harsh prison system. Perhaps this investment in time and money could help some of [...]

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Are there dog fights in southeast Idaho?

by Joe Vandal July 19, 2007

Nationwide attention has focused recently on the controversial dog fighting issue, and animal fighting contests in general, following the indictment of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick. He is charged with engaging in competitive dogfighting, acquiring and training pit bulls specifically for fighting, and running the illegal activities across state lines.
The first response I had, and [...]

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Chukars Fans Need Shade at Melaleuca Field

by Joe Vandal July 18, 2007

Many folks have visited the new Melaleuca Field to watch the Idaho Falls Chukars baseball team play. Most folks have agreed the newly constructed facilities far exceed the conditions of the old McDermott Field. Seeing a Chukars baseball game is still a great value for the family, with tickets only six bucks, and “free” tickets [...]

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Open Letter to Cable One

by alfranken4president July 14, 2007

Dear Cable One,
I was blazing mad the first time I subscribed to your Internet service and discovered how long it took before regular service was available. In the end it turned out to be impossible to connect from my end; an employee at your end had to rig things up so that the [...]

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Challenge Idaho Falls Cop Critics to Attend Citizens Academy

by Joe Vandal July 14, 2007

We apparently have some angst between cops and cop critics lately on some IFz discussions. I do not know if this results from lingering mistrust after the Kimball Mason scandal, or from long-simmering tensions some folks have against law enforcement.
The angst seems to boil down to some people feel there are some bad cops vs. [...]

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Japanese Temple/Shrine in Idaho Falls

by dnix0112 July 13, 2007

Much how other cities in the country have a China Town, Idaho Falls could have a Japanese themed area with the centerpiece being a Japanese temple.
Most know that Idaho Falls is the sister city to Tokai-Mura, Japan. Most also know that Idaho Falls and East Idaho were home to concentration camps for Japanese citizens during [...]

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Diner Proposed to Serve Airport, Call Centers, and Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal July 11, 2007

I propose a diner or cafe be located on a vacant lot near the Idaho Falls airport, specifically on International Way.
There is a perfect little spot on the north side of International Way, between the white Scientech building and the call centers’ parking lot. I included the map graphic to give you an idea of [...]

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Melaleuca Golf Course

by Joe Vandal July 8, 2007

I had an idea while driving to Pocatello the other day. As I passed the new Melaleuca headquarters, I thought the building looked nice, especially with the clock face. I looked at all the farmland around their new building, and wondered who owned it and what the future area might look like.
For some reason, I [...]

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Idaho Falls Councilman Larry Lyon Sues Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal July 6, 2007

The Post Register reported our own Idaho Falls city councilman Larry Lyon has filed a half-million dollar tort claim against Idaho Falls, meaning he can and likely will sue our city for that amount if the city denies his claim (which is almost certain).
Uhhhh, say what?
Larry Lyon’s political career in Idaho Falls has burned [...]

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Idaho Falls 2007 Fourth of July Festivities

by Joe Vandal July 5, 2007

Another Fourth of July has come and passed Idaho Falls, and I think our city did a great job with this year’s festivities. Kudos to the thousands of people who worked behind the scenes to make all these great events. I hope a congratulatory picnic for those people can be arranged, we should thank them [...]

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Michael Moore’s Sicko: Is America’s Health Care System Sick?

by Joe Vandal July 2, 2007

“We’ve given the entire health care system over to the insurance industry … they have total control.”
This statement represents the core of Michael Moore’s latest film, Sicko. Does anyone dispute this statement? More importantly, does anyone believe the insurance industry has fostered quality health care in America? Does anyone believe health insurance companies have acted [...]

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Open Mike for Idaho Falls City Workers July 2007

by Joe Vandal July 1, 2007

We occasionally republish this open forum for Idaho Falls city workers. This monthly open forum is a vehicle for city workers (or anyone with knowledge of inner city workings) to discuss what they think is going good and going wrong for our Idaho Falls government.
City workers are invited to give kudos to people who may [...]

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July 1, 2007 State of the City Blog

by Joe Vandal July 1, 2007

June 2007 was our twenty-first operational month, and we earned over 18,400 visitors! At this point, a lot of IFz traffic is from search-engines, so IFz traffic counts will probably hover around the 18-20k mark for a few months. All you visitors and participants are awesome. We now have 536 articles, which have generated 6,947 [...]

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