Author Archive

Should Authorities be Separating Mothers from their Children in the San Angelo Polygamist Community?

Posted by Joe Vandal

April 22, 2008

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to the newsletter or RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!(Article submitted by volunteer writer: “Local Author”)
Admin Note: IdahoFallz.com has for some time has had a “no religious discussion” policy. It is a good policy to maintain. Let’s keep this the discussion away from religion […]

Three Steps to End Our War on Drugs

Posted by Joe Vandal

April 13, 2008

I am surprised nobody has yet written an article at IdahoFallz.com about America’s decades-old War on Drugs. I read many comments where site users express their desire to read and discuss the Drug War. I personally waited to write about it because people who bring up the topic tend to be quickly smeared as “another […]

Let the wolf hunts begin

Posted by Joe Vandal

April 3, 2008

The reintroduction of wolves thirteen years ago began a long-arcing circle that has finally made a turn the other direction. Pro-wolf forces enjoyed thirteen years of watching the reintroduced wolf packs multiply and grow a population far larger than the original plan. Finally, the wolves have been removed from the endangered species list, Idaho can […]

Local News Station KPVI Stole My Work

Posted by Joe Vandal

April 2, 2008

This morning I discovered that our local NBC news affiliate KPVI published a news story on their website, and the graphic they used was stolen from my website, the IdahoFallz.com blog. You can see clearly from the attached images that they used my “IFPD” picture taken of an IFPD truck, originally published on IdahoFallz.com as […]

Is Citizen Journalism Useful or Important?

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 30, 2008

I see news stories and tidbit phenomena almost daily about citizen journalism (a.k.a. participatory media and many other titles). Normal, everyday people who have no journalistic base have been technologically and psychologically enabled by the Internet to become citizen journalists. What has it meant so far, and where do you think it could go from […]

How to not be stupid when dealing with technology

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 27, 2008

I hope to generate a meta-level discussion about wisdom and strategies when using technology. What I mean is we should discuss what technology means to us, how we need to adapt and re-orient our old frames-of-mind to the new digital world. Some things are radically different in technology, some things are the same. How to […]

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How you can help solve the 1996 Angie Dodge murder

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 24, 2008

We are going to solve Idaho Falls’ 1996 Angie Raye Dodge murder. This is an extremely ambitious goal, but solving this murder is vital for a local family to get closure, for our community to finally know what happened, and possibly to expose official misdeeds at that time. The stakes are high to solve the […]

Mesothelioma in Idaho: Asbestos Causes, Risk Factors, and Treatments

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 24, 2008

I keep hearing about mesothelioma, and I learned early on that it was a form of cancer caused by asbestos, but just recently I thought to write an article on the topic. I hope we can share mesothelioma facts and gain a greater understanding of this disease. What are the available or cutting-edge mesothelioma treatment […]

Idaho’s Otter Must Be On Drugs

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 22, 2008

Can we get our governor drug tested? Our legislature has one week left in session, is it possible for them to quickly introduce and pass a bill requiring weekly urinalysis of our Governor?
Why do I suspect Governor Butch Otter is on drugs? How else do you explain Idaho’s governor vetoing an uber-popular drug treatment […]

Should We Rebuild the Teton Dam?

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 21, 2008

I could not believe the news that our Idaho legislature has appropriated $400,000 to study whether the infamous Teton Dam should be rebuilt. The Teton Dam collapse and subsequent flood was the worst disaster ever in southeast Idaho’s modern recorded history. Five southeast Idaho counties were declared federal disaster areas by President Gerald Ford. I’m […]

Idaho Falls Reads…

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 20, 2008

This discussion thread is similar to our “Seen Any Good Movies Lately” thread, but on the topic of reading.
This month our Idaho Falls Public Library is doing another of their “Idaho Falls Reads” community readathons (or whatever you call them), and the selected book is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. You can get yourself […]

Dupre as Pandora’s Box: Should anyone profit from crime?

Posted by Joe Vandal

March 16, 2008

This started out as a poll suggestion from regular IFz contributor, Mike, but we decided the topic got too complicated for a simple poll and really deserved a full discussion thread.
From Mike:
As you know the Elliot Spitzer story is up and running. There is an interesting component that is now being focused on: the […]

Idaho Falls Live Chat

Last Message 4 hours, 45 minutes ago

3 guests are online. Google and Google are crawling the site.

Guest_7000 : That is funny!
Guest_5547 : What a hoot! its funny to see somebody complain about sock puppeting while they themselves are sock puppeting. lol
Guest_House : Looks like whats their name is whining again.
boomer : Your rules are very clear, and they're right above the response box. All you mods need to do is enforce them. There are lots of ways then can do it, and there should be nothing to prevent them from expressing their views as long as they follow the same rules. It's up to you to decide if a mod is off center or playing hanky-panky in some way, and you can fire 'em at will. This is your joint, and we are all here as your guests. You can stop any party that gets too rowdy anytime you want.
boomer : Hi, Joe...
Guest_me : hmmm, a matter of opinion...
0000 : Yeah, the difference is that now we're crabbing with good reason.
Guest_me : Not many posting lately, seems more like a bunch of crabbing. Hope to see more viewers posting instead of arguing.
Guest_me : I like the new format, several articles on the front home page. Makes it easier to go back over the last week or more of posts.
0000 : He has no interest in that 1234. That's been made quite clear.
Guest_1234 : Talk is cheap. So put your actions where you mouth is.
Guest_1234 : Joe, how can discussion be mind bending when only folks who agree with each other and you and the mods are welcome?
0000 : tks u2
Guest_1234 : k bey. nice chattin
Guest_1234 : slapping each other on the bak and eating each others fleas. a pretty aprop. comment i think
0000 : yeah I agree with that. I need to go to bed. You take care okay?
Guest_1234 : an out of town friend logged on the other day and reviewed some stuff. her comment was it felt really creepy to her ... like a bunch of monkey's who can only get their identity from
0000 : Well here comes the ultimate in "sigh"ers. You have a great night 1234
0000 : they'll get pretty bored amongst themselves with nobody to make fun of and everyone to agree with.
0000 : yep, it sure will.
Guest_1234 : and when that happens the site will die. too bad.
0000 : then they can keep the site one-sided complete with condescending and spiteful remarks by whoever wants to make them provided they agree with the majority.
0000 : I agree. But if Joe only listens to them, then the rest of us don't count I guess huh?
Guest_1234 : moderators evenhanded? yeah, sinc when. this sort of "spinning" the facts is really annoying
0000 : seems that way
0000 : they don't want drama, but they sure stir it up and then blatantly refuse to fix it.
Guest_1234 : he seems to want a community of stepford wives
0000 : quite the results huh?
Guest_1234 : ya, i've e-mailed too with the same result.
0000 : Amen to that. I am sure he umm...won't read this. He asked me to email him, but I did the other day and he didn't bother to acknowledge my email.
Guest_1234 : do a lot of us feel unwelcome here? yup! cause this is a very conservative town and many of you seem to feel that it we're not with you we're against you.
Guest_1234 : you said it was the worst ever? come on! anyone who can read can find all sorts of examples here of really rude and over the top behavior and they were'nt pulled.
Guest_1234 : whoever it was was upset, but then again i don't blamne the person. as a single mom (and the victim of a violent crime) i would have been very scared on bundy's threats. and the post was not what you're making it out to be imo.
Guest_1234 : just logged on and checked out the live chat. i did see hoagie's last post if you're referring to the one in opposable thumbs (if it was hoagie -- who know -- you seem to assume it was.
Guest_1234 : Hey Joe,
Guest_441 : Maybe I could tie it in to a "what I wish I knew back in high school" article. Who would of thought I'd see Poison as a senior in HS and as a mom! Ugh. Nite, headed to bed here too. Agreed on the drama. Feels like days of our lives sometimes.
Joe Eagle : I hope we can get off the drama over the past couple of days and get onto good thought bending discussions
Joe Eagle : Well, it's late better hit the sac. (yep, i'm getting older)
Joe Eagle : ha ha.
Joe Eagle : Nah, no need to attend all... Just a glimpse of a piece is all one needs... That's all the local papers do and they spit out articles like no tomorrow.
Guest_441 : At least I don't have the poufy bangs anymore.
Guest_441 : Ah, but then I'd have to attend all events to be fair. Want to sponsor us? Sagging, funny! Aren't we all!
Joe Eagle : and maybe sagging in a few places...
Joe Eagle : It can be on the quality of entertainment brought by the State Fair...
Guest_441 : I think it's still the same four. Hair probably not as high and teased though.
Joe Eagle : Youll have to let us know who the players are: Bobby Doll, Ricky Rocket, CC Davill, Brett Michaels... or others?
Guest_441 : What would a Poison article entail, besides those of us pushing 40 trying to revive our youth......
Joe Eagle : sounds like a blast!
Guest_441 : It will be our 3rd date in 2 months, we need a night out! Found a sitter too, yahoo!
Joe Eagle : Now, i've got the money for a concert, just not the time...
Guest_441 : Same here, but my babysitting money went for a few fun things. Best concert, Pink Floyd in 94. Or I can learn to use my current camera better!
Joe Eagle : WE'LL, now'd be a great time to get that new camera!
Joe Eagle : I grew up in humble circumstances... never much money in my pocket to buy concert tickets...
Guest_441 : My digital camera doesn't seem to work well at night, must be doing something wrong.
Joe Eagle :
Joe Eagle : Never really went to a concert....
Joe Eagle : 441, you'll have to take some pictures and write an article about the concert for us all.
Guest_441 : Or never bought a ticket b/c you snuck in?
Joe Eagle : Gnight, 0000. Thanks for your comments.
Guest_441 : You've never been to a concert?
Guest_441 : Just like when Def Lepard was here back in what, 2002?
Joe Eagle : If I was going to be in town when they play thursday, I might have actually bought my 1st concert ticket ever.
0000 : hey you two, have a great night, i'll wait for the next blowup here, it won't be long I'm sure
Guest_441 : I can't wait to see Poison, memories of high school come flooding back!
Guest_441 : could go
Joe Eagle : I can't believe they are featuring Poison! I remember them from way back in the 80's
Guest_441 : Good idea, this good go on all night. We are headed over but not sure when.
0000 : and view IPs
Joe Eagle : I'm heading to the fair tomorrow!
0000 : I think you need to read threads
Joe Eagle : If you could email me some examples of your concerns, that would help. Maybe there are some situations you are aware of that I am not.
0000 : Bluernote is another who seems to try to remain neutral in his comments, doesn't attack
Guest_441 : Sigh........So, who's headed to the fair next week?
0000 : not when they stire the fire joe
Guest_441 : I agree, it's thankless no matter how you look at it. Kind of like being a parent sometimes.
0000 : gato is one of few who usually tries to stay out of the mix when it's heated, but even at that, I think she should step in and try to calm it down
Joe Eagle : They are volunteers... they volunteered when there was a need. If anything I think we should be at least thankful to them for helping with the site.
Guest_441 : No, you read it wrong. I meant we all submit ideas for how to be a moderator, rules for moderators, etc. Then Joe drafts a "rules for moderators" guidelines based on input.
0000 : then Joe, you need to pick more responsible moderators
0000 : 441, another popularity contest
Joe Eagle : Moderators need to be able to comment. They are volunteers who help keep the site up and running and free of junk. They first came here to participate and give of their time to all.
0000 : we know who most are and we usually know when they are using a sock puppet, but one way or the other, some of them really stir the pot.
Guest_441 : Maybe we need to start a "what will make the best moderator" thread, let the readers post how they would like to see moderators act, see what ideas come out of it.
Joe Eagle : Well, that's why I've allowed all the moderators to remain anon. So they can participate as a regular user and still edit an objectionable post when necessary (vulgarity, attacks, spam, etc)
0000 : that might help 441
0000 : not even when they use sock puppets
Guest_441 : Maybe moderators could step in with a "hey, chill out, here's the rule you're violating here" comment, but refrain from giving their own opinion in the thread during the arguing.
0000 : when they start throwing in smart a-- commens, they don't look responsible
0000 : if they can't remain objective, yes
Joe Eagle : Do you think moderators should be restricted from posting their views?
0000 : some of the mods are great at stirring the pot. They should try to remain neutral instead of smart a** remarks
0000 : having moderators as opposed to little spies might be a start, people who will step in to calm things down instead of stirring the fire with unwarranted comments
Joe Eagle : I agree we want them to feel welcome...
Joe Eagle : What do you think would help people feel more welcome
0000 : That's why Joe Vandal quit allowing moderators, he did it.
Joe Eagle : I absolutly do not read all the posts. If only I had that much time on my hands... But I've asked the moderators to keep me informed as to what they do change, and I do read through some threads when I get the chance.
0000 : You are the only one who can change that.
0000 : Some don't exactly feel welcome
Joe Eagle : And as I said - everyone is welcome here, just lets please play a little nicer.
0000 : I thought you didn't read posts much?