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Joe Vandal

Open Mike for Local Government Workers August 2007

by Joe Vandal August 1, 2007

This is an open forum for Idaho Falls city or Bonneville County employees to speak their minds. This is a vehicle for city/county workers, or anyone with knowledge of inner city/county workings, to discuss what they think is going well or going wrong with our local governments.
Employees are especially invited to give kudos to people [...]

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August 1, 2007 State of the City Blog

by Joe Vandal August 1, 2007

July 2007 was our twenty-second operational month, and we earned an all time high of 19,536 visitors! All you visitors and participants are awesome. We now have 551 articles, which have generated 7,915 comments.
A couple articles were submitted in July via the new EZ Article Submission Form, which does not require any registration. I hope [...]

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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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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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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 [...]

40 comments Read the full article →

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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Kudos for Donating New Idaho Falls Park along Snake River

by Joe Vandal June 29, 2007

I could not tell from the PR article if it was the local Smith (Automotive) Group or a person by the name of Smith that donated the land for our new city park, but I think that was awesome for them to do that.
The land is described as on the west bank, just north of [...]

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Idaho Lawsuit Caps Signal Class Warfare, Lack of Respect, and Suppression of Justice

by Joe Vandal June 28, 2007

Brock Higham recently won a $5.1 million jury award from his lawsuit against East Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC). Debate raged about the lawsuit merits, whether there was any proof of EIRMC negligence, and if EIRMC employees destroyed documentation of their negligence.
However, the real story is that Higham will only be able to collect [...]

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Free Summer Kids Movies at Edwards Theater

by Joe Vandal June 27, 2007

Our local Edwards theater in Ammon (Grand Teton Stadium 14) is showing some free kids movies again this summer.
This can be a great way to get your family out of the house, get free entertainment, and sit in air conditioned and comfortable seating for a couple hours. Be advised the theaters fill up, so get [...]

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Renouncing Political Party Membership Sends Clearest Message

by Joe Vandal June 26, 2007

If someone you cared about asked you for money and support, then acted recklessly, immaturely, even criminally with your money and support, how would you respond?
If it was your teenager, what would you do?
If it was an alcoholic or drug-abusing sibling, what would you do?
If it was your political party, what would [...]

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Strange Duets Musical Mashup Concert Festival Proposed

by Joe Vandal June 25, 2007

Back in the 90’s Aerosmith and Run DMC put out a mashup of “Walk This Way“, which was fairly popular, if only due to the disparate genres being mixed collaboratively. Since then, not many cross-genre collaborations have happened, I think there was a country and R&B mashup last year.
A currently popular YouTube mashup features [...]

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Your Chance to Influence Idaho Falls’ Dining and Retail Future

by Joe Vandal June 21, 2007

This is fourth Taylor-Crossing discussion thread at Idaho Falls. Obviously the Taylor Crossing development is that big of a deal in Idaho Falls. The previous discussion threads were Why Idaho Falls needs Taylor Crossing, Taylor Crossing Unveils Largest Bronze Eagles, and Do You Want a 13-14 Story Marriott Residence Inn Hotel/Condo at Taylor’s Crossing?
This thread [...]

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Overheard in Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal June 19, 2007

People are imperfect.
People say silly or stupid things to each other daily.
Sometimes you overhear these things and it makes you laugh.
I hope you have read some of the short quips at overheardinnewyork.com Be aware of some extreme language at that site.
Since we already have a geographically-tied public forum, I figure it’s okay to [...]

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Reduce Idaho Falls Gas Use and Price Gouging

by Joe Vandal June 17, 2007

More than any tiny gas savings we could achieve with currently available methods, more than anything we need to reduce gas spending and gas consumption simply by reducing gasoline use.
Try biking. Try walking. Try carpooling. Try waiting and consolidating shopping trips. Try asking if some days can be worked from home. Try to reduce [...]

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Idaho Falls’ Top Traffic Tick-Offs

by Joe Vandal June 15, 2007

I think Idaho Falls needs to plan for the day we hit 100,000 residents, else we are planning to fail.
However, what and where are the top traffic spots in Idaho Falls that tick you off today, that you wish the city would fix ASAP?
The Boise newspaper had a weekly traffic column, where residents could write [...]

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The Savannah Berrey Trial: Justice or Not?

by Joe Vandal June 11, 2007

The Savannah Berrey case is over. The public has been presented with the evidence. The jury convicted her in a short time. Would you have convicted her based on the evidence presented?
A whisper was heard that firefighters were pretty sure the fire was not started by the marijuana pipe, but that they were not [...]

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