From the category archives:

Business Ideas

Is Citizen Journalism Useful or Important?

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
13 comments Read the full article →

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

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
26 comments Read the full article →

Does Idaho Falls want Areva?

by Joe Vandal March 2, 2008

Everyone has probably heard by now that our Idaho Falls area is being considered for a multi-billion dollar uranium enrichment plant, to be built by the French company Areva. There are many important issues surrounding this potential deal, and it could dramatically affect Idaho Falls’ future. This is important for locals to discuss. Some Areva [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
96 comments Read the full article →

Campaign Against Plastic Shopping Bags

by Joe Vandal January 30, 2008

Have you heard about the campaign to ban plastic shopping bags? This is the latest environmental movement that appears to be going mainstream. The popular natural foods grocer Whole Foods announced they will stop distributing plastic bags by this year’s Earth Day. 100% recycled paper bags will be offered instead. Whole Foods is regarded as [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
54 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Falls Development Chatter 08Q1

by Joe Vandal January 25, 2008

This is a quarterly series about commercial, residential, and industrial developments in our area. IdahoFallz has other great discussions on particular real estate and business developments, so this is a general-purpose/open forum on this topic.
This discussion is for talking about what what went good and bad with old developments, new developments, proposed developments, and [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
4 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Liquor Law Reforms

by Joe Vandal January 3, 2008

Idaho needs to make a couple major changes to state liquor laws. The most needed change is to prevent private parties holding a liquor license from being able to resell that liquor license. The second change would be to eliminate restrictions on how many liquor licenses can be issued, no matter the population. These two [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
32 comments Read the full article →

How to Improve Southeast Idaho News Environment

by Joe Vandal December 17, 2007

I got notice that my online subscription to the Post Register expires this Wednesday. I do not think I will pay for a renewal, for a few reasons.
First, I really think I deserve a free subscription, given the huge amounts of free advertising I do for the PR on IFz. I must mention an article [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
16 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Falls Country Club Oversells Itself

by Joe Vandal November 21, 2007

What gives the Idaho Falls Country Club the right to call themselves a country club? Probably their own historical claim and little else. I think the IFCC is overselling itself, and they should fix some things or risk getting buried by a competitor.
This started when a friend told me about his golfing buddy who [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
16 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Falls Development Chatter 07Q4

by Joe Vandal October 5, 2007

This is the first in what I hope is an active quarterly series about commercial, residential, and industrial developments. We have hosted previous attempts to discuss real estate and business developments, but they always focused on a particular development or issue. This became awkward when we tried discussing other developments, and trying to develop discussion [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
32 comments Read the full article →

Central Clearinghouse Needed To Sell Dead Identities

by Joe Vandal August 18, 2007

American businesses have a serious problem knowing when to let go of a dead contact. Businesses waste too much money each year marketing to people who are not only dead, but have been dead for several years. I read one story of a parent who lost their child at five years old, then began receiving [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
7 comments Read the full article →

Conversation with Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman

by Joe Vandal August 8, 2007

I had a chance to speak with Idaho Falls Mayor Jared Fuhriman this morning. I have met with him a couple times previously, but did not want to make a big deal about it, and definitely do not want to imply he endorses IdahoFallz.com or anything like that. Usually a mayor would not have any [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
89 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
17 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
14 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
14 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
4 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
38 comments Read the full article →

How would you change the Post Register?

by Joe Vandal May 31, 2007

Roger Plothow wrote about some changes coming to our local Post Register, spurred by an apparently frank discussion with their community advisory board. An immediate change is to stop publishing local opinion page writers, at least for the summer.
Roger said they are open to fresh ideas from the community, so I thought I would open [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
143 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Falls Natural Food COOP, anyone?

by cacaocraver February 21, 2007

My husband and I are very interested in helping to start a Natural Foods Coop in the IF area. We understand that a group of people have started some work on a coop, including a website. We have not been able to get in touch with anyone associated with this start-up however. [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
66 comments Read the full article →

Do You Want a 13-14 Story Marriott Residence Inn Hotel/Condo at Taylor’s Crossing?

by Ok4Now February 8, 2007

Last summer we were introduced to photos and story regarding the 13 story Marriott Residence Inn to be built at Taylor’s Crossing. As you have probably noticed, there aren’t cranes and workers building what would be the tallest building in Idaho Falls. I’ve added the “14th” floor, as I’ve never stayed in a [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
206 comments Read the full article →

Idaho Business Complaints

by Joe Vandal February 5, 2007

Several people have approached me about writing complaints they have against local businesses. This is obviously a touchy subject.
On one hand, consumers should approach businesses themselves if they have problems. If they cannot resolve those problems, then they should file a complaint at the Better Business Bureau. Another negative issue is that publishing complaint stories [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
241 comments Read the full article →

Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant in Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal December 3, 2006

I would like to see an Idaho Falls restaurant focused exclusively on Thanksgiving meal-type foods. It could be called something like “Thanksgiving Dinner”, “Thanksgiving Diner”, “Thanksgiving Eats” or “Thanksgiving Fixings”.
The menu would feature things traditional Thanksgiving foods like turkey, smoked turkey, fried turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, rolls, deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, etc. The food [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
13 comments Read the full article →

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 [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
35 comments Read the full article →

The Evolution of Video Advertising

by Joe Vandal August 23, 2006

I’m surprised to see some businesses still using traditional 30-second television advertisements. My surprise is due to ever-decreasing television viewership pitted against the inexplicably ever-increasing television advertising costs.

Even when television is watched anymore, DVR/Tivo technologies allow viewers to easily skip past the commercials. My household has two televisions and a DVR on each set; [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
16 comments Read the full article →

Above and beyond employee appreciation

by Joe Vandal August 12, 2006

I called our local Valley Glass a couple years ago to inquire when an order would arrive and be installed. I was surprised when the guy told me it could not be installed for two weeks because all the employees were going on a cruise the next week. I laughed and congratulated the guy for [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
4 comments Read the full article →

Electronic Sign Strategies in Idaho Falls

by Joe Vandal August 8, 2006

Idaho Falls must be in the grip of an uber-sign salesman lately. I’m seeing more of these electronic signs cropping up around Idaho Falls and hope our local business community will listen to consumer advice about them.
The electronic signs I refer to range from simple scrolling text like on the Mason’s Lodge to the [...]

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blogger Post
  • MySpace
9 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →