As the year winds down we want to offer a refresher course in the “theme” we use to offer that different SLANT on the news.

–We take credit for creating the words “GROWTHOPHOBE” and GROWTHOPHILE.” No better confirmation for our claim than the world authority on words–GOOGLE. Just put “growthophobe” in the search engine and see where it takes you…repeatedly.

With no reflection on the deep respect and awe we hold for dedicated servants , the GUARDIAN has nicknames for the likes of Mayor Dave Bieter, the Board of County Commissioners, the Governor, Supreme Court Justices, The Idaho Daily Statesman, and Police.

We end up with TEAM DAVE, THE COMMISHES, THE GUV, SUPREMES, the DAILY PAPER, and of course COPPERS. No doubt they reciprocate with admiration for the dedicated efforts of the GUARDIAN.

It is time for you, the readers, to offer up some thoughts on the past year and contribute some writing on topics near and dear.

In the Past year we have covered:
–Foothills dog laws and worked “poop” into more stories and headlines than any other media outlet.
–Poop plant personnel changes, poop dumping ordinance.
–Team Dave’s silly train fetish.
–The firemen fighting with firemen at the strip club, reported months AFTER the event.
–Councilor Clegg’s feud with Park Dept. over daughter car towing.
–Merits and demerits of Farmer’s Market on city land at 2900 Fairview.
–Plans for a decent bus system in Boise.
–The “no parking” sign installed AFTER the guy got a ticket.
–The antics of the Canyon Commish toting a gun at the airport.
–The antics of the Canyon Commish using county computer for lowbrow racist humor.
–Ongoing efforts of the Chamber of Commerce to control Idaho politicians.

Use the search engine to jog your collective memories and offer up some “story of the year” nominations.

Our apologies for not offering much new material, but it is cold, the economy is rotten and we haven’t had many offerings from readers. On the positive side, the GROWTHOPHILES seem to be in remission at least for the present.

FERDNAND & RULE

Probably no one better qualified to comment on fashion than a Canyon County, Idaho Commish!

NEW WEST didn’t give the Commish any slack at all in their reporting of the “racist” remarks Rule circulated about Michelle Obama’s choice of dress on election night. Writer Jill Kuraitis may have been a bit harsh, but Rule has to be in the same IQ range as Commish Dave Ferdinand who was packing a pistol through the X-ray machine at the Boise airport! Wonder if they were classmates somewhere.

At least they drive 2/C licensed cars so the rest of Idaho doesn’t have to claim them.

Note to Canyon residents: Don’t look for Federal Grants any time soon.

Like the senior BOISE GUARDIAN, Alldredge has gained traction with hard hitting stories bringing to light some of the actions of local government that politicos don’t want challenged. In the current case at hand, Alldredge calls for a vote of the citizens on the issue of long term debt for a new jail.

When the Idaho Press Tribune suggested “all parties” come to the table, the Commishes responded with a guest opinion essentially claiming “all parties” (meaning politicos) were already at the table and anyone else didn’t count.

When it comes to spending large sums of taxpayer dollars for debt, both GUARDIANS agree: “Politicos can ask, but CITIZENS decide.”

District Manager Pat Rice was quoted saying there is a great demand for an expanded convention center. He claimed the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association was forced to hold its annual meeting in Salt Lake City due to space limitations. NOT TRUE.

Somebody got it wrong. The GUARDIAN checked with the Outfitters & Guides and learned the group has NEVER held a meeting in Salt Lake. Their last meeting was at the Riverside Hotel in Garden City.

When the GUARDIAN noted the Center On The Grove had more space available than the hotel, a spokesman for the Outfitters said, “Not AFFORDABLE space. The prices down there at the Center On The Grove are OUTRAGEOUS!”

The G-BAD has failed in every attempt to build a convention center and conducted an illegal ad campaign using public tax money to promote passage of a bond. The Idaho Supreme Court ruled the use of public money to promote one side of a ballot measure is not in the public purpose.

Voters have twice turned down bond proposals and each private developer that has been involved with the group has pulled out. The latest delay is due to an “undisclosed illness” of developer John Q. Hammons. Hammons is probably suffering the same upset stomach as the rest of the development community.

At least he didn’t blame it on a crooked stock broker in Paris like the Frenchman did at Tamarack.

The District had announced grandiose plans to offer up public assets to the hotelier as part of a “private public partnership.” Until developers are willing to put up their own cash and not rely on concessions and use of public assets, we are sure to see more failures like the BOISE PIT at 8th and Main, Tamarack Resort, and all those “planned communities” that aren’t.

AFTERNOON UPDATE–Looks like the Daily Paper reporter is going to take a lump or two on this one…got too much info tossed at him and not enough comprehension.

THURSDAY UPDATE–Statesman ran a correction fessing up that the reporter got it wrong. The name of the group that didn’t rent space was America Outdoors, a trade association, not the Idaho Outfitters. As noted by a reader, the national boat show, the Republican National Convention and the International Car show also have not rented convention space in Boise.

Last week the company slashed 1,150 jobs at their 50 newspapers– its second major round of reductions in three months. They reportedly lost six newsroom positions in Boise because of declining ad sales.

As if a debt of $1,175,000,000 (In English that’s one billion one hundred seventy-five million) isn’t enough, their financial guys were slick enough to renegotiate the debt so they get to pay an even HIGHER interest rate. They also agreed to put up more collateral–like the worn out press in Boise perhaps?

Quarterly dividends were slashed by 50% to 9 cents per share, payable Oct. 6 to shareholders as of Friday, giving the company more cash to reduce debt. Meanwhile their CEO in Sacramento got an $800,000 bonus and free rides on the company jet….does a BAILOUT seem needed?

The GUARDIAN takes no joy in seeing the demise of a once great newspaper and an Idaho institution. If things get bad enough, perhaps a local buyer will be able to acquire the pressless paper and make it a community player and not just a pawn in the game of media chess.

Looks like they way to sell Fords for instance is to put “Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota” in your keyword list. It is all done for the money of course.

We searched the net for “MCCAIN.org” and got the following chance to pay $63,000 for the site name. Whatever or whomever you’re selling, the secret is to include all the competition in the keywords to be searched.

Seems the internet players understand the value of keywords and the incestuous relationships between all the search engines and sponsors, etc. Knowing that many of you are at work and the boss is on vacation, we would love any insight from you techie nerds.

Paul Alldredge, our Caldwell alter ego, looks stern in the picture, but he has done a great job providing a forum for discussion of local government action and spending. He shares the GUARDIAN name, much of our philosophy, and often shares information with us.

Check out the STATESMAN STORY by reporter Kristin Rodine. The Boise GUARDIAN of course is mentioned and we like to think we are more of a “liberal big brother,” but we don’t live in Canyon County either.

We can move the pictures around, the links and recent story list is easier to find and read, and we are told it will be easier  to post stories and include links and photos within the stories.  Sam the office dog will be our first image test.

We are contemplating selling some ad space to those who want to reach an intellectual local audience interested in making Boise and Idaho more than just another city on a national magazine list.