Interesting Stuff
Share Your 2007 Favorites
December 21, 2007 
The GUARDIAN continues to grow each year and 2007 is no exception. We had nearly 10 million hits and 640,000 unique visits. Monthly average is about 53,000 visits, but thanks to Senator Wide Stance we had 108,000 visits in September–nearly 1 million “hits” in one day.
Your exchange of ideas and thought provoking comments have given the blog an added amount of clout–especially among media and government folks. We have been told about the influence of the GUARDIAN in the top levels of state, county and city government.
GUARDIAN stories have been picked up by the likes of ABC, WALL STREET JOURNAL, and repeated throughout the world via the ASSOCIATED PRESS and other bloggers. NATIONAL REVIEW applauded the story of CCDC Arid Club membership scandal.
During the slow news days of the holiday season we tend to reflect on events of the past year. Use the archives at the right side of the page or the search tool and let us know what stories you think were the most important during the past year.
HERE ARE SOME SEEDS:
–P&Z Commish Steve Edgar’s GROWTH MORATORIUM plea was top recipient for comments at 69 for the single entry.
–Craig’s daughter being a wanted person while appearing on ABC
–Avimor’s plan to place poop in Boise
–Guv flies Simplot plane to Fiesta Bowl
–Barefoot and Pregnant day care
–Bonus scandal at Idaho Dept. of Ag
–Boise City hiring private lobbyists
–County media man doing strategy on public hearing
–Community College pro-con coverage
–Arid Club dues paid by CCDC, but quickly dropped
–Bus rout proposal
–Boise City funding Chamber of Commerce programs
–DUI contest for pizzas by cops
–Team Dave wanting to control ACHD
–Police Union negotiation letter
–DUI arrest of Team Dave top dog Jade Riley
–Growth pays off for officials with new jobs
–Air Quality stories
Unless we are motivated by something really bad or cute, we will work a reduced schedule. Cast your votes and we will see they get posted.
Meanwhile, A hearty Merry Christmas and happy holiday season regardless of what god you worship or ignore. Be kind to one and all and remember we love all of you and look forward to sharing this space in the coming year.
DAVE FRAZIER, editor, reporter, humorist, blogger, photographer, friend and adversary
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Dec 21, 2007, 3:45 pm
Dave;
Congrats on a great year, and thank you for the very informative and often entertaining venue, and especially thank you for your work reminding our leaders of the importance of citizen based government policy.
I think the most interesting article was the growth moratorium proposal by Commish Edgar and how polarizing it was to the status quo, but I think the two stories that will have the most impact and probably deserve more discussion is the sale of Albertsons and consequent relocation of jobs and the struggling giant Micron. I think these will also be top stories in 2008.
Dec 21, 2007, 5:28 pm
Hard to pick the top ones. Still, I think the latest one on the home lien for the tiny (not-really-owed) bill is, in some ways, the most important in that it points out very clearly the extremes of how a combination of bad law and no-common-sense workers can destroy a person’s or family’s life.
Another law that ranks right up there with it is the one that lets the county take a property for overdue taxes, sell it, and keep the profit.
So if you owe, say, $5,000 in taxes and the county takes your $100,000 home, the county might sell it for say, $80,000 for a quick sale, pay off the $5,000, use a few hundred to pay for legal ads, etc., then just *keep* the $69,000.
(Correct me if that law has changed since last time I checked it, Guardian.)
Why shouldn’t the $69,000 go to the person who lost his home? Why should the county (or maybe a county official — who knows?) get to keep that money that it has no logical right to?
OK, Dave, have a very merry Christmas, and take some time off (well, 5 minutes or so anyway) to relax, and we’ll look forward to seeing you back in the attack mode.
And a merry Christmas or whatever to all your bloggers — yes, both the ones who agree with me and the ones who obviously mentally incompetent because the don’t agree with me. 🙂
gp
Dec 21, 2007, 9:11 pm
Thanks for all your effort Dave, may 2008 be kind to you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Dec 22, 2007, 5:03 am
The proposed bus route story! It was, and is, the most logical short term solution to an ever-growing problem that we still seem unwilling to face. I know I will be bringing it up at every opportunity. Fixing the buses certainly will not solve all of our “issues”, but it is a start in the right direction.
Merry Christmas to each of you.
Dec 22, 2007, 9:24 am
Dave, another great year for the Guardian. Please keep up the good work. Merry Christmas to you and everyone out there.
Dec 22, 2007, 12:53 pm
Dave,
You’re a thing of beauty and we all appreciate you more than we could ever say.
As for the top story, I’d have to go with the Commissioner Edgar’s post.
Best wishes for the holidays and coming year. You’re our local hero.
P.S. Pet the foo-foo for me.
Dec 22, 2007, 5:27 pm
I could not pick a favorite story, but I like how you are actually responsive and aware of what is going on in Boise. The quality of your photos and even handed reporting of the issues is definitely a cut above what is offered locally in the print media. Plus, you have a sense of humor. The people who comment are actually worth reading. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
Dec 22, 2007, 5:35 pm
I liked it all except the whiner and apologist comments about the great Idaho status quo. But they just help illustrate the picture that Idaho is to the world. And I always thought Utah had the most Morons.
Also, I tended to like any article that had the word “POOP” in it. Those were fun. (I’m a dog BTW).
The “slave labor” one was worth three barks too.
We can all give it up to the Guardian for possibly getting crow meat entrees and appetizers on the menus of local eating establishments.
Anyone seen it on the menu down at the Arid Club yet? I hear a lot of big shots in Boise now have a hankerin for the stuff since the Guardian got after them. How about the Red Feather. Crow meat is wild, organic and local.
Have a great holiday Guardian! We love you.
Please make us howl again in 2008.
Woof Woof
Dec 23, 2007, 10:34 am
Happy Merry Chrismahanukwanzaka to You and Yours !
Dec 24, 2007, 12:48 pm
The scoreboard is the story.
David Bieter 64.07%
Merry Christmas to all.
Dec 28, 2007, 11:39 am
64.7%, huh?
Of how many REGISTERED Voters?
And in turn… Of how many ELIGIBLE Voters?
When you do the math it’s more likely something closer to 9% of the Vote.
God Bless America!
; )
Dec 29, 2007, 2:23 pm
It’s 64.07% because the world is run by those who show up.
Dec 30, 2007, 9:29 pm
Off topic – don’t you think you’ve been on vacation long enough? Those of us who aren’t at liberty to travel would at least like to keep up with local gossip. Thanks in advance for your getting back to work. Happy New Year to you and the little woman.
EDITOR NOTE–You know Treva, you get what you pay for on the GUARDIAN. I will get back to work. sorry I enjoyed HAwaii!
Dec 31, 2007, 9:55 am
The World is Run by those who show up?!?!?
The Golden Rule of History…
“Those with the Gold, Make the Rules”.
And if you believe otherwise…
May I interest you in a charming Bridge?