• SXSW with eric (world's greatest ghosts) + gilbert + jesse (wgg)

yesterday after our day party at Side Bar here in Austin we cruised to Houston for a SXSW Overflow Fest at the infamous Super Happy Fun Land... which also embodied the same spirit. Boise homeys out here in the area right now on tour themselves Revolt Revolt played early to get the night started... soon after it was apparent that we were going to be partying amongst ourselves and we certainly made the most of it and helped the night live up to the Super Happy Funness... World's Greatest Ghosts + Boy Eats Drum Machine + Jared Mees & The Grown Children are some of our closest musical buddies and it fired us all up and we danced and sang along to each other's set... and then to new friends Dangerous Ponies from Philly who were super super fun. it was a classic night. hadn't had that much fun since... well... the night before in Austin... but oh well. it was awesome. as was tonight. it's true. i love tour. i love music. i love friends. right now i'm really loving Austin.

• Super Happy Fun Land - Houston, TX

two big shows tomorrow here at SXSW. playing a big day party at The Liberty with all kinds of friends... have goals of catching more sets of other friends around town... including new Austin buddies Woodgrain and hopefully Birds & Batteries... then we play our official showcase at Habana Calle 6 tomorrow night at 1am. going to be a long day. seems like going to sleep would be wise... hmmmm... ok

goodnight
gilbert

PS how about some more photos first... including the last corn dog i will eat on this tour... if not ever. sooooo big. totally over corndogs now. such a shortlived craving. check this monstrosity out

• biggest corn dog ever?

PSS how about some more photos?

• Super Happy Boy Eats Drum Machine Land

• Super Happy Fun Land SXSW Overflow Fest - Houston, TX

• Typewriter Museum - backyard show - SXSW - Austin, TX

CCA, which manages Idaho's largest state prison, removed warden Phillip Valdez and assistant warden Daniel Prado from the helm at ICC this week after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the prison alleging extreme levels of violence which violated prisoners' constitutional rights.

Valdez and Prado remain employed by CCA and will be reassigned, CCA spokesman Steve Owen told citydesk in an e-mail.

Timothy Wengler was named interim warden at ICC, having been transferred from the 1,600-bed Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, Minn., which was shuttered in February because of a lack of customers.

• CCA
• Fred Figueroa, North Fork

"IDOC is working with Mr. Figueroa and the other members of the team to provide for a smooth transition," said Idaho Department of Corrections spokesman Jeff Ray.

Inmates at ISCI recognized Figueroa from their time spent at North Fork. Idaho housed inmates in Oklahoma between 2005 and July 2009 when 188 were brought back to the state and bunked at ICC. One source told citydesk that Idaho inmates saw Figueroa as a fair warden.

But one Idaho inmate was killed by other prisoners at North Fork under Figueroa's watch. On the evening of June 25, 2008, David Drashner, 51, of Canyon County was attacked and killed by other inmates. The Chief Medical Examiner in Oklahoma City ruled the death a homicide and according to a report obtained by citydesk, Drashner died from a traumatic brain injury.

We have not been able to determine if anyone was charged in Drashner's death.

• Roger Simmons and Vern Bisterfeldt make their papers.

Former Ada County commissioners Roger Simmons and Vern Bisterfeldt filed to run for the Ada County Commission this afternoon.

Simmons is a former reporter who sat on the commission for 10 years, ran the Idaho Lottery for former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and now works as a semi-retired lobbyist and consultant. Bisterfeldt spent his career at the Boise Police Department before serving on the Ada County Commission and is currently on the Boise City Council. They will run on the same platform against Rick Yzaguirre and Chairman Fred Tilman.

Yzaguirre beat Simmons in the 2002 GOP primary, and Simmons is itching for a rematch.

"The individual that I'll be running against is just sort of filling the chair," Simmons said of Yzaguirre, also calling him an "empty suit" and saying that he just votes with whichever commissioner screams the loudest.

Bisterfeldt will challenge Tilman in the Tuesday, May 25 GOP primary. He stressed that when he was on the commission from 1987 to 1999, there was a lot more cooperation between the county, its cities and the Ada County Highway District, and that it was a lot more fun.

"There's so many more things we can do when we work together with the smaller cities," Bisterfeldt said.

Simmons has been a critic of County Commissioner Sharon Ullman, who is not up for reelection this year. In 2001, when Simmons and UIllman served together, he actually filed a harassment complaint against her.

Simmons said he thinks Ullman ought to endorse him, since she has also been a critic of Yzaguirre, even pushing a criminal complaint against him in 2005.

Simmons and Bisterfeldt presented a five-point plan that they say they can accomplish within two years on the three-person board:

1. Let Ada County residents vote to change the commission from a full-time, three-member panel to a five-member part time panel with a full-time county administrator.
2. Openly negotiate with the cities to lower the amount they have to pay to utilize the Ada County Courthouse.
3. Spend more money on economic development and job creation, starting by bringing horse racing back to Idaho Downs (formerly Les Bois).
4. Lowering county property values to "more realistic levels to reflect the current housing market."
5. Consolidating county EMS with fire departments countywide.

But wait ... Is there something, we're forgetting? Something important happening ... Jeez. This always happens on Fridays. What was it?

Oh right ... the Iraq war. Oops.

Believe it or not, despite having cost untold billion of dollars, wrecked the United States' credibility internationally, killed somewhere between 100,000 and 1 million Iraqi civilians (there is no actual count) and more than 4,000 United States citizens, along with decimating the Iraqi economy, increasing the level of global terrorism, creating a human rights catastrophe and empowering Iran's "Danny Bonaduce of a President," this craptacular event is still going strong. Sure, it has given Matt Damon beefcake roles in mediocre thrillers, but even pre-invasion, you couldn't swing a dead cat in Hollywood without it resulting in a mediocre thriller vehicle for Matt Damon. So why is this thing still going on?

Probably because after seven years, we've pretty much stopped paying attention. And, caught up in the furor of the health care debate and the raging culture war at home, so have our leaders.

From 5-6 p.m. today, the Idaho Peace Coalition, will be demonstrating outside Senator Mike Crapo's office at 251 E. Front St., calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that the money being spent on them can be reallocated to education which has recently seen heavy cuts in Idaho.

“Something is terribly wrong when Idaho taxpayers spend $2 billion on the Iraq war and occupation while Idaho schools and universities are slashing budgets and raising tuition. True security and prosperity will come from education, not from empire building,” said Diane Roberts of the Idaho Peace Coalition, in a press release to Boise Weekly.

So take an hour out your weekend to stop by the protest. And don't worry. The mountain bike trails will still be there at six.

Questionland wants to know: is there a restaurant in town that serves fried pickles? There's a pregnant woman out there somewhere waiting to slather them in ice cream.

• Andrew Crisp
• William and Raul, on the microphone tip

"We have debt levels that are out of control, we have pressure to raise taxes like never before, there's a need to have someone who understands that the answers for our country lie in smaller government, leaner government. We need to send the right person to D.C. I think it's important that Idaho send the right person into that fight. I will be throwing my support behind Raul Labrador for Congress," Sali said.

Sali claimed Labrador didn't know he planned to back him, but just told him to "be there." Sali also said, slyly, that he had until 5 p.m. today to file for another position.

Labrador confirmed he had not expected the endorsement, but made it clear he'd spoken with Sali.

"It is a surprise, but it's an honor. I thank him, I thank his wife, who took the time to speak with my wife about what it's like to live in Washington. This endorsement shows the excitement for our campaign ... I'm not beholden to anybody but the people of Idaho. I will stand up against not just my enemies, I will stand up against my friends," Labrador said.

Labrador wants to unseat Democratic Rep. Walt Minnick in the November election, but first faces a crowded Republican primary in May. His primary opponent, political newcomer Vaughn Ward, had more money and high-level endorsements, including from Sen. John McCain.

Sali honored Ward's military service, but lampooned his experience.

"Sending Vaughan Ward to Congress is like sending a boy scout to Iraq," Sali said.

It was a crowded Republican primary in 2006 that vaulted Sali into the national spotlight from his House post at the Idaho statehouse.

The bill requires Idaho's attorney general to sue the federal government if the state is forced to require health coverage for Idaho citizens. Some three dozen states are considering such measures, what Otter is calling a Constitutional mass. In the two clips below, Fox News' Neil Cavuto lets Otter say "Constitutional mass" several times while CNN's Anderson Cooper fires back: "What do you mean by Constitutional mass?"

Otter waffles on the question, instead claiming that Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to pass the health reform bill that Democrats in the House plan to approve on Sunday. Cooper says that question of federal authority was laid to rest after the Civil War.

Cavuto asks an interesting, and related, question too, though he lazily pins it on unnamed Otter critics: Does this bill create havoc, with the 50 states deciding not to follow federal law, even in matters of the military. They say (unnamed critics) that, "you are the one inciting danger," Cavuto posits.

Otter also maintains that the health reform bill is unfair because it treats states differently. We find no reference to individual states in the full text of the bill, but USA Today assures us (sorry, only link i could find this morning) that the special, vote-buying provisions for Nebraska have been struck but that Louisiana (and maybe Florida, according to Otter) will still get extra Medicaid funding because they are in natural disaster recovery areas.

[UPDATE: Otter spokesman Jon Hanian acknowledges that the Nebraska deal has been removed from the bill, but told citydesk that there are new carve-outs for Tennessee, and that North Dakota, Montana and Connecticut, as well as Louisiana are still getting special treatment. Hanian cites Fox on this and WaPo has an eerily similar story too. Oh, that's an AP story.

“The governor’s concern remains … we were led to believe that this process was going to be transparent ... The process wasn’t going to be questioned,” Hanian said.]

Watch and compare the two interviews below (and thank Fox for not embedding an ad with their clip! And, note the awesome speed reader in the bottom right corner ... Who says Fox can't do snark?):

We left San Angelo Wednesday morning and headed to Bryan, TX. The day welcomed us with sunshine and fresh air. The drive was about 6 hours, trekking through farmland and small towns. We arrived at Stafford on Main (venue), and strolled around town a bit. Bryan is an interesting town, kinda old, and looks like they are trying to bring it back some. They had a great coffee shop called the Village, and a store called Earth Art, that reminded me of Boise's Dragon Fly, or Eyes of the World. It was St. Patrick's Day, and the venue began to fill up fairly quickly. They had the police stop by a few times earlier in the week regarding noise, so they asked if we could set the band up in front of the stage, further away from the back door. It made for an interesting set up, but all of the bands managed to make it work. We went on second after Robbie Hazen and the Riot (Miami), and were well received. We made time after the show to mingle with the locals a bit, check out the other bands, and then headed out for Houston. The drive was for two plus hours through windy highway roads. We scored a motel 6, and they let us check in early at 5 am. They had a pool, and the weather was good enough for a quick dip....minus an oil slick or two......

We headed the the next venue Super Happy Funland around 5pm. The building was HUGE! They had massive murals painted on all the walls, and several rows of old theater seats.

Upcoming Dates:
SXSW • March 19th
San Antonio @ the Mine Shaft • March 20th
San Antonio @ Music Connection • March 21st
El Paso @ Bombardiers • March 22nd
Tucson @ Gooch's Place • March 23rd

For all tour dates, music, and other news, check out these sites:
http://myspace.com/revoltrevoltmusic
http://revoltrevoltmusic.com
If you would like to buy our record, & look at some of the other bands on the Spark and Shine Label, go here:
http://sparkandshine.com/revolt-revolt
We will have all of the SXSW insanity posted asap!
Hope all is well with our friends at home in the city of trees.
Best
RR

• Eskmo from San Francisco

Priya Dewan, label manager for their U.S. operations, told me last night's showcase was the first time the label has thrown an event in Texas. Needless to say, hundreds of anxious fans came to hear some of their favorite artists, so many that, early in the night, the venue staff stopped letting people buy tickets, so then only folks with badges or wristbands got in.

My friend Cody, a talented electronic musician and ridiculously committed DJ, left me a message at 2:30 a.m.: "I really really liked what I just experienced," he said, sounding dazed and confused. "After Hudson Blow-hawke got off the stage, I thought Eskmo did some next level shit, with the space boots. Then Flying Lotus ripped a hole through my brain and let in something beautiful, something amazing and colorful and I was very very happy because of this."

• Jason Buehler of Nice Nice

I was most excited about Nice Nice, who I played on the radio dozens of times in college and at Boise Community Radio. Mark Shirazi and Jason Buehler moved to Portland 10 years ago and began recording and releasing music immediately. Nice Nice drummer Shirazi says they plan to stay in Portland. "It's easy to live, relatively cheap and a supportive scene." Buehler worked for years at the great Ozone Records on Burnside, which went out of business two years ago.

• Mark Shirazi of Nice Nice

Asked about the percussive elements Nice Nice is known for, Shirazi pointed out the pair studied ethno-musicology at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. "We've been trying to expose ourselves to so much music from Cuba, West Africa, Indonesia. All those things are really rhythmic. We are basically music fans, geeks, just listening to music all the time."

About the long wait for their debut Warp release, Shirazi said, "We signed with Warp three years ago and started the record immediately. We got about a year and a half into it and the computer pretty much crashed and we lost most of the record which was discouraging to say the least. But now that it's finished I'm kinda glad that happened just cause it went to some other place that it wouldn't have otherwise."

Very few American acts have joined the Warp team, and one of the outcomes for Nice Nice was a European tour. Listen to Mark Shirazi talking with me backstage about his first experience touring across the pond, with Four Tet, Battles and Flying Lotus.

Extra Wow comes out on double vinyl, CD and digitally in the United States on Tuesday, April 6.

To be fair, I often think of my office as a playground, too. A playground with very large, dangerous, expensive toys. And so it was that I was in a Eurocopter EC135, orbiting a forest service lookout on Smith Mountain, somewhere in Adams County. Like most seemingly simple tasks, the objective was well-defined. No.1: locate injured snowmobile rider. No. 2: locate flat-enough-to-be-safe-and-free-enough-of-trees landing zone, ideally somewhere near the injured sledder. No.3: safely extract said sledder from snowy wilderness and transport him to a hospital. All in a day's work at Life Flight.

And on a beautiful, sunny St. Patrick's Day, what could possibly make for a better and more exciting experience? Perhaps a chance encounter with an Idaho native, who also happens to be the gold medal winner in freestyle snowmobiling at the most recent World Winter X Games in Europe. Yep. I say, "all in a day's work," but really it's not every day that I get to fly in a helicopter and ride on a snowmobile behind a Red Bull-sponsored champion who helps my crew and I access the patient and then get him back to the helicopter so that we can expedite his transport to a trauma center.

This is where we parked the aircraft:

And the dark spot on the slope in the middle of this photo is where the patient was:

Too bad all I had for photography was my Blackberry.

We completed that mission with just enough time to get to the ribbon-cutting ceremony that celebrated the opening of Council Ambulance's brand new home. The all-volunteer Council EMS crews work part-time all the time in order to respond to emergencies and avert disaster in rural Idaho. Kudos to them for what they do, and congratulations on raising the money to build a new EMS station.

Board members voted today to wait at least six months before they look into handing over testing to SysTech International—a Utah corporation that will begin running Canyon County’s new emissions program on June 1.

In the meantime, the board is planning a public hearing on lowering the $20 maximum price for emissions tests (a move prompted by board member and Ada County Commissioner Sharon Ullman), and setting a cap on the number of testing stations it will allow in the county.

David Zaremba, outgoing board chairman and Meridian City Council vice president, said because the current system works and the county isn’t under any regulatory pressure to change its program, it should look to Canyon County as a test case for how SysTech operates.

“We have a good system. We are satisfying DEQ and being proactive about what satisfies the EPA,” he said. “We do need to consider what is going to happen in Canyon County.”

For the past 26 years, Ada County has relied on dozens of independent testing businesses—often in the form of red vans—to keep vehicle emissions in check. Test prices are capped at $20, and testing in Ada County became bi-ennial on January 1.

In neighboring Canyon County, officials have for years refused to institute a system for vehicle testing. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality stepped in earlier this year to enforce a testing regime, and selected SysTech to operate it.

Under the contract between DEQ and SysTech, the company would charge no more than $11 per test at existing businesses like mechanics and lube shops. DEQ would get $3, with the remainder pocketed by SysTech and the station operator.

Recognizing a potential taxpayer savings of $9 per test, Ada County officials and area cities had been considering a move from the “red vans” to SysTech, prompting a wave of anger among station owners who feared the switch would run them out of business.

The Air Quality Board’s decision to hold off for six months was viewed as a “reprieve” by station owners like Ed White, who runs the Stop’n’Go on Emerald and Orchard. But he and others don’t think that’s enough time for SysTech to make its case.

“It’ll only give you a two month operational window to see how SysTech does out in Canyon County,” White said.

“That’s not nearly a long enough time to evaluate the quality of their program,” added Tara Parker, owner of High Desert Air on South Federal Way.

Matthew Hanson, a 27-year-old law student at University of Idaho, provided testimony for the station owners at the board meeting. With 14 years in the emissions technician field, he touted the current program’s convenience, and said keeping tests in the hands of private operators encourages competition and drives down prices.

“At the end of the day it’s a program that’s not broken. Don’t fix it,” he said.

He was happy about the board’s decision to take its time analyzing SysTech’s model, but disappointed that the $20 price ceiling may be reduced.

“Lowering the maximum price is a benefit for the customers, but comes as a drawback for the convenience—there will definitely be fewer stations because of that,” he said. “Some of these owners are barely hanging on as it is.”

The next meeting of the Ada County Air Quality Board will be held on April 26 at 1 p.m. The location has yet to be determined.

Ron Paul was the lone Republican to stick out the 2008 primary against John McCain, despite acknowledging himself that it was highly unlikely he would receive the nomination. In at least one case, Paul was not even invited to an official presidential debate. He received 25% of the vote in Idaho's primary election, and 21% in Montana and North Dakota primaries.

Much attention was also paid to comments he made in a FOX news debate, in which he was the lone Republican to criticize the Iraq war, and was accused by Rudy Guiliani of blaming the US for 9/11.

His book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, showcasing his ideas on constitutional liberty, free markets and non-interventionist foreign policy was an immediate NY Times and Amazon bestseller.

On his Boise visit, Dr. Paul will first appear at 2:30 p.m. at the Campaign for Liberty Forum at the Boise State Special Events Center, featuring state congressional candidates and a panel discussion on state sovereignty. Then from 5:00-6:30 p.m., at a private, ticketed reception honoring Idaho libertarian stalwart, Ralph Smeed (cost: $100). Then at 7 p.m., he will speak at the Morrison Center. Tickets at $5-$15.

The Main Street Bistro will be hosting an after party, called Rally for the Republic Revisited.

Tickets for the events are available at the Campaign for Liberty website, and through idahotickets.com.

"It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority."
-Benjamin Franklin

It's an important axiom, one that we brave members of the alternative press hold dearly, that the possession of power does not equal moral administration. But the exposure of injustice doesn't always get results. Amy Trice, chairwoman of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, went an extra step. On September 20, 1974 Trice declared war on the U.S. government to seek restitution for the centuries-old marginalization of her people. Her story is told in the documentary Idaho's Forgotten War, which screens tonight at Boise State. The event is free and more details can be found here.

Whatever, *clears throat.*

Anyhow, today on Questionland, recent transplants to Boise need your help deafening innocent bystanders. Login and throw down your two cents. A nickel, if adjusted for inflation.

The irony of course, is the term and concept of robots, is a purely literary invention of Czech playwright Karel Capek, in his play, Rossum's Universal Robots, in which artificial humans used for labor learn to think for themselves, and eventually rebel. The term robot, is derived from robota, which literally meant "serf labor."

And as dangerous as it can be to distort reality through art and storytelling, this cultural paradigm has done more than just sensationalize. It has allowed artists to address contentious hot button issues otherwise untouchable, by divorcing them from what most people see as a literal context. Class, race and the nature of humanity are explored extensively in robot lore, in everything from the character of Data on Star Trek, to the Animatrix faux-documentary, The Rise of the Robot Empire. The reboot of Battlestar Galactica was practically a four-season metaphor for the war on terror, in which humanity struggled to keep its values in the face of total war with an invisible enemy.

But the most interesting thing of all about robot lore is that by addressing such issues in a detached manner, it has actually managed to frame crucial debates about ethics and human rights.

The three rules of robotics that Issac Asimov created for his collection of short stories, I Robot, are now guiding principles that researchers in genetics and robotics debate vigorously and law-makers must eventually ponder.

Not to mention Japanese brothel patrons.

A chance for arts lovers to see how imagined concepts have tracked over time and thereby influenced development of real concepts is a great way to spend an afternoon.

The exhibit will continue to run through Sunday, May 16.

had yesterday "off". st. patty's day. SXSW. spent a good 2 hours getting our wristbands and goodie bags and chilling out in the artist lounge in the convention center. then hiked an acoustic guitar and accordion 10 blocks to Waterloo Records where we met up with the Clear bus for a live video interview and acoustic session.... on a moving see thru bus! with only two available seats on the seatbelted couch, Cam stayed behind and Lisa and I saddled up and handled the music cruise. 2nd day in Austin. 2nd set of Finn Riggins music. still haven't played on a stationary stage... that will happen just after noon today... so we think. the cruise interview was hosted by a local radio blogger... she was awesome... should be posted soon and we'll pass along the link. watched a good chunk of the Surfer Blood set outside of Waterloo Records before hiking our instruments back to the van...

• outside stage at Waterloo Records — Surfer Blood

spent the rest of the night running around the mardi gras-esque streets of Austin taking in the SXSW experience. partied a bit with our new Irish friends in Autumn Owls — seemed appropriate being St Patty's Day and all. unfortunately missed their set as we ended up at Stubb's and saw Visqueen for the first time, which was cool and most of The Walkmen's set, which for the most part was pretty dull. unfortunately. dig their records but just wasn't feeling their set. bumped into the Horsefeathers guys and caught up with them. and so on and so on. pursued breakfast tacos eventually and then headed for our cozy crash space. thanks Gavin + Eric!

promise to take more photos the rest of the week. pretty overwhelming and awesome day all around. excited to be here for 3 more days. representing Idaho - sad that Rosalie Sorrels couldn't make it this year and in her absence we're the only Idaho representation at this year's fest... would love to have more of us here in the future! have a whole Idaho showcase like the New Zealanders have!

gotta pack up. playing at 12:45pm on the outside stage at Side Bar today. then we cruise to Houston for a SXSW Overflow Fest at Super Happy Fun Land. another wild wild day. will do our best to take photos and send updates!

hugs
gilbert

Recently, a localized example of advertising through cultural programs slid across my evening desk—a.k.a. the bar top where I dowse for inspiration with a pint of dry—the Pepsi Refresh project. This operation allows small community groups—such as Next Generation Book Extravaganza and Treasure Valley non-profits The Arc, Inc. and Warrior's Promise Foundation—to apply for sizable soda-funded grants to finance special events and programs. The endowments are based on public voting, the highest placed finisher in each monetary bracket receiving the funds. Grants range from $5,000 to $250,000.

For The Arc, an agency which serves the needs of Idahoans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the grant would help finance their Recreation and Vacation Experience (RAVE) program, facilitating rafting trips, dances and art classes for "RAVErs."

"Essentially, the grant would fund the program for a year, which would mean that we would be able to provide scholarships for people to participate," says Tiffani Leslie, the Arc, Inc. rep who waters at the same nighttime oasis as me. "We all deserve the opportunity to experience these activities of leisure. A lot of people with disabilities don't have that chance. RAVE assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by supporting their participation in our community."

Other Idaho organizations currently in the ranks include Hillcrest High School and Melba Friends Church. Here's how you can vote for your favorite projects. Go to the Pepsi Refresh Project website and select the Vote For Near You option. Click through the different grant projects and vote. You get a new vote each day, so rinse—preferably with Pepsi Ice Cucumber if you can find it—and repeat. For the Facebook folks there is, of course, an app.

• Doug Benson, a fan, Nick Thune

Not sure my video will qualify me to enter the contest, but it was a good excuse to hang with these guys. We talked it over and they recruited one of their funny friends to add a touch of irony to the whole concept. They meant well, but the friend is mad that Benson and Thune interrupted the movie he was watching. On his phone.

The online store is now bifurcated into two sections; one for physical media, and another for DRM free digital downloads. Other new or expanded features include calendars for in-store appearances as well as the rest of the Treasure Valley, employee picks, audio and video and blog rolls intended to make the site as much an interactive entertainment portal as it is a place to purchase music.

"This Web site redesign was a long time coming. Much more than an online store, The Record Exchange Web site now reflects the evolution of the store, which has grown from a record shop into a pop-culture hub where music fans, musicians and artists come to interact and support Boise's only independent record store," said Record Exchange owner Michael Bunnel in a press release.

According to a memo sent to Idaho Department of Corrections staff this morning, the department supports the change and will have veto power over the new warden and assistant warden.

The Department monitors the contract for private operation of the facility with three monitors and has offered to assist CCA with any Department staff experts required to make a smooth and
safe transition to new leadership. These actions are consistent with the Department’s mission of
protecting the safety of offenders, facility staff and the public. — From IDOC Memo

Read the full memo here: CCA_Change_3.17.10.pdf

But it's the fairer Otter and Kempthorne—Lori and Patricia—who have signed on to Ward's upstart congressional campaign, networking with Republican women across the state.

Ward has been running for Congress for almost a year now, nabbing the support of all kinds of Republican notables here and in Washington, D.C.

State Rep. Raul Labrador has been running for a few months, but has yet to file for the May 25 primary. He is active with the positive affirmations on Twitter, however.

• Harley "Nuke Their Ass" Brown press release

Brown's lit is full of bumper sticker madness like "Gun Control ... is hitting your target," "TRIDENT ... when you care enough to send the very best," "Nuke their ass, take their gas," and "Keep the queens out of the Marines." He claims to be a former Seabee, demolition expert, former trucker, spirit-filled Christian AND Baby Boomer. Oh, and he has an Idaho City address.

Thanks for the brochures, Harley.

Also running in the GOP primary is former Air Force "operations analyst" and Naval flight surgeon Allan Salzberg, whose daughter, Debbie Holmes ran for Congress in the Second CD as a Democrat two years ago. Salzberg is a doctor in Boise.

Michael Chadwick rounds out the GOP primary in the First CD. The Chad lives in Post Falls and you just have to read his bio for yourself. Here's a hint: he likes the founding fathers. We may try to schedule an interview, but Chadwick says he can only accommodate e-mail questions from the press at this time.

Mike "Are you a Realtor?" Washburn, a Boise Libertarian has joined the race, as has St. Maries independent Dave "hydrogen fuel cells" Olson.

No Democrat has yet stepped forward to challenge Walt "Right for Idaho" Minnick.