On July 18, local promoters Miss Kniss & Co.—comprised of Jenny Kniss, Anna Demetriades and Jen Merrill—present glitchy Philadelphia son James Watts, a.k.a. Kilowatts.
Using "piano-based melodies and jazz-inspired song structure," Watts covers every electronic genre from IDM to breaks to down-tempo to techno. This will be his first Boise appearance, a boon for electronic lovers in the Valley who may know Watts' from his dreamy, genius work with Belgian artist Vanek (Peter Van Ewijk).
Joining Watts are locals Evol G and Owlright for a night of music that will be hard to beat.

Saturday, July 18, 9 p.m.. $5. Neurolux, 113 N. 11th St., neurolux.com

That's not really a fair matchup, by the way. Some kid's dad has a pair of talking birds and I have a little hen (I'm sure I could beat the parrot guy up, though). But the kids were into the chicken, a little cochin banty I picked up in the early spring at D&B Supply.

BW writer Tara Morgan is researching the resurgence of urban poultry and some other delectable treats for next week's BW. In the meantime, I'd like to make a point. Maybe it was because they were four and five year olds, but none of the kids asked the chicken's name.

Which is good. Because none of our birds have names. They are chickens, not dogs. They are pretty, soft and fluffy and the one I brought into the Foothills Learning Center summer camp (sorry mamas, all sold out for the summer, bawk) is the most docile of the flock.

But her brother, who has the beginnings of an adolescent sounding cock-a-doodle-doo and who also lacks a name, pecks at my feet when I bring him water and kitchen scraps. He is not long for the coop, folks. Thus, no name.

Many of Morgan's poultry obsessed-protagonists for her BW feature have named their brood, and that's fine. But it is the kind of thing that makes *real* farmers sneer. If we are serious about food production and adapting country ways to the city, we need to assume righteous stances toward livestock.

I'm not sure why these kids gave no thought to naming my bird, but it's a good thing I got the Friday slot. That other dude's parrot probably would have called her Polly and then I would never be able to eat her.

News broke early this afternoon that Palin announced that not only will she not seek a second term as governor, but she will step down from the office by the end of the month.

Details are still sketchy, and no official reason has been given as of yet, but we can’t help but think that this raises some serious questions about her long-presumed run for the White House in 2012. Maybe there's more moose hunting in her future.

"New Bicycle Racks! Over 40 new bicycle racks have been installed throughout downtown. Please assist in getting the word out to encourage folks to use the racks and not attach bikes to trees, fences or parking meters."

Next on the list ... bike lanes.

"Basically, we applied to have a military flyover," Director Patti Syme told the Idaho Press-Tribune Thursday. "We were given (Federal Aviation Administration) approval, and then had to apply through the Pentagon. When we applied they denied our request because, as the gentlemen stated, our Web site specifically stated that this is a Christian event."

We have a call in to Langley to confirm this and find out if it is a new policy. How ironic that our nation's military is finally becoming conscious of the danger of these types of events to society and yet local media continues to pander to them year after year.

The Press-Tribune gives the Nampa God and Country Festival soft coverage every year, including when I worked there and was assigned to cover the show. Though they do not dare explore the fundamentally bigoted basis of the festival—the widespread misconception that the United States is a Christian country—and it's weirdly erotic link to th e military industrial complex, at least the Press-Tribune has a sense of humor about it, a tradition I like to think I started.

When I covered the festival around the turn of the century, I tried to lead with the craziest folks I came across, the dude that talked to a reporter about Satanism, or something like that. This year, reporter Bryan Dooley went with the guy from Boise who was glad to be away from all the beer.

My fellow Americans, America is at least as much about beer as church.

Though he is not free to point it out in the story, Dooley also gives us a taste of the blatant contradiction of God and Country with his lead quote from Bryan Yeager of KTSY Radio: "There's too much division—political division, belief division—so much that pulls us apart," Yeager said. "This is just an opportunity to come together around the things that we share."

Yeager, you are the separatists in this particular case.

The Idaho Statesman, however, has no sense of humor about Christian Fundamentalist doing their separatist thing.

Reporter Aimee Niles, who we hear is an intern, confused patriotism and worship in the lead of her story, or the headline. (We're not sure which is which in the Statesman these days).

But the worst line is this one:

Actor Chuck Connors founded the festival, originally called the God and Country Rally, in the 1960s to honor the belief that America was founded on Christian principles and faith in God.

Note to journalism newbies: repeating a falsehood, just because a Web site says it, is not helpful to the public discourse.

Happy July 3!

While the rest of my neighbors received their new, city-approved trash and recycling cans on Monday, June 29, I was left with a void on my sidewalk. Turns out delivery of anything but the standard 95-gallon size was delayed.

At first, I was told my trash can should just take a couple of days. My recycling container would take about four days, despite the delivery program starting only a week earlier.

But as Friday morning dawned, and I still was new-can-less, I called Allied Waste, again, to ask when I might see them, and what I was supposed to do with the growing piles of recycling. Then, I was told the trash cans are taking about a week to get to homes, while the recycling carts are up to two weeks out.

Thankfully, Allied has assured me that the trucks have to pick up my trash in the old containers, while my very gracious neighbors offered to let me dump my recycling in their shiny, new giant tub. Here’s hoping my very own show up at some point.

It will probably be called The Johnson Post and will focus on history, politics and public affairs. Unlike the similarly named Huffington Post, if will probably not have much Michael Jackson coverage, but who knows what Johnson is really into?

Johnson, a history wonk, is delivering an address entitled, Packing the Court — Franklin Roosevelt’s Biggest Political Blunder at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 at the College of Idaho Langroise Center in Caldwell.

It's part of a larger symposium on the Supreme Court called Storm Center: The History of the Supreme Court for the Idaho Humanities Council’s summer teacher institute for Idaho educators.

Fehrehnbach told KTVB News in Boise:

"I sort of made a b-line to him and introduced myself and he had that look on his face like he knew who I was. I think there were people who told him I would be there. I introduced myself, I said I'm being discharged under 'don't ask/don't tell' and the situation for me was urgent and I need your help. And, he looked me directly in the eye and said, 'we're going to get this done'.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has indicated that soldiers like Fehrenbach may be allowed to continue to serve until the Administration works out a new policy to replace Dont' Ask Don't Tell, according to the Air Force Times. Gates said there could be exceptions to enforcing the policy if whomever outed the soldier had a chip on his shoulder.

“Do we need to be driven ... to take action on somebody, if we get that information from somebody who may have vengeance in mind or blackmail or somebody who has been jilted,” Gates said.

Air Force Times estimates that if unable to finish out his career, "Fehrenbach will lose $46,000 a year in retirement pay as well as medical benefits, according to pay charts. He would get a lump sum of about $80,000, half of standard involuntary separation pay for an officer of his years, the charts show."

Fehrenbach wore civvies to the White House Pride event, fearing disciplinary action for attending a "political" event with the Commander in Chief, AF Times reports.

"The setting—big skies, dusty roads, and that moment in springtime when the ground has thawed but there’s still snow on the mountains—blends familiarity with a feeling of new possibilities," reads the press release for the spot, sent by Boise PR agency Red Sky.

The video, produced by Kevin Hutchinson at Summit Digital Films, shows a late 20s Idaho-style metrosexual man sipping coffee, looking in the Statesman job ads (who does that?) and staring off into space. The protagonisto then finds himself in the sunny foyer of CWI—"Lowest Tuition in the Valley"—at a bistro table with all of his new friends.

“As a rallying cry, ‘Shine Like a Diamond’ reflects the possibilities that the College of Western Idaho represents — a chance for people to reinvent themselves, take control of their futures and succeed,” college spokesman Shirl Boyce said.

Evett will play a show at CWI on Aug, 29. That's in Nampa, folks. Win tix starting July 15 on the college's Facebook page.

He's currently in Ireland getting ready for a huge show in Cork with a 24-piece orchestra on July 4th. And if you're a fan who's catching him there, here's a neat little factoid for you stalkers out there: he's staying under his real name in his hotel. It's up to you to find the hotel.

We chatted for a few minutes bright and early Idaho time about books, his recent marriage and his new album, which has yet to be released. Check out next week's Noise section for the whole story.

Tuesday, July 14, Ritter & Co. take the stage at The Egyptian Theatre with Portland-based openers Blind Pilot. BW writer Mathias Morache caught up with Blind Pilot for next week's issue.

Wednesday, July 15, Ritter does it all over again in a solo acoustic show, but this time with Boise Philharmonic. Opening that night is Tift Merritt, with whom I also had a chat today. She's a Carole King fan and didn't take me very seriously when I suggested she invite King to the show. Someone call Carole, would you?

Tickets are available at The Record Exchange, Boise Co-op, online at Music From Stanley and at the Egyptian box office.

Congrats to BW Twitter follower Ryan Hembree, who won tickets in our Twitter giveaway. We'll be giving away another pair of tickets to Josh Ritter on Twitter. Follow us to win.

HONKING — Never honk when close to a bicyclist, it is startling.

That's one of the new recommendations that will appear in the new Idaho Driver's Manual to be published later this summer.

"Significant effort was placed in garnering input from bicycling advocates from around the state," stated Idaho Transportation Department's Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Mark McNeese in a press release. "We appreciated the contribution from these individuals and the manual will be greatly improved because of their commitment to improving safety on Idaho's roadways."

Boise Sen. Elliot Werk and "statewide bike advocates" helped put together the info for new drivers about sharing the road with bikes.

Here is the important part:

Bicyclists are legally allowed to ride on all Idaho roadways, have the same rights as motorists, and are required to ride with the flow of traffic. They must ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as safety allows, except when passing, turning left, avoiding an obstacle, or when the roadway does not allow a bicycle and motor vehicle to travel safely side by side.

We don't have time to look at it right now, but this ITD Web site on mobility might have some other good information on it.

Is the First Lady holding a sprig of near-endangered Slickspot Peppergrass, or what?

As @ButchOtter, the Twitter personality of Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, gets used to microblogging, citydesk raises an interesting question: Is it cool if the Guv sends out a link to your story?

Otter just sent this out over Twitter:

In case you missed it, here’s what the Post Register said about our State government’s responsible fiscal management: http://bit.ly/CgEnv

Thankfully he linked to the state Web site's .pdf of the Post-Register editorial. Thankfully, because the Post-Register is behind a firewall.

In the story, reporter-turned-opinion writer Corey Taule gives props to Idaho's balanced budget, a Constitutional requirement that many other states have not met. But he also points out that "balanced" is a relative term.

"It took a contentious 117 days, but Idaho balanced its budget. Public schools took a hit. College tuition is going up. Unemployment is on the rise. And services for the needy have been slashed," Taule writes.

Earlier, @ButchOtter pumped the Times-News story about his recent desert trail ride. As to whether he was Twittering atop Snuff, it is not clear.

In case you missed it, here’s a good Times-News story on my land management trail ride along the Idaho-Nevada border: http://bit.ly/19EbGv

Note Otter links to his own site rather than the original. The story does not really raise any questions about comments from a rancher that slickspot peppergrass is a "bohemian" species that fell off a wagon along the Oregon Trail ... or that Otter's horsie is named Snuff.

Then you have Sen. @SenatorCameron, a prolific Twitterererer, pontificating on his own balanced budget, speaking to a rotary club and picking up his grandkids.

40 states ended their fiscal year June 30th. Only 10 were balanced. Idaho is one of those 10!

No link needed, as he is the head of the budget committee and an expert in these matters.

And then Idaho Public TV on Cameron, as his Tweet is a statement from a newsworthy figure, I suppose.

RT @SenatorCameron: 40 states ended their fiscal year June 30th. Only 10 were balanced. Idaho is one of those 10!

Which begs the question: When I put this post up on Twitter, where does the Twircle Jerk end?

My husband and ate a deli dinner at Deli Days at the Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Synagogue on Latah Street on June 26. Deli sandwiches, potato knish and a row of homemade desserts were just what we needed to start the weekend and give our attitudes an adjustment. We were ushered through the iron gates onto the property by a crack team of parking attendants—complete with walkie-talkies—to a parking spot that seemed to be waiting for just for us. We felt like we were part of the fold as soon as we hit the ground, surrounded by families with children running around and the smell of kosher meats in the air.

A nice lady took out order and we were instructed to follow a teen member of the congregation back to the kitchen and dining room. The stainless steel industrial kitchen was full of workers busily wrapping sandwiches, grilling hot dogs and bagging pickles, and we bonded with a nice couple who spoke with a thick East Coast accent when they noticed my husband’s Yankees ball cap. The man joked that we should “take care” of the gentleman outside sporting the Boston Red Sox attire, and we picked up our order of cold turkey sandwiches on rye, potato knish and a kosher pickle.

Patrons navigated through a maze of tables piled high with homemade desserts. I knew I’d be sorry if I didn’t snag the last baklava, and couldn’t pass up a piece of pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting. Mustering up all my will, I passed up the zucchini bread, cheesecake and cookies.

We were hungry and anxious to sample the Jewish fare, so we passed the beer and wine garden and wandered back out into the sunshine. Families meeting for dinner staked their claims at tables set on straw, and we watched in amusement as a lady wearing leopard print and sporting big dark hair and huge black sunglasses discussed the food and the scene with her silver-haired friend. The Moody Jews, a talented klezmer super group of musicians on drums, bass, piano and violin played an uplifting selection of music that had everyone dancing.

The turkey sandwich on rye was basic, but the meat was high quality and the homemade rye bread gave it an extra flavor. The potato knish smothered in mustard was warm and filling and I had to reserve one whole hand to hold the crunchy dill pickle.

Before we left, we took a self-guided tour of the historic synagogue. The woodwork and stained glass windows lend to the spiritual feeling, although the historical air of the synagogue is updated with an air-conditioned library in the bottom part of the building.

Deli Days is one of the organizations biggest fundraisers and next year we will look forward to dropping some more money in exchange for kosher food and a fun cultural experience.

Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel Synagogue, 11 N. Latah St., Boise, 208-343-6601, ahavathbethisrael.org.

About an hour ago, someone called the cops because there was a gym bag in the lobby at the Farmers and Merchants Building (Bank of Cascades) at 9th and Idaho streets. The six-story building was evacuated and when someone in the crowd realized that it was a "green, gym-type bag," they stepped up and claimed it, according to police.

But Boise cops aren't mad:

"The bag in the lobby certainly looked abandoned and out of place. The employees did the right thing by calling police to come check it out," said Boise Police Lt. Stan Niccolls of the Boise Bomb Squad who responded to the scene. "Even if it causes a little inconvenience, Public safety is the most important thing. We can now assure them the bag isn't a threat to their safety."

"If it's a suspicious bag, walking up and checking it out is not recommended," police spokeswoman Lynn Hightower said. "It's really kind of sad that we have to think that way in this day and age."

Does anyone ever think to look in a suspicious bag for ID before freaking out anymore? Discuss.

The proliferation of Lady GaGa videos on MTV or VH1 (I can never remember which one actually shows music videos any more) indicates a trend of interesting, up-and-coming female pop singers on the scene.

Lady's danceable beats and The Jetsons-meets-Xanadu fashion sense makes her fun to watch—the zippered eye-patch and LED sunglasses are pretty damn cool. Too bad her sometimes mind-numbing lyrics are made all the more so by their monotony. "My my my poker face" makes me want to smash something. And somebody give her a quarter already so she can ride that disco stick.

A few young women on the scene, however, are combining avant garde looks and stylish video concepts with more thoughtful lyrics. The songs are no less poppy but more entertaining for their substance.

A friend sent me a link to a Marina & The Diamonds video for "Obsessions," which led to "I Am Not A Robot," a video in which body makeup plays as large a role as the comely singer—who looks like a cross between Amy Winehouse and Kelly Clarkson—but whose lyrics don't take a back seat to her style.

A little research on Marina led to the discovery of Brit-pop duo La Roux and singer Elly Jackson's front-heavy mohawk and I've been desk dancing to "Bulletproof" all day.

Little Boots, another British electro-pop singer, popped up in conjunction with a La Roux search. The 20-something's talent is clear from the get go, but listen to the live version (above), the bedroom version and the produced version of "Meddle" and see that her ingenuity is as much a part of her music as the music itself.

The Erskines, good friends and teachers of mine, offer a homegrown (literally) meal overlooking their scenic urban farm off of Hill Road.

Here's what the gourmet magazine had to say:

This farm dinner, hosted by Clay and Josie Erskine, is offered from June to September and begins with guests taking a farm tour while sipping cocktails made with the couple's fresh fruits and local vodka. After that, there's live music, wines, and a five-course veggie-centric menu from chef Abby Carlson of Seattle's Poppy restaurant.

Peaceful Belly's outdoor kitchen

I've never been to their dinners, though I've eaten their food and it is always haute. I do, however spend every Monday night with them as part of an organic farming internship. Since March, I have built an organic garden behind their neighbor's house, with the help of 11 other interns. Our plot is both beautiful and extremely practical, in that it feeds us week in and week out.

I may write more about learning to farm at some point...

Unfortunately, what reminded me to write about the Bon Apetít article is a story in today's New York Times about farm subdivisions, in which Hidden Springs features prominently.

By 2008, the 1,756-acre Idaho development had repaid a $12 million loan from the financing arm of General Motors; realized a 61 percent premium on the sale of its sites, compared with similar parcels with no farm nearby; and claimed a $2.8 million pretax profit by selling 785 of 800 lots, while keeping 1,000 acres open.

Do you think the NYT bothered to check out the little "farm" at Hidden Springs? Doubt it....