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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009

Vacation Wild Card No. 11 -- 5.31.09 

Huckleberries Online will be rolling again tomorrow morning when I return from an 11-day vacation. You'll want to be here to talk about that change in the SR that's coming to your doorstep Monday. Also, it sounds as though plans are under way for a…

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SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009

Vacation Wild Card No. 9 -- 5.28.09 

Councilman MikeK and I had a good time on the panel re: electronic media at Leadership Coeur d'Alene's 2009 Media Day Thursday. I'd tell you what we said that drew the biggest laughs. But I'm prevented from doing so by Leadership Coeur d'Alene's Media Rule.…

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Take Two or Not 

If you get this: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/29/scientists-find-new-killer-virus-in-africa/You probably shouldn't take this: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/28/acetaminophens-liver-risks-understated-fda-report/What's your cure for what ails you?

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The Star Princess sails past the Seattle skyline, heading out of Terminal 30 bound for Alaska.
 (MCT / The Spokesman-Review)

Country Mouse or City Mouse 17 

I spent a few days in downtown Seattle recently. I love big city life. I enjoy the hustle and the bustle and the anonymity of blending in with the crowds. I love being able to walk everywhere, and the quiet oasises you find in the…

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Zuriel E. Roush (Spokane Police Department)

Risky Business 

"... investigators and Spokane health officials fear the number of sex partners Zuriel Roush exposed to the virus could be as high as 80. If that’s true, the case could create an unprecedented health problem for the Inland Northwest." http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/29/dozens-may-face-hiv-risk/So why in 2009, do people…

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Many noted chefs use coffee to put a new twist on traditional recipe favorites. This coffee-inspired chocolate cake includes two shots of espresso. 
 (Starbucks Coffee Liqueurs / The Spokesman-Review)

PMS Mobile Unit 13 

That's what the sign on the back of the white Dodge Ram pickup said. "PMS Mobile Unit: I Fix It," and a phone number. I followed the truck east on 29th until he cut me off, and made a sharp right turn. Which ticked me…

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<!-- Avista Corp., Avista Utilities logo for promo spots -->

Natural Gas 

I've always wondered what unnatural gas is.Anyhow, here's some good news: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/28/avista-customers-will-see-rate-reduction/

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A vacant lot at the corner of Seventh Street and Sherman Avenue in Coeur d’Alene will be the site of a six-story office building and will offer views of the lake. VIQ Development, an Idaho-based real estate development firm is developing The Plaza on Sherman.  (Kathy Plonka / The Spokesman-Review)

Idaho: Up and Down 

In Idaho news, downtown CDA's profile keeps rising, but school budgets are falling.http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/29/cda-office-building-will-feature-lake-view/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/29/idaho-school-districts-declaring-emergencies/

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009

Vacation Wild Card No. 8 -- 5.28.09 33 

Work, of sorts, beckons this morning as I will be part of a discussion panel with Councilman Mike K for Leadership Coeur d'Alene re: the electronic media. I signed up before I decided to take a week and a half off. I had to cancel…

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Marjorie and Aram Langhans, pictured last week in Yakima, became vigilant about guarding their Social Security numbers after their nephew’s identity was stolen.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Give Me Your Number or Else 17 

When Aram Langhans asked the Yakima Heart Center to remove his Social Security number from their files, his request had unexpected consequences: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/patient-denied-treatment-over-social-security/When was the last time you were asked for your SS number? Have you ever refused the request?

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Mickey and Minnie pose at Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Hong Kong Disneyland which opened Monday.
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

What Else Has Disney Ruined? 

Cabbage Boy on May 28 at 10:47 a.m."Sad thing is there are many kids who probably have learned their “history” from Disney. No need for revisionist history when you have entertainment history already indoctrinated."Bent on May 28 at 11:21 a.m."I know, CB. Bambi ruined a…

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A pair of tiny entrants in the 2007 Spokane Pet Fest  costume contest.Courtesy of Pet Fest
 (Courtesy of Pet Fest / The Spokesman-Review)

Your Pet's Social Event of the Season 11 

Wiener dog races, singing Chihuahuas, pet portraits and animal massage. What could be more fun? http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/28/event-for-all-furries-family/ Alas, Milo is strictly an indoor cat and too young to attend this event. Where do you hang out with your pets?

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Arpie: They Don't Make Pencils Like They Used To 

"Pencils seem to be made more cheaply than they used to be. Quite often the lead is not in the center of the pencil. This yields a poorly sharpened pencil that has wood on one side." Full comment here: http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/hbo/2009/may/27/little-tiny-tables/#commentsAnything else they don't make like…

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Small-scaled traditional furniture and art works on the walls add visual interest to this studio apartment room decorated by Cynthia Edmunds of New York. The room also features double-sided curtains with a floral pattern on one side, checks on the other. The sofa cover is reversible, too. By night, that sofa is a single bed. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Visualize This 

I'm still a little sore from moving my piano Friday. We got a new sofa. You know what that means--- time to rearrange the furniture. Only thing is, I'm NOT a visual person. I have to move each piece to see if I like it…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

Vacation Wild Card No. 7 -- 5.27.09 11 

You know how I know when I'm in the Vacation Zone? When I forget which day it is. Obviously, that happened yesterday -- when I posted a Wild Card for Monday. Cindy caught me. And I'm so laid back that I didn't correct the mistake…

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Though pretty to look at, good gardeners know that getting rid of dandelions is easier said than done. (no photographer / The Spokesman-Review)

Everything's Coming Up--- Weeds 38 

For some of us, summertime=yard work. With 4 sons, 3 of them teens, it's been a long time since I've mowed a lawn. But, there's weeding, and edging, and trimming, and did I mention weeding? Maybe we should forget the grass and go for one…

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Working for UI in New Mexico 

"The University of Idaho is spending nearly $400,000 a year to support three employees in New Mexico without any oversight, an electrical engineering professor at the school says." UI professor questions money spent in New Mexico Thoughts?

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The Microsoft portable Zune media player will include wireless technology to let people share some of their favorite songs, playlists or pictures with other Zune users who are close by. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Zuning In 

I can barely figure out my MP3 player, so I think I'll pass on the Zune: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/microsoft-adds-touch-screen-web-browser-zune/What's on your playlist today?

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Hendrix Cronin, 2, looks toward his dad, Jim (not pictured), as family friend LuAnne Swainson splashes him at the Comstock Park wading pool  Thursday. All Spokane wading pools will close Sunday. The six outdoor pools will close today.
 (Kathryn Stevens / The Spokesman-Review)

And the Good News is... 

More sunshine, just in time for my lobster bisque look to deepen to ruby red. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/expect-sunny-weather-all-week/And the Spokane Park Board approved discount passes for frequent pool users: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/park-board-approves-discount-pool-passes/Where's your favorite place to swim?

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JPMorgan Chase, which took over Washington Mutual late last year, is vacating most of WaMu’s office space in Seattle. (Ted Warren / The Spokesman-Review)

Little Tiny Tables 16 

So my bank was bought by another bank. New decor. New checks. And new tables in the lobby. You know-- the tables containing deposit/withdrawal slips. The tables with the awful, awkward pens tied to some kind of unbending plastic wire. However, the big New York…

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A Little Blog Rolling

OTV looks for waterfalls but dines with Cabbage Patch dolls instead: http://getoutnorthidaho.blogspot.com/2009/05/panhandle-cafe.htmlJeanie fondly remembers Oscar-- the oven mitt: http://www.jeaniespokane.blogspot.com/Silver Valley Girl shares about her close encounters of the family kind: http://silvervalleystories.blogspot.com/2009/05/close-encounters.htmlMrs. Mac shares a wonderful Nathan story: http://scentedgeranium.blogspot.com/2009/05/all-in-good-time.htmlAnd Marianne Love writes of Man and Birds:…

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Katherine Howard, a counselor, is serious, mostly about her ad offering an in-home consultation on installing toilet paper. 
 (Knight Ridder / The Spokesman-Review)

Bad News Dept. 

In the Bad News Department: Kootenai property values fall for the second straight year: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/overall-kootenai-property-values-fall/The Mariners lose from ahead-- again: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/27/mariners-lose-from-ahead-again/And my cat, Milo learned how to unroll toilet paper. Lots of toilet paper. If you've got some good news to share we'd love to…

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Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.




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