Ganesha, the controversial Hindu idol in downtown Coeur d’Alene, received an unscheduled makeover during the Christmas weekend. As you may recall, some Lake City residents were upset when the Ganesha statue by Spokane artist Rick Davis made an appearance on Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue as part of a yearlong public art display in downtown Coeur d’Alene. A handful protested the unveiling early last summer. Ditto for Lake City Lighthouse and Hayden Friends churches. Ditto for the Kootenai County Constitution Party. Besides the religious aspect of the statue, protesters imagined hidden symbols on Ganesha that others couldn’t see, like phallic ones and swastikas. The hubbub eventually died away – until a week ago when a large red ribbon and what appears to be a doll depicting the Christ child were added secretly to the display. No harm. But no one will mistake elephantine Ganesha plus Baby Jesus for a Bethlehem manger scene/DFO, Huckleberries, SR. More here. (SR file photo)

• Let the Budnick awards begin/Doug Clark
• Coeur d'Alene Tribe's gifts from gaming add up/Betsy Russell
• Rich fail to show proper gratitude for entitlements/Shawn Vestal
• Smart Bombs: Avoid political Twinkies/Gary Crooks
• Lingering snow, high waters affect boaters, anglers, bears/Rich Landers

Don Sausser, Eye on Downtown CdA for HucksOnline, spotted this addition to the controversial statue of Ganesha at Sixth & Sherman over the Christmas Day weekend. Emails Don: “Feeling in an ecumenical way on Christmas day the Hindu Ganesha sculpture on Sherman Ave was garnished with a Christian touch. Its Coeur d’Alene detractors should be pleased.” Seems the battle isn't over.

• Idaho Records/Sherry Adkins, SR
• Snow ends this morning, rain tonight/Mike Prager, SR
• Traffic fatalities mar holiday weekend/Mike Prager, SR
• St. Maries 18YO woman shot, killed on Christmas/Colleen O'Brien, KXLY
• Boise 13YO girl goes on 'Today' show to discuss hair loss/Jamie Grey, KTVB
• Idaho checks up on doctors more than other states/Audrey Dutton, Statesman
• Arctic snowy owls spotted across U.S. this winter/Brett French, Billings Gazette
• DUI offender seeks sobriety pledges from Idaho solons/Dan Popkey, Statesman
• Whitefish skydiver came within breath of dying in UMontana jump/Lynnette Hintze, DIL
• Orbusmax Special: Death of Jewish man on Mount Rainier fuels fight over autopsy here

Big time H/T to Tom Torgerson who spotted this sight today on Scarcello Road in the Rathdrum/Twin Lakes area. As the son of a dairyman who grew up cutting/raking/hauling hay for 500 head of daily cows, I know that the rancher here has it right. This is exactly what cows want for Christmas.

A sign with an Atheist message is on display along Ocean Avenue at Palisades Park in Santa Monica, Calif., today. Most of the Christmas nativity scenes that local churches had placed in a Southern California coastal park for nearly six decades have been displaced by non-believers and the churches say it was a coordinated attack. But atheists got all but three of the spaces this year because of a new lottery system. The coalition got two spots and one went to Isaac Levitansky of Chabad Channukah Menorah. Story here. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Reaction?

First lady Michelle Obama, with Kermit the frog, sings songs with daughters Malia, left, and Sasha Obama after the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at the Ellipse across from the White House in Washington earlier today. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Question: Which Christmas carol/song is your favorite? Why?

Good heavens, it's December already. America's most genuine holiday - Thanksgiving - is in the rearview mirror and our most garish one is coming up fast. Can't you just see the incandescent Santas? The dancing elves? And the mall parking lots, jammed full of cars? Can't you just smell the pepper spray that some folks use to clear a path to the Xbox video game players? It's said that Jesus is the reason for the season, but he appears to be peripherally involved, at best. When it comes to X-mas, Santa is The Man. Originally rooted in innocence and humility, the Christmas season has become almost unrecognizable - with merchants intent on their bottom line, and shoppers a-twitter over the prospect of buying, giving and getting more stuff/William Brock, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. More here.

Question: Have you done anything in last 5 years to rein in Christmas spending and refocus on “the reason for the season”?

Cindy found these sugar cookies in her freezer last night. She describes them on Facebook to a friend who suggested that she toss them: “They are not 'just cookies.' They are melt-in-your-mouth delicate bites of' buttery goodness topped with deliciously flavored frostings. They go from tongue to hips in less than an hour.”

Question: Did you gain any weight over the Christmas holidays? How long will it take you to get the weight back off?

Santa in the summer? Retailers are pumping still more energy this year into trying to get shoppers to loosen their purse strings early for Christmas with sparkly ornaments, holiday music and special prices. In July. Target Corp. is entering the game for the first time, with a one-day online sale starting Friday on 500 items from clothing to Blu-ray disc players that’s modeled after sales typically held Thanksgiving weekend. And Sears and Toys R Us are dramatically promoting “Christmas in July” online based on the success they saw in last year’s efforts/Associated Press. More here. (H/T: Liz via Facebook)

Question: Are you ready to begin Christmas shopping?

In the midst of unearthing Christmas decorations, I surveyed the downstairs family room. Actually, “wreck” room is a more apt description. Green and red bins burgeoning with tinsel and ornaments perched precariously on tabletops. Blue bins overflowing with winter garb towered with ominous instability in opposite corners. And stacks of paper on the floor revealed last year’s resolution to stay current with filing has been a dismal failure.

Overwhelmed, I looked for a place to sit. And then I saw it – my rocking chair. Banished to the basement when my youngest grew too big to cuddle comfortably with me in its confines.

I removed the mountain of snow pants and ski gloves that had buried it and sat down and began to rock. As I swayed, I remembered the first time I saw this chair, on a Christmas morning 20 years ago. Cindy Hval, SR. More here.

Has a baby changed your life?

Barack Obama sits on Kailua Beach in Kailua, Hawaii, last summer with his daughter Sasha.

For President Obama a white Christmas means sandy, white beaches. Click here for a guided tour of the first family’s vacation retreat.

Question: White snow or white sand for Christmas?

I only have a Wild Card for you today, Merry Hucksters. I’m totally into vacation mode and enjoying my family this Christmas vacation. We ran out to Spirit Lake Christmas Day to enjoy a dinner and gift opening with my sister and her husband. I encountered a coupla clowns along the way who didn’t realize the roads were slippery. Honked at one of them. Otherwise, it was a fun day of food and family. I’ll post more after the kids have left. Meanwhile, Councilwoman KerriT @ OnLocation North Idaho continues to carry the Wild Card with her fine photography, like the shot of the two deer in Fernan above. Now, for your Wild Card …

JeanieSpokane: No travel plans, except to get across town to my son’s house on Christmas Day. However, my best laid plans of getting Christmas cards out has been waylaid. I have now decided to send out New Year’s cards. Maybe. I had a plan, you see, to send out my cards on Friday and then take the next two weeks off from work. But two snow days later, the cards, letters, stamps, labels still sit at work and I am pretty much snow bound. We did manage to get out of here this morning and trek to Spokane - I ducked into my office and grabbed “Santa’s presents” that had been hiding under my desk. The cards etc remain on the desk. I hate being late! So now I’ll send something after the New Year.

Question: Are you ready for Christmas? Or do you still have something to do today to finish preparing?