Blogroll

Nov. 11 – There are those who see or hear the words “crafts fair” and immediately think, “Hey, I’d like to check that out.”

And there are people who react to those two words by thinking “Please God, no, make it stop.”

Nov. 11 – Mayors of major U.S. cities received a letter from a major bird advocacy group this week asking them to stop the epidemic spread of feral cats that threaten national bird populations as well as scores of other wildlife.

Letters were mailed to mayors of the 50 largest cities in the United States by the American Bird Conservancy urging them to support responsible pet ownership and oppose Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs that promote the feeding of outdoor cats.

Nov. 10 – Before he was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday, Edgar Steele told the court he wanted his lawyer at trial to show jurors the underwear he was wearing when he was arrested to dispute FBI claims that he may have defecated himself. 

Steele said Robert McAllister, who has since been disbarred for unrelated reasons, refused, and Steele criticized the move as stifling a chance to show jurors at his murder-for-hire trial last spring that lead investigator and FBI agent Mike Sotka “was a liar.”

Under questioning from prosecutors during the trial in Boise last spring, Sotka said Steele stood up and an “odor of fecal matter” filled the air when FBI agents told him they knew of the murder plot.

Nov. 10 – It’s good to see the city of Spokane using zero emissions vehicles to reduce greenhouse gases.

Last year, the city opened a charging station located in the parking lot just to the north of City Hall with two outlets allowing several electric vehicles to charge at the same time. Now, it’s great to see the city fulfill its promise on the electric fleet with a Chevy Volt expected for 2012.

To save money and resources, the city dramatically reduced its motor pool in 2010 and committed to an emphasis on alternative-fuel vehicles for the remaining motor pool vehicles.