Huckleberries: A challenge to do a good deed and keep it to yourself

Facebook friend Ryan Brodwater has a message for everyone who bounces from one social media fad to the next: “Facebook sure is great at informing people what they care about, for that particular week. (Two weeks ago), it was amazing to see how many people had close, personal relationships with Robin Williams. (Last) week, everyone is suddenly committed to fighting ALS, by pouring water over their heads.”

Ryan offers his own challenge, via Facebook: Donate blood. Volunteer for an hour. Clean up a public space. Ryan wants people to do “something random and meaningful that actually benefits others” – and not to post anything about it on social media. Ryan finishes his thought by repeating the words of a mountain-climbing friend: “I don’t need to sign the summit log. I know I was there.”

Ryan’s idea sounds Sermon on the Mountish.

Indeed, I do

I’d love to have been a fly on the John Birch Society tent flap at the North Idaho Fair on Thursday when Coeur d’Alene School Board Chairwoman Christa Hazel happened by. One of the embedded conspiracy theorists wanted to know if she knew anything about Big Bad Common Core, the proposed education standards feared by Tea-publicans everywhere. I suspect Christa does … ’Twas nice to see Birchers and Constitutionalists still willing to identify with their parties at the fair. In Kootenai County, Constitutionalists, Libertarians and Birchers hide out in the Far Right climes of the Republican Party – and call everyone who doesn’t agree with them “RINOs” (Republicans In Name Only).

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “One single plant,/I hereby state,/will feed/a family of eight” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Zucchini”) … Tongue firmly cheeked, Randy Myers of Coeur d’Alene sez: “The Ice Bucket Challenge is swiftly overtaking sports as a leading cause of concussions” … Best bargain on the Coeur d’Alene waterfront as summer fades to autumn? Huckleberry lemonade for $2 at Tiki Hut at Independence Point. Tell ’em Huckleberries sent you … Bumpersnicker, spotted in Coeur d’Alene: “If you voted for Obama, stay 500 feet behind, I don’t trust your judgment!” … KXLY’s Nadine Woodward reports from the Big Apple, via Facebook: “Dude just tried to rip me off in the NYC subway. Unzipped my purse from behind and swiped my wallet. Yeah, I screamed, but I ripped that wallet right out of his hand” … Cis Gors of Bonner County claims the only people who look “cool” on a bike are kids, especially boys: “Boys ride with authority, be it a mission at the high speed that their legs go like pistons, or just coasting along talking to their friends.” Adults on bikes? Cis sez, fuhgeddaboutit … Yes, I really did write that headline for Huckleberries Online, after the megaload parked for the night along Highway 95 near Silverwood recently: “Megaload reaches Athol.” Where’s Letterman when you need him? … Yes, Grasshopper, that was Julianne Hough, of “Dancing with the Stars” fame (among other things), and her hockey beau, Brooks Laich, eating burgers sans fries at venerable Hudson’s in downtown Coeur d’Alene recently. She was in town to visit relatives, including grandpa Bob Hough, who was known during his KVNI radio days as “Bubblehead Bob.”

Parting shot

For those keeping score at home, former Democratic County Clerk Dan English offers proof that Republicans didn’t always have a stranglehold on the Kootenai County Courthouse. Since 1932, reports Dan, there were 272 people elected to county office. Of that number 164, or 60 percent, were Democrats and 108, or 40 percent, were Republicans. County clerks were generally Democrats. Coroners were usually Republicans. Sounds like the Democrats got first pick.