Huckleberries Blog

Stacks at Steam Plant offers Steamed Shellfish – Penn Cove mussels and Manila clams sautéed with smoked bacon, garlic, shallots and basil and steamed in Cutter’s Pale Ale.

Don’t just hand Dad a beer with dinner this Father’s Day – serve him some suds in his food, too.

While still not quite so familiar as cooking with wine, using beer in recipes has become increasingly commonplace as the craft-brewing culture continues to grow.

“You get more complex flavors with beer than if you’re using wine or vinegars,” says Michael Noble, chef-owner of Waddell’s Neighborhood Pub & Grille in southeast Spokane. “You have a lot more layers of flavor to work with.” Read more. Rick Bonino, SR

I have a great beer chicken recipe. Do you cook with beer?

As the Supreme Court prepares to release its decision on the University of Texas' affirmative-action policy this month, two recent polls show a majority of Americans are against colleges and universities using race as a factor in admissions.

A recent ABC News poll finds 76 percent of Americans think colleges should not consider the race of applicants. The poll did not find major differences in race: 79 percent of white people oppose the use of race in admissions, while 71 percent of nonwhites oppose it (including 78 percent of blacks and 68 percent of Hispanics).

Meanwhile, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll from this month finds support for affirmative action at a historic low, with just 45 percent of Americans saying such programs are still needed to counter discrimination against minorities, compared with 61 percent who favored it in 1991. Full story.

Reaction?

Breaking News: Disqus still on strike! Day 2.

Thousands of disappointed blurkers and commentors have been unable to access Huckleberries comments for the second day in a row. Disqus remains on strike but refuses to state its demands.

Spokesman I.T. workers think that Disqus is just sad because its romantic overtures were rebuffed by Microsoft Word.

Oft time commentor Spudbob was quoted as saying, "I hate Disqus.... a bunch." Sho-Con, HerbH, and Hmoff sent out a joint comment saying that they finally agree with Spudbob on something. Cabbage Boy said if he was in charge he would punch Disqus in the nose. A frustrated CindyH said that if she could just access the mainframe computer she would give Disqus a reprogramming... with a hammer!

Phadrus has 173 comments saved waiting for downloading whenever Disqus will allow him to do so. JohnA said, "Urban renewal is really cool because ...." Strangely, Dennis had no comment.

DaveO, on vacation in the Bahamas, could not be reached for comment.

For the record the comments feature is working-- just not the LATEST comments tab. You know. The one WE ALL USE.

I'm heading out to hear my son play at Street Music Week. I hope to find the latest comments feature working when I return, but I wouldn't wager any cash.

Dennis Melowski of Kohler, Wisc., has his wetsuit removed with the help of the volunteers after he swam the 2.4 miles at the start of the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene, June 21, 2009.

COEUR d'ALENE - There's no other way to put it: The positions with the most sex appeal are booked, filled up, plum off the market.Which ones are those?

Strippers and body painters, but more on that later.

Because Ironman still needs volunteers - even if the glamour spots are full up - and lots of them.

"We're a little behind the curve this year," said Michelle Haustein, Coeur d'Alene Ironman volunteer director. "We're not exactly sure why, to be honest with you."

The 140-mile triathlon race has 2,544 volunteers to help along the swim, bike and run course, not to mention medical tents.

But its goal is to have 3,800 to 4,200 helpers on hand June 23, so they're about 1,200 to 1,600 bodies in the hole. More here. Tom Hasslinger, Cda Press

 Have you ever volunteered or participated in the Ironman Triathalon? 

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A new report shows Boise State's football team is one of the best in the nation when it comes to how players perform in the classroom. The NCAA announced Tuesday that Boise State posted a team-best Academic Progress Rate of 993 during a four-year period ending in 2011-2012.

That score ranks the Broncos second in the Football Bowl Subdivision, one spot behind Northwestern from the Big Ten Conference. The University of Idaho's football team scored at 919, while Idaho State came in with 914. APR measures eligibility, retention and graduation of all scholarship athletes. Read more.

Is "dumb jock" another stereotype that should be laid to rest?

PORTLAND – Oregon’s most populous county is requiring that gender-neutral bathrooms be included whenever a county-owned building is constructed or remodeled, a move to accommodate transgender employees and visitors.

Multnomah County board Chairman Jeff Cogen signed the executive order Tuesday. The Portland-based county is among the first local governments in the nation to have such a rule. It was patterned on legislation recently approved by the city of Philadelphia and was inspired by a local high school that earlier this year designated six single-occupancy restrooms as unisex.

It’s not known how many of the county’s 4,500 employees are transgender.

Unisex bathrooms: good idea or bad?

WASHINGTON — Using voice commands to send text messages and emails from behind the wheel, which is marketed as a safer alternative for drivers, actually is more distracting and dangerous than simply talking on a cellphone, a new AAA study found.

Automakers have been trying to excite new-car buyers, especially younger ones, with dashboard infotainment systems that let drivers use voice commands do things like turning on windshield wipers, posting Facebook messages or ordering pizza. The pitch has been that hands-free devices are safer because they enable drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.

But talking on a hands-free phone isn’t significantly safer for drivers than talking on a hand-held phone, and using hands-free devices that translate speech into text is the most distracting of all, researchers found. Full story.

I can tell you from personal experience this is true. My phone has a talk text function that I've tried to use with little success. The reason it's so distracting is that it sends goofy messages which I'm then tempted to correct. Bottom line? No text is so urgent that it can't wait 'til you're off the road.

Have you used your phone's talk/text function?

During an interview with FOX Business, former Rep. Ron Paul explained that he was concerned about the well-being of National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

“I’m worried about somebody in our government might kill him with a cruise missile or a drone missile,” Paul explained. “I mean we live in a bad time where American citizens don’t even have rights and that they can be killed, but the gentlemen is trying to tell the truth about what’s going on.” More here. Washington Examiner

In other Snowden related news: Dropout made rapid rise in the world of spies

What do you think Snowden's fate will be?

Lowriders like this yellow and chrome Cadillac turned heads at Car d'Lane.

COEUR d'ALENE - Car lovers, mark your schedules.

Car d'Lane revs up this weekend, so anyone planning to check out the cruise Friday - or swing by the show Saturday when the car hoods go up - should take note of dates and times below.

As planned, downtown street improvements on Sherman Avenue and Third Street will be wrapped up this week, so the show is scheduled to roar as usual.

Admission for spectators of "Cruisin' by the Lake," is free, and for those still wanting to enter their rigs, there's time. More here. Cda Press

Do you enjoy Car d' Lane?

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis lamented that a “gay lobby” was at work at the Vatican in private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group – a stunning acknowledgment that appears to confirm earlier reports about corruption and dysfunction in the Holy See.

The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious – the regional organization for priests and nuns of religious orders – confirmed Tuesday that its leaders had written a synthesis of Francis’ remarks after their Thursday audience. The group, known by its Spanish acronym CLAR, said it was greatly distressed that the document had been published and apologized to the pope.

In the document, Francis is quoted as saying that while there were many holy people in the Vatican, there was also corruption: “The ‘gay lobby’ is mentioned, and it is true, it is there … We need to see what we can do …” the synthesis reads.

Thoughts?

Debbie Thompson, left, and her son, Luke Thompson, are among the family operators of the Coeur d’Alene Exchange.

Coeur d’Alene’s Midtown neighborhood is known for a cluster of thrift stores operated as nonprofits that benefit a variety of causes, from animals to children to battered women.

The new kid on the block also works on behalf of a worthy cause, but its business model is unique.

The Coeur d’Alene Exchange is a for-profit, family-owned-and-operated store that pledges a share of revenues to Coeur d’Alene public schools. In its first year, the store on Fourth Street has donated more than $20,000 to local schools for expenses such as classroom supplies that teachers often end up paying for out of their own pockets. Read More. Scott Maben, SR

How often do you shop at thrift stores?

In this Duane Rasmussen photo from Monday's NIPAC reception, Governor Butch Otter appears to be enjoying himself at the Resort, though as Duane pointed out "he chose water over wine."

When is the last time you visited the CDA Resort?
 

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden a "traitor" in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" Tuesday.

"He's a traitor," he said. "The president outlined last week that these were important national security programs to help keep Americans safe and give us tools to fight the terrorist threat that we face."

"The disclosure of this information puts Americans at risk. It shows our adversaries what our capabilities are. And it's a giant violation of the law," he said. Full story.

Do you consider Snowden a traitor, a hero or something in between?

For the past month my brother, sister-in-law and I have been trying to help my 82 year-old  mom plan for the future by taking her around to check out various retirement communities.
Last week a discussion with the marketing director at one such community somehow included my mom confessing that she no longer wears days-of-the-week panties after her gynecologist commented on her red Friday panties.
"Did he say, thank God's it's Friday?" I asked.

Amazingly, they let me go with them to check out yet another retirement community and it turns out this may be "the one." Some of these communties are so beautiful and have such great amenities that I'd  like to move right in.

Now to tackle Tuesday's to-do list.

 A Spokane Police officer under internal investigation has resigned and the investigation has been turned over to Spokane County prosecutors to determine if charges are warranted.

Police Chief Frank Straub said today that Officer Jeff Graves has resigned “effective immediately.”

The department placed Graves on administrative leave on May 9 after a woman made allegations that Graves was stalking and harassing her after they met on Facebook and had sex .After he was placed on leave, investigators learned of another complaint, but Straub did not elaborate. Full Story.Thomas Clouse, SR

Thoughts?

On Paul Turner's Slice blog he poses this question:

Which accent do you find to be sexy? A) Australian. B) French. C) Scandinavian. D) Canadian. E) Thai. F) Nigerian. G) Scottish. H) Mexican. I) Russian. J) Japanese. K) Indian. L) German. M) Other.

Can't believe he didn't include Norwegian! You can't just lump all the Scandinavians together like that. But I have to admit I have my GPS (Lee) set to a Australian accent. Lee and I have a lot of good times.

Well? What say you?

In today's Beck wants GOP blessing before candidates appear on ballot thread, Dan Gookin pens a scenario in which candidate Bob hopes to run for the Legislature.

BOB: Hi, I'm Bob Smith, and I'd like to run for the Legislature as a Republican.

GOP: I see, Mr. Smith. Do you have your GOP Purity Card?

BOB: Yes, it's right here. As you can see, I'm a fourth generation Republican and everyone in my immediate family is registered Republican, even our 4-month-old.

GOP: Very good.

BOB: Great! Then I can submit my paperwork?

GOP: Perhaps. [pause] I do have a small concern.

BOB: Yes?

GOP: I see your sister married a man who is in the teacher's union?

BOB: [thinks] Oh! Bill. He's my brother-in-law. Yes, he's in the teacher's union, but he's a Republican.

GOP: Is he?

Scenario continues below. So if being "Republican enough" is tricky what do you have to do to be "Democratic enough" in Idaho?

Spokane Valley endodontist Blake McKinley Jr.’s book, “Happy Tooth & Sad Tooth,” published this spring, covers toothbrushing, flossing and the importance of healthy food.

If you’ve ever tried to get a 2-year-old to brush her teeth or a 4-year-old to climb into a dentist’s chair, here’s a story for you. Or your problem child.

Dr. Blake McKinley Jr., a Spokane Valley endodontist, wrote “Happy Tooth & Sad Tooth” more than a decade ago before visiting his son’s preschool class to give a talk about his job.

He read his book with the children, distributed photocopies to all and followed up with an exercise resembling human chess, except with preschoolers arranged in an arch – like a jaw full of teeth – and flossed them with a piece of rope.

Presentation over, the book went into a closet in his office. But McKinley wondered once in a while if anyone else might be interested in reading it. Finally, he sent it off to a publisher, which promptly bit. Adrian Rogers, SR

Does anybody actually LIKE going to the dentist?

The U.S. Senate voted 82-15 today to clear the way for debate on a comprehensive immigration reform bill, turning back an attempted filibuster. The 15 “no” votes all came from Republicans, including both of Idaho’s senators, Jim Risch and Mike Crapo.

A second procedural vote also is scheduled today; if that goes like the first, several weeks of debate are then expected before the Senate takes final votes on the bill, proposed by a bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” but likely to see various amendments. Betsy Russell, EOB

Reaction?

Chad Johnson will serve a 30-day jail sentence after his probation hearing went awry Monday. The former NFL star reportedly annoyed the presiding judge by slapping his lawyer's rear end while a plea deal was being negotiated.

According to TMZ, Johnson, who violated probation earlier this year in a domestic violence case involving then-wife Evelyn Lozada, was booted out of a Broward County, Fla., courtroom Monday morning after he "playfully slapped" his male lawyer's buttocks in front of Judge Kathleen McHugh. More here.

Did the judge over react?