A Place On The . Net

On the front window of the going-out-of-business Denally's decor store in the 6000 block of Government Way (across from Beau Monde's/Country Primitive) is this sign: "So much for Obama's stimulus package."

Rev. Terry Jones poses for a photo at the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., recently. Jones vowed to go ahead with plans to burn copies of the  Quran  to protest the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks despite warnings from the White House and the top U.S. general in Afghanistan that doing so would endanger American troops overseas. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Question: Are the fears of President Obama and a top general in Afghanistan real -- that a protest that involves burning the Quran will endanger American fighting men & women?

Gotta admit, I thoroughly enjoyed that Boise State/Virginia Tech football game -- and consider Boise State to be a legitimate contender for the national title now. I know some of you Idaho Vandal fans don't like anything Bronco. But I have think it's swell that an Idaho team is considered one of the top 3 in the nation. I (heart) what Akey & his army have done with Idaho (although I don't know if I can watch next Saturday's game in Nebraska). But I'm also thrilled with the job Coach Pete has done in Boise. I just needed to say that before I get into serious blogging this week. Now for your Wild Card ...

• 6:06 p.m. A gas fire reported at 1111 E. 13th/Post Falls is now out.
  
• 5:58 p.m. Father reports that his 14YO son rode a horse onto a trail from Bridle Path Stables on Lancaster/Hayden and hasn't returned in 90 minutes.
• 5:21 p.m. Caller from 1600 block of E. 2nd/Post Falls reports a neighbor drove off in a pickup with a small child hanging from a ladder in the bed.
  
• 5:02 p.m. A CPD Blue is rousting a panhandler from H95 & Appleway/CdA.
  
• 4:45 p.m. A Washington resident is complaining that an Idaho neighbor is pumping water off his property.
  
• 4:31 p.m. Caller reports that a white pickup with government plates is speeding on I-90.
• 4:23 p.m. Caller reports a Jeep with "large guys" in it was being driven erratically on I-90 before exiting onto Sherman/CdA.
• 4:13 p.m. A male named Rick is too drunk to leave the Beer Hunter, 9551 H95/Hayden, despite being told to do so.
• More below
  

In this Sept. 18, 2008, AP file photo by Susan Walsh, then secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne left, seated next to Interior Department inspector General Earl Devaney, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, during a House Natural Resources Committee oversight hearing. Now, the former agency director will become a life insurance lobbyist. See story below.

• Kempthorne takes job as life insurance lobbyist/Associated Press
• UCDavis, Cal Poly to join Big Sky for football/Associated Press
• Spokane police release Deputy Hirzel's statements re: shooting/KREM
• Boise State earns high TV ratings, praise from around USA/Brian Murphy, Statesman
• Hokies' fan gets 2000 followers by urging potato boycott/Katy Moeller, Statesman
• Sandpoint Bypass girder work to begin this week/Keith Kinnaird, Bonner County Bee
• Path of the Hiawatha attracts record usage/Nicole Nolan, Shoshone News-Press

Question: Is a job as a life insurance lobbyist a fitting next step for former U.S. senator/Idaho governor/Interior secretary Dirk Kempthorne?

A  frog eats an  incect as it clings to a window on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 in Maquoketa, Iowa. (AP Photo/Quad-City Times, Kevin E. Schmidt)

Top Cutlines:

• 1. Residents witness the unfortunate result of Miss Piggy's anger -- JohnA.
• 2. Kermet uncensored! -- Soaf.
• 3. A frog gets in a lick at the seemy underbelly of insect politics -- PowderFarmer.

"There has been a serious outbreak of kittens in our house," reports Idaho Dad/A Family Runs Through It. "We’re fostering a mama cat and her 7 little kittens until they’re old enough to be adopted out by the local humane shelter. The kids are having a great time taking care of them all, even figuring out new ways to carry them around." More here.

• Another school year, another year to teach/A Butterfly Moment
• Another Labor Day done gone/Atmospheric Ruminations
• A baton blow leaves a mark, you know/Community Comment
• Combat isn't over when our soldiers are still being killed/Dogwalk Musings
• How many books do I need/From A Simple Mind
• Where is that child's mother, and: The hot chick/ilovecda.com
• 3BT: Family dinner, Olivia starts to walk, family assignment catchup/Kellogg Bloggin'
• The rise of the pod people/Nuts & Nonsense
• What is irony/Rants, Raves, & Random Thoughts
• Headwaters/Skookum Photography
• Entering the quiet zone/Slight Detour
• Choices/Tumblewords

HBO Numbers (for week of Aug. 29 - Sept. 4): 56,574/35,302

Several mothers among my Facebook friends told of their kids' excitement today, the first day of school, including Katrina, who wrote: "Just dropped a so-excited-he's-vibrating second grader and a so-over-it sixth grader off at their classrooms for the first day of school. It makes me want to buy myself a new Trapper Keeper and a pencil box with fifty sharpened #2 pencils inside." Another mom posted that her daughter counted down the minutes this morning -- literally -- until they were out the door. Christa Hazel, meanwhile, posts: "Why, God, why do children have to go back to school so soon? Because you are a merciful God, that's why." (AP file photo for illustrative purposes: Jim Michaud, Journal Inquirer of Connecticutt)

Question: How about you and your household? Was the return to school this morning something that you looked forward to? Or something that you lamented

CindyH via Facebook: My five-year-old niece enjoyed her first few days of kindergarten, with one notable exception: her deskmate Timmy. "Why don't you like Timmy?" "Because he LICKS the desk!" There you have it. My new word for people who annoy me: desk licker. I'd like to ask: Question: What do you call people who annoy you?

Question: You can answer Cindy's question -- if it's suitable for a family friendly blog: What do you call people who annoy you? Or you can opt for this one: Any memories from your first day of school?

A Spokane Valley pastor had put his gun in the waistband of his pants and was reaching for it when he was shot by a Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy late last month, a Spokane Police investigator said at a news conference this afternoon. The pastor, Wayne Scott Creach, had approached an unmarked police car in the parking lot of his Spokane Valley business where Deputy Brian Hirzel was sitting processing tickets, Spokane Police Lt. Dave McGovern said at a press conference today. The driver’s side window was down, and Hirzel warned Creach up to six times to drop the handgun he was holding down at his side, McGovern said. Creach replied that “he didn’t have to” drop his gun, but stowed the gun in the waistband of his trousers, McGovern said/Spokesman-Review. More here

Question: What do you make of this announcement by Spokane police?

Boise State linebacker Byron Hout (94) celebrates a Virginia Tech fumble the first quarter of their NCAA college football game Monday at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. Hout, as many Coeur d'Alene area residents recall, is a former standout player for Van Troxel's Lake City High Timberwolves. No. 3 ranked Boise State defeated No. 10 Virginia Tech (Nos. 5 & 6, respectively, in coaches poll) to lay early claims to a shot at national title game. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

After technical difficulties this morning at the Polldaddy source, Huckleberries Online's new poll is up and ready for your votes: Should Idaho risk injury by playing powerhouse teams like Nebraska, simply to earn an $800,000 payday?

Later this week I’ll have a story on the financial ramifications of Idaho football’s scheduling. For now, though, here are a few details: The payout for Saturday’s Nebraska game, $800,000, is the largest the Vandals have ever received, according to athletic director Rob Spear. But the high mark won’t last long. Next year, UI is getting $850,000 to play at Texas A&M. And in 2012, LSU is paying the Vandals $950,000 to come to Baton Rouge. The previous high for a payout was $600,000 for the USC game in 2007 and Arizona in 2008, Spear said/Josh Wright, SR Sportslink.

Question: Is it in Idaho's best interests to risk injuries to key players in a mismatch game with a powerhouse team like Nebraska, for an $800K payday (see today's poll in lefthand rail, too)?

During cool nights in the Colville National Forest, many Rainbow Family followers sleep around campfires. About 300 Rainbows are attending this regional gathering, but a national gathering next year could attract thousands to a Washington state forest. Story here. (SR photo: Colin Mulvany)

Question: Do you view the Rainbow Family as free spirits who stayed true to the 1960s flower children culture? Or a band of counterculture hippies who never grew up?

After almost 24 years in business near the corner of 4th & Garden/CdA, Larry & Pauline Anderson have closed their popular breakfast/lunch spot, Franklin's Hoagies. I used to be a fairly regular customer when the Spokesman-Review was located across the alley to the north. In fact, I used to give colleagues a $5 gift certificate to Franklin's Hoagies for every five Huckleberries tips they provided. It worked out pretty well. I quit hanging out at Franklin's Hoagies after the Spokesman-Review built its current Coeur d'Alene office on Northwest Boulevard. But I still miss the banter between Larry & Pauline -- and the tremendous breakfasts they provided. You can read about the sale here. H/T: Get Out! North Idaho Facebook And: Old GONI review here.

Question: Anyone want to provide a fond memory of Franklin's Hoagies? Or a fond farewell to the Andersons?

On Labor Day weekend, 91 percent of travelers will reach their destination by car. Some of those drivers will inevitably get lost and a new study suggests lost drive time costs men $3,000 or more in gas over their lifetime."That does not surprise me, a girl will stop and ask for directions. A guy has too much pride," says Spokane driver Evette Pitchlynn. The newly released study sheds light on male and female driving habits. British insurance company, Seila's Wheels, claims that one in 10 male drivers refuses to ask a stranger for help. More than a quarter of men polled say they would wait at least half an hour before asking for directions/Tania Dall, KXLY. More here.

Question: Are you too proud to ask for directions as soon as you realize that you're lost? Is your spouse?

The president of the Big Sky Tea Party Association has been removed from his position and booted from the party after coming under fire for a post he made on his Facebook profile that implied he condones violence against homosexuals. Tim Ravndal was removed as president of the local chapter Sunday after the group’s board of directors learned of his volatile post on the online social networking site, according to Roger Nummerdor, the former president and a current board member of the group. Nummerdor also said Ravndal is no longer welcome in the party/John Doran, Helena Independent Record. More here. (AP file photo for illustrative purposes)

Question: What do you make of the strong action taken by the Big Sky Tea Party after president Tim Ravndal seemed to condone violence against gays?

Rocco Segadelli, 11 months old, of Boise, is wide-eyed as he checks out the inside of a Mickey Mouse  balloon at the Spirit of Boise  Balloon Classic Night Glow Saturday night at Ann Morrison Park in Boise. (AP Photo/Idaho Press Tribune: Mike Vogt)

Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick to hold 2 pm press conference to discuss Creach shooting investigation/KXLY.

• Cartoons: Immigrating workers, emigrating jobs/David Horsey, Seattle P-I
  
• Montana Tea Party cans chief for anti-gay remarks/John Doran, HelenaIR
  
• Sheriff had no input into deputy vacay after pastor shooting/Jeff Humphrey, KXLY
• Wyoming tries to maintain routine after player death/AP, Casper Star Tribune
  
• BSU gets 8 1st-place votes in AP poll, jumps to No. 3 in coaches poll/IStatesman
• Wyoming 1st to require disclosure of drilling chemicals/Brad Fruquhar, New West
• Montana highways 2nd best in nation for cost, performance/Associated Press
• Victims of Silver Valley lead pollution still suffering/Nicolas Geranios, AP
• Tragic Montana plane crash revives 'lap child' debate/Matt Volz, AP
  
• Orbusmax Special: 'Extreme Makeover': Show to help Oregon School for the Deaf here
  

"We had a few red beers at The Dive in Sandpoint for the first time on Sunday and we enjoyed it fully," posts OrangeTV/Get Out! North Idaho. "Did'nt sample the food, but the atmosphere was lively and fun, with peanut shells all over the floors, a mechanical bull, a ton of free games, at least 25 big screen TVs and 20 beers on tap."

Question: Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull? Sober? Tell us about it.

Nancy and Greg Czech toast each other Monday in Comstock Park."We came to the park hoping for symphony music, but we settled for peewee football instead," said Nancy. (SR photo: Christoper Anderson)

DFO: Obviously, the Czechs had gone to Comstock Park in Spokane for what traditionally is the second of two park concerts over Labor Day weekend by the Spokane Symphony. Mrs. O & I attended the one at Pavillion Park in Liberty Lake Saturday evening. But the second one was canceled do to economy reasons. The Liberty Lake concert was superb as always.

Question: When did you last attend a symphony performance?