| American Idol Buzz
She eventually got her act together to sing Olivia Newton John one more time, with the other gals surrounding her. Despite or because of her emotional state, she did much better than Wednesday. Go figure. Kady Malloy and Amanda Overmyer were threatened but both had enough personality (and in Amanda's case, a good first week) to survive. Among the guys, the first to go was Jason Yeager, who was again one of the pre-top 24 ignored ones. He simply didn't do anything special. We won't remember him in about three hours. And shocking no one, the ex-Britney boyfriend/former boy band/fake rocker dude Robbie Carrico was cut, too. He was simply overshadowed by David Cook, who seems more legit in that arena. Now if only Robbie had pulled off those alleged extensions live on air! That would have made him truly memorable! So I got three out of four right.
Two state grants to help North Andover become greener
NORTH ANDOVER — One grant is meant to help people conserve water, another is to help them breathe easier. Residents will have the opportunity to get a $10 discount on rain barrels for their yard because of money from the state Department of Environmental Protection. North Andover received $500 to use to give 50 residents a $10 discount on rain barrels ordered from New England Rain Barrel Co. through April 14. With the discount, the barrels will cost the first 50 people who order them $56.50 each, according to Tina Klein, chairwoman of the North Andover Solid Waste Advisory Committee. People can use the 55-gallon barrels made of recycled plastic to collect rainwater, and then use that water for their gardens or flowers. "This is a way to collect it and reuse it, and not have to use it from the normal town source," said DEP spokesman Edmund Coletta.
January 2008
The two were intolerably civil to each other, and neither said anything that struck me as remotely controversial. In fact, with each debate the orthodoxy of Obama's positions becomes more pronounced. We spent the first 40 minutes on health care, and I thought Hillary clearly won that portion of the debate. She understands how difficult any change will be, and more important she understands that not everyone wants change--that those with health care may actually fear it. If Obama holds a similar position, I could not discern it from what he said. On the war, they are both terrible. Hillary says, "we will end the war in Iraq and we will resolve the war in Afghanistan." The only rule for this debate seemed to be that neither candidate would dare use the word 'victory.' We know they want out of Iraq, but have we now conceded defeat in Afghanistan as well? Our conflict with the Taliban and al Qaeda is to be 'resolved'? When Tony Soprano says he's going to resolve a problem, we know what that means, but what on earth does it mean when Hillary says it? The low point for Obama came when he said that the NIE on Iran had shown that engagement and talking could lead to the Iranians changing their behavior.
ST. JOHN: Fasting friend inspires action
I'm not talking about a not-eating-meat-on-Friday fast, or an I'm-gonna-give-up-red-wine-for-40-days-but-still-drink-white-wine fast. No, he's doing an honest-to-goodness, Mahatma Gandhi-type fast- nothing but water. Fasting is a method of religious observance, penitence and purification which is practiced in several religious faiths. I am of the Protestant persuasion, so I will focus mostly on Protestant fasting. Fasting was an option for the early Christians, and later became a requirement. In the early church the typical fast lasted 40 hours. It was later changed to 40 days. The 40-day fast in the early Christian church allowed one meal per day. My friend is not allowing himself even one meal. He is on a nothing-but-water fast for the entire 40 days. As I write he is in the 20th day of the fast and seems to be doing well.
Councilman MikeK Recalls Knievel Action Figure
I have been a customer for over 25 years and am a bit upset that we are not receiving official records for Kootenai County anymore, but instead for Spokane County. My interest is in Kootenai County and what is happening in our neighborhoods and at our courts. It seems that there is very little coverage of our area by your paper anymore, not what I am wanting to purchase daily. I have conferred with others and they are upset also. Please advise if this is a permanent change and if it is, all I have spoken with will be canceling their subscriptions too.
Sad for all/Jacqui. Answer: In response to complaints about the disappearance of the Idaho public records in our newspaper, we're working on a solution. We believe we'll be able to publish them in our weekly zoned editions -- the Handle Extra and the Post Falls Voice.
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