Columns
See the latest columns from CDA Press!
Boo-hoo: Not another tattoo
Self-mutilation used to be a symptom of a mental disorder. But over the last 10 years or so it has been mainstreamed in the form of tattoos. They seem to be plastered all over most of the under-30 set.
Teachable moments go both directions
Since sharing my thoughts on school spirit in a Facebook post after attending a high school basketball game last Friday night, the storm has swelled. I communicate for a living so I did what I do, put my feelings a…
Redistricting effort was really gerrymandering
On Jan. 3, a friend and I attended the Kabuki theater put on by the self-styled 'Reagan Republicans' (Corporatist/big government) faction of the Republican Party in downtown Coeur d'Alene. They were proposing a red…
What kids eat
"Gramps, can you make us a fancy dinner?" my 6-year-old granddaughter asks on New Year's Eve. Removing her coat, heavy boots and gloves she smiles, "I love your fancy dinners." Finding it impossible to say no I ask…
'Public': When a good word goes bad
Given its magnanimous etymology it is surprising that the word public has acquired any negative connotations. Then again, considering the polarized ideologies so prevalent in modern politics, it isn't too surprisin…
Do human rights merit a holiday?
I try to keep an open mind. Compassion can't be exercised without one, so I strive to understand the viewpoints of others as deeply as I can. Still, when a friend says, "I don't see why Martin Luther King Day shoul…
'Snowflake Bentley' - a man of the winter season
Due to the fact that my wife Sharon will be teaching her 'Mops Kids' about the uniqueness of snowflakes this Friday at church, I decided to run my 'SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY' annual update column this week.
An issue for our 'Hamlet'
Why vote on McEuen is needed
A common rallying point for those who oppose parts or all of the current proposal to create a new McEuen Park is the desire to hold a public vote. With the election of two new council members, ones who have both st…
Best way to move on McEuen
Two old sayings come to mind when thinking about McEuen Field:
Legislation has many faces
In this series on legislation, Tuesday's installment outlined the Idaho legislative process. Today, a look at various types of bills and tracking them.
Full circle: Soldiers welcomed home
As Brigadier General Alan Gayhart of the Idaho Army National Guard observed ... it was a real Norman Rockwell moment at the Armory on Saturday afternoon when the community came out to show their appreciation to the…
How to save a life II
QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) is a suicide prevention program developed by Dr. Paul Quinnett, which offers tools to help someone in pain who is contemplating suicide. The premise of QPR is to first know the wa…
Legislation 101: A bill is born
The first in a two-part series on lawmaking, today's column outlines the stages of legislation in the statehouse. Thursday, a glimpse at various types of bills.