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Thank you
to the voters and citizens of Boundary and Bonner Counties that supported me during my public service as your State Senator! I’m truly honored, humbled, and privileged to have been your State Senator! Thank you! Best Wishes to our new State Senator Jim Woodward! Best Wishes to all for a wonderful New Year! And, remember, please stay involved or get involved if you are not! Please VOTE!
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12-26-Shawn Keough.indd 1
12/26/18 3:54 PM
(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
What is your New Year’s resolution?
“My New Year’s resolution is to walk more with my dog. I’ve already started, but I have to use my walker or cane. I wish I would quit smoking next year, but it’s more likely that I will just cut back instead of quitting all together.” Becky Hawes Homemaker Priest River
DEAR READERS,
This is it: the last Reader issue of 2018. It also happens to be the last issue put together before the return of publisher Ben Olson. It’ll be great to have him back, but even so, I’m proud of my team for holding together so well during his absence. It’s been a strange year in so many respects. Even looking past the national scene, which is its own uroboros of insanity, this year saw some of the most hotly contested public issues I’ve ever covered, from the elections to the proposed smelter to the advisory vote on Scotchman Peaks. Then there was that whole matter about the Reader becoming embroiled in a national story about robocalls, including one that targeted this paper and its publisher. I think I can speak for Ben and the rest of the Reader crew when I say it’s profoundly uncomfortable for a reporter to be the story instead of covering it. All that out of the way, thanks for another great year, Sandpoint. I hope a wonderful 2019 awaits you all. We’ll see you on the other side.
-Cameron Rasmusson, Editor
“No, I don’t have a resolution except for helping my husband stay healthy and to help him recover entirely from PTSD.”
April Hofer Medical receptionist Sandpoint
“I want to dig up all the tennis balls Mercy has buried in our woods. There are probably 25 tennis balls out there she has hidden when she is done chasing balls. I am 100-percent lab, and she is only part lab, so she just doesn’t get it.” Otter (on right) Sandpoint
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com
Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, Lyndsie Kiebert, Emily Erickson, Brenden Bobby, Brietta Leader, Drake the Dog, Mindy Cameron, Justin Landis, Chris Balboni, A.C. Woolnough, Marcia Pilgeram, Jodi Rawson
HOURS: 3pm to close Mon. through Sat. •••
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Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com
MONDAY, December 31 @ 9pm-12am
Browne Salmon Truck Join us to ring in the New Year!
OPEN 11:30 am
GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS
Helen Gibbs Retired osteopath Sagle
“To spend more time in the Word (Bible) to find out what my purpose is. That is my goal for next year.”
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
Contributing Artists: Chris Balboni (cover), Susan Dronkaard, Francesca Tirico, Eric Bond, Jodi Rawson
“I took my 14-year-old daughter‘s electronics away, and her attitude and her schoolwork have both improved. My resolution is to take away social media from my other children, as well. It is ‘dumbifying’ our kids.” Joanna Olbekson Receptionist Bonners Ferry
READER
The Psounbality with Per FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS
212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint
208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994
Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover
This week’s cover is a photograph taken by photographer Chris Balboni of the Bull River in Kootenai Forest. Chris is a multi-talented guy who also wrote about his favorite film of the year in this issue. December 27, 2018 /
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NEWS
Lawmakers prepare for 2019 legislative session By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff As the new year approaches, so too does the beginning of the 2019 legislative session in Boise, set to begin on Jan. 7. New and veteran legislators alike convened in Boise earlier this month to determine leadership roles and assign committee seats. Newly-elected legislators like District 1’s senator-elect Jim Woodward also underwent an exhaustive orientation process that introduced them to legislative procedures and rules. According to Woodward, he is pleased with how District 1 will be represented in Boise. Like his predecessor, the longtime senator Shawn Keough, he will serve on the Senate Finance Committee, which meets with the House Appropriations Committee as the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee. This powerful body plays an influential role in shaping the state budget, which amounted to $8.3 billion last year. The committee’s recommendations and decisions influence the work and projects of all state organizations and departments. Rep. Heather Scott, meanwhile, will serve on the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, the House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and the House State Affairs Committee. And Rep. Sage Dixon will be committee chairman for the House Business Committee as well as a member of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and the House Transportation Committee. Woodward is far from 4 /
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lonely as a freshman legislator. Nearly a quarter of the 105-member body will comprise of new representatives and senators. The Idaho Statesman reports that 15 Republicans and six Democrats will begin freshman terms in the House, while two Republicans and one Democrat take seats in the Senate. That brings the total Legislature makeup to 28 Republicans and seven Democrats in the Senate and 56 Republicans and 14 Democrats in the House. The Idaho Legislature is poised to have an eventful year in 2019. In the wake of Idaho voters approving Medicaid expansion this year, health care legislation will be a major topic of discussion, and it remains to be seen how the broadly conservative legislative body will handle the issue. While a substantial majority of Idaho voters want to see Medicaid expanded in the state — about 60 percent voted in favor of the ballot initiative — many state lawmakers have expressed ideological opposition to federally-driven health care. Anticipating a legislative fight ahead, activists for Medicaid expansion are already calling for unobstructed implementation of Medicaid expansion throughout the state. They say that tacked-on requirements like proving one’s employment will only increase costs for Idaho taxpayers. The Times-News anticipates that criminal justice and education will also be major themes in the 2019 legislative session. With Idaho prisons bursting at the seams and the Department of Corrections asking for a
Freshman lawmakers, include newly-elected District 1 senator Jim Woodward in the upper left, are sworn in at the beginning of December. Photo courtesy Jim Woodward new $500-million, 1,510bed incarceration facility, lawmakers will weigh a variety of solutions to the problem, including relaxing
mandatory minimum sentences on non-violent drug offenses. Likewise, legislators will examine the possibility of switching from an
attendance-based model for school funding to an enrollment model.
Crews coordinate on water main breaks By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
City crews had a busy month fixing water mains, including one break late on Christmas Eve. Work began earlier this month when a contractor on South Boyer accidentally bored into a 12-inch main. Crews tackled another incident on Christmas Eve, when an old 6-inch, cast-iron main broke. According to Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton, no cause is identified for the Christmas Eve
break. But cast-iron mains are inflexible, so whenever there’s any heaving or an earthquake, the metal can’t move with the earth. In fact, there have been four breaks in 6-inch mains over the last few months. It’s timely, then, that the city is set to conduct a full review of its infrastructure and set priorities in 2019. Stapleton thanked city street- and utility-crew members for being ready to work over the holidays, especially given the winter conditions which complicate their work.
A worker examines a main break in South Sandpoint. Photo by Eric Bond
COMMUNITY
Community Day nets over $24K
Bonner Partners in Care Clinic and Community Cancer Services benefit as the annual $10 lift ticket day sees nearly 3,000 skiers
By Reader Staff Thanks to local skiers and riders from Sandpoint and beyond, Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s annual Community Day fundraiser for Bonner Partners in Care & Community Cancer Services raised $24,800. “When people in our community are in need due to cancer or health concerns, these two organizations step in to help ease the burden,” said Schweitzer Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer. “We’ve seen firsthand through our own Schweitzer family how devastating illness can be and the opportunity to support these two organizations is more than just a gesture. It’s something we feel very strongly about.” Community Day originated over 10 years ago as “A Day for Heather” and has evolved to include not just support for families dealing with cancer, but also offering free medical care at the clinic provided by Bonner Part-
ners in Care. “BPICC appreciates all that Schweitzer does for our community,” said Clinic Director Amy Swanstrom Topp. “The funds received from the Community Ski Day will help our patients by directly funding much needed prescriptions, lab tests and referrals to specialists. We are forever grateful for Schweitzer’s support in our clinic.” “It’s such a simple thing for us to do — $10 lift tickets — but it makes a huge difference to both of these organizations. It’s a win-win for both our local skiers and riders and these non-profits. We can’t thank everyone enough for their support of Community Day.” For more details or information about Community Day or Schweitzer’s other philanthropic projects, please contact Chrismer at dchrismer@schweitzer. com.
Is Ralph Nader right?
The federal government is not two opposing political parties fighting for what’s best for the people of the U.S. It’s ONE criminal organization which, so far, has tried to maintain its appearance of a constitutional government. The maintenance of appearance is difficult, but so far, and with the help of the mainstream media, they are still fooling many people. This criminal organization is getting its way towards a one-world totalitarian corporate government, and unless more people wake up to this, and they are, that criminal organization will get its way. And just as the movable-type printing press ushered in the Renaissance of the 16th century, so will the internet today. This criminal organization will hurt all of us if allowed to continue.
Dear Editor, Ralph Nader said recently in an interview with Amy Goodman on “Democracy Now”, and I agree, past presidents Bush and Obama were essentially presidents of a corporate-owned, warmongering, fundamentally corrupt federal government. Nader’s interview and book took an acute turn away from this monumental revelation and gave the reader what they wanted: It focused instead on Trump. But Nader is not the only one to see the criminality of past presidents. Those who don’t benefit from the criminal acts of this organization, mainly poorer people, see what Nader sees. And those same people, growing in number voted in 2016 to thwart the criminal organization’s choice for figurehead. What we are seeing now are those criminal federal agencies and their mouth piece, the corporate mainstream media, trying to remove or weaken the outsider occupying that figurehead position in their corrupt organization. There was no real choice in 2016 for an honest benevolent president, except the minor hope of weakening the corrupt criminal organization by electing an outsider who seemed to also see the ‘swamp like’ criminality.
Courtesy photo.
Jay Mock Sandpoint
Reader contributor kudos... Dear Editor, The Reader has had a surge of wonderful new contributors. Alex Barron’s piece (December 13) was remarkable. His radical opinions and straight-forward communication are exactly what I love to read. Jodi Rawson Sandpoint
Always Something N
ew!
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COMMUNITY
Animal tracking field Sandpoint Nordic Club offers seasonal ski rentals day coming up By Reader Staff
Over the weekend, I spent a few hours in the woods as a last-ditch effort to fill my extended-season cow elk tag. I sat just inside the treeline along a clearing where an old skid road has become a well-traveled game run, and waited while my dad and sister ran a route around the mountain meant to push any surrounding elk in my direction. A few inches of fresh snow created a silence only possible in the winter woods, and more flakes were falling as I waited. After about 30 minutes, I saw two brown ears pop up along the trail. A whitetail doe strolled into sight, followed by a smaller deer — possibly her spring fawn, now without spots. I stayed still, turning my head to watch them only when both their heads were turned away. They weren’t 20 yards from me when the doe stopped and looked in my direction. I stopped breathing. The only movement came from the falling flakes and the younger deer bounding around in the snow, simply enjoying the wintry scene like my puppy or a child might. The doe and I only locked eyes for a moment, but it felt like eternity. She never acted as if she saw me, only turned back to the game run and continued her steady gait. The small deer followed suit, but with more spring in his step, as if saying, “C’mon, mama, let’s play.” I watched them crest the hill, then remembered to breathe. Afterward, when I met back up with my dad and sister, I told them about the playful deer and the moment of stillness with the doe. They said they hadn’t seen any elk sign, and in response to my agitated sigh my dad reminded me that a hunt isn’t about the harvest — sometimes it’s about “getting to see a young whitetail acting normal,” as he put it. What drives us to share our stories, or — in the case of journalists — urge others to share theirs? I am reminded in moments like what I experienced in the woods last weekend. As 2018 comes to a close, I am grateful for this life. For the people, the experiences and certainly for the stories. Here’s to sharing many more in 2019. 6 /
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Courtesy photo.
By Reader Staff
With winter well under way, the mountains are filled with snow, and snow on the valley floor won’t be far behind. For many of us, finding a way to continue to get outside and enjoy the fresh air during these winter months is how we stay physically fit and mentally positive. Sandpoint Nordic Club continues to promote community fitness in the winter by offering seasonal and weekly cross country ski rentals. Cross country skiing is a minimal impact sport which
can be enjoyed by all ages and the whole family. These rentals provide a cost friendly way to be fully equipped to enjoy the winter’s snow, while also joining a growing community in our area of cross country skiers. Sandpoint Nordic Club is offering both classic and skate ski rentals which are available at Syringa Cyclery 518 Oak St. For more information on ski rentals, local cross country ski areas, and Sandpoint Nordic Club events go to www.sandpointnordic.com. Get out, be fit and enjoy the winter!
Winter is a great time to improve the outdoor skills of identifying wild animals and their behavior by understanding the oldest writing known of the earth, animal tracking! Join experienced tracker and wildlife researcher Brian Baxter as we search for clues and evidence in the nooks and crannies of one of the Flathead Valley’s most beautiful and rich riparian areas. Baxter has over 40 years working professionally in wildlife, forestry and outdoor education and has recently had an article published in the Sandpoint Magazine Winter 2019 edition entitled “Wily Weasels of the Northwest.” This outdoor education class is sponsored by Silver Cloud Associates, Flathead Audubon, and Montana Audubon, and is being offered on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to approximately 2:30 pm. Please come prepared for the day with proper layers
of winter clothing, good winter boots, snowshoes if you have them, water, lunch, binoculars and cameras. The hiking is moderate, with relatively decent terrain, a few steep cut banks and about two and a half miles round trip. Ski poles or hiking poles are handy to negotiate the riverbanks. To sign up for this free class contact Brian at email: b_baxter53@yahoo.com or call him at: 406-291-2154. Space is limited, so please register to find out more info on location to meet, and please plan to attend if you sign up. Brian’s teaching style is hands on, informative and scientific, but he does add a sense of humor and enjoyment that should contribute to making it a fun and memorable day!
Kaniksu Land Trust hosts winter classes and programs Classes are available for both youth and adults
By Reader Staff Kaniksu Land Trust is excited to announce their Winter 2019 programs and classes. KLT will offer a Winter Fun Day for children ages 8-12 and an Adult WildCrafting event, as well as two sessions of their ongoing WildCrafting after-school program. Our Winter Fun Day will offer local kids the chance to spend a day exploring the joy of snowy play, including snowshoeing and tubing at Schweitzer’s Hermit’s Hollow. This program will take place Jan. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., lunch and snacks will be provided. The mini-camp is open to children
ages 8-12 and costs $25 per participant. To sign up, visit www.kaniksu.org. Kaniksu Land Trust’s WildCrafting program is designed to teach participants how to use their hands to create a variety of nature-based crafts. Previous sessions have explored salmon-skin and deer-hide tanning, wild food preparation, arrow making, coal-burned bowls and more. This winter KLT will offer two five-week sessions of our youth after-school WildCrafting, as well as an Adult WildCrafting Evening. Youth sessions are Jan. 15 - Feb. 13 and Feb. 26 - March 27. Ses-
sions are one day a week and cost $35. For more details visit www.kaniksu.org, or call (208) 263-9471. Adult WildCrafting will take place on Jan. 11 from 5 -8 pm at the Winter Ridge Education building. Cost is $25. Participants will be able to try their hands at several crafts, including birch bark sheaths, yucca and dogsbane cordage and black walnut buttons. Class fees include snacks and beverages. Ages 21 and over only. Registration is available now at www.kaniksu.org. Kaniksu Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization that promotes healthy communities and healthy lands in north
Idaho and northwest Montana. KLT facilitates voluntary land conservation by working with landowners to keep valuable lands intact, connects the community to nature so they can enjoy the health benefits of time outdoors, and uses innovative educational programs to encourage a love of nature and an ethic of long-term conservation and stewardship. For more information about these programs, contact Cami at Kaniksu Land Trust by calling (208) 263-9471 or emailing cami@kaniksu.org.
PERSPECTIVES
Emily Articulated
A column by and about Millennials
Thank you By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
Well, Sandpoint, it is officially the end of the year. And that means it is time to reflect on the 365 days behind us, to enjoy the last few sugar cookies before we fearfully return to pants that don’t have elastic around the middle, and to surround ourselves with the people and things that make us feel at home. And truthfully, we do have to hand it to the holiday season to bring out a special kind of thankfulness for all the gifts we’ve been given throughout the entirety of the year; both the tangible and the metaphorical. So, maybe it’s the post-cookie sugar buzz or my still-warm belly from those nips of holiday brandy, but I’m feeling extra sentimental as I think about the tremendous gift you all have given to me over the past year. Sandpoint, you’ve made me a writer. And I couldn’t be more grateful. I moved to North Idaho for the mountains and lake and with the intention of only making choices that would lead me closer to what I considered my ideal life. And although I didn’t know the specifics of what that life would be, I knew the important pieces. My ideal life included having the flexibility to participate in the things that make me feel alive, as frequently as possible. It involved pursuing creative endeavors
Emily Erickson.
and prioritizing experiences over things. And, honestly, it consisted of a life out from behind a day and desk job, where I knew I didn’t thrive. I rolled into town, determined to make my new way, obtaining a bartending job to sustain myself while I figured out the rest. And, as expected when you move to a new town, especially one across the country, I got swept up in the excitement of it all. After spending months discovering hidden waterfalls, bagging mountain peaks, and meeting as many new people as I could, I reached a point where I realized the adventuring was only a piece of the puzzle that was my new life. There was more to my story, and I felt I had more to offer than what I was currently giving. Digging into the trenches of my perceived skills, I searched for anything that could potentially produce income, while still checking the boxes on the life for which I aspired. “Well, I’m a good communicator and can be organized when I need to be. I suppose I could be
a virtual assistant?” “Wait, that sounds f***ing awful.” “Um, I enjoy making awkward greeting cards . . . I could sell those?” “Emily, we’re talking income.” “Well, I always have had a lot to say, and my favorite part of college was writing papers, so . . . there’s always writing.” “People make money writing, right?” And so, I tried it. I wrote a few mock articles, “Why Wisconsin is the Best Place to Grow Up,” and “Millennials: Not Just the Lazy Basement Dwellers We’re Made out to be,” and submitted them to the Reader. After a few emails exchanged and a meeting with the Reader staff, I became Emily Articulated, the voice of the Millennials within the community, and the real magic started happening. This magic was not in the words I was writing for everyone else to read, but in the words I started to use to define myself and the words I used to describe the world. Once I began understanding myself as a writer, every person I met became a story; a succession of profound and interesting choices that could be portrayed in the correct string of words and through evoking a specific set of emotions. With each passing article, my confidence as a writer grew, the more opportunities within the writing field I pursued, and the semblance of a career in writing began forming. But, me starting to make it as a professional is not the
best part of this story. The best part of this story is that I couldn’t have done it without all of you. With every email or letter of affirmation, with every, “Hey, you’re the girl that writes for the Reader,” and with the, “I didn’t agree with your thoughts on selfies, but I appreciated your article about nature,” I was sustained, and I was pushed. So thank you, Sandpoint,
for your life-changing gift; for helping me get a little closer to who I want to be, and for letting me share bits of that journey with you. Your grateful neighborhood cheesehead, Emily
Retroactive
By BO
best. prom. ever.
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Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
weird extraterrestrial weather By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Earth is pretty spectacular. We have wild weather, but nothing compared to some of the craziness in space. Jupiter has some of the most vicious wind we’ve ever observed, which makes sense as it’s a giant ball of… Well, wind. Category Five hurricanes on Earth create unimaginable damage with wind speeds between 155mph and 185mph. Imagine an 18-wheeler barreling sideways down a highway at 150mph. On Jupiter, that Mack truck would be traveling closer to 380mph and be considerably heavier because of Jupiter’s tremendous gravitational pull. While hurricanes come and go over the course of about a week or two, this kind of wind is persistent on Jupiter. As well, the bands of Jupiter are all giant ring-shaped storms swirling around the planet, which is awesome and terrifying all at once. Here on Earth, the worst kind of rain we get is acid rain, where carbon, ammonia and other elements that shouldn’t be aerosolized in nature get into the atmosphere, condense with water and fall back to Earth to poison and corrode things. That’s fairly run of the mill rain on Venus, except that the rain is molten sulphur. If you’re sitting in your cabana on Venus and worried about the rain, don’t worry too much. The planet is so hot that the sulphuric acid rain will usually evaporate well before it hits the ground. Problem is, so will lead, so maybe rethink that Venusian timeshare before you drop your retirement on it. Other wicked rain happens on brown dwarfs. A brown dwarf 8 /
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is a star that didn’t really get the jump it needed to become a star. It’s more like a Jupiter that went for it, but just didn’t commit. Nevertheless, brown dwarfs are extremely hot by our standards. Hot enough to make iron in their atmosphere to evaporate, coalesce higher up and then rain back down just to evaporate again and repeat the process. If other metals are present in the atmosphere of the brown dwarf, they are likely to evaporate and rain back down too. It’s raining lead, hallelujah it’s raining lead! Amen! Volcanoes on Earth are no joke. Molten rock is spewed to the surface, destroying everything in its path while also creating new landmasses. This is fairly standard of most planets, but some take a whole new twist on the idea of a volcano. Cryovolcanoes are volcanoes that spew ice. The premise of this is really cool, and somewhat reminiscent of geysers on Earth. Pressure and heat below the surface of a planet can cause water just below the surface to heat up. When the water heats up, it expands. If it has nowhere around it to expand, it starts to expand upwards. In planets and moons far from the sun, these surfaces are usually well below freezing. What follows is a glorious geyser of steam that almost instantaneously freezes into ice, yet the pressure being released from the cryovolcano still pushes the ice upwards. In some cases, such as with Enceladus orbiting Saturn, these icy particles are grabbed by Saturn’s gravitational pull, which then feeds into the massive ice ring structures around the planet. Liquid water is important for life. Liquid anything is a sight to behold, as it is extremely rare
in the universe. Water that isn’t protected by an atmosphere will generally be evaporated and torn apart by sustained stellar radiation. Liquid is a funny thing though, especially water. Moons like Europa, orbiting Jupiter, may be concealing vast oceans of liquid water beneath a shifting icy crust. It’s not unreasonable to believe that life may have at one point developed to live in the harsh conditions of a subterranean ocean. Biologically immortal life forms already inhabit Earth as extremophiles, living in and along geothermal vents to feed off heat energy in the absence of sunlight. Meanwhile, on Titan, we’ve viewed giant hydrocarbon lakes. That’s basically giant liquid bodies of ethanol, the stuff we put in our cars to make explosions that move them. Lightning is a pretty big deal on Earth. It’s loud, and during the summer it can be highly dangerous once the forest has dried out. The average lightning bolt releases about 1 billion joules of energy, which is enough to power a 60-watt light bulb for six months. On Saturn, we’ve viewed something astronomers have called The Dragon Storm, a massive storm bigger than Earth with arcing lightning. We’ve photographed electrical discharges that are nearly the size of our planet. The celestial body with the weirdest weather has been feeling pretty left out. When you want to talk about weird, wild and unimaginably powerful weather, you have to look at the sun. I mean, don’t look AT the sun. You know what I mean. The sun is a superheated gravitational superball of plasma with crazy off-the-chart magnetism. The sun’s magnetism
does really weird things to its atmosphere. It pushes, it pulls, it creates things called corona. These corona are huge bands of plasma that stretch between at least two points. An immense amount of energy is stored in these bands, a lot like a wound spring. Occasionally, these bands will snap and fling all of that energy out into the solar system in something called a coronal mass ejection or CME. This is similar to how an arrow is fired
from a bow, except in this case the arrow doesn’t have a point, it has 8-15 Jupiters spread out into a sheet and flung out in all directions indiscriminately. The amount of energy released by a coronal mass ejection can be in excess of 10^27 (one-octillion) joules. As a frame of reference, all energy released by the sun every second is 10^24 joules, a full 3 orders of magnitude lower. See you next week!
Random Corner us?
Don’t know much about uran
We can help!
• The summer in Uranus is 42 years long. • Uranus has the coldest planetary atmosphere in the Solar System, with a minimum temperature of -371.56 °F • Uranus’ axis of rotation is tilted sideways, so its north and south poles lie where most other planets have their equators. • 63 Earths can fit inside Uranus. It’s the third-largest planet in the Solar System. • Uranus was the first planet discovered with a telescope. • The wind speeds on Uranus can reach 560 mph. • Neptune was mathematically predicted before it was directly observed, based on the orbit of Uranus. • The chemical element Uranium, discovered in 1789, was named after the newly discovered planet Uranus. • Uranus’ moons are named after characters from the works of Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. One is named Cupid. • Our exploration of Uranus has been entirely through the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1985 and 86, with no other visits currently planned. • The surface gravities of Venus, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all quite similar (within 15 percent) to Earth’s.
PERSPECTIVES
‘I don’t dance’ By Brietta Leader Reader Contributor
Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
“I don’t dance” is a phrase I have heard many times over the years. I used to react with concern or coercion, leaving the conversation with a dull ache in my heart. Now when folks claim, “I don’t dance,” I simply don’t believe them. I am not sure if
it’s the word ‘dance’ that scared them off, but I know that any living, breathing human at any age can dance. We have simply lost trust in the movement of our body or never realized that the dance began in the womb, as the egg and the sperm danced together.
Our journey with dance begins when we are carried by the heartbeat of our mothers. When we are born and move through the different stages of our lives, our exposure to dance varies. Frequent living-room dance parties growing up and dance technique classes don’t matter. The point is that when some of your favorite music is played your toe starts to tap, your heart may lift and perhaps a smile will broaden your face. Even the infamous head bob can be called a dance, though you have so many more body parts to move. The reason why I bring this up is that dance connects you to your ancient roots. The primal energies of groups of people gathering to pray, heal, celebrate, rejoice is such good medicine and fun. Dance has so many healing qualities as it releases stress, opens your creative flow, activates your mind/body connection and allows you to connect to your soul. We all have a body, and they all need tending to on a daily basis. The basic desire to feel good in your body actually takes intention, movement and focus. What I love about dance is that it takes me out of linear thinking and mechanical movements and broadens my perspective as I travel through the planes of movement, 360-degree awareness and my relationship to both my inner and outer environments. As a pioneer of dance in small towns,
Dec. 21 - Jan. 4
Welcome to Marwen See website for showtimes
Little Theater
Dec. 28 - Dec. 30
Free Solo
Sponsored by La Chic Boutique and Plant Positive
THE OTHER WHITE MEAT 6:30-9:30pm
RIGHT FRONT BURNER 6:30-9:30pm
Little Theater
I have heard all the excuses to not dance, and I am here to remind you that yes, you can and you are everyday. What is true for you in each moment is reflected in your body; your sensations, impulse, intuition, reactions. It is all communicated through body language. It is said that 10 percent of a conversation is heard through the voice, and the other 90 percent is digested through the language of the body. Doesn’t that make you want to get to know your body’s language more? If your curiosity is sparked by this discussion of dance, I encourage you to come and try a class. If you are holding onto the phrase, “I don’t dance,” then I will most likely see you at the Hive or the Festival at Sandpoint dancing your booty off after a few drinks. Either case, trust your dance and your process in letting go of the “I don’t dance” phrase. I am not one to make big promises, but I can easily promise you that dance is one of the best self- healing techniques on the planet. All you need is permission to set yourself free. Written by Brietta Leader, creator of WildCore™ Movement and co-creator at Embody Studio for the Healing Arts. Learn more at www.wildcoremovement.com
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Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry
Trivia Takeover Live 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Family friendly interactive trivia
Live music w/ Browne Salmon Truck 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live music w/ John Hastings 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live music w/ Right Front Burner 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am Annual New Year’s Eve Party 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Live music from the Miah Kohal Band Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
L 5 Live music w/ Chris Murphy 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Latin, jazz
Live music w/ Jake Robin 5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar Street Bridge W
Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan Saturday nights alrig
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 4-6:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing
Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan Best song selection in Sandpoint
Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest musician Andrew Browne Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry
Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table
ful
December 27, 2018 - January 3, 2019
A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com. Reader recommended
Live music w/ Chris Lynch and Meg Turner 5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar Street Bridge Wine Bar
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Live music w/ The Other White Meat 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Live music w/ Devon Wade 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Country music
Bridge Wine Bar
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Live music w/ the Zach Cooper Band 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Progressive blues and rock
Live music w/ Mostly Harmless 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live music w/ Dwayne Parsons 2-4pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Piano music. Show ski pass for wine deals
New Year’s Eve Bash 9:30pm @ the Hive Live music from Afrolicious
New Year’s Parties @ Schweitzer Check ticket availability at www.schweitzer.com
Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “Living a Lie” $2 Tuesday 5-9pm @ the Tervan Come and use those $2 bills on drafts and food specials
Sandpoint Direct Primary Care and Frazier King, M.D. Welcome:
Jan. 5 Free Fat Bike Demos @ Indian Creek Campground
Now accepting new pediatric and adult patients Enjoy extended, relaxed visits, same day scheduling, wholesale labs and medications, and full access to your physician via technology, 24/7
Jan. 11 Follies Auditions @ Sandpoint Charter School
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1323 US-2 Suite 300 Sandpoint • 208-263-3091 sandpointdpc.com
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The Straight Poop: The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho Illuminate the New Year at the Cedar Street Bridge By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist
Fleas Navidog, folks! Hope your holiday was filled with wags. The presents are opened, the wrapping has been recycled, and I’m getting over Boxing Day. My BFFs left me boxes and boxes of dog food. Geesh . . . my pack needs to kick up their game. The Missus and Mister were fine with their pimento and cheese sandwiches, but me with the boxes . . . I’m eating left overs from three days ago. As the Missus would say, “This is zinful,” which is a new phrase she picked up from our recent wine tour. So what does this have to do with a dog-friendly business? Wait, wait, wait for it! My Ruff Ruff Couture tuxedo is ready for the FIRST ever dog- and family-friendly New Year’s Eve Fur Ball benefiting Creations presented by the retailers of Cedar Street Bridge. The 6:309:30 p.m. shindig will be hosted by MC’s Tim and Dawnya Clarine. You’ll groove to the live music of The Oak Street Band, an interactive group that plays everything from Johnny Cash to the “Jungle Book.” The CSB wine bar will be offering sips (bring your own festive glass), there will lovely ladies modeling selections from Carousel and Creations will offer night care (including snacks and activities for the kiddos). Be sure to strap on your Christian Loubarkins, because you will want to kick up your dancing skills and experience The Allegro Dance Studio Review. There will be festive attire awards for those who put their best paw furward. During the soiree, you’ll be able to snap a selfie with “muah” while drooling at the desert bar. Hey, pack members, put on your best behavior and top hat, grab your leash (required), bring your own drinking vessel for that ever important NYE beverage, and do your business out-
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5. Sniff Less Let’s forgo the tantalizing smell of sidewalks, garbage cans and other sites which turn the quickest of walks into a lengthy outing. Only sniff the very juiciest of fire hydrants, and leave the rest for the puppies to discover. 6. Snuggle More Limit distractions from toys, food and screen time. This is the year to snuggle more with your human. 7.Stay Clean Repeat after me, I love bath time! 8.Share Sharing = caring = cookies! 9.Get Fit Bring your humans along for the ride so we don’t go soft in our old age! Dig up your tux and tails, and I’ll see you at the party. Remind me: Who am I supposed to kiss at midnight?
Drake rings in the new year right with his own beverage and party outfit. Courtesy photo
side before the party. Best of all, courtesy of the Denali Puppy Cam, everyone will be able to witness the New Year’s Eve ball drop live from New York. So you won’t be tongue tied as you bark in 2019, I’ve researched a few dog friendly New Year’s Resolutions for the evening. 1. Be Polite Sniffing bottoms and incessant licking are some of our favorite ways to say hello, but humans don’t get this — tail wagging and slobbery dog kisses only in 2019.
2. HOLD IT No potty dancing while waiting for our owners to come home. Remember what you learned in training class, and try not to go on the bed. 3. Keep it Down Nix barking at the mailman, the cat next door and the squirrels. 4. Stay Calm We love to jump up on humans, but this year vow to stay calm and go roll in the snow.
YEAR IN REVIEW
2018
By Cameron Rasmusson and Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Ballot proposals Beyond the expected electoral contests this year, high-stakes ballot issues defined North Idaho elections. Two votes, one measuring support of the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness bill and the other clearing Idaho for Medicaid expansion, proved influential for public policy on a state and federal level. Bonner County voters started in May by voting down the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness advisory vote. An issue long simmering in county politics, the push for wilderness declaration in the Idaho Scotchman Peaks came to a head in December 2016 when Idaho Sen. Jim Risch announced he would introduce a bill to that effect. But in the following years, a backlash to the proposal grew, culminating in a May advisory vote that saw local voters reject the proposal. Prior to the vote, Risch said he would respect whatever outcome Bonner County voters determined, and true to his word, he withdrew support after the result was announced. In November, Idaho voters took matters into their own hands in creating a solution for Idahoans without health insurance options.
Around 60 percent of voters approved Medicaid expansion in Idaho, which will cover residents who make too little to qualify for subsided insurance plans. The expanded Medicaid system should be in place by 2020, officials say. It’s now up to the Idaho Legislature to enact Medicaid expansion when the legislative session begins in January. Racist robocall campaign linked to Sandpoint In the heated midterm elections this year, residents of Florida, Georgia and elsewhere were shocked to receive offensive and racist robocalls about black candidates in those states. The calls were eventually linked by reporters to the alleged activities of a Sandpoint resident, Scott Rhodes. Many of those reports cited previous reporting by the Sandpoint Reader, the first publication to report on police investigations into those alleged activities. Incidentally, Reader publisher Ben Olson and the Reader itself were also targeted by robocalls throughout the North Idaho region this year. Later, a video portraying hundreds of Reader papers being set on fire circulated online. If the people responsible for the robocall intended to intimidate the community, they instead provoked widespread support for the paper
A snapshot of some of this year’s biggest stories
that continues to this day. University of Idaho extension The fate of the University of Idaho extension property on North Boyer remains unclear after the academic institution announced its plans to sell it. Following the announcement, Sandpoint officials said they would work with the university in the hopes of finding a public use for it. The end of the year finds the project in limbo. One idea was for the city to purchase a portion of the property and work with a partner like the YMCA to build a community recreation center. But when the YMCA announced its acquisition of the Sandpoint West Athletic Club instead, a door closed on that potential partnership. It remains to be seen what the University of Idaho will do with its property, and city officials say they’ll continue to work with the school until they reach a conclusion. Newport smelter It’s been over a year since representatives from Canadian company HiTest Sand visited Newport to share their plans for a proposed silicon smelter, and the buzz surrounding the project has only increased. Concerns surrounding air quality, damage to infrastruc-
ture and the validity of the company’s land purchase have created a constant conversation, attracting opposition from the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, Rep. Heather Scott and many more. A discussion panel in Sandpoint in March left attendees with more questions than answers. In early summer, two citizen groups — Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter and Responsible Growth*Northeast Washington — filed a lawsuit regarding the sale of land from Pend Oreille County and the Pend Oreille Public Utility District to PacWest (HiTest’s subsidiary company), claiming a Washington State statute requires an election to be held when a PUD seeks to sell non-surplus land. A hearing for that case is scheduled for Jan. 11. The smelter is sure to continue to make headlines in 2019, as The Washington Department of Ecology will release a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the project and give the public an opportunity to provide feedback. The end of 2019 should bring a final EIS. The second rail bridge BNSF Railway may have announced the proposed second rail bridge across Lake Pend Oreille in 2017, but 2018 brought permit applications, an approval and plenty of conversation regarding
Far left: Reclaim Idaho’s Medicaid Mobile at the Idaho/Montana border. Photo from Facebook. Middle: Reader Editor Cameron Rasmusson speaks at the Reader Rally Oct. 1. Photo by Ben Olson. Above: A digital rendering of what the proposed second rail bridge project would look like. Courtesy of YouTube.
environmental impacts, emergency response and the key word that seems to keep coming up: “bottleneck.” Though BNSF has compared the project to “adding a lane on a highway,” questions surrounding risk versus reward arose. Spokespersons for organizations like Idaho Conservation League and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper argue that the increased rail traffic boosts the likelihood of a derailment of hazardous materials into or near the lake. Public officials like Bonner County Commissioner Glen Bailey argue a second rail bridge is needed to ease traffic congestion and boost trade. Of the many permits BNSF must obtain to move forward with the project, only the Idaho Department of Lands — responsible for enforcing the Idaho Lake Protection Act — has approved the bridge. Wild Idaho Rising Tide, an environmental activist organization, has filed an appeal challenging the IDL permit. December 27, 2018 /
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BEST IN MEDIA 2018
‘In Pieces’ is a celebrity memoir at its most honest By Mindy Cameron Reader Contributor
Asking a reader to name her favorite book of the year is like asking her to choose her favorite grandchild. Impossible. I won’t quite follow the rule here, but I’ll only cheat a tiny bit, just a paragraph or two. Fortunately, I’ve already written earlier in the Reader about my number-one book of the year, “Educated,” by Tara Westover, so no need to do more than this reminder: a gripping true story of a young woman raised in eastern Idaho without any schooling who, by force of will, finds her way to college and a Harvard Fellowship. I also wrote recently here about another 2018 book atop my list: “Overstory,” by Richard Powers. It’s a must-read novel for anyone who cares about trees and is ready to invest time into a sprawling and dramatic story of an unusual collection of people and their efforts to save a forest. Trust me, this is not a paean to tree huggers. For most of this year, I’ve been reading memoirs. And, what do you know? A just-published memoir, “Becoming,” by
Michelle Obama, is already the best-selling book (of any genre) for this year. Yes, I bought it, too. And loved it. But there’s another celebrity memoir published this year that is even better and more surprising. “In Pieces,” by Sally Field goes deeper into her life story and touches more nerves. This is not a fluffy tale of a young starlet television viewers first came to know as Gidget. With this book Field arrives on the literary stage as fine writer who tells her story with intimacy and raw honesty. It’s a story about a shy young girl who eventually overcame personal and professional obstacles to soar in numerous memorable and award-winning roles, including Sybil, Norma Rae and, in 2012, opposite Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln, as Mary Todd Lincoln. Field was raised in a family that lived and worked on the periphery of Hollywood. Her mother had a short acting career, and her step-father was a movie stuntman who molested her as a young girl. Field does not gloss over any of this or her later failed relationships; instead she dives deep to reveal the lack of self-confidence that resulted. She survived middle-school humiliations
and lack of close friends in high school by discovering the drama department where, she writes, “I felt most alive…Like a thirsty person needs a glass of water, I needed to explore this world of acting.” Success, which came at age 18 with television hits “Gidget” and soon after “The Flying Nun,” was soon complicated by marriage (to a longtime friend), motherhood and, eventually, Hollywood gossip. Field doesn’t shy away from any of it, writing in vivid detail and emotional depth of the constant stress of being a mother and making enough money to support the family. Like many women of that time — the late ‘60s and early ‘70s — she felt her “restless generation pushing me to rethink everything I had always accepted as ‘the way things are.’” The seeds of feminism are sown. The reader sees those seeds flourish later as Field becomes a fierce advocate for herself in the seeking out roles and getting auditions. Field gives “In Pieces” additional depth by layering a consistent theme underneath the narrative flow of the her story — her love and ongoing attachment to her mother, who she calls Baa. She begins and ends her story
“In Pieces” by Sally Field. Courtesy Grand Central Publishing
writing about Baa, the ever-present longing for her, and finally her death. It’s one of many touches that lifts Field’s memoir well above the ordinary. Mindy Cameron, a former columnist at the Seattle Times, now lives in Sagle where she is writing a memoir.
Father John Misty achieves a masterpiece in ‘God’s Favorite Customer’ By Justin Landis Reader Contributor There’s something truly magical about listening to a new record and discovering that the artist wrote it for you. Hearing a favorite artist voice familiar feelings before you’ve found the words or the courage to articulate them can be nearly as cathartic as voicing them oneself. This is precisely how I felt listening to Father John Misty repeatedly croon “I’m in over my head / I’m way in over my head” on his 2018 release, “God’s Favorite Customer.” The album begins abruptly on the downbeat. No fanfare, no fade in, just a note and a beat. The simple instrumentation is quickly joined by background vocals, string arrangements and some tasty piano licks. This record is rich, both sonically and lyrically. The chorus of “Hangout at the Gallows” repeats, “What’s your politics, what’s your religion” so we can prepare ourselves for Tillman’s signature candor. Track two is the self-referential “Mr. Tillman,” wherein the voice of a hotel middle manager offers repeated backhanded jabs at Tillman’s lifestyle and reputation. Lines like, “Is there someone we can call — perhaps you shouldn’t drink alone,”
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and, “What a beautiful tattoo that young man has on his face,” keep it playful while the chorus hears an aloof Tillman crooning “I’m feeling good, damn I’m feeling so fine / I’m living on a cloud above an island in my mind.” This obvious disconnect from societal conventions provides the perfect vicarious empowerment for crafting New Year’s resolutions and making plans to take the vacation of your dreams. On the other hand, he kind of comes off as a narcissistic asshole. “Just Dumb Enough to Try” is a spectacular narcissistic love song. “You can take what I know about you and maybe fill a small balloon / but I’m just dumb enough to try to keep you in my life a little while longer” is Tillman’s way of saying she’s too good for him. The irony that this love song is really about the author and not the subject is telling and consistent with the tone of the album. It also betrays the cynicism through which he views the world, or at least feigns to. Does Tillman even believe in love or is this song really more of a testament to his boldness and conquest? In “Disappointing Diamonds are the Rarest of Them All” he takes an even more cynical look at love, but it really only looks
that was because it’s not told from his perspective. “Like an oil tanker tipped at sea / This love’s contaminated me / Like a constant twitching in my eye / This love of ours will never die.” In “The Songwriter,” Tillman asks, “What would it sound like if you were the songwriter / And you did your living around me? / Would you undress me repeatedly in public / To show how very noble and naked you can be?” It’s hard not to wonder where the lines between art and life blur. Is his willingness to expose their private life a real challenge in the Tillman household or is he just carrying the theme to its logical conclusion? The crescendo of the album, for me, is where it started, in “The Palace.” “I’m in over my head / I’m way in over my head,” is the refrain of this soft piano ballad where Tillman muses about getting a pet so that he can “learn how to take care of somebody else” but then immediately realizes that “living on housekeeping and room service” may short circuit the goal. The melody has a baroque comfort to it and the story feels like as much confession as declaration. The last song on the record, “We’re Only People,” provides an anthemic end,
Father John Misty. Photo by Tore Sætre
reminding us of our own humanity and the insecurities we share and suggests that shedding our distinctions may offer the transcendence we’re seeking. It’s also a great salutation as 2018 comes to an end. “Oh, friends, all my friends / Oh, I hope you’re somewhere smiling / Just know I think about you more kindly than you and I have ever been / And I’ll see you the next time around the bend.” Justin Landis is a musician and half of the band Cedar & Boyer. Check out his music at www.cedarandboyer.com
BEST IN MEDIA 2018
Class and culture collide in ‘Sorry to Bother You’ By Chris Balboni Reader Contributor In the opening scene of Boots Riley’s “Sorry to Bother You,” we meet Cash Green at a job interview for the telemarketing company RegalView. After the interviewer calls him out for making up his credentials, he praises Cash for the effort he put into his deceit and hires him on the spot. This interaction sets the stage both tonally and thematically for the rest of film, which is great, because writing about “Sorry to Bother You” without spoiling the madness that happens midway through is a real challenge. “Sorry to Bother You” centers on Cash (Lakeith Stanfield) as he stumbles from being unemployed and living in a loft-style apartment that’s actually his financially destitute uncle’s garage to being a venerated member of RegalView’s telemarketing team after a fellow black team member Langston (Danny Glover) teaches him how to use his “white voice.” Once he does, his sales skyrocket, and upper management takes notice. At the same
time, another RegalView employee, Squeeze (Steven Yeun), forms a union to protest RegalView and recruits Cash’s artist/activist girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) in the process. As all of these threads coalesce, Cash grows increasingly aware that RegalView is a facade for something terribly dark. This all sounds very dire, but “Sorry to Bother You” has more in common with Charlie Kaufman’s work than it does with most independent dramas. It’s comedic and absolutely absurd yet heartfelt and incisive. Cash is sucked into a corporate machine and forced to forfeit his identity just to support himself, all while having to endure his white coworkers’ expectations of racial stereotypes and the sense that his black friends feel he’s sold out his own culture. But Cash is far from a tortured soul — he’s an affable guy, if a bit aloof. Stanfield’s talent in bringing Cash to life is matched only by Thompson’s Detroit, whose struggle to keep Cash attached to his integrity is empowering. Yet Detroit faces her own issues of identity in the art world as a
American black woman expressing herself to a largely white, foreign audience. It’s a testament to Riley’s skills as a writer/director that “Sorry to Bother You” can weave issues of capitalism and cultural identity together in such a bold, did-that-really-just-happen sort of way, without ever veering into a ham-fisted approach to its topical themes (something several other notable films this year struggled with). It’s also a blast Lakeith Stanfield in “Sorry to Bother You.” Courtesy Sundance Institute stylistically: There are countless 2018 Top Five: surreal moments that have a dreamlike quality 1. Sorry to Bother You without feeling fantastical, the Oakland setting 2. Annihilation is dystopian yet beautifully vibrant, and laid 3. Hereditary over all of it is a soundtrack featuring excel4. Overlord lent work by the Tune-Yards and Riley’s own 5. BlackKklansman long-running hip-hop band, The Coup. “Sorry to Bother You” is a tour-de-force of originality Chris Balboni is a filmmaker and photogand reminds us that films can still be profound rapher working primarily in the Inland Northand wildly entertaining all at once. west. See his work at www.balbonifilms.com.
‘God of War’ finds poignancy in its mythic spectacle By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff “God of War” isn’t just important for what it is. It’s important for what it proves game franchises can be. The latest entry in a series that began in 2005, “God of War” (2018) retains the earlier titles’ penchant for spectacle, largerthan-life action and technological virtuosity. What it adds is less tangible but arguably more valuable: thoughtfulness, maturity and a true sense of empathy. Earlier “God of War” games weren’t bad — far from it. They offered tight gameplay, rewarding exploration and a visual presentation that pushed the Playstation 2 and 3 to their limits. But their narratives were shallow, favoring short-term shocks and superficial twists over meaningful characterization or thematic exploration. At the center was protagonist Kratos, the titular god of war, who operated on one note throughout the original game trilogy: single-minded rage. The result was a well-crafted but ultimately juvenile power fantasy preoccupied with female nudity and gory ultraviolence. This year, something amazing happened: “God of War” grew up. Taking place many years after the
original trilogy, the story finds an older and wiser Kratos hiding from his bloody past in the Norse wilderness. He has a preteen son, Atreus, and a wife, Faye — or at least, he did, until she passed away shortly before the story’s opening. In the game’s first moments, the father and son mourn their loss and resolve to honor her final wish: to have her ashes scattered from the tallest mountain within the Nine Realms of Norse mythology. But as they begin their journey, it becomes clear the Norse pantheon has taken notice of the foreign gods hiding in their lands. The theme of family, particularly the relationship between parents and their children, runs deep through “God of War.” The game takes pains to develop Kratos and Atreus as believable characters both in their own right and in their connection to each other. While Atreus seeks to prove his capabilities to his father and to himself, Kratos is a wary, overly-severe guardian terrified that his son will repeat the mistakes he made in his youth. Their relationship is the backbone that supports all other narrative elements, building to a deeply poignant climax in the final hours. That father-son theme carries over into “God of War’s” gameplay. Whether they’re
“God of War.” Courtesy SEI Santa Monica
exploring the Norse world, solving cleverly-designed puzzles or battling the many mythological creatures they encounter, Kratos and Atreus rely on and complement each other at a fundamental level. Even small moments, like Atreus seeking his father’s praise after a tough battle, feel organic, and Kratos’ gradual transition from distant, disapproving parent to tender caregiver is the journey’s affecting throughline. “God of War” is many things: a visceral action game, a wonder of video-game graphics and art direction, a window into a
fantastic world, a personal story told with grace and sensitivity. But most importantly, it’s proof that even well-established, big-budget franchises can take risks and aspire to artistic relevance. With the videogame industry in the midst of an identity crisis — are games an entertainment product or a medium for creative expression? — “God of War” shows they can be both at once. Cameron Rasmusson is a lifelong game enthusiast, writer and editor of the Sandpoint Reader. December 27, 2018 /
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HEALTH
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL By A.C. Woolnough Reader Columnist
A column about the trials and tribulations of Parkinson’s Disease
“Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.” —Rocky Balboa
Back to our infomercial because there’s an added element to RSB that was surprising to me. Boxing is a cognitive activity. There are several exercises that challenge the mind. For example, while sparring with the coach, numbers are called out relating to different punches. A left jab is one, a right cross is two, a left uppercut is three, while a right uppercut is a four. Someone will call out random numbers, and boxers follow the sequence. Sound easy? I can guarantee it’s harder than it sounds. When I participated in a RSB class in San Jose, I felt utterly foolish as I attempted to follow the sequence. As I looked around, most of us were flailing around trying to match punches with their numbers. For some of the other exercises, you may be asked to reverse left and right. At first, it’s all confusing — and hilarious to watch. Laughter is good medicine, and there are plenty of opportunities to laugh. That’s laugh with, not at!
Blonde Bombshell, cornerman for Bald Bomber, is busy taping up his hands in preparation for the most important fight of his life—going into battle with his nemesis, Parkinson’s disease. The Bomber doesn’t have to beat the disease, he just has to stay in the ring for all 13 rounds. PD is chronic (it isn’t going away) and progressive (it will get worse) and there is no cure. Rocky: No, maybe I can’t win, maybe the only thing I can do is just take everything he’s got. Why the alliterative names in the opening line? A new program is coming to Sandpoint next month thanks to a partnership between Bonner General Health and the local PD support group PowerPAC. It’s called Rock Steady Boxing, and it is one of the best and most complete therapies for us people with Parkinson’s (PWPs). The RSB mission is to empower people with Parkinson’s disease to fight back. PWPs don’t really box each other, but we do use sparring pads, heavy bags and speed bags. A major component of the program is exercise. Use it or lose it, although a hackneyed phrase, is especially true for Parkys. As the disease progresses— and it will—flexibility, balance, eye-hand coordination, strength, agility and the ability to move are compromised. According to ESPN, boxing is the most physically demanding styles of training. Pushups, jump rope, obstacle courses, jumping jacks, jogging, lunges, crunches and sparring comprise a typical class. Various studies have shown that RSB slows the progression of the disease and improves our quality of life. Rocky: All I wanna do is go the distance. 16 /
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A.C. Woolnough. If this was an infomercial on TV, right about now, I’d say something like, “But wait, there’s more! And, there is more. Parkys, for a variety of reasons (depression, drug side effects or embarrassment), frequently become more and more socially isolated. When combined with apathy you have a recipe for a downward spiral. Rock Steady Boxing is a social activity. Two to three times a week, we’ll be together — supporting, encouraging and coaching each other. Classes last from 60-90 minutes. PWPs get the benefit of physical activity in a positive group setting. We’ll even bring our own soundtrack. My workout play list includes Celebrate (Three Dog Night), We are the Champions (Queen), Shake Rattle and Roll (Bill Haley and the Comets) and Twist and Shout (Beatles) — yes, all moldy oldies. I’m entitled, I survived the ‘60s! There’s nothing like smashing a right cross at the heavy bag while channeling your inner Muhammad Ali Rocky: If this is something you wanna do, and if this is something you got to do, then you do it. Fighters fight.
Rocky: Remember, the mind is your best muscle. Most Parkys (like just about everyone else) hate to exercise. For us, however, the consequences of not exercising may be especially severe. I want to avoid a cane, a walker or a wheelchair for as long as possible. I don’t want to keep upping the dosage of my meds until the side effects of the drugs are worse than the disease. I don’t want to be a burden for my lovely wife or other family members. I want to have the best possible quality of life. Knowing RSB can help slow the progression of my PD, the choice is simple Rocky: You know what you have to do. Do it. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, A.C. is calling on his 37 years in K-12 education to became a “Parkinson’s Warrior”educating the public, advocating for a cure and participating in research.
This nostalgic farmhouse includes a heated shop with concrete floor. This 3 bedroom 1 bath home with a detached shed would make a great rental or starter home. Community water and septic. Take this to the next step. Call for an appointment. MLS #20182960
$124,500
Carol D. Curtis (208) 290-5947 www.sandpoint.com ccurtis@sandpoint.com
TRAVEL
This week’s RLW by McCalee Cain
Have bag, will travel By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Contributor In the market for some new luggage? Backpack or roller bag? Hard or soft sided? Packing cubes? Before you purchase, pack, and carry on with those new bags, there’s a lot to consider. Luggage can be a huge investment, and it’s certainly worthy of some serious research before you part with your hard-earned cash (or those holiday gift cards). I must admit that one of my guiltiest pleasures is new luggage every two or three years, so my children are the recipients of many hand-medowns sets (and, to be truthful, sometimes I have bought for brand or beauty over function and was eager to replace a less-than perfect choice). The choices are truly overwhelming, and luggage is not a “one-size fits all” purchase. U.S. Consumer Reports offer invaluable advice about luggage purchases, and, after all these years, I have begun to heed their recommendations as well as the expert advice from savvy women travelers on Facebook groups to which I belong. First, consideration should be given to what type of baggage suits your travel style. For those who are strictly carry-on nomads, soft-sided backpacks and roller bags are recommended as they have more give and can flex and squeeze into tight spaces (I have a propensity to try and overpack this type, defeating the purpose). For checked bags that will keep your contents safer when airlines (and cruise ships) are stacking them, hard-sided are a good choice. Today’s hard-sided bags are extremely
light weight and more secure as they can’t be slashed open, though they are harder to access contents, if used as carry-ons (I have a carry-on size with an outer pocket, which is great for storing your computer for onboard use). For serious backpackers, an internal frame with a harness and a hip-belt is highly recommended. Osprey brand, with their innovative custom body molding (and lifetime guarantee), seems to be the universal choice. You can see all their backpacks and accessories at: www.osprey.com/us/en. Once you decide what style of luggage suits you best, do your research. Wear it, wheel it, lift it, swivel it and measure it. Make sure the handles are sturdy and retract easily. Open and close zippers and other closures. Check out the warranties and replacement policies. Some companies offer them on all of their luggage sets, and others only on specific product lines, so read the fine print before you purchase. If you find a deal you can’t refuse online, try and find the bags at a brick and mortar store so you can try them out. I learned that lesson when I once bought a smart-looking set of bags and one of them tipped over every time I rounded a corner (another purchase, relegated to the children). Airline weight and size restrictions vary, so before you make your purchase, review the policy for checked and carry-on luggage for several airlines. If you’re planning an international trip, take those restrictions into consideration before your purchase, as they are usually more restrictive than U.S. rules. Currently, for U.S. carriers the rules are the ones set by the big three — American, Delta and United —
READ
For a thoroughly engaging and interesting read, be sure to pick up Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book “The Tipping Point.” Gladwell’s expert writing seamlessly combines captivating narratives with analysis of statistical data and science for an all-around informative read that teaches as effectively as it entertains. And Gladwell has many other amazing titles available, if you’re curious for more.
LISTEN
Photo by Francesca Tirico.
at 22 inches high by 14 inches wide by 9 inches deep. We’ve come a long way with luggage. Suitcases now easily slide, glide and swivel, and if the airline loses them, you can even track them yourself with a built in GPS. Some smart luggage even has motorized wheels and USB charging ports. If you do choose to purchase smart luggage, make sure you can remove the batteries, as many airlines have placed a ban on luggage with lithium batteries that can’t be removed. Besides the baggage, there are game-changing accessories, and a favorite of mine is the “wine diaper.” There are many brands of these padded wine protection bags available on Amazon, and most will hold a liter of liquid. Though I’ve never had a bottle break, the bags are designed to soak up any spillage from the bottle should a disaster occur inflight or during handling. I’ve also used these bags for a variety of other glass-encased trea-
sures, such as mustards from France and olives from Italy. I pack all of my clothes in large, sealing gallon-sized plastic bags that I force all the air of before I seal them. They take up a lot less room and keep my clothes clean and organized (and safely separated from my myriad food-souvenir purchases). For a comprehensive look at luggage reviews and purchase recommendations, you can review the full US Consumer Reports at: www. consumerreports.org/cro/luggage. Now, carry on. After many years on the supplier side of travel, along with her previous career as a chef and event planner, Marcia is deliriously happy to use her combined passions and expertise to help others fulfill their travel and adventure dreams. Find out more about her business, Capers, at www. CapersTravel.com
My go-to album for a gloomy autumn day is Sufjan Stevens’ seventh studio album “Carrie & Lowell.” Released in 2015, it’s pensive, ethereal, sorrowful and soothing, with minimalistic instrumental accompaniment and somber songwriting. It’s best served with a cup of black coffee and some moderate profundity. My favorite tracks include “Should Have Known Better” and “The Only Thing.”
WATCH
As the weather begins to turn and winter is upon us, I often crave some heavier entertainment material. It doesn’t get much heavier than Hulu’s 2017 television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” The show is exceptionally made, with breathtaking cinematography and top-shelf performances from the entire cast, most notably Elisabeth Moss. The adaptation couldn’t be any better, and the chilling, dystopian commentary is as pertinent today as ever.
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HUMOR
A look at the new phone apps for 2019 From Northern Idaho News, May 1, 1936
CITY TO TAKE OVER NEW LAND At a special meeting of the city council Friday evening at city hall, plans for annexing certain pieces of land west of Division street were discussed. The annexed part would chiefly embody the ground on which the forest service soon will erect several new buildings, it was indicated. That other property in that district would be included in the annexation, appeared likely, although no definite decision on the matter was reached at the special meeting. An ordinance outlining the boundaries or the proposed addition probably will be submitted for approval at the next regular meeting of the council, which will be May 6. One of the reasons for increasing the city’s territory is to provide sewer and water facilities for the forest service. Then, too, it was pointed out, the city cannot sponsor WPA projects except those within the city limits. -MILLTOWN TO GET GRAVELMembers of the Sandpoint Highway district board were present at the meeting to go over plans for keeping up the streets in the newly-annexed area of the city, the Milltown district. The board indicated that it had no power to go beyond the boundaries of the highway district. However, after some discussion, the highway district agreed to do the graveling and other road maintenance work needed in the new area provided the city pay the highway district for same. This the city agreed to do. Mayor Ewing said that while the people of the Milltown district kicked at first, they were taken into the city “they are now tickled that we did it.” 18 /
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By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor
Notice: CopTracker is not responsible for the location of unidentifiable and undercover police officers or imprisonment.
There are moral apps, entertainment apps and relationship apps coming out in 2019. Apps are in symbiosis with humanity, and they are ever evolving. Below are a few of the “game changers” we keep hearing about.
RealBOD From the makers of Hot BOD, this photo enhancing app that is sure to be another favorite for all social media users. “Although I loved the way HotBOD touched up my vacation photos, they weren’t believable enough for me to share with people that see me in real life,” a HotBOD user said. Popular demand gave birth to the RealBOD app. RealBOD removes only 10-20 percent of your body weight and offers only minor enhancements that you choose. Your friends will believe that you took a beautiful unedited photo. Works with bikinis and clothing (nudity prohibited).
InfinityLIKE This app is guaranteed to transform our relationships. Are you too busy to keep up with all of your social media? Do you have a close friend that posts a lot- or a friend that is insecure? InfinityLIKE takes care of friends and you. You have the option of “liking” everything a friend posts. There are random “like” options (“liking” every other post of all friends, for instance) and automatic random comments like “Awesome!” and “Beautiful!” Free up your time and take care of electronic friends electronically! Where’sMyHomies? Have aloof or spontaneous friends? This app ensures that you can be at the party regardless. By tapping into a series of surveillance cameras around your community, you can see just where the party is. “My friends kept partying without me, but not anymore!” says a WheresMyHomies tester.
TrumptyTweet This app gives the user the opportunity to vote on and view pictures that go with Trump’s Tweets — sure to make you laugh! “I used to get so frustrated when I read the latest tweet from our president, but the accompanying pictures in TrumptyTweet are so hysterical!” says a TrumptyTweet tester.
No$Hang No money and you want to hang out? This LatteGuilt app is for you. No$Hang lists all the places Feel guilty when you buy a pleasurable that have events where loiterers will not be drink? Use this app whenkicked out. Hanging out ever you feed your habit without money doesn’t of expensive coffee, wine, just have to be at the beer or even cigarettes. Just library, church or soup choose an amount (from fifty kitchens. This app offers cents upwards) to donate to the location of free* your favorite charity each time you indulge in events like musical gigs, a delicious habit. potlucks and well- caThis app generated an average of $500 tered parties. per person, per year, to charity. When inter*Some events hope you might buy or viewed, testers claimed the app was “super bring something, prefer donations or tips or easy” and that “giving was hardly noticeable.” expect you are on a guest list. These events The company’s motto is “A little guilt can require more ingenuity to hang, but often readd up to a lot of good!” ceive the best reviews on food and beverages. Notice: No$Hang makes suggestions and CopTracker offers user reviews, but takes no responsibility This app is perfect for the criminal in in the actions of humanity. you. Do away with paranoia as you hot wire cars and break into ATM BrokePHONE! machines, but make sure and Ever break or lose your phone and feel keep an eye on the blinking panicked? That is addiction. Humanity has red lights on your screen. survived for thousands of years without CopTracker tracks cops in smartphones. Are apps frustrating, tempting or a 10 mile radius from your overwhelming you? location.
This app is for you! Beginners often chose a minimal setting of just 10 minutes. The screen appears broken, and when swiped, the user is able to dial a phone number-like a regular phone. Test subjects cut their phone use by an average of 35 percent with the BrokePHONE! app. Over time, many of these test subjects chose several hours a day to have a BrokePHONE!. “I kept longing for the good ol’ days of no phones, but I have all my music and connections in my smart phone, you know? I engage my BrokePHONE! app for six hours, right after I check the morning news and messages. I actually have been dialing my aging mother and talking with her a lot more on the phone. She loves it!” a BrokePHONE! app tester said.
Crossword Solution
He was a cowboy, mister, and he loved the land. He loved it so much he made a woman out of dirt and married her. But when he kissed her, she disintegrated. Later, at the funeral, when the preacher said, “Dust to dust,” some people laughed, and the cowboy shot them. At his hanging, he told the others, “I’ll be waiting for you in heaven - with a gun.”
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10. Vipers 14. Cancel 15. Like 16. Masticate 17. Tempter 18. Whimper 19. Walking stick 20. A young unmarried woman (archaic) 22. Forearm bone 23. Unit of land 24. Shingles = Herpes ______ 26. After-bath powder 30. Hole-making tool 31. Historic period 32. Margarine 33. Verse 35. Coral island 39. Wander aimlessly 41. Eulogies 43. Sesame seed 44. Sets of articles /FUHB/ 46. Marsh plant [verb] 47. A late time of life 1. Slang. to ignore (a person or one’s surroundings) when in a social 49. Born as of the situation by busying oneself with a phone or other mobile device. 50. Cravings “Hey, are you phubbing me, right now? Put your phone down and listen.” 51. Coins 54. Unit of cut wood Nope, no errors have been pointed out to us this week, although with the hol56. Words idays, maybe people weren’t looking too closely. Keep pouring that eggnog! 57. A peninsula -CR 63. Against 64. Hindu princess
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Word Week
phub
Solution on page 22 7. A small guitar 8. Window ledge 9. Allergic reaction 10. Making an assertion against 11. Second person singular of shall 12. Tubular pasta 13. Affirm 21. Anagram of “Space” DOWN 25. By mouth 1. Prostitute 26. Grave 2. Double-reed woodwind 27. Away from 3. Weaving machine the wind 4. Chocolate cookie 28. Low-fat 5. Stripes 29. Linking up 6. Routine clerical work 34. Space rock 65. A small mallet 66. Farm building 67. At one time (archaic) 68. Something to shoot for 69. Smelting waste 70. Type of sword 71. Noblemen
36. Curved molding 37. Mortgage 38. Boys 40. Sandwich shop 42. Utilizers 45. Infuriate 48. Edict 51. Pierces 52. Prison-related 53. Spare 55. Motherless calf 58. Stringed instrument 59. Nil 60. Always 61. Secure against leakage 62. L L L L
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