Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Posted By on Tue, Dec 23, 2014 at 9:40 AM


HERE

Local Salvation Army finds $1,200 gold piece in donation kettle for sixth year in a row, wrapped in $100 bill for good measure. (KREM)

Post Falls man gets 20-year sentence for extortion, threatening to kill wife after she would pay for his back surgery. (CdAPress)

Idaho must pay attorneys for couples in same-sex marriage case. (S-R)


THERE

Federal judge rules jail wait times too long for mental health evaluations. (Seattle Times)

Vancouver 911 caller says police mistakenly shot him without any warning. (Oregonian)

Montana governor opposes expanding bomber training area to size larger than West Virginia. (Missoulian)


ELSEWHERE

U.S. economy jumps 5 percent, the fastest growth in more than a decade. (NYTimes)

FAA facing many conflicting warnings on drone regulation. (WaPost)

Iconic rocker Joe Cocker died yesterday from lung cancer. (Rolling Stone)


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Monday, December 22, 2014

Posted By on Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 1:13 PM

Making peace with a slow season start, and vowing to stay true to your mountain
Schweitzer Mountain Resort
I have had the conversation with many people about the "weird" start to the ski season.

My go-to response is, “You have to take the good with the bad.”

I moved to Sandpoint in 2002 and it was a couple of years later, the season of 2004-05, that Schweitzer Mountain Resort closed in early March, for the first time, and then reopened at the end of March after a late season storm cycle. Since then, all of the resorts in the Inland Northwest have had some great snow years – nine great consecutive seasons.

Although the season is far from over, I thought I would concoct up a vow to my ski resort and mountain town to let them know that I my heart is still with you – even in warm temps and low precip. I have left it generic so it is adaptable for your unique situation:

I, (insert ski bum’s name), take you, (insert your local ski hill or the mountain town you swore an oath to, two years ago, when the snow fall was off the charts and so many powder days that ‘best days’ were replaced with new ones on a regular basis), to be my ski hill and mountain town, secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, my one true love, and the best place to be on those epic powder days, whether bluebird or not.

On this serious lack-of-snow season, I affirm to you in the presence of Ullr and my fellow ski bums my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful ski bum and loyal powder skier in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the epic seasons and the bad.

I promise to love you, be the first in line on the epic powder day and to comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve your snowfall and sunny day goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest with you, and cherish you for as long as my knees will hold out.

(Raise 16-ounce PBR tallboy), Cheers!

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Posted By and on Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 11:43 AM


Each week in the Monday Morning Placekicker, we get you ready to survive and contribute to every casual sports conversation inspired by the weekend's events concerning the Zags, the Seahawks and assorted other sports-ball teams of note. Let's do this. 

ZAGS SURVIVE AN UGLY BATTLE IN SEATTLE
Maybe it was the fact the players finished final exams the day before. Maybe it was because the game was played in the cavernous Key Arena in Seattle instead of the cozy confines of the home gym. Maybe it was because Gonzaga was finishing a dominant run through its pre-conference schedule just in time for Christmas, and a week before playing rival BYU on the road. 

Whatever the reason, the Zags struggled to beat Cal Poly in the so-called Battle in Seattle. We have a stellar report from the scene right here that you should check out. Suffice to say, the timing is good for the boys to get a few days off before the serious part of the season gets underway Saturday in Utah. 

EWU HANGS TOUGH, LOSES TO CAL
Eastern fans might be feeling a little down after the Eagles third straight loss, but don't despair! A tough loss to the Pac-12's Cal on Friday showed that Eastern is going to be a beast in the Big Sky. Venky Jois and Tyler Harvey combined for 54 points in the losing effort. Even with the loss, consider that the Eagles were on an 11-day, five-game road trip that included a stop at UW, and went 2-3 on the trip. And at 8-4, the Eagles had their best pre-conference season in 28 years. 

YOU SHALL KNOW HIM BY THE TRAIL OF BODIES HE LEAVES IN HIS WAKE
In the event that you didn't see last night's Seahawks game and don't subscribe to any form of social media or possess an AM radio or have talked to anyone who watches football, this happened in the second half of Seattle's thumping of Arizona.
sdsa
Here's how I remember this happening in real time:

Oh wow, he's gonna get a first down...shit he's breaking to the sideline...oh, but those guys have him bottled up and are going to knock him out of... — nope, he threw that dude to the ground and just embarrassed the entire state of Arizona! Go Beast, go! Don't get caught from behind! Oh shit, he's gonna score! And did he just grab his nards when he was flying into the end zone? Why am I standing on my couch? What year is it? Time has ceased to exist! That run must have ripped a whole in the time-space-continuum, but I don't care! I shall forever worship at the altar of Marshawn Lynch.

You get the picture. Marshawn Lynch exists on another plane of reality in which runs like this can happen and we all just need to accept that.

Here's how Steve Raible, the voice of the Seahawks, called the run on the radio. Yes, he definitely said "Holy Catfish."

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Posted By on Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 10:09 AM


Even with Christmas just days away, we have plenty of events for your consideration, and Staff Picks chosen by our crew of savvy professionals. 

Here are some highlights from our listings for Monday, Dec. 22: 

TRIVIA | Test your skills against some brainy folks looking for a good time with trivia night at Press. Jones Radiator has some tricky trivia going on Monday night as well. 

OPEN MIC | Get your pipes ready and get ready to impress at open mic night at Underground 15. Christmas carols are probably okay, just this once. 

VISUAL ARTS | Amen, Amen: Religion & Southern Self-Taught Artists collects an amazing batch of Southern folk art that uses religious imagery. The show only has a couple more weeks at the Jundt Galleries on the Gonzaga campus, so get there to see cool works like Elijah Pierce's Prodigal Son







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Posted By on Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 9:38 AM


HERE

Inlander reporter Jacob Jones had an interesting interaction with one of the country's torture architects. (Inlander)

Tuesday is the last day to enroll in Washington health insurance that kicks in Jan. 1. (Inlander)

Idaho is on the hook for more than $400,000 in attorney fees for its fight against gay marriage. (S-R)

THERE

Seattle sheriff's deputies are wearing black armbands in solidarity with the slain NYPD officers. (Seattle Times)

New information about the New York cop killer is coming out. (New York Times) 

For a few moments at least, Saturday Night Live was funny again as it took on the North Korean hackers. Check it out: 

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Posted By on Mon, Dec 22, 2014 at 9:14 AM

click to enlarge Tuesday deadline to buy health insurance for coverage beginning Jan. 1
Review your options and select your coverage at wahealthplanfinder.org.

Haven't gotten covered for 2015? Tuesday, December 23, is the last day to purchase a qualified health plan through Washington's insurance marketplace for coverage starting on Jan. 1. The deadline to sign up is at 5 pm. 

Despite technical glitches on Washington Healthplanfinder — including one that erroneously cancelled about 6,000 customer accounts — more than 55,000 people have signed up for or renewed their health insurance using the website. 

Visit wahealthplanfinder.org to enroll in or renew your coverage. For questions or assistance enrolling, call customer support at 1-855-923-4633. Remember: the penalty this year for opting out of coverage is $325 per adult or 2 percent of taxable income, whichever is greater.

Open enrollment ends on Feb. 15. 



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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Posted By on Sun, Dec 21, 2014 at 9:01 PM

Gonzaga handled Cal Poly, dispatching the Mustangs 63-50, on Saturday night in the 12th annual Battle in Seattle at KeyArena. To which Seattle Zag fans seemed to collectively shrug their collective shoulders.

The Battle in Seattle was once one of the highlights of any Gonzaga season, but unfortunate scheduling in the past couple years has led to less the marquee competition and sucked the excitement from KeyArena. While the Zags drew 16,241 in the 2012 Battle in Seattle versus Kansas State, they only mustered 11,741 for Cal Poly (though that’s an increase over the abysmal turnout for South Alabama last year: 9,140).

It’s hard not to jump to the conclusion that a section of the Seattle GU fan base is a little spoiled. Cal Poly, really? Why would I go to the game when it’s just gonna be a blowout? Seattleites don’t live and breathe Zaga hoops on a daily basis like Spokane residents. That’s not to say Battle in Seattle isn’t a community event for local alumni. Nearby KeyArena the Seattle Center campus, the Gonzaga Alumni Association’s Seattle Chapter hosted a pregame social at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. The event drew between 900-1,000 for drinks, food, photo opportunities, and pseudo reunion festivities.

While Gonzaga tickets are worth their weight in gold in Spokane and the fans bring the passion, the fervor has seemingly dissipated along that stretch of westbound I-90 over the recent years.

As coach Mark Few noted, “There’re a lot of people from Spokane, every year, that come over to (Battle in Seattle) because they can’t get into our games over there,” adding, “Obviously, it would’ve been great to have this one in Spokane, instead of here. But we kind of suck it up and do it for those other reasons.”

There’s also something incongruous about the lack of excitement on the west side, because it’s still mostly Gonzaga that’s the real draw, not the opponent. KeyArena would not be packed for Kansas State versus Seattle University. So shouldn’t a Zags team in ranked in the Top 10 rally fans to attend (after all they were only ranked #14 when they played K-State)? 
As the final tune-up before conference play, the game itself provided a decent preview of how many WCC games will likely go this season. Przemek Karnowski led the way with 16 points and 8 rebounds, with Kevin Pangos matching The Karnovore’s 16 points, including 4 3-pointers.

And while the game was never in doubt, the Zags had enough stretches of careless play, dumb turnovers, and missed open shots to keep the score closer than it should be. It also highlighted a few flaws that seem to haunt every Bulldogs team. The undersized Gonzaga guards struggle mightily when trying to pass into the post, which is especially an issue when the team’s best scorer and passer – Karnowski – consistently gets good position against his smaller opponents. They were especially flustered when Cal Poly’s 1-3-1 zone defense began to press and trap the GU ball handler outside the arc.

While the tilt against Cal Poly was Gonzaga’s last scheduled game at KeyArena this year, don’t count on it being team’s final trip. It’s not a lock, but all signs point to the Zags making a return trip in March, as it’s one of the sites the NCAA tournament
.
And you won’t have to worry about those games being undersold or lacking intensity.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Posted By on Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 2:38 PM

click to enlarge Face to face with Spokane's CIA torture architect
Jacob Jones
Arches and pillars line Bruce Jessen's home south of Spokane. The former Air Force psychologist helped design the CIA's controversial interrogation program.

A red tractor idles in the courtyard of Dr. Bruce Jessen’s massive $1.2 million home south of Spokane. Pillars and stone arches line the entryways. Red ceramic tiles cover the roof of the estate. When the former Fairchild Air Force Base psychologist and now-infamous architect of the CIA’s brutal interrogation program steps out, he freezes for a moment before realizing I am just a reporter. He’s a little on edge.

“There’s a lot going on,” he tells me last week. “It’s a difficult position to be in.”

Jessen explains nondisclosure agreements prohibit him from discussing the newly released CIA torture report, despite what he called “distortions” reported in the press. Polite, but clearly upset, Jessen notes he has a “No Trespassing” sign near the end of his driveway. As he heads toward the tractor, he adds an ominous observation.

“You know, they didn’t prosecute Zimmerman,” he says.

In hindsight, this seems a clear reference to the legality of deadly force in so called “stand your ground” situations. So that’s where his mind went. At the time, I thought he was alluding to something in the new CIA report that I was not familiar with. His comment confused me, but did not scare me.

For the record: Reporters hate cold-knocking on someone’s door. But Jessen had rejected calls from all across the country, so it was a last resort. When I happen to catch him taking out the trash, he acknowledges he would like to “set the record straight,” but can’t. While his colleague Dr. James Mitchell has contradicted aspects of the report, Jessen says Mitchell is a smarter, better public speaker. The pair's company reportedly received more than $80 million for its work at the CIA. Jessen still declines to comment further.

“There’s nothing more I can say,” he says.

Jessen then shakes my hand to end the conversation. I wish him a merry Christmas, but ask once more if there was anything he would like to add. He suggests I leave while we are still on “amiable terms.” Then he closes the door of the tractor cab and puts the machine in gear.


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Posted By on Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 2:01 PM


FRIDAY

There was a time on American TV when famous people (i.e., Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews and the Osmonds) made Christmas specials, and people couldn’t get enough of them. Times have changed, but the Bartlett continues that tradition, sans the TV aspect, by inviting many of their favorite local acts together for the first-ever Bartlett Christmas Special. Guests of honor include Water Monster, Marshall McLean, Mama Doll, the Holy Broke, Caroline Fowler, Scott Ryan and Windoe, along with emcee Derrick Oliver and poet Mark Anderson. Expect original Christmas songs tucked between holiday classics. And prepare yourself for a sing-along portion. The show is sold out starts at 8 pm, so start hoping for a Christmas miracle if you don't have a ticket. Take a listen to some of what will be played tonight here.


The Broken Thumbs, who have been together since June, are finally performing for the first time tonight. The lineup for the Big Dipper show also includes the Failsafe Project, Elephant Death Riot, Cameron Moore and DaethStar. Get there at 7:30 pm and bring $12 if you haven’t already bought tickets. Read our story on the band here.

SATURDAY
Since 2011, Elton Jah and his band have played all of the classic Elton John hits, including Jah’s favorite, “Rocket Man,” with a reggae beat. Saturday night at nYne, that’s all coming to an end as the group plays its final show. The band plans to be reincarnated in the near future as a different type of classic act, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, take advantage of this last show and an ugly sweater Christmas contest, featuring $100 in prizes. As “Candle in the Wind” put it: Elton Jah, “Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did.” The show starts at 9 pm and is $10.

The Hop’s raucous Nightmare Before Christmas series sees its final show Saturday. This time, the huge number of local acts includes: the Ongoing Concept, Jedediah the Pilot, Extortionist, Age of Nefilim, Verbera, Cold Blooded, Projections, Resverie and Serpentspire.

SUNDAY
Celebrate the shortest day of the year at the Big Dipper’s Winter Solstice Party. The lineup includes local rockers Phlegm Fatale, Mirror Mirror and Lost Masters. The show begins at 7:30 pm and is $3. Things are going to get loud! 

Bret Michaels, man. He’s still alive and performing at casinos all around the country. Check him out at Northern Quest Resort and Casino Sunday at 7:30 pm. Cost runs between $55 and $75.


The Colourflies released their new 23-track CD on Tuesday, but they’ll do it all again at Sunday’s Jingle Bell Rock and Metal Fest at the Knitting Factory. The Backups will also release their brand new EP that night. Other local acts on the monstrous lineup include: Scorch the Fallen, Heart Avail, Amnija, the Expo, Rylei Franks, Over Due and Burning Clean. The show begins at 6 pm and $10.

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Posted By on Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 1:03 PM


Because we believe in democracy and freedom and Santa Claus, among other things, here at the Inlander, we let our readers vote on the movie we'll be screening for the January 21 installment of our Suds and Cinema series.

Thanks to everyone for voting, BUT, we need a little more help because there was a virtual tie for first place. So, you have until noon on Monday to vote for the movie you'd like to drink beer to in a few weeks at the Bing Crosby Theater.

It's a showdown between the 1989 classic time-travel odyssey Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and The Royal Tenenbaums, the Wes Anderson-directed explosion of quirkiness that launched a few million kids into film school.

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Global Food & Art Market @ The Gathering House

Tuesdays, 3-7 p.m. Continues through July 29
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