It seems like all sorts of food-related world records have been broken recently, leaving me with cravings and a few questions.

The latest one I heard of was the 330-foot-long California roll constructed using more than 100 pounds of rice, 67 pounds each of cucumber and avocado and 167 pounds of artificial crab at UC Berkeley, according to the North Oakland News. More than 350 volunteers helped...read more

A week ago, I would have considered a four-day doctor-ordered stay at home more of a break than a burden

That was before I encountered the infamous swine flu.

No, unlike my bout with kidney stones earlier this year (lucky aren't I?), I'm not going to give you a blow-by-blow recap of my symptoms. In this case that might be, for lack of a better word, gross.

After I first fell ill over...read more

From my second year in college to now, two years and change after my graduation, I've lived the majority of my time in apartment complexes. In that time, I've never had a perfect living situation; there always seems to be something that nags at me incessantly or bugs me into looking for a new place the next year. For that reason, I've lived in four apartments in those short years.

Accumulated...read more

I understand the commute from Boise back to Canyon County can be long, especially with all the construction, but some of what I've been seeing lately in one spot is just plain dangerous.

You might know the spot I'm talking about. For the past couple months in the construction zone, there has been a place just before the Black Cat Road overpass on westbound I-84 where the roadway drops from...read more

I was raised on a small farm, grew up hunting with my dad and grandpa, and generally consider myself a pretty outdoorsy person. But that didn't stop me from doing a double take when I saw a raccoon looking up at me from my cat's dish in the corner of my living room a couple weeks ago

I've seen the animals from time to time in the woods, on the side of roads and crawling in and out of...read more

With all my coworkers mourning the last days of Idaho summer, I'm personally not losing too much sleep about it

Even with a somewhat mild summer - I only remember being outside on assignment in temperatures around 100 a select number of times - I still have a problem with the heat.

And even two years into my tenure, I don't seem to have acclimatized much to the Gem State.

See, in the part...read more

Admittedly, I used to be an absolute television and movie addict. Growing up, my Dad and I would venture to the movie store every night to pick up a couple $1 new releases. As soon as I got my first job, I bought a cheap cable subscription so I could watch all the shows I heard all my friends talk about at school

It grew from there.

Once I got into college, it got worse. About 40 channels came standard...read more

Listening to the president of the College of Western Idaho address faculty and staff at an in-service before fall classes begin, I was reminded of my own experience with community college

Schooled in western Washington, my Dad told me starting in sixth grade that he wanted me to take advantage of the Running Start program, which allows high school juniors and seniors to take community college courses...read more

The Yoyo, The Zipper, The Paratrooper: Scenes from the rides that filled the midway at the Canyon County Fair filled our pages for the last week, showing ecstatic children letting loose as they were dipped, dropped and swung about

It wasn't too many years ago that I would have been on the ground itching to get my turn. But no more.

I'm not sure if my family grew tired of my whining in my...read more

Out of the numerous cars I've owned and driven since turning the magical age of 16, my current vehicle is the newest: A 1997 Buick Park Avenue that several coworkers have dubbed a "land yacht."

Yes, it's big, and that's part of what I like about it. Like the musclecars of old that I've always loved, it has a whole lot out front and in back to protect me from becoming a fixture...read more

With tensions still high about the possible closure of an agriculture research station in Parma, a tour set to draw high-level state dignitaries on Wednesday is sure to be interesting

I got the call on June 16 from the lead researcher at the Parma Research and Extension Center, Dr. Essie Fallahi, telling me to come quick because "they're shutting the center down." When I arrived a couple...read more

For a few summers, it was like I moved every day. Now, I can't stand the thought of my one move this year.

While in college, my job during the warm months was as a laborer for a Mayflower moving franchise in Western Washington. We had a contract to do all the military moves in our Navy-centric town of Oak Harbor, so we always stayed busy and I quickly learned the ins and outs of a successful...read more

After a couple days off that were punctuated by illness and a bustling schedule, I have successfully found a new unit to rent in Boise.

In an effort to save money, I'm going to be living with my girlfriend and another friend, costing us only about $200 per person. I've lived with multiple people before - seven in one house during one semester in college - so I'm sure this will be fun...read more

One Boise eatery's salute to the Gem State's signature spuds has backfired with owners tossed in the fryer if they don't change their branding

In case you haven't heard, the newly-opened Idaho Fry Company is treading in hot oil with the Idaho Potato Commission over the name that apparently was a no-go.

The commission claims rights to anything "Idaho Potato" and has sides...read more

After more than two decades on this planet, I would have hoped that I'd learned my lesson about sunburns and sunscreen.

As I sit here in my desk Tuesday with my back uncomfortably tingling, reminding me of the glowing red skin on my shoulders, I see I have to wise up a bit more.

Yesterday seemed like a perfect day to tame the jungle that had been gradually developing in my back yard. The grass...read more

My recent days off marked the beginning of my slow but steady search for affordable new rental housing here in the Treasure Valley.

I've grown more and more frugal recently, evidenced by some of my most recent blogs. My first Nampa one-bedroom apartment's rent came in at about $600 a month, my current shared Boise house runs me about $400 every 30 days, and now my girlfriend and I are trying...read more

I started my Mother's Day on Sunday as I usually do, with a call to my grandmother, a couple laughs and a lot of memories

Though it may seen strange to some, my sweet grandma, in her 70s and growing more frail every time I get to travel to see her, was the closest thing to a mother's influence that I had for most of my 23 years.

My wonderful Dad was always there for me and raised me with...read more

In my time at the Idaho Press-Tribune, I've been privileged to hear a great many interesting and compelling stories from the local community

After countless hours of reporting and interviewing, some of the most compelling of these have come in my work on the Neighbor to Remember feature.

I worked to contact the families of community members who had recently passed on so that I could showcase...read more

One lucky man won the car of his dreams at the 2009 Health Fest and Community Day Saturday at the Idaho Center. Little did he know it was the car of my dreams as well.

Well maybe not that specific car, but I've always been drawn to muscle cars, and the story that unfolded at the Idaho Center Saturday reminded me of all my efforts to someday restore an American classic.

John Alvarez wound up...read more

As I try to budget my food purchases and curb wanton spending on meals while I'm at work, I've developed a new appreciation for cheap eats.

I've put together a list of some of my favorite budget-friendly snacks.

WARNING: Some of them might not be health- or waistline-friendly, but I can't personally afford to be very picky in this economy.

Some are on the list because their cheap...read more

So I'm not usually one to turn down free food at work - or anywhere really. And when our assistant managing editor David Woolsey offered me a vat of fresh fruit from our community fridge, I was eager to dig in

That is until I found out it was a tub full of berries. The simple suggestion was enough to turn my stomach.

What's my beef with berries? It's all a function of exposure.

I worked...read more

All of the Treasure Valley's diverse outdoor summer recreation is getting closer.

Here are a few things from my life that have signaled the proximity of warmer temperatures and all the great activities that come with them:

1. The mane is tamed: That's right, even I decided to cut my hair with summer and temperatures in the 100s on the way. It had been more than a year (that's right...read more

As my endeavor to save more money and live within my means continues, I'm picking up new ideas and insight every day

I recently posted a blog about my different efforts to cut expenses - among other things cutting up my credit card to trim back frivolous purchases.

You can read that blog here, and I'm happy to say that my efforts are still going well. I've slowly been seeing the fruits...read more

In Tuesday's edition we published a story about how many people are sticking to their fitness routines despite the tough economic conditions.

I was lucky enough to get to hit the streets to interview people leaving their local gyms about their dedication to staying in shape. I've got to say, the answers I heard are motivating me to get back into the fitness mix.

A few years ago, I actually...read more

With the national economy in recession and consumers tightening budgets nationwide, each one of us has faced everyday decisions about how we can save.

My life has been no different. Last summer as gas prices peaked at more than $4 a gallon, I began thinking about how I could personally protect myself against falling into financial trouble.

The budget cutting began with me contemplating how I get...read more

As temperatures hit 70 degrees in Boise where I live this week, green again began to take over my lawn, a not-so-welcome reminder that it's time to pull out the lawn mower, sprinklers and fertilizer.

It's not that I despise manicuring my grass, it just always seems hard to find enough time. As days become more beautiful and temperatures soar, I'd rather be out enjoying the valley's...read more

I'm back at work after a successful surgery to remove a kidney stone, but the journey wasn't without its challenges.

I'd hoped to make it back to work by Tuesday after my surgery on March 5. However, because of significant post-op pain and a few unforeseen occurrences, I didn't make it back until this Friday.

The surgery itself went very well. Doctors had me in and out of the operating...read more

While my nights at the Idaho Press-Tribune can get hectic and downright frenzied at times, nothing could have prepared me for the fun of working this week while waiting for a kidney stone to pass

One co-worker summarized it as "sitting on a time bomb," a description I find quite accurate and amusing.

Let's start from the beginning.

I woke up last Friday with a slight pinch in my abdomen...read more

As the horrific story of a pet chimpanzee that mauled a Connecticut woman appeared before my eyes, I began to get curious about what other kinds of exotic pets people choose to take home.

Sure enough, one visit to exoticpetcenter.com yielded quite the education for me. From ground squirrels to sugar gliders, this place has a little something for everyone, though I must admit I didn't see any...read more

If you're planning a skiing or snowboarding trip for your day off Monday, please remember to be safe.

Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area announced that Saturday brought 10 inches of new powder to the slopes just in time for the typically busy Presidents Day holiday.

Officials hope the new snow and vacation time could bring back the 10,000 people who crowded the resort in a single Saturday...read more

As a function of my late schedule at the Idaho Press-Tribune, I was privileged to be assigned to attend both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

I got to sit in awe in the Idaho Center and watch as the ceremonies bookended a historic week in Idaho that saw thousands of athletes welcomed, lessons learned and lives changed.

Throughout the week, events...read more

Idaho Public Television will maintain its analog broadcasts until June in line with the Congress' extension of a deadline for broadcasters to go all-digital

Previously, over-the-air signals would have been required to go digital by Feb. 17. Lawmakers voted to extend the deadline to buy more time for consumers who have not adequately prepared for the switch.

Now it's up to local stations...read more

Congress gave many TV-watchers a few months more with their rabbit ears.

Citing millions of unprepared consumers nationwide, lawmakers voted to extend the mandatory changeover to digital-only television broadcasts to June 12. The previous deadline was lurking on Feb. 17, a date that analysts say would have left millions without television access.

However, the extended deadline is not just another...read more

With Super Bowl weekend fast approaching, many of us may be wondering how we'll feed the rowdy crowds sure to pile into our living rooms on Sunday.

As fans huddle around television screens, there is a snacking option that doesn't involve leaving the comfort of your La-Z-Boy.

Albertsons stores offer delivery of finger foods and beverages directly to your front door. The only problem with...read more

As small snowflakes began to fall in the early hours of my shift this evening, my 20-mile commute home to Boise made its way to the front of my mind.

As night reporter here in the IPT newsroom, I get to experience any late breaking news firsthand. After 5 p.m., for robberies and high-speed chases around Canyon County, I'm usually one of the first people to hear about it.

Unfortunately, the...read more

TREASURE VALLEY - Officials with Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area told me over the weekend that despite the troubled economy, they're still having an eventful season

Rider visits are up, and season pass revenue has eclipsed last year's marks by about a half million dollars.

As a skier who's felt his snow budget pinched lately, I was a little surprised that many people are still...read more