Tinseltown Enamored Of Its Own Effluent
Hollyweird and the Oscars suckered me into watching “Fargo,” described by movie critics as a “black comedy.” Black, indeed. Comedy? Unh-uh. “Fargo” presents a pregnant police chief surrounded by incompetent males - the crooks, her husband and her Lake Woebegone cops. She solves a fake kidnapping spun out of control. Before it’s over, this so-called knee-slapper shows a cop getting his brains blown out, a bad guy getting stuffed into a wood chipper, several other coldblooded murders and bad guys cavorting with wholesome prostitutes. Men on the bottom, of course. Salty language made “Fargo” zero-for-the-Big Three: language, violence and nudity. For this, Hollyweird went gaga and awarded Oscars to Frances McDormand, for best actress, and to the movie, for best screenplay. I’d give “Fargo” and the industry two thumbs down.
Late assessor’s wife tells dastardly tale
In a letter last week, Blanche Moore told the dirty little secret that turned some away from the Kootenai County Democratic Party. As Assessor Tom Moore lay dying last fall, Linda Payne, then county chairwoman, bawled out his wife. Payne was angry that Moore, a lifelong Democrat, wanted to switch parties so his office would fall to Republican Mike McDowell, his longtime aide. According to Blanche, the conversation ended with Payne snapping: “Call me when he dies.” Tom died a short time later. The Democrats successfully pursued the matter all the way to the state Supreme Court to win the right to help select Moore’s successor. Ultimately, the court sided with the D’s and they submitted three partisans’ names for Moore’s post. Kootenai County commissioners picked a good man, Marv Vandenberg, for the job. But not the best one. Moore was right when he tried to pass the torch to McDowell.
Grass growers provide more than smoke
The American Lung Association just found a good use for grass seed: golf courses. Seems the lung association’s Washington and Idaho chapters are offering free golf to anyone who donates at least $25. It wasn’t until the hypocrisy of the fund-raising gimmick was pointed out - the seed for those golf courses comes from the farmers the lung association fights at every turn - that spokeswoman Sarah Baker said, “Duh, I never thought of that.” Apparently, she and other critics have been blinded to the many benefits of this important Kootenai County industry by the growers’ smoke.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125 or by sending e-mail to daveo@spokesman.com.