Byron Yankey's blog

Pineapple Coconut Zucchini Bread

This is a great recipe, but honest, every picture I take of the zucchini bread looks like meat loaf!  This bread is light in color and filled with great flavor. Instead of grating the zucchini I chop it in the food processor and then I let it drain in a colander. I replaced half of the oil in this recipe with applesauce.  This can be done in almost any quick bread recipe.

Mix together:

1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon each vanilla and coconut flavoring

1/2 cups applesauce, 1/2 cup oil and 3 eggs.

Add: 1 cup crushed pineapple (drained) 1/2 cups golden raisins,1 cup coconut, and one cup walnuts.

Mix: 1 teaspoon each  baking soda and baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Gradually add 3 cups of flour.  Mix just until blended.

Pour into loaf pans and bake at 350 for at least one hour.  Check after 45 minutes because every oven is a little different.  

Here are some more optional ingredients you can also used instead of raisins: dried apricots or mango, soak dried cranberries in the left over pineapple juice, or mini chocolate chips.

Education spending cuts

How severe was the cut to Idaho public schools?  Great question posed by Kevin Richert.

Idaho's continued budget problems predict a very difficult legislative session. Revenue projects continue to have the same level of accuracy as television weathermen.   The reality is, no matter how you spin this story,no viable plan or solution has been created to stop the effects of budget cutting.  Yes, education has been somewhat held harmless in this last round of cuts, but again, without increased revenue or new revenue sources; the future is bleak for Idaho citizens.  

Kevin Richert writes:

In two recent editorials, I have written that public schools sustained a 7.7 percent budget cut in 2009-10.

And that's true of Idaho general fund dollars — which are traditionally the coin of the realm when politicos talk about state budget trends. The 2009-10 general fund appropriation for K-12 was just over $1.3 billion, down from $1.42 billion a year ago.

That doesn't tell the whole story, says the state Education Department. The state put $60.6 million of federal economic stimulus money into the 2009-10 budget, which puts the cut at 3.2 percent.

These numbers demonstrate two points. First, no matter how you look at the spreadsheets, Idaho public schools took an unprecedented budget cut during 2009-10 — a sobering fact that should influence future budget decisions during Idaho's ongoing recession. Second, it illustrates a dirty secret of the state budget: without an economic stimulus bill that passed over the objections of the Idaho congressional delegation, the state's public schools would be in an even deeper world of hurt.

As our elected state officials quietly seek to build their campaign war chests in preparation for the next election, I wonder when lawmakers will become statesmen. I wonder when the majority party will stop posturing behind slogans and start believing good government serves the people.

Best Blogger: Chris Oates

Boise Weekly's Best Local Blogger Chris Oates!!!!

Chris' Treasuredvalley is an amazing site.  It is what I read everyday regardless of how little time I have or how crazy things have become. Chris is an innovator, his talent and expertise are a marvel to me.  I have learned lots from him.  I count him as one of the most influential persons I have come to know over the past two years.

Actually, it is the second time I have gotten to know Chris. The first time was when he was a student at Lincoln School.  Some may find it hard to believe, but Chris Oates was a Lincoln Lion Good Citizen of the Month! His reward then was a certificate and a McDonald's Happy Meal. I wonder if he saved the toy....

Congratulations Chris, your future is limitless.

Insurance and part time legislators

Wayne Hoffman writes an interesting piece.  The topic is insurance costs for state part time employees. He writes,

Gov. Butch Otter’s administration correctly determined earlier this year that part-time government employees should pay more for their health insurance than fulltime employees. (...)Curiously, however, one group of part-time employees is exempt from the Otter administration’s new rules. Idahoans pay around $780,000 a year to insure members of the House and Senate.

He concludes by saying,

Come January, lawmakers will have to figure out how to cut $150 million (or thereabouts) from the budget. Legislators cannot justify keeping their insurance perks while cutting everywhere else. It’s unfair to other state employees, and it’s unfair to taxpayers who are left with the bill.

While I don't often agree with Mr. Hoffman, I must say thanks for his perspective on this issue.

And while I'm at it I will also say "THANKS" to Mr Hoffman for including the salaries of employees at some charter schools on his ouridaho.com website. I'll keep checking that site to see when the rest of the charter schools find a place there.

I think some are finally getting it.....

With more budget hold backs looming, there is much speculation as to what strategy will be used to plug an ever increasing budget hole. Today, Betsy Russell writes in the Spokesman Review:

"As Gov. Butch Otter ponders whether to make additional cuts in Idaho’s already much-trimmed state budget, he faces a dilemma: Budget cuts could trim state jobs at the same time that a precipitous drop in jobs is driving Idaho’s state budget crunch."

Using rainy day funds have to be part of the equation to survive this economic downturn. Simply stated,

"Most of Idaho’s state tax revenue comes from the individual income tax – 47.8 percent of the state’s general fund – and the sales tax, at 40.5 percent. When people lose their jobs, they stop contributing entirely to income tax, and their purchases drop, too."

Additional revenue sources must be an option also. Both sides of the aisle say job creation is essential to economic recovery. Few can deny that need, but many will disagree how to accomplish that task. Recovery is a moving target that won't respond to simple solutions. However, decisions that result in more job losses seems counter intuitive when other remedies can to be considered.

 

Charter School Limits

"It's no time to rush to expand charter schools" says the Idaho Statesman.  Wow, I can't agree more.  Read their rational:

Our biggest problem with Luna's charter school proposal has nothing to do with strange political alliances. Instead, it has to do with the strain on Idaho's schools budget, and the start up nature of any new charter.

Within the next week, my crystal ball says public schools will see hold backs announced by Governor Otter.  I would celebrate if my prediction is wrong.  In my perspective the only remaining question is, "how much will it be?"  We should all watch the graceful dance that will result in people saying, "Be thankful it isn't larger." All this while the majority party refuses to look at new sources of revenue. It is time to dust off ideas like reviewing sales tax exemptions and exclusions or maybe a tax on things like sodas or junk food or new creative ideas that ultimately need to rise to the top. 

Public schools took a 7.7% decrease for this fiscal year. The result so far has been over 20 school districts declaring financial emergencies and many district has had to go to their patron to increase school levies. Contingency funds in all school districts are disappearing leaving fewer and fewer options.

Some would say it is all about choices. Our elected officials need to thoughtfully and intentionally make choices. "Rainy day" funds were created for times like these.  Use them!

Congressional Wealth

Who could pass up the opportunity to find out that Idaho's freshman Senator Risch was the 13th wealthiest member of Congress?

I have to confess I was fascinated to read the short profiles of other Senators and Representatives on the list. While some will respond only to the great wealth described in this article, to me it is not amount of money or how these elected official acquired it.  To me this points out that as long as political campaigns cost many hundred thousand or millions of dollars, candidates with great personal wealth can use that wealth to their advantage.  I would have liked to say, "That's not what our founding fathers had in mind at the birth of our nation" but the reality is our founding fathers were almost exclusively landed gentry; men of wealth.

I wonder what we miss in our elected officials when there is such a huge chasm between their lives and the lives of the people they represent. It would be great if personal wealth was not such a filter when it comes to potential candidates.

Weather Report....It's still raining

Great opinion piece from the Idaho Statesman regarding the continuing budget crisis for the state of Idaho. Thoughtful and careful decisions are needed to manage the next steps as revenues continue to miss the mark each month. Reserve funds must be used and the next legislature must find a way to increase revenues for the next fiscal year.

"Reserve dollars would not be used to "grow" state government. They would only prevent the dismantling of state services.

The easy cuts are gone. Long gone.

Now, every budget fight will be brutal. Witness the backlash over Otter's plan to make part-time state workers pay more for insurance. Or an ill-advised plan to cut Idaho's immunization program, which Otter reversed last month with a $2.1 million withdrawal from a rainy-day fund."

The first place to look for increased revenue is the laundry list of tax exemptions that have been granted over the last two decades. 

"There is no guarantee that tax collections and hiring will rebound quickly. But there is a guarantee that deep budget cuts will do real damage to the government services Idahoans need now."

Be sure to read the comments on the Statesman site. 

Weather Report....It's still raining

Great opinion piece from the Idaho Statesman regarding the continuing budget crisis for the state of Idaho. Thoughtful and careful decisions are needed to manage the next steps as revenues continue to miss the mark each month. Reserve funds must be used and the next legislature must find a way to increase revenues for the next fiscal year.

"Reserve dollars would not be used to "grow" state government. They would only prevent the dismantling of state services.

The easy cuts are gone. Long gone.

Now, every budget fight will be brutal. Witness the backlash over Otter's plan to make part-time state workers pay more for insurance. Or an ill-advised plan to cut Idaho's immunization program, which Otter reversed last month with a $2.1 million withdrawal from a rainy-day fund."

The first place to look for increased revenue is the laundry list of tax exemptions that have been granted over the last two decades. 

"There is no guarantee that tax collections and hiring will rebound quickly. But there is a guarantee that deep budget cuts will do real damage to the government services Idahoans need now."

Be sure to read the comments on the Statesman site. 

The Great Pickle Disaster of 2009

Friday started like most days.  I was up early and headed to work. It was a great sunrise.  Life seemed good.

Earlier in the week,I had taken a crock of home made mustard pickles to school to share. (The recipe is on this blog.) Some bosses have chocolates or mints on their desk to create a warm, welcoming, homey atmosphere.  Not me, I had pickles.  They were a huge hit. Crisp tasty and unique, even the most picky eater was enticed into try the pickles. The entire crock was gone by 2:00.

Now fast forward to that idyllic Friday morning. I had one more crock of pickles and it seemed like a great idea to share again. While cruising down Eagle road, I was suddenly cut off by a white car swerving into my lane and abruptly turning into a parking lot.  I hit the brakes and swerved the opposite direction narrowly avoiding a trip to the auto body repair shop. Then it hit me. A sudden sharp smell of pickle brine.

There on the floor lay my pickle crock gushing brine into the carpet. I quickly made it into a parking lot. I jumped out of the car, grabbing a pile of blankets and sweat shirts from the back seat, and flung open the car door. The previous contents of pickles remained in the crock, but a half gallon of pickle brine was sinking into the carpet.

After soaking up as much as brine as I could, I continued on to school, windows open, sunroof open, laughing like a mad man.

STATUS REPORT: The pickles were enjoyed by many. The blankets and sweat shirts may never be the same. After vacuuming and shampooing the carpet three time, my car only faintly smells like pickles. I'm kind of enjoying the new ambiance...