Overdue

A few days late, however: cancer, Butte, death, and casinos.  See it here.

Official Friday Judgment

The Postal Service (no, not the band), Montana Senator Max Baucus (in more ways than one), county land planning, rest area paper towels (there’s some disagreement on this one), and Bruce Messinger. See it here.

This week…

Money management, fads, education, and gambling.  See it here.

Now on this so-called fad.  Described by the IR as, “…dancing to a hip-hop beat beside and on top of a slowly moving car.”  More commonly known as “ghost riding the whip,” named after a song by E-40, I don’t really see the point in it.  (Videos all over YouTube if you want a visual.)  As far as I know, there haven’t been any incidents here.  If it’s really that bad, why give people ideas?

On a side note: what’s a “waggling thumb?”  Is that sarcasm I sense?  From the official Thumbs Up Thumbs Down?

Stereotypes? Ugh.

Thumbs Down to the IR’s journalism in general, but especially this article on snow sports. (It’s too bad they didn’t put the stunning artwork online. Really, hand drawn by Peter Bovingdon and everything.) Honestly, if your story has to come with a disclaimer, that’s an automatic red flag. “I realize these characterizations may offend some people, and in one or two cases, they may not actually be true. For that I ask your indulgence.” I’m a skier turned snowboarder, switched over about 8th grade or so. And yesterday, I spent a worthwhile day of my winter break up on the slopes at Great Divide.

We’ll ignore the two sections on skiing for the moment. As for the snowboarders:

You are a Snowboarder if … You arrived at the hill: by being dropped off by your juvenile probation officer. For lunch you had: Twizzlers, Red Bull, cigarettes. Your theme song is by: My Chemical Romance. You believe: The lift line is a great place to sit down and do your bindings. After boarding, you will be: At Anchor Park. You are annoyed by: Your home arrest ankle bracelet fitting badly under your boots. When you aren’t boarding you: “pwn” everyone at Gears of War on the Xbox 360. Your Motto is: “Whoa, sorry dude!”

As a matter of fact, I went up with my dad. To be specific, I drove up and he drove down because I’m too scared to drive down the icy hill. For lunch I had a sandwich I brought from home, some famous Great Divide fries, and a Snapple. I’m sure people eat Twizzlers and Red Bull for lunch, but in the ten or twelve years I’ve been going up there, I’ve maybe seen four or five people smoking. Total. And none of them were high school delinquent snowboarders. I hate My Chemical Romance. Obviously personal preference, but I wouldn’t say that genre is music to board to. (Haven’t heard them before? Check out the free download available this week at last.fm.) But anyway, back to my rant. For those boarders (i.e. me) who haven’t quite mastered the skill of getting on and off the lift with both feet strapped on to a snowboard, yes, it takes a few seconds in the lift line to undo one foot. But it most certainly doesn’t require sitting down. Not only is the Anchor Park comment a generalization toward snowboarders, but toward Anchor Park itself. I’ve spent many a quality afternoon at Anchor Park. And just within the past few years the City of Helena presented a number of possible remedies at a city-wide meeting. I’m not even going to comment on the ankle bracelet statement. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t converse in “1337 5p34k” on a regular basis, I don’t own an Xbox, and I’ve never had to apologize to anyone while boarding.

So here’s to you Peter Bovingdon. And next time, if you have to write a story with a disclaimer, just don’t write it.

Hunting, eagles, unemployment, and MSU.

See the verdict here.

Hmm…

The Helena Independent Record has this week’s official list.

While I agree wholeheartedly with the concept of a designated driver, I almost wonder if the IR’s emphasis on the new “Tipsy Tow” service might serve another, albeit unintended, purpose.  Obviously free advertising (even stated as such in the full-length story), does the offer of such services for more than just emergency use perhaps unconsciously promote drinking until one is unfit to drive?

Friday? Woohoo.

Money, corrupt athletes, friendly people, and arsonists.  The official verdict is in.