The Website Formerly Known as...

With a new domain name schedule getting OK. The use of non-English characters in web addresses will have URL's looking like Sarge's dialogue in a Beetle Bailey cartoon. I know this joke isn't politically correct but I thought it was funny.

More lawsuits filed against downloaders

With this news of more lawsuits filed against downloaders. I am still trying to understand which business school taught this business model in which you sue your customers in an attempt to maintain or increase your profits. I understand this attempt at copyright protection but it does seem to be counterproductive.

Bison on the Loose!

This story about a trio of renegade bison in Great Falls piqued my curiosity. The article's title of "Fugitive Bison Roam Montana Streets" had me wondering as to its content. Unfortunately it is a fairly pedestrian story of the Great Falls Three trying to escape to freedom.

Bambino's Curse: Diary of a Red Sox Fan

I want to share a blog that relates to my favorite major league baseball team. Bambino's Curse: Diary of a Red Sox Fan is an ongoing blog that has been appearing on Fox Sports New England. The author Edward Cossette is a New England refugee who started his blog to retain the camaraderie of fellow Red Sox fans that he missed since leaving New England. If you are a Red Sox fan or hater you will always find something enjoyable here.

The Language Police

I have just finished reading a book titled "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn" by Diane Ravitch that takes to task textbook and testing companies who acquiesce to left-wing and right-wing pressure groups to censor and bowdlerize the materials that they give K-12 students. Dr. Ravitch is an educator and historian who presents an eloquent and convincing exposé of what these pressure groups and companies are doing and she also has solutions that seem workable.
I would urge everyone to read the reviews on both of the highlighted sites.
I checked the book out from Parmly and although I had to place a hold on the book to get my hands on it, it was well worth the trouble.
Dr Ravitch has also included a reading list for grades 3-10 that is wide ranging and will give the reader a well rounded liberal arts background. Most adult readers would also be well served if they were to follow the recommendations on this list.
If you care or are concerned about the education of your children you cannot forgo reading this book.

Fargo, ND Trying to Lure Vikings Training Camp

After reading this article and seeing the list of cities who are trying to lure the Minnesota Vikings from their traditional training camp site in Mankato, MN. I began to wonder why Bozeman or Missoula couldn't try to convince Vikings ownership to move to Montana. With the top notch athletic facilities that are already in place at either university, the more favorable weather and the positive economic impact that the training camp would bring to either area I do not understand why the leadership in either city has not thought to try to lure the Vikings to Montana. Maybe someone needs to light a fire under each city government to get them to create a proposal. Any takers?

HBO's REAL Sports finds Glendive

After watching the latest episode of HBO's REAL Sports I was pleased to see them air a profile about Glendive's one man media empire personified in Ed Agre. With all of the negativity that has permeated the world of sports and all forms of media in general it is gratifying to see that small town Montana values can find their way onto the national airwaves. Although correspondent Mary Carillo and host Bryant Gumbel looked upon Ed and his lifestyle as a novelty that is probably doomed to extinction personally I feel that Montana's small town values will always be with us. We may need to work on those values to keep them but I firmly believe that they are something worth making a sacrifice for.

Yankee's New Team Song

As a Red Sox fan I have to ask. Could this be the new Yankee's team song?

No Religious Role for Kilmer

I found this story about no religious role for Val Kilmer as an interesting casting idea. Kilmer was in the running for the lead in a pro-Mormon movie as founder Joseph Smith but was turned down. After playing former porn star John Holmes in Wonderland I am surprised that a studio affiliated with the Mormon Church, an organization well known for it's conservative values would even have Kilmer in the running for the lead as Joseph Smith.
Is the fact that Kilmer was in the running for the Joseph Smith role in the first place a statement about the power of the marketplace or that he did not get the role say something else? Personally, I'm not really sure what it means.

I've been found out!

I was checking out Ed Kemmick's blog and lo and behold. I have been discovered! This really surprised me since I didn't think that anyone would read what I had to say. While reading Ed's City Lights blog I was surprised to see that I was the subject of one of Ed's entries.
I did enjoy that Ed had found A Secular Franciscan Life "a new blog that I haven't quite figured out yet." Don't feel bad Ed I haven't quite figured this stuff out yet either.

I guess the only caveat that I would give anyone checking out this blog is that I don't know what I will or want to say. So beware.

Bush Addresses Malaysian Anti-Semitism

Earlier I had noted the obnoxious comments made by Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad about Jews ruling the world by proxy. I am glad to see President Bush
take a stand on the PM's comments from a CNN report.
What concerns me though is that it seems to be more of a political maneuver by our only president rather than a genuine concern over the perpetuation of anti-semitism.

Liberals Get A Think Tank Of Their Own

I am surprised that this idea didn't come to life sooner.
Liberals Get A Think Tank Of Their Own
Does this mean that the myth of the "liberal media" will die?
Probably not, but at least the playing field may start to level a bit.

Global Rich List

Check out the Global Rich List to see if you are rich, poor or in between.

Limbaugh Says Drug Addiction A Remnant Of Clinton Administration

I sent this to my sister's work and she sent it out to make the rounds. She said that there were some in the office who were upset that Rush would blame Clinton and some who were peeved at Clinton for doing this to Rush.
My God, have politics in the U.S. become so polarized that the mere mention of some peoples names push some folks to spew mindless venom?

The Onion | America's Finest News Source™:
Limbaugh Says Drug Addiction A Remnant Of Clinton Administration
WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Frankly discussing his addiction to painkillers, conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh told his radio audience Monday that his abuse of OxyContin was a 'remnant of the anything-goes ideology of the Clinton Administration.' 'Friends, all I can say is 'I told you so,'' said Limbaugh, from an undisclosed drug-treatment facility. 'Were it not for Bill Clinton's loose policies on drug offenders and his rampant immorality, I would not have found myself in this predicament.' Limbaugh added that he's staying at a rehab center created by the tax-and-spend liberals."

Infamous Cubs Fan Impersonator Dupes ESPN

The legend of the Cubs fan who unwittingly entered Chicago lore along with the the curse of the goat and Mrs. O'Leary's cow now has a new twist.
Someone posing as Steve Bartman duped ESPN producers and was granted a telephone interview on an episode of SportsCenter. It wasn't until the impersonator mentioned Howard Stern that ESPN realized that they had been duped.
I am wondering why ESPN would think that Mr. Bartman would call them when he had already made a statement of contrition about the foul ball incident with the hope that he would then be forgotten.
Sorry Steve I think you will be famous/infamous? forever.
Bismarck Tribune Online - Bismarck, ND

So Close...And Yet so Far

Once again I have to watch the 'Damn' Yankees celebrate while my beloved Red Sox shuffle back to Boston.
Even though I am an American League guy I will be rooting for the Marlins to capture their second championship.
Although the darling matchup would have been the Cubs and Red Sox the baseball gods decided that it was not to be this year.
One can assume all of the coverage of the curses of the billygoat and Bambino may have seeped into the collective psyches of both teams but they should have been able to overcome that.
Before I start looking forward to spring training and the hope of next year I have only one thing to say;
GO MARLINS!

Malaysian Anti-Semitism

It saddens me to once again see this kind of blind predjudice perpetrated by so-called intellectuals.
I am surprised that Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad didn't resort to quoting "The Protocols of Zion" to prove his point that "Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them."
I pray that people will see through this kind of garbage and throw it on the trash heap with other hate based ideologies.
Read the article here:
CNN.com - Mahathir: Jews rule the world - Oct. 16, 2003

The Angst of Being a Cubs Fan

There's Always Next Year!
Once again the Cubs fell short of the ultimate goal of every baseball player.
Although the fan in Game 6 may have inadvertently interfered with Alou and his attempt to steal a homer I don't think that any reasonable fan can blame him for the Cubs losing Game 6.
When your team gives up eight runs in one inning there is no way that you can blame fan interference for that.
As a lifelong Red Sox fan and Yankee hater I can feel for Cubs fans everywhere and I hope they will be able to endure the winter with the knowledge that they have an outstanding team that will contend for years to come.
Now I have to await the outcome of Thursdays game when the Red Sox WILL defeat the 'Damn' Yankees and advance to the World Series.
Pardon me while I pray my Rosary and spend the game rubbing my lucky rabbit foot with my four leaf clover pinned to my rally cap with my fingers and toes crossed!

Another Type of Franciscan

This is the fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order that I belong to.
I was recently the Minister of the fraternity but on 10 October 2003 I was elected Formation Director.
What is a Formation Director you ask?
Basically I try my best to help the other SFO's in my fraternity achieve the Franciscan spirituality that we are all striving for.

Columbus Day: Yes or No?

Here is an excellent article that Ed Kemmick of the Billings Gazette wrote as to why we should observe Columbus Day despite the current sentiment by some not to.
Kemmick Column: Columbus: Give devil his due - billingsgazette.com