Oh yes! You have made it to another Friday and this one is special because it is April Fools’ Day! So congratulations!

Although this is normally the day to “fool” people, here at The Western Word we sometimes poke fun at people or issues every week in the Caught My Eye column. Caught My Eye is where I take a look at some of the stories that I did not have time to write about during the week and comment about them (sometimes with a little sarcasm).

So grab yourself a cup of coffee (or something else) and enjoy this week’s edition of Caught My Eye…

Largest/Biggest:

In their spring 2011 “Guide to Great Falls” the Great Falls Tribune reported in big bold letters on page 17 that “Benefis is the state’s largest hospital.” For those who are not from Great Falls, Benefis is the name of a local hospital (for some reason).

Then on March 30, the Tribune issued a correction: “Benefis not biggest hospital in state” proclaiming that St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula was the largest.

Then on March 31, the Tribune issued another correction saying “Billings Clinic state’s biggest hospital” and that Benefis was second.

We all know that the Tribune and Benefis have a very special relationship….

Bronx Zoo Cobra:

Most people were aware that the missing Bronx Zoo Cobra  was found alive and well…in the Zoo’s reptile house. Hmmm.

Maybe the reptile house would have been a good place to search at the first sign the cobra was missing…Hello!!!!!!

The Cobra showed up on Twitter (@BronxZoosCobra) which was very neat. One of my favorite tweets: “A lot of people are asking how I can tweet with no access to a computer or fingers. Ever heard of an iPhone? Duh.” And another favorite, “Dear @CharlieSheen, know what’s better than tiger’s blood? Cobra venom. #winning #snakeonthetown Also I’m 20 inches long. Just sayin’.”

Montana Legislature:

The Great Falls Tribune Reporter (John Adams) assigned to cover the Montana legislature posted this message on Twitter yesterday: “Can we tone down the attacks on #mtleg? This started out as a useful tool for tracking the session, turning into something very different.”

It seems the boys and girls involved with or commenting about the legislature in Helena are even getting under the reporter’s skin so I’m sure everyone will listen and comply…but I think they really need a visit from the sexy sax man…

On another note, I have heard a rumor that the Tribune is looking to hire reporters named George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to round out their pool of political reporters in the state (April Fools).

Mystery Code:

You may have seen the story about the FBI asking for help in breaking a mystery code. Read the story HERE.

It looks like my grocery list. Don’t you write your grocery lists in code to keep the government from finding out what you are buying? Duh.

It comes with the territory:

Former Max Baucus Chief of Staff, Jim Messina, was featured in a story that appeared in The Nation called, “Jim Messina, Obama’s Enforcer.” Messina has risen to the position of Deputy Chief of Staff for President Obama and is now Obama’s campaign manager for his 2012 election. You can read the story HERE. It is an interesting read about his career, but most of what is said is quite common in the political world (backstabbing, etc.).

Veterans as a Political Issue:

This letter to the editor caught my eye and this sentence made me do a double take, “…you have a senator running-for re-election that has done more for veterans in the short time that he has been a senator, than any political leader in memory, Senator Jon Tester.”

“…any political leader in memory?” Really? Shut the front door! Your memory must be pretty bad…

The Political Inbox:

This week I take another look at some of the e-mails that hit my inbox from candidates, office holders, political parties and other groups. Of course, I offer some comments…

-The Montana Democratic Party sent an e-mail on Wednesday with the subject: “Congressman Rehberg picks education for students in Washington D.C., but not Montana.” They write, “In short, Rehberg wants the federal government to spend $300 million MORE for students in Washington D.C., and $15 million LESS for students in Montana.”

Does anyone actually believe stuff like this? I guess so; we have Senator Jon Tester…

-Speaking of Tester, the Tester Campaign Manager sent an e-mail with the subject “Our fundraising bar!”

I thought he was sending me a note about an open bar to have drinks, so I was disappointed when it was about sending him money…

-Former Senator Conrad Burns sent me an e-mail…not to ask what I have been up to, but to ask for money for the Senate campaign for Denny Rehberg. He writes, “In one day the first financial reporting period ends. It’s extremely important that Denny has a strong financial quarter in order to show the extremist democrats that he means business.”

March 31 was the end of the reporting period for the first quarter of fundraising so several candidates asked me for donations, but since I am unemployed I won’t be donating…

-The Montana Republican Party sent out several e-mails this week, but the one with the subject “Tester’s Lobbyist Cash” caught my attention. The GOP writes, “Senator Jon Tester is shaking down K street lobbyists with strong ties to health insurance and pharmaceutical companies. The event, which is taking place in Washington DC at the posh “Trattoria Alberto” restaurant on March 29th, is being hosted by drug and healthcare company lobbyists…”

I thought Tester said he would not have any relationships with lobbyists?

Caught My Eye:

Hey…you can read back issues of Caught My Eye by going to “Categories” and scrolling down to “Caught My Eye.” Click on that and all the back editions will be displayed!

Twitter:

Since I don’t have a newspaper or television news station to promote my blog or to get you to follow me on Twitter, this is my time to plug this website and to ask you to follow me @TheWesternWord! Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Remember…don’t forget to stretch….