When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new. ― Dalai Lama

Today’s independent commentary deals with these people/issues:

• Judge Greg Pinski
• Bill Maher
• Andrew Luck
• Little League World Series
• One More Thing

JUDGE GREG PINSKI:

Back in 2016, I wrote that Cascade County District Judge Greg Pinski has been a judge for just a few years, but it seems to me that he craves publicity and attention.

Today, I’ll bet the most dangerous place to be in the Cascade County courthouse is between Pinski and a camera.

Pinski made news again this past week by coming down hard on a couple of men who had claimed to be veterans. According to the Associated Press (AP) and other news organizations:

Pinski ordered both men to hand write the names of all 6,756 Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan; write out the obituaries of the 40 Montanans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and send hand-written letters of apology to several veterans groups identifying themselves as having lied about military service to receive help and possibly a lesser sentence through a Veterans Court.

That punishment is OK by me. By the way, I am a veteran myself. I don’t believe Pinski is a veteran.

The final punishment (below) went too far, in my humble opinion:

Pinski also ordered that during the suspended portions of the sentences the defendants must stand at the Montana Veterans Memorial in Great Falls for eight hours on each Memorial Day and Veterans Day wearing a placard that says: “I am a liar. I am not a veteran. I stole valor. I have dishonored all veterans.”

Overall, it appears from posts on social media many people liked what Pinski did. Not me. It could be dangerous. It seemed it was more for Pinski’s publicity than for punishment for the two offenders. Pinski was able to get publicity from all around the country – so it was a success for him.

I’m thinking some of the punishment will be thrown out on appeal, no matter that Pinski believes.

It would be nice if Pinski devoted as much time and thought into punishing drunk drivers – which is a real problem in Montana.

BILL MAHER:

I like to watch the HBO political talk show Real Time with Bill Maher.

On Friday Maher went too far when he was talking about the death of conservative billionaire David Koch.

At the end of his opening monologue, he said, “He and his brother have done more than anybody to fund climate science deniers for decades, so (expletive) him, the Amazon is burning up, I’m glad he’s dead and I hope the end was painful.” (USA Today)

It’s too bad that when people die, we can’t just let them rest in peace. Although I find Maher funny and thought-provoking during most of his shows, he stepped over the line (even under HBO standards).

We’re better than this.

ANDREW LUCK:

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck decided to retire and the news about his retirement plans leaked Saturday night during the Bears/Colts game in Indianapolis. It was shocking news.

Luck has been injured a lot recently and he decided to retire. He is 29. Reports say he had three years remaining on the six-year, $140 million deal he signed in June 2016. I’m sure he’ll find work.

CBS Sports reported that Luck was “savagely booed by Colts fans” as he exited the field after the game.

That was pretty cheap of the Colts fans. Shame on them.

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES:

The team from Louisiana won the Little League World Series on Sunday with an 8-0 victory over Curacao.

According to the Associated Press:

The team from suburban New Orleans fought its way back through the losers’ bracket after dropping its opening game of the tournament to Hawaii. Louisiana won six games in eight days, becoming the first team to win the LLWS after dropping its first game since the tournament expanded in 2001.

Curacao is from the Caribbean region. (Map)

USA, USA, USA!

ONE MORE THING:

President Donald Trump has a solution to stop hurricanes: drop a nuclear bomb on them!

Axios is reporting:

President Trump has suggested multiple times to senior Homeland Security and national security officials that they explore using nuclear bombs to stop hurricanes from hitting the United States, according to sources who have heard the president’s private remarks and been briefed on a National Security Council memorandum that recorded those comments.

For some reason, after reading the Axios article I thought of Slim Pickens as Major T. J. “King” Kong in the Dr. Strangelove movie.(IMDb)

Next, we may hear Trump asking if Wile E. Coyote is available to help blow up hurricanes…

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