Tuesday’s Quick Hits

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Here are some topics that caught my attention:

  • Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
  • Vandalism in the Parks
  • Debt Limit Extension
  • One More Thing

STAMP OUT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE:

This Saturday (May 13) is the annual “Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive” by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

All you need to do is place unopened non-perishable food in a bag next to your mailbox on Saturday by 8:00 a.m.

More information can be found HERE.

VANDALISM IN THE PARKS:

The Great Falls Park and Recreation Department issued a press release on May 5 about recent tree vandalism in the city parks:

Recently there has been an attack on several of our young trees in the parks, with a number of them being memorial trees. Memorial trees can cost anywhere from $500-$800 for a donor to replace. Our forestry department has had to remove 23 young trees and repair another 20+ trees due to vandalism in recent years. If a memorial tree must be removed, the department attempts to contact the donor and inform them of the situation. In some cases, current contact information is unavailable, and staff cannot reach the affected families.

I hope they catch the vandals and I hope when they do they are held accountable.

City Commissioner Rick Tryon posted his comments on his Facebook page saying, “Yesterday I was made aware of a memorial tree being cut down at Lions Park during aquatic center construction activities.”

He said he would make finding out what happened to the tree a “top priority.”

Top priority!

Later he posted the real reason and that was the tree was removed because It was going to die after it was vandalized.

The local media covered the issue pretty well and did not jump to conclusions like some people. It was kind of funny that the commissioner did not make any of the media coverage that I saw.

DEBT LIMIT EXTENSION:

I thought this was worth repeating since it seems the Republicans want to use the debt limit issue for political gain.

Every few years we go the route of having to fight over whether to extend the debt limit. Both parties do it, depending on who is in control. It’s ridiculous. This is not where the fight should start.

The Department of the Treasury reports:

“The debt limit is the total amount of money that the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the national debt, tax refunds, and other payments.”

By the way, that statement on the Treasury website has been there since the Trump presidency.

Also, Under Trump, the US debt increased by a total of $7 trillion, and during his presidency Congress voted to increase the debt ceiling three times. (Source) (Source)

If there’s a default, the political party that gets the blame will suffer greatly because if we can’t pay Social Security and Medicare benefits, and military salaries, you will piss off a lot of people.

The Treasury also reports:

“Congress has always acted when called upon to raise the debt limit. Since 1960, Congress has acted 78 separate times to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit – 49 times under Republican presidents and 29 times under Democratic presidents.”

I am all for controlling spending. Let’s cut spending across the board by at least 10% in the next fiscal year. Don’t default on the obligations we have already made.

ONE MORE THING:

I don’t go out to eat that often, so when I do it is a special treat. The other day my wife and I went to the Amigo Lounge in Great Falls. I had the beef chimichanga combo plate and, oh boy, it was delicious. It was so delicious that I had the same thing a few days later for take-out.

That reminded me that I am always in search of the perfect salsa and chips. Many years ago, I was visiting Sheppard Air Force Base which is near Wichita Falls, Texas, At a restaurant downtown I found the perfect salsa. I can’t remember the name of the place, but I remember the salsa was not too spicey and not too mild, it was just right. I wanted to drink it! They may have used a can of diced Rotel tomatoes in it, plus some other ingredients.

What is your perfect salsa?

## END ##

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11 thoughts on “Tuesday’s Quick Hits”

  1. If this last session did nothing else it educated a whole lot of us on the issues and difficulties surrounding sex and gender. I, personally, knew very little about all the things that were involved. It’s very complicated. But now thanks to the efforts of people like Zooey and all the brave doctors and transgender folks who testified during the hearings, I am much more well informed.

    All the scientific evidence indicates that the decisions regarding health care for transgender kids is best left up to the parents and their doctors. Gender is on a spectrum. That is for certain. That is now accepted science. There is no one size fits all.

    I also think that stupidity is on a spectrum. And we have a legislature that is way off the charts on the stupid end. Daniel Emrich introduced a bill that stated theory could not be included in the science curriculum! MAGAs this stupid are not to be making health care decisions for anyone! And he is characteristic of entire group. Maybe one of the smarter ones!

    So yes, let’s get the lawsuits started and see if we can’t remedy some of the stupid before it starts harming people, because, regardless of how offended Sue Vinton gets when I say it, the MAGAs will have blood on the hands. All scientific studies indicate that. If the MAGAs have a problem with that, take it up with science.

    https://news.yahoo.com/transgender-youth-sue-over-montana-191059114.html

  2. Semi-related to the library election story …

    There’s now a campaign finance report for that local GF christian nationalist hate group that’s put up the anti-library billboards (with the American flag being ripped away in favor of the apparent KKK cross about to be burned). We can all see who is putting up the money. Unsurprisingly seems to be links to the local Pachyderm club.

    Search here for Liberty and Values MT using the committee search tab and then view finance report:

    https://cers-ext.mt.gov/CampaignTracker/public/search

    Of mild interest there’s two “pass the hat” fundraisers listed at the Pachyderm club at the address 1401 Marketplace Drive which is that eyesore abandoned bank building that is (or used to be) owned by the Galloways and where reportedly they previously allowed a right wing militia fundraiser back in 2022.

    Whole little universe of hate and intolerance swirling around that power couple. As if their legislative record was not enough.

    https://wtf406.com/2022/09/galloways-host-militia-fundraiser/

    And – I know this is a stretch, and not saying this is what happened – that same building is close enough to the Smith’s parking lot that DUI Kerns could have legitimately stumbled from there to his car and fallen asleep without ever driving, like he claimed he did not.

  4. 500 to 800 seems kinda pricey to plant a small tree, must be the labor. I too was stumped on what happened to to the tree, I’m glad Rick discovered the root of the problem. This would never happen if we hired a dozen more police. Rick would agree.

  5. Best salsas:

    There are a couple Mexican restaurants in Dillon of all places that have what I think are the best salsas (and Mexican food in general) in all Montana. One is named, fittingly, Salsas, and has a wide variety of salsas to try.

    Road trip!

    • Dillon holds a special place in my life. When I was traveling from San Francisco to Great Falls, my wife and I were stuck in Dillon for two or three days due to blizzard. That was Feb. 89. I was being transferred from Guam to Montana with the Air Force. Good times. -JmB

  6. Commissioner Tryon on trees:

    “I will personally make this is a top priority, and if the City is responsible, ensure accountability and restoration.

    You have my word.”

    Oh brother.

    Sort of reminds me of the old SNL sketch where Dan Akroyd spoofed President Carter, delving into details like the operation of postal sorting machines and what to do about bad acid trips.

    Except fake President Carter was far more thoughtful and less pretentious.

    • I remember when Jimmy Carter took phone calls at the white house. It was a good idea now and then. I can’t think of a more thoughtful and less pretentious president and man than Jimmy Carter. His life after the presidency proves it. See any former presidents swing a hammer for Habitat for Humanity, Teach Sunday School? The record of the Carter Center in Africa is worth knowing. Also one of the most intelligent and well-informed presidents. That is one reason the cronies in Washington did not support him. I encourage anyone with a bias against this man to do some research.

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