Happy Friday! Here are the topics that caught my eye for today’s common sense commentary:
- Montana Millionaire
- Best-Looking New Congressman
- Blaine County & Native Voters
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- One More Thing
MONTANA MILLIONAIRE:
The Montana Lottery’s Montana Millionaire game was supposed to kick off on November 1, but thanks to a few “technical glitches,” it got pushed all the way to yesterday, November 12.
Of course, that delay came after dedicated folks like me showed up at 4:30 a.m. for the 5:30 a.m. launch. I stood in line until 8:30 a.m. before finally calling it quits and going home.
To add insult to injury, those November 1 glitches actually worked out great for some people—handing out $100 and $500 instant wins like candy during the chaos.
The “fixed” version of the game kicked off at 6:30 a.m., an hour later than normal. I had every intention of skipping it, right up until I checked at 9:00 a.m. and saw 133,000 tickets still up for grabs. Suddenly motivated, I drove to a nearby convenience store, stood behind a single person, and made it back home by 9:20 a.m. For the record, I won zero instant cash prizes—which, given my track record, is the ultimate confirmation that the Montana Lottery actually fixed its system.
Even with sales starting an hour later than usual, tickets seemed to move at a much slower pace this time around. I get the feeling people are still a little gun-shy after the whole system crashed and burned on November 1. I think they finally sold out around 2:30 p.m.
So now we get to dream of winning a million dollars for a few weeks.
BEST-LOOKING NEW CONGRESSMAN:
The wins keep coming for Congressman-elect Sam Forstag (MT-01).
TMZ has crowned Montana’s Sam Forstag as the “best-looking new congressman.” The gossip site made its designation official on Thursday, writing that the 32-year-old Democrat “has the looks, the charm, and a seat in Congress.” (Source) (Source)
Considering Congress’s usual approval ratings, being called ‘good-looking’ might be the highest praise he gets for the next two years.
BLAINE COUNTY & NATIVE VOTERS:
In case you missed it, the Montana Free Press (MTFP) reported earlier this month that three Native American residents of Blaine County filed a federal lawsuit against Blaine County, its commissioners, clerk and recorder, and elections manager, alleging that the county commission election map “is unconstitutionally malapportioned” and dilutes the power of the Native vote.
MTFP reports that the plaintiffs, represented by the UCLA Voting Rights Project and Helena-based Upper Seven Law, are asking the United States District Court in the District of Montana to declare the map unconstitutional, prohibit its use in future elections, and require the county to equalize the districts.
If I were in the county’s shoes, I would equalize the districts quickly.
JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL:
Following up on my comments yesterday about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his entourage being scolded by a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I learned that Hegseth awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal to the soldier on Thursday.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that Hegseth welcomed to the Pentagon the Army unit that guards the tomb and awarded Spc. Thomas Iglesias with the Joint Service Commendation Medal “for the execution of his duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11, 2026,” the Pentagon said.
The incident at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was an embarrassment for Hegseth.
ONE MORE THING:
My wife is on a tropical fruit diet; the house is full of stuff. It is enough to make a mango crazy.
## HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ##
