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He Got Off Light

A man who disciplined a 3-year-old boy by holding his ankles and hitting his head on the floor, causing a fatal injury, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in prison.

Thomas Larson, 27, was sentenced by District Judge Ingrid Gustafson for the death Sept. 7, 2004, of Ropati “Lupe” Mulipola, who had been injured by Larson three days earlier.

The part that gets me is that, even after they injured this boy, they waited 5 hours to get help.

Larson said he grabbed the child by his arms and shook him, then picked him up by the ankles and lifted him up and down rapidly three or four times. Larson said he did not know the boy’s head hit the floor.

The mind boggles.

Posted in Montana | 3 Comments »

Of Note (At Least To Me)

Very few six-year olds will nap, but they will go to bed early. Six still needs at least ten hours of sleep each night. They enjoy the quiet time before sleep to hear a bedtime story and talk about their day.

I just saw that David Crisp has finished his fifth year of blogging, which is quite an accomplishment. Kudos to you, David.

It also reminded me that I recently started my 7th year of blogging. I don’t know if it’s been six uninterrupted years, as some of you may remember some fits and starts over the years. But there you go. Still around and still (somewhat) kicking.

Posted in Blogosphere, Montana, Navel-gazing | 2 Comments »

The Left’s Energy Plan, Distilled

1. Halt all drilling and exploration, ensuring a continuous rise in cost.
2. Then a miracle occurs
3. We are weaned from oil

That’s pretty much it, isn’t it?

Or, for you South Park fans:

1. Halt all drilling and exploration, ensuring a continuous rise in cost.
2. ???
3. Profit!

Posted in Montana | 13 Comments »

Off-Grid

Carmen Rosales Hoffman, age 71, of Glendive, passed away on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Deaconess Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana.

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 8, 2008 from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 P.M., Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, June 9, 2008 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Joseph Ponessa officiating. Rite of Committal will be in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.

Carmen was born on July 11, 1936 in Ago, Philippines, the daughter of Maximo and Clara (Rosales) Alindogan. She received her early education in the Philippines. Carmen was united in marriage to Vernon L. Hoffman on July 12, 1958 at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. Carmen and her husband resided in Glendive where she worked as a cook and cleaned at Grandview Retirement Home for 35 years.

Carmen enjoyed cooking, crocheting and taking care of her plants and garden. Her family was very important to her and she loved her children and grandchildren very much. She enjoyed telling stories about growing up in the Philippines. Carmen was a member of the quilting group as Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2004; two brothers and six sisters.

Survivors include her children, Allin Hoffman and his wife LeeAnn of Powder Springs, Georgia, Arnold Hoffman of Indian Trail, North Carolina, Vernon Hoffman and his wife Marilyn of Berkeley, Missouri, Terry Hoffman and his wife Angie of Matthews, North Carolina and Cammy Sprout and her husband Craig of Helena, Montana; her brother, Maximo Alindogan Jr. of Ago, Philippines; sisters, Divina, Elen and Dina of Ago, Philippines and Carolina of Denver, Colorado; 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Posted in Family, Navel-gazing | 13 Comments »

Drew Shows His “O” Face

Posted in Humor, Montana, National, Wacky Left | 2 Comments »

Tonight’s Response to the Obama Campaign

“Is $WILDLY_WRONG_NAME_OF_SU in?”

Caller ID reports “Wireless Caller,” but it’s a Helena number.

“Can I tell her who’s calling?”

“This is such and such from Obama for America, and we were just wondering who you are voting for.”

“We’re trying to decide between Ron Paul and Lyndon LaRouche.”

“OK, Thanks.”

“Goodnight.”

Posted in Humor, Montana, National, Navel-gazing | 10 Comments »

Small Town, Long Streets

RESCHEDULED!
I swear to Gord — I had shows scheduled until the end of June, and I just got ready to sign on, and they’re all gone. Every single one of them.

Why do you do this to me, BTR? Why?

We’re rescheduled for TOMORROW NIGHT (5/29) at 9:00 MDT.

This week, Small Town, Long Streets returns to its regularly scheduled 9:00 p.m. slot.

On the agenda tonight: Obamagasms, the upcoming primaries, and whatever else rings our bell.

Remember, this is a call-in program, so I encourage you to do so.

Phone: (718) 664-9769
Email: podcast@mtpolitics.net
Yahoo! IM: mtppodcast

Posted in Montana | 1 Comment »

Oh, You Can Count Me IN!

I plan on celebrating Carbon Belch Day:

Your Carbon Belch:

Your one-day Carbon Belch has been calculated at: 137 pounds of CO2.
Nice job! (The average American’s belch is 41 pounds.)

I only wish I could take a plane trip.

Posted in Montana | 10 Comments »

At The Altar Of Democracy

Sometimes a nice little twofer lands in your lap.

So here we have a story that is illustrative both of pure democracy and public schools in action.

A Port St. Lucie mother says her five-year-old son with special needs was voted out of his classroom by his peers at the behest of the teacher, who has since been reassigned.

Five-year-old Alex Barton will be starting his summer vacation early. His mother doesn’t want him to to return to school after what allegedly happened in class at Morningside Elementary Wednesday afternoon.

[…]

“(She) took him and stood him in front of his classmates this week, asked every single child to tell Alex why we don’t like him… in his words, tell Alex why we hate him,” she explains.

After having each child ridicule the boy, she says the teacher continued belittling him.

“Then they had a vote on if he deserved to stay in the class or not,” says Barton.

Pure Democracy and Public Schools — Always looking out for the least among us.

(H/T: SU)

Posted in Montana | 4 Comments »

Operation Barac-Kaos

So, I’m enjoying a quiet evening at home when the phone rings.

Now, let me just say that I am really turning into a crank in my old age. I remember the days before Caller ID when you felt obligated to answer the phone if it rang.

Now I don’t. Unless I recognize your number, or you have your name on the caller ID, I’m not answering. If it’s important, leave a message. If it’s auto warranties or satellite TV, get bent.

But, I digress.

The phone rings, and I see it’s from “Obama for America.”

OK, fine. I’ll answer.

“Hi Craig, I’m so and so, and blah blah blah, who are you voting for in the presidential primary?” (The question of how these guys got my number is subject for a whole ‘nother rant.)

Since there was a caucus months ago, I really don’t give a sh*t, but I’m all about keeping everyone on their toes.

“Ron Paul.”

“Well, you know, the Montana Republicans held their caucus and blah blah blah YOUR VOTE DOESN’T MATTER!”

“Yeah, I’m aware of that. So?”

“You do know that you can vote Democratic if you want, right? So, are you going to vote for Barack Obama?”

Waitwhut?

Isn’t this the kind of thing* our sinestra pals had their panties in a wad about?

I’ll be waiting for them to decry the Obama campaign’s strategy of wanting Republicans to cross over and vote for Democrats.

That, and Godot.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Blogosphere, Dextra, Humor, Montana, National, Wacky Left, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | 4 Comments »

Hit Me Again. I Like It!

Remember 2006?

Remember how all the Democratic victories promised us lower gas prices, flowers, rainbows and withdrawal from Iraq?

Remember that?

So, how are we doin’ with the Democratic leadership?

Gas prices up? Check!

Still in Iraq? Check!

Inflation climbing? Check!

Well, ferchrissakes, just give ‘em a listen:

Unemployment is at its highest since Katrina. The nation has lost more than a quarter of a million jobs since January. The housing market has collapsed, credit and financial crises have collided to imperil the financial security of millions of Americans, and energy and food prices continue to rise.

And that’s just in the two years that they’ve been in charge!

And this is the argument they’re giving you to go ahead and vote ‘em into office en masse.

Ummm…how about no, you crazy Dutch bastards?

Posted in Montana | 21 Comments »

Small Town, Long Streets

Don’t forget to tune in at 8:00 P.M MDT for this week’s edition of Small Town, Long Streets.

This week’s guest is Paul Chesser, director of Climate Strategies Watch.

This is a call-in show, so please feel free to do so.

Phone: (718) 664-9769
Email: podcast@mtpolitics.net
Yahoo! IM: mtppodcast

Posted in Montana | 3 Comments »

Outed!

Colby Natale has made the shocking — SHOCKING — discovery that I host websites, specifically The Hammond Report.

He’s absolutely right. I do. And sometimes I help them get up and running. And sometimes I help people out with technical issues.

I also host Parkway Rest Stop, KC Council 9976 in Billings, my own website, my family’s (way outdated) website, and am working on a project for a friend, as well as another project for myself.

So there you have it. I host websites free of charge for myself and other people.

My dirty little secret is out.

Posted in Blogosphere, Montana, Navel-gazing, Nerd Alert, Wacky Left | 18 Comments »

I Hate Being Right (as in Correct) All The Time

In a conversation with the Spousal Unit™, I remembered something I’d written for Gather, about lessons to be learned from the ‘06 election.

To the Republicans: You just got your asses kicked in an election. You’d best get some leadership. Intra-party bickering and backstabbing is not endearing you to your constituency. Here in Montana, the Libertarian candidate, who couldn’t even bother to update his website to indicate that he was running for Senate, not governor, garnered enough votes to possibly (some would argue probably) sway the election. Figure out if you’re going to be the party of smaller government and fiscal restraint or not. If you need a reminder, the Democrats were running on a platform of fiscal responsibility. Does that tell you anything?

You’ve got two years to get it together, fellas. Consider yourselves on notice.

I don’t guess they’ve figured it out yet.

Posted in Montana | 3 Comments »

Oh Noes!! More Out Of State Muneez!!11one!!

I know it’s like a.) beating a dead horse or b.) pointing out the obvious, but for all the caterwauling and bitching about out of state money, the sinestra is strangely silent when the out of state money comes from their fellow travelers.

A quick perusal of the SEIU’s records from the Department of Labor indicate that there’s really not that much money for the locals to be spending on election issues, so that money has to be coming from somewhere.

Whaddaya say, fellas? Why is this out-of-state money good, and other is bad?

Posted in Blogosphere, Montana, National, Wacky Left | 1 Comment »