Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 10 - 34 of 1910
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Your energy is contagious this week, Aries. Expect bursts of creativity and spontaneous fun. Perhaps an unexpected adventure will pop up? Take the lead in social situations. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 It might be a week for indulgence in the best ways possible, Taurus. Treat yourself to something delicious or cozy, and don’t feel guilty about it. Patience will pay off in work projects. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Curiosity is your superpower this week, Gemini. Choose a new hobby or explore a class at the community college. You m...
Tendencies to overly focus on key words in the Bible without understanding the culture or context are flat-out dangerous. “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands as you do to the Lord,” from the book we are studying, Ephesians 5:22, is my case in point, and I suspect it is as controversial as ever. In this weekly reminder, I’ll tackle the context for the word “submission,” since it seems central to the problem. Paul, the author, was writing to Romans, Greeks, and Jews who came to follow Christ in Ephesus, where men had significant power ove...
Dear Editor, Is Montana's budget "on fire"? Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a libertarian special interest group, would have you think so. And it is sending out postcards and online ads claiming that Republicans who worked with Governor Gianforte to produce a balanced budget are "pouring gasoline on the fire." The problem is that the "accountability information" AFP is peddling is false. Did the state budget "explode" by $16.5 billion? NO! That number is the two-year appropriation in the...
Dear Editor, Don Lepinsky's 779km Camino Frances Route article in the Whitehall Ledger on November 12, 2025, was wonderful and inspiring. Thank you, Don. May you have many more journeys. ¡Buen camino! KATIE SMITH Whitehall, Montana...
Dear Editor, Montana earned its "Treasure State" name from what was under our work boots and in our fields-copper, coal, oil, gas, timber, wheat, barley, and other resources that built jobs, communities, and our tax base. For generations, mines, mills, farms, and raw materials were the backbone of our economy. Over the last few decades, more of our "treasure" has shifted above ground. The value of our land, scenery, small towns, and the draw for retirees and tourists now drives a bigger share...
Any alien observer would conclude that toothpaste must be the most valuable substance on our planet. As a species, we are so wasteful of any and all resources - except when it comes to toothpaste, of which we collectively refuse to waste a single drop. For centuries, porcelain was considered a luxury item. Now, we make our toilets out of it. If you go to a prison and stand there long enough, eventually you get to stay. Whether we look under the ground beneath our feet or at the stars up above, we’re looking at the past. In flight simulators, e...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My husband is trying to gain more muscle. He has changed his entire diet, workout regimen, and the way he looks at food. We have three kids (13M, 12F, and 11M). They have started copying him by weighing their food, checking the calories, and the like. My issue is that last night our pre-teen daughter said she was fat (she isn’t even chubby), and her dad did not correct her, but actually started on about what her calorie intake should be. He then mentioned that she was probably way over that intake limit, as she h...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Right now, you are inspired to roll up your sleeves and clear away the clutter so you can focus on what counts, Aries. Your productivity soars this week. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Your words will carry extra weight between this week and next, Taurus. Don’t hold back on speaking about what is in your heart. You may navigate your way to romance. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, this week you may feel energized to pursue new connections with family and friends. Plan a few long-overdue catch-ups and bask in that feeling of c...
Whole passages within the Bible demonstrate greater insights into diverse cultures than do others. The provincial capital of Ephesus brings about such clarity in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Paul’s teaching to this metro community did not sugarcoat Christ’s message. In the First century, Ephesus was widely known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Sounds amazing. Well, think again, because this temple, dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana, was a place for sacred prostitution and dark practices. This “wonder” was...
Dear Editor, The well-orchestrated "No Kings" protests across America had my conservative buddies bristling – so much so that they made a point of wearing their MAGA caps at our weekly breakfast. I was not the most popular item at the table, after suggesting that the protesters – while motivated more viscerally than intellectually – were in fact illuminating the darker side of our current president. A side that rejects rather than embraces conservative ideals and principles. Principles ancho...
Dear Editor, This Thanksgiving, as we gather with loved ones, let's pause to honor Montana's unsung heroes: the 214,000 family caregivers who keep our families whole. I know their sacrifices firsthand as I spent time caring for my significant other, balancing meals, medications, and midnight worries while holding down a job. These Montanans -- 23.8% of our adults -- provide $1.76 billion in unpaid care annually, helping parents, spouses, and neighbors stay independent at home. They bathe, feed,...
Dear Editor, Don't buy beltway spin-Montana's budget is built the Big Sky country way. Glossy mailers, social media posts, and robocalls from Americans for Prosperity (AFP) are flooding Big Sky Country with talk of "exploding spending." But AFP is based in Virginia, with no stake in our land, and they're twisting the numbers to fit a story that just doesn't add up. Here's the reality: our nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Division reports state spending growth at about 0.7%-well below inflation....
Dear Editor, In recent years, the United States Congress has been unwilling or unable to fulfill its lawful mandate to serve the American People in a timely manner. I am referring, in part, to the 12 appropriation bills that Congress must pass by the end of September each year to fund the federal government. Congress's repeated failure to approve government funding by September 30th results in the passing of a continuing resolution, (CR), to keep the government open. This year, the House once...
If ignorance is bliss, then knowledge is misery. Septic tanks under major international airports probably contain more human biodiversity than anywhere else on Earth. It took the universe around 13.8 billion years to write a complete copy of Shakespeare. Most women in the world probably know how to get blood stains out of fabric. There’s no point in only charging to 80% to protect a battery; you’re effectively using it like it’s already degraded. The number of suicides in our society is greater than the number of homicides. Maybe if 15 is to...
Here are a few things I’ve read this week. • GPS Spoofing: The act of jamming the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). On October 25, the airspace around the west coast of Ireland was being jammed, affecting 87 planes and on October 29, the airspace over Utah was jammed, affecting 25 aircraft. GPS has been in use since 1983, but GNSS isn't infallible. In the past, a South Korean airliner was shot down when it accidentally flew over Russia; on December 25, 2024, an Azerbaijani airline crashed in Russia due to jamming. Russia and North Kor...
GEORGIA, I have a question, My (M23) girlfriend (F22) and our parents went to a trivia night together last night. Her parents brought a lot of food, which was very welcome and appreciated by everyone at the table. There were other drinks and snacks available to all guests, but her parents brought enough for a full meal, and I ate more than my fair share. It was a good night overall, and our parents get along very well when we all go out. Skip to the end of the night, and her parents are deliberating on how much food they have leftover and what...
As light overcomes darkness, truth overcomes evil. In the middle of the fourth chapter of Ephesians, Paul addressed Gentile Christians as well as Jews. His goal was to encourage them in their newfound faith in Jesus Christ. The Jewish people believed deeply in the Ten Commandments given to them through Moses; however, Gentiles (non-Jewish) people in Ephesus had literally no Scriptural background. Paul helped unite Jews and Gentiles. “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futili...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you understand that when you’re working hard toward a goal, the process isn’t always straightforward. You may tolerate a fair amount of challenges along the path this week. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, it may seem like others around you do not get your sense of humor. While you’re confident at telling stories, it takes others a bit of time to appreciate your funny side. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, you may be tempted to look past a recent challenge. But reflecting on that adversity and your ability to overc...
I, for the life of me, can’t understand how people haven’t figured out that when the government gets involved, prices will soar. Year after year cost will increase. A good example is university tuition. The original program was the G.I. Bill, created at the end of WW2. This was available to servicemen and women at the end of the war. In 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Defense Education Act of 1958 (NDEA) into law. They were direct loans capitalized with U.S. Treasury funds. This program was recommended by economist Milton Fri...
Dear Editor, If ignorance were a virtue, Montana's Republican leadership would already be saints. Senate President Matt Regier and Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen have decided that the biggest threat to our children's education isn't underfunded schools, teacher shortages, or rising student suicide rates-it's "woke" teachers spending two days at a professional conference learning how to better educate our kids. Let's be clear: our teachers are professionals. They're highly...
The 80s music era was such a unique time that a “The Best Of” or “The Worst Of” album would probably have the same songs. If a 100 Grand candy bar costs its face value, and you got all your calories from eating this candy, your lifetime consumption would be about $30 billion. With how fragile electronics are, there’s a good possibility that future linguists won’t know what any of our slang means. Assuming my normal day is someone else’s dream, then someone else is living my dream day. Every photo of the Earth from space contains NSFW content. P...
GEORGIA, I have a question, Today, my spouse decided to help with the laundry. The clothes in the washing machine were done; my spouse went to take them out and put them in the dryer. I called out that the long-sleeved white shirt does not go in the dryer. I could’ve sworn I said it needs to be hung up, but apparently I didn’t. I walk back upstairs to see my clean white shirt lying on top of dirty clothes next to the washer. Now my spouse knows when I don’t put clothes in the dryer, it’s because they need to be hung up. When I asked why it wasn...
For over 2000 years now, God’s grace in Jesus Christ has pointed all of Christianity —well, almost all of Christianity —toward grace, and it has been interactive, even throughout the United States’ history. That theme is “communicate well with each other.” Paul focuses on this often. For the Christian, “grace manners” are for each of us, either in public or private. We try hard to be the same person every day and hour of the week. If God’s grace has saved us and kept us, then throughout our lives, transformation is a continuous proces...
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Insecurity may be sparking some hesitation, Aries. The key to coping is figuring out why you are feeling this way. Is it a trust issue or a lack of recognition? TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, creative pursuits may interest you this week. Even if you lean more towards the practical, an artistic streak flows through you as well. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Working with others may prove challenging this week, Gemini. You may be too focused on a singular task. If this is the case, keep to yourself if you can. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22...
An AI celebrity will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame one day. Younger generations will never get to appreciate the fun of discovering hidden menus, games, and other bonus content on DVDs as we did. Next year, Stranger Things will have been around for a whole 10 years, thus making the 80s revival era as long as the actual decade itself. Rotary phones never pocket-dialed. The better someone is at recreating the Wilhelm scream, the less one might believe it when they share a video of them doing it. When you slap a mosquito that has just...
