Cool History!

On a side street between downtown Helena and the Capitol building, an unassuming former storefront belies an important story for Montana African-American history. Dorsey’s Grocery Store was once a thriving business run by Walter and Almira Dorsey, two of the town’s leading Black citizens. Both were Easterners who struck out for Montana from Maryland and Missouri about 1890. They landed in the capitol city and were married on New Year’s Eve, 1891, beginning a life together as prominent members of Helena’s Black community. In a time when neighborhood groceries were common, Walter and Almira launched their own. They first rented a place on Rodney Street and then moved to 843 8th Ave, living in the back and selling groceries up front for 5 years. Their industriousness paid off, giving them the chance to buy a vacant lot down the street at 900 8th Avenue and create a permanent home for themselves, their family, and their business. Walter and Almira Dorsey assembled their grocery store in 1904 by moving a store building and a gracious Victorian house onto the property and joining them together. The W. R. Grocery was soon open for business with a full range of “Groceries, Provisions, Salt Meats, Canned Goods, Fruits, Vegetables, Confectionary, Tin and Granite Ware.” Almira and family ran the store until 1932, after which it sold and continued as a grocery until 1961. In more recent times, many Helenans knew the store as the Wise Penny, a second-hand shop that operated here from the mid-1960s to 2002, while for a time, the house and carriage house behind held a photography studio and magic shop.

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New team names spell victory!

Today the sports moniker game's not about identification, it's about intimidation. Just ask the Raging Drag Queens, the Syphilitic White Missionaries or the Declining Test Scores. - - - - - - - - - - - - By Susan McCarthy April 4, 2001 | HONOLULU (AP) -- A University of Hawaii official has conceded that the school nixed the football team's 77-year-old rainbow logo because of concerns about its homosexual theme ... instead of the Rainbow Warriors, the team will now be known as the Warriors. --Associated Press, July 28, 2000 - - - - - - - - - - - - HONOLULU -- A Honolulu State College official denied today that the school had nixed the football team's request to change its name from the Fighting Tigers to the Raging Drag Queens. "It's true a vote was held, and it's true the students overwhelmingly favored Raging Drag Queens," said the official, who asked to be unnamed. "But the name was not submitted through proper nomination channels, so it doesn't count as a request, and neither do most of those others. Properly nominated choices included Tiger Team, Fighting Tigers, Tiger Gladiators, Just Plain Tigers, Savage Geckos, Tiger Tsunami and More Than One Angry Mongoose -- and of those, Fighting Tigers got the most votes." Fighting Tigers received only four votes, the official conceded. He declined to give totals for Raging Drag Queens or other disallowed names. "Fighting Tigers is a sucky name," said the football team's spokesman, Vincent Lom. "There are no tigers in Hawaii, and nobody's scared of them. We want a name that speaks of our awesome terrifying might, and in our experience, almost everyone in the league is terrified of homosexuals and cross-dressers, so Raging Drag Queens would be a perfect name for us. Plus, we were hoping we would be allowed to share locker rooms with the cheerleaders." Lom said that although the team had its heart set on Raging Drag Queens, they would have settled for other disallowed names that did well in student voting, such as the Huge Violent Gays, the Aunt Nancy Men or the Recruiting Squad. Lom said his personal suggestion for a scary team name, the Drunken Tourists, did not do well in the voting. "I don't know why. It gives me the fear." - - - - - - - - - - - - RED FIELD -- Red Field Indian High School officials denied today that the school's football team had changed its name from the Mighty Bobcats to the Syphilitic White Missionaries, but a student body representative appeared on local cable news holding a banner with that name in block letters. Knute Rock Deer, student body president and wide receiver, told newscaster Jay Johnson, "We know what chills the blood and it ain't bobcats." Johnson asked Rock Deer how students could defend the use of a stereotyped image of Caucasians. "The team names of the Braves and the Indians are stereotypes about scary Indians," replied Rock Deer. "How is Syphilitic White Missionaries any different?" Rock Deer noted that in the 1970s Stanford University changed its team name from the Indians. Though students voted to rename the team the Robber Barons, the administration insisted on the Cardinals or, later, the Cardinal, a shade of red. "How scary is that? A color? Excuse me?" asked Rock Deer. "They should've gone with Robber Barons." "But how can Native American students identify with syph -- with such a name?" Johnson asked. Rock Deer replied, "It's not about identification, it's about intimidation." A group of Red Field cheerleaders and spirit mascots performed a skit depicting the impact of syphilitic white missionaries on peace-loving indigenous peoples. The camera quickly cut away from the skit to focus on newscaster Johnson, who attested, "That is one scary team concept. It left me weak-kneed and shuddering." "At first we actually picked Forked-Tongued Landrapers, but we weren't sure people would get it," Rock Deer said. "Same with Clueless Wannabe Culture Thieves." - - - - - - - - - - - - SPRINGFIELD -- The National American United States High School Football Hall of Fame denied that any plaques or trophies have gone out with unapproved team names such as Syphilitic White Missionaries, Steroid-Crazed Monsters or Lady Steroid-Crazed Monsters. The Hall of Fame says it has been deluged with requests for team name changes, some of which officials suspect may not have been authorized by school administrations. Hall officials say all name changes will be "carefully scrutinized." In apparent gestures of solidarity with embattled students at Oklahoma's Red Field Indian High School, where students were suspended en masse after attending a football game against rival Pleasant Valley Pioneers wearing T-shirts captioned "Tremble Before the Syphilitic White Missionaries," students across the country have been moving to rename teams after "things that really intimidate," in the words of the valedictorian of one inner-city high school. "Eagles aren't scary," said Winsocki Buckles of St. Euphemia High School. "Losing the roof over your head is scary, which is why kids at City renamed their team the Slumlords. Stallions aren't scary. Losing your kids is scary, which is why the students at Eastside renamed their team the Arrogant Social Workers. Longhorn cattle aren't scary. Being excluded from the dominant culture is scary, which is why the kids at Prep renamed their team the Ice People. "Also, religious oppression is scary, which is why we at St. Euphemia renamed our team the Braindead Zombie Protestant Fundamentalist Backlash. We mostly play other Catholic schools and we're pretty confident that will have them shaking in their soggy diapers, the big old babies." Buckles added that many of her best friends are Protestants. "Try to understand, this is about football. This is about winning." "We're going to be checking these name change requests for months," said a weary Hall of Fame staffer who asked not to be named. "I'm pretty sure no administrator approved the Yuppie Creeps, but how about the Entrenched Bureaucracy? It's a Washington-area high school, so that could be real, right? I thought the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was a joke name when I first heard it, so how can I be sure about the Elbow River Fire Ants? I don't think it's even legal to call a team the Disgruntled Postal Workers." "And look at this," added the employee despairingly. "First we got this request from the Battling Bearcats at Flatland High who have a longstanding rivalry with the Pirate Crew at Hilltop High to change their name to the Declining Test Scores. They crushed the thoroughly terrorized Pirate Crew in the big game, but the Pirates struck back by requesting a name change to the Crumbling Physical Plant Plus Your Principal Smokes Crack." "Turns out neither name change was authorized, but a temp had already sent out the trophy with Declining Test Scores on it. We engraved a new trophy that said Battling Bearcats, but Hilltop High is naming us in a lawsuit for inflicting loss of school spirit." "Now, look. Look at this. Here's a new request. What I am I supposed to do, call the principal at Flatland and ask, 'Are you really the Flatland High School Thought Police?'" - - - - - - - - - - - - About the writer Susan McCarthy is a San Francisco freelance writer and the author, with Jeffrey Masson, of "When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives of Animals."

Dog Haiku

Dog Haiku I love my master; Thus I perfume myself with This long-rotten squirrel. I lie belly-up In the sunshine, happier than You ever will be Today I sniffed Many dog behinds-I celebrate By kissing your face. I sound the alarm! Paper boy-come to kill us all- Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! I sound the alarm! Garbage man-come to kill us all- Look! Look! Look! Look! Look! I lift my leg and Whiz on each bush . Hello, Spot- Sniff this and weep How do I love thee? The ways are numberless as My hairs on the rug. My human is home! I am so ecstatic I have Made a puddle I Hate my choke chain- Look, world, they strangle me! Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack Ack! Sleeping here, my chin On your foot -no greater bliss-well, Maybe catching rats Look in my eyes and Deny it. No human could Love you as much I do The cat is not all Bad-she fills the litter box With Tootsie Rolls Dig under fence-why? Because it's there. Because it's There. Because it's there. I am your best friend, Now, always, and especially When you are eating.

Standard Disclaimer

STANDARD DISCLAIMER This product is meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. List each check separately by bank number. Batteries not included. Contents may settle during shipment. Use only as directed. No other warranty expressed or implied. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Postage will be paid by addressee. Subject to CAB approval. This is not an offer to sell securities. Apply only to affected area. May be too intense for some viewers. Do not stamp. Use other side for additional listings. For recreational use only. Do not disturb. All models over 18 years of age. If condition persists, consult your physician. No user-serviceable parts inside. Do not molest the animals. Freshest if eaten before date on carton. Subject to change without notice. Times approximate. Simulated picture. No postage necessary if mailed in the United States. Please remain seated until the ride has come to a complete stop. Breaking seal constitutes acceptance of agreement. For off-road use only. As seen on TV. One size fits all. Many suitcases look alike. Contains a substantial amount of non-tobacco ingredients. Colors may, in time, fade. We have sent the forms which seem right for you. Slippery when wet. For office use only. Not affiliated with the American Red Cross. Drop in any mailbox. Edited for television. Keep cool; process promptly. Post office will not deliver without postage. List was current at time of printing. Return to sender, no forwarding order on file, unable to forward. Not responsible for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages resulting from any defect, error or failure to perform. At participating locations only. Not the Beatles. Do not apply to leather, suede, velvet, corduroy or plastic. Penalty for private use. See label for sequence. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal. 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Call before you dig. For external use only. If a rash, redness, irritation, or swelling develops, discontinue use. Use only with proper ventilation. Avoid extreme temperatures and store in a cool dry place. Keep away from open flames and avoid inhaling fumes. Avoid contact with mucous membranes. Do not puncture, incinerate, or store above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not place near flammable or magnetic source. Smoking may be hazardous to your health. The best safeguard, second only to abstinence, is the use of a good laugh. Text used is made from 100% recycled electrons and magnetic particles. No animals were harmed in production. No salt, MSG, artificial color or flavor added. If ingested, do not induce vomiting. If symptoms persist, consult a physician. Slippery when wet. Must be 18 to enter. Possible penalties for early withdrawal. Offer valid only at participating E mail sites. Slightly higher west of the Rockies. Allow four to six weeks for delivery. 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Retirement - Small Thoughts

Take joy in the commonplace activities of daily life. The Small Thing Each Day. Choose one small thing of less than an hour commitment, write it down on a sticky note to put on the fridge, do it. Walk the dog 10 blocks in a new neighborhood. Spend 45 minutes in the library. Clean all the light switches (not outlets) Buy a pellet rifle to subtly shoot out the too bright always on lights of my neighbors. People seem to think that retirement should lead to immediate big changes. T Therefor, my stock answer to, THEM: "So you are retiring/retired, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE ANYWAY???!!!" ME: "I'm moving to North Caroline to pursue my passion of raising prize-winning milking llamas." Because then I can just have fun making shit up. (I'm putting this post here so I can come back and add to it.)

Geocities - the early web

Scroll down here. History - The Lost Cities of Geo

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stuff

I was trying to photograph his intensity of focus, not his derp

 

 

MS TEAMS is a wonderful example of doing the same function as other software, but poorly

 

Watch This - Big Bug

 Weird, but good.

A group of bickering suburbanites find themselves stuck together when an android uprising causes their well intentioned household robots to lock them in for their own safety.

Preview.

 

 

 Question on the Montana Reddit: “Whitefish Bachelor Weekend

We’re a group of 12, early April, staying about 45min Northwest of Whitefish. Nice big airbnb, a bunch of late 20s guys coming from all over. Active guys, like the outdoors, down for some classic and nontraditional ideas.
What would you do??”

Best Answer: “List of things to do in Olney in April:
    1    Dry out your clothing and shoes.
    2    Clean the mud out of the Airbnb entryway.
    3    Walk to the end of the driveway.
    4    Drink heavily.
    5    Play games on the Xbox you brought from home.
    6    Drive to town and read the summer hours in the shop windows.
    7    Drive to town and try to convince the local girls that a twelve-way frat boy gang bang in a remote cabin would be a lot of fun. What? No…videos will definitely NOT end up on the internet.
    8    Hit a deer with the rental car.
    9    Wonder what this place looks like when there’s no fog.
    10    Fuck it’s windy.
    11    Dude…the deer is in the front yard again.
    12    I’m sure there’s something going on in Eureka.
    13    Drive to Eureka and look at the border crossing.
    14    Drive back from Eureka.
    15    Bachelor party stuff with 12 dudes and a woman logger from Stryker. You can check out her self loading log truck when the party’s over…’01 Peterbuilt…it’s fucking sweet.
    16    Make meth.
There’s probably more but I think those are the highlights.”

 

A Good Read: Unknown Shore: The Lost History of England's Arctic Colony

 

 England's first attempt at colonizing the New World was not at Roanoke or Jamestown, but on a mostly frozen small island in the Canadian Arctic. Queen Elizabeth I called that place Meta Incognita -- the Unknown Shore. Backed by Elizabeth I and her key advisors, including the legary spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham and the shadowy Dr. John Dee, the erstwhile pirate Sir Martin Frobisher set out three times across the North Atlantic, in the process leading what is still the largest Arctic expedition in history. In this forbidding place, Frobisher believed he had discovered vast quantities of gold, the fabled Northwest Passage to the riches of Cathay, and a suitable place for a year-round colony. But Frobisher's dream turned into a nightmare, and his colony was lost to history for nearly three centuries.

In this brilliantly conceived dual narrative, Robert Ruby interweaves Frobisher's saga with that of the nineteenth-century American Charles Francis Hall, whose explorations of this same landscape enabled him to hear the oral history of the Inuit, passed down through generations. It was these stories that unlocked the mystery of Frobisher's lost colony.

Amazon link

 

 

 

Montana in the Green Book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Between 1936 and 1967, Victor H. Green & Company published "The Negro Motorist Green Book," which offered listings of lodgings, restaurants, service stations, and recreation opportunities for African American travelers.

In 1939, Mrs. M. Stitt’s “tourist home” in Helena was Montana’s first and only entry. From the mid-1950s through mid-1960s, other Montana lodgings advertised in the Green Book included places in Billings, Butte, Helena, Livingston, Missoula, and East Glacier.

Montana hotels’ increased interest in the Green Book after 1955 coincides with the passage of an accommodations non-discrimination law. At the national level, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, at least in theory, made the Green Book unnecessary. The publication ended shortly thereafter."

 

 Link from the Montana Historical Society.

 

 

 

 

Today's Winning Reddit Comment

 

Headline: "City Council tables Israel-Hamas resolution, fears division."

Comment: “City Council Tables Discussion They Didn’t Need to Have in First Place”